How Nirvana Made "In Utero"

[@CandyPossum]

I hope this series becomes a staple. So cool to see how these influences are all mixed around into something amazing

[@cz266]

i totally agree this format is so interesting and entertaining

[@astroboirap]

yeah i wanna see Metal Machine Music by Lou Reed covered like this

[@Large23collectibles]

I got In Utero when it came out and I thought it was a better album than Nevermind. I loved the direction in what the band was going to.

[@implicitdifferentiation]

Kurt was going to make an acoustic album with the lead singer of REM before he died. Sucks that we never got to hear it

[@Newton-Reuther]

@@implicitdifferentiation No way! Michael Stipe?

[@implicitdifferentiation]

@@Newton-Reuther yeah they were scehduled to start working together in spring of 1994 but then Kurt died. Kurt said he wanted his music to head in a more acoustic and ethereal direction, similar to 'Automatic to the People'. Sucks it never happened

[@something_els3]

Ah, that’s sounds cool, it does suck that Kurt died and I do not give much a of a damn for R.E.M.

[@nicolasriveros943]

​@@implicitdifferentiation also in one of His last interviews (the one where he Is in a boat) he says he didn't want to make another Grungy álbum with Nirvana and than In Útero was the last bit of that sound. He also Said he was pretty interested un other genres such as disco and hip Hop. Makes me wonder how different and cool a 4th Studio álbum could have sounded...

[@fayshalin]

I'm loving the new creative approach for this series. It'd be cool to see a newer band like crumb covered

[@arthurr.r.lucasspublicdoma5621]

Crumb is probably my favorite modern band.

[@clay_freespirit]

@@arthurr.r.lucasspublicdoma5621 fave song by them?

[@SarahSmoothieface]

Best new band is The Doublejumps out of New zealand imo but they don't have that many recordings

[@arthurr.r.lucasspublicdoma5621]

@@clay_freespirit Either Jinx or MR.

[@sinuszagar6444]

I would love a video about crumb, they are amazing!

[@themarinawave]

bro this could be the beginning of an INCREDIBLE series. not only is it informative, but it’s CHARMING! the labels on the seasonings being classic punk records, the whole “chef” concept and watching how a beloved album is “prepared and served,” the grainy effect on the screen for the whole video to match the mood of what album we’re talking about, IT’S COOL AS FUCK. please make more of these, i absolutely adore seeing what influences my favorite artists pulled from to make their own art. it makes me wanna make more art myself! stellar job, polyphonic. some suggestions for new episodes: loveless - my bloody valentine lonerism - tame impala the new abnormal - the strokes the 20/20 experience - justin timberlake an evening with silk sonic - silk sonic just to name a few!

[@davidyurch4446]

Loveless would be SUPER interesting. At that point, it’s tough to think of MBV as sounding like anyone but themselves; I think identifying the influences on that album would really get across that music is never made in a vacuum.

[@jackcole1331]

LOVELESS AND LONERISM PLEASE

[@atrainofthought99]

I LOOOVE TAME IMPALA AND MY BLOODY VALENTINE!!

[@ashlabelle]

The amount of maturing that happened between Nevermind and In Utero just leaves me wondering what else we would have heard from Nirvana if what happened hadn't happened. Kurt left so many question marks behind.

[@mateusbez2669]

Great concept. I would just say you understated the REM influence. So much of this album sounds like a noisier REM album, it is mindblowing. The unplugged album really highlighted that. REM is at the core of both Nirvana and Radiohead, the 2 most important bands of the 90s

[@456012]

Of all time you mean 😉

[@devenscience8894]

It's interesting that you noted Nirvana and Radiohead, both of which have stated that they were just copying the Pixies in the past.

[@mateusbez2669]

@@devenscience8894 actually, both have said they were copying both Pixies and REM

[@nicolasriveros943]

I think Kurt would have loved a band like Radiohead, specially from Ok Computer going foward Through Kid A... if only he lived to hear it

[@pahwraith]

@@nicolasriveros943 a radiohead influenced Cobain solo album exists in a different timeline. In yet another timeline, John Lennon collaborated on its lead single. 😢

[@ratbones620]

Really hoping this becomes an ongoing series! I love hearing about the influences of great albums. Also, congrats on 1 million subs! Very well deserved.

[@isaacmartinez6904]

I remember when Nirvana witness critics or people in the streets on TV. They were given their latest album In Utero so they can hear it and review it. And then they came back and told their thought on the album.

[@jerkman3944]

The animations are always so beautiful in these videos.

[@void0094]

The Wipers were a big influence on Nirvana. Kurt was friends with Greg Sage and he wanted to record covers of old blues songs in Greg's studio.

[@wormskull2454]

Yeah Sage stated that Kurt was planning on flying down to Arizona where Greg & his label Zeno Records had recently relocated to & record an album of Leadbelly covers. This was apparently a month or so before he died.

[@drspritz]

With mark lanegan

[@giha.3347]

Nothing else on youtube comes close to your style and presentation, ive been following you for years and you still keep putting out bangers

[@SuperStarr817]

I love In Utero so much, it's my fave Nirvana album. I enjoyed how well this picked apart all the different sounds and influences that made this album. I'd love to see more of this with other albums.

[@gershatzer7156]

we cannot forget that a great inspiration for in utero was Red from king crimson

[@LigiaMihaeala-dx7tr]

Oh yeah , so original ..

[@usagi2988]

For an "album recipe" ideas, I'd love to know how Faith No More's "The Real Thing" gets made, including how a major label decides to authorize/distribute it (was it just that liminal period in-between 80's rock but before Grunge would shake up the status quo?)... I love that album (as well as "Angel Dust"), but I've always been amazed by how that album gets made and released.

[@BayouMaccabee]

Good one

[@cronkitesatellite]

And the cherry on top would be the album Rid Of Me by PJ Harvey. Also recorded by Steve Albini at Pachyderm Studios in Minnesota. You can hear how it influenced In Utero’s sound, especially in the drums.

[@MontysVideoblogg]

Kurt said in interviews that one of the biggest influences on "In Utero" was the album "Red" by King Crimson.

[@oxoti2164]

I was waiting for someone to mention this

[@hehasnolips1371]

And Courtney

[@matheusffo_]

Another killer video essay! You are such a inspiration, for music, video and design purposes. Congrats!

[@Orion-bf4qb]

I love this new video concept, I feel like you should follow this up with the influences in Nevermind, since you mentioned Bowie and Sonic Youth etc very briefly here and I would love to hear more.

[@frankgile1996]

Taking "Surfer Rosa" apart would also be great!!! Or "Hybrid Theory", or "Superunknown". Or "Nevermind", like you mentioned.

[@thanos6346]

You should take a look at a Soundgarden album. They pioneered grunge after all, they had been doing it since the mid eighties and were first of the big 4 to sign with a label.

[@melvinramone2605]

Great video as usual with fantastic visual style. Well done. Just one ingredient I found missing: there is a lot on the album, "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" in particular, that sounds a lot like The Jesus Lizard, and given their connection to Steve Albini and the fact that Nirvana did a split single with them I have to say they are certainly one of the major Influences on this album. Albini's own music with Big Black also. Thank you.

[@brandonwintpoetry]

The playfulness of this is so refreshing. Compelling and inventive while being insightful throughout. I always love the videos that include snippets of the songs being referenced.

[@NB28VT]

Interesting format, other albums I can think of with some well blended influences that would be perfect for this (and you may already have queued up) would be the Pumpkin's Siamese Dream, Bowie's Low, Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, Combat Rock, Hounds of Love (I know you did Kate Bush recently), So (Gabriel), Physical Graffiti, Meat Puppets II, Kid A and Sturgill Simpson's Sound and Fury

[@Do_Odles]

Loved this, thank you! Would love to see a video on Pearl Jam's Ten!

[@thepriesttheycallhim]

I would like to point the fact "very ape"´s riff is from "Kanishka" by the argentine band called "Los Brujos". Los Brujos played as opening act in 1992 when Nirvana played in Buenos Aires and even Kurt told the Los Brujos´s singer that he really liked theyr style.

[@MaosTL]

Love this album, and love this video! Your animation styles and video production just keep getting better and better-really. Side note, have you thought about covering neutral milk hotel? I think your style would mesh really well with their sound and aesthetic. Thanks for another great vid!

[@Jaceno]

Your passion and quality in these videos never seizes to amaze me!

[@Blalack77]

I was cruising by and had to stop for this. Anything Nirvana or Bob Dylan always catches my attention. In Utero definitely had a distinctive sound and vibe. I remember when I used to listen to Tourette's, I would say the "Moderate rock" line and it blended so well, people thought I was just lip syncing. I'm like this hillbilly from the south and when I was a kid, I listened to so much Nirvana that I started picking up that accent. I'm back to a more hillbilly accent in my old age but you can still hear the influence underneath. I was only 7 years old when Cobain died but I still discovered Nirvana in the 90's thankfully - I remember my older cousins had Nirvana posters and that was my very first intro. But it's kind of interesting - I got really hung up on booze and drugs for a long time and I can barely remember my youth. But hearing these songs still brings back some kind of a feeling of nostalgia. Just like a simpler time - running around with friends, swimming in the creeks. I played Nirvana so much back then, everyone was totally sick of hearing it lol. And everyone wanted like upbeat type music but I was blasting Endless, Nameless; Big Long Now, D7, etc... I've never followed those social rules like that where you're supposed to listen to certain types of music in certain situations. Like how people might blast rap or pop rock at a party, I'll be listening to Leadbelly or how people might listen to soft, laid back music for romantic situations - I'd be totally fine with The Misfits, or whatever.

[@ТимурМаликов-н9с]

That was an awesome idea for a video, very helpful and informative in understanding history of modern music.

[@itheo1549]

Great idea for a series! I think Surrealist Pillow could have an interesting recipe for the next episode

[@analogue_microwave]

I love the sound of this new series! The animation, art and style is so charming and unique! Love it :D

[@jmorgan3977]

Love this format, Polyphonic! Reminds me why I rely on you for new music, and now I've gotta check out Melvins and Sonic Youth.

[@aisle_of_view]

Saw Melvins 3 years ago, they're monsters. Dale Crover was absolutely amazing, what a drummer.

[@alexredfield1943]

Uhh, the Velvet Underground's song you played is called Here She Comes Now and it's from their album White Light/White Heat

[@nathanaelbovey762]

Congrats on a million!!!

[@SheilaTheGrate]

This is a really cool idea!! Thank you so much for the super informative and entertaining (as always) video.

[@DoganME]

One of my favourites album of all time and favourite Nirvana album for sure, love the video

[@bigego8096]

Loving the editing and aesthetic, please make more

[@dimitreze]

what an amazing idea for a video and so well executed

[@3sidesinasquare]

congrats on 1 mil. i've been a fan since your video about the chain and its been awesome to see your content grow and evolve. keep making good shit!

[@swirlingfudge]

An In Utero Chef that leaves out the Beatles 7th major chords on Serve the Servants, the opening track. And the ‘Cry Baby Cry’ seasoning on ‘Frances Farmer’. I’d like to send this dish back to the kitchen please

[@rklngs]

love this format!! please do more of these, its awesome to see all of the influences that lead into making an album.

[@moortak]

Ahhh the album that sang me to sleep for months. It is such a rich album that showed so many more paths open to the band.

[@rangerwhite5165]

"Teenage angst has paid off well, now I'm old and bored". I remember buying In Utero on CD. I can now relate to it all in my 50s.

[@karateman302]

I remember getting a CD of In Utero back in middle school (early 2010s) at a flea market when I was first getting into heavier music. It has been one of my favorite albums ever since.

[@PeerwasNOPE]

It’ll be great to dissect any albums by The Smiths, but i’d love to see their last album dissected cause it was moving to a certain direction from their signature jangly sound.

[@CarlosAlonzoCorrea]

Incredible approach over the series. Thanks for keep making these great video analysis. 🙌

[@thunderSLM]

My fave Nirvana album, now I know the artists they listened to make this masterpiece

[@deathriverflowing5675]

OBSESSED WITH THIS VIDEO FORMAT !!! LOVING IT KEEP IT UP MR PHONIC!!!!

[@steelypeanut]

This was formatted so well, I loved the style! I’d love to see more videos like this!!

[@nannyalberte]

love your videso so much. Thank you!

[@TheMerrrr]

Need more of these videos from the kitchen. Nice work.

[@thegreatpiginthesky3904]

Obamna

[@shanesmith734]

SODA!

[@jaopredoramires]

SODA!!

[@jasonremy1627]

Super creative video. Love this.

[@DWS205]

As a young kid I loved the raw sound of “in utero” but now I really appreciate the lyrics. “Heart-shaped Box” is poetry.

[@sulturwood3226]

I love the creativity and humor in this one!

[@wormskull2454]

The solo on Francis Farmer sounds so much like Duane Dennison, it’s one of my favorite parts of that record. Just those few chords are VERY reminiscent of the Jesus Lizard.

[@Gear-Tube]

I like the editing so much, this video is a work of art.

[@BayouMaccabee]

Another great album to do for this series is Living Colour - "Vivid". Their blend of hard rock, funk, metal & soul would be a great and interesting exercise for you to explore.

[@gabrielcoelho19]

You never fail to deliver, my friend

[@westcoasthighway379]

This was very well put together. Good job man!

[@andrewbair7810]

Loving the concept for this series. I'm hungry for more.

[@joaquinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

You should check the story behind how the song Kanishka by Los Brujos influenced nirvana’s Very Ape when the band visited Argentina

[@coltonroark]

This video is actually perfect. Thank you.

[@gregkelland]

It would be so cool to have a Spotify playlist full of these influences!

[@julianayala6629]

Really loved this video…would love to see an episode on Ok Computer!

[@becca19216]

this video is so impressive and this format is perfect

[@tren-della]

This is a really cool format you’ve come up with here, my compliments to the chef.

[@AcidBathX_YOLO]

please keep this series going, very cool to see the history & techniques shine through!

[@crazynights14-nk4rg]

What a great concept for a video, thanks for sharing.

[@dakihyxs]

THIS HAS BEEN MY SEARCH HISTORY FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS!!! THANK YOU ❤

[@valefiori8972]

Love the new format! Keep it going :D

[@michelhv]

This is funny and smart on so many levels, keep that concept!

[@mattxbgxl6042]

Brilliant as always

[@SheilaTheGrate]

Blood Sugar Sex Magick or Rumours would be two amazing albums that I can see fitting in on any Easter dinner table. ;)

[@BryanHRBrodie]

Scentless was based on a Dave drum part so it makes sense that it’s drum heavy

[@Nathan_Bair]

Awesome been waiting for you to make something on nirvana

[@nathanzayac585]

Great series concept !

[@hectorh.micheos.1717]

Excellent format, really liked it.

[@ikepigott]

So this is the Polyphonic/Alton Brown mashup that I never knew I wanted until right now.

[@scottydub5785]

Another very well done video, my man, and what a perfect album on which to concentrate.

[@ottebya]

this may be the best assessment of Nirvana I have EVER seen, well done 👍

[@EvanFrenchMusic93]

I love in utero! I hope you will do a video of the velvet underground and nico album one day!

[@kat4119]

absolutely living for everything about this

[@thefrogger6507]

K I would commit tax fraud for this series to continue, the editing and visual flair is on a level even higher than your usual work, and there's so many albums to dissect here

[@miguelramalho8792]

Got the ‘2013 mix’ on vinyl which is so good 👍🏼

[@Microtonal_Cats]

The Middle 8 quieter part in that new A.I. fake Nirvana song sounds like Dinosaur Jr.

[@Joeobrown1]

this is a really interesting format, keep them coming

[@sthenx0r]

Not sure if it was intentional (oh, I'm sure it was) but I like that the Velvet Underground track you featured is "Here She Comes Now" which Nirvana has actually covered a few times.

[@mrfister1899]

Really weird. Just went to the toilet and thought "I wonder if there's any new Polyphonic videos". This was the top of the recommendations when I got back 😮

[@strawberryfields253]

the velvet underground song you showed (if she ever comes now) was actually covered by nirvana in the nevermind smart sessions!

[@gazzabethyname]

Love this channel. Such great taste in music.

[@ruaoneill9050]

jUMPED over from Nebula to like and comment on here: love it! Love this format! Great idea extremely well executed!

[@sofaking1627]

Love this concept, that was awesome

[@juliegogola4647]

I loved "In Utero", and it had been those songs like "heart shaped box" and "all apoligies" too, that I thought had been way too slow. And, I did LOVE all of the faster and more "punk" sounding songs on "In utero" much more than the slower songs. I actually hadn't been quite sure what "punk" music sounded like before hearing some songs by Nirvana. Before hearing Nirvana, I had been told (or I had heard) that the band "The Police" were a PUNK band, BUT, IF they were PUNK, PUNK was really MILD compared to what I THOUGH punk should be. The Sex Pistols were PUNK, so how could The Police be punk too when THEY were a MILD sorta sound of band? Anyhow, many OTHER songs on "In Utero" are more PUNK sounding, and I like those songs best.

[@ZacCostilla]

I think doing this with Superunknown, or Down On The Upside (I hear a lot of Beatles influences that didn’t come out in Soundgarden’s earlier stuff). I think this would be great for Cake’s Fashion Nugget or Sublime’s self-titled album with Santeria and What I Got.

[@pipjr3927]

loving this style of vid!!

[@salvadorslim3234]

This was great. Thanks

[@LuisMVallecillo9]

The video I've been waiting for years.

[@avedic]

I LOVE the idea of this being a series. My ideas.......? Tool - Ænema Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream And yes, there's many many MANY more I can think of. But...those two? That's a good start, at least for me. :) Thank you for all the brilliant content! You're so good at this...

[@forcetheedges]

Yeah, what even are Tool's influences? Have the band members ever said? That would make a good video.

[@minolsugathadasa.]

Love this poly!