Review Summary: After letting the dust of hyperfandom and critical acclaim settle in your mind, you have monolith in rock music
It's hard to review an album like Nirvana's explosive sophomore release. Those who praise it endlessly get branded with a "d**k-rider" label, and those that hate on it seem to hate on it for the sake of being edgy. However, when you look at Nevermind beyond it's importance in modern rock, and look at the music objectively, you have one hell of a record.
Looking at Nevermind vs. In Utero as to which album is superior is very difficult, because both are like Yin and Yang to one another. Now, comparing the two isn't the purpose of this review, but it does shine a light to what Nevermind is: a polished, precise hard rock record. Whereas In Utero is the noisier, "art-rockier" of the two, Nevermind is a cleaner experience. Now, I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It gives the album a very nice flow and, while it is still an abrasive hard-rock record, it's very accessible, easy-to-stomach one.
Nevermind has a Thriller effect to it. Meaning that the more popular tracks are definitely amazing songs, but some of the best songs are the deeper cuts, especially those found on the latter half of the album (Lounge Act, Stay Away, On a Plain). This makes the album (like Thriller) a joy to listen to from beginning to end with no lackluster moments of filler.
Lyrically, a good portion of the album revolves around Kurt Cobain's broken relationship with Toby Vail. The situation gave Kurt the ammunition for some of his best lyrics (ex: Drain You). The structures of the songs flow so well with the lyrics, that they often induce some of those "eargasm" moments. Ironically, the lyrics took the back burner when recording the album. It goes to show how versatile of a songwriter Cobain was.
Overall, whether or not you find In Utero a better album, Nevermind shows Kurt and the boys firing on all cylinders and creating one of the most rightfully celebrated albums in grunge, alternative, and music history.
