AnyBlogDotCom: Pixies album by album

I became aware of the Pixies in 1989 when I was at Swansea University; some other mature students had Pixies albums, along with several other American alternative rock bands I'd not heard of, such as Jane's Addiction and Husker Du. It was an exciting time for me, and a really good period for music in both the UK and the US.

The band was formed by Black Francis (Charles Thompson), who was the vocalist and songwriter, with Joey Santiago, the lead guitarist. Kim Deal joined as bassist and vocalist, then David Lovering joined as drummer. All the band's main recordings are with this line up. The band broke up in 1993, reforming in 2004 to tour, but not recording any albums until after Kim Deal left in 2013, since when they have recorded three, with two different bass guitarist. Deal has since re-joined the band to tour.

Wikipedia:

Pixies is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. The original line-up comprised Black Francis (vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim Deal (bass, backing vocals) and David Lovering (drums). The band disbanded acrimoniously in 1993, but reunited in 2004. After Deal left in 2013, the Pixies hired Kim Shattuck as a touring bassist; she was replaced the same year by Paz Lenchantin, who became a permanent member in 2016.

The Pixies are associated with the 1990s alternative rock boom, and draw on elements including punk rock and surf rock. Their music is known for its dynamic "loud-quiet" shifts and song structures. Francis is the Pixies' primary songwriter; his often surreal lyrics cover offbeat subjects such as extra-terrestrials, incest, and biblical violence. They achieved modest popularity in the US, but were more successful in Europe. Their jarring pop sound influenced acts such as Nirvana, Radiohead, the Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer. Their popularity grew in the years after their break-up, leading to sold-out world tours following their reunion in 2004.

AllMusic:

Combining jagged, roaring guitars and stop-start dynamics with melodic pop hooks, intertwining male-female harmonies, and evocative, cryptic lyrics, Pixies are one of alternative rock's most influential bands. On albums such as 1988's Surfer Rosa and 1989's Doolittle, they turned conventions inside-out, melding punk and indie guitar rock, classic pop, surf rock, and stadium-sized riffs with singer/guitarist Black Francis' bizarre, fragmented lyrics about space, religion, sex, mutilation, and pop culture. His lyrics may have been impenetrable, but the music was direct, forceful, and laid the groundwork for the alternative explosion of the early '90s. From grunge to Brit-pop, Pixies' shadow loomed large; it's hard to imagine Nirvana without Pixies' signature loud-quiet-loud dynamics and lurching, noisy guitar solos. However, the band's commercial success didn't match its impact -- MTV was reluctant to play their videos, while modern rock radio didn't put their singles into regular rotation. By the time Nirvana broke the doors down for alternative rock in 1992, Pixies were effectively broken up. During the rest of the '90s and into the 2000s, they continued to inspire acts ranging from Weezer, Radiohead, and PJ Harvey to the Strokes and Arcade Fire. Pixies' 2004 reunion was as surprising as it was welcome, and the band's frequent tours led them to record albums including 2019's Beneath the Eyrie, which continued the sound of their groundbreaking early work.

Recordings

Come On Pilgrim (Sept 1987)

A short album (just over 20 minutes) of eight tracks culled from their demo tape. The album was poorly and unevenly distributed and sold few copies (especially in the US), but did appear at No 5 on the UK Indie chart (when re-released in the UK with Surfer Rosa together in 1993 they slowly sold enough to get a UK gold disc in 2003). Though an official release by 4AD which was on the UK album charts, the album is widely ignored, and pretty much everyone regards 1988's Surfer Rosa as the band's debut.

Released	September 28, 1987
Recorded	March 1987
Studio	Fort Apache Studios, Roxbury, Massachusetts
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	20:29
Label	4AD
Producer	Gary Smith

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Caribou"		3:14
2.	"Vamos"		2:53
3.	"Isla De Encanta"		1:41
4.	"Ed Is Dead"		2:30
5.	"The Holiday Song"		2:14
6.	"Nimrod's Son"		2:17
7.	"I’ve Been Tired"		3:01
8.	"Levitate Me"	Francis, Deal, Lovering, Walsh	2:37

Black Francis – vocals, guitar
Kim Deal – bass guitar, vocals (credited as "Mrs. John Murphy")
David Lovering – drums
Joey Santiago – lead guitar

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score:

Surfer Rosa (1988)

A good album.

Released	March 21, 1988
Recorded	November 1987, Downtown Recorders, South End, Boston; December 1987, Q Division, Somerville, Massachusetts^[1]
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	34:07
Label	4AD
Producer	Steve Albini

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bone Machine"		3:05
2.	"Break My Body"		2:08
3.	"Something Against You"		1:50
4.	"Broken Face"		1:33
5.	"Gigantic"	Francis, Kim Deal	3:58
6.	"River Euphrates"		2:35
7.	"Where Is My Mind?"		3:57
8.	"Cactus"		2:19
9.	"Tony's Theme"		1:55
10.	"Oh My Golly!"		2:35
11.	"Vamos"		4:25
12.	"I'm Amazed"		1:45
13.	"Brick Is Red"		2:02

Black Francis – vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
Kim Deal – bass, vocals, lead vocals on "Gigantic" (credited as Mrs. John Murphy)
Joey Santiago – lead guitar
David Lovering – drums

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score: 6 1/2

"Monkey Gone To Heaven"
(March 1989)

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score:

Doolittle (April 1989)

I love this. My favourite Pixies album. I think it's their best.

Released	April 17, 1989 (UK)
Recorded	October 31 – November 23, 1988
Studio	Downtown Recorders in Boston, Massachusetts and Carriage House Studios in Stamford, Connecticut
Genre	Alternative rock noise pop^[1]
Length	38:38
Label	4AD Elektra
Producer	Gil Norton

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Debaser"		2:52
2.	"Tame"		1:55
3.	"Wave of Mutilation"		2:04
4.	"I Bleed"		2:34
5.	"Here Comes Your Man"		3:21
6.	"Dead"		2:21
7.	"Monkey Gone to Heaven"		2:56
8.	"Mr. Grieves"		2:05
9.	"Crackity Jones"		1:24
10.	"La La Love You"		2:43
11.	"No. 13 Baby"		3:51
12.	"There Goes My Gun"		1:49
13.	"Hey"		3:31
14.	"Silver"	Francis, Kim Deal	2:25
15.	"Gouge Away"		2:45

Black Francis – vocals, rhythm guitar
Kim Deal – bass guitar, vocals
Joey Santiago – lead guitar, backing vocals
David Lovering – drums

Videos:

* "Debaser"

* "Monkey Gone To Heaven"

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 10

Score: 9 1/2

Singles

"Here Comes Your Man"
(June 1989)

"Velouria"
(July 1990)

Wikipedia

AlMusic:

Score:

Bossanova (Aug 1990)

A good album. My second favourite.

Released	August 13, 1990
Recorded	1989-1990
Studio	Cherokee Studios, Hollywood Aire L.A. Studios, Glendale Silverlake Studios, Hollywood Hansa Tonstudio, Berlin Master Control, Burbank
Genre	Punk rock alternative rock surf rock space rock
Length	39:45
Label	4AD Elektra
Producer	Gil Norton

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Cecilia Ann"	The Surftones^[22]	2:05
2.	"Rock Music"		1:52
3.	"Velouria"		3:40
4.	"Allison"		1:17
5.	"Is She Weird"		3:01
6.	"Ana"		2:09
7.	"All Over the World"		5:27
8.	"Dig for Fire"		3:02
9.	"Down to the Well"		2:29
10.	"The Happening"		4:19
11.	"Blown Away"		2:20
12.	"Hang Wire"		2:01
13.	"Stormy Weather"		3:26
14.	"Havalina"		2:33

Black Francis – vocals, guitar
Kim Deal – bass guitar, vocals
David Lovering – drums, vocals
Joey Santiago – lead guitar

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score: 7

Trompe le Monde (1991)

Released	September 23, 1991
Recorded	1991
Studio	Master Control, Burbank Pacifique, Burbank Studio des dames, Paris Blackwing Studios, London
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	38:58
Language	English
Label	4AD
Producer	Gil Norton

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Trompe le Monde"		1:48
2.	"Planet of Sound"		2:06
3.	"Alec Eiffel"		2:50
4.	"The Sad Punk"		3:00
5.	"Head On"	Jim Reid, William Reid	2:13
6.	"U-Mass"		3:01
7.	"Palace of the Brine"		1:34
8.	"Letter to Memphis"		2:39
9.	"Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons"		2:48
10.	"Space (I Believe In)"		4:18
11.	"Subbacultcha"		2:09
12.	"Distance Equals Rate Times Time"		1:24
13.	"Lovely Day"		2:05
14.	"Motorway to Roswell"		4:43
15.	"The Navajo Know"		2:20

Black Francis – vocals, guitar
Kim Deal – bass guitar, vocals
David Lovering – drums
Joey Santiago – lead guitar

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score:

Death to the Pixies (1997)

Compilation.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Album	Length
1.	"Cecilia Ann"	The Surftones	Bossanova (1990)	2:06
2.	"Planet of Sound"		Trompe le Monde (1991)	2:06
3.	"Tame"		Doolittle (1989)	1:56
4.	"Here Comes Your Man"		Doolittle	3:21
5.	"Debaser"		Doolittle	2:52
6.	"Wave of Mutilation"		Doolittle	2:04
7.	"Dig for Fire"		Bossanova	3:02
8.	"Caribou"		Come On Pilgrim (1987)	3:14
9.	"Holiday Song"		Come On Pilgrim	2:14
10.	"Nimrod's Son"		Come On Pilgrim	2:17
11.	"U-Mass"		Trompe Le Monde	3:01
12.	"Bone Machine"		Surfer Rosa (1988)	2:34
13.	"Gigantic"	Francis Kim Deal	Surfer Rosa (single version)	3:08
14.	"Where Is My Mind?"		Surfer Rosa	3:52
15.	"Velouria"		Bossanova	3:40
16.	"Gouge Away"		Doolittle	2:44
17.	"Monkey Gone to Heaven"		Doolittle	2:57

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score:

Indie Cindy (2014)

Released	April 19, 2014
Recorded	2012
Studio	Rockfield Studios, Rockfield, Wales Sonelab, Easthampton, Massachusetts The Autumn Den, Northampton, Massachusetts
Genre	Alternative rock indie rock pop rock
Length	45:49
Label	Pixiesmusic, PIAS^[1]
Producer	Gil Norton

No.	Title	Length
1.	"What Goes Boom"	3:32
2.	"Greens and Blues"	3:46
3.	"Indie Cindy"	4:41
4.	"Bagboy"	4:52
5.	"Magdalena 318"	3:26
6.	"Silver Snail"	3:29
7.	"Blue Eyed Hexe"	3:11
8.	"Ring the Bell"	3:34
9.	"Another Toe in the Ocean"	3:46
10.	"Andro Queen"	3:23
11.	"Snakes"	3:45
12.	"Jaime Bravo"	4:24

Black Francis – vocals, guitar
Joey Santiago – lead guitar
David Lovering – drums

Ding (Simon "Dingo" Archer) – bass guitar (session musician)

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score:

Head Carrier (2016)

Released	September 30, 2016
Recorded	February–March, 2016
Studio	RAK Studios, London
Genre	Alternative rock indie rock pop rock
Length	33:48
Label	Pixiesmusic PIAS
Producer	Tom Dalgety

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Head Carrier"		3:36
2.	"Classic Masher"		2:37
3.	"Baal's Back"		1:54
4.	"Might as Well Be Gone"		2:48
5.	"Oona"		3:38
6.	"Talent"		2:12
7.	"Tenement Song"		2:57
8.	"Bel Esprit"		3:12
9.	"All I Think About Now"	Francis, Paz Lenchantin^[14]^[17]	3:07
10.	"Um Chagga Lagga"		3:00
11.	"Plaster of Paris"		2:06
12.	"All the Saints"		2:41

Black Francis – lead vocals, guitar
Joey Santiago – lead guitar
Paz Lenchantin – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "All I Think About Now"
David Lovering – drums

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score:

Beneath the Eyrie (2019)

Released	September 13, 2019
Recorded	2018–2019
Studio	Dreamland Recording Studios, Hurley, New York, United States
Genre	Indie rock^[1]^[2]
Length	38:54
Label	BMG/Infectious
Producer	Tom Dalgety

"In the Arms of Mrs. Mark of Cain" – 4:13
"On Graveyard Hill" (Francis, Paz Lenchantin) – 3:25
"Catfish Kate" – 3:08
"This Is My Fate" – 3:20
"Ready for Love" – 2:33
"Silver Bullet" – 3:44
"Long Rider" (Francis, Lenchantin) – 3:32
"Los Surfers Muertos" (Francis, Lenchantin) – 2:54
"St. Nazaire" – 2:27
"Bird of Prey" – 2:37
"Daniel Boone" – 4:52
"Death Horizon" – 2:07