Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York

Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering! Cut from original analogue master tapes and Pressed on 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl at RTI!

Recorded in November 1993, less than six months before singer Kurt Cobain killed himself, Nirvana's MTV Unplugged is a watershed document that presents a band at the peak of its powers. Unlike any other "unplugged" affair, the diverse album is not a simple stripped-down regurgitation of greatest hits or a cash-it-in set of nostalgic favorites. Rather, the live effort is among the most emotionally naked spectacles ever released-an album so starkly intense and profoundly personal, it's impossible not to get chills down the spine.

Such intimacy and wide-range dynamics are reasons why to seek out the best-ever pressing of this detailed gem. Cut for ORG from the original master tapes by Bernie Grundman and pressed on colored 180-gram virgin vinyl at RTI, ORG's Limited Edition Collector's Version is the definitive edition of this masterpiece. Hear the soft pitter-patter of drummer Dave Grohl's delicate brushwork, the shape of each hushed note coming from Cobain's guitar, and every inhale and exhale of Cobain's voice from a stunning, up-close perspective that puts the band onstage in your room.

Made primarily with acoustic instruments-Grohl even trades sticks for brushes, Krist Novoselic picks up an accordion, and cellist Lori Goldston prominently figures in the arrangements-Unplugged in New York reveals Nirvana's folksier side and clear ambition to move beyond abrasive rock. The set list is as surprising as the stylistic makeover. Save for renditions of "All Apologies" and "Come As You Are," the adventurous material includes brooding covers of the Meat Puppets' "Lake of Fire," "Plateau," and "Oh Me" as well as harrowing versions of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World," and the Vaselines' "Jesus Don't Want Me for a Sunbeam."

And then there's the heart-shattering climax. Intensely private and disturbingly primal, Nirvana's rendition of the Leadbelly standard "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" takes its place among the most cathartic songs ever committed to record. It's the musical equivalent of the insides of Cobain's soul being ripped out and put out display for all to see.

Mastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analogue master tapes. Pressed at RTI.