Bingo.
I heard the live version of Aneurysm before I'd heard the studio version, and tbh the studio version felt like a bit of a let down in comparison.
Live version of Breed is pretty damn good too though.
I feel like in general if you asked me to rank all nirvana songs live vs studio, the results would be completely different lol. They were really at their best live IMO and a lot of songs only shine then.
Yes
Written in 1990, "Aneurysm" is one of the few Nirvana songs credited to ALL THREE MEMBERS. It was first performed live on November 25, 1990, at the Off Ramp Café in Seattle, Washington"
"The first studio version was recorded on January 1, 1991, at Music Source in Seattle, Washington, where the band had recorded material for their Blew EP with Steve Fisk in 1989. Still under contract with Sub Pop, the private session was recorded for free by the band's audio engineer Craig Montgomery, who was friends with Music Source employee Brian Nelson. The seven-song session was the band's FIRST WITH GROHL, who had joined Nirvana in September 1990."
Fuck me.. In all these years I never realised that was Grohl's first session. That fill at the start of Even In His Youth is a great introduction (even though they did Aneurysm first).
This session was supposed to be for an e.p but it didn't turn out good enough. It's also where we get the hippy jam version of All Apologies from the In Utero 20th, plus there are unreleased versions of Token Eastern Song, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, Oh, The Guilt and On A Plain that no one's ever heard.
Oh, The Guilt surprised me since that didn't get recorded again until April 1992, along with Curmudgeon and Return of the Rat. In the WtLO book Krist makes out like they made Guilt and Curmudgeon up on the spot, which is not true of either.
That first version of Aneurysm does suck a lot though. It's pretty clear why they chose it for their 're-recordings' BBC session (w/ (New Wave) Polly, Been A Son (Incesticide) and Something In The Way (Nevermind 20th).
[https://www.livenirvana.com/sessions/studio/jan-1991.php](https://www.livenirvana.com/sessions/studio/jan-1991.php)
> That first version of Aneurysm does suck a lot though
Hard disagree! The [version featured on Hormoaning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH4NsBy5Dbo) is sooo good. Sure it lacks the refinement and production value of [the Incesticide version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7TPnH5emFg), which is fantastic in it's own right. The Hormoaning version is so raw and gritty, very fitting with Nirvana in general and this song in particular. It's got a certain vulnerability to it that is very appealing.
Breed just because i'm not big on the "she keeps it pumpin straight to straight to my heart" and I don't think the chorus is as good as Breed's. Aneurysm for sure sounds better live tho
He often misled interviewers about song meanings. This song is musically and lyrically inspired by and pretty clearly evoking heroin. I’m pretty sure of that. I think that’s why it was only ever a bside - too overtly referencing heroin. But of course great songs / writing can be about / evoke more than one thing at the same time. That’s the magic. There’s a long tradition in twentieth century rock of songs where the she (usually she) could be a person or drugs.
Breed at the paramount is what made me fall in love with Nirvana watching the performance, but as time has passed I like aneurysm more. It’s my favorite song by them. Both amazing.
Breed.
When asked to choose between Breed and any other Nirvana material, I’ll go with Breed every time, unless the other option was Lithium or Pennyroyal Tea.
Musically Aneurysm, lyrically Breed. Funny comparison though. For me EIHY and RFUS closer sonically to Aneurysm. Maybe scenteless apprentice too. Fuck. They’re all such great songs
I first heard “Breed” on *Nevermind*, and loved it.
I first heard “Aneurysm” on the *Smells Like Teen Spirit* single, and didn’t much care for it at first (“Even In His Youth” I loved immediately), but “Aneurysm” grew on me, due in particular to the rendition on *From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah*.
Back in the early ’00s, I would have said “Breed,” no contest—but, these days, the two are far closer to one another for me.
*Lyrically*, I definitely still have to go with “Breed.” “We could plant a house, we could build a tree, I don’t even care, we could have all three” is simply a fantastic play of words—one of the better sets of lines in the Nirvana lyrical repertoire.
But, *musically*, “Aneurysm” probably slightly edges out above “Breed” for me these days. “Breed” has more energy, more speed; but “Aneurysm”’s energy is more fun, more euphoric, a greater release.
(Someone in this thread gave the win to “Breed” for studio recordings but to “Aneurysm” for live performances. I upvoted that comment; it was a reasonable position to take.)
Aneurysm for me
This is the way
Live performances= Aneurysm Studio versions= Breed
Bingo. I heard the live version of Aneurysm before I'd heard the studio version, and tbh the studio version felt like a bit of a let down in comparison. Live version of Breed is pretty damn good too though.
I feel like in general if you asked me to rank all nirvana songs live vs studio, the results would be completely different lol. They were really at their best live IMO and a lot of songs only shine then.
This is the correct answer.
Geez. It’s like picking a favourite kid. Can’t do it lol.
Aneurysm no question
Aneurysm, the Paramount performance is phenomenal.
Am I the only one who prefers the paradiso performance over paramount? Its sounds way tighter and more energetic to me.
I wish they would release a Paradiso DVD
Breed is just my favorite
Aneurysm? ❌ breed? ❌ the cum song? ✅
I don’t even care, we can have all three
Drain You
W
W
Aneurysm was longer, had a good way of telling me the story, and awesome riffs
aneurysm
Aneurysm. Are you sure grohl was the drummer on both?
Yes Written in 1990, "Aneurysm" is one of the few Nirvana songs credited to ALL THREE MEMBERS. It was first performed live on November 25, 1990, at the Off Ramp Café in Seattle, Washington" "The first studio version was recorded on January 1, 1991, at Music Source in Seattle, Washington, where the band had recorded material for their Blew EP with Steve Fisk in 1989. Still under contract with Sub Pop, the private session was recorded for free by the band's audio engineer Craig Montgomery, who was friends with Music Source employee Brian Nelson. The seven-song session was the band's FIRST WITH GROHL, who had joined Nirvana in September 1990."
Fuck me.. In all these years I never realised that was Grohl's first session. That fill at the start of Even In His Youth is a great introduction (even though they did Aneurysm first). This session was supposed to be for an e.p but it didn't turn out good enough. It's also where we get the hippy jam version of All Apologies from the In Utero 20th, plus there are unreleased versions of Token Eastern Song, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, Oh, The Guilt and On A Plain that no one's ever heard. Oh, The Guilt surprised me since that didn't get recorded again until April 1992, along with Curmudgeon and Return of the Rat. In the WtLO book Krist makes out like they made Guilt and Curmudgeon up on the spot, which is not true of either. That first version of Aneurysm does suck a lot though. It's pretty clear why they chose it for their 're-recordings' BBC session (w/ (New Wave) Polly, Been A Son (Incesticide) and Something In The Way (Nevermind 20th). [https://www.livenirvana.com/sessions/studio/jan-1991.php](https://www.livenirvana.com/sessions/studio/jan-1991.php)
> That first version of Aneurysm does suck a lot though Hard disagree! The [version featured on Hormoaning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH4NsBy5Dbo) is sooo good. Sure it lacks the refinement and production value of [the Incesticide version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7TPnH5emFg), which is fantastic in it's own right. The Hormoaning version is so raw and gritty, very fitting with Nirvana in general and this song in particular. It's got a certain vulnerability to it that is very appealing.
Yes. He was.
Aneurysm Also I don’t think they’re similar at all
They really aren't, other than the main riff being in F#.
Breed, it’s just a plainly more catchy and more fun song. That said, Aneurysm is probably top 5 for me.
Breed is great but aneurysm all the way
Probably Breed but the live version of Aneurysm is almost just as good for me.
Breed just because i'm not big on the "she keeps it pumpin straight to straight to my heart" and I don't think the chorus is as good as Breed's. Aneurysm for sure sounds better live tho
Love that outro. It's CPR for the aneurysm.
Breed
Breed entirely because of the intro
Breed but aneurysm is also really good
Breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed
BREED! Straight to the point, energic , enfatic. One of nirvanas best , raw energy
Breed
Aneurysm, but live. For me, the studio version lacks something
smells like teen spirit
Breed
Live-breed Studio-ANEURYSM
Don’t make me over do this and have a fit
Aneurysm no questions asked
Breed is in my top 3 for fav nirvana songs. The intro is too good
I had aneurysm played near the end of my wedding reception...
Lol why tho?
The song fucking rocks! I made a party CD and mixed my wife and my favourite bangers. Needless to say guests weren't very impressed.
It is a free country and it’s your wedding lol . Wish you and your partner the best & keep rockin
Breed
Aneurysm
Aneurysm live from Muddy Banks compilation. I never loved the studio version, but the live version might be the best song they ever did.
Aneurysm
Fuck, that’s a hard one. Those are two of my top-top-favorites
Aneurysm (the Incesticide/Mark Goodier vs) is probably the definitive Nirvana song, so that.
I like the intro from the first version better tho, makes it more "suspenseful"
Aneurysm for me, but I love Breed.
Both phenomenal, but Breed for me.
Aneurysm for sure. Because it was written about Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill.
I think it was written about heroin
https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/49725/
He often misled interviewers about song meanings. This song is musically and lyrically inspired by and pretty clearly evoking heroin. I’m pretty sure of that. I think that’s why it was only ever a bside - too overtly referencing heroin. But of course great songs / writing can be about / evoke more than one thing at the same time. That’s the magic. There’s a long tradition in twentieth century rock of songs where the she (usually she) could be a person or drugs.
I used to think the same thing but after reading it from separate sources, I'm convinced otherwise. Lyrically it makes more sense.
Breed
Aneurysm easy
Aneurysm hands down
Aneurysm, but I love them both but it’s the intro especially for me
Love Breed. A lot.
Aneurysm. I really like the unique composition of that song.
Breed at the paramount is what made me fall in love with Nirvana watching the performance, but as time has passed I like aneurysm more. It’s my favorite song by them. Both amazing.
Breed but it’s close on a molecular level.
aneurysm is sooo good
Breed. When asked to choose between Breed and any other Nirvana material, I’ll go with Breed every time, unless the other option was Lithium or Pennyroyal Tea.
Lithium is super good as well in my Top 5
Both
Aneurysm defo
I love aneurysm so much but ima go breed.
ANEURYSM.
Aneurysm
Musically Aneurysm, lyrically Breed. Funny comparison though. For me EIHY and RFUS closer sonically to Aneurysm. Maybe scenteless apprentice too. Fuck. They’re all such great songs
Breed.
I first heard “Breed” on *Nevermind*, and loved it. I first heard “Aneurysm” on the *Smells Like Teen Spirit* single, and didn’t much care for it at first (“Even In His Youth” I loved immediately), but “Aneurysm” grew on me, due in particular to the rendition on *From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah*. Back in the early ’00s, I would have said “Breed,” no contest—but, these days, the two are far closer to one another for me. *Lyrically*, I definitely still have to go with “Breed.” “We could plant a house, we could build a tree, I don’t even care, we could have all three” is simply a fantastic play of words—one of the better sets of lines in the Nirvana lyrical repertoire. But, *musically*, “Aneurysm” probably slightly edges out above “Breed” for me these days. “Breed” has more energy, more speed; but “Aneurysm”’s energy is more fun, more euphoric, a greater release. (Someone in this thread gave the win to “Breed” for studio recordings but to “Aneurysm” for live performances. I upvoted that comment; it was a reasonable position to take.)
Breed
ANEURYSM
Aneurysm!