A new deluxe reissue of Nirvana’s In Utero, is out today (October 27th) to coincide with the album’s 30th anniversary.
The original In Utero arrived after Nirvana had already become global superstars, and is thematically characterized by the band’s discomfort with their status, particularly from frontman, Kurt Cobain. Celebrating it on the occasion of its 25th anniversary in 2018, Consequence contributor Ryan Bray praised the album as “arguably the truest representation of what Nirvana was: a massive act with the principles and integrity of one half its size… It’s a difficult but ironclad document of artistic bravery.”
Now, the album is being honored in a whole new fashion. Among the 53 unreleased tracks are two full In Utero-era concerts, including the band’s final performance in Seattle, as well as six bonus live tracks recorded at various shows around the same time. Additionally, the album’s original tracklist, plus five bonus tracks and B-sides, have been remastered from the original analog master stereo tapes by Bob Weston, the only engineer other than Steve Albini who assisted on the original sessions.
In Utero: 30th Anniversary arrives in a variety of formats, including: a limited-edition 8xLP Super Deluxe box set, a 5xCD Super Deluxe box set, a 2xCD Deluxe edition, a 1xLP vinyl edition, and a digital Super Deluxe edition. The physical Super Deluxe Edition box sets also boast a removable front-cover acrylic panel with the album’s iconic angel; a 48-page hardcover book with unreleased photos; a 20-page newly designed fanzine; a Los Angeles tour poster lithograph by hot rod artist Coop; replicas of the 1993 record store promo “Angel mobile,” three gig fliers, two ticket stubs for Los Angeles and Seattle, an all-access tour laminate, and four cloth sticky tour backstage passes.
Earlier this week, Nirvana’s Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic reunited with Albini for a discussion about In Utero on Conan O’Brien’s Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast. This past May, Albini revealed the lengths the team went to in order to try to conceal the In Utero recording sessions from the public.
In Utero: 30th Anniversary Artwork:
In Utero: 30th Anniversary Tracklist:
LP 1 – In Utero – Original Album Remastered
Side 1
01. Serve The Servants
02. Scentless Apprentice
03. Heart-Shaped Box
04. Rape Me
05. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
06. Dumb
Side 2
01. Very Ape
02. Milk It
03. Pennyroyal Tea
04. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
05. tourette’s
06. All Apologies
LP 2 – Bonus Tracks and B-Sides
Side 1
01. Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip
02. Marigold
03. Sappy
04. Moist Vagina
05. I Hate Myself And Want To Die
Side 2
01. Serve The Servants (Live in Rome) *
02. Scentless Apprentice (Live in Rome) *
03. Heart-Shaped Box (Live in Rome) *
04. Very Ape (Live in Rome) *
05. Milk It (Live in Springfield) *
06. tourette’s (Live in New York) *
LP 3-5 – Live in Los Angeles – Great Western Forum – December 30, 1993
Side 1
01. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter *
02. Drain You *
03. Breed *
04. Serve The Servants *
Side 2
01. Come As You Are *
02. Smells Like Teen Spirit *
03. Sliver *
04. Dumb *
Side 3
01. In Bloom *
02. About A Girl *
03. Lithium *
04. Pennyroyal Tea *
Side 4
01. School *
02. Polly *
03. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle *
04. Rape Me *
05. Territorial Pissings *
Side 5
01. Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam *
02. The Man Who Sold The World *
03. All Apologies *
04. On A Plain *
Side 6
01. Heart-Shaped Box
02. Blew *
03. Feedback Jam *
LP 6-8 – Live in Seattle – Seattle Center Arena – January 7, 1994
Side 1
01. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter *
02. Drain You *
03. Breed *
04. Serve The Servants *
Side 2
01. Come As You Are *
02. Smells Like Teen Spirit *
03. Sliver *
04. Dumb *
Side 3
1. In Bloom *
2. About A Girl *
3. Lithium *
4. Pennyroyal Tea *
Side 4
01. School *
02. Polly *
03. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle *
04. Milk It
05. Rape Me *
Side 5
01. Territorial Pissings *
02. Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam *
03. The Man Who Sold The World *
04. All Apologies *
Side 6
01. On A Plain *
02. Scentless Apprentice *
03. Heart-Shaped Box *
04. Blew *
* = Previously unreleased
