Bleach (Nirvana album)

Recording

After the release of their debut single "Love Buzz" on Sub Pop in November 1988, Nirvana rehearsed for two to three weeks for a full-length album, though Sub Pop had only requested an EP. The main sessions took place at Reciprocal Recording Studios in Seattle with producer Jack Endino. Recording began with a five-hour session on December 24, 1988, and continued on December 29–31, and on January 14 and 24. Three songs—"Floyd the Barber", "Paper Cuts", and "Downer"—had been recorded in January 1988 with Melvins drummer Dale Crover; attempts to re-record them with new drummer Chad Channing failed, so the Crover versions were remixed for the album.

"Big Long Now" was omitted because Kurt Cobain felt there was already enough slow heavy material. Sub Pop head Bruce Pavitt ordered a complete re-sequencing of the album, and its release was delayed until the label secured sufficient funds. Endino billed thirty hours of recording at $606.17. Jason Everman, impressed by Nirvana's demo, funded the sessions and briefly joined as second guitarist; he is credited on the sleeve and pictured on the cover but did not perform on the album.

Composition

Cobain stated that the music on Bleach reflects the grunge and 1970s-influenced heavy rock sound Sub Pop endorsed, noting pressure from the label and scene to play rock music, which he stripped down to sound like Aerosmith. He suppressed his arty and pop songwriting traits to fit grunge expectations and build a fanbase. Critics have described the album as sludge metal, alternative rock, punk rock, hard rock, and indie rock, with only glimpses of the pop rock seen on Nevermind.

Bleach was heavily influenced by the Seattle sludge metal scene pioneered by the Melvins. Author Gillian G. Gaar noted the album's share of dirty sludge, and Sub Pop described the single "Love Buzz/Big Cheese" as heavy pop sludge. "Love Buzz" is a cover of Dutch band Shocking Blue, originally in a psychedelic rock style with extensive sitar use. Krist Novoselic said a tape played in the tour van featuring the Smithereens on one side and Celtic Frost on the other likely influenced the sound.

The songs were described as deliberately bleak, claustrophobic, and lyrically sparse. Cobain called the song structures one-dimensional and said he sought to present a more polished side of himself.

Release and promotion

The album cover was photographed by Cobain's then-girlfriend Tracy Marander at a concert at the Reko Muse art gallery in Olympia, Washington. On February 25, 1989, Nirvana played venues on the west coast, including the University of Washington. The group began its first European tour, a double headliner with Tad, at the Riverside in Newcastle upon Tyne on October 23, 1989, and played a set at the London Astoria on December 3. The album's working title was Too Many Humans; it was renamed Bleach after Cobain saw an AIDS prevention poster in San Francisco advising heroin addicts to bleach their needles, featuring the slogan "Bleach Your Works".

In Australia, Bleach was released on Waterfront Records with various colored covers and vinyl. The song "Floyd the Barber" received airplay on Seattle radio station KCMU. Due to dissatisfaction with Everman during the Bleach tour, Nirvana canceled the last dates and drove back to Washington; Everman later claimed he quit. Sub Pop did not promote the album heavily, but it sold steadily for a Sub Pop release.

Cobain was upset by the lack of promotion and distribution. In April 1992, Sub Pop released a remastered version on LP, CD, and cassette, with Geffen handling international release; the CD included a bonus booklet of photos from 1987 to 1990. For the 20th anniversary in 2009, Sub Pop issued a deluxe reissue with a March 2009 remastering by George Marino and a live recording of a 1990 show at Portland's Pine Street Theatre; Everman is no longer credited but appears on the cover and receives thanks in the booklet.

Reception and legacy

Bleach did not sell well initially but received positive reviews. It became a moderate hit on college radio and the underground circuit. In NME, Edwin Pouncey gave it an eight-out-of-ten rating, calling it the biggest, baddest sound Sub Pop had unearthed. Melody Maker's Push deemed Nirvana the only Sub Pop act whose songs consistently matched Mudhoney's standard.

Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth found the album primal and the songwriting completely melodious yet punk. In a retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted signs of Cobain's songcraft on tracks like "About a Girl" and "Blew", summarizing the album as a debut showing potential not yet achieved. Dave Thompson stated that history would not hear a word against the album but added that a listener unfamiliar with it might not be greatly changed. Robert Christgau wrote that Cobain's gift is audible on Bleach, with Krist Novoselic adding drollery; he later called it a major album despite finding the production too dry for grunge.

Anthony Carew from About.com said Bleach defined the entire 1990s and argued that the band's essence was most essential on their debut.