- Audio CD (21 May 2010)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Geffen Records
- ASIN: B000025812
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette | Vinyl
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 64,487 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
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
Review
Recorded for a smidgen over $600, some Nirvana die-hards argue that Bleach is Nirvana’s finest work. Such connoisseur’s say that while Nevermind is revered as the soundtrack for ‘Generation X’, its reluctant spokesman, Kurt Cobain, shows his true colours in Bleach – before the unwanted fame that ultimately cost his life took a hold.
Sophomore release, Nevermind, gripped the music world and thrust Cobain into the celebrity role he seemed to detest, but it also triggered interest in Bleach and uncovered the gems that had been hidden, with original sales of just 6,000 copies.
Subsequent Nirvana albums had a lyrical complexity to them, matching the personal struggles that Cobain went through whilst writing them. Bleach differs since its quality lies in the simplicity of the songs that deliver the crux of the album – the boredom of growing up as a confused teenager in a sleepy part of conservative America.
Kicking off with the dirty sound of “Blew” and “Floyd The Barber” – a couple of furious, dark and muddy openers – the albums’ stand-out track follows. “All About A Girl” is a ballad that should be used as a template by today’s Emo tyros, with Cobain’s superb throaty vocal over a much poppier sound than much of what we are normally used to from Nirvana.
“School” is the classic example of the minimalist grunge, with just four lines hidden under a filthy base and the album reaches a thrilling crescendo with the angry duo of “Big Cheese” and “Downer”.
But it is what’s missing that makes Bleach important – Chad Channing’s hit-and-miss drumming before Dave Grohl took over the sticks and the frankly awful rushed production job that leaves the album full of feedback and distortion. Combined, these two factors are what make Bleach special, adding a chaotic and grimy feel that Nirvana, as the darlings of the Seattle grunge scene, stood for. --Anthony Leaver
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
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.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is actually the first album ive ever brought by Nirvana which most of u mind consider strange coz BLEACH is not the first thing people usually start their musical Nirvana-journey-thingy with .
Well , my sister owned the Best Of CD and i thought that some of the tracks (most of them actually) were bloody brilliant and my favourite at the time was About A Girl . So when i heard it was on their first album i happily purchased it excepecting some lovelee little songs like About A Girls.
Boy how wrong i was ...
At first i was kind of left speechless by the opening basslines of Blew and all of of this mettal-influenced riffs .
So i kind off gave it another go and , what do u know , i loved it..
This piece of evil , aggressive , cringy , mind-blowing and EXTREMELY emotional music is very good and actually its almost as good as NEVERMIND and IN UTERO.
Its not their best record ever but it definitely deserves your attention....
Well , my sister owned the Best Of CD and i thought that some of the tracks (most of them actually) were bloody brilliant and my favourite at the time was About A Girl . So when i heard it was on their first album i happily purchased it excepecting some lovelee little songs like About A Girls.
Boy how wrong i was ...
At first i was kind of left speechless by the opening basslines of Blew and all of of this mettal-influenced riffs .
So i kind off gave it another go and , what do u know , i loved it..
This piece of evil , aggressive , cringy , mind-blowing and EXTREMELY emotional music is very good and actually its almost as good as NEVERMIND and IN UTERO.
Its not their best record ever but it definitely deserves your attention....
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
NOT GOOD
the CD was in awful condition all of the songs were inaudible because there was a ridiculous buzzing sound over them. i was really annoyed.
Published 27 days ago by afp
Very heavy!
A new side to Nirvana, great to hear them at the start. Very heavy album, some great tracks. However quite explicit.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. L. J. Tyler
timeless classic
obviously get the re-released 20th anniversary edition as it has a whole lot of extra live tracks - many live versions of the album tracks and some not on the album such as sappy... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Hannah
Another WOW
I got this LP when it came out and I had just been blown away after seeing them Live in Brum, I was fortunate enough to get to shake the great man's hand. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Tim Combles
When life gets me down
When I feel fed up and disillusioned with life, when I feel like `is this all there is?', when I feel like I can't be bothered with the daily grind, this is the album that reminds... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. R. I. Kings
Very Underated
People go on about nevermind quite often, which is fair enough great tracks on the cd, but bleach is Nirvana's first album it shows there roots and there grittyness ... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Mr. A. Selman
loud and shouty nivarna!
Loud and shouty Nivarna, not my favourite of their albums but still good!
If you like the 'classic' Nirvana, i'd probably go for Nevermind or Unplugged; this one is good for a... Read more
If you like the 'classic' Nirvana, i'd probably go for Nevermind or Unplugged; this one is good for a... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2010 by Mrs. C. A. Griffiths
Fuzz & Distortion = Pure Grunge !
It does have a cool bunch of songs on this album. Which i can listen threw the whole album and makes me look at Nirvana in a total different way. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2009 by J. Arthur
Nothing special
Certain cloth-eared punk puritans would have you believe this is a superior album to Nevermind. In reality in only hints at the songwriting talent Kurt Cobain would develop... Read more
Published on 27 Jan 2009 by J. Jenkins
Nirvana's real classic.
I actually bought this CD before Nevermind and the copy I have is an original CD on the Sub-Pop label. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2007 by P. Philips
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