• Artist: Nirvana
• Album: Bleach
• Label: Sub Pop
• Release: 1989, 2009

For nearly two decades, Nirvana has been the go-to angst band for alienated teens all over the world. For me, their music is a lot more effective now that I am more than six years removed from high school. It is a lot easier to appreciate their music when you aren’t trapped in hallways and classrooms filled with stoners that know every Nirvana song on their guitar by heart. I was angry too, but I’ve never really gone through a period where I was infatuated with Nirvana. The idol worship was a little overwhelming for me, but it is a testament to the group’s influence that they are still a major fixture in Washington D.C. suburbs that would make Kurt Cobain cringe for being so painfully dull.

This summer marked the 20th anniversary of Bleach and Sub Pop are celebrating by re-issuing the overlooked debut with a fresh re-master by album producer Jack Endino. The re-issue also comes with a live set from 1990 and a booklet containing rare photos of the pre-Dave Grohl incarnation of the band. It is appropriate that the booklet contains absolutely no writing with the exception of the credits. So much has been written about Nirvana that it almost feels pointless to add to the pile. If you’re skipping over this review, I understand. However, I believe that Bleach is worth critiquing because it is an album that exists deep in the shadows of the two albums that would follow it.

Krist Novoselic doesn’t get a lot of credit for his role in Nirvana, but he and Cobain simply click musically on Bleach. Listening to the duo of “School” and “Love Buzz” gets this point across. Badass is the only word that comes to mind when listening to Cobain’s violent riff on “School.” Dave Grohl and Cobain’s musical growth would make Nirvana a tighter, better band, but drummer Chad Channing serves his purpose on Bleach. Unsurprisingly, Cobain is the star of the album and it is amazing how confident he sounds. Most debut records would kill for a song as good as “About A Girl.” Few singers have ever sounded so comfortable in voicing their own straight-up, unhinged misery. That’s a compliment.

Messy albums like Bleach aren’t supposed to be perfect, which is kind of the point. It will never be spoken in the same breath as Nevermind or In Utero, but it still impresses. It is nice to be able to listen to a Nirvana record that doesn’t have so much legend and noise floating in the background. Bleach is great because it came before the storm. The notion sounds ridiculous at first, but you can sit back and pretend this is just another up-and-coming rock band making an album at the end of a decade that featured Hüsker Dü, The Pixies, R.E.M., The Replacements, Sonic Youth, and so many other great acts. Bleach was made during the most fruitful and exciting time underground rock has ever seen. Kurt Cobain didn’t want to be part of any scene, but if he saw the bands I just name-checked and not a genre title, I’d like to believe he’d be honored to be part of that club.

The deluxe edition of Bleach hits stores tomorrow, November 3rd.

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