Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box [Steve Albini Mix]

[n0ise92]

really n0ise

[Satyagrahaha]

Bonus version. The real Albini mix of "Heart Shaped Box" has a long note of feedback guitar screaming through the whole song.

[finitenoir]

uh, so it's missing the harmony & whatnot.. who cares. not interested.

[fiddelerselbow]

Drums sound great.

[KurdtKobain09]

@fiddelerselbow that's what nirvana loved most about albini's work. The drum sounds. dave mentions it in a radio interview in portugal.

[fiddelerselbow]

@KurdtKobain09 I'm well aware of that.

[PieceofMindmusic]

Could use just a tad bit more bass. But other than that I think it's marvelous!

[kidwajagstang]

Just as an aside. In Utero is the one album where Nirvana sounds "like Nirvana"... If you listen to live concerts and then compare the sound and style to the two other albums, they don't "sound" like themselves. Incesticide isn't an album as it was a collection, but it also "sounds like" Nirvana.. Hence why they are my two favorite studio releases from the band. Muddy Banks and now Live at Reading are my other two fave releases. I love hearing honesty in recordings..

[kidwajagstang]

The band stated that when they heard the original mixes in the studio (on the nice monitors and from the original master) it sounded incredible! It was when they took it home and played it on home stereos and in their cars that the flaws started to show... I would personally LOVE to hear the ORIGINAL Albini mix in that same studio from the masters... I really want to hear what the band heard and was raving about... But, alas.. Only Mr. Albini, the band, and a few other lucky people ever will..

[hardsap]

yes, this have a little more reverb, more volume on room mics, have less voice doubles, more lows, There are the most noticeable changes at a glance I see

[radrachelleigh]

2:44-3:04 = amazing



[Diatonic5th]

Albini charges a one time fee and never asks for production royalties. This is why you never see Albini listed as a producer on ANY albums, it always reads: "Recorded by Steve Albini" on the packaging. He would be earning a huge amount of money if he was receiving royalties for "In Utero" sales.

[myguitardidyermom12]

The only reason Albini charged so much to record this is because he has a habit of charging people based on more factors than just how much he thinks it's worth. Like wanting to be a dick to the label. As an example, nowadays it cost something like a couple thousand to record in the main studio with Albini behind the console at Electrical Audio. I think it was more a case he did it because he knew they'd pay it. Not that I necessarily agree with that ethos, but it's nice to know.

[submissivelover]

I think this sounds terrible. No bass at all, the vocals are too low. Which i would argue is problably the most important element of Nirvana(Kurts Vocals). It sounds cheaper then Bleach LoL, even though bleach was recorded for $600, and this was recorded for $24,000 OH, and another $100,000 for Mr. Albini of course. Albini was a mistake, seriously. Thank god for Scott Litt, saved the album really.

[mtthwpnn]

i see different versions of songs as being like different children in a family: one's not necessarily better than another and they're all the same blood. but the more there are the less special each of them becomes....

[ClauNirvana]

this version is in In Utero album? i think its way better than Litt's remix

[Ghostisbulletproof]

Raw...

[pennyroyaltea89]

@TheInbornMechanics lol they're one of my favorite bands god damn right my name is pennyroyaltea!! haha any way i couldn't have said it better myself.. cheers fucker!!!

[CanadianChronic2121]

@TheInbornMechanics

Well then give me 1 reason why he would disrespect Nirvana ?

because i think your just full of shit....

[pennyroyaltea89]

@TheInbornMechanics haha yes i'm very familiar with those bands.. and i don't hold nirvana up on some massive pedestal like so many 14 year olds who weren't even around for them. however nirvana will always hold a place in my heart for making "MY" teenage years less shitty.. but believe me my musical taste far surpasses nirvana.. i love just about every genre.. blues, folk, funk, punk , ska, old school hiphop, alternative, metal , classical.... music is music.

[pennyroyaltea89]

@TheInbornMechanics lol you got me man.. i clearly never get bored or have extra time on my hands.. my point was that i wouldn't go on a 50 cent video and start going off about how much i hate rap music and how its a bunch of misogynistic fucktards... its cool that you don't like nirvana.. like really..who cares? just don't expect to not to get reactions from people when you write that shit on a nirvana video.

[pennyroyaltea89]

@TheInbornMechanics why are you so opinionated about someone that you never even knew? well i have an opinion too... i think its pretty fucking disrespectful to look up a video for a band you don't even like and start talking a bunch of shit about the artist that obviously meant something to a large number of people just to be a cunt....or maby you just don't have anything better to do with your time?

[RebelThoughts]

@TheInbornMechanics You = Fail

[IxRyderxl]

@TheInbornMechanics Yup, call me a kid over youtube. You need to stop being a keyboard samurai typing 1-paragraph comments. And because someone on the internet says i have no originality means it has to be true. And about the comment, it was a simple question and you went and called me a "half wit".

[IxRyderxl]

@TheInbornMechanics Yup, call people names on youtube. uMadBro?

[CanadianChronic2121]

@TheInbornMechanics

Name 1 band that he produced an album for for free.... ?

[dboybooze]

the drums slay on this!

[IxRyderxl]

@TheInbornMechanics So you never really liked Nirvana or Kurt himself, but you took the time to comment on a video with their music? Ok.

[eriveltoferreira]

pratically the same thing

[spicyMcHAGGIS9green]

I can tell a giant difference in the sound. I like this mix the best, plus Albini is a genius.

[tflypat]

It simply sounds like you're listening to the band live in the studio. But seriously, its a very small difference. Everett True mentions an original tape in his biography about them, which turns out to be 99% more accurate than the Charles Cross bullshit one. Mainly because he actually knew them and he interviewed a lot of fucking people for that book.

[shezyheys]

the remix version has more impact and a dirtier sound

[darcy2345]

wats soo different?

[MontevideoMovies]

you can definitely tell the chorus has way more hi-hat...i love this version though very raw and good

[TheDevilguy676]

Both versions are great. :)

[RedlefB]

this mix is better, rougher, especially the bass and drum which aren't presented well enough in the regular mix (more than the other songs on the albums)

[sp1derfan90]

His voice sounds more haunting in this version because there's no backing vocals.

[PopCultureSucks]

This is definitly a little dirtier than the record version and less commercial sounding, I imagine thats why Kurt was so pissed when they remixed it

[myemo123]

is this one of the songs Everett refers too in the last 48 hours of kurt cobain??? and if so. do you have any others from the album?

[rayolacer]

the only thing i dont like is the clean guitar otherwise it would have gone down quite well

[tadeuvi]

the record version is way better

[jennytayla]

everyone eat a dick and shut the fuck up

[michaelfrelick]

Anyone who's ever recorded a live band would probably agree that the hardest part about recording is capturing the first good sound before mixing. Good input means easy mixing. Point being, albini did all of the hard work, someone else just polished it a bit.

[ebeatworld]

I agree with Cobain about this mix. Bass is too low.

I really like Lit's mix. The harmonies on the chorus work really well, and the important bass line is more prevalent .

However! I do agree with Albini about the mastering. I think it's a bit too heavy. I wouldn't say I hate it as much as Albini does, but it does kind of make the low end too muddy, which drowns out the guitars.

[JMMQOTSA]

“The version of the album in the stores is the version the band wanted people to hear, and I respect that. Any ‘alternate version’ floating around out there is either totally bogus or a generations-removed copy of a cassette dub, and not worth your attention.”- Steve Albini

[fuckthisc1ty]

@JMMQOTSA theres actualy an albini version on sliver the best of the box set n rape me is on ther too

[iTubeYourDadsMinge]

@JMMQOTSA

But this ISN'T a cassette dub. The vocals are different (one track, no double), the solo is uncompressed and the EQ is completely different.

This is NOT a 'bogus version'. You may also want to write what year Steve Albini made that quote in. In fact, I'll do it for you: 1995.

That was in the days before the internet was a huge commodity of everyday life, and therefore before 'leaks' were even an issue for record companies.

[SirHatchporch]

@iTubeYourDadsMinge I think by "cassette dub" he's referring to an early mix of a song taken from a work cassette when an album is being recorded or mixed. And that's exactly what this sounds like.

[jbvsmo]

Amazing how good that sounds!

[bewlaybrutha]

Terrible. He's an awful producer.

[mixmastermonte]

@bewlaybrutha that's a tough call. The mix is one step in the recording process. Was he the producer or mix engineer? The producer is the overall project manager. He's part of song selection, arrangement, re-writes, getting the performance recorded and dealing with all the personalities of artists and suits. Overseeing mixing and mastering. This mix is pretty unpolished. Typically, you shouldn't mix your own recording as you are too close to it. just some thoughts.

[TheRealJohnSkinny]

@bewlaybrutha I could say the same thing about you...

[SouthernWhiteWolf]

@bewlaybrutha you know SHIT about how REAL MUSIC sounds...so, before you criticize Steve Albini, check out the worms up your ass...you stupid fuck

[uhgvitybvouv]

anyone can record that, just press record and let the band play. if the song sucked noone would care, but just cause its nirvana suddenly the guy is a genius

[hubert1199999]

@uhgvitybvouv Steve Albini is a genius. Not just because he hit a record button.

[SouthernWhiteWolf]

@hubert1199999 TOTALLY AGREE.

[hubert1199999]

@SouthernWhiteWolf These Steve Albini haters would probably implode listening to Big Black or Rapeman. For those of you who know not, These are two of Albinis earlier bands that influenced Kurt.

[BenGordonBITCHSLAP]

@uhgvitybvouv I defy you to try and make a track that sounds like that.

[HoosierMF]

@uhgvitybvouv You're a fucking retard. He was well known way before Nirvana ASKED him to produce for them.

[BeTheDeathOfMe]

@uhgvitybvouv

You have no idea how much fucking work recording and mixing an album takes.

Producers do not get nearly as much respect as they generaly get from people who assume bands just sound like this naturaly.

[skrason]

Sounds like a real band playing live in a real room. Which is what Albini is known for. Don't get me wrong, I love those old REM records Litt produced, but this is superior. . I'll say one thing: Albini gets so much credit for his "raw" sound. But listen to U2's "War". 1983.

[logicalcorrelation]

my understanding is that the actual steve albini mix features a completely different guitar solo than the one featured here.

[Gekbek]

@logicalcorrelation this is the steve albini version i have it on vinyl its on my channel

[MrBunnerabb]

Albini tends to track L.I.T.S. and mix without a lot of processing, AFAIK.

It a very documentary style.

[jasonC9595]

This version's much better, although I wish the drums were louder.

On another note, I think it'd be pretty interesting if Albini went back and re-mixed Nevermind.

[sydbarrett5]

@jasonC9595 That would be interesting. Does he do remixes though? I thought he just records bands.

[Thewonkandfriends]

As a sound engineer myself, I much, much prefer this version. It's got that Albini sound that I've been trying to recreate for years. It sounds so much more honest.

The man's a legend. If I could only get a version without youtube compression on it, I'd be very happy.

[tnizzle53]

@Thewonkandfriends What is Youtube compression?

I'm not a sound junkie, so I'm asking out of pure curiosity.

But being a musician, I do hear what you mean. It's really raw. It doesn't have that kinda like, soft tone over it. It's raw. It's punker.

[Thewonkandfriends]

@tnizzle53 Well, when something goes on youtube, it gets compressed to fit within Youtube's size restrictions. Naturally, sound and video quality suffers. The larger the original file, the worse the sound and video quality becomes. It's fine for watching most videos, but if you really need to hear something in a mix, it's not great, because it cuts out a lot of the sound.

[AmalgamOfMeat]

I'm pretty sure some portion of this album was recorded in a kitchen.

[reviewsnotratings]

@AmalgamOfMeat actually a true statement. Dave's drums for "very ape" and "tourette's" were recorded in the studio kitchenette.

[buewgewstmeiers]

its also fuzzy in the background and missing a certain high pitched ringing that starts before the music, unless im just crazy

[shaunhatesyou]

I love the Albini mixes, I kind of wish they'd officially release it sometime down the road, it's such a raw sounding record, and the music is almost suffocating in Albini's version, it was pretty clear their intent was to distance themselves entirely from what they attained with Nevermind.

[opinionsSUCK]

@shaunhatesyou

They did. It's an LP.

[stickinginthepin]

@opinionsSUCK Yeah, this is the LP version. CD/Single versions don't have that amazing tremolo going on during the solo.

[MrDabloomz]

I like this mix much better anyways.

[RawwestHide]

@coolxan1 Suck Albini's balls, bleach sucked sonically. Even if you don't like this mix, you have to admit it's better than bleach. Also, Steve has said that there is no possible way that the original recordings could have gotten out.

By the way, the album out in stores doens't sound much different than the Pixies/Breeders albums Albini did, or the Jesus Lizard album that he did. If you like the way the record sounds you like Albini's work. His trademarks are all over it.

[Zackpinkshoes]

no vocal harmony

[MrFlatmint]

Oh Mr Albini why do you challenge us so?

Soiled genius

[Iamcola65]

steve albini > kurt cobain

steve has done so much more for independent music that nirvana ever has

[aligboyakasha]

@Iamcola65 overrated

[Iamcola65]

@aligboyakasha nirvana is, yes

[EyMeng]

@Iamcola65 only 'cause kurt blew his head off

[Metllerr]

everything Albini does... just amazing.

[PopExpo]

if i was the "producer" or "recorder" i would bring up the bass a little bit more in the chorus maybe even slightly overdrive it. it has really creepy groove to it and totally makes the chorus.... it fits well with kurt's vocal. the bass is kinda playing what the guitar solo plays but a bass version. Krist was an awesome bassist and he was totally neglected on this album. I'm a sucker for harmonies so i would have really made the backing vocal harmony in 3rd verse really obvious.

[jeremyfreya]

on the album version the bass comes in at the same time as the drums but in this it comes in before them so is most definitely an alt mix!!!!! weather its Steve Albini's mix not sure but most definitely it is another mix

[JordanC6819]

i cant really hear the difference between this and the in utero version

[RedlefB]

@JordanC6819 Cobain's voice isn't centered anymore, but located to the left, so that you hear more distinction between the voice and instruments, the drums come out better, the guitars sharper and bass isn't as prominent as in the final mix, also the instruments are louder on this version.

At least, this is what I've heard on this track

[karl198]

This isn't the proper albini mix, albini has said that any 'original' mixes floating around are shit quality cassette tape rips or similar. There is no true original mix anywhere as far as is known.

[twmatcham]

albini mix is so much more interesting

[anarchopaperclip]

That solo has like.. 4 notes?

[AmalgamOfMeat]

@anarchopaperclip 10 to be exact.

[DryHanson]

Albini and Cobain

perfect combination

[hannibalsloat]

Albini: ''The version of the album in the stores is the version the band wanted people to hear, and I respect that. Any ‘alternate version’ floating around out there is either totally bogus or a generations-removed copy of a cassette dub, and not worth your attention.” Sorry folks, but this isn't albini's mix.

[beepmotherfuckerbeep]

@hannibalsloat Except that there was a German re-issue of the vinyl LP that accidentally used the master tapes of the Steve Albini mix. This was no bootleg, it was issused by Universal.

[radbadproductions]

@hannibalsloat The original mixes were stolen, or misplaced, something to that extent. They are around. I'm not saying this for sure is it, but it could be.

[precinctful]

The solo...

sounds fantastic.

Sorry Krist.

[dafuksup]

this version is better than the album version.

[MichaelD8393]

ok but the real one's wayyyy better. on this one you can't really hear kurt's voice, and where's dave singing in the background.

[forrizzle28]

@MichaelD8393 this IS the real one. it's fucking raw rock and roll.

[MichaelD8393]

@forrizzle28 oh i never saw that but i still perfer the cd version

[LilC2012]

when I listen to the album version I can hear Pat Smears voice on the chorus, I DON'T WANT TO!, even if that's what Kurt wanted him to do, so I like this one better

[SpasticIBS]

@LilC2012 Pat smear did not do backup vocals on any actual nirvana album. On in utero, Kurt Cobain did the backup vocals on the chorus.

[lildigiman]

@SpasticIBS Dave Grohl did some... I think... I know for a fact he did on Nevermind

[SpasticIBS]

@lildigiman he did on nevermind. he didn't on this song.

[csxtrainwreck]

This is the better version.

[PopExpo]

there is also no harmony in the verses.

[PopExpo]

the vocals sound un-treated. it sounds like the raw tracks.

[deejaybee]

Dave's a fucking machine, man. Shit. Love it.

[bunglebonse]

This sounds like a copy of the multi track master, tape hiss and all!

[stanfordsan]

this doesn't sond mixed at all, sounds like a raw studio recording. sounds better than the version they play on the radio. i like the raw sound

[IrrationalExperience]

@stanfordsan Albini tended to prefer a "live in the studio" sound when it came to recording, which is awesome. No fucking bullshit, just the real sound.

[siscomonkey99]

hi can someone help i have an old casette tape with this and marigold on it is that rare?

[tmofee]

this release came from an accidental vinyl release in europe or somewhere. it was quickly deleted, but bootleggers grabbed onto it quickly... there is/was a torrent going around with high quality FLAC files of the entire album, good luck finding it now...

[alexpain1000]

whoa.sounds like 3 guitars. this rocks. where can i get a copy ?

[andy92811]

Version is the best.

[bemcalavera]

i totally agree with 22rawrrawr, i hate all that attemps to destroy real music with that fuckin fake plastic and balltwisting shit... and i know the real shit music, i'm italian... i play music and i play it raw, no overdub or nothing that could turn off that "live" feeling, you know. me and my band (joykin) record only live takes with all the dirt and noise and errors, we don't give a fuck. if someone love the real, this is the real.

peace

[bleachwad]

it's not what I'm used to, but I still like it

[suhijo]

ammmm this sounds like the suffer rosa ... only allbini,s mind can turn onto this jeejje

[AntiAntagonizing]

albini

[stickinginthepin]

Tremolo on the solo is fucking amazing. I have In Utero on both cd and vinyl, and only on the vinyl version is the tremolo during the solo present. Kind of a bummer for the cd owners.

[e6e2e3e1]

OMG this sounds awesome! Much better then classic version.

[MRBLuD]

Steve Albini has said many times that all these "original mixes" on the Internet are fakes.

[superball94]

I like them both.

[Wolfsenshi]

Without the second vocal starting from high and going to low, this song loses so much for me. All I hear on this track is loud-ass guitar and drums. The band made the right move remastering this song into the beauty that it is. This is the best song of all time and I'm glad they decided to remaster it.

[bobby6649]

@Wolfsenshi great song, but all time!!!

[FancyKetchup10]

but the litt version is too poppy

[ericmeloman86]

I have this version of this song. I think its much better then the mixed one. It sounds bette this way.

[decidiousancient1625]

the vocals are single tracked. The official version has double tracks and is too polished to be worth release. Same problem with 'Nevermind'. It sounded too good to hit shelves.

[22rawrrawr]

@decidiousancient1625 i totally agree i hate really polished shit im sick of it

[joefloydwonka]

ohm the guitar sounds so powerful... drums too!

[pimpinhass]

...Well tomorrow I'ma buy a camera and start shooting my movie. I don't know how to shoot and I'll do bullshit and then when they'll asked me about my unconventional "technic", I'll say that is my own way to work to have a raw result on screen

[pimpinhass]

Is that supposed to be THE legendary sound of Steve Albini?

It seems to be recorded with a 4-tracks.

Now I understand why he mixes an entire album in 1 or 2 days and record an album in 2 weeks.

Stop idolizing assholes who don't know recording and mixing and who are telling people that is their way the best to get a "naturally authentic" sound...

[SmellsLikeHippie]

Sounds like home-made demoversion to me. Just opinion. However the vocals are interesting.

[aselfishimpulse]

@SmellsLikeHippie an Albini mix sounds like a demo? Yeah... ok. Albini is one of the best producers of all time, ever heard of a little record called Surfer Rosa?

[DavySolaris]

not enough bass. Otherwise Albini fucking NAILED this, beats the final mix by a mile.

[theoriginal72]

It sounds real.

[1337m4v3rick]

@theoriginal72 real as fuck

[williampatrickcorgan]

he always like the vocals low in the mix, and it works better on this track, for sure

[Jojos25]

i honestly prefer the final version. although the drums here are great.

[kmt187]

What happened to Producers like this???

What happened to Music and Bands like this???

Simple Question, Simple Answer.

It's a unanswered question that will remain.

[Hamstersssssssssssss]

I like this version better , sounds live .

[glitchesandglitter]

yeah, it sound good.

[Quigh]

typical albini mix of low vocal levels...

[Fabricioviedo]

the difference is that this one sounds less "powerful" because the bass is not in a very high volume, also there are not backing vocals, i think there are but its hard to hear them, even for me and im musician D:

But i think it wasnt that bad, but the other one is better,,,

[williampatrickcorgan]

this is more true to how they sounded live

[JawnLee]

I think both versions are good, cuz this one has a much more raw sound, cuz i dont hear any backup vocals, and the drums and guitar are much more brought up, while the scott lit version brings up the vocals and melds everything together into a finishing touch :) not trying to be a critic or anything, just wanna say my oppinion :D both versions are awesome and so is nirvana!

[kmt187]

i deadly agree with your opinion man.

[andpyramids]

Oh shit yeah, this version is much better.

[Sparxdd]

this pleases me  = _=

[dispopulate]

The drums sound good for this version. For me, vocals on litt version is better than this though.. but its still nirvana no matter how it sounds =)

[finnchy25]

They actually did release it I cant remember where but Im not bothered to check...But they did

Btw nice username :)

[iamamannow]

god thing they re mixed it this is very bad...

[valeo1993]

i like the rem

[AdictToNirvana]

Man I thought the ORIGINAL solo would be on this.they edited it out it really sounded like the one on with the lights out

[sunchild90]

scott lit is a bastard

[sunchild90]

scott lit is a bastard

[PieceofMindmusic]

this mix is ferocious. damn this album would have kicked some much more ass if it had been released this way.

[wordupassholes]

Kurt Cobain was an ordinary person. End of history. Not a fucking god of awesomeness. If it was possible, Kurt would crawl from his grave and kick your asses for being such pussies.

[PieceofMindmusic]

gawd thank, someone with since! he was a great artist and all but not a fucking gawd. just normal man like any of us.

[stude444]

"The guitar solo sounded like a fucking abortion hitting the floor"

-Krist Novoselic

[dub1423]

wiki that bitch up!

[bigmuffexpress]

@stude444

What did he even mean by that??

[wordupassholes]

I like this more. The guitar has a more sharper sound

[NirvanaRage12]

@wordupassholes Mr Albini loved lots of treble

[closer71]

Yeah, both versions sound good; seems Scott Litt just brought up the vocals a whole bunch...

[karl198]

Good version.

Hey why don't you all stop with the' RIP Kurt' stuff. He's dead! He can't hear you!

Shut up bitch!