(Grunge) Nirvana - Outcesticide (6 CD Boxset) - 1994, FLAC (tracks), lossless

1 - If You Must
2 - Downer
3 - Floyd The Barber
4 - Paper Cuts
5 - Spank Thru
6 - Beeswax
7 - Pen Cap Chew
Reciprocal Studios 1/23/88 - This is a popular demotape that Kurt Cobain assembled and distributed to record labels. All sources for this demotape are off-speed. This problem was probably caused by Kurt's tape deck.

There is a different demotape that was assembled later, which also contains some of these sessions. That tape is the correct speed but it is not as common as this one (see "Into The Black: Disc Two"). These tracks are all different mixes than the ones that were released officially. The songs that were released on "Bleach" had additional backing vocals added and were remixed during the "Bleach" sessions. "Incesticide" used Endino's final mixes from the evening of 1/23/88.

The tracks on "Outcesticide 1" are the rough band mixes, made on the afternoon of 1/23/88 shortly before they left the studio. While Endino mixed the songs that night, Nirvana played a show in Tacoma with the same setlist as the order the tracks were recorded during this session. This show can be found on the mis-titled "Tacoma 87" CD, and through trading in slightly better quality as well as on video.

Nirvana intended to record more songs but unfortunately they ran out of tape and couldn't afford more. The tape ran out during "Pen Cap Chew", which is why it fades out at the end. They also would have recorded "Anorexorcist" and "Raunchola". Both songs sound like they would have been amazing in the studio from the sound of that night's live performance. This live performance of "Raunchola" can be found on "Outcesticide III" in addition to "Tacoma 87".

The first seven tracks are the highlight of this disc. They are the best sounding recordings that have surfaced. These tracks have truly been remastered and lack the hiss that can be frequently found on other releases of these demos. They are crisp and well balanced... exactly what you would expect from an official release. Most compilations contain A quality recordings of these tracks... this is slightly better.

8 - Blandest
Reciprocal Studios 6/11/88 - This song was originally intended to be the B-side of the Love Buzz single, but it was abandoned. Kurt was reportedly embarrassed by some of the vocals. Kurt later had a change of heart and intended to release this song on "Incesticide," only to discover that he had ordered Jack Endino to destroy the master tape. This version is A+ quality.

9 - Cracker (Polly)
10 - Seed (Misery Loves Company)
11 - Sad (Sappy)
4-track Recordings 1988 - These three tracks also come from a Cobain demotape. They were sub-titled as "Mellow 4-track shit" on these demotapes by Cobain. They were recorded at home on his 4-track and he plays all the instruments.

More of these demos appear on Outcesticide IV. There is a better-sounding copy circulating among traders, with some additional experimenting right before "Seed".

These tracks have been cleaned up, but there may be some extra crackle compared to other discs with these tracks. The tracks are still good, but are limited by the original source. No significant change from the original "Outcesticide 1" release.

12 - Do You Love Me
Evergreen Studios 6/89 - Released officially on the Kiss "Hard To Believe" tribute. This is the only studio appearance of Jason Everman on guitar! This track has perfect sound and includeds the "pissed off" ending.

13 - Been A Son
Music Source Studios 9/89 - Released officially on the "Blew" EP. This version has the bass solo brought forward in the mix. The noise level is better on the remastered edition verses the original release.

14 - Token Eastern Song (labeled as Junkyard)
Live at Leeds, England 10/25/89 - This is the best available audience recording of this song. There is only one live soundboard version, which is from Omaha, that will hopefully appear on a future Outcesticide. This song was recorded in the studio twice but was not completed either time. As with track 13, the noise level appears to have been raised on this track on the remastered edition.

15 - Opinion
KAOS Radio 9/15/90 - Kurt makes a visit to a local radio session. This version lacks the opening conversation and the ending "taxman" comment. In the conversation, he explains that he wrote the song on the way there... it's a shame it's missing. After the song performance, Kurt asks the DJ "Don't you think that song sounds like 'Taxman'?" (the comment can be heard on the remastered edition). This track's sound quality was drastically upgraded on the remastered edition, this version is muddy in comparison.

16 - D-7
BBC Session 10/21/90 - This is an incomplete "test mix" that somehow leaked out to collectors and is somewhat useless. It starts with the song in progress? the engineer removes the guitars and changes the equalization? then it ends abruptly. The final mix, which should have been included here instead, was released officially on the European "Lithium" single and on the "Hoarmoaning" EP.

17 - Imodium
18 - Pay to Play
19 - Sappy
Smart Studios 4/90 - These tracks were recorded for Nirvana's second album but were scrapped when they signed with DGC. They ended up serving as high-quality demos. "Pay To Play" was released officially on "DGC/Geffen Rarities". These tracks have different times from the original "Outcesticide 1" release, but the sound quality difference isn't very great.

20 - Here She Comes Now
21 - Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Tracks 20 and 21 come from the VPRO Radio Sessions 11/25/91. Excellent sound quality. The original tracks are arguably better than the remastered version because "Here She Comes Now" fades at the end (the originally released version doesn't fade). "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," on the other hand is a second longer and fades while the original pressing ends abruptly. Supposedly, another song was performed at this session but remains unsurfaced.

22 - Return of the Rat
From the Laundry Room Sessions 4/92. Wipers cover with sound quality nearly identical to the official release "8 Songs For Greg Sage And The Wipers" (vinyl) and "14 Songs For Greg Sage And The Wipers" (Compact Disc).

23 - Talk To Me
Likely taken from the Europe 1991 disc which contains the best known recording of this song. This song was given to Iggy Pop after Kurt died. It is not known if he will ever record it, or if Nirvana ever recorded it in the studio. The noise level appears to have been increased and the drums are not quite as over-driven on the remastered edition.

24 - Courtney's Eulogy
Perfect DAT recordings from Kurt's memorial service.... but sad.

1 - In Bloom
April 1990 Smart Studios

2 - Imodium
11-18-89 (Ku-Ba Hanua, Germany) - This is an early "Breed" with alternate lyrics. The sound quality is excellent, while it's technically not from a soundboard source, it is "soundboard quality".

3 - Help Me
11-22-89 (V4 Club - Vienna, Austria) - Perfect soundboard recording. If this doesn't wet your appitite for the complete (minus one song) version of this show on "Play The F***ing Guitar, Man" or "Out Of The Blue", nothing will. Amazing vocals on a rare song that was played during the 1989 European tour.

4 - Oh, The Guilt
11-16-91 - This track was "borrowed" from the Europe 1991 CD. The song was rarely played, but fortunately was recorded in the studio and released on a split single with "The Jesus Lizard."

5 - Smells Like Teen Spirit
1-23-93 (Hollywood Rock Festival; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) This track sports Flea from the Red Hot Chile Peppers on trumpet. The concert is full of funny commentary and spontanious jams. Unfortunately, the sound quality from surfaced recordings has never been very good. This track is as good as any other I've heard, but the sound drops out on the right side at a few spots. Get "Hollywood Rock Festival '93" for the best sounding complete version of this show.

6 - Pennyroyal Tea
10-12-91 (Cabaret Metro; Chicago, Illinois) - This is an early live version with alternate lyrics. Good sound quality.

7 - It's Closing Soon
Rio demo session 1/22/93 - This was recorded a day before the previously mentioned track 5, and was donated to Blue Moon by Courtney Love. It's not the type of song that would be released commercially. It features Courtney on vocals and Patty Shemel on drums... I assume that Kurt contributed to the guitars or mixing. The most interesting thing is that Courtney Love is thanked on the back of the inlay for the track. There is also a Christmas photo inside of the Outcesticide III inlay that may have been donated by Courtney.

8 - Heart-Shaped Box
1-23-93 (Hollywood Rock Festival; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - This is the first known live performance of Heart Shaped Box. It is structurally different from the recorded version and includes a solo. The lyrics obviously had not been completed at this point. The sound quality is as much as you can ask for from this date.

9 - Scentless Apprentice
1-23-93 (Hollywood Rock Festival; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - Another performance from the Rio show. Kurt goes nuts and provides the audience with a VERY extended solo.

Tracks 10 - 12
10-14-91 (Acoustic Record store Gig) This is a very interesting performance by the band in 1991. You can get the complete show from traders, but these tracks will give you a taste of what to expect. Unfortunately, the tracks are cut in between, but since it's not the complete performance anyway, it doesn't matter that much. "Negative Creep" has an interesting ending, I wonder why they didn't play that for MTV???

13 - Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
9-26-92 (Castaic Lake Natural Amphitheater - Valencia, CA) - The disc carries on with the acoustic performances. Kurt played "The Money Will Roll Right In" with Mudhoney and then goes solo with this song. There is some audience talk, but the sound is good and very listenable.

14 - Baba O'Riley
12-07-91 (Salle Omnisport (Transmusicales Festival); Rennes, France) - This is a hilarious jam with Dave on vocals. It's a real treat, especially if you like the "Who". Before the clip ends you can hear Kurt say "I Hope I die before I become Pete Townsend" in reference to Pete Townsend who was/is a world famous guitar player for the Who. This is a play on one of the Who's lyrics "Hope I die before I get old".

15 - The End
11/23/91 (Vooruit; Ghent, Belgium) - A funny outtake from one of the bands more outrageous shows. You can only get this complete show through other traders (It's not commercially available). Kurt and Krist spoof on the Doors classic which includes commentary about waffles (they were in Belgium, remember?), and the Waffle House Theme song.

16 - Lithium (Mix 6)
Aprill 1990 Smart Studios - This is the only truly disappointing track on the CD. The mix has overdriven the drums which have such a heavy beat it drowns everything out when the bass drum is hit. The "Into the Black" box set contains the song in much better quality.

17 - Dumb
2-22-94 (Palaghiaccio Marina; Rome, Italy) - This is an official release sound quality version of this song. Nothing specatular, just a nice live version from a commonly found show.

18 - Molly's Lips
11-18-89 (Ku-Ba Hanua, Germany) - A nice performance from the same show as track number 2 of this CD.

19 - Verse Chorus Verse
8-17-90 (The Palladium; Hollywood) This was rereleased from the best known source on Outcesticide V. This version isn't bad (it sounds like it's been put through noise reduction and has some slight glitches at the end), but the track on Outcesticide V is far superior.

20 - The Man Who Sold The World
12-14-93 (The Armory; Salem, Oregon) This is a nice live performance from an excellent audience source. The preferred commercially available CD for the complete show is "Psychout Induction".

21 - Smells Like Teen Spirit
11-8-91 ( The Word TV show) This is an excellent live version of the song, but the most notable part is the fact that Kurt exclaims that "I want everyone in this room to know that Courtney Love, the lead singer of the sensational pop group Hole, is the best f*** in the world!". How romantic Unfortunately, the song fades at the end before it is over.

18. Molly's Lips (An Early Attempt At The Vaseline).flac (FRAME_CRC_MISMATCH @ 2m 08s)
21. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Live On The World TV).flac (FRAME_CRC_MISMATCH @ 1m 18s)

10. Smells Like Teen Spirit.flac (FRAME_CRC_MISMATCH @ 2m 20s)

1. Live Through This
The first thing a listener will hear when playing this disc is a loud "pop". Blue Moon has likely "borrowed" the Courtney Love demo from the Love Buzz CD. The Love Buzz version has a radio DJ who talks over the first few seconds of the song. Blue Moon has edited the first few seconds out and quickly fades into the song. For whatever reason, the "pop" noise was left in. This demo has Kurt on the backing vocals. The sound is FM broadcast quality.

2. Love Buzz This track is from the VPRO Hilversum radio session on 11/5/89. You can find "Dive" and "About a Girl" from this session on Outcesticide III. This track is unique to Outcesticide V.

3. Verse Chorus Verse (aka "In His Hands")
From the sound check 8/17/90. This is an upgrade from the recording found on Outcesticide II. This recording is probably borrowed from the Love Buzz CD also. Excellent stereo sound.. by far the best surfaced recording of this song.

4. Lithium
5. Rape Me
These tracks are from the 2/9/94 show in Spain. These were the only two songs broadcasted and unavailable on any other commercial bootleg.

6. On A Plain
7. Stain Tracks six and seven are the sound check to the MTV studios broadcast on 1/10/92. Sombody in the band snorts to the beat of "Sifting" before they start.

8. School
9. Molly's Lips
10. Aneurysm
Tracks eight, nine and ten are the unbroadcast songs from the MTV studios broadcast on 1/10/92. Excellent sound quality. These tracks are unavailable on any other commercial bootleg CD.

11. Love Buzz
12. Floyd The Barber
13. Downer
14. Mexican Seafood
15. White Lace and Strange
16. Spank Thru
17. Suicide Samurai
18. Hairspray Queen
19. Pen Cap Chew
Tracks eleven through nineteen are definitely the highlight of the disc. The source is apparently the same as the one tape traders have been circulating.... it garbles a little during the "scream" in Spank Thru. The difference is that these tracks have been remastered... the majority of the hiss is gone and the noise level has been increased. While it's nothing revolutionary, these tracks are a little crisper than other KAOS versions I have heard. Surprisingly, Suicide Samurai (aka Anorexorcist) might be the best sounding track from the KAOS demos. Love buzz is very early for the band and Kurt repeats the first line twice during the beginning of the song. There appears to be a little editing between some of the tracks, but nothing "important" is missing.

20. More Than A Feeling Jam
21. My Best Friends Girl Tracks twenty and twenty-one are two clips, from 8/30/92 and 3/1/94. The sound quality is quite good. I wonder if Blue Moon has access to the rest of 3/1/94???

22. You've Got No Right (aka Autopilot) This track can be found in the Season in Hell box set and Sermon on the Mount. The quality of this track appears to be a little better than those two sources. It's a nice addition that most discs neglect.