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Rating: THE REVIEW
Something was stirring in Seattle at the end of the 80s. A monster called "Grunge" was coming to life, a monster that would scare (musically, of course!) all the aftereffects. Kurt Cobain, a big fan of the Melvins (he was a driver on their tours and became friends with them, collaborating on writing some pieces) and his best friend, Krist Novoselic, started a duo named Skid Row, then changed their name to Nirvana. Cobain would later say that "...all punk bands had violent, angry names. I wanted something different, a name that was beautiful, spiritual, positive..."
Their first single is released ("Love Buzz" - Siren of Love, a cover by the Dutch band Schching Blue - and "Big Cheese"), the first concerts are a complete disaster, and they still lack a permanent drummer. But the two friends are undeterred. They enlist drummer Chad Channing, and in 1989 they release "Bleach" under the SubPop label. The album's name is the same as the tour that preceded its release, inspired by the anti-AIDS campaign of the period, whose slogan encouraged washing needles with bleach to kill the virus. The album is recorded in 30 hours for the ridiculous cost of 606 dollars (Kurt and Co. are helped by a loan from friend Jason Everman, who earns himself the cover).
The genres are still a bit confused: songs like "Floyd the Barber" and "Scoff" are very edgy, characterized by great vehemence in the choruses; there's a strong punk influence in "Blew" and "School". There's no lack of irony in "Mr. Moustache" (teasing the prototype of the Northwest man, muscular and macho, whom Cobain couldn't stand) and pessimistic self-irony in "Negative Creep". The album stands out particularly for "About a Girl", which could fit perfectly on "Nevermind", often cited by critics as the first grunge track in history.
Kurt Cobain hasn't yet fully exploited his vocal talents, appearing stuck in a punk cliché that diminishes him. The drums are not yet Grohl's, but they still make their mark. Novoselic, who is not a virtuoso, is, as always, essential and punctual.
It’s a debut album and should be considered as such. Nothing extraordinary but a great starting point.
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Summary by Bot
Nirvana's debut album Bleach captures the early, raw energy of the grunge movement in late 80s Seattle. Despite its low budget and rough production, it features key tracks like "About a Girl" that hint at the band's future success. The album blends punk intensity with unique themes, marking a strong starting point for Nirvana.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Nirvana
American rock band formed in the late 1980s, fronted by Kurt Cobain with Krist Novoselic and later Dave Grohl. Broke into the mainstream with Nevermind (1991) and released In Utero (1993); Cobain died in 1994.77 Reviews
Other reviews
By Miki Page
"Bleach is an album with a raw, dirty, edgy, biting, hostile, tense, nervous sound."
"It is an album full of ideas and interesting, conceived in a punk metal key, with a massive and viscous sound (grunge, in short!)."
By thetrooper
Bleach is neither punk, metal, nor alternative; it is much more: it is the ensemble, the coagulation of these genres into a single captivating sound.
If you are looking for the pop-punk of songs like 'Come As You Are,' 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' and 'In Bloom,' forget this review and don’t buy the album.
By giustarantino1
For many considered the lesser offspring of the Cobain band, for a few it represents instead a true manifesto for the windless generation of the late '80s.
Love Buzz, the first flagship of Nirvana, initially printed as the A-side of the eponymous single, is a cover they reinterpret and overwhelm in their own way.
By telespallabob771
Bleach is a terrible album.
Cobain showed me/us that sphere of light that radiates anger and empathy, suffering and warmth, his and our soul.
By masturbatio
Bleach is a masterpiece because it has a punk attitude, but it’s heavier, hits the right spot at the right time without style.
The hatred Kurt screamed I internalized, idealized, scrutinized like a lover, and in the end, I had almost forgotten how much it represented for me.
