Nirvana : Unplugged In New York - 29/10/94

There may be imperfections here: the way that Kurt's fingers can't quite cope with an acoustic guitar, occasionally making the foundations of the tracks sound frail and fractured; the fact that his voice can sometimes get a little too nasal, his teeth a little too clenched. In all, they matter little, either because they lend themselves to the idea that we're party to something unfettered by circuitry and production gloss, or because they're swamped by an overwhelming charm.

'Where Did You Sleep Last Night' adds a thrilling final frosting, routeing us into music that's already been accepted as timeless. It's a fitting epilogue: soon enough, Nirvana's songs - hewn from inspired influences that this record makes beautifully clear - will be viewed with an equal amount of awe and scholarly respect. 'Unplugged' gives us proof that's all but conclusive.


So, what was expected is true. As the dust has settled, the last traces of sensationalism have disappeared into oblivion and serious retrospection has begun, this album makes its makers sound legendary. Your hankies should be at the ready.

• This review appears in the 29th October 1994 issue of the NME