We all know the big story and the sad ending, but before all that madness, Nirvana was just another band out of Aberdeen, Wash., wanting to make a record.
That little record entitled Bleach was originally recorded for a small sum of $600 by producer Jack Endino at his Seattle Reciprocal Recording Studios in December 1988 and January 1989. Bleach was released in June of 1989 and was the precursor to the multi-million seller Nevermind and to the music world changing forever.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the platinum selling Bleach, Sub Pop records has put together a wonderful remastered package, complete with a 48-page CD booklet that includes candid photos of the band not previously released to the public and a complete live concert.
Like millions of fans, I was one who bought Bleach after Nevermind exploded. But, listening to Bleach made it hard to believe it was the same band. Sure, there were hints to what the band could be and utlimately was, but Bleach is so raw and in your face.
From top to bottom, Bleach is a monumental album, but it’s at the core where the band - Kurdt Cobain (as spelled on the album), bassist Chris Novoselic, then-drummer Chad Channing and second guitarist Jason Everman, who is pictured on the cover but not listed in the band line up – show their power, passion, and talents.
The four songs in question start with track four “School,” with its feedback entry and buzzsaw gutiar backed with Channing’s hard-hitting drums.
“Love Buzz,” one of the band’s more popular works, is quirky with Novoselic’s perfect bass line beginning that truly holds the song when there are no gutiars.
“Paper Cuts” could possibly be the darkest song Cobain wrote. It is eerie with the chugging guitars, bass and drums hammering in unison and rounding out the middle four tracks is, what I think could be one of the best Nirvana songs ever – “Negative Creep.” It is so simple with Cobain’s amped up distorted gutiars and Channing’s fast-paced drums, but it all works and cements Bleach as one of the finest debut records to ever be released.
Would Bleach listeners argue the same even if Nirvana didn’t go onto fame and glory? Maybe, maybe not. We will never know. But, I would like to think that I, being a major “Seattle sound” fan, would love this album equally, even if Nirvana didn’t achieve the success they did.
On the remasted anniversary edition of Bleach, Sub Pop added a complete 11-song 1990 live show from the Pine Street Theatre in Portland, Ore. The Feb. 9 show has been remixed from the original tapes by Endino and includes many live versions of songs off of their debut including “School,” “Floyd The Barber,” “Love Buzz” and “Blew.” The added live show has versions of “Dive,” “Spank Thru,” "Been a Son” and a cover of The Vaseline’s “Molly's Lips.”
All in all, the 20th Anniversary Edition of Nirvana’s Bleach is a treasure for all fans young and old, truly showing the individual talents of the band coming together as a whole.