1-Blew | 2-Floyd the Barber | 3-About A Girl | 4-School | 5-Big Cheese | 6-Paper Cuts | 7-Negative Creep | 8-Scoff | 9-Swap Meet | 10-Mr. Moustache | 11-Sifting | 12-Big Cheese | 13-Downer
INFO
Bleach was the debut album by Nirvana, released on June 15, 1989 by Sub Pop.
Most of the songs feature themes based on life in Aberdeen, Washington, a small, working class town where songwriter Kurt Cobain grew up. The album features a more heavy metal influenced sound than their later recordings.
"About A Girl" features the quiet/loud dynamic for which Nirvana would become known.
TRACK LISTING
1. Blew
The re-release on September 1, 1992 by Geffen Records added "Downer", which can also be found on Incesticide.
SONS INFORMATION
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
SONGS MEANING
Blew - The whole song conveys themes of entrapment.
Floyd the Barber - A song about a small town that goes bad, the title is taken from a character on The Andy Griffith Show. Everyone turns out to be a mass-murderer. The song also shows Freudian castration fears.
About A Girl - A song written for Kurt's girlfriend Tracy, she threatened to kick him out if he didn't get a job.
School - A song about the incestous Seattle Scene. The bands seem to resemble high school cliques.
Love Buzz - A cover song from the group Shocking Bluefrom the Netherlands.
Paper Cuts - Part of the lyrics are based on a true story of a family that Kurt was acquainted with, who locked their children in a room. Other lyrics have to deal with parents, and neglect.
Negative Creep - the first person narrative from an anti social person.
Scoff - A song that's directed towards the people who didn't believe in Kurt's musical aspirations.
Swap Meet - A battle of the sexes put in the background of a Sunday swap meet.
Mr. Moustache - Speaks out against the stereotypical male macho image.
Sifting - seems to take on authority figures with it's mention of preachers and teachers.
Big Cheese - This song is written about Sub Pop man Jonathan Poneman and the pressures he put on the band.
Downer - Kurt's attempt at a political song.
ALBUM PICTURES
CREDITS
Kurt Cobain - Vocals, Guitar (as Kurdt Kobain)
REVIEW
This is one case where the legend really precedes the record itself. Cut for about 600 dollars in Jack Endino's studio over just a matter of days, this captures Nirvana at a formative stage, still indebted to the murk that became known as grunge, yet not quite finding their voice as songwriters. Which isn't to say that they were devoid of original material, since even at this stage Kurt Cobain illustrated signs of his considerable songcraft, particularly on the minor-key ballad "About a Girl" and the dense churn of "Blew." A few songs come close to that level, but that's more a triumph of sound than structure, as "Negative Creep" and "School" get by on attitude and churn, while the cover of "Love Buzz" winds up being one of the highlights because this gives a true menace to their sound, thanks to its menacing melody. The rest of it sinks into the sludge, as the group itself winds up succumbing to grinding sub-metallic riffing that has little power, due to lack of riffs and lack of a good drummer. Bleach is more than a historical curiosity since it does have its share of great songs, but it isn't a lost classic — it's a debut from a band that shows potential but haven't yet achieved it.
2. Floyd The Barber
3. About A Girl
4. School
5. Love Buzz (Robby Van Leeuwen cover)
6. Paper Cuts
7. Negative Creep
8. Scoff
9. Swap Meet
10. Mr. Moustache
11. Sifting
12. Big Cheese
13. Downer
Recorded December 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded January 23, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded December, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded December, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded June-September, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded January 23, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded December, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded December, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded December, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded December, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded December, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded June-September, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Recorded January 23, 1988. Reciprocal Studios, Seattle, WA.
Krist Novoselic - Bass (as Chris Novoselic)
Chad Channing - Drums
Jason Everman - Guitar
Dale Crover - Drums ("Floyd The Barber", "Paper Cuts" and "Downer")
Jack Endino - Producer
