Nevermind 30th Anniversary Edition

ロックの歴史に衝撃を与えたニルヴァーナの1991年にリリースされた名盤の発売30周年記念デラックス・エディション。

オリジナルの1/2インチ・ステレオ・アナログ・テープからの最新リマスタリング音源のほか、伝説の1992年の初来日公演の模様を含むライヴ音源集を追加したCD2枚組。

Nevermind was never meant to change the world, but you can never predict when the Zeitgeist will hit, and Nirvana's second album turned out to be the place where alternative rock crashed into the mainstream. This wasn't entirely an accident, either, since Nirvana did sign with a major label, and they did release a record with a shiny surface, no matter how humongous the guitars sounded. And, yes, Nevermind is probably a little shinier than it should be, positively glistening with echo and fuzzbox distortion, especially when compared with the black-and-white murk of Bleach. This doesn't discount the record, since it's not only much harder than any mainstream rock of 1991, its character isn't on the surface, it's in the exhilaratingly raw music and haunting songs. Kurt Cobain's personal problems and subsequent suicide naturally deepen the dark undercurrents, but no matter how much anguish there is on Nevermind, it's bracing because he exorcizes those demons through his evocative wordplay and mangled screams -- and because the band has a tremendous, unbridled power that transcends the pain, turning into pure catharsis. And that's as key to the record's success as Cobain's songwriting, since Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl help turn this into music that is gripping, powerful, and even fun (and, really, there's no other way to characterize "Territorial Pissings" or the surging "Breed"). In retrospect, Nevermind may seem a little too unassuming for its mythic status -- it's simply a great modern punk record -- but even though it may no longer seem life-changing, it is certainly life-affirming, which may just be better. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

'91年発表のメジャーデビューセカンドアルバム。また1000万枚を越えるヒットを生み、グランジの象徴となったアルバム。ニルヴァ－ナはライブでの泣き叫び、破滅的なところが良い。ラウドでありながらポップでキャッチ－で、一切の駄曲無し。その後の'90年代を変えた1枚。 (C)YKYM