History Music / NevermindAlbum

An unexpected worldwide success upon release, ''Nevermind'' brought {{grunge}} and {{alternative rock}} as a whole to the mainstream in a way that only the Music/SexPistols had done before with {{punk rock}}; even the band members were shocked to discover they had become rock superstars in only a few months. The album opener, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", became an anthem for a new generation of disgruntled teens, and other classics like "In Bloom", "Come As You Are" and "Lithium" became hits as well.

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness:
** 1: "Polly", "Something in the Way"
** 4: "Come as You Are", "Lithium", "Drain You"
** 5: "In Bloom", "On a Plain"
** 6: "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Lounge Act"
** 7: "Breed", "Territorial Pissings", "Stay Away"
** 8: "Endless, Nameless"

* LoudnessWar: The 2011 "20th Anniversary" edition of this album has been cited as one of the worst masterings of the past 20 years. If it says "Remaster", "20th Anniversary", or "2011" anywhere on it, [[IncrediblyLamePun stay away]].

Grohl and Novoselic have said that they are working on a 30th anniversary edition for release in 2021.

A documentary about the creative process behind the making of this album can be seen in the ''Series/ClassicAlbums'' TV documentary series. The album was also added to the UsefulNotes/NationalRecordingRegistry in 2004 for its cultural, historical and aesthetical value. In 2006, Magazine/TimeMagazine included the album in their [[TimeAllTime100Albums list of 100 timeless and essential albums]]. It was listed at #17 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]], both on the original list in 2003 and the 2012 update, being elevated to #6 in the [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime2020 2020 revision]]. It was also listed at #11 in Magazine/{{NME}}'s [[UsefulNotes/NME500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime similar list]], and is currently #2 on Website/AcclaimedMusic's [[UsefulNotes/AcclaimedMusicAllTimeTopAlbums compilation of various critics' lists]].

A big-name fan was influential British radio DJ Creator/JohnPeel who, in 1997, placed it at #6 in a list of his 20 personal favourite albums [[note]] It was by no means meant as a definitive list, as he felt that top albums lists "are terribly self-indulgent" and said "he'd change it to a completely different list if he would be asked again a week later". But it was the only time in his life he agreed to make such a list, so in that regard pretty close to being a definitive list [[/note]] when asked by the newspaper ''The Guardian''.

The album was remastered and re-issued for its 20th anniversary in September 2011. This included a two-disc deluxe edition, with the first disc including several B-sides, and the second disc featuring rehearsals and session recordings. A "Super Deluxe" edition added two more CD's; Disc 3 features remixes, while Disc 4 is a recording of Nirvana's ''Live at the Paramount'', a concert the band performed on October 31, 1991, in Seattle. "Super Deluxe" also included a DVD of ''Live at the Paramount''.

** "Stay Away" also comes across as this, with various phrases being spout of after each other and Cobain shouting "stay away!"

* {{Homage}}:
** The cover of "Nevermind" was parodied by Music/WeirdAlYankovic on his album ''Off The Deep End'', while "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was satirized as "Smells Like Nirvana".

--> ''Take your time''
--> ''Hurry up''
--> ''The choice is yours''
--> ''Don't be late''

* CreepyMonotone: Kurt sings the verses of "Something in the Way" in this fashion.

!! Tracklist:

!! Principal Members:

!! ''I'm so happy, 'cause today I found my tropes: they're in this list'':

* AnimalAssassin[=/=]WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: "Something in The Way":
--> ''It's okay to eat fish 'cause it don't have any feelings''
* BreakupSong: "Lounge Act". In Kurt's diary, it's revealed he wrote for ex-girlfriend Tobi Vail, of Music/BikiniKill, and because of that he refused to play the song when Courtney was around.

''Nevermind'' is the second studio album recorded by American AlternativeRock band Music/{{Nirvana}}. It was released through [[Creator/GeffenRecords DGC Records]] on September 24, 1991.

An unexpected worldwide success, it brought {{Grunge}} and alt-rock as a whole to the mainstream in a way that only the Music/SexPistols had done before with PunkRock; even the band members were shocked to discover they had become rock superstars in only a few months.

The album opener, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", became an anthem for a new generation of disgruntled teens, and other classics like "In Bloom", "Come as You Are" and "Lithium" became hits as well. This album marks the debut of their latest drummer Music/DaveGrohl, who replaced Chad Channing a year earlier. However, Channing did record for one song that made it onto this album before he left, playing cymbals on "Polly".

The album was recorded at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, between 1990 and 1991, with Butch Vig serving as producer. It saw the development of the band's sound away from the monochromatic grunge of ''Music/{{Bleach|Album}}'' into more diverse styles such as the HardcorePunk fury of "Territorial Pissings" and "Breed", and even taking a step into acoustic ballads with "Polly" and "Something in the Way". Vig had to trick Music/KurtCobain on several occasions to accept studio embellishments he otherwise was averse to, such as persuading him to double-track his vocals on "In Bloom" by reminding him that Music/JohnLennon did so, and repeatedly claiming he needed new takes to achieve the multiple guitar overdubs of "On a Plain".

To music historians, ''Nevermind'' was a key album in rock history. Along with Music/{{REM}}'s ''Music/OutOfTime'', it shattered the hegemony of 1980's SynthPop and HairMetal (and to a lesser extent, teen pop and dance music), transforming alternative rock from an underground movement that had a cult following at best into to a household phenomenon. ''Nevermind'' specifically has the additional distinction of popularizing grunge in much the same way. Many alternative rock groups of TheNineties like Music/PearlJam, Music/AliceInChains, Music/{{Radiohead}}, Music/TheSmashingPumpkins, and many others owe their mainstream success to Nirvana.

The success became an albatross around Nirvana's neck, happening way too suddenly and dramatically. [[Music/{{Incesticide}} The group's]] [[Music/InUtero later]] [[Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork output]] desperately tried to refrain from too-commercial sounds and subject matter, and Cobain's struggles with reconciling with his sudden popularity became a major contributor to his suicide within three years after this album's release.

->''Come as you are, as you were''\\
''As I want you to be''\\
''As a friend, as a friend''\\
''As an old enemy''\\
''Take your time, hurry up''\\
''Choice is yours, don't be late''\\
''Take a rest as a friend''\\
''As an old memoria''
-->--'''"Come as You Are"'''

* ContemptibleCover: The image is iconic, but the baby's visible penis might make things awkward (even the now-grown kid stated he feels like "the world's biggest porn star").
** Nirvana's record company wanted an alternative cover to be used in stores that wouldn't stock the CD, but the only censorship Cobain would agree to was a sticker covering the baby's penis that read "If you're offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile".

* FreudianThreat: In an act of {{Bowdleris|e}}ation some advertisements of the album cover airbrushed the baby's penis away for prudish reasons. DGC Records also considered censoring the cover, but only relented when Kurt threatened that the only concession he'd make is placing a sticker over the penis reading ''"If you are offended by this, you must be a closet paedophile."''

* HiddenTrack: "Endless, Nameless". Due to a mistake, the first pressings of the album lacked it, a situation that was rectified after Cobain angrily complained to the record company. "Endless, Nameless" has been on every copy of ''Nevermind'' since, and it remains unlisted on the back cover.
** LastNoteNightmare: It's just [[CarefulWithThatAxe Kurt screaming]] and loud noises -- culminating in [[RockersSmashGuitars him breaking his guitar]].

* LastNoteNightmare: "Endless, Nameless", full stop.

** The title is an homage to the Music/SexPistols' album ''Music/NeverMindTheBollocksHeresTheSexPistols''.

* WhamEpisode: Rock music would never be the same after this album came out. Within a few months, HairMetal was out, and {{grunge}} was in.

* TakeThatAudience: "In Bloom":

The album was remastered and re-issued for its 20th anniversary in September 2011. This included a two-disc deluxe edition, with the first disc including several B-sides, and the second disc featuring rehearsals and session recordings. A "Super Deluxe" edition added two more CD's; Disc 3 features remixes, while Disc 4 is a recording of Nirvana's ''Live at the Paramount'', a concert the band performed on Halloween 1991. "Super Deluxe" also included a DVD of ''Live at the Paramount''.

The album was remastered and re-issued for its 20th anniversary in September 2011. This included a two-disc deluxe edition, with the first disc including several B-sides, and the second disc featuring rehearsals and session recordings. Grohl and Novoselic have said that they are working on a 30th anniversary edition for release in 2021.

The success became an albatross around Nirvana's neck, happening way too suddenly and dramatically. [[Music/{{Incesticide}} the group's]] [[Music/InUtero later]] [[Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork output]] desperately tried to refrain from too-commercial sounds and subject matter, and Cobain's struggles with reconciling with his sudden popularity became a major contributor to his suicide within three years after this album's release.

The success became an albatross around Nirvana's neck, however, as their success happened way too suddenly and dramatically; [[Music/{{Incesticide}} the group's]] [[Music/InUtero later]] [[Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork output]] desperately tried to refrain from too-commercial sounds and subject matter, and Cobain's struggles with reconciling with his sudden popularity became a major contributor to his suicide just three years after this album's release.

A documentary about the creative process behind the making of this album can be seen in the ''Series/ClassicAlbums'' TV documentary series. The album was also added to the UsefulNotes/NationalRecordingRegistry in 2004 for its cultural, historical and aesthetical value. In 2006, Magazine/TimeMagazine included the album in their [[TimeAllTime100Albums list of 100 timeless and essential albums]]. It was listed at #17 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]], being elevated to #6 in the [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime2020 2020 revision]]. It was also listed at #11 in Magazine/{{NME}}'s [[UsefulNotes/NME500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime similar list]], and is currently #2 on Website/AcclaimedMusic's [[UsefulNotes/AcclaimedMusicAllTimeTopAlbums compilation of various critics' lists]].

--> ''Polly wants a cracker''\\

-->''I find it hard, it's hard to find''\\
''Oh well, whatever, ''nevermind''

The album was recorded at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, between 1990 and 1991, with Butch Vig serving as producer. It saw the development of the band's sound away from the monochromatic grunge of ''Music/{{Bleach}}'' into more diverse styles such as the HardcorePunk fury of "Territorial Pissings" and "Breed", and even taking a step into acoustic ballads with "Polly" and "Something in the Way". Vig had to trick Music/KurtCobain on several occasions to accept studio embellishments he otherwise was averse to, such as persuading him to double-track his vocals on "In Bloom" by reminding him that Music/JohnLennon did so, and repeatedly claiming he needed new takes to achieve the multiple guitar overdubs of "On a Plain".

According to Grohl, Andy Wallace was chosen to mix the album because the band enjoyed the "heaviness" of his work with Music/{{Slayer}}, and his contribution to the album's sound played a part in its success as he improved on the overly gritty, low-budget sound of their debut, though Cobain later expressed some CreatorBacklash about the polish and commented that Wallace "made it sound like a Music/MotleyCrue record".

** AllThereInTheManual: Reading Kurt's journals will show you the lyrics to some of his songs, along with their rough drafts, which should aid in the interpretations/mondegreens.

''Nevermind'' is the second studio album recorded by American AlternativeRock band Music/{{Nirvana}}. It was released through [[Creator/DavidGeffen DGC Records]] on September 24, 1991.

''Nevermind'' is the second studio album by Music/{{Nirvana}}, released in 1991. An unexpected worldwide success, it brought {{Grunge}} and AlternativeRock as a whole to the mainstream in a way that only the Music/SexPistols had done before with PunkRock; even the band members were shocked to discover they had become rock superstars in only a few months.

The album opener "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became an anthem for a new generation of disgruntled teens, and other classics like "In Bloom", "Come as You Are" and "Lithium" became hits as well. This album marks the debut of their latest drummer Music/DaveGrohl, who replaced Chad Channing a year earlier. However, Channing did record for one song that made it onto this album before he left, playing cymbals on "Polly".

--> ''Oh well, whatever, ''nevermind''.

A documentary about the creative process behind the making of this album can be seen in the ''Series/ClassicAlbums'' TV documentary series. The album was also added to the UsefulNotes/NationalRecordingRegistry in 2004 for its cultural, historical and aesthetical value. In 2006, Magazine/TimeMagazine included the album in their [[TimeAllTime100Albums list of 100 timeless and essential albums]]. It was listed at #17 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]]; in the [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime2020 2020 revised list]], the album was ranked at #6. It was also listed at #11 in Magazine/{{NME}}'s [[UsefulNotes/NME500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime similar list]], and is currently #2 on Website/AcclaimedMusic's [[UsefulNotes/AcclaimedMusicAllTimeTopAlbums compilation of various critics' lists]].

** "Smells Like Teen Spirit", in particular, became famous for its mumbling verses and barely-decipherable chorus. Though of the more understandable lines, a common misinterpretation is hearing "I feel stupid, and contagious" as "Acting stupid is contagious".