Nirvana -- Bleach

(SubPop SP34)

Seattle’s SubPop is one of the most successful U.S. Independent labels of the last decade. Producing exciting records certainly makes a difference, but their success is largely due to maintaining a label-image of heavy hard rock. They are consistent in every way, from the bands they sign to the packaging and graphics that make their records instantly recognizable.

True to this tradition is Nirvana. These fellows are absolutely a rock band, but they cover a lot of ground. Songs like "About a Girl" are twisted-pop with clean guitars and ringing chords. Also on the less-than-dark side is "Love Buzz," a ‘60’s cover by Shocking Blue with a psychedelic groove/drone that builds and builds until you're sure you’ve had enough. Back on the darker side, there’s "Paper Cuts." The verses are dissonant, in a rhythmic, industrial sort of way, and feedback is everywhere.

"Negative Creep" is Nirvana at their best or, at least, fastest. Raw, psychotic riffing and dark menacing lyrics make this one the Pick Hit.

As cohesive as the SubPop roster is, the bands are unique within the label, and Nirvana is particularly so. And as diverse as Bleach is, it is consistent with the SubPop image of good, raw rock. Find your backbone and buy it.

--- Tracy Sigler / Catharsis #4 - Sept. 1989

Nirvana -- Nevermind

(DGC 24425)

The surprise isn’t that Nirvana’s big label debut is selling, but that its sly anti-corporate message is being ignored all the way to the bank (blame the mind-numbing guitar riffs, the slurred vocals and that patented SubPop whomp). It’s also suprising that a post-modern Next Big Thing could create a slow change-up like "Polly" with no explanation required for feedback-loving fans.

Distance may be the key here; the band blames their lyrics on William, an idiot-savant next door neighbor, and let’s hope he gets a percentage of their gate -- better idiot punk savants than just plain hard rock idiots. And better an eclectic band of playful Olympians like Nirvana -- biting the hands that feed them all over Nevermind -- than the latest easy-to-pigeonhole college-rock jingle-jangle. Teen spirit may have some life in it after all.

--- Don Harrison / Catharsis #22 - Nov. 1991