Track Listing

1. Blew
2. Floyd The Barber
3. About A Girl
4. School
5. Love Buzz
6. Paper Cuts
7. Negative Creep
8. Scoff
9. Swap Meet
10. Mr Moustache
11. Sifting
12. Big Cheese
13. Downer

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9355 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: .19 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
In 1989, Nirvana were mentioned in the same breath as Mudhoney, Tad and The Melvins--just another band doing the rounds on the Seattle underground. Bleach doesn't adequately explain why, so many years on, Nirvana remains a household name when so many of their contemporaries have been forgotten, but it offers the first essential clues. "About A Girl", for instance, which was later memorably revived for their MTV Unplugged In New York album, is one of Nirvana's finest moments--a Beatles-esque light touch between the caustic likes of "Floyd The Barber" and "School". It was when Nirvana toned down the fuzz-metallic tendencies so characteristic of the Sub Pop label that Cobain's gift for melody shone through- -notably, the cover of Shocking Blue's "Love Buzz". Of course, Cobain quickly realised this, and much better was to come with 1991's classic Nevermind. --Louis Pattison

CD Description
'Bleach' was the debut album from Seattle grunge legends Nirvana. Originally released in 1989 on indie label Sub Pop and later reissued by Geffen in 1992, it is a fusion of down-tuned rock and melodic punk. Heavily influenced by The Melvins, Sonic Youth and most notably The Pixies with their punk attitude and pop melodies. The drums on the album were playedby Chad Channing who was replaced by Dave Grohl in 1990.

Customer Reviews

The Best Pure Grunge Album
Recorded on a shoestring budget and released back in 1989 when Seattle was still a relatively obscure musical backwater, it was nevertherless clear that Nirvana were something special. Grunge contemporaries like Tad, Mudhoney and Soundgarden certainly had some fine moments but none were able to produce records of such consistent excellence.

All of the ingredients for a grunge classic are here: slow, heavy riffing of sludgy guitars and lyrics which convey the stifling frustration of being a social misfit in a small American town.

What sets `Bleach' apart from its peers, though, is Cobain's seemingly innate deftness of touch and pop sensibility. This really shines through on `Blew' and the rightly celebrated `About a Girl' (which Cobain feared might be too poppy for his label) but is also present on heavier numbers like `Floyd the Barber', `School' and the claustrophobic `Sifting'. Even the out-and-out thrilling thrash-fest of `Negative Creep' can be sung (or screamed) along to.

`Bleach' caught the ear of David Geffen and `Nevermind' catapulted Cobain to reluctant superstardom, but the seeds of greatness were sown in this brilliant record, arguably the greatest grunge LP recorded.

Nirvana's Best Album
In my opinion this is Nirvans best album by far, followed by 'In Utero' Then 'Nevermind'.

The most striking thing about it (after you've heard Nevermind) is the production. Its much rawer and adds to the aggression of the songs. Kurt himself complained that 'Nevermind' sounded like 'a Bon Jovi album' and it suits them when they leave things scuzzed up as on here and 'In Utero'

My favourite tracks on here have to be 'School' and 'Downer', which for me are classics even to this day.

I cannot think of a single track on here that would come under the category of 'filler'. You can see why it didn't sell well though, until Nevermind hit the big time. It is much darker than any of Nirvanas other work, with fewer melodies and brooding, droning songs, I love it!!!!

This is a must buy and if you only own 'Nevermind', you are missing out here. This is by far Nirvanas best album.

Offers some clues of things to come...
Even though this is a tackily produced album there are some tracks on it which demonstrate the melodic prowess that made Nirvana great. It opens with a cool grungy tune 'Blew' in which Krist's bass is more noticable than usual and then delivers 'Floyd the Barber' a highly likable song about a nightmarish visit to the barber shop. 'About a Girl' is probably the most sophisticated track lyrically and musically and is just as enjoyable on this as it is on MTV Unplugged. School is another rocking track that should appeal to any rock fan as it has a nice riff and strong bass line coupled with Kurt screaming the amusing line 'Won't you believe it's just my luck? - NO RECESS!!'
Love Buzz is a good cover, originally recorded by some obscure Dutch group called 'Shocking Blue' (another example of Kurt's reverence for little known bands). The remaining tracks are coarser and less melodically defined than the first five, Paper Cuts is enjoyable for Kurt's hair-raising wailing if nothing else and tracks like Negative Creep and Scoff offer strong riffs from start to finish without approaching anything near great musicianship.
Chad Channing's average drumming highlight's even further the importance of Dave Grohl (and a bigger record label) in Nirvana's later commercial success.
A debut album to be proud of.