Classic Reviews: Nirvana, Nevermind

Lauren Spencer
Updated
This review originally ran in the December 1991 issue of SPIN. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind, we've republished this piece here. After a most fine lunch on a bright sunny New York day, Nevermind is blasting through the little box on my desk and the finance department here at…

This review originally ran in the December 1991 issue of SPIN. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind, we’ve republished this piece here.

After a most fine lunch on a bright sunny New York day, Nevermind is blasting through the little box on my desk and the finance department here at the lovely SPIN offices are probably going ballistic … But so what. Forget the new Guns N’ Roses double overkill. Forget Rush’s Roll the Bones. Nirvana has built this one for speed—that would be speed with a capital “S”—and it sure is fun to drive. A little bit punk, a little bit metal, a little bit country, a little bit rock’n’roll. What the hell more do you want?

Nevermind’s got a full-out rock assault on “Territorial Pissings,” and a beautifully harmonic “On a Plain,” and a really cool song called “Breed.” Anyway, I swear you’ll be humming all the songs for the rest of your life—or at least until your CD/tape/album wears out. I’m fully about this record, and you will be too.