Incesticide

Background

Early in 1992, Jonathan Poneman of Sub Pop contacted Gary Gersh, who had previously signed Nirvana to DGC Records, to inform him that Sub Pop still had a number of unreleased early Nirvana recordings in their possession.{{cite book |access-date = 2018-08-01 |access-date = 2018-08-01

At the time, the majority of the material on Incesticide was circulating within fan communities (albeit in lower quality). It was widely reported in the music press that the band wanted to offer fans a higher-quality alternative. In the book Cobain Unseen, Charles R. Cross writes that Kurt Cobain agreed to the release of this compilation because he was allowed complete control over the album's artwork.

Since the songs were recorded in different sessions and some were recorded when Nirvana did not have a stable formation, the album includes recordings by four different drummers: Chad Channing, Dan Peters, Dale Crover, and Dave Grohl.

In March 1993, more than two years after the release of "Sliver", a music video for the song was filmed to promote Incesticide. It was directed by Kevin Kerslake and features the band performing in Kurt Cobain's garage, decorated with his personal memorabilia. Cobain's infant daughter Frances Bean Cobain also makes an appearance.

Songs

Previously unreleased

• "Been a Son" was originally released in 1989 on the Blew EP. The version on Incesticide was recorded in 1991 during a BBC Radio studio session.
• "(New Wave) Polly" is a hard rock version of the Nevermind album track "Polly", recorded in 1991 during a BBC Radio studio session.
• "Aneurysm" was originally released as a B-side on the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single. The version on Incesticide was recorded two months later during a BBC Radio studio session.

Previously released

• "Dive" and "Sliver" were released on the "Sliver" single in 1990. "Dive" also appeared on the 1991 compilation album The Grunge Years.
• "Stain" was originally released on the Blew EP in 1989.
• Three cover songs, "Turnaround" (by Devo), "Molly's Lips", and "Son of a Gun" (both by The Vaselines), were released on the Hormoaning EP in 1992, which was released only in Australia and Japan.
• "Mexican Seafood" appeared on the 1989 compilation Teriyaki Asthma Volume 1.
• "Beeswax" appeared on the 1991 compilation Kill Rock Stars.
• "Downer" was included as a bonus track on the 1990 CD release of Nirvana's 1989 debut album Bleach.

Although not commercially released at the time, "Beeswax", "Downer", "Mexican Seafood", "Hairspray Queen", and "Aero Zeppelin" were first circulated on Nirvana Demo / Montage of Heck, Nirvana's first demo tape, in 1988.

Artwork and packaging

The cover art was painted by Cobain, who is credited as Kurdt Kobain in the liner notes. The rubber duck seen on the album's back cover belonged to art-designer Robert Fisher. It can also be seen on the front sleeve of the compilation album DGC Rarities.

The first several pressings of the album contained liner notes written by Cobain, including a statement decrying homophobia, racism and misogyny:

Versions of the album containing the liner notes by Cobain could be found at record stores as late as 1998. Initial copies in the U.S. and Canada also contained a Parental Advisory label.

Critical reception

The album received generally positive reviews. "Nobody really wants a Hatful of Hollow–type assortment of Peel/Goodier sessions, B-sides, demos and obscurities in the place of a proper studio album", observed Andrew Perry in Select. "But, hell, wouldn't you try and put an end to the consumer madness going on in your name? And harvest some of the money for yourself? Anyway, people might start talking about the music again…" In a review for AllMusic, music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that the song "Aneurysm" was "perhaps the greatest single song the group ever recorded".

Commercial performance

Incesticide was released on December 14, 1992, in the United Kingdom, and on December 15, 1992, in the United States. The record label, Geffen, decided against heavily promoting the album, possibly to avoid a "Nirvana burnout" as the band had released Nevermind and four singles in the preceding fifteen months.

Despite this lack of promotion and being a collection of old and new material, Incesticide debuted at number 51 in the Billboard 200 and sold 500,000 copies in two months. The album is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 17, and peaked at number 14.

On November 23, 2012, Incesticide was re-released on vinyl as a limited two-LP 45 RPM edition for its 20th anniversary.

Track listing

Personnel

All sessions:

• Kurt Cobain – vocals, guitar
• Krist Novoselic – bass guitar

Seattle, WA: Reciprocal Recording Studios (January 23, 1988)

Nirvana's first studio demo tape.

Songs: "Beeswax", "Downer", "Mexican Seafood", "Hairspray Queen", and "Aero Zeppelin"

• Dale Crover – drums
• Jack Endino – producer, engineer

Seattle, WA: Reciprocal Recording Studios (December 1988 – January 1989)

The Bleach recording sessions.

Song: "Big Long Now"

• Chad Channing – drums
• Jack Endino – producer, engineer

Seattle, WA: Music Source Studios (September 1989)

The Blew EP recording sessions.

Song: "Stain"

• Chad Channing – drums
• Steve Fisk – producer

Madison, WI: Smart Studios (April 2, 1990 – April 6, 1990)

The sessions for the planned second Sub Pop album.

Song: "Dive"

• Chad Channing – drums
• Butch Vig – producer

Seattle, WA: Reciprocal Recording Studios (July 11, 1990)

The "Sliver" Sub Pop single session.

Song: "Sliver"

• Dan Peters – drums
• Jack Endino – producer, engineer

London, England: Maida Vale Studio 3 (October 21, 1990)

The 1990 BBC session for John Peel.

Songs: "Turnaround", "Molly's Lips", and "Son of a Gun"

• Dave Grohl – drums
• Dale Griffin – producer
• Mike Engles – engineer
• Fred Kay – engineer

London, England: Maida Vale Studio 4 (November 9, 1991)

The 1991 BBC session for Mark Goodier.

Songs: "Been a Son", "(New Wave) Polly", and "Aneurysm"

• Dave Grohl – drums
• Miti Adhikari – producer
• John Taylor – engineer

Charts

Album

Certifications

References

Bibliography

• Azerrad, Michael. Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Doubleday, 1994.
• Cross, Charles. Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain. Hyperion, 2001.

References

1. "Incesticide Liner Notes".
2. Jones, Alan. (December 26, 1992). "Christmas Chart Focus".
3. "Nirvana Chart History: Billboard 200".
4. "The LiveNirvana Companion To Official Releases - Sliver (Geffen)".
5. Azerrad, Michael. (1993). "Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana". Doubleday.
6. Azerrad, Michael. (1993). "Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana". Doubleday.
7. "Nirvana BBC Sessions".
8. Güner, Fisun. (February 8, 2017). "How American Gothic became an icon". BBC.
9. Cross, Charles R.. (2001). "Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain". Hyperion.
10. "The Live Nirvana Companion to Official Releases - Sliver Single".
11. "The Grunge Years Compilation".
12. "Hormoaning EP Information".
13. "Teriyaki Asthma Volume 1".
14. "Kill Rock Stars Compilation".
15. "Bleach Album Info".
16. "The Live Nirvana Companion to Demos - Montage of Heck".
17. Azerrad, 1994. p. 295
18. ''Incesticide'' liner notes
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