Bleach

Nirvana

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 1991)
• Original Release Date: June 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B0000035E7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (302 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,309 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #1 in	Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Alternative Metal
  #1 in	Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Rock
  #28 in	Music > Hard Rock & Metal > Grunge

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When it first appeared, Bleach seemed like a tuneful approximation of what grunge rock in the Northwest United States was supposed to sound like--gruff, enraged, sometimes tuneful, sometimes silly. Singer Kurt Cobain had the pipes to belt out such power trash as "Mr. Moustache" and the Shocking Blue's "Love Buzz," but considering the sheer volume of frustrated tuneage coming out of Seattle in 1989, it was easy to miss Bleach's subtler textures. In retrospect, "Negative Creep" and "About a Girl" are the obvious standouts that point toward the strum and bang attack that would catapult Nevermind to the top of the charts. But this is also a band without drummer Dave Grohl; his predecessor, Chad Channing (and also the Melvins' Dale Crover), while competent, is no Grohl. Producer Jack Endino gave this album the best sound $600 could buy. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

First CD from Nirvana, recorded for about $600 in a garage. This Sup Pop release includes 'About A Girl', 'Love Buzz', 'Negative Creep' & 10 more tracks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure, unadulterated, hardcore grunge rock, February 3, 2000

By	Spatula Boy (Californ-i-ay) - See all my reviews

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.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I miss Kurt Cobain., April 13, 2007

By	Jonathan Providence (Delaware) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love it, March 15, 2002

By	TK1981 - See all my reviews

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.