NIRVANA – IN BLOOM (GEFFEN)
As Geffen released Incesticide just before Christmas 1992 it always felt a strangely timed decision to release “In Bloom” as a single, perhaps/probably as one last throw of the dice at milking the remnants of Nevermind. In many ways with its different version on Sub Pop, complete with music video, it was always destined to be a single.
Situated on Nevermind as the second track following “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “In Bloom” always sounded like the catchy little brother the “real” songs of the album, which probably gave it subtle might. The guitars are thick and dense, the drums are incendiary as it resembles the song that was most likely aped by Helmet on Meantime. It also features a chorus parents would recognise without acknowledging or realising the sentiments.
This is a classic example of a song with a meaning slipping beneath the mainstream radar. When Kurt Cobain sings “know not what it means” he is not alone. The common interpretation is that it is a royal dig at oversexed jocks and their intimidating ways, almost serving as a national anthem to the disenfranchised kids being bullied at school.
The CD comes coupled with live b-sides of “Sliver” and “Polly”, not the greatest examples or versions of the songs performed live. The release of this single coincided with the re-promotion of the “Sliver” single by Sub Pop (itself to coincide with the release of Incesticide) so the inclusion of the song here was perhaps a gesture by Geffen aimed at discouraging some from purchasing the original Sub Pop version.
With its blatantly phallic cover this record is as nasty as its artwork.
Thesaurus moment: belated.
Nirvana
Geffen
As Geffen released Incesticide just before Christmas 1992 it always felt a strangely timed decision to release “In Bloom” as a single, perhaps/probably as one last throw of the dice at milking the remnants of Nevermind. In many ways with its different version on Sub Pop, complete with music video, it was always destined to be a single.
Situated on Nevermind as the second track following “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “In Bloom” always sounded like the catchy little brother the “real” songs of the album, which probably gave it subtle might. The guitars are thick and dense, the drums are incendiary as it resembles the song that was most likely aped by Helmet on Meantime. It also features a chorus parents would recognise without acknowledging or realising the sentiments.
This is a classic example of a song with a meaning slipping beneath the mainstream radar. When Kurt Cobain sings “know not what it means” he is not alone. The common interpretation is that it is a royal dig at oversexed jocks and their intimidating ways, almost serving as a national anthem to the disenfranchised kids being bullied at school.
The CD comes coupled with live b-sides of “Sliver” and “Polly”, not the greatest examples or versions of the songs performed live. The release of this single coincided with the re-promotion of the “Sliver” single by Sub Pop (itself to coincide with the release of Incesticide) so the inclusion of the song here was perhaps a gesture by Geffen aimed at discouraging some from purchasing the original Sub Pop version.
With its blatantly phallic cover this record is as nasty as its artwork.
Thesaurus moment: belated.
Nirvana
Geffen
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