Bleach

With a sludgy, chainsaw guitar sound that owes as much to early Black Sabbath as to Kurt Cobain's heroes the Melvins (whose drummer puts in an appearance here), Nirvana emerged from Seattle's underground scene as standard-bearers of a style that embraced the anger and energy of punk alongside the thick, muddy sonic attack favored by early-'70s proto-metal bands. Cobain's lyrics are fueled by outrage and self-loathing, combining literary flair with a direct, visceral quality that made him a viable candidate for the John Lennon-of-Gen-X award. Nirvana's debut album showcases what sounds more like a force of nature than a rock band. The unrelenting fervor with which the group delivers these 13 tunes is almost frightening. There is also a strong melodic flair that leavens the ferocity occasionally, hinting at the scope of Cobain's compositional talents. "Love Buzz" and "About a Girl" show off enough pop smarts to make it clear that as strong as Bleach is, Cobain was hiding even more tricks up his sleeve.|