Immortal Pixies (Death To The Pixies - Pixies)

Member Name: VegaZni

Product:	Death To The Pixies - Pixies
Date:	22/10/00 (271 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheaper than buying all their albums

Disadvantages: So good, you will want to buy them all

It’s near impossible to sum up The Pixies immense talent – but this album is probably the best way to do it! Death to the Pixies is a 17 track strong collection of some of their best songs.

The Pixies were Frank Black (vocals & guitar), Joey Santiago (guitar), Kim Deal (bass & vocals), and David Lovering (drums). They were one of the greatest bands ever, combining classic guitar rock, with indie pop melodies and an unconventional song structure to create a pioneering sound.

They released an EP and 4 albums between 1987 and 1991. Their music was possibly one of the biggest direct and indirect influences over the 1990’s indie rock music scene inspiring many bands.


‘Death’ opens up with the energetic instrumental Cecilia Ann. It has the atmosphere of a classic Western theme tune beefed up with electric guitars.

Planet Of Sound comes from their last album, ‘Trompe Le Monde’, and the title reflects the complex layers of sound that build up through this track distorting and twisting together.

Tame – recently featured on a Smirnoff TV advert – This song typifies the Pixies style – combining Frank Black’s tremendously unique vocal style, with the simple catchy guitar melodies, and strong drums and bass rhythm.

Here Comes Your Man is one of the Pixies calmer songs and is an incredibly memorable and catchy tune. Listen to this in a morning and it will be bouncing about your head all day, without ever getting annoying.

Debaser – From the deep bass intro, to the tremendous guitar riffs that were later ‘borrowed’ by Nirvana for Smells Like Teen Spirit, this track has all the hallmarks of one of the greatest songs ever and it is.

Wave Of Mutilation – like the previous three tracks comes from ‘Doolittle’ arguably their best album and has a great head banging intro. This is followed up by some mell
ow vocals combined with some foot stompingly good music.

Dig For Fire – has some more mellow, almost half-spoken, vocals. If it weren’t for the thumping drumbeat, thrashing guitars it would almost be a ballad.

Caribou – is a peaceful interlude, with Frank’s haunting voice dominating this song.

Holiday Song – A rawer, simpler song from their first EP release ‘Come On Pilgrim’ that will get you rocking again.

Nimrod’s Son – also from ‘Pilgrim’, this is one of my favourites. The tension of the frenzied sounds builds up, before easing a little and then building higher and higher again.

U-Mass – Crashing guitars, great riffs, hard drumbeat, screaming vocals – this is how to write a great indie-rock song.

Bone Machine – First of three in a row from ‘Surfer Rosa’ this typifies the album’s cleaner simpler sound.

Gigantic – a mellow song throughout, this one was written by Kim Deal and perhaps reflects her folk roots.

Where Is My Mind – another real favourite of mine, proving that The Pixies could write deep introspective lyrics long before Thom Yorke came along.

Velouria – from the Bossanova album, another great lyrical performance and back to the big guitar riffs. Perhaps the closest that they got to a romantic love song.

Two more from ‘Doolittle’ to finish, starting with the sublime Gouge Away. This is reminiscent of a slightly slower version of Tame and just as good.

Monkey Gone To Heaven – If you haven’t got the stereo on full volume yet – this is the time to do it. This song has everything that was fantastic about the Pixies and it has a deep meaningful environmental warning too.

What more can I say – go back to track 1 and start again, only louder this time!

Long live The Pixies.

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