Incesticide

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Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox album

Template:Notatypo is a compilation album by the American rock band Nirvana. It consists of their 1990 non-album single "Sliver", including its B-side, along with demos, outtakes, and recordings from BBC Radio sessions.<ref name="IncesticideLiner">Template:Cite web</ref> It was released on December 14, 1992, in Europe, and December 15, 1992, in the United States, between the band's breakthrough album Nevermind and their third album In Utero.<ref name="MusicWeek">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album reached number 39 on the Billboard 200.<ref name="BillboardChart">Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="Goldberg">Template:Cite book</ref> The band had intended to release the material via Sub Pop and cynically called it Cash Cow. However, Sub Pop could not match Geffen Records' distribution network, and the band felt that getting the material maximum exposure was important.<ref name="rejects">Template:Cite book</ref> Sub Pop sold the recordings to Geffen for "a six-figure amount" on the condition that the band would create and approve the release of an album by Christmas 1992.<ref name="Goldberg" />

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Songs

Previously unreleased

  • "Hairspray Queen"
  • "Aero Zeppelin"
  • "Big Long Now"
  • "Been a Son" was originally released in 1989 on the Blew EP.<ref name="Azerrad">Template:Cite book</ref> The version on Incesticide was recorded in 1991 during a BBC Radio studio session.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "(New Wave) Polly" is a hard rock version of the Nevermind album track "Polly", recorded in 1991 during a BBC Radio studio session.<ref name=BBC>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "Aneurysm" was originally released as a B-side on the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" single.<ref name="Cross">Template:Cite book</ref> The version on Incesticide was recorded two months later during a BBC Radio studio session.<ref name="BBC" />

Previously released

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Artwork and packaging

The cover art was painted by Cobain,<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 295</ref> who is credited as Kurdt Kobain in the liner notes.<ref name=liner>Incesticide liner notes</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The front cover prominently displays a poppy (also seen throughout the music video for their song 'Heart-Shaped Box'), hinting at Cobain's struggle with heroin use.

The first several pressings of the album contained liner notes written by Cobain, including a statement decrying homophobia, racism and misogyny:<ref name="Advocate 1993">Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:Blockquote

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.<ref name="Sliver">Template:Cite web</ref>

Critical reception

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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…"<ref name="ReferenceA"/> 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".<ref>Nirvana - Incesticide - AllMusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine Template:Webarchive allmusic.com. Retrieved May 20, 2016.</ref>

Commercial performance

Incesticide was released on December 14, 1992, in the United Kingdom, and on December 15, 1992, in the United States.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 357–358</ref> 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.<ref>Azerrad, 1994. p. 296</ref>

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.<ref>Cross, p. 269</ref> The album is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 17,<ref name="MusicWeek" /> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Track listing

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Personnel

All sessions:

Seattle, WA: Reciprocal Recording Studios (January 23, 1988)
Nirvana's first studio demo tape.
Songs: "Beeswax", "Downer", "Mexican Seafood", "Hairspray Queen", and "Aero Zeppelin"

Seattle, WA: Reciprocal Recording Studios (December 1988 – January 1989)
The Bleach recording sessions.
Song: "Big Long Now"

Seattle, WA: Music Source Studios (September 1989)
The Blew EP recording sessions.
Song: "Stain"

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"

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

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Album

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Chart (1992/93) Peak
position
Australian Alternative Albums (ARIA)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 1
Canada Top Retail Albums (The Record)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 17
European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 17
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)<ref name="Pennanen">Pennanen, Timo (2003). Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 Template:Webarchive. Otava Publishing Company Ltd. Template:ISBN.</ref> 16
French Albums SNEP)<ref name="snep">Template:Cite web (The user has to select "Nirvana" from the drop down list)</ref> 28
Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>Album Chart-Book Complete Edition 1970-2005. Orikonmāketingupuromōshon (2006). Template:ISBN.</ref> 50
UK Rock & Metal Albums (CIN)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 1
US Progressive Retail (CMJ)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 1
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Chart (1994) Peak
position
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Chart (1995) Peak
position
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Chart (2021) Peak
position
Greek Albums (IFPI)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 6
Chart (2022) Peak
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Greek Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 5
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Chart (2024) Peak
position

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Certifications

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References

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Bibliography

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

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