Join Dave Gershman, Eric Greene, and Sarah Wassell as they explore and discuss great music across decades and genres, bringing their varied musical perspectives to every conversation.
Nirvana: "About a Girl"
Before Nevermind made Nirvana international superstars in 1991, there was Bleach, Nirvana’s debut album, in 1989. A rougher, much more small-scale album, it didn’t have the consistency of songs and Butch Vig production that helped Nevermind become what it was, but it was by no means lacking in great moments. I know there are some Nirvana fans who prefer this version of Nirvana to what came later, in fact, exactly because it was rougher and more raw, and because there is no question that at that point in their career Nirvana was doing nothing at all like selling out. I should add that I don’t think Nirvana ever “sold out,” by my definition of that concept, as they never tried to be popular by becoming anything they weren’t. I’m certain, though, that there are those early fans who think that by becoming as huge as they did, the band sold out, no matter that the crime in question was putting out a fantastic record that changed the music scene of the time.
All that aside, Bleach is interesting to listen to not only for its great moments, but also to hear in retrospect all the elements that would come together on Nevermind to push the band over the top. It’s also not really the same band that was to later become so big: while Kurt (listed as “Kurdt” on the album) Cobain and Chris Novoselic were there, Dave Grohl was not. On drums at this point was Chad Channing (and Dale Crover of the Melvins on three songs), and Jason Everman is listed on guitar as well (although he didn’t appear on the album at all and was merely listed as thanks for having paid the fee for the recording session). Grohl was brought in for the Nevermind sessions.
And all that aside, the best moment on Bleach was the one that made it most apparent that Cobain was capable of great songwriting: “About a Girl.” Although it may now be even better known from its inclusion on the Unplugged in New York album and MTV special, the original version here is my favorite. It’s just a bit faster than the unplugged version, a little rougher around the edges, but is otherwise nearly identical — a clean, uncluttered song, with a great, almost Beatlesque melody. It seems equally influenced by Cheap Trick to my ear, with its darker, minor-key catchiness, like something off of Cheap Trick’s debut album — maybe a sped-up “Mandocello.” It’s a complete composition — not merely a song built around a good riff (although it certainly has one) — including a great bridge (“I’ll take advantage while/You hang me out to dry”) and excellent, emotive singing from Cobain. In terms of songwriting, it stands up to anything else they did later on, and remains a classic moment in the formative years of what was becoming known as “indie rock.”
Original post date: September 8, 2011