In Utero 2013

[UPDATE MAY 22, 2023] I have a confession to make, as embarrassing as this is, I must come clean. The issues I had with the record (see below) originally were the results of uncontrolled static. I do everything I can to clean and prep a record before playback but static in my environment is usually the result of climate and temperature and will vary from day to day. I also use a mat on my acrylic plater to help reduce slippage when using a brush but that too causes static build up. I ditched it and recently bought the excellent Anti Static Vinyl Record Cleaning Arm found here -> https://amzn.to/3WmpEkt and it made a night and day difference in the audio quality. Remarkably, the record had become perfectly silent with little to no audible pops. I can't believe I have been living with vinyl without that brush. Go buy it if you take record listening seriously. Removing the anti slip mat and introducing that brush arm made an awful experience turn into a near audiophile one. I will certainly be more careful before ripping apart a record release! [ORIGINAL COMMENTS] Before I listen to any records I wash them in a bath of TergiKleen (Tergitol) in one machine for a few minutes then rinse them in a second machine of just plain distilled water. The majority of the time, records come out sounding nearly silent with few if any pops. When I first unsealed the Vinyl 2LP set of In Utero the first thing I discovered was several full finger prints with residue impacted into the groves and fine paper shreds all over the records from the paper sleeves. I figured, no worries, since mostly everything gets cleaned away in my washing process. I scrubbed the crap out of these records and they looked mint when I was done. Several days later I went to listen to them and found them to still be noisy with an unacceptable amount of clicks and pops that shouldn't exist unless the pressing process was sloppy or the vinyl was low grade. If you're an audiophile this is not the set for you but there is a nice 24/96 edition on the typical websites. I'll run these records through the Degritter Mark II when that comes in for review and see it that brings them back to life. What really bothers me about modern pressings is that most of the time they are on 180gm vinyl and remastered but still sound disappointing. The used records I've obtained that are 40 or more years old on the standard thinner weight vinyl tend to sound so dynamic and silent after a good cleaning. They just don't make them like they use to!

I'm glad I bought this version, because the sound is fantastic. There's nearly no surface noise, but more importantly the mix makes the music feel more urgent and present. Hard to imagine listening to another version so long as I have this one.

It's like a new journey into something old, I don't know how else to put it & pretty Awesome!!!

Albini!!!

What are you even doing if you don’t own this version

What a stellar mix and and amazing update for vinyl. A totally overlooked masterpiece. Nevermind is put to shame by this raw, all-out blistering achievement, cut with such wounded beauty in "Dumb" and "all apologies"...which apparently has some piano!! Who knew?? Crystal clear sound. Love this.

Sounds so good, I was blown away. This version is definitely worth a few extra dollars, especially if you are already familiar with the album.

Excellent album to begin with that was re-mastered by the original engineer/producer, Steve Albini, and then cut to double discs at 45 RPM which increases the fidelity considerably. If like/love your vinyl than this is the way to go - blows the single disc @ 33 1/3 RPM out of the water.

Unbeliveable Remaster of this masterpiece! For me, 'in utero' is the best record of Nirvana. Full of pain and emotional Like No other Release. The 2013 Mix of Steve Albini is another great Release,and let you discover this record like never before. For the pressing,it's absolutely perfect flat,near Zero surface noise and has unbeliveable dynamics. A definitive 'must have' for every fan of the best Grunge-band of all time!!!!

Muy guapo

In 1993 I knew that there was an Albini version of In Utero out there somewhere and it would certainly be the best version. Every time Albini recorded one of my fav bands, his album was their best. He makes the record sound like the band so if you want people to hear you like they're in the room, Steve Albini is the guy. If you want the guy doing the recording to change the sound of the band for optimal sales, maybe get someone else. But if you like loud pumelling music, this is for you. I got the double 12 inch 45 version because, once again, that's just going to pack a serious sonic punch. This record is everything I hoped for. Everything is powerful and clear although I think the vocals have been somewhat moved toward the rear. The guitars are crunchy and big and every little bit of static and scraping comes through. Big waves of sonic violence just coming at you, and the richness of the guitars is fantastic. I wish they would have got Steve to record and mix Nevermind. That would have been so much heavier.

Recensisco il “prodotto”, poiché il disco secondo me, non è in discussione. In Utero dei Nirvana mi è sempre piaciuto molto. Qui c’è a disposizione la versione rimaneggiata da Steve Albini, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl e Pat Smear. Il risultato è, secondo me, più che soddisfacente; il disco suona molto bene e questa versione in doppio vinile a 45 giri con 3 canzoni per lato, rinforza i suoni e allontana la soglia di distorsione. Si può quindi alzare il volume e lasciarsi travolgere da questa “nuova” versione; in certi momenti si può avere l’impressione di avere il gruppo che suona nella stanza dove state ascoltando. Ottimo. Molto gradevoli anche gli ascolti delle canzoni meno “forti”, Dumb, Pennyroyal Tea, All Apologies durante le quali si possono apprezzare le doti canore del dolce e disgraziato Kurt Cobain.

El tercer (y ultimo) opus de Nirvana en el estudio de grabación, e su versión mix 2013 es sin lugar a dudas, la evidencia del estado anímico, mental y de salud que aquejaba en sus últimos días al cantante y guitarrista más celebre de los últimos 30 años: Kurt Cobain. Se dice que, esta nueva mezcla de este álbum es una manera de homenaje a Cobain, por parte de Novoselic y Grohl quienes acceden (junto con la "viudita alegre del Gronch, Courtney Love,) a remezclar y lanzar esta versión del álbum con motivo del 20 aniversario del mismo. Y es que el mix es lo que, en opinión de los expertos y eruditos en Nirvana, debió ser lanzado originalmente, con un sonido crudo, áspero y simple, tal y como (se supone) fue la razón por la cual Geffen Records se horrorizó de los demos de este álbum y "amablemente" convenció a Nirvana de aceptar la "ayuda" de un productor externo (Scott Litt). Litt "suavizó" mucho del sonido del álbum, aunque procuro que este no perdiera su esencia. Sin embargo, es claro que escuchando la primera mezcla del álbum (la de 1993) y esta de 2013, se percibe la razón por la cual Geffen decidió modificar el sonido: el álbum, en el mix de 2014, es agresivo, potente y con una vibra punky muy acentuada, aun en aquellos tracks destinados a ser radiables, como "All apologies". Es cuestionable asumir que este fue el álbum que Nirvana quiso fuese grabado, sin embargo lo que si es un hecho es que este mix suena mucho mejor que la versión original, sobre todo por el hecho de que acerca más la idea de lo que este álbum debió haber sido y, quién sabe? igual, de haberlo grabado asi, el señor Cobain no se hubiese sentido tan culpable de ser famoso y no se hubiese dado un escopetazo en la boca. Excelente álbum no solo para fans de Nirvana.