Nevermind

In early 1990, Nirvana began planning their second album for their record company Sub Pop, tentatively titled Sheep. At the suggestion of Sub Pop head Bruce Pavitt, Nirvana selected Butch Vig as producer.Classic Albums—Nirvana: Nevermind [DVD]. Isis Productions, 2004. The band particularly liked Vig's work with Killdozer.Hoi, Tobias. "In Bloom". Guitar World. October 2001. They traveled to Vig's Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin, and recorded from April 2 to 6, 1990.{{cite web|url=https://www.livenirvana.com/sessions/studio/april-1990.php|title=Live Nirvana – Sessions History – Studio Sessions – April 2–6, 1990 – Studio A, Smart Studios, Madison, WI, US|website=www.livenirvana.com|access-date=May 21, 2019|archive-date=October 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029141433/https://livenirvana.com/sessions/studio/april-1990.php|url-status=live}} Most of the basic arrangements were complete, but the songwriter Kurt Cobain was still working on lyrics and the band was unsure of which songs to record.Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 29 Ultimately, eight were recorded, some of which were later rerecorded for Nevermind: "Imodium" (later renamed "Breed"), "Dive" (later released as the B-side to "Sliver"), "In Bloom", "Pay to Play" (later renamed "Stay Away"), "Sappy", "Lithium", "Here She Comes Now" (released on Heaven & Hell: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground), and "Polly".Azerrad, 1993. p. 137

On April 6, Nirvana played a local show in Madison with the Seattle band Tad.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nirvanaguide.com/images/1990/040690.0001.jpg|title=Club Underground Show Flyer Live Nirvana|website=Nirvanaguide.com|access-date=May 25, 2023}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Vig began to mix the recordings while the band gave an interview to Madison's community radio station WORT on April 7.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFnglPif-Is Nirvana - 04/07/90 - (Interview) WORT Radio Studio, Madison, WI]. YouTube. July 6, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2023. Cobain strained his voice, forcing Nirvana to end the recording. On April 8, they traveled to Milwaukee to begin an extensive midwest and east coast tour of 24 shows in 39 days.{{cite web|url=http://www.nirvanaguide.com/1990.php|title=Nirvana Live Guide – 1990|website=www.nirvanaguide.com|access-date=October 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061122204611/http://www.nirvanaguide.com/1990.php|archive-date=November 22, 2006|url-status=dead}}

The drummer Chad Channing left after the tour, putting additional recording on hold. During a show by the hardcore punk band Scream, Cobain and the bassist Krist Novoselic were impressed by their drummer Dave Grohl. When Scream unexpectedly disbanded, Grohl contacted Novoselic, traveled to Seattle, and was invited to join the band. Novoselic said in retrospect that, with Grohl, everything "fell into place".

By the 1990s, Sub Pop was having financial problems. With rumors that they would become a subsidiary of a major record label, Nirvana decided to "cut out the middleman" and look for a major record label. Nirvana used the recordings as a demo tape to shop for a new label. Within a few months, the tape was circulating among major labels.Azerrad, 1993. p. 138 A number of labels courted them; Nirvana signed with Geffen Records imprint DGC Records based on recommendations from Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and their management company.Azerrad, 1993. p. 162

After Nirvana signed to DGC, a number of producers were suggested, including Scott Litt, David Briggs, Don Dixon, and Bob Mould.Azerrad, 1993. p. 164–65 Novoselic said the band had been nervous about recording under a major label, and the producers suggested by DGC wanted percentage points. Instead, the band held out for Vig, with whom they felt comfortable collaborating.Cross, Charles R. "Requiem for a Dream". Guitar World. October 2001.

File:Butch Vig at Smart Studios, Madison, WI, United States of America.jpg in 2006|217x217px]]With a budget of $65,000, Nirvana recorded Nevermind at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, in May and June 1991.Sandford 1995, p. 181 To earn gas money to get to Los Angeles, they played a show where they performed "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for the first time. The band sent Vig rehearsal tapes prior to the sessions that featured songs recorded previously at Smart Studios, plus new songs including "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Come as You Are".Azerrad 1993, p. 167

Nirvana arrived in California and spent a few days rehearsing and working on arrangements.Azerrad 1993, p. 169 The only recording carried over from the Smart Studios sessions was "Polly", including Channing's cymbal crashes. Once recording commenced, the band worked eight to ten hours a day.Azerrad 1993, p. 174

Despite receiving a $287,000 advance upon signing with Geffen, Cobain retained a preference for inexpensive equipment—particularly Japanese-made Fender guitars, due to their skinny necks and wider availability in lefthanded orientation.{{cite web |last1=Gill |first1=Chris |title=The definitive Kurt Cobain gear guide: a deep dive into the Nirvana frontman's pawn shop prizes, turbo-charged stompboxes and blown woofers |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-definitive-kurt-cobain-gear-guide |website=guitarworld.com |date=February 17, 2021 |publisher=Guitar World |access-date=March 13, 2023}} These included several Stratocasters fitted with humbucker pickups in the bridge positions, as well as a 1965 Jaguar with DiMarzio pickups and a 1969 Mustang, the latter of which Cobain cited as his favorite due to its design flaws. For the album, Cobain bought a rackmount system featuring a Mesa/Boogie Studio preamp, a Crown power amp, and Marshall cabinets. He also used a Vox AC30 and a Fender Bassman. Vig preferred not to use pedals, but he allowed Cobain to use a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, which Cobain considered a key part of his sound, as well as an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff fuzz pedal and a Small Clone chorus.

Novoselic and Grohl finished their tracks in days, while Cobain worked longer on guitar overdubs, vocals, and lyrics. He sometimes finished lyrics minutes before recording.Azerrad 1993, p. 176 Vig recalled that Cobain was often reluctant to record overdubs, but he was persuaded to double-track his vocals when Vig told him that John Lennon did it. Though the sessions generally went well, Vig said Cobain would become difficult at times: "He'd be great for an hour, and then he'd sit in a corner and say nothing for an hour."

Vig and the band were unhappy with Vig's initial mixes and decided to bring in someone else to oversee the mixing. DGC supplied a list of options, including Scott Litt, known for his work with R.E.M., and Ed Stasium, known for his work with Ramones and the Smithereens. Cobain was concerned about bringing in well known producers, and instead chose Andy Wallace, who had co-produced Slayer's 1990 album Seasons in the Abyss.di Perna, Alan. "Grunge Music: The Making of Nevermind". Guitar World. Fall 1996. Novoselic recalled, "We said, 'Right on,' because those Slayer records were so heavy."Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 96

Wallace's mixes most notably altered the drum and guitar sounds.Azerrad 1993, p. 179–80 According to Wallace and Vig, the band loved the results.Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 99 However, they criticized it after the album was released. Steve Albini, who engineered Nirvana's next album, In Utero (1993), said Vig's initial mix "sounded maybe 200 times more ass-kicking" than the final version of Nevermind and that Nirvana referred to it while working on In Utero. He said that Vig was an excellent engineer who "had a good, sympathetic relationship with all the noisy bands he recorded in the 80s", which was why Nirvana had hired him.{{Cite web |last=Walls |first=Seth Colter |date=September 27, 2011 |title=Kurt Cobain Thought Nevermind Was Nirvana's Worst Album |url=https://slate.com/culture/2011/09/nirvana-nevermind-reissue-the-version-of-nirvana-s-album-that-kurt-cobain-loved-best.html |access-date=September 19, 2022 |website=Slate |language=en}}

Nevermind was mastered by Howie Weinberg on the afternoon of August 2 at the Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California. Weinberg started working alone when no one else arrived at the appointed time in the studio; by the time Nirvana, Andy Wallace, and Gary Gersh arrived, he had almost finished.Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 102 A hidden track, "Endless, Nameless", intended to appear at the end of "Something in the Way", was accidentally left off initial pressings of the album. Weinberg recalled, "In the beginning, it was kind of a verbal thing to put that track at the end [...] Maybe I didn't write it down when Nirvana or the record company said to do it. So, when they pressed the first twenty thousand or so CDs, albums, and cassettes, it wasn't on there." Cobain called Weinberg and demanded he rectify the mistake.Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 103

{{Listen

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| title = "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

| description = "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the album opener, illustrates the change in dynamics from verse to pre-chorus and chorus. The band maintains the chord progression throughout, relying on the changes in dynamics and the reintroduction of the main guitar riff at the end to indicate the shifts between sections.

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| description2 = "Come as You Are", the second single from Nevermind. Guitarist Kurt Cobain uses a chorus pedal when playing his guitar, creating a "watery" effect.

}}At the time of writing Nevermind, Cobain was listening to bands such as Melvins, R.E.M., the Smithereens, and Pixies, and was writing songs that were more melodic. A key development was the single "Sliver", released on Sub Pop in 1990 before Grohl joined, which Cobain said "was like a statement in a way. I had to write a pop song and release it on a single to prepare people for the next record. I wanted to write more songs like that."Azerrad, 1993. p. 145 Grohl said that the band at that point likened their music to children's music, in that they tried to make their songs as simple as possible.

Cobain fashioned chord sequences using primarily power chords and wrote songs that combined pop hooks with dissonant guitar riffs. His aim for Nevermind's material was to sound like "the Knack and the Bay City Rollers getting molested by Black Flag and Black Sabbath".Lewis, Luke. "Nirvana – Nevermind". Q: Nirvana and the Story of Grunge. December 2005. Many songs feature shifts in dynamics, whereby the band changes from quiet verses to loud choruses. Grohl said this approach originated during a four-month period prior to the recording of the album, when the band would experiment with extreme dynamics during regular jam sessions.di Perna, Alan. "Absolutely Foobulous!" Guitar World. August 1997.

Guitar World wrote, "Kurt Cobain's guitar sound on Nirvana's Nevermind set the tone for Nineties rock music." Cobain played a 1960s Fender Mustang, a Fender Jaguar with DiMarzio pickups, and a few Fender Stratocasters with humbucker bridge pickups. He used distortion and chorus pedals as his main effects, the latter used to generate a "watery" sound on "Come as You Are" and the pre-choruses of "Smells Like Teen Spirit"."Cobainspotting". Guitar World. October 2001. Novoselic tuned down his bass guitar one and a half steps to D flat "to get this fat-ass sound".

After the release of Nevermind, members of Nirvana expressed dissatisfaction with the production for its perceived commercial sound. Cobain said, "I'm embarrassed by it now. It's closer to a Mötley Crüe record than it is a punk rock record." In 2011, Vig said that Nirvana had "loved" Nevermind when they finished it. He said Cobain had criticized it in the press "because you can't really go, 'Hey, I love our record and I'm glad it sold 10 million copies.' That's just not cool to do. And I think he felt like he wanted to do something more primal."{{Cite magazine |date=September 20, 2011 |title=Nirvana Producer Butch Vig Remembers 'Nevermind' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/nirvana-producer-butch-vig-remembers-nevermind-467504/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 28, 2021}}

The album is dark, humorous, and disturbing.{{Cite journal |last=Sheppherd |first=Josh |date=2004 |title="Nevermind"—Nirvana (1991) |url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/Nevermind.pdf |journal=Library of Congress}} It includes anti-establishment views,{{Cite web |last=Jovetic |first=Mirjana |date=October 27, 2000 |title=Rewind to 1991 |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/329870/rewind-1991 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} and explores sexism,{{Cite magazine |date=November 20, 2018 |title=Nirvana's "Nevermind" Made, and Unmade, Alternative Culture |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/touchstones/an-appreciation-of-nirvanas-1991-album-nevermind |access-date=April 3, 2022 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}} frustration, loneliness, sickness and troubled love.{{Cite web |title=Nirvana: The stories behind every song on Nevermind |url=https://www.kerrang.com/nirvana-the-stories-behind-every-song-on-nevermind/ |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Kerrang! |date=September 23, 2021 |language=en}} Cobain said that the lyrics were taken from two years of poetry he had accumulated, and then cut up, choosing lines he preferred,Steinke, Darcey (October 1993). [https://www.spin.com/2013/09/nirvana-cover-story-1993-smashing-their-heads-on-the-punk-rock "Smashing Their Heads on the Punk Rock"]. Spin. Retrieved March 10, 2023. noting that they're "not usually thematic at all".{{cite book |last1=Cross |first1=Charles |title=Classic Rock Albums: Nirvana - Nevermind |last2=Berkenstadt |first2=Jim |date=February 22, 2012 |publisher=Schirmer Trade Books |isbn=9780857127686 |publication-date=January 1, 1998 |author-link1=Charles R. Cross |author-link2=Jim Berkenstadt}} On the other hand, Grohl has said that Cobain told him, "Music comes first and lyrics come second," and Grohl believes that above all Cobain focused on the melodies of his songs. Cobain was still working on the album's lyrics well into the recording of Nevermind. Additionally, Cobain's phrasing on the album is often difficult to understand. Vig asserted that clarity of Cobain's singing was not paramount, saying that "Even though you couldn't quite tell what he was singing about, you knew it was intense as hell." Cobain later complained when rock journalists attempted to decipher his singing and extract meaning from his lyrics, writing: "Why in the hell do journalists insist on coming up with a second-rate Freudian evaluation of my lyrics, when 90 percent of the time they've transcribed them incorrectly?"Cross 2001, p. 182

Charles R. Cross asserted in his 2001 biography of Cobain, Heavier Than Heaven, that many of the songs written for Nevermind were about Cobain's dysfunctional relationship with Tobi Vail. After their relationship ended, Cobain began writing and painting violent scenes, many of which revealed a hatred for himself and others. Songs written during this period were less violent, but still reflected anger absent from Cobain's earlier songs. Cross wrote, "In the four months following their break-up, Kurt would write a half dozen of his most memorable songs, all of them about Tobi Vail." "Drain You" begins with the line, "One baby to another said 'I'm lucky to have met you,'" quoting what Vail had once told Cobain, and the line "It is now my duty to completely drain you" refers to the power Vail had over Cobain in their relationship. According to Novoselic, "'Lounge Act' is about Tobi," and the song contains the line "I'll arrest myself, I'll wear a shield," referring to Cobain having the K Records logo tattooed on his arm to impress Vail. Though "Lithium" had been written before Cobain knew Vail, the lyrics of the song were changed to reference her.Cross 2001, p. 168–69 Cobain also said in an interview with Musician that "some of my very personal experiences, like breaking up with girlfriends and having bad relationships, feeling that death void that the person in the song is feeling—very lonely, sick".Morris, Chris. "The Year's Hottest Band Can't Stand Still." Musician, January 1992.

File:Nirvananevermind-logo.svg

The tentative title Sheep was something Cobain created as an inside joke directed towards the people he expected to buy the album. He wrote a fake advertisement for Sheep in his journal that read "Because you want to not; because everyone else is."Cross 2001, p. 154 Novoselic said the inspiration for the title was the band's cynicism about the public's reaction to Operation Desert Storm. As recording ended, Cobain grew tired of the title and suggested to Novoselic that the album be named Nevermind. Cobain liked the title because it was a metaphor for his attitude on life and because it was grammatically incorrect.Cross 2001, p. 189 Sacagawea, after the Native American, was briefly considered so to reference the band's intentions for a more widespread impact compared to their previous studio album Bleach.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knb7ICiQUbI Nirvana Interview Canada 1991]. YouTube. Event occurred September 21, 1991. Video uploaded August 20, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2023.

"Nevermind" appears on the album liner notes as the last word in a paragraph of lyric fragments that ends with "I found it hard, it was hard to find, oh well, whatever, nevermind" from "Smells Like Teen Spirit".{{cite web|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/sex-pistols/did-nirvana-copy-never-mind-bollocks-nevermind/|title=Did Nirvana 'copy' Sex Pistols' Never Mind The Bollocks album title with their Nevermind album?|date=October 28, 2019|website=Radio X|language=en-UK|access-date=May 24, 2020|archive-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426093547/https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/sex-pistols/did-nirvana-copy-never-mind-bollocks-nevermind/|url-status=live}} The word "nevermind" also echoes the Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, one of Cobain's favorite albums.{{cite web|date=January 22, 2014|first=Edward|last=Keeble|title=Hand-Written List of Kurt Cobain's Favourite Albums is Revealed Online|publisher=gigwise.com|url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/87824/hand-written-list-of-kurt-cobains-favourite-albums-is-revealed-online|access-date=May 24, 2020|archive-date=July 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718232500/https://www.gigwise.com/news/87824/hand-written-list-of-kurt-cobains-favourite-albums-is-revealed-online|url-status=live}}

The album cover shows a naked baby boy swimming underwater with a U.S. dollar bill on a fishhook just out of his reach. According to Cobain, he conceived the idea while watching a television program on water births. Cobain mentioned it to Geffen's art director Robert Fisher. Fisher found some stock footage of underwater births, but they were too graphic for the record company to use. Furthermore, the stock house that controlled the photo of a swimming baby that they chose wanted $7,500 a year for its use. Instead, Fisher sent a photographer, Kirk Weddle, to a pool for babies to take pictures. Five shots resulted and the band settled on the image of four-month-old Spencer Elden, the son of a friend of Weddle.{{cite magazine|last1=Bachor|first1=Kenneth|title=The Baby From Nirvana's Nevermind Is 25 Now|url=https://time.com/4499648/nirvana-nevermind-25-baby-spencer-elden/|magazine=Time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004111740/http://time.com/4499648/nirvana-nevermind-25-baby-spencer-elden/|archive-date=October 4, 2017|url-status=live|date=September 23, 2016}} Geffen was concerned that the infant's penis, visible in the photo, would cause offense, and prepared an alternate cover without it; they relented when Cobain said the only compromise he would accept would be a sticker covering the penis reading: "If you're offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile."Azerrad 1993, p. 180–81 The cover has since been recognized as one of the most famous album covers in popular music.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-the-best-album-covers-of-all-time-10324/|title=Readers Poll: The Best Album Covers of All Time|date=June 15, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=January 25, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125152905/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-the-best-album-covers-of-all-time-10324/|url-status=live}} On October 28, Weddle also photographed the entire band underwater for a promotional poster.{{cite news |last=Jonze |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Jonze |date=June 6, 2019 |title=Kirk Weddle's best photograph: Nirvana's Nevermind swimming baby |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jun/06/kirk-weddle-best-photograph-nirvana-nevermind-swimming-baby |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208131302/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jun/06/kirk-weddle-best-photograph-nirvana-nevermind-swimming-baby |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=March 4, 2021 |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |title=Live Nirvana {{!}} Photo History {{!}} 1991 {{!}} October 28, 1991 - Van Nuys, CA, US |url=https://www.livenirvana.com/photohistory/91/91-10-28_kw.php |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=www.livenirvana.com}}

The back cover features a photograph of a rubber monkey in front of a collage created by Cobain. The collage features photos of raw beef from a supermarket advertisement, images from Dante's Inferno, and pictures of diseased vaginas from Cobain's collection of medical photos. Cobain noted, "If you look real close, there is a picture of Kiss in the back standing on a slab of beef."Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 108 The album's liner notes contain no complete lyrics; instead, the liner contains random song lyrics and unused lyrical fragments that Cobain arranged into a poem.Azerrad 1993, p. 209

A year later, "Weird Al" Yankovic parodied the artwork for his album Off the Deep End, replacing the baby with himself wearing a hidden bathing suit, and the dollar with a donut. He would later jokingly state "I never really anticipated going full-frontal on any of my album covers."{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2011/10/tough-questions-weird-al-yankovic/|title=Tough Questions for 'Weird Al' Yankovic |website=Spin.com|date=October 24, 2011 |access-date=May 25, 2023}}

In August 2021,{{cite news |title=Spencer Elden, the baby from Nirvana's Nevermind album cover, sues alleging child exploitation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-25/baby-from-nirvana-nevermind-album-cover-sues-band/100406408 |website=ABC News |date=August 25, 2021 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825090431/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-25/baby-from-nirvana-nevermind-album-cover-sues-band/100406408 |url-status=live }} Elden filed a lawsuit against Weddle, Cobain's estate, Grohl and Novoselic, claiming that the use of his likeness on the album cover was made without his consent or that of his legal guardians, that it violated federal child pornography statutes,{{cite web |last=Gray |first=Geordie |title=Nirvana sued by the baby from 'Nevermind' for child pornography |url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/nirvana-sued-by-the-baby-from-nevermind-for-child-pornography |website=Tone Deaf |publisher=Brag Media |access-date=August 25, 2021 |date=August 25, 2020 |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825095148/https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/nirvana-sued-by-the-baby-from-nevermind-for-child-pornography/ |url-status=live }} and that it resulted in "lifelong damages".{{cite web |last=Minsker |first=Evan |title=Nirvana Sued by Baby From Nevermind Album Artwork for Child Pornography |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/nirvana-sued-by-baby-from-nevermind-album-artwork-for-child-pornography/ |website=Pitchfork |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=August 25, 2021 |ref=Minsker 2021 |date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825030301/https://pitchfork.com/news/nirvana-sued-by-baby-from-nevermind-album-artwork-for-child-pornography/ |url-status=live }} Elden said that, by refusing to censor the artwork with a sticker, Nirvana had failed to protect him from child sexual exploitation.{{cite web |last=DeVille |first=Chris |title=The Nevermind Baby Sues Nirvana, Calling The Album Cover Child Pornography |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2158591/the-nevermind-baby-sues-nirvana-calling-the-album-cover-child-pornography/news/ |website=Stereogum |publisher=Scott Lapatine |access-date=August 25, 2021 |ref=DeVille 2021 |date=August 24, 2020 |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825030258/https://www.stereogum.com/2158591/the-nevermind-baby-sues-nirvana-calling-the-album-cover-child-pornography/news/ |url-status=live }} The lawsuit also stated that "Cobain chose the image depicting Spencer—like a sex worker—grabbing for a dollar bill that is positioned dangling from a fishhook in front of his nude body with his penis explicitly displayed".{{Cite web|title=Man Photographed as Baby on 'Nevermind' Cover Sues Nirvana, Alleging Child Pornography|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/man-photographed-baby-nevermind-cover-025606515.html|access-date=August 25, 2021|website=www.yahoo.com|date=August 25, 2021 |language=en-US|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825160444/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/man-photographed-baby-nevermind-cover-025606515.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Elden vs Nirvana Complaint|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21048958-elden-v-nirvana-complaint|access-date=August 26, 2021|website=www.documentcloud.org|language=en-US|archive-date=August 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826185413/https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21048958-elden-v-nirvana-complaint|url-status=live}}

Attorney Jamie White criticized the lawsuit as "frivolous" and "really offensive to the true victims" of child sexual abuse. Fordham Law School professor James Cohen said the context of the cover did not suggest pornography. White and Cohen concluded that Elden intended to make money with the lawsuit.{{Cite news|date=August 26, 2021|title=Legal experts trash 'child porn' claim over Nirvana 'Nevermind' album cover|language=en-US|work=New York Post|url=https://nypost.com/2021/08/25/legal-experts-trash-child-porn-claim-over-nirvana-album-cover/|access-date=August 28, 2021|archive-date=August 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829063358/https://nypost.com/2021/08/25/legal-experts-trash-child-porn-claim-over-nirvana-album-cover/|url-status=live}} In December, lawyers for the defendants sought to dismiss the lawsuit, saying it was filed too late and that its claim that the image depicts sexual abuse was "not serious". They noted that Elden had "spent three decades profiting from his celebrity as the self-anointed 'Nirvana Baby{{' "}}, having reenacted the artwork several times, and that he had the album title tattooed on his chest. They argued that the cover instead "evokes themes of greed, innocence, and the motif of the cherub in western art".{{Cite web|last=Beaumont-Thomas|first=Ben|date=December 24, 2021|title=Nirvana seek to dismiss sexual abuse lawsuit concerning Nevermind cover|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/24/nirvana-lawsuit-nevermind|access-date=December 24, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} After Elden's lawyers did not file an opposition, the lawsuit was dismissed by a judge on January 3, 2022. However, the judge did allow for future lawsuits.{{Cite web|date=January 4, 2022|title=Nirvana Nevermind baby cover artwork lawsuit dismissed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/04/nirvana-nevermind-baby-cover-artwork-lawsuit-dismissed|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en}}

Elden refiled again on January 14, 2022, amending the original suit by removing charges of child sex trafficking while arguing it was child pornography.{{Cite web|date=January 14, 2022|title=Nirvana baby refiles lawsuit over Nevermind album cover|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59993244|access-date=January 14, 2022|website=BBC News|language=en}} On September 2, 2022, a judge ruled against Elden, saying he had waited too long to file the suit and cited a 10-year statute of limitations from the date the plaintiff becomes an adult at age 18, meaning Elden needed to file before he turned 28 (around 2019). In addition, the judge blocked any additional filings in the future, bringing the case to a "final" close at the district court level.{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=September 3, 2022 |title=Nirvana Wins 'Nevermind' Baby Lawsuit as Judge Dismisses Case for Final Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nirvana-wins-nevermind-baby-lawsuit-dismissal-1234586628/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 3, 2022}} On September 6, 2022, Elden appealed the dismissal of his case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit heard oral argument on Elden's appeal on October 18, 2023.{{cite web|last=Eslinger |first=Bonnie |date=October 18, 2023 |title='Nirvana Baby' Urges 9th Circ. To Revive His Child Porn Suit |url=https://www.law360.com/media/articles/1734288 |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=www.law360.com |language=en}} The court ruled in favor of Elden in December 2023, reversing the lower court's ruling and allowing the suit to continue. The court determined that the special republication of the album on its 30th anniversary constituted a new claim that Elden could pursue in court.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/nirvana-lawsuit-baby-album-cover-revived-appeals-court-1235563626/ | title = Nirvana Must Face Child Porn Lawsuit Over Naked Baby On 'Nevermind' Album Cover, Appeals Court Rules | first = Bill | last = Donahue | date = December 21, 2023 | accessdate = December 22, 2023 | magazine = Billboard }}

File:NevermindRIAAcertification.png database. The album went both Gold and Platinum on November 27, 1991, and was certified Diamond on March 24, 1999.{{Cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/ |access-date=May 12, 2024 |website=RIAA |language=en-US}}]]

Nevermind was released on September 24, 1991. American record stores received an initial shipment of 46,251 copies,Azerrad 1993, p. 196 while 35,000 copies were shipped in the United Kingdom, where Bleach had been successful.Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 113 The lead single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" had been released on September 10 with the intention of building a base among alternative rock fans, while the next single "Come as You Are" would possibly garner more attention.Azerrad 1993, p. 227 Days before the release date, the band began a short American tour in support of the album. Geffen hoped that Nevermind would sell around 250,000 copies, matching sales of Sonic Youth's Geffen debut Goo.Wice, Nathaniel. "How Nirvana Made It". Spin. April 1992. The most optimistic estimate was that Nevermind could be certified gold (500,000 copies sold) by September 1992.Azerrad 1993, p. 193

Nevermind debuted at number 144 on the Billboard 200.Azerrad 1993, p. 198 Geffen shipped about half of the initial U.S. pressing to the American Northwest, where it sold out quickly and was unavailable for days. Geffen put production of all other albums on hold to fulfill demand in the region.Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 119 Over the next few months, sales increased significantly as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" unexpectedly increased in popularity. The song's video had received a world premiere on MTV's late-night alternative show 120 Minutes, and soon became popular enough for the network to start broadcasting it during the daytime.Azerrad 1993, p. 199 "Smells Like Teen Spirit" reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=http://rockhall.com/exhibits/one-hit-wonders-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll/|title=The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll|publisher=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|access-date=October 7, 2013|archive-date=May 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509180015/http://rockhall.com/exhibits/one-hit-wonders-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll/|url-status=live}} The album was soon certified gold, but the band was relatively uninterested. Novoselic recalled, "Yeah I was happy about it. It was pretty cool. It was kind of neat. But I don't give a shit about some kind of achievement like that. It's cool—I guess."Azerrad 1993, p. 202

As the band set out for their European tour at the start of November 1991, Nevermind entered the Billboard Top 40 for the first time at number 35. By this point, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" had become a hit and the album was selling so fast none of Geffen's marketing strategies could be enacted. Geffen president Ed Rosenblatt told The New York Times, "We didn't do anything. It was just one of those 'Get out of the way and duck' records."Azerrad 1993, p. 228 Nirvana found as they toured Europe during the end of 1991 that the shows were dangerously oversold, television crews became a constant presence onstage, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was almost omnipresent on radio and music television.Azerrad 1993, p. 203

Nevermind became Nirvana's first number-one album on January 11, 1992, replacing Michael Jackson's Dangerous at the top of the Billboard charts. By this time, Nevermind was selling approximately 300,000 copies a week.Azerrad 1993, p. 229{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/08/arts/the-pop-life-nirvana-s-nevermind-is-no-1.html |title=The Pop Life; Nirvana's 'Nevermind' Is No. 1 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 8, 1992 |access-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426163610/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/08/arts/the-pop-life-nirvana-s-nevermind-is-no-1.html |url-status=live }} It returned for a second week at number one in February.{{cite web |title=January 11, 1992 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1992-01-11 |work=Billboard 200}} "Come as You Are" was released as the second single in March 1992; it reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart and number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nirvana-mn0000357406/awards Nirvana – Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232159/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nirvana-mn0000357406/awards |date=December 29, 2017 }}". AllMusic. Retrieved on 14 July 2013. Two more singles, "Lithium" and "In Bloom", reached number 11 and 28 on the UK Singles Chart.[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/nirvana/ "Nirvana – Artist Chart History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002162723/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/nirvana/ |date=October 2, 2013 }}". Official Charts Company. Retrieved on July 14, 2013.

Nevermind was certified gold and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in November 1991 and certified Diamond in March 1999.[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH RIAA Searchable Database] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |date=June 26, 2007 }}. RIAA.com. Retrieved on March 10, 2007. NB user needs to enter "Nirvana" in "Artist" and click "search". It was also certified Diamond in Canada (1,000,000 units sold) by the Canadian Recording Industry Association in March 2001[http://www.cria.ca/gold/0301_g.php Gold & Platinum – March 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019170700/http://www.cria.ca/gold/0301_g.php |date=October 19, 2010 }}. CRIA.ca. March 2001. Retrieved on September 27, 2007. and 6x platinum in the United Kingdom.[http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx Certified Award Search – Nirvana – Nevermind] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124005813/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx |date=January 24, 2013 }}. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on August 3, 2011. NB user needs to enter "Nirvana" in the field "Search", select "Artist" in the field "Search by", and click "Go".{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |title=Unknown |access-date=December 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202052642/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |archive-date=February 2, 2016 }} It has gone on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2021 |title=Friday essay: Nevermind 30 years on – how Nirvana's second album tilted the world on its axis |url=https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-nevermind-30-years-on-how-nirvanas-second-album-tilted-the-world-on-its-axis-167108 |access-date=May 25, 2023 |website=Theconversation.com}}

{{Music ratings

| title = Contemporary professional ratings

| rev1 = Chicago Sun-Times

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news |url=https://chicagosuntimes.newsbank.com/doc/news/0EB373736D0B6AB3 |title=Robertson lacks happy ending for 'Storyville' |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=October 13, 1991 |access-date=May 10, 2024 |last=Corcoran |first=Michael |url-access=subscription}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-10-9104010478-story.html |title=Nirvana: Nevermind (DGC) |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=October 10, 1991 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204113425/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-10-9104010478-story.html |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = A−{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/10/25/nevermind/ |title=Nirvana's 'Nevermind': EW Review |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=October 25, 1991 |access-date=August 11, 2009 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108200407/https://ew.com/article/1991/10/25/nevermind/ |archive-date=January 8, 2022 |url-status=live}}

| rev4 = Kerrang!

| rev4score = 5/5{{cite magazine |title=Mind over splatter |magazine=Kerrang! |issue=359 |date=September 21, 1991 |last=Gitter |first=Mike |page=22}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-06-ca-136-story.html |title=Power Trio, Pop Craft |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=October 6, 1991 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |last=Gold |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Gold |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422201602/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-06-ca-136-story.html |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |url-status=live}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 9/10{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-7371-308229 |title=Nevermind – The Bollocks! |magazine=NME |date=September 21, 1991 |access-date=January 17, 2023 |last=Lamacq |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Lamacq |page=36 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117181919/https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-7371-308229 |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |url-status=live}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=8269%26ss=Nirvana%26cs=artist%26st=cn%26stars=NaN%26cp=1 |title=Nirvana: Nevermind |magazine=Q |issue=62 |date=November 1991 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |last=King |first=Sam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000519121226/http://www.qonline.co.uk/reviews/server.asp?id=8269%26ss=Nirvana%26cs=artist%26st=cn%26stars=NaN%26cp=1 |archive-date=May 19, 2000 |url-status=dead}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nirvana/albums/album/238528/review/6068092/nevermind |title=Nirvana: Nevermind |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 28, 1991 |access-date=February 14, 2012 |last=Robbins |first=Ira |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223155942/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nirvana/albums/album/238528/review/6068092/nevermind |archive-date=December 23, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

| rev9 = Select

| rev9score = 4/5{{cite magazine|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2017/10/albums9.jpg |title=Nirvana: Nevermind |magazine=Select |issue=16 |date=October 1991 |last=Perry |first=Andrew |page=68}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = A−{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1091-91.php |title=Consumer Guide |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=November 5, 1991 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209171250/https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1091-91.php |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |url-status=live}}

}}

Geffen's press promotion for Nevermind was lower than that typical of a major record label. The label's publicist primarily targeted music publications with long lead times for publication as well as magazines in the Seattle area. The unexpectedly positive feedback from critics who had received the album convinced the label to consider increasing the album's original print run.

At first, Nevermind did not receive many reviews, and many publications ignored the album. Months after its release and after "Smells Like Teen Spirit" garnered airplay, print media organizations were "scrambling" to cover the phenomenon the album had become. However, by that point, much of the attention fell on Cobain rather than the album itself. The reviews that did initially appear were largely positive.Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 116-117 Karen Schoemer of The New York Times wrote, "With Nevermind, Nirvana has certainly succeeded. There are enough intriguing textures, mood shifts, instrumental snippets and inventive word plays to provide for hours of entertainment ... Nevermind is more sophisticated and carefully produced than anything peer bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Mudhoney have yet offered."Schoemer, Karen. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE6DD143EF934A1575AC0A967958260 "Pop/Jazz; A Band That Deals In Apathy"]. The New York Times. September 27, 1991. Retrieved on September 27, 2007.

Entertainment Weekly gave Nevermind an A− rating. The reviewer, David Browne, wrote that Nirvana "never entertain the notion" of wanting to sound "normal", compared to other contemporary alternative bands. Concluding his enthusiastic review for the British Melody Maker, Everett True wrote that "When Nirvana released Bleach all those years ago, the more sussed among us figured they had the potential to make an album that would blow every other contender away. My God have they proved us right."True, Everett. Nirvana: The Biography. Da Capo Press, 2007. {{ISBN|978-0-306-81554-6}}. p. 233. Spin gave Nevermind a favorable review stating that "you'll be humming all the songs for the rest of your life—or at least until your CD-tape-album wears out."{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5zrzfgLFgUYC&pg=RA1-PT44 |title=Nirvana: Nevermind |magazine=Spin |volume=7 |issue=9 |date=December 1991 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |last=Spencer |first=Lauren |page=112 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422205119/https://books.google.com/books?id=5zrzfgLFgUYC&pg=RA1-PT44 |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |url-status=live}} Select compared the band to Jane's Addiction, Sonic Youth, and Pixies, stating that the album "proves that Nirvana truly belong in such high company."

Some reviews were not entirely positive. Rolling Stone gave the album three out of five stars. Reviewer Ira Robbins wrote, "If Nirvana isn't onto anything altogether new, Nevermind does possess the songs, character and confident spirit to be much more than a reformulation of college radio's high-octane hits." The Boston Globe was less enthusiastic about the album; reviewer Steve Morse wrote, "Most of Nevermind is packed with generic punk-pop that had been done by countless acts from Iggy Pop to the Red Hot Chili Peppers," and added "the band has little or nothing to say, settling for moronic ramblings by singer-lyricist Cobain."Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 117

Nevermind was voted the best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll; "Smells Like Teen Spirit" also topped the single of the year and video of the year polls.{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres91.php |title=The 1991 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=March 3, 1992 |access-date=May 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804040829/https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres91.php |archive-date=August 4, 2022 |url-status=live}} Nevermind topped the poll by a large majority, and Village Voice critic Robert Christgau wrote in his companion piece to the poll, "As a modest pop surprise they might have scored a modest victory, like De La Soul in 1990. Instead, their multi-platinum takeover constituted the first full-scale public validation of the Amerindie values—the noise, the toons, the 'tude—the radder half of the [Pazz & Jop poll] electorate came up on."{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj91.php |title=Reality Used to Be a Friend of Ours |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=March 3, 1992 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911224600/https://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj91.php |archive-date=September 11, 2022 |url-status=live}} In the United Kingdom, the album was ranked number one on NME's Best Fifty LPs of 1991.{{cite news |date=December 21, 1991 |title=NME's Fifty Best LPs of 1991 |work=NME |url=https://postimg.cc/phT9SW1h |page=56 |access-date=June 16, 2022}} The album garnered the band three Grammy Award nominations in total at the 34th and 35th Grammy Awards.{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/nirvana/8026|title=Nirvana |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=www.grammy.com}} Among the nominations was the Best Alternative Music Album award.

File:KristNovoselic2011.jpg at a Nevermind 20th anniversary show in 2011]]

Nevermind popularized the Seattle grunge movement and brought alternative rock as a whole into the mainstream, establishing its commercial and cultural viabilityOlsen, Eric. [http://www.today.com/id/4652653 "10 years later, Cobain lives on in his music"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622170917/http://www.today.com/id/4652653 |date=June 22, 2013}}. MSNBC April 9, 2004. Retrieved on September 27, 2007. and leading to an alternative rock boom in the music industry.{{cite magazine|last=Hogan|first=Marc|author-link=Marc Hogan|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/ok-computer-at-20/10038-exit-music-how-radioheads-ok-computer-destroyed-the-art-pop-album-in-order-to-save-it/|title=Exit Music: How Radiohead's OK Computer Destroyed the Art-Pop Album in Order to Save It|magazine=Pitchfork|access-date=March 11, 2010|date=March 20, 2017|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223111434/https://pitchfork.com/features/ok-computer-at-20/10038-exit-music-how-radioheads-ok-computer-destroyed-the-art-pop-album-in-order-to-save-it/|url-status=live}} Though a short tenure from the album's release to the death of Cobain, the album's and singles' successes propelled Nirvana to being regarded by the media as the biggest band in the world—especially throughout 1992.{{Cite magazine |date=September 22, 2021 |title=My Time with Kurt Cobain |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/my-time-with-kurt-cobain |access-date=April 3, 2022 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}} As a grunge act, the band's success over the popular hair metal acts of the time drew similarities to the early 1960s British Invasion of American popular music. The album also initiated a resurgence of interest in punk culture among teenagers and young adults of Generation X.{{cite magazine |date=March 5, 2013 |title=How Nirvana Made 'Nevermind' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/how-nirvana-made-nevermind-194556/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019092506/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/how-nirvana-made-nevermind-194556/ |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=September 27, 2020}} Journalist Chuck Eddy cited Nevermind{{'}}s release as roughly the end of the "high album era".{{cite book |last=Eddy |first=Chuck |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wl0rlx7DoeIC&q=%22album+era%22 |title=Rock and Roll Always Forgets: A Quarter Century of Music Criticism |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-82235010-1 |page=283 |access-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613061600/https://books.google.com/books?id=wl0rlx7DoeIC&q=%22album+era%22 |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |url-status=live}}

Billboard writer William Goodman lauds the album, particularly in comparison to the music and image of hair metal acts: "Instead of the chest-beating, coke-blowing, women-objectifying macho rock star of the ’80s, Cobain popularized (or re-invigorated) the image of the sensitive artist, the pro-feminism, anti-authoritarian smart alec punk with a sweet smile and gentle soul." In its citation placing it at number 17 in its 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, Rolling Stone said, "No album in recent history had such an overpowering impact on a generation—a nation of teens suddenly turned punk—and such a catastrophic effect on its main creator." Gary Gersh, who signed Nirvana to Geffen Records, added that "There is a pre-Nirvana and post-Nirvana record business...'Nevermind' showed that this wasn't some alternative thing happening off in a corner, and then back to reality. This is reality."{{Cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |date=November 14, 1993 |title=Nirvana, the Band That Hates to Be Loved: The Band That Hates to Be Loved |work=The New York Times |id={{ProQuest|109121712}}}}

The album had an enormous impact towards youth culture. Goodman says that Nevermind "killed off hair metal, and sparked a cultural revolution across the globe". Speaking to the BBC, Brazilian cultural studies academic Moyses Pinto stated that he was struck by Nevermind, saying "I thought: 'this is perfect'; it sounded like a bright synthesis of noise and pop music."{{Cite web |last=Haider |first=Arwa |title=Nevermind at 30: How the Nirvana album shook the world |date=September 23, 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210922-nevermind-at-30-how-the-nirvana-album-shook-the-world |access-date=April 3, 2022 |agency=BBC News |language=en}} In similar praise, Kgomotso Neto says that the impact of Nirvana, as well as MTV, during the time of Nevermind, caused a new youth who listened to the same music and dressed similarly (grunge fashion). Neto further remarks that "there was a cultural homogeneity probably never experienced before" and that "grunge culture became dominant very quickly; all that had been 'cool' suddenly became ugly and exaggerated, and Kurt [Cobain] was the symbol of transgression." Michael Azerrad argued in his Nirvana biography Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana (1993) that Nevermind marked an epochal generational shift in music similar to the rock-and-roll explosion in the 1950s and the end of the dominance of the Baby Boomer Generation on popular music. Azerrad wrote, "Nevermind came along at exactly the right time. This was music by, for, and about a whole new group of young people who had been overlooked, ignored, or condescended to."Azerrad 1993, p. 225

The success of Nevermind surprised Nirvana's contemporaries, who felt dwarfed by its influence. Fugazi frontman Guy Picciotto later said: "It was like our record could have been a hobo pissing in the forest for the amount of impact it had ... It felt like we were playing ukuleles all of a sudden because of the disparity of the impact of what they did."Azerrad, 2001. p. 493 Karen Schoemer of the New York Times wrote that "What's unusual about Nirvana's Nevermind is that it caters to neither a mainstream audience nor the indie rock fans who supported the group's debut album."{{Cite news|title=The Art Behind Nirvana's Ascent to the Top: Not many bands come up from the underground to hit No. 1 as fast as this Seattle trio – or make so few musical concessions.|last=Schoemer|first=Karen|date=January 26, 1992|work=The New York Times|id={{ProQuest|108871606}}}} In 1992, Jon Pareles of The New York Times described the aftermath of the album's breakthrough: "Suddenly, all bets are off. No one has the inside track on which of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of ornery, obstreperous, unkempt bands might next appeal to the mall-walking millions." Record company executives offered large advances and record deals to bands, and replaced their previous strategies of building audiences for alternative bands with the attempts to achieve mainstream popularity quickly.Pareles, Jon. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3D71531F937A25755C0A964958260 Pop View; Nirvana-bes Awaiting Fame's Call"]. The New York Times. June 14, 1992. Retrieved on June 3, 2008.

{{Music ratings

| title = Retrospective professional ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/nevermind-mw0000185616 |title=Nevermind – Nirvana |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 9, 2015 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322044122/https://www.allmusic.com/album/nevermind-mw0000185616 |archive-date=March 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = A{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/nirvana-nevermind-1798169729 |title=Nirvana: Nevermind |website=The A.V. Club |date=September 27, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316040538/https://www.avclub.com/nirvana-nevermind-1798169729 |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Blender

| rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/54978/nevermind.html |title=Nirvana: Nevermind |magazine=Blender |volume=7 |issue=3 |date=April 2008 |access-date=August 15, 2022 |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |author-link=Douglas Wolk |page=88 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420043006/http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/54978/nevermind.html |archive-date=April 20, 2009 |url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = Christgau's Consumer Guide

| rev4score = A{{cite book |chapter=Nirvana: Nevermind |chapter-url=https://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2584 |access-date=April 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209175039/https://robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=2584 |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |title-link=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=St. Martin's Griffin |year=2000 |isbn=0-312-24560-2 |page=227}}

| rev5 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev5score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8781291/Nirvana-Nevermind-20th-Anniversary-Edition-CD-review.html |title=Nirvana: Nevermind (20th Anniversary Edition), CD review |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=September 22, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923094438/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8781291/Nirvana-Nevermind-20th-Anniversary-Edition-CD-review.html |archive-date=September 23, 2011 |url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 10/10{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15854-nevermind-20th-anniversary-edition/ |title=Nirvana: Nevermind [20th Anniversary Edition] |website=Pitchfork |date=September 27, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |last=Harvell |first=Jess |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416193619/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15854-nevermind-20th-anniversary-edition/ |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |url-status=live}}

| rev7 = Q

| rev7score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Nirvana: Nevermind |magazine=Q |issue=303 |date=October 2011 |last=Segal |first=Victoria |page=133}}

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/nevermind-20th-anniversary-252448/ |title=Nevermind 20th Anniversary |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 27, 2011 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926161912/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/nevermind-20th-anniversary-252448/ |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |url-status=live}}

| rev9 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev9score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Nirvana |last=Young |first=Charles M. |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-743-20169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/588 588–589]}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EUm4Cp2ZFOEC&pg=PA78 |title=How to Buy: Heavy Metal |magazine=Spin |volume=22 |issue=8 |date=August 2006 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |last=Dolan |first=Jon |page=78 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707091241/https://books.google.com/books?id=EUm4Cp2ZFOEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA78 |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |url-status=live}}

}}

Nevermind has continued to garner critical praise, having been ranked highly on lists of the greatest albums of all time. The album was ranked number 17 on Rolling Stone{{'}}s list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/nirvana-nevermind-20120524 17: Nevermind – Nirvana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309091004/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/nirvana-nevermind-20120524 |date=March 9, 2013 }}. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on February 12, 2012. maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list,{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/nirvana-nevermind-50643/| year=2012| title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time| magazine=Rolling Stone| access-date=September 23, 2019| archive-date=July 4, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704091937/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/nirvana-nevermind-50643/| url-status=live}} and upgrading to number 6 in the 2020 and 2023 revisions.{{cite magazine |date=September 22, 2020 |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020 Edition) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/nirvana-nevermind-3-1063227 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922163506/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/nirvana-nevermind-3-1063227/ |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite magazine |date=December 31, 2023 |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2023 Edition) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/nirvana-nevermind-3-1063227 |access-date=February 21, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} In 2019, Rolling Stone also ranked Nevermind number one on its list of the 100 Best Albums of the '90s, calling it the "album that guaranteed the nineties would not suck."[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427/nirvana-nevermind-20110517 1: Nevermind – Nirvana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828233709/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-nineties-20110427/nirvana-nevermind-20110517 |date=August 28, 2017 }}. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on October 7, 2013. Also in 2019, Nevermind was ranked number one on Rolling Stone's 50 Greatest Grunge Albums list.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-grunge-albums-798851/|title=50 Greatest Grunge Albums|date=April 1, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 3, 2019|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403080245/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-grunge-albums-798851/|url-status=live}} The magazine ranked the album number 10 in its list of 40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time too.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/40-greatest-punk-albums-of-all-time-75659/nirvana-nevermind-1991-2-171736/|title=40 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time|date=April 6, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=October 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015151401/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/40-greatest-punk-albums-of-all-time-75659/nirvana-nevermind-1991-2-171736/|url-status=live}}

In 2001, VH1 conducted a poll of more than 500 journalists, music executives and artists which judged Nevermind the second-best album in rock 'n' roll history, behind the Beatles' Revolver.{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicBeatles/jan4_beatles-ap.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041113105505/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicBeatles/jan4_beatles-ap.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2004 |title=Beatles' 'Revolver' judged best album|access-date=April 18, 2020}} Time placed Nevermind, which writer Josh Tyrangiel called "the finest album of the 90s", on its 2006 list of "The All-TIME 100 Albums".Tyrangiel, Josh. [https://entertainment.time.com/2006/11/02/the-all-time-100-albums/ "Nevermind by Nirvana"] . Time. November 13, 2006. Retrieved on September 29, 2007. Pitchfork named the album the sixth best of the decade, noting that "anyone who hates this record today is just trying to be cool, and needs to be trying harder."[https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/10/ "Top 100 Albums of the 1990s"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622023306/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5923-top-100-albums-of-the-1990s/10/ |date=June 22, 2009 }}. Pitchfork.com. Retrieved on November 25, 2009. In 2004, the Library of Congress added Nevermind to the National Recording Registry, which collects "culturally, historically or aesthetically important" sound recordings from the 20th century.MTV News staff. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1499693/20050406/stefani_gwen.jhtml "For The Record: Quick News On Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams, Ciara, 'Dimebag' Darrell, Nirvana, Shins & More"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231020011/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1499693/20050406/stefani_gwen.jhtml |date=December 31, 2008 }}. MTV. April 6, 2005. Retrieved on July 16, 2009. On the other hand, Nevermind was voted the "Most Overrated Album in the World" in a 2005 BBC public poll.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/events/overrated/shortlist.shtml |title=Most Overrated Album in the World |date=2005 |publisher=BBC 6 Music |access-date=May 17, 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051111201904/http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/events/overrated/shortlist.shtml |archive-date=November 11, 2005 }} Rock Hard ranked the album at number 88 on their list of the "500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time".{{cite book |last=Rensen |first=Michael |title=Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten |publisher=Rock Hard |year=2005 |isbn=3-89880-517-4 |editor-last=Rensen |editor-first=Michael |pages=188–189 |language=de |trans-title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |chapter=Nevermind |access-date=June 25, 2024 |chapter-url=https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/nirvana-nevermind}} In 2006, readers of Guitar World ranked Nevermind 8th on a list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Recordings."100 Greatest Guitar Albums". Guitar World. October 2006. Entertainment Weekly named it the 10th best album of all time on their 2013 list.[https://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20712079_20711843,00.html#21221826 "Music: 10 All-Time Greatest."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122060536/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20712079_20711843,00.html#21221826 |date=January 22, 2015 }} Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 8, 2013. It was voted number 17 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).{{cite book|title=All Time Top 1000 Albums|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=2006|edition=3rd|isbn=0-7535-0493-6|page=42|title-link=All Time Top 1000 Albums}} Christgau named it among his 10 best albums from the 1990s and said in retrospect it is an A-plus album.{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|date=May 19, 2021|url=https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/xgau-sez-may-2021|title=Xgau Sez: May, 2021|work=And It Don't Stop|publisher=Substack|access-date=May 23, 2021|archive-date=May 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523142808/https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/xgau-sez-may-2021|url-status=live}} In 2017, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/nirvana|title=Nirvana|date=November 19, 2019|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-date=June 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622014754/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/nirvana|url-status=live}} In October 2023, the Official Charts Company revealed that Nevermind was the fourth most streamed album from the 1990s in the United Kingdom.{{cite news |last=Ainsley |first=Helen |date=October 6, 2023 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/national-album-day-2023-most-streamed-albums-90s/ |title=BBC Radio 2 announces the Official Most Streamed 90s Albums Chart for National Album Day |work=Official Charts Company |access-date=October 9, 2023}}{{cite news |author=KA |date=October 7, 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/radio-2-official-most-streamed-90s-albums-chart-national-album-day |title=Oasis win the Streaming Chart Battle of the 1990s as BBC Radio 2 announces the Official Most Streamed 90s Albums Chart for National Album Day |work=BBC Online |access-date=October 9, 2023}} In 2024, Paste Magazine ranked Nevermind number 65 on its list of the greatest albums of all-time.{{Cite web |last=Paste Staff |title=The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/greatest-albums/the-300-greatest-albums-of-all-time-2 |website=Paste|date=June 3, 2024}}

In 1996, Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs released Nevermind on vinyl as part of its ANADISQ 200 series, and as a 24-karat gold CD. The CD pressings included "Endless, Nameless". The LP version quickly sold out its limited pressing but the CD edition stayed in print for years.Berkenstadt; Cross, p. 148–49 In 2009, Original Recordings Group released Nevermind on limited edition 180g blue vinyl and regular 180g black vinyl mastered and cut by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tapes.[http://www.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/nevermind_and_original_recordings_group/index.html "Nevermind and Original Recordings Group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215054550/http://www.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/nevermind_and_original_recordings_group/index.html |date=December 15, 2013 }}". Stereophile.com.

In September 2011, the album's 20th anniversary, Universal Music Enterprises reissued Nevermind in a two-CD "deluxe edition" and a four-CD/one-DVD "Super Deluxe Edition".[http://www.upvenue.com/article/1400-deluxe-edition-of-nirvana-s-nevermind-coming-out-this-year.html "Deluxe Edition of Nirvana's Nevermind Coming Out This Year"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006154656/http://www.upvenue.com/article/1400-deluxe-edition-of-nirvana-s-nevermind-coming-out-this-year.html |date=October 6, 2011 }}. UpVenue.com. June 22, 2011. Retrieved on June 23, 2011. The first disc on both editions features the original album with studio and live B-sides. The second discs feature early session recordings, including the Smart Studio sessions and some band rehearsals recorded with a boombox, plus two BBC session recordings. The "Super Deluxe Edition" also includes Vig's original mix of the album and CD and DVD versions of Live at the Paramount. IFPI reported that as of 2012, the 20th anniversary formats of the album that were released in 2011 had sold nearly 800,000 units.{{cite news |year=2012 |title=New Nirvana footage helps drive interest |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/RIN-2012-SNEP-copie.pdf |work=Recording Industry in Numbers - The Recorded Music Market in 2011 |publisher=IFPI |page=19 |access-date=June 15, 2021 |archive-date=July 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727140246/http://www.snepmusique.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/RIN-2012-SNEP-copie.pdf |url-status=live }} In June 2021, Novoselic revealed that he and Grohl were compiling the 30th-anniversary edition of the album.{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Will |date=June 16, 2021 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nirvanas-krist-novoselic-teases-nevermind-30th-anniversary-reissue-2971174 |title=Nirvana's Krist Novoselic teases 'Nevermind' 30th anniversary reissue |work=NME |access-date=June 21, 2021 |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619155532/https://www.nme.com/news/music/nirvanas-krist-novoselic-teases-nevermind-30th-anniversary-reissue-2971174 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Emily |date=June 17, 2021 |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/nirvana-krist-novoselic-confirms-30th-anniversary-reissue-of-nevermind/ |title=Nirvana: Krist Novoselic hints at 30th anniversary reissue of Nevermind |work=Kerrang! |access-date=June 21, 2021 |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619181521/https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/nirvana-krist-novoselic-confirms-30th-anniversary-reissue-of-nevermind/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|date=September 18, 2021|title=Nirvana Nevermind 30th Anniversary Album Review|url=https://www.rabbitholemusic.com/nirvana-nevermind-30th-anniversary-album-review/|access-date=October 11, 2021|website=Rabbit Hole Music}} In September 2021, it was announced that BBC Two in the United Kingdom would celebrate the 30th anniversary with a documentary titled When Nirvana Came to Britain, which featured contributions from Noveselic and Grohl.{{cite web |date=September 3, 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/bbc-music-mark-30-years-nirvana-nevermind?at_campaign=64&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&at_custom2=twitter&at_custom3=@bbcpress&at_custom4=8D558EC2-0B00-11EC-8FE7-C72D0EDC252D&at_medium=custom7 |title=BBC Music to mark 30 years since the release of Nirvana's Nevermind |work=BBC Online |access-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905163821/https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/bbc-music-mark-30-years-nirvana-nevermind?at_campaign=64&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&at_custom2=twitter&at_custom3=@bbcpress&at_custom4=8D558EC2-0B00-11EC-8FE7-C72D0EDC252D&at_medium=custom7 |url-status=live }} That same month, a 30th-anniversary edition of Nevermind was announced, which became available in eight-LP and five-CD editions and contained 70 previously unreleased live songs. The CD edition also included a Blu-ray of Live in Amsterdam.{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=September 23, 2021|title=Nirvana Pack 'Nevermind' 30th-Anniversary Reissue With 4 Unreleased Concerts|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nirvana-nevermind-30th-anniversary-reissue-1231124/|access-date=September 23, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=September 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923194019/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nirvana-nevermind-30th-anniversary-reissue-1231124/|url-status=live}}

{{track listing

| all_lyrics = Kurt Cobain{{refn|group=note|Former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan has claimed to have made uncredited lyrical contributions to "Something in the Way".{{cite book |last1=Prato |first1=Greg |title=Lanegan |date=February 15, 2023 |pages=182–183 |quote=NICK OLIVERI: Mark said he wrote some lyrics on "Something in the Way" with Kurt on Nevermind. But Kurt had played on some of Mark’s solo stuff, The Winding Sheet. So, instead of getting paid, they just did this thing where, "Hey man, I added a lyric on your song and you added a lyric on my song. Let’s just call it even. Whatever happens, happens." Little did Mark know, if he would have had publishing on "Something in the Way" on Nevermind, he would have had a lot of money. I remember him kicking himself in the butt a little bit about that – "If I had that 'Something in the Way' publishing…}}}}

| all_music = Cobain except where noted.{{refn|group=note|On the original release of the album, all music was credited to Nirvana,{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nevermind |others=Nirvana |year=1991 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=DGC}} although later releases state otherwise.}}

| title1 = Smells Like Teen Spirit

| writer1 = {{hlist|Cobain|Krist Novoselic|Dave Grohl}}

| length1 = 5:01

| title2 = In Bloom

| length2 = 4:14

| title3 = Come as You Are

| length3 = 3:39

| title4 = Breed

| length4 = 3:03

| title5 = Lithium

| length5 = 4:17

| title6 = Polly

| length6 = 2:57

| title7 = Territorial Pissings

| note7 ={{refn|group=note|The intro to "Territorial Pissings" features Krist Novoselic singing the chorus of the Youngbloods song "Get Together" written by Chet Powers.Golsen, Tyler (August 1, 2022). [https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/nirvana-song-references-hippie-classic "The Nirvana song that references a hippie classic"]. Far Out. Retrieved March 11, 2023.}}

| length7 = 2:22

| title8 = Drain You

| length8 = 3:43

| title9 = Lounge Act

| length9 = 2:36

| title10 = Stay Away

| length10 = 3:32

| title11 = On a Plain

| length11 = 3:16

| title12 = Something in the Way

| length12 = 3:52

| title13 = Endless, Nameless

| writer13 = {{hlist|Cobain|Novoselic|Grohl}}

| length13 = 6:43

| note13 = hidden track{{refn|group=note|To Cobain's indignation, hidden track "Endless, Nameless" was absent on the initial pressing of the CD; he then demanded it be included as originally intended. It appears on later pressings after about 10 minutes of silence following "Something in the Way", making track 12's total length 20:35. Still, the song is not included on vinyl versions.}}

| total_length = 49:07

}}

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

Personnel adapted from Nevermind liner notes{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nevermind |others=Nirvana |year=1991 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=DGC}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Nirvana

• Kurt Cobain – vocals, guitars, sound effects on "Drain You"Classic Albums—Nirvana: Nevermind [DVD]. Isis Productions, 2004.
• Krist Novoselic (credited as Chris Novoselic) – bass, vocals on "Territorial Pissings" (intro)
• Dave Grohl (credited as David Grohl) – drums, backing vocals on "In Bloom", "Drain You", and "On a Plain"

Additional musicians

• Chad Channing – cymbals on "Polly" (uncredited), drums on the "Smart Studio Sessions" (Deluxe Edition)
• Kirk Canning – cello on "Something in the Way"

{{col-2}}

Technical staff and artwork

• Craig Doubet – assistant engineering, mixing
• Robin Sloane – DGC/Geffen Records Creative Director
• Kurt Cobain (credited for the "Monkey Photo" as Kurdt Kobain) – cover concept, photography
• Spencer Elden – infant in cover photo
• Robert Fisher – artwork, art direction, design, cover design
• Michael Lavine – photography
• Bob Ludwig – mastering on 20th Anniversary Edition
• Jeff Sheehan – assistant engineer
• Butch Vig – producer, engineer
• Nirvana – producer, engineer
• Andy Wallace – mixing
• Kirk Weddle – cover photo
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Paul Carlsen – engineering/digital editing

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Nevermind}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Argentina

|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2011|relyear=1991|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |title=Discos de oro y platino |language=es |access-date=September 16, 2012 |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=1996|relyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Austria|award=Platinum|certyear=1993|relyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Belgium|award=Platinum|number=8|certyear=2022|relyear=1991|access-date=August 30, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Brazil|award=Platinum|certyear=1998|relyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Canada|award=Diamond|certyear=2001|relyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1991|certyear=2022|region=Denmark|artist=Nirvana|title=Nevermind|award=Platinum|number=6|id=11390|access-date=June 21, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Finland|award=Gold|certyear=1992|relyear=1991|salesamount=46,830|access-date=October 2, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana|type=album|region=France|award=Diamond|certyear=1997}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Germany|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1998|relyear=1991}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=Iceland (FHF)|certref={{cite web|url=https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur|trans-title=The Music – Albums|language=is|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=October 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001184602/http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|archive-date=October 1, 2023}}|award=Platinum|salesamount=5,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://fhf.is/soluvidurkenningar/|title=Söluviðurkenningar|publisher=Félag hljómplötuframleiðenda|language=is|access-date=January 5, 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind|artist=Nirvana|type=album|region=Italy|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1991|certyear=2022|note=sales since 2009|access-date=December 27, 2022|id=10391}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album |region=Japan|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2002|certmonth=11|relyear=1991|access-date=October 15, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|title=Never Mind|artist=Nirvana|award=Gold|number=2|type=album|relyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Netherlands|title=Nevermind|artist=Nirvana|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=1994}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|title=Nevermind|artist=Nirvana|award=Platinum|id=2022-01-07|source=newchart|access-date=November 20, 2024|number=7}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Poland|award=Platinum|certyear=1999|relyear=1991|note=BMG release|date=September 22, 1999}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Nirvana|title=Nevermind|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=1991|certyear=2022|certmonth=11|access-date=November 9, 2022|note=Geffen/Universal Music release|refname=PolandCert2|date=November 9, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Portugal|artist=Nirvana|title=Nevermind|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=2022|id=file_2023-01-02-03-46-01.pdf|access-date=January 2, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Singapore|artist=Nirvana|nocert=true|relyear=1991|salesamount=35,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-08-21.pdf|publisher=American Radio History (Billboard Archive)|title=Singapore|first=Philip|last=Cheah|page=SE-26|date=August 21, 1993|access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924181820/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-08-21.pdf|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|artist=Nirvana|title=Nevermind|type=album|relyear=1991|certyear=1992|region=Spain|award=Platinum|certref={{cite book|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/vqzno2c0fe48zam|title=Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995|publisher=Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano|isbn=84-8048-639-2|year=2005|access-date=November 29, 2018|archive-date=April 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404203541/http://www.mediafire.com/view/vqzno2c0fe48zam|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album |region=Sweden|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1998|relyear=1991|source=artist}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Switzerland|award=Platinum|certyear=1992|relyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=United Kingdom |award=Platinum|number=9|certyear=2025|id=4521-602-2|access-date=January 17, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind |artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=13|relyear=1991|certyear=2024|access-date=December 9, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|title=Nevermind|artist=Nirvana |type=album|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=30,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | streaming=true}}

• 1991 in music
• Album era
• Classic Albums: Nirvana – Nevermind
• Nevermind It's an Interview
• List of best-selling albums
• List of best-selling albums in Belgium
• List of best-selling albums in France
• List of best-selling albums in the United States
• List of 1990s albums considered the best
• List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1992
• List of diamond-certified albums in Canada
• List of 200 Definitive Albums in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• Classic Albums—Nirvana: Nevermind [DVD]. Isis Productions, 2004.
• Azerrad, Michael. Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Doubleday, 1993. {{ISBN|0-385-47199-8}}
• Berkenstadt, Jim; Cross, Charles. Classic Rock Albums: Nevermind. Schirmer, 1998. {{ISBN|0-02-864775-0}}
• Cross, Charles. Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain. Hyperion, 2001. {{ISBN|0-7868-8402-9}}
• Sandford, Christopher. Kurt Cobain. Carroll & Graff, 1995. {{ISBN|0-7867-1369-0}}

• {{cite book|title=A Brief History of Album Covers|first=Jason|last=Draper|publisher=Flame Tree Publishing|location=London|year=2008|pages=294–295|isbn=9781847862112|oclc=227198538}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|13814|name=Nevermind}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nN3UV5AlNbRP9di-cmgC-ACgL8JLK6jGk Nevermind] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
• {{MusicBrainz release group|id=1b022e01-4da6-387b-8658-8678046e4cef}}

{{Nirvana (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1991 albums

Category:2011 live albums

Category:2011 video albums

Category:Albums produced by Butch Vig

Category:Albums recorded at Smart Studios

Category:Albums recorded at Sound City Studios

Category:DGC Records albums

Category:Nirvana (band) albums

Category:Nirvana (band) live albums

Category:Nirvana (band) video albums

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:United States National Recording Registry albums

Category:United States National Recording Registry recordings