Incesticide is a compilation album by Nirvana. It was released on December 14, 1992, in Europe, and December 15, 1992, in the United States. the album consists of their 1990 non album single Sliver, B-sides, demos, outtakes, cover versions, and radio broadcast recordings, and as such is not the official follow-up to the band’s breakthrough album, Nevermind.
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.
On November 23, 2012, Incesticide was re-released on vinyl as a limited two-LP 45 RPM edition for its 20th anniversary.
Incesticide is a compilation album and consists of their 1990 non-album single Sliver, B-sides, demos, outtakes, cover versions, and radio broadcast recordings, and as such is not the official follow-up to the band’s breakthrough album, Nevermind. 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. The front cover prominently displays a poppy, hinting at Cobain’s struggle with heroin addiction. The first several pressings of the album contained liner notes written by Cobain, including a statement decrying homophobia, racism and misogyny:
If any of you in any way hate homosexuals, people of different color, or women, please do this one favor for us leave us the fuck alone! Don’t come to our shows and don’t buy our records.
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 RIAA. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 17, and peaked at number 14. 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.
Tracklist:
- Dive
- Sliver
- Stain
- Been a Son
- Turnaround
- Molly’s Lips
- Son of a Gun
- (New Wave) Polly
- Beeswax
- Downer
- Mexican Seafood
- Hairspray Queen
- Aero Zeppelin
- Big Long Now
- Aneurysm
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
Personnel
All sessions:
Kurt Cobain: vocals, guitar
Krist Novoselic: bass guitar
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.
Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994).
