"With the Lights Out" is a box set by the American rock band Nirvana, released on November 23, 2004. It contains three CDs and one DVD, featuring rare or previously unreleased material such as B-sides, demos, and live recordings. The title of the box set is drawn from the lyrics of Nirvana's 1991 single "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
The box set had initially been planned for release in 2001 but was delayed due to a legal dispute with Courtney Love, the widow of Nirvana's lead singer, Kurt Cobain. The controversy mainly revolved around the inclusion of Nirvana's final unreleased track, "You Know You're Right," recorded in January 1994. While band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic wanted to include it in the box set, Love blocked its release, arguing that the song should be part of a single-disc compilation instead. After the legal battle was settled, "You Know You're Right" was released on the 2002 Nirvana greatest hits album, which paved the way for the eventual release of With the Lights Out.
Promotional efforts for the box set included the release of a promotional EP titled Selections from With the Lights Out, which featured songs like "White Lace and Strange," "Blandest," "Lithium," "Heart-Shaped Box," and "You Know You're Right." The original music video for "In Bloom" from 1990 was also released on music television and included in the DVD portion of the box set. Additionally, "Lithium" was made available as an exclusive iTunes downloadable single on November 22, 2004.
The packaging of With the Lights Out is distinctive, featuring heat-sensitive material that changes color when touched, revealing images of the band's recording session tapes. The three CDs are divided into sections that represent different periods in Nirvana’s history, reflecting the band's three studio albums: Bleach (1989), Nevermind (1991), and In Utero (1993). The DVD includes rare live performances and rehearsals from the band's career.
The box set also contains a 60-page booklet with liner notes written by Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and journalist Neil Strauss. It includes photographs, a catalog of the band's recording history, and details about their studio sessions, radio and television appearances, and live performances. However, a small mistake was made in the cataloging, as the band's May 6, 1987 radio session at KAOS 89.3 FM in Olympia, Washington, is mislabeled as being from April 17, 1987.
Despite its long delay, With the Lights Out became a significant release for Nirvana fans, offering an extensive collection of rare and unreleased material that provided a deeper look into the band's history.
