Nirvana "In Utero" [1993]

The rise of the Seattle grunge movement was remarkably swift and relatively long-lasting, proving the music industry had already organized itself in reaction to the Warrant "She's My Cherry Pie"-led movement of LA hair metal, and apparently threw a dart to decide which group would be deigned their movement's "leader" and it hit Nirvana. So it's noisy, obnoxious, simplistic major-label debut "Nevermind" became anthemic of the early 90s -- so much so that their follow-up, "In Utero," could be any old piece of shit and still be considered a classic work of genius, and it was (any old piece of shit, that is). Here Kurt Cobain has made a choice very few people ever get to make: treat yourself seriously and branch out into bold new musical real estate under the spotlight at the risk of coming off too full of yourself, or just snort a lot of junk and go through the motions like a bitch. It becomes apparent upon revisiting "In Utero" not only which decision he took but why he couldn't wait to off himself. Some cynics claim he killed himself for the publicity, because he was a junkie with a one-way ticket or because his cunt of a wife had him murdered. Listen to this album and feel the weight of Cobain's fucked up decision to let Steve Albini produce him; I'd feel not only compelled to kill myself but Albini as well. In a way, I wish "In Utero" had come before "Nevermind;" that way Pearl Jam could have been the grunge poster boys and the movement would've lasted far less time.