Reviews (page 2 of 14)
I liked this album more as it went on. Easy to listen to. The interludes and banter was enjoyable.
Been meaning to explore the Pixies for years, and never gotten around to it. Before this, "Where Is My Mind?" (thanks, "Fight Club!") and "Here Comes Your Man" were essentially the only songs of theirs that I knew, and they're not exactly super-similar stylistically, so I wasn't sure what this album was going to sound like. It's much rawer than I expected; it's easy to picture them banging these songs out in a garage. "Something About You" had a little ska flavor, which was a surprise, as was the fact that Kim Deal had the lead vocals on "Gigantic"--I thought she basically stuck to chorus/background vocals (until her Breeders days, obviously). "Where Is My Mind?" feels like the standout track here (and not just because it's the only one I was familiar with), but "Gigantic" also got my attention, as did "Bone Machine," and I thought "Cactus" and "Tony's Theme" were an appropriately playful pair to follow the heavier "Where Is My Mind?" I could have done with a little less instrumental ramblings in the middle of "Vamos (Surfer Rosa)," but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. Overall, I really enjoyed the album. Not sure how many of these songs will end up getting thrown into my regular rotation, but "Gigantic" will definitely be one of them.
The first time I listened to the Pixies I was about 13 years old. The sound guy at a concert I had gone to kept playing Gigantic over and over on the speakers while we were waiting for the band to come out. A couple of days later I got a comp for like 4dls and it was so good that I had to get their albums one by one. Surfer Rosa was the one that caught my attention the most -wouldn't know why- and so it was the first I got. It holds a very special place in my heart since then
I had mainly listened to Dolittle beforehand, skipping Surfer Rosa in fear of some commercial indie stuff as I knew it was the "Where is my mind album". Boy was I wrong. I've never felt so wrong in my life. What a great album.
Classic album, even today no one sounds like the pixies. Love how they’re able to blend more commercial sounds with some of their more out there ideas. A lesser band wouldn’t be able to pull that off
Surfer Rosa I really liked Doolittle, and I enjoyed Bossanova, although I didn’t find it as engaging as Doolittle. This probably falls a bit closer to Bossanova, although I think it benefits from being their first proper album, with all the rawness and rough edges that come with that, suiting the raw and rough edged music, and allowing their characteristic oddities and little moments of melodic gold to stand out. It also benefits from being a short, sharp 33 minutes, alternating shorter songs with longer ones, and their quiet-loud template works really well on Bone Machine, the uber-catchy Gigantic, River Euphrates, Oh Golly and Bick is Red. Combined with their alt-rock groove on songs like Cactus or Tony’s theme and the excellent Where is my Mind it makes it a decent listen. It's not as good as Doolittle but is a bit more interesting than Bossanova, so I think it lands as another solid 3. 🏄🏄🏄 Playlist submission: Where is my Mind
Strong undertones of punk influence in this one. I enjoyed the strong drum presence throughout the album. Enjoyed bone machine and break my body to open the album. Gigantic and where is my mind are the standouts. The latter definitely the most polished song on the album without doubt. Head and shoulders over the rest. Overall a decent first album. I'll come back for another listen at some point.
Never heard the album before. Not something I'd listen to everyday but there is a lot of interesting stuff here. It's both edgy and hooky at the same time. "Yo soy playero pero no hay playa"
Fun hearing the proto grunge before grunge
New experience for me, a first Pixies album. Having nothing to base it on, I thought it was okay? I’d probably listen again and would happily listen to other stuff so, win?
I can seer why people loved the Pixies, for the time they were popular. They are a decent bar/small venue club band. But I could never imagine them ever being a huge band with a huge following. There is just something here that is lacking. Each song sounds almost rushed. Or the idea wasn't fully there and they couldn't capture it. Aside from Where Is My Mind? - that song is great. Everyone seems to think so too. I am very on the fence with the Pixies. I thought this record would make me lean towards a side. But nope. I can't give this a 2.5 but that's what I give it.
No time for a proper review. Didn't like it to begin with. But it grew on me. 3
‘Bone Machine’ ‘Gigantic’ ‘Where Is My Mind’ The rest is whatever.
One great song, a few ok tracks, and a lot of noise.
At times grating, at times transcendent. Bottom songs: none
I enjoyed listening to this album. I really dig the guitar sound they had going throughout. I didn't like the vocals much, and despite thinking I'd love this album due to Where Is My Mind and Gigantic, it was a bit too much punk for me.
Ah, punk.
One star for "Where Is My Mind?" and another one for "Gigantic". Rest of the stuff is unlistenable
peak white boy music (i’m not mad at it). i can see how they’ve shaped an entire generation of rock but i’m sorry i did not enjoy this album that much :/.
Another album where the super popular song doesn’t sound much like the rest of the album. Idk I couldn’t really get into this.
They probably felt really cool and edgy while recording this, but it's mostly loud and boring.
Meh.
It was fine. Couple of banging tunes, but as an album did not stand out.
Titties! 😲 They're ok just not really my thing I appreciate the influence they had on Nirvana but apart from that I'm not the biggest fan
I'm a big grunge fan and hoped the pregenetor of the genre would be more standout, unfortunately the lo-fi garage aesthetic with meh sound construction and weak vocals across the board really didn't do it for me. Where is my mind is ok. 2/5
Where’s My Mind is the only good track on this hellish, shouty, screechy guitar laden pile of shit album. Even then I don’t know if I like it, or it just reminds me of fight club.
I really love “Where is My Mind?” The rest of the songs are a big meh for me.
It was fine. Not my type of music and couldn’t really get into it.
Not a fan tbh
I never really gotten into Pixies, and listening the whole album kinda made it a bit worse? THey're a bit too weird for me. Musically interesting, it takes some cool shifts and turns in the songs. But whenever the vocals kick in, either by Black Francis or Kim Deal, it bugs me. Maybe another album works better, but it seems this is their magnum opus, so I kinda doubt it. 4,5 out of 10
Noisy noise
Salvo "Where is my mind", bastante olvidable...
1 star for songwriting, 1 star for musical skill, 5 stars for somehow finding an audience?
Thought I was going to like this. Potentially good. Debut album = potential wasn't meet. Some tracks are really bad.
Quiero más melodías en mi ruido.
Not my thing.
I wanted to like it because it is cited as an influence by many. But I don't like it. I can't even bring myself to give it another chance because it was so unpleasant to listen to.
Ce générateur a complètement vrillé en une succession d'albums rock tout plus insignifiants les uns que les autres ce qui fait que je ne suis en rien surpris de tomber sur celui-ci. Une seule éclaircie au milieu de ce chahut, le morceau "Where Is My Mind" m'a provoqué un "Ah c'est eux ça ?!" très agréable. Suffisant pour m'empêcher de leur vomir dessus ? Oh que non : deux sur cinq.
More an ep with some b sides than an album. Hard to know if songs are fully formed, or did they just record it and if lightning struck they caught it, and if not they still commanded it to tape.
One iconic song that I like, the rest not so much of a fan of.
I really didn't care for this album :(
So sick of these guys. The singer sucks and the weird dissonant guitar hammering they do just gets on my nerves
Nope.
crap
Alternative rock, indie rock, art punk, grunge.
Ahead of its time and incredibly influential to music from the 90’s on.
The single album that changed everything for me as a teenager!
Nice to have an easy one every now and then. Not perfect. But not far off.
It’s Pixies.
After I first heard this album 35 years ago, I did this thing where anytime I did something dumb, like stub my toe or drop my pencil, or like if a wasp was flying in my face or I made an F on a test, I'd scream like Black Francis and my friends thought it was hilarious. I just realized I still do this, but the scream is more internal unless I'm in the comfort of my home. Or if, in this case, I'm listening to Pixies and I want to sing along authentically. Depending on the day, Surfer Rosa is better than Doolittle. Like today. What a fun album.
music is love
I do not actually have to listen to this one again to review it. I listened to this maybe every single day freshman and sophomore year of high school. This is an entry about a superhero named Tony. It's called Tony's Theme.
All timer
Scrumptious
this is SO MUCH FUN. Brilliantly arranged chaotic rock, fascinating psychotic vibe. Captured me whole from the beginning till the end and entertained the fuck out of me haha. I will be listening to the whole album again. Love it. Brilliant.
One of my absolute all-time go-to faves! Opened up my ears to a new world of sound.
An all time favorite. Only wish this album was longer!
Я робив відос про цей альбом)
It was good not fan but ok
I La La love Pixies. What a great band. So influential. I remember the first time I heard this record. I couldn’t even fully process it. What are they even doing? What are these songs about? Mutilation? Scuba Diving? Big Dicks? Is that Spanish? Why do I like it? Who is this Black Francis character? Why doesn’t the bassist sing more songs? This guitar player is great! That drummer swings! I like this band. A lot. 4.8 ^
Its noisy, the guitars are distorted, the recording is amateurish, The vocals sound cheap and all over the place, and many of the songs have barely any structure to them. But it works so goddamn well. I forgot how good this album was. It is clear that these guys liked to avoid sounding too commercialised and like to cater to a specific audience that enjoy the alt rock scene of the 80s and 90s, much like other bands like sonic youth and smashing pumpkins, but they somehow manage to get the song Where is My Mind plenty of radio airtime as well as featuring on the David Fincher film Fight Club. Hopefully I will see Tromp Le Monde and Bossanova on this website as well.
perfection.
Spitfire turnin-Pop a wheelie burnin! evil chasing!
Packs soooooo much punch in about 35 minutes? Crazy forward thinking album
The beginnings of one of the greatest bands of all time. 5
Absolute stone cold classic. Fantastic writing from start to finish. Always thought I liked Dolittle the most, but this album hit me in the best way. All hail The Pixies.
MAN WHAT A FUCKING ALBUM! i havent heard a pixies album i dislike and their first full album is just so raw and chaotic. Gigantic is one of their best songs, where is my mind is iconic, Vamos is...vamos, bone machine is a killer opener, god i could go on. Steve Albini killed on the production aspect (rip) and frank blacks screams are recognisable from any song. Kim deal's voice is amazing on her songs (especially on gigantic). holy CRAP.
incredible album all around. love this style of indie rock.
Two half-hearted thumbs up for "Where is my Mind?" or whatever. IYKYK. Otherwise I'm really enjoying this album. She mostly sings backups but Kim Deal's voice is really nice. Great riffs, great production, great energy. Excellent album. Highlights: "Where is My Mind?", "Gigantic".
Love this album. Always have, always will. Just a lot of fun and full of juxtaposition. Fast and slow, quiet and loud, poppy and punky, straight and jagged. Great joy, 40 minutes that flies by. No desire to skip at any point, though I was amazed at how much more popular Where Is My Mind? is than any of track on Spotify. Must be the Fight Club effect. Superb record.
I can clearly heart how they influenced Kurt. So cool. Love it
For years I believed Dootlittle was the best Pixies album without question but as of recently I’ve started thinking there is question and the answer may be Surfer Rosa. At the very least it’s just as good.
Fantastisch!
Great for barely an EP's worth of music! 4.5
It's very tough and gritty. Where is my mind is very nostalgic!!
Two greatest Pixies songs are on this album. The first being Cactus (covered quite brilliantly by David Bowie on Heathen) the second being Gigantic, and we can just throw in Tony's Theme because of the starting line. 5 stars.
Jeden z mojich najobľúbenejších interpretov. Neobjektívne 5
This album is rooted and nostalgia for me but also the guitar is so fun. I invite anyone not giving us a five to pick a random song from the tab and learn it and see if you still want to give it a lower score. https://www.frankblack.net/tabs/pix.asp
The Pixies are an epic band, this is a great album. It's such college rock that it hurts. I wish I had been a little older when this came out!
It gave me joy hearing this album after so long. A strange and beautiful masterpiece.
amazing album with great guitars and exciting drums which makes it very entertaining and easy to listen to.
One of my favorite albums ever, this one's a gimme. Yippy and noisy and mellow and punchy and. Sonically, it's like candy to me.
The pixies were proof you didn’t need high tech to be high impact. An album just needs a good idea, some talented musicians and someone to hit record. There is so much influence in this album that is felt through indie rock, so much harmony between Frank black and Kim Deal’s vocals. This is a trip, and holds an anthem for the obscure society. Bang it on
don’t even need to think about it, this is a 5 star album. Loved the Pixies since i was like 13, my grungy-emo teens were filled with Pixies, Nirvana, The Slits, Downtown Boys, and the list could go on endlessly. haven’t got much more to say about this
The lyrics made me deeply reflect. Ruination Day pt 2 was probably my fave song. I loved the melody. This whole album makes me feel like riding a horse in the sunset through Texas with a cowboy hat on, smoking a fat cigar. Everything is free now would be my second favourite song, so much truth echoes in this.
Ah, the inspiration for what Nirvana would later become. I bloody love this record. It's loud, it's bizarre, it rocks, it has a couple of my favourite songs of all time, in 'Gigantic' and 'Where Is My Mind?'. I remember reading a retrospective about Pixies, from NME or Melody Maker, one of the British papers, where the production values of Steve Albini were described as putting a mic inside the kickdrum, and turning everything else up to compensate. Whilst that's obviously an exaggeration, he captured a band tearing through a bunch of songs at lightning speed, with screamed lyrics, pounding drums (see the intro for Bone Machine that starts the album) and distorted guitars that set a template for so much 'alternative' music that followed. throw in a bunch of pretty weird lyrics from Black Francis, and you have the makings of a classic. Whilst I would probably rate Doolittle as (slightly) better an album, this is still gold.
Amazing album!!!!!
Very cool. Very punk
Excelente álbum
So fun. Every song is hilarious and brilliant in its own way. The interludes also add up to a kind of collage art. Paved the way for Pavement, no pun intended. One of the interesting effects of doing this is that it forces comparison, and since I listened to the King Crimson album two days ago I’m realizing I prefer stuff that isn’t so forward about its craft and both allows and promotes mistakes and flaws as part of the process. Which perhaps says something about me but that’s for a different forum.
amo a los pixies, este capaz es mi favorito
A classic - not their best (I feel like Doolittle is a more consistent album) but a breathless, aggressive display of raw punk
Æðisleg plata. Hrátt öskur og ógeð og næs.
Þessi plata er svo góð, algjör negla. Það er ekki einn veikur hlekkur á henni, bara keyrsla út í gegn. Albini upp á sitt besta. 10/5
I have a friend who hates the Pixies on principle because they were her ex’s favourite band. It’s a shame he was a dick, because he had good taste in girlfriends and music.
Amazing raw experimental album that takes risks that really pay off
Really enjoyed this. Not a band that was really in my radar before this. Sure, I knew about ‘where is my mind’ from the closing credits of Fight Club, but never really sought them out. Sad I didn’t before now. Both this and the other album on the list have been added to my playlists. Not the solo stuff though, that isn’t as good.
🥰
I got a different Pixies album earlier in this list and wasn't impressed but man this one has the goods. Steve Albini was a production genius. Basically influenced a decade of rock music. Standouts: Bone Machine, Gigantic, Where is My Mind
Rough around the edges to the point where if it was any longer, it would be too much. As is, it’s a tight cohesive collection of chaos and noise. Fav tracks: Bone Machine, Gigantic, Where Is My Mind, Vamos. RYM: Y (#395) Saved a song: N
Surfer Rosa by Pixies is a raw, abrasive record that helped define late-80s alternative rock. Produced by Steve Albini, it favors a stripped, almost confrontational sound—dry guitars, loud-quiet dynamics, and minimal polish. The album shifts rapidly between aggression and fragility. Tracks like “Bone Machine” and “Something Against You” are jagged and chaotic, while “Where Is My Mind?” introduces a more spacious, melodic tone that later became iconic. Black Francis delivers cryptic, often unsettling lyrics, contrasted by Kim Deal’s more grounded vocal moments. It can feel disjointed on first listen, but that unpredictability is central to its impact. The record rejects conventional structure in favor of tension and release, influencing bands that followed, notably Nirvana. Concise assessment: not smooth or accessible, but highly influential and distinctive.
10/10 no notes!
I’m a big Pixies fan and ya this one is great. The live versions on the Death to the Pixies album are especially good.
Listened to it 3 straight times - could've listened to it 3 more. Banger top to bottom.
Escuchar Surfer Rosa hoy se siente como un reencuentro necesario con la raíz de lo que definió a una generación en la radio alternativa. Lo que en otros discos parecería un error, aquí es una virtud: las voces desentonadas y esa producción que parece "mal ecualizada" resultan en una propuesta honesta y democrática, mucho más cercana a la realidad que el pop pulido de finales de los 80. Es un disco de una estructura estridente, heredero legítimo del punk y el post-punk, que juega con dinámicas de tensión y explosión. El bajo es maravilloso, marcando líneas melódicas que sostienen el caos de las guitarras, especialmente en temas como "Gigantic". El uso del español en varias canciones añade una capa de surrealismo fronterizo que se siente muy propio. Aunque "Where Is My Mind?" es el himno indiscutible que nos acompaña desde los 90, el álbum completo es un manifiesto de que la belleza musical también puede encontrarse en lo crudo, lo directo y lo desprolijo.
This was the album that inspired me to pick up bass when I was 13, and Kim Deal's basslines still ruin me. The best Albini engineering. I'm not sure if I prefer this or Doolittle, the chaos on this one speaks to me on a fundamental level. Will never not adore Pixies.
Nice
Amazing album with good songs all the way through, best they have.
No tambo?
Have listened 100 times
Un disco que ya había escuchado anteriormente, amo a los Pixies. No fallan una sola canción. Siento que la música puede arreglar mi vida. "Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic a big, big love" 25.03.2026 09:03
Another record that I put on the instant it appeared in my queue despite it being 7:30 in the morning, because I love it so much. The lyrics, the weird humor, the occasional lapse into Spanish, the inchoate screaming, the buzzy noisy layers on everything, the odd comments, the guitar. Too many good songs to list my favorite; if pressed I might say "Vamos," but that's probably just because that's what's playing as I write this. 5 stars
dude
I adore this album I adore Pixies I don't even want to analyze it objectively. It's raw and genius.
Man, I love this band. Messy and discordant, but somehow it all comes together brilliantly.
Really enjoyed the instrumentation on this album, it misses out on an extra star as I wasn’t really a big fan of the vocals or lyrics, but I’ll definitely be listening to some more of their albums. On further reflection, I’ve come back to this album quite a few times, so I’m promoting it to 5 stars
One of my all time favourites. I'm not sure if I prefer this or Doolittle but they're both 5/5.
De er så cool
(one of) the first record(s) I ever bought.
I liked it a little too much.
Absolutnie fenomenalny album, który w swoim życiu przesłuchałem przynajmniej 41 razy. Moje ulubione utwory to Cactus oraz Tony's Theme napisana jako piosenka z perspektywy dziecka - oj jaka to trafna perspektywa. Wspaniałe dzieło i czerpałem przyjemność z ponownego przesłuchania tego albumu.
Pixies - Surfer Rosa Znam to! Pixies przedstawil mi moj kolega z Arabii, a czasami z Bangladeszu. Niesamowite, ze moze na niej byc Where is my mind? a jednoczesnie reszta piosenek nie odstaje i mozna je wymienic jako highlight albumu! A do tego sa z Massachueueuets jak Ben Affleck. czego chciec wiecej? szkoda, ze moja dziewczyna chce mi zrobic przykrosc i nie lubi tego. ciekawostka: broken face i gigantic to piosenki o mnie pdk
its that beautiful chaos to yearn for
So under rated both an album and a band. Literally the template for alternative rock.
This is prime Pixies. Controlled noise and chaos. Some all time rock tracks. The switching of vocalists keeps it fresh throughout. Cracker of an album. 13 songs in 33 mins... Muoy Buenos
Real nice
Dingy. Dank. Catchy. This is everything I wanted from the Pixies that I didn't get from Debaser. It's hard to say definitively given his catalog, but this might be the best Steve Albini album, production-wise. Also it has boobs on the front cover.
where is my mind, naisss
The easiest 5 stars yet.
Alternative guy likes Alternative rock shocking I know.
Wild riffs and extreme rawness… here’s where the sound of the ’90s began
Glad this one showed up. It's been a favorite for decades.
This must have been an amazing listen when it first came out. The album is so cohesive but not overly so. There are well-crafted songs that could have seen good radio play. But also, at times, the music seems to spin out of control… almost. Just before they get to that point, the Pixies reign it back in. The album makes me think of my friend, Amethyst. I can also imagine someone listening to this album and rocking with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth, maybe while making a zine.
Mad I can't give this six stars.
So many moments that live in my brain forever: the way Frank barks Tony, the leftover studio banter, Kim Deal's "ooo"s, the cord ripping out to end the guitar meltdown in Vamos, the verve of the drums, the incorrect Spanish just a million musical tics swirling around in my head coming from a sum of music barely over half an hour
As always happens whenever I remember Pixies exist, I'm now deep in the throes of listening to all of their first three albums. Surfer Rosa feels like this great introductory statement to their thesis that being angular and noisy and dissonant is so adjacent to great, great pop songwriting. The original 4 is so obviously one of the great rock lineups, everyone grooving with a specific and unique approach. "River Euphrates" is still my fave from this album, on some days my favorite ever Pixies track. RIP Steve Albini.
The Pixies are one of my, and always have been, favorite bands since HS and I’m 55yrs young. This may not be their best album yet it still has some bangers.
4.7
Classic!
Solid album, uniquely the Pixies
Just love Pixies, one of the Great groups
An all time fave. Have it on Vinyl
Obra Maestra. Los pixies inventaron todo. Este disco en particular es explosivo y violento. Me gustan Gigantic y Cactus.
Review - this is a real classic. Almost every song is poppy, rocky, experimental in a perfect balance. The only downside to me is Gigantic, which just isn't at the same level as most songs on this record. Incredible blunder in hindsight that it was the only single from this album. Rating - 9/10 Need to listen? YES
I already had every song on this one in my Liked Songs. I've loved this since I was a teenager.
A classic album. I always like the rawer mix that Steve Albini did for this one, compared with the nicer sound of later albums. Not quite a perfect album; there's a few tracks that are just okay. But the early alternative/odd surf rock energy pervades throughout.
Top album en zo gigantisch veel invloed gehad op de grunge, punk en any alternatieve rock in de jaren 90. Het afwisselen van zang tussen Frank Black en Kim Deal werkt ook zó goed. Where Is My Mind blijft ook een geweldig goed nummer, maybe wel een van de beste nummers aller tijden. Toch maar even m'n ticketswap alert aanzetten voor het concert in de Maassilo.
Brilliant album
Two things A. They sound like they're having an absolute blast making this record, so this is a lot of fun to listen to. B. Every band in the 90's completely ripped these guys and gal, so them not being in the rock and roll hall of fame is a tragedy.
earns 5 stars from Gigantic alone, i absolutely love Kim Deal (side note, it was only at this point that i realized there are no breeders albums on the list, which is a fucking crime, all my homies hate robert Dimery) as always I don't love Frank's vocals but everything else is beyond solid enough to make up for it
Awesome
33 perfect minutes. Not a weak moment.
it would be 5 stars for the cover alone but luckily the tunage is similarly top drawer
Trying to work out how to give this 6 stars. This was a foundational album for me in shaping my musical tests. I discovered Doolittle first but this one really cemented the Pixies as one of my favourites. The guitar is sublime.
Finally some Pixies. Not my favorite Pixies but the entire catalog is five stars aside from Trompe Le Monde and Caribou. IMHO. Tony’s Theme - does it get any better than that?
Love this album. Favorite songs: Bone Machine, Gigantic, Where Is My Mind, Tony's Theme
A maniacally strange album that constantly plays with the gas pedal but never really lets up. The great highs are where is my mind and gigantic. Both excellent songs. Is it better then doolittle? In my opinion, this album has the two greater hits but isn't as accessible throughout. Making doolittle the better album but Surfer Rosa has the better singles.
A raw, unpredictable collision of noise, pop instinct, and surreal imagery that still feels unruly and alive. The production emphasizes tension and awkwardness in ways that amplify the band’s strange charisma. Every track sounds like it might collapse at any moment, which only adds to its power.
An excellent album.
Perfection. Another Steve Albini masterwork.
То, как 18летняя я строила всю свою личность на sufer rosa и doolittle…. Ну мееееед. Какой красивый идеальный качающий альбом. Заставляет испытывать миллион чувств и переносит куда-то в светлое прошлое. Как же я их люблю. База и великое.
Gigantic, gigantic, gigantic A big, big love Начинаем голосование за главную вайфу альт-рока: Лайк за Ким Дил Репост за Ким Гордон
Glad to listen to this one all the way through
Pixis's first album was noted for its groundbreaking new sound in alternative rock. The album features surrealism, humor, and sexualized imagery, as well as humor based on it. I found listening to it an interesting experience and would rate it an 8.7/10. I'd say the long bridges aren't as captivating in today's world, but the performance, lyrics, and, paradoxically, the music elevate this album for me. I love the imagery and rhythm of the songs. The album also varies greatly in tempo and drive from song to song, a wonderful approach that allows it to appeal to a wider audience. The second half of the album begins with a growing dynamic and tempo, which I really enjoyed. The Spanish language adds color to the imagery.
Loved sharing with my kids, showing how Taylor took cues from them, how music can influence othe rmusic
The singles, or at least the songs with commercial potential, are all on the first half, but I like the second half, too. It’s loose and unpolished. It probably approximates Black Francis’ ideal form: unhinged and unconcerned with form, production, or commercial viability. Also, the cover b(.)(.)bs are outstanding.
Perfect album! One of my all time favorites.
THIS IS A SONG ABOUT A SUPERHERO NAMED TONY IT'S CALLED TONY'S THEME
"Where Is My Mind?" is a perfect song, absolutely a 10/10. Excellent album as a whole. The Pixies are great. Very tasteful cover photo
Peak
Love it. Raw and harsh tracks throughout in the way only Pixies can pull off. Humour throughout the album and every song hits. Gigantic and of course Where is my Mind are both perfect. Look forward to getting Doolittle later in the list, where they absolutely perfect their formula. 9/10
Amazing songs and production. I love Steve Albini’s drum sound, and the vocals of Black Francis and Kim deal are so great.
This is a great album. The Pixies's greatest.
Sometimes I almost forget how much I love this album. I'll admit it's overshadowed as hell by Doolittle, but damn if this album doesn't have some absolute bangers too. Still has killer riffs, beautiful atmospheres, and vocal performances that are at times emotional and still playful in some parts too.
First the sons then the next day the father's The Pixies
I already liked this album but prefer Doolittle
Love this album. One of my favourite bands of all time.
finally, one of my all time faves!! if you don’t like this albums, you’re just too straight-laced (jk)
I don’t typically gravitate towards this type of rock but I really enjoyed this 5/5
Mythical album. The place from where the 90s angst, cynisim and song structure would come from, later amplified beyond it's wildest dreams from the megaphone that was Nevermind. Doolittle and following albums may have better production, but the raw energy and crazy ideas make this one special.
Probably my favourite Pixies album. A wonderful blend of chaos and melody. Also, bonus points for reminding me of playing the kazoo.
One of the all time classics of the 90s. I can’t think of anything quite on the same level as Surfer Rosa and I can’t think of anything else that sounds quite like it in the most incredible way I can imagine.
9 To have all these mad songs bookending where is my mind in the middle is an outrageous thing to do best album I’ve had for ages
loef loef hard hard
I’m aghast that this one isn’t more warmly received. One of those rare albums that’s as enjoyable as it is ‘important’, and a thousand bands ripping it off a thousand times hasn’t had any impact on that fact.
Ts is good. Already liked pixies and listened to doolittle before. Knew "where is your mind? ", so I kinda knew I was gonna like this.
Nice
I was obsessed with this album for so long. I had it on cassette cause my ex-girlfriend’s car had a cassette deck. She had a red 1992 Toyota Corolla. We used to drive around town listening to this and the Doors (her favorite band at the time). To this day there is nothing like it, it is singular.
4.7
10
A strong argument can be made that The Pixies got it perfectly right out of the gate, and while they varied and expanded the recipe over time they never really improved it. This, at least, is my view, as I consider Surfer Rosa their premiere statement and one of the great indie rock records of the 80s. These are great pop tunes with punk edge and a dusting of both noise and art rock - all mixed in the perfect combination on songs like "Bone Machine", "Where's My Mind", and "Gigantic." Doolittle is arguably more inventive and exploratory, but Surfer Rosa is tighter and more focused. A terrific record.
Excellent album
I had not realized how much I like the Pixies. Some absolute zingers and only a couple of slightly dud fun throw away tracks. Gigantic's awesome as is Where is My Mind?
This was a biggie in the day. Surfer Rosa earned the Pixies an instant fanbase and pretty much reinvented - or at least reinvigorated the alt. music scene. Style-wise, the band hit a few different bases, while simultaneously settling on the quiet/loud/quiet thing that became their trademark sound – a sound which didn’t lack imitators. Steve Albini’s production doesn’t take any prisoners, and the decision to include studio chat gave the album an odd feel of slight novelty, though never enough to detract from the intensity of songs like Bone Machine, Where Is My Mind and Cactus. The latter was even covered by David Bowie. Nice. Of course, the brilliant Doolittle followed and the band broke through big time. 9/10
This was never my favorite Pixies record, but listening to it now it is genuinely brilliant and you can totally hear the next 10 years of alternative rock music within it. The second half kinda goes off the rails but the first half easily makes up for it.
This is one of my favourite albums ever, played so many times, “ where is my mind” - stand out, screeching guitar- Kim Deal, Black Francis, I saw the Poxies in 89, and 90 - great gigs🙌
A perfect Christmas Day listen. If not on Christmas Day it would be a very different rating
🌊🌊🌊 🏝️🌊⛵ 🌊🏝️ 🌊🌊 🤿 🐠🐟 🪨🪨🦑🐙 🦀🦈
(100/100)
The only reason I hesitated about giving this a 5 is that Doolittle exists, and that’s one of my gold standards for what a rock album can be. Surfer Rosa is not that… even in a 34 minute record, there’s songs they could have cut. But the tracks that work work so goddamn hard. “Bone Machine” brings all Black Francis’s absurdity and perversion and violence and beauty right from the outset. “Cactus” impressed Bowie enough for him to cover it. Everybody feels like they have a “Broken Face” after they hear it. And “Where Is My Mind?” Like everybody my age, I got to know it through the last scene of Fight Club. No sane person likes everything in that movie, but the choice to end it with that song make the last scene sufficiently transcendent that you think, “Wait, maybe that IS what I want.” You met me at a very interesting time in my life… Yet it’s also a silly song I sing with my preschooler. “Daddy, play the swimming brain song…”
Fantastic
This one got me into the Pixies hard back in the day. Camos!
5.0 (Genre birth - Grunge) (33:21, 13 tracks, 1988, debut), proto-Grunge Impossible to underestimate how important this album was to the development of music. In 1988 alternative (aka "College" radio was getting stale, The Smith/Cure sound had been explored entirely, synthpop was dead, College Radio (REM and Jangle Pop was five years old) and the industry was desperate for something new. Almost out of nowhere Boston band Pixies hired Chicago producer Steve Albini to record the first "Grunge" record. While the album was not commercially successful until 5 years later, this kicked off everything known later as "Alternative Rock" - approximately 50 of the albums on this list (many are top 50 rating) owe their existence to this album. So many artists wouldn't even exist without this album. I remember telling my friends in 1988 (or 89?) it was impossible to understate how important Gigantic was (a song Kim denies is about painful interracial (1986 film Crimes of the Heart) intercourse. . . but it is.) Equally confusing was the flamingo dancer's breast which were on the larger end of the spectrum for 1988 (mostly pre-enhancements era). The album's name Surfer Rosa was selected DIRECTLY because Gigantic and the album cover art would draw an incorrect analogy. "Where's my Mind At?" (in no small part it's role in Fight Club) finally broke Pixies as the most influential band of the 80's (retroactively awarded by many critics). No Pixies = no Nirvana - no Smashing Pumpkins - no Alternative - no Grunge
I’ve listened to the hits from this one but not much more. I’ve been meaning to get into the Pixies, though, so I’m glad I got this album. The drums at the opening of this are perfect—feels almost like a war call. The rest of the song follows and doesn’t disappoint. The second song, “Break My Body,” is an oddly melodic admission of self-hatred. The third track follows this theme of anger, but instead of being aimed inward it’s about someone else, and it isn’t melodic at all—it’s full-on hardcore punk with screeching vocals that sound like they’re coming from the next room. Then Broken Face brings it back to melodic again, but with the most insane lyrics imaginable. Then, of course, there’s the two big songs from this album—Gigantic and Where is My Mind. The former has an amazing opening bass line and features Kim Deal on lead vocals. You can definitely hear the blueprint for later trends in indie and punk in this song. The latter is even more amazing, being the slowest the album ever gets. It has this great feel to it, like spinning in circles and floating away. The main riff and drums are especially exceptional. I could listen to this song on loop all day, and it’s a perfect midpoint for the album. The abrupt ending is really creative as well. Tony’s Theme is surreal, with references to childhood and an opening that sounds like (and likely influenced) Carnival by Bikini Kill. It’s fun and screechy and continues to be melodic. Oh My Golly! continues the pounding drums and garage sound, and Vamos (Surfer Rosa) continues the theme of having lyrics in Spanish, for some reason. Also, lesbians. It’s a great song. The last fifteen seconds of Brick is Red makes for a perfect ending. The instrumentals sound like they’re about to finish off, then rise, then stop almost suddenly. I’m not going to pretend to know what the lyrics are really saying. However, I love this kind of rambling style—the beat poetry movement, Hole’s Pretty on the Inside, most stuff by bands like Sonic Youth. I can’t help but like it, even if it’s really insane most of the time and I’m kinda wondering why he felt such a need to say some of the stuff he did out loud. I’m a huge Husker Du fan, so it’s cool to see a band inspired by them—and see that that band then went on to inspire the grunge revolution and some of the greatest musicians of not only alt-rock, but of the musical landscape as a whole. And this album is deeply influential. While I haven’t listened to Doolittle, the general consensus does seem to be that it was better, but because I haven’t listened to it I can’t really make a statement about that. So, having this album in my mind as THE Pixie’s album, this is a definite five stars. Recap: Favorite songs: Where is My Mind?, Gigantic, Tony’s Theme, Something Against You, Broken Face Least favorite songs: N/A Comparisons/similar albums: Zen Arcade, Pretty on the Inside, Nevermind, Goo, The Stooges, Dirt, Pablo Honey Rating: 5/5
The Pixies at the height of their alternative power with tunes that broke the waves and set the stage.
I might like “Doolittle” more than this one by a hair, but they’re both fabuloso. Best buzzsaw-guitar-pop out there.
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Gutes Album!
Will always be a favorite of course. Also something fun to remember: dad read my mind and guessed what the album was right away.
Loved this so much. Listened multiple times and then went ahead and listened to Doolittle too!
Already one of my favourites of all time. I love the way it uses the 2 lead singers of The Pixies especially
Iconic, influential, timeless
Hit za hitem
It's hard to rate such an influential album and though maybe its listenability has lessened as I've aged, the stand out tracks on it are so strong and it's easy to ignore the noisier tracks.
Black Francis
5!!!!! So damn good
Love this one!
perfect album to get me out of my slump and back into loving music !!
Loved it ! Holy crap
peak rock
I'VE GOT NO LIPS I'VE GOT NO BONES WHATEVER I SAY IS ONLY SPIT
Even better than I remembered, brilliant.
I have to give this a 5 as I prefer it to Doolittle and gave Doolittle a 5...... Such a great album, anyone who can sing about scuba diving and make it this beautiful deserves tonnes of praise. Arguably more accessible than Doolittle but still with some experimental tracks pushing the boundaries a bit. Its peak Pixies.
Yes
Man I had no idea how great this album was.
woah, how why are they so good?!!
I feel Doolittle is maybe better but not by much, they had this brilliant way of controlling noise and chaos with a softer side, excellent album.
Really cool, fast paced and interesting. 4 stars Edit from February 2026: editing the reviews for this and Doolittle as I have become obsessed with both and feel they deserve 5s
Didn't realise I liked the Pixies :)
I want to reserve my 5 star votes for what I consider to be bona fide classics. Surfer Rosa is a cast-iron 5 star album. It sounds raw and chaotic but they’re an absolutely tight band (they’re incredible live, even now, even without Kim Deal on bass), with a drum sound that feels like it’s coming from the corner of your room. It has the Pixies’ trademark surreal lyrics, mainly delivered by Black Francis in his one-of-a-kind vocal style, that are sometimes disturbing and often really funny. There are even some hit songs on there, eg Gigantic and Where Is My Mind. This was an album that loads of artists cite as a favourite and/or an influence. There’s an old documentary on the Pixies in which Bono says that when he first heard Surfer Rosa he told the rest of U2 (then the biggest band in the world): sorry to have to tell you guys, but we’ve just become out of date.
This has a great sounds that holds up 40 years after release. Great job Pixies. Where is My Mind is a classic, but Bone Machine and Gigantic are also great. Some tracks feel very samey and sloppy and bring the album down (Looking at you, Broken Face) and really puts this between a 4 and 5 for me, but I'll give it to the Pixies for holding up so well.
I love this album and think it’s their best. You can see the range of this band and how they were influenced by a variety of progressive genres. This album inspired so many bands that I love and I understand why.
I had a snobbish eschewal of Pixies having been a college DJ during their ascendancy, but one Saturday, Lara7 of this group and I picked up this tape at a yard sale and it made me a convert. It was our practice to buy a tape at the first garage sale and listen to it for the rest of the day rummaging through people's detritus, and that day we struck gold.
We already reviewed Doolittle, which stole my thunder somewhat on discussing the Pixies, yet what stands out to me about Surfer Rosa when listening to it today is how incredibly loose, playful and fun it is. The band sounds completely out of left field, like a demented cartoon prone to sudden outbursts of violence, apt to ignite in a fiery crash at any moment. It’s noisy, funny, scary and thrilling all at once.
Amazing from top to bottom.
The album that gave us "Where is my mind?" deserves five stars
Finally got to hear it front to back. Magical debut, so good!
now THATS! what I’m talking about
Maybe not as consistent as Doolittle but It just hits differently. Plus is has a song that is legit in the conversation for greatest song of all time so... 9/10
A stunning rock record. Timeless. Influential. Eminently listenable, repeatedly. Did they know they were breaking new ground?
Really enjoyable album
One of the best albums ever made.
It’s crazy, it’s awesome, it’s intense and I loved it. The bass lines are unreal. Cool seeing a little bit rawer of a sound than Doolittle, which is my main Pixies reference. Certainly jarring at times with the vocals on songs like Broken Face and Oh My Golly! being particularly wild. I wouldn’t put it on at a random party. But it’s not discordant in a bad way for me. It’s abrasive music, and the singing should follow.
Incredible album
Absolutely slaps, even with the weirdest deep cuts.
One of my all-time favorites. Pace, biting guitars, raggedy melodies, head-bopping rhythm section. The songs are short, sweet and full of energy. The songwriting would be more polished on Doolittle, but for bursts of manic, punk energy, nothing tops the more blistering tracks on here. The band also shows that they're versatile beyond three chords and a cloud of dust on "Where Is My Mind?" (the album's most well-known song due in large part to it's inclusion in the movie Fight Club) and the Kim Deal-fronted "Gigantic". Steve Albini's production here that makes you feel like you're in the studio with the band (including some snippets of conversation, unbeknownst to the band members). The loose energy almost makes these songs feel like demos, but in a good way. With everything in pop music so engineered within an inch of it's life nowadays and all imperfections removed, it's great to hear something that feels alive and in the moment.
My fave Pixies album. I go back to this regularly, because...well, because I like it. Is it perfect...in its imperfections? Absolutely....
Such a fun and interesting album.
I've vacillated between 4 and 5 again and again. This is a quintessential loud-quiet-loud album, and a great one. I think Doolittle is their masterpiece, but this isn't far behind. Gets a little uneven in the back half, but it's still a no-skip album for me.
Such an amazingly live and raw album that feels like it was recorded in one take. Gets more enjoyable with every listen. Doolittle is their masterpiece but this has slowly become the one I want to revisit the most.
They wrote a song about me, perfection!
Instant classic.
Absolutely astounding, #1 best cool guy so far. My best guy in the list, top lad. This is a song about a superhero named Tony, it’s called Tony’s theme. Yes Kim.
Loved it. Timeless classic.
The amazing thing about Pixies is how they were the genesis point for both grunge and slacker rock in the 90s. Somehow they’re one of the most influential rock bands, ever. I think it’s just because their music bursts with energy and creativity and fun and passion and urgency and noise. This album absolutely rules. Must-listen #233.
Frenetic psychotic idiosyncratic crazy five star experience ( ✪ワ✪)ノʸᵉᵃʰᵎ
🖤🧚♀️
I don't think this is quite the achievement Doolittle is, but but it's pretty close and certainly one of my favorite debut albums ever. The band really took a diverse set of influences and created a special sound here that changed the trajectory of rock music forever. It's punky and abrasive, but also super catchy. Listening to it now, there's a timeless quality to it that didn't seem apparent in 1987. I don't think there's a weak track here, but the highlights for me are "Bone Machine", "Gigantic", "River Euphrates", "Cactus", and of course "Where is My Mind?" 5 stars.
i love
Silly goofy fun, this album is so quick and a complete blast all the way thru 4.5/5
Surfer Rosa et Doolittle sont mes 2 préférés des Pixies. Ensuite Trompe le Monde vraiment pas loin. Ensuite Bossa Nova. Tous des albums 10 étoiles sur 5 pour moi. Je pourrais avoir un tatouage de Frank Black sur le bras.
Meilleur album de surf depuis Surfin' USA. Steve Albini, un autre génie. Proto-grunge?
Classique, quoique son écoute me fait réaliser que je pense préférer bossanova, qui avait peut-être plus de « hooks » pop. J’avais donné 4 étoiles à cet album mais je le regrette.
One of the blueprints for American indie rock. Catchy, quirky, visceral...the album art rocks with loads of off kilter melodies, jagged guitar, punchy bass, and those booming drums driving it all full force. Plus, nobody can scream like Black Francis. Pixies never sounded like this again, just built from there - and tons of other acts have been hard pressed to properly glean their sound.
"Where's My Mind?" was my favorite track. Listened to most of it doing chores. Upbeat, sophisticated punk album. Well done.
YOUR BONES GOT A LITTLE MACHINE. Man, I love the Pixies, they are like the exact perfect level of chaotic noisy rock. Not my favorite of theirs, but definitely still a great album in my personal onion.
Bien dans l'ensemble, même si j'adhère pas trop au style de certaines chansons
Where it began for me
Spoilt a little in the UK cos we got it with Come On Pilgrim on the same CD - definitely think having Caribou and ending it on Levitate Me hides that the last few songs of the album proper are bit weak. But I can't rate this anything less than 5 stars, the highs outweigh the lows.
Bunch of weirdos absolutely rockin out. So good to listen to the sound of a four piece band just fucking nailing it. Some massive songs on here and some properly strange shit. A classic.
Somehow the album is almost as good as that pair of tits. 5 Stars.
Easy 5. More familiar with Doolittle but already knew and loved "Where is My Mind?" and "Gigantic." Now having listened to the whole album can add "Bone Machine" "River Euphrates" "Cactus" and "Tony's Theme" to the list.
I didnt realize where is my mind was on their debut album. I could clearly hear how they influenced later 90s grunge. Need to listen again more actively
...and just like that, the world contracted a serious Pixies infection.
5/5 bare for Where is my mind!
If you've ever wondered what the difference between punk rock, and indy rock is, it's this: Alt Rock. And this LP, Surfer Rosa by the Pixies is a prime example. A banger of a debut LP, "Doolittle" would follow a year later, it's an influential debut album. It combines raw, abrasive noise with unexpected moments of pop melody and quirky, surreal lyrics. It's unique in that it combines , spacious production and the dynamic interplay between Black Francis's intense vocals, avant-garde guitar work, and melodic bass, it has inspired generations of musicians. 4/5 for me.
Now I understand why everybody say this is the band that influenced Nirvana. I have listened to Bossanova before and I found a good, heterogeneous rock album, but this one has THE sound that I expected. Lo-fi, sometimes poppy, sometimes punk, but always pre-grungy. Really liked it and gonna listen to it a looooot.
Love this album!
Amazing
An album I don't even hesitate to give a 5, I've listened to it so many times. Still can't pick a favorite between this and Doolittle, they both reign supreme in my ears. 5/5
Was obsessed with Pixies back when I listened to them in my early 20s. I spent a lot of time with this album and it still completely holds up. I love basically everything here. 5/5
Nothing but love for this album
Comenzamos la última semana de septiembre (la próxima se corta el martes con la llegada de octubre) con éste debut increíble de una banda que amo y a la que tanto vuelvo: ya tenían a esta altura algún que otro demo y EP dando vueltas pero éste es su primer álbum oficial. Crudo, disonante, hermoso: esos los primeros adjetivos que se me aparecen con éste disco y esta banda. El álbum que toma lo violento de una época y de lo humano, se hace cargo y lo transforma en música directa. Imposible diseccionar el disco: es entendible como obra completa, llena de tracks tremendísimos. Gracias por el recordatorio. Hasta mañana.
Pixies are so god damn good!
Fantastic
I’ll be seeing Pixies tomorrow at Bourbon & Beyond, so let’s close tonight out with Surfa Rosa. It’s not my favorite Pixies album (that’s Bossanova) and it doesn’t even have my favorite Pixies song (that’s Monkey Gone To Heaven), but Surfa Rosa is just undeniable. The opening drums of Bone Machine that set the entire foundation, and it never really let's up. Rambling verses that shouldn’t be possible to sing along to, but we all try. Weird-as-catchy bursts like Broken Face. Radio staples in Gigantic and Where Is My Mind (over-covered, sure, but c’mon, Fight Club made it eternal). The pure fun of Tony’s Theme. The relentless drive of Vamos. No skips all the way through, though by the time Brick Is Red rolls in, I’m properly worn out. Pixies didn’t just influence a generation, they made chaos sound like order, and order sound like chaos.
YES.
This list is showing me that I dig the Pixies. Knew the hits, loved the b-sides. I'm a Pixies fan now. It's a good thing I'm already insufferable.
Love the Pixies, love this album.
Brilliant album. My favorite of theirs. I love Frank Black's solo stuff as well but this one is in a class of its own.
Love the pixies. classic punk and rock and from my home town. they have a roughness that's hard to emulate since any attempts at imitation become your own voice.
heard this quite a few times before, love Pixies Bone Machine - 5/5 Break My Body - 5/5 Something Against You - 3/5 Broken Face - 5/5 Gigantic - 5/5 River Euphrates - 5/5 Where Is My Mind? - 5/5 Cactus - 5/5 Tony's Theme - 3/5 Oh My Golly! - 5/5 Vamos - 4/5 I'm Amazed - 3/5 Brick Is Red - 4/5 Average score: 4.4/5 (rounding up) it's as good as i remember, maybe even better! like others have mentioned here, i think Doolittle is still their best album. i think the only tracks i didn't care for here were the few short filler tracks, and even those have their own charm in my opinion overall, Surfer Rosa is damn good (top 3 contender for sure)
Excellent album, varied, fun, and, interesting. When the album finished Spotify went right into a song from the Lonesome Crowded West. Modest Mouse were obviously inspired by the Pixies and then went on to inspire many other indie bands. I don't understand how there are two albums by Super Furry Animals on this list and none by Modest Mouse
La base del rock, lo amé de principio a fin
Hard to find anything wrong with this album. One of my favorites
Disturbing, demented, masterpiece. A little surprised to see all the negative reviews on this one. Did you all really start this list thinking it'd be a thousand easy listening albums that wouldn't be at all challenging? Even with the abrasive guitars and fucked up lyrics. The pop sensibilities shine through. Catchy as hell. Only criticism is it kinda fizzles out towards the end
4.9 3x one of my favorites and amazing debut
One of the best live bands!
First time listening to the pixies. Not since I listened to rumors by Fleetwood Mac have I been so challenged to figure out what a bands sound is because each song is so different from the one before it. You can also hear so many of the bands that came after them in each riff. This definitely got me to listen to more pixies! 5/5
It's impossible to fairly rate albums that I listened to on repeat in my teens. This is one of those albums that I already had every song liked.
'Where Is My Mind?' is probably one of the best songs I've ever heard.