Bleach

Recorded for just over $600 with producer Jack Endino, 'Bleach' captures Nirvana's formative sound, a deliberately bleak and claustrophobic fusion of sludge metal, punk, and heavy rock. Kurt Cobain's songwriting largely suppressed his pop sensibilities in favor of lyrically sparse, aggressive tracks like "School" and "Negative Creep," which reflected the raw aesthetic endorsed by their label, Sub Pop. However, the melodic structure of "About a Girl" provides a notable contrast, offering an early glimpse of the hook-driven craft that would later define their mainstream success.