Sliver (song)

"Sliver"
Single by Nirvana
B-side	"Dive"
Released	September 1990
Format	CD, 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded	April-July 1990
Genre	Grunge
Length	2:14
Label	Sub Pop
Writer(s)	Kurt Cobain
Producer(s)	Jack Endino
Nirvana singles chronology
"Blew" (1989) "Sliver" (1990) "Candy"/ "Molly's Lips" (1991)
CD version cover

"Sliver" is a song by American grunge band Nirvana. It was originally released as a non-album single in 1990 by Sub Pop. DGC re-released the song to radio to support the release of the rarities compilation album Incesticide in 1992.

Recording and composition

Nirvana member Kurt Cobain wrote the music to "Sliver" with Krist Novoselic and temporary drummer Dan Peters during a practice session.^[1] Jonathan Poneman of Sub Pop had requested that Nirvana release another single. While the band selected the previously recorded "Dive" as the b-side, Cobain wanted to take advantage of a studio break by the group TAD in July 1990 to record the a-side. TAD frontman Tad Doyle disliked the idea, but producer Jack Endino talked him into it. During a one hour period, Nirvana recorded the basic tracks for "Sliver" using TAD's equipment.^[2] Cobain completed writing the song's lyrics just before it was recorded.^[1]

Release and reception

"Sliver" was released as a single in 1990 making the top 100 in the UK. Retail singles were not re-released for Incesticide, however the song was released in the US for radio airplay and charted on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Sliver" re-charted in the UK in 1992 at number 77 on the UK singles chart at the time of its inclusion on the Incesticide compilation album. "Sliver" also charted in Ireland two years after release, shortly after the success of the Nevermind album in 1992.

Nirvana biographer Everett True wrote a favorable review for Melody Maker—"Sure, the vocals are lazily throat splitting, the guitars belligerently grungy, the bass up and out of place . . . but check the melodies, damn fools, check the melodies. The only reason this isn't 'Single Of The Week' is because three even mightier singles were released this week."^[3]

Music video

A music video was made for "Sliver" as promotion for Incesticide in March 1993. Directed by Kevin Kerslake, the video starts with Kurt Cobain's daughter Frances Bean Cobain (who was an infant at the time) dancing to the opening bassline and the band in a small, cramped, junk room playing their instruments. Kurt sings to the camera and his movements change with the music, with Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl (though not having played drums during the recording session) in the background of the room. In between shots there are scenes of the baby and a Chim-Chim toy which had been given to Kurt by Shonen Knife as a present.^[4]

Track listing

1. "Sliver"
2. "Dive" (Cobain, Novoselic)
3. "About a Girl" (live February 9, 1990 at the Pine Street Theatre, Portland, OR) [on CD versions only]
4. "Spank Thru" (live February 9, 1990 at the Pine Street Theatre, Portland, OR) [on CD versions only]

Chart performance

Cover versions

• "Sliver" was covered by The Gaslight Anthem on the deluxe edition of their 2012 album, Handwritten.
• A reggae version of the song was released on the Little Roy album Battle for Seattle in 2011.
• Punk band Rise Against covered this song for The A.V. Club's Undercover series in June 2010. The song was later included on the band's 2013 Long Forgotten Songs: B-Sides & Covers (2000–2013) album.

References

• Azerrad, Michael. Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana. Doubleday, 1994. ISBN 0-385-47199-8

Notes

External links

• "Sliver" Official music video on YouTube