Customer Reviews

Bleach

5 star:		(171)
4 star:		(84)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I am a 20 year old black kid and no one would expect me to listen to Nirvana, but i've been listening to them since 92', the first song I ever heard was smells like teen spirit, i remember the son of the family my mother worked for gave me the nevermind cd and I was blown away, I was only five or six but I loved the hell out of Nirvana. Bleach was given to me as a cassette by the same person and this would be Nirvana's foundation, the best album they ever made, every song is listenable without skipping, unlike incesticide or in utero. If you are just getting into Nirvana start here this is a classic because it has that raw punk-metal sound, school has to be the greatest song ever. There are few rockers such as Kurt and Marilyn Manson, who have the most rugged and violent voices, this is a true talent, you can feel Kurt's voice not just hear it. His voice is the greatest in rock if you ask me, from sing-songy, to scream, to violent howl, he made the best rock songs ever, from his voice to his guitar playing (oh my god), to the whole melody of the song + lyrics=perfection. He is and was the greatest because he had fans of all races and im proof of that, even though i didnt live in a suburban area I was the only kid in the "ghetto" listening to this and I've been a fan since 6 years old. If you dont have unplugged you should be arrested and sentenced to life. R.I.P Kurt.

This album, though it is probably not nearly as popular as Nevermind or In Utero (my favorite album ever), is a classic. Perhaps more than Nevermind. The songs on here are raw and emotional, much more so than many of the songs that Kurt later wrote. The songs range from insane screaming (Negative Creep, School) to rhythmic melodies (About a Girl) and early, almost nauseating (in a good way) grunge (paper cuts, blew), very similar to alice in chains. Pretty much every song on here is worth listening to. This is one of those CD's that you can put in your CD player and not even touch the track-select button. This CD is kind of like a look into the past, of where they came from before the fame or fortune, back when Kurt dreamt of being a rock star, before he found out what it was like. When you listen to this album, remember what it was like before Nevermind or Teen Spirit, before anyone had heard of Nirvana and they were in it for the sheer enjoyment of music. When nobody even knew there was a guy out there named Kurt Cobain, before anyone knew he was anything special. This IS Nirvana, at its core. This is the music coming from Kurt Cobain the human being, not Kurt Cobain the music god. If you like rock, you'll like this CD.

It's hard for me to really pick a favorite Nirvana album, becuase they're all very good [if I had to though it'd be their live "Unplugged" album]. While Nevermind probably is the best out of their studio albums, it seems that it and In Utero get far more attention than Bleach and Incesticide. This has a much more unrefined sound then Nevermind does and is a lot more punk influenced. The guitar work keeps true to the fuzz-style of early grunge and most of the songs are short with fast guitars, in the tradition of punk, so this album probably more than any other sowcases Nirvana's punk roots.

For this reason this album seems like a somewhat bad choice if you're just getting to like Nirvana [since in Utero and nevermind both sound much more like what you probably hear from them on the radio], however if you like ohter early grunge bands or punk bands of the time, or like songs such as "Lithium", "Breed", and "Stay Away" off of Nevermind then this is the album for you. My personal favorites off of here are "School", "Negative Creep", "Downer" and the best track of the bunch, "Blew." And also of course, About A Girl which sounds noticbly different on here than it does on "Unplugged" [where as Penyroyal Tea and All Apologies, both from "In Utero" sound more or less the same on "Unplugged"].

So to really get down to it, this album is very good. If you are a big fan of nirvana get it, you will like it. If you are just a casual fan or mainly liek their radio singles then get Nevermind or In Utero, or their new Greatest Hits collection.

There seems to be quite a bit of Nirvana fans on this site who appreciate their music well beyond their singles from the Geffen period of the early 90's, which is awesome. On the other hand, unless you're a complete snob who refuses to listen to a band unless it's you and about five other pretentious people who've heard of them, Nirvana's music isn't hard to like at all. Even the early stuff.

The best thing about Bleach is probably the fact that you've never heard these songs on the radio, so you're able to come away from it with a more fresh perspective than their later music. I think people like to hype this up as the more "raw" side of Nirvana before they went pop, but the truth is, they've never really changed. The music here doesn't sound as polished as Nevermind, but the structures are still just as catchy. From the start, Nirvana were a talented unit who deserved their success (even if Kurt didn't want it).

Even after all these years, this album holds up remarkably well. For some reason, I find it's best to listen to it in total darkness. Not that it's a gloomy album, it just has this strange "night vibe" to it. Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way. I dunno. I'm tired and just felt like killing time writing this review. Forgive me if I sound like I'm talking out of my [...]. I'm rambling.

Get it. Essential stuff for the Nirvana fan.

I'll admit I wasn't to thrilled about this at first, yet in the end, this album has surpassed most of that other dusty Nirvana stuff. It's back when the band was toghether to have fun writing good music. We all know what happened next. They were a great act that wrote many tunes that just went straight to your soul. Buy "Bleach" and realize that this was how Nirvana was originally meant to sound. You will come to appreciate the fact that it is not another annoyingly hyped-to-death product like...oh, nevermind...

Okay, I had a really good time reading the customer reviews for this. Especially the negative ones. I like the one where this guy complains about *JOHNNY'S* little girl, hee. Was Kurt really THAT hard to understand?? Also, when did anyone say Kurt was a guitar virtuoso? Don't put words in Nirvana-fans' mouth. And there's more to songs and music in general than 10-minute long solos. There's room for every type of music and for every taste.

Anyway, I would agree with those who said that for Nirvana beginners, Nevermind, Unplugged and In Utero should be bought first and foremost (the first reason why I'm giving Bleach only 4 stars). But somehow, I can't help strongly recommending this one too. CDs like Incesticide are cool for the versatility of the songs, but I somehow like it better when songs create a certain mood and have a similar feel to them. Bleach is an album full of those kinds of songs. Also, I like Kurt's vocals better on this CD than on In Utero. There's just more rage and power in them. Sorry.

Blew- I love this one. It's got a great melody and great vocals.
Floyd the Barber- Okay, I don't like this song. This is the 2nd reason why I am giving Bleach 4 stars. No further comment.
About a Girl- Let me get this off my chest: this is my favorite Nirvana song *ever*. Sure, it's not as *significant* as Teen Spirit (which I do love), not as energetic or loud, but to me AAG is just incredible. It's so melodious and flowing and reminds me of the Beatles, with a slightly heavier sound. It's got great lyrics too, somewhat like hearing only one side of a phone fight. This song is the main reason why I can't help wishing that someone would release a cleaned-up enhanced version of this CD with a better sound. Yes, it's on the Unplugged too, but this version has more energy to it.
School- my second favorite. I'd pick this riff over Negative Creep's riff, for better or worse, and the 3 simple lines complaining about how grown up life is no different from school are endearing.
Love Buzz- I haven't heard the original of this. I wish I could, but can't find it. When I do hear it, perhaps my opinion of Nirvana's version would change, but as it is, I love it, especially the guitar parts.
Paper Cuts- this song is depressing. From the vocals to the dark melody, it's sort of shiver-inducing. In a good way.
Negative Creep- Heh, *Johnny's* little girl... Sorry, it's just funny. And the song itself is funny too. In a good, obnoxious way.
Scoff- I found a lot of people complaining about the repetitiveness ofthis song. Perhaps the last (3rd) time they repeated the verse was too much, but this is still my 3rd favorite song on the album. I just love that irritated roar at the end.
Swap Meet- This is one of the songs that I found most accessible on first listen (besides AAG).
Mr.Moustache- this song depends on my mood. It's pretty good but not one of my favorites.
Sifting- again, I heard complaints about repetitiveness, and maybe so, but the lyrics are so strange and the tune is wonderful, making it my 4th favorite on the album.
Big Cheese- see Swap Meet.
Downer- *ahem*, the 3rd reason why I give this only 4 stars. Wasn't the Incesticide version enough? Needless to say, this song was a "bonus track" on the copies printed sometime after 1992, and in my humble opinion, there was a reason it was left out the first time.

bleach is not nirvana's best work by any means, nor is kurt's songwriting as good as nevermind or in utero, but the album succeeds through its energy, its sincerity, and the adventurous nature of the songs. kurt adds an element of originality to each song, and he wasnt afraid to go in different directions in his songwriting.
BLEW- IMO, this song is the real prelude to nevermind, in that it manages to be both heavy and melodic at the same time
FLOYD THE BARBER- a very primitive, heavy song; they take a two chord riff and make it huge, i love kurt's scream at the end of the first chorus, this one has very good lyrics that tell a story in which the townsfolk in the andy griffith show are all deranged murderers
ABOUT A GIRL- standout track that highlights kurt's natural pop songwriting ability
SCHOOL- bleach's first big anthem; it only has 3 different lines, yet they are sung with the utmost passion, worked really well when played live
LOVE BUZZ- cover of a 60's psychadelic pop song, a very good performance with a crazy noise solo
PAPER CUTS- with its lurching rhythm, dissonant chord progression, and seriously frightening vocals, this is probably the most intense song on the record; this song has the most thought-out lyrics, and they are definitely the most disturbing; this track also shows kurt's versatility as a vocalist
NEGATIVE CREEP- another one of bleach's big anthems, this is probably the 2nd most intense song on the album; in the first verse kurt sings in a gruff bark, but by the end of the second he's screaming at the top of his lungs
SCOFF- has a great 70's type drumbeat during the verse; kurt sings the line "gimme back my alcohol" in a different voice practically each time
SWAP MEET- sort of has a weird rhythm in the verses, the vocals are set against the guitars in a weird way that you dont expect at the beginning
MR. MUTSTACHE- one of the more upbeat songs on the record with great anti-hipster lyrics, love how they slow the main riff down to a crawl at the end
SIFTING- has a macho zeppelin-like feel to it, very strange lyrics and a structure similar to scoff's
BIG CHEESE- great intro guitar noise; the gruff, snarling vocals during the verses contrast with the mellow choruses,
DOWNER- great energetic closer, kurt sings in a bizarre voice during the verses, indecipherable lyrics

I don't give this album any stars because I wouldn't know how to rate it in stars, but I can sure review it. I'm NOT saying this is good or bad: i'm completely neutral.

Many of you mostly remember nirvana for their ground-breaking "nevermind" album that was released in 1991. However, nirvana was quite different just two years before when "bleach" was released in the summer of 1989. This record is living proof of that, with it's experimental, sludgy riffs complimented by lead singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain's howling voice. While this album may not have "changed the world" as "nevermind" did, this album definitely did have an effect on the seattle underground movement of the late 80's

Starting off with the murky "blew" you can immediatly notice that this album shows no sign of of any relation to nirvana's next few albums to come. Cobain's voice and guitar craft is signifigantly different. One of their original drummers chad channing is here, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. As a drummer, he is no where near to that of the skill of dave grohl, who would join the band a year later and debut on "nevermind" "Blew" is quickly followed by "Floyd the barber", which paints a picture of a somewhat scary Mayberry universe. The standout track here is probably "About a girl" which bears a resemblence to that of the beatles, which it was inspired by after cobain's constant listening to "meet the beatles". "School" is a song with pure energy with a catchy guitar riff to match. Although lyrics are mostly repeated, that doesn't make it bad. An explosive version of the shocking blue cover "Love buzz" follows, with an incredibly catchy guitar riff. Perhaps the eeriest track on the whole album is "Paper Cuts", with it's distorted guitars and constant howling. The rest of the album is just as good, but the songs aren't well known to most nirvana fans.

All in all, I truly see little flaws in this record. To sum it all up, here's a list

Pros

. Good thing is that it doesn't sound like it's from any era

. Hardcore underground fanatics will love this album

. And for 600 bucks to record, it was one deal that paid off

. This is an admirable attempt to capture the raw energy of one heck of an ambitious band.

. Remains faithful to nirvana as a live band

Cons

. Not accessible for the 1st time nirvana record-buyer

. Dave grohl is absent and chad channing could definitely use more practice

. Hard to relate to the lyrics, but that doesn't make them weak

. Some of the songs are spooky

I swear to god i'm not lying when i say bleach is the nirvana album that I listen the most to. Whether you like it or not, this is what nirvana was cut out to do

Some people may not know this, but grunge was originally one-half metal. Everyone says that metal was wiped out in the early nineties by grunge, but in reality glam metal was just pushed to the side by a less excessive form of metal. Grunge was metal that focused less on instrumental skill and more on experimentation and innovation. Nirvana's "Bleach" is a prime example of the metal influence on grunge.

Kurt Cobain often cited AC/DC and Black Sabbath as influences. Much like their hometown counterparts, the Melvins, Nirvana took the sludgy sound of Black Sabbath and threw out the guitar solos and cheesy mystical lyrics. He added some feedback and wild vocals to give their sound a bit of a punk edge.

Sludge punk metal is the formula used through much of the record, but there were a couple experimental pieces that marked the direction they would take on their next albums. "About a Girl" and "Love Buzz" were demented pop songs that usually get this album the most praise from the critics, but they're hardly the strongest tracks. "Negative Creep" and "School" are driven by killer metal riffs and manic punk rock energy, which are the best songs on the album.

Other songs like "Paper Cuts" and "Sifting" are oppressively heavy and could be easily mistaken for a Melvins song.

Fans of Nirvana's later pop hook oriented material may not like this album, but fans of sludge metal may be quite pleased with it. Most metal fans may hate Nirvana and all other grunge just because it helped propel weaker, softer alternative rock (think Oasis, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins) into the mainstream, but if they look past the associations and deeper into grunge they may find some very respectable forms of metal.

Nirvana's 1989 debut, BLEACH, cost only $600 to make, and they recorded it in less than a week. The cost of the production shows, since they recorded it in a cheap studio in Seattle, but Jack Endino did try to make the album sound good, which it does for the most part. The sound is sludy in parts, but a lot of the songs sound incredibly raw, like the bitter "Scoff," "Big Cheese," and the REM-influenced love ballad "About a Girl."

The only downside to this album is the drumming, provided here by Chad Channing, who would later be replaced by the excellent and proficient Dave Grohl. He gets the job done and he does it adequately, but his drumming style does not fit w/ Kurt Cobain's vocals and guitar playing, a void that would be filled when Grohl joined the band a year after BLEACH's release. Even Dale Crover (Melvins drummer), who played on "Floyd the Barber," "Downer," and the suburban nightmare "Paper Cuts," gives the band's sound more justice than Channing.

This was Nirvana in their primitive form and was a sign of later triumphs. It contains some of the band's greatest songs, like "Negative Creep," and the underrated "Sifting." Lyrically, it might be one of their best lyrics, and musically, their abrasive tones and melodic senses can be traced easily. Pick BLEACH up crank it and enjoy it.