Live at Reading

Band/artist: Nirvana
Label: Universal
Website: hereisnirvana.com

Essential!

I hear it all the time that people just aren't into the “live” album anymore. Many times it’s more about the actual recording presentation than anything, as newer live releases take out 95% of the crowed noise or manipulate and smooth over imperfections. These tweaks might make the record sound better but they lose the cohesion of a live show and most certainly lose its energy.

Well lucky for us there was this little band from Washington that put on a killer show August 30, 1992 at the Reading Festival. That band of course was Nirvana and this newly released live set is electric, essential and just plain excellent!

This is a live album that says welcome back to the format and will make you want more. From the superb tight chord change in "Aneurysm" to the feverish crowd singing along on "Lithium" and even on the Kurt Cobain chuckle in the beginning of "Sliver", Nirvana shows song after song why they had such an impact on music and why that no matter what was going on behind the scenes - on the stage Nirvana reigned supreme.

This show captures Nirvana at a peak that covers some of the best off Bleach, most of Nevermind and three previews of In Utero tracks, as that record was not released until 1993.

In every aspect, Live At Reading is a great live record and ranks up there with the best, while the DVD addition just backs up their stage presence, care free attitude and preserves a great moment in Nirvana lore.

Sam DaMatta

For more of Sam DaMatta's music reviews, check out The Fire Note