It's been said that the songs found in In Utero were inspired from the works of R.E.M and The Beatles, and the trio that made up Nirvana did just that to justify such comparisons. From Kurt Cobain's amazing vocals and guitar, Krist Novoselic with his outstanding bass ability and Dave Grohl's thumping drums, In Utero definitely showcased how rock should really be done: raw and honest, sometimes innovative in a certain way.

The album starts off with Serve The Servants, which for me is completely R.E.M-influenced. The song was done in excellent coherency, accompanied by the semi-loud lyrics and a laidback performance. It was quickly followed by Scentless Apprentice, which is one to behold. Just listen to Grohl's energetic drum sequence and Kurt wailing the words ñGet Awayî during the chorus ~ mesmerizing. This is also one of the louder songs throughout In Utero, and it's absolutely great stuff. Next up is Heart-Shaped Box, another song done to perfection. Simply put, this song is testament to Kurt's songwriting ability ~ sometimes abstract, sometimes strange, but brilliant in both ways. Krist's performance during the track were reminiscent to that on Come As You Are: slithering, pure melody of a bass guitar. Granted, this is one of the best songs I have ever listened to.

Then came the simplistic yet haunting song Rape Me. Although the song was quite short and simple, there's a certain sense of complexity within. This would again be factored to Kurt's vocals throughout the song, and the scream of ñRape Meî during the final part truly made this song a gem. After that is Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle. This track had a true rock feel to it, done in a nice mixture of loud and slow. It had great lyrics as well, sounding almost cynical at times. After that is the sixth track on In Utero - Dumb, which is personally my favourite Nirvana song of all time. The strength of this song lies within the melodramatic tunes of the cello, combined with slow and steady grunge. You can truly relate to the lyrics and feel how Kurt felt at that time, especially for the line ñI think I'm dumb, maybe just happyî. This song is truly the pinnacle of excellence; it's simply perfect, no doubt at all.

Next up is Very Ape, a song set with a fast-paced tune and delightful simplicity. Although I consider this my least favourite song on the track, it's still darn good, though it can never compare to some of the songs already mentioned. It's too short a song anyway for me to give a fair rating. After that is Milk It, a somewhat metaphorical song about viruses and suicide. This is also one of the louder songs on the album, and yet again it's excellent. I can never comprehend how they were able to fit the [strange] lyrics along with a thunderous sequence, making the song sound and feel perfect in so many ways. Track nine features the epic, the legendary, the beautiful (however you may call it) Pennyroyal Tea. Although there is an improved version on the Greatest Hits album (black cover), I still prefer the raw guitar sound of the original. Kurt had said that the song was not recorded right, but for me (and probably quite a few others) it made the song all the better. Don't forget to listen to Kurt's guitar solo of Pennyroyal Tea on Nirvana's Unplugged In New York album too ¿ all three of the variations were absolutely mindblowing. The next song is Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, a complex song complemented by Kurt and Krist's stop-go motion, especially during the intro. For me, this is the track where Grohl didn't shine at all, his monotonous drums being overwhelmed by the lyrics and a strong dose of guitar tunes. Song eleven is called Tourette's. Originally titled The Eagle Has Landed, this song made its way onto In Utero after it was around for a few years. This is the loudest song on the album, and good luck catching the lyrics ~ Kurt's loud, LOUD vocals were almost beyond recognition. But just like all the songs on this album, it has a nice tune, this time stressing on pure hard rock and an all-around tantalizing performance from the band. The last song is called All Apologies, another classic for the ages. Kurt's charming voice and the well-written nature of the track itself provided most of the plus factors of the song. It's a great and fitting closure to such a brilliant album.

For me, In Utero showed much Nirvana had matured after the release of Nevermind, this time showcasing such complex yet beautiful lyrics while boasting their ability to conjure up memorable tunes down the years. It's a gem and one that cannot be missed on any cost. Listen to it and feel the utmost satisfaction of rock, done by a phenomenal band.

- - FREEQZ