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- Review count1
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- First reviewOctober 24, 2011
- Last reviewOctober 24, 2011
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- Average rating2
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- First review commentOctober 25, 2011
- Last review commentOctober 25, 2011
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xveganx's Reviews
![Nevermind [20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition] [CD & DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3511/3511215_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
2
Underwhelming
on October 24, 2011
Posted by: xveganx
from Freehold, NJ
God, what a letdown this was. People in the global internet Nirvana worshiping community were foaming at the mouth for this thing for months, until they saw the tracklisting - the original record, b-sides that every already has, the Smart Studios tape that EVERYONE already has (and isn't that good) and a live CD that everyone already has. Then they got REAL bummed when they heard it and realized it was "brickwalled" in the mastering stage, meaning, as someone else has already explained, compressed to hell so everything is the same volume (loud) and it hurts your ears, getting rid of many aural details in the process.
No doubt, the boombox rehearsal tape and the "Devonshire Mixes" were tantalizing. I was really hoping for the Devonshire Mixes to deliver, as Butch's mix of Breed on With the Lights Out is KILLER. However, they are kind of all over the place, which I suppose one should expect for rough mixes - some drums are too loud (Lithium), some too buried in the mix (Breed, Territorial Pissings), etc. I wanted to love them, but overall I don't. I do prefer the vocals on there, as they actually sound like vocals and not wrapped in plastic, and the bass sounds like a bass. People who are seriously into engineering seem to have problems with the different sounds of the drums. It's nothing I notice though. There is so much they could have included but didn't, in the way of outtakes and the such. Also, if you wanna see hardcore Nirvana fans get REALLY bummed, Google "Sound City Sappy."
In the end, the Boombox tape is definitely the gem here. Much better quality than I was expecting and it has never been circulated in any form anywhere. Really interesting stuff to see the band developing these monster songs in a time that would, in retrospect, be the calm before the storm. It's that much-fabled "last innocence" period.
Now to get at what you receive in exchange for your money - four CDs, a DVD and a hardcover book for $109-$130+, depending where you got (get) it. With the Lights Out is currently around $40 here and you get three CDs, a DVD and a softcover book. Both have substantial packaging. With the Lights Out had WAY more unreleased stuff on it, like most of it. Half of Super Deluxe, (CDs One and Two) on the other hand, has been released commercially. Disc Four replicates the DVD, which again, has been available as a high-quality audio bootleg since time immemorial. Plus, all the live b-sides are from this show, so those songs appear three times on the set - what? Anyway, you can buy the Deluxe for $20 and the DVD for $16 or so. What do you miss out on? Not much. Not much.
Seriously, why have not more people reviewed this thing to spread the truth?
What's great about it: It's Nirvana
What's not so great: Price, brickwall mastering, lack of quality content
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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xveganx's Review Comments
Overall2 out of 5
2 out of 5Underwhelming
By xveganx
from Freehold, NJ
God, what a letdown this was. People in the global internet Nirvana worshiping community were foaming at the mouth for this thing for months, until they saw the tracklisting - the original record, b-sides that every already has, the Smart Studios tape that EVERYONE already has (and isn't that good) and a live CD that everyone already has. Then they got REAL bummed when they heard it and realized it was "brickwalled" in the mastering stage, meaning, as someone else has already explained, compressed to hell so everything is the same volume (loud) and it hurts your ears, getting rid of many aural details in the process.
No doubt, the boombox rehearsal tape and the "Devonshire Mixes" were tantalizing. I was really hoping for the Devonshire Mixes to deliver, as Butch's mix of Breed on With the Lights Out is KILLER. However, they are kind of all over the place, which I suppose one should expect for rough mixes - some drums are too loud (Lithium), some too buried in the mix (Breed, Territorial Pissings), etc. I wanted to love them, but overall I don't. I do prefer the vocals on there, as they actually sound like vocals and not wrapped in plastic, and the bass sounds like a bass. People who are seriously into engineering seem to have problems with the different sounds of the drums. It's nothing I notice though. There is so much they could have included but didn't, in the way of outtakes and the such. Also, if you wanna see hardcore Nirvana fans get REALLY bummed, Google "Sound City Sappy."
In the end, the Boombox tape is definitely the gem here. Much better quality than I was expecting and it has never been circulated in any form anywhere. Really interesting stuff to see the band developing these monster songs in a time that would, in retrospect, be the calm before the storm. It's that much-fabled "last innocence" period.
Now to get at what you receive in exchange for your money - four CDs, a DVD and a hardcover book for $109-$130+, depending where you got (get) it. With the Lights Out is currently around $40 here and you get three CDs, a DVD and a softcover book. Both have substantial packaging. With the Lights Out had WAY more unreleased stuff on it, like most of it. Half of Super Deluxe, (CDs One and Two) on the other hand, has been released commercially. Disc Four replicates the DVD, which again, has been available as a high-quality audio bootleg since time immemorial. Plus, all the live b-sides are from this show, so those songs appear three times on the set - what? Anyway, you can buy the Deluxe for $20 and the DVD for $16 or so. What do you miss out on? Not much. Not much.
Seriously, why have not more people reviewed this thing to spread the truth?
xveganx
Freehold, NJ
Correction
October 25, 2011
I wasn't thinking when I wrote that all of Discs One and Two were previously released. I meant all of Disc One and part of Disc Two. I can't seem to edit my review, so this will have to do.
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