In Utero or Nevermind?
 

Recently I've returned to these two records after an extraordinarily long gap. I don't know if it's just because I've heard the hits from Nevermind too many times for them to do nothing for me anymore, or whatever else it might be - but In Utero sounds so much better to me right now in 2008. The songs may not be quite as poppy but all in all, I think they are better, with more sonic depth.

I'm skeptical of my own viewpoint though, given that it may be prejudiced by former overplay of the big tracks (and the point that every kid who picked up a guitar in the 90s knew the riff from Come As You Are) versus the relative unfamiliarity of In Utero; I may know the Nevermind hooks just a little too well, as in, they're part of my brain makeup.

Where do other people stand on these two albums?

I had a feeling you'd say that :D. But I'm not giving it as a choice. So there!

Both are awesome, i probably like In Utero though, very underatted

Is it underrated? I never realized. I had assumed most listeners thought it was a good piece of work.

I'd be interested to hear Steve Albini's mixes of In Utero before he left the project.

I had not realized his mixes weren't on the final recording.

If I remember correctly his mix of the album was sent to the record company & they didn't like what they heard & ordered a load of changes , which was the main reason he fell out with Cobain.

hmm interesting. that makes me wonder what it was that they didn't like.......

Quite simple, Albini's production style was quite hands off. After listening to In Utero again just the other day, I think Albini's production means that the album has dated quite badly. Krist Noveselic may aswell have not turned up for a good third of the album.
I thought All Apologies was the only track which had to changed?

Albini was pissed off about a lot of the mastering but the only songs they actually changed were Heart Shaped Box and All Apologies, I would imagine because those were the two songs on that album closest to "ballads" and I'm sure Albini had them covered in guitar feedback.