Nirvana - From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah

Kurt Cobain's former bandmates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl clearly had an agenda in compiling From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, the second of what will no doubt be a long line of posthumous Nirvana albums. Because of its somber, intense nature, the first post-Cobain release, MTV Unplugged in New York, was largely perceived as music for a wake--an impression reinforced by MTV's constant airings of the special in the days following Cobain's suicide. But that acoustic detour aside, the Nirvana live experience was always about displaying a lust for life--not a death wish--with all the energy the musicians could muster. Wishkah offers 16 songs spanning the band's career, all delivered in the loudest, most frenzied, and sometimes the sloppiest versions imaginable. In the opening "Intro," a snippet of pre-show noise, Cobain screams his heart out in joyful contrast to the haunted screams on "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." Then the group launches into "School," which ends with the spirited chorus "Don't be sad." Indeed, it's impossible to dwell on the maudlin when listening to these renditions of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Sliver," "Heart-Shaped Box," and "Negative Creep"--they're too loud and too full of life. But while it should be applauded, Wishkah isn't the great lost Nirvana album--there are no unheard gems to add to the catalog--and in the end, it isn't nearly as essential as any of the band's studio albums--or even the downbeat but revelatory Unplugged. --Jim Derogatis Amazon.com

A mighty fine live record from Nirvana

Seattle is known for producing the finest alternative in the 1990s. Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone and Alice In Chains all hail from Seattle. And, in my opinion, the best group to come out of Seattle was by a long shot Nirvana. Led by the heavy vocals of Kurt Cobain, Nirvana made some of the best music of the 1990s.

Tragically, Cobain shot and killed himself in 1994, committing suicide. And, in 1995, to commemorate Nirvana's legacy as a live act, Geffen released 'From The Muddy Banks of the Wishkah,' which is easily one of the finest live records of the 1990s.

You get shows dating back to the bands beginnings in 1989, right up until late 1993. It's great live record that documents every phase of Nirvana's short career.

Overall, if you're a new or casual fan of the group who wants more than their studio offerings and 'MTV Unplugged In New York,' than this is the set for you. It's by a long shot my favorite Nirvana CD that I own.

Highly recommended for any Nirvana fan. ENJOY!!! March 31, 2008

Please do me a favour and love live albums...

To everyone who has had or still does have an ambition in music, also loves Nirvana, you all have to have this record. It's a success in the world of music and recordings anyways... The tracks are chosen exactly the way it suits your ear and also put together so it seems the right people have made this compilation of live Nirvana performances. Intro is definitely the one, Kurt screaming before the School song riff is played. All the songs are amongst the Nirvana famous ones and the sound is great! The atmosphere can be relived once for ever for this great rock n' roll band. Buy it! July 24, 2007

listen as you are...

oh my god this album is soooo goood. any nirvana fan appreciates the raspy voice of k. cobain so wait until you hear it here, live. very rough and it sounds great. i especially like drain you. spank thru is also on here which is a rare treat. if you are a nirvana fan then this is a must own. July 18, 2007

greatest hits 'live'

Great tracklisting, lots of fun upbeat cuts without the majority of the band's downer tracks. Really well sequenced. A touch of bleach, nevermind and in utero all mixed into one recorded performance. Also see the muddy banks of wishkah paperback version, a must for all deafs.? July 13, 2007

Passionate, Angry, Unpolished

I'll preface this review by noting that my favorite Nirvana album - and I'm sure I'm not alone in this - is "MTV's Unplugged in NYC." That album is notably softer (in volume and energy) than this one, but "From the Muddy Banks" still scores a solid five stars.

The tracks are taken from various live concerts, and here's where buying a hard copy rather than a digital one comes in handy: Krist Novoselic (Cobain's long-time friend and music partner) provides great narrative commentary in the liner notes, identifying the concert dates and locations for the songs as well as providing context of the band's relative success/obscurity for the 1989-1994 time frame it covers. The songs themselves are raw, unpolished, and fueled by the energy of the audience. A word of warning: Nirvana concerts typically involved a lot of screaming by both the band and the audience, but don't be turned off by the messy noise of the intro. A little perseverance will bring you a few tracks in and the lyrics/sound that changed rock (how many bands, even today in 2007, still sound like a second-rate version of Nirvana?) will hook you.

This is not the album for someone just becoming acquainted with Nirvana, but you don't have to be a hardcore fan to enjoy it either. Kurt Cobain wrote catchy, angry, passionate songs and his love of music (if not fame) was most evident in his live performances. It's absolutely impossible to listen to the CD without finding your feet moving a little. June 27, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...