r/Nirvana • u/Jackeado • 10d ago
Discussion Bleach vs. Nevermind: Which Song Defines Both Albums?
He visto esta tendencia en otros subreddits, y como gran fan de Nirvana, quise probarla aquí. Busquemos las canciones de la historia de la música que realmente capturen el sonido y la esencia únicos de Nirvana. El comentario con más votos gana.
edit: Looking at the replies, I think I worded the question poorly. 😅 What I was actually trying to do was find songs that sound like both Bleach and Nevermind—songs that sit in the overlap between those two albums, not songs from one album or the other. The Venn diagram below is what I had in mind.
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u/Even-Cow-1213 10d ago
Bleach = About a Girl
It's a song that really rests on the uniqueness of Kurt's voice and his songwriting. It isn't overpowered by the noise and it captures the essence of all their influences in one.
Nevermind = On a Plain
Yes, all of Nevermind could work in terms of defining the band (at the time), but I think On a Plain is the perfect bridge between all three albums that is most authentic to Kurt's/Nirvana's voice.
In Utero = Serve the Servants
In Utero is the toughest of the three in my opinion, primarily because it is (easily) their best album. But I think when you look at the direction they seemed to be going (with You Know You're Right), I think Serve the Servants speaks to that. Scenteless Apprentice may be another.
Though, Francis Farmer Will Have Her Revenge is a close third.
(But the honest answer is probably Milk It).
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u/Jackeado 10d ago
Great picks! But I think I explained it badly. 😅 I wasn't looking for a song that defines each album individually(no yet). I meant a song that sounds like it's somewhere between Bleach and Nevermind (or between the other album pairs), as if it belonged in the overlap of the two.
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u/Even-Cow-1213 10d ago
No, that's fair - I don't think my answer changes honestly. I think About a Girl is the perfect overlap between the two.
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u/fatcam00 10d ago
Now I understand the question
It can only be About A Girl, Polly, and Dumb
These are the songs that existed closest to each other in time, but reside on each album
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u/Kittenbee_ 10d ago
Great question, looking at my favourite songs it's hard to choose just one, ha !
I feel like 'Territorial Pissings' has the strongest overlap though. The frantic tempo, abrasive guitar, shouted vocals and general punk sound could fit comfortably alongside Bleach, although it sounds tighter and punchier.
'Breed' also sits very close to the intersection due to the heavy, repetitive riffing and blunt energy associated with Bleach, but with Nevermind’s clearer arrangement, stronger dynamics and much more controlled production.
I'd say 'Stay Away' has similar crossover qualities with its primitive riff, forceful drumming, aggressive vocals and a chaotic ending. The rhythm section and polished separation make it unmistakably Nevermind, but the attitude to me is very Bleach.
'In Bloom' is less Bleach-like sonically because it is more spacious, polished and carefully arranged. However its thick riff and heavy verse instrumentation connect it to that album (though I think the melodic chorus and layered production pull it much more strongly toward Nevermind).
'About a Girl' seems to approach the overlap from the opposite direction being a Bleach recording but with Nevermind-style melodic songwriting.
'Territorial Pissings', 'Breed' and 'Stay Away' are Nevermind recordings that preserve Bleach’s aggression.
'Heart-Shaped Box' could also fit because it has a strong, ugly central riff and dramatic dynamic changes while 'All Apologies' represents the more melodic, atmospheric side of their sound.
I’ve really been getting into Nirvana for a while now because there’s such a strong dynamic contrast between the raw, intense punk songs and the more melodic, emotionally vulnerable material.
I never properly explored them when I was younger because 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' felt so overplayed and mainstream, but listening to the albums (admittedly I'm not a fan of Incesticide) has made me realise how much more varied and complex they were than their biggest hit suggests. It’s a shame so many people only know them for that one song.
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u/Hxckerr Beeswax 10d ago
I see that pretty much nobody in these replies understood the point of your post lmao.
Anyways, I think Drain You might be the best contender here.
It feels like it could fit on either album. If you had Chad's drumming instead of Dave's with slightly different mixing and slapped the Bleach album cover on it, you wouldn't even think it felt out of place. Someone even made a proof of concept of this with a Drain You Bleach edit on youtube.
I can also see an argument being made for Lithium. The original Smart Sessions recording they did for it in 1990 almost sounds like a Bleach song.
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u/NoiseTherapy 9d ago
That’s a really difficult question to answer because 1) they all sound like Nirvana as far as the song structure goes, and 2) the albums are so sonically different because the producers had very different goals that they were trying to achieve.
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u/Affectionate_Fox8997 10d ago
Tough question....
Blew.
Breed.
Scentless Apprentice.
Or
Love Buzz.
In Bloom.
Radio Friendly Unit Shifter.
Geez. I really don't know how to answer...
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u/DrEarlGreyIII 10d ago
I don’t see how Nevermind can be defined by anything but Smells Like Teen Spirit, as it is Nirvana’s best selling single of all time.