Unplugged was the last collection recorded by Nirvana before the untimely death of Kurt Cobain and it caught many by surprise. MTV Unplugged in New York’ is a much loved performance on DVD for the very first time ever.

While this lofty praise is wholly justified, the story of Nirvana’s esteemed MTV Unplugged performance is that of a band snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

As a testament to the group's live dynamic in an acoustic setting, it's a fantastic document that emphasises the nuances of one of the greatest bands of recent times. Cobain singing "I swear I don't have a gun, I don't have a gun" with clenched teeth instead of a loud howl is a revelation as is the subtle guitar playing on the haunting opening About a Girl, from their earliest LP. Highlights include covers of three Meat Puppets tracks (featuring special guests Curt and Kris Kirkwood of that influential "college rock" band), the weepy cello on the Vaselines' Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam and their cover of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World.

I will state here that I am not a very big fan of Nirvana, preferring tunes to noise: despite their undoubted talent and passion, I pan just the toppers I have heard, so that in mind, I actually enjoyed this set a lot.

However, in this stripped down version, the emotional honesty and sheer songwriting quality simply shine through. From the first track to the last, these recordings are riveting and demand attention.

The concert features a few Nirvana hits, including Come as You Are, but also includes some relative rarities (at least in the days when the concert was taped). Cobain looks clear-eyed, plays and sings wonderfully, and occasionally interacts with the audience with an understated and introspective aplomb, as when he tells the band the audience will have to wait as he decides which key is going to work for Pennyroyal Tea. In fact, Cobain seems more at ease interacting with Dave Grohl and other bandmates than in ever making sustained eye contact with them.

There’s also the first (authorized) release of three additional songs, Something in the Way, a funny (though abbreviated) version of Sweet Home Alabama (with guests The Meat Puppets, who stick around for Plateau) and Oh, Me (also with the Puppets).

Cobain has become even more of a cult figure since his suicide and bootlegs seem to appear by the bucketful every few months, so fans should be thrilled with an authorized, well-mastered release of one of Nirvana's seminal and most unusual work.

This is a must have for every Nirvana fan. All of the songs from this show are acoustic versions. Watching Kurt perform songs is amazing. Kurt's vocals when performing the last song Where Did You Sleep Last Night are both hypnotizing and hauntingly beautiful. The band members crack jokes between songs. This band knows how to put on a great performance and have a good time. Very real and down to earth. 

The DVD comes along with a program booklet, some exclusive pics too and the playlist with details on the songs.

Original Release Date: 1994

Label: Geffen Records

Audio: Standard stereo, DTS 5.1, and Dolby 5.1.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira