1001 Albums Generator
Surfer Rosa by Pixies

Surfer Rosa

Pixies

1988
3.49
Rating
30260
Votes
1
4%
2
14%
3
30%
4
31%
5
20%
Distribution
Genres: Rock Styles: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock

Reviews (page 7 of 15)

ez 5 stars

This would have definitely been a nice change of pace compared to much of what was popular in 1988, and I can definitely see how this influenced the likes of Nirvana ("Cactus", for example sounds like it could easily be on Nirvana's Unplugged (nevermind that it's electric)). But I can't put it with some of the other 4 star albums. Solid 3.5 though. Rounding down.

Great single track but other ones were so so

My love for Pixies began here. I knew 4AD as the label for Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance, but Pixies is entirely different from those two bands--and nearly anything else released on that label up to that point. Dave Lovering's drums are like gunshots throughout this album, and Black Francis' weird and funny lyrics, Kim Deal's (Mrs. John Murphy) cool, and Joey Santiago's barely-contained guitar freak-outs all add up to a WILD 33 minute ride. It's a desert island album for me, dog.

fourteen year old me who took a picture of joan jett to the hair dresser before my mother vetoed me loved this. i appreciated more of the garagey vibes in my earlier listens, but this time i find myself enjoying the moments of clarity in the noise- the guitar doing it's thing in 'break my body's stands out as a little thing i'll be humming to myself for a while, and the intro to 'broken face'. give me kim deal solo album tho tbh. liked: gigantic, vamos, oh golly,

Too yelly.

Just didn’t like it like the other pixies and frank black fare we’ve had so far. It’s punky and fun but I just wasn’t feeling it ya know. What am I supposed to say?

Great album. Definitely a very raw sound.

I liked the raw punk songs more than the polished songs. I thought there was an interested collection of songs on this record, something a bit for everyone. But I didn’t find it too “all over the place”. It was kinda nice.

What a great album. "Where Is My Mind" is such an amazing track. "Gigantic" is also a cracker. The drum sound here is superb, and so distinctive.

Solid punk

Probably if I were a lot younger I might enjoy the angsty lyrics and full on loud bits. I can see how the album was influential.

Pixies have their moments, but those moments are mostly on their next two albums. Only thing worth saving here is "Where Is My Mind?" Sorry. As influential as 'Surfer Rosa' may have been, its poor production and preference for experimental noise over melody make it subpar at best. A year ago, I'd have given this a 1, but there have been SO many more heinous albums on this list, it would seem unfair to put this among them.

This really didn’t hold up very well. I know the pixies are supposed to be very influential, so for that I can remain neutral.

God, I hate the Pixes.

I love this album already lol

I wasn’t a fan… it just sounded weird for the sake of it and o was just waiting for it to be over

5/5 no notes

Not many people know it but Houmous & Chutney actually produced the Spanish translation for this. They also lectured Frank Black on life in Puerto Rico while he was writing it. He wanted it to be accurate but was too lazy to go there. Very Frank Black! 4.4 5/13 Gigantic

Never actually listened to this album in full, know several songs though. I'd still probably only listen to the select songs I already knew. But good to hear it all. I can now actually hear more Pixies influence in some of the more recent post punk music I listen to. Very raw, lost me a little near the middle but interest piqued again before the end.

Great album!

Dah boom boom dah . . . Dah boom boom dah . . . Dah boom boom dah! That's all I heard. Search the entire album for a track I even semi-liked. Gigantic came the closest and I can honestly say I liked it. The last track (Brick is Red) had me captivated up until when they started singing.

There isn’t a hard rockin band post 1988 that doesn’t have surfer rosa in its dna.

an all-time fave forever!

7/10 Great album, with a couple of absolute Monster tracks that showed why Pixies were so good. Some of it is a bit too rough round the edges for me to truly love, but their attitude was something else and when the tunes fought their way to the surface, there is not many I like better

“Bone Machine” is an awesome opener, and it really showcases how tight Pixies are as a unit. Black Francis’ lyrics are kind of nonsense, but everything is just cool. I know his humor is definitely weirder on this album, but it gives the song a bit of a charm. “Break My Body” is a good song that also displays another cool feature of Pixies songs: Their length. Most songs on this album don’t even reach the 3 minute mark, and “Bone Machine” is one of the closest ones. One of my favorite songs in general. “Something Against You” is a punkish indie jam. It also feels somewhat ska-like due to the layer of clean guitar. I kinda like how the vocals are recorded; it gives them more of a rougher edge in comparison to the instrumental. “Broken Face” is a bit of a funny song to me. I love the way that Black Francis does those little “uh-huh”s, and it reminds me of Mickey Mouse. It’s pretty good, too. “Gigantic” is probably one of two songs on this album that goes over 3 minutes. Kim Deal sings lead vocals, and everything is kinda poppier. Dare I say, this is the most accessible song on their first album. “River Euphrates” is a good song. Kim Deal does sing on this track, but Black Francis sings lead. Also, mentioning the Gaza Strip in the ‘80s is kinda unheard of. “Where is My Mind” is good, but it’s overplayed as all heck thanks to those stupid TikTok edits. Good song, but why do you want a sad edit over a song inspired by Black Francis swimming away from a deadly fish in the Caribbean? “Cactus” is also a really good song. I don’t have much to say about it, but I love how it’s just a really driving song. “Tony’s Theme” is an odd-timed superhero theme sung in equal measure by both Deal and Francis. It’s funny. “Oh My Golly!” is a BILINGUAL SONG! It’s sung in both Spanish and English, with the majority of it being sung in Spanish. It’s also kinda funny. “Vamos (Surfer Rosa)” is another track that’s over four minutes and bilingual. It kind of feels like a cross between Minutemen and Sonic Youth. “I’m Amazed” begins with Deal and Joey Santiago having a conversation. It’s kind of a dark song, but it’s still good. “Brick is Red” is apparently in an odd time signature too. It has a huge instrumental opening that leads into Francis and Deal singing some more together. Overall, the album gets a 4.3/5. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though a couple of songs had lyrics that were kind of weird in my book. It’s okay, because I love Surfer Rosa now!

Enjoyable and it's on this list because it set the groundwork for the alternative/grunge genres which would follow.

Riffs were relatively catchy and the overall sound was inoffensive, but it's a little too formless for me. Alt rock already isn't really my thing, but I had a really hard time appreciating this one. Maybe it's just its age. My favorite song was "Where Is My Mind?".

Just what you need and expect from Pixies. Rough / raw / delightful. Love the whole punky scuzzy sound without ever being punk. So much more inventive than a lot of their contemporaries. Prefer Doolittle mainly as as much as this flows nicely, there are a few songs that fade away. Great record though

It's class, can see why it was such a game changing album for the time but it holds up. Listen to a fair bit of Pixies these days off the back of this list so had already heard this. Can tell it cost nowt to record, as the Pixies are a bit rough and ready anyway I'd say I slightly prefer Doolittle. Still full of loads of great songs, even ignoring where is my mind which is the most obvious hit. Feels like it lasts about 5 minutes, flies by. Easy 5.

Dynamic. A few stand-outs (Bone Machine, Where Is My Mind) and it clatters along nice and rapidly.

Listened to this before, more raw than Doolittle, but still very good. Much more polished in their later stuff. Got some great tracks on though. I reckon he sounds a bit like Jack White on some songs 4.5

Sounded really "sparkly"

7/10 Favorite: Where Is My Mind?

Crazy original and highly influential. Pixies are very cool.

I ❤️ Where is My Mind!

So much chaos, but kind of cool

I had my expectations way too high. Anyways, I enjoyed the sound beyond my poor comprehension of the lyrics. Really liked Cactus though, that one really hit.

yeahhh just really really great. an absolute thunderbolt of the band's creativity and cleverness, and Albini's sound engineering style being just sooo present all across the record (in the best way!!)

really good, my favourite album so far

Pretend this is a 4.5

Alternative rock. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the vocalist, didn’t like how noisy it was.

I didn't have time to listen to it today. Lakly I know it very well. And absolutely love. My Pixies era was short but intense. I used to listen to Surfer Rosa and Dulitle back to back every day. Back then I wondered what in my opinion is the slightly superior album. I think the debut is. The rawness and energy are unmatched. Super strong. An AMAZING start to an incredible career.

would have listened to them if it came out when I was a younger man

44/1001 Pixies - Surfer Rosa Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Whilst this is my second favourite Pixies record after Doolittle, there's so much I appreciate on this record. It's a far less polished, but that works in its favour. There's a real energy that's absolutely palpable, prime example being Something Against You. It's bizarre, manic and yet utterly infectious. This is even before we talk about it influencing the likes of Nirvana or PJ Harvey.

Noisy and a bit whiney. Not really for me

Punk guitar visits the B52s. I love it. 4/5

Second most overrated band of all time

Catchy bahal

how have I never heard this before?

This just doesn’t really get me out of bed

Some definate highlights, but uneaven

Honestly it's like listening to a mixture of nirvana, offspring a little smashing pumpkins with a splattering of other similar bands. Each song seems to be hitting a slightly different but familiar vibe

More my cup of spicy milk

First couple of songs about bones... one of some screaming monkey.. rah rah rah ride... can feel a bit of harmony with the instruments but far from it as the album goes. What a mess with the ending for "Vamos". Very artistic with the cover photo (:

I feel like the guys in guys m this band would be awesome friends to hang out with, each song just felt like an experimental jam session. Where is my mind is a great song

Nice💦

I must admit I’ve never been very receptive to the Pixies in the past, although I couldn’t really explain why. A couple of my friends were super into them back in the 90s, but I was never that interested. I’m glad I gave Surfer Rosa a fresh listen today ; I appreciated it much more than I used to. The energy level is crazy, and there’s more than a few awesome tracks. It’s really proto-grunge / noise rock at its finest. « Where Is My Mind ? » brings back fond memories of road trips and hazy parties – and it’s still very good, even after so many years. Overall an excellent album with a lot of personality. The Pixies are still a little too much on the noise side for me (I like my guitars a bit cleaner), but I salute the effort nonetheless, and I’ll try to give a fresh listen to their other albums when I have the time.

so raw, great energy

Meh. Heard it all before.

I love this album, it’s raw and visceral and yet catchy and soft in parts. Obsessed with the guitar tones. I’ve got a tattoo based on one of the songs on this record because it’s extremely sentimental for me. I couldn’t not give this album 5/5.

I enjoyed listening, however everything sounded the same. Kind of repeatable. I loved “Where Is My Mind?” though!

Raw, ragged and reaching, this is an impressive debut – a statement, to be sure. "Gigantic" ranks among their best songs, and "Where Is My Mind" is also strong. But this would be well transcended by the subsequent records, a little more polish (or rather slightly less roughness) would up the impact (at least to one's ears). The 2007 remaster seems much cleaner than what one recalls hearing in real time.

Has some absolute bangers, and also enormously influential on lots of bands I love.

Fuck yeah, Pixies!

Very chaotic angsty album but in a good way

A really good album with some great songs. Discovering artists that I have missed even if they are as big as the Pixies seems to have been is the thing I had hoped for when I started this list.

31/07/2025 Was decent enough for me.

it was a great album - never realized how hard the pixies rocked on their early stuff. Very grunge-esque and I can see the inspiration for the genre.

От малкото як пънк. Докара ми се sk8

Not always an enjoyable listening experience, but there is something special in the water. The Pixies were "alternative music" before it took over the industry for a decade. You can hear the influence they had on the mega bands to come.

The music is boring, lifeless, and other than one big hit, isn't anything impressive. Favorite Track: "Where Is My Mind?"

Not my favorite Pixies album (that’s Doolittle) but still solid.

Interesting medley of punkish and grungey. Some good songs on here....and some not-so-good songs as well. It was okay overall.

There a few catchy songs in here. Trying too hard to be punk with the weird screaming and talking interludes

A perfect album, albeit one that I’ve heard some songs from a bit too much over the years, but hearing it as a whole reinvigorated my love for it.

Always good

Top 5 album of all time

It was good, enjoyable enough. Found a few songs I like, love the dynamics of this era of music. 3 is good for me

Hauskan raaka ja hullunkurinen setti. Kivat ilmavat rummut ja pistävää kitarasettiä

How did I not realize how horny the songs were when I was listening to this regularly in the early nineties? All the boys I know bought it for the boobs on the cover and then found one of the best indie bands. I think this album turned me on to Albini and then I got to hear big black and shellac. I used to think gigantic and break my body were romantic songs haha. Album still holds up.

As a teen, Where is my mind was everywhere, but the first time i heard gigantic is when i noticed the pixies and its still a favorite on this album, mostly because of Kim Deal's vocals. On the flip side, Where is my mind sounds pretty different from the album, but it's hard to come at it when it's so familiar. Favorites: Gigantic, River Euphrates.

Where is my mind is a really good song.

One of the best albums of the 80s and of all time. Break My Body, Something Against You, Broken Face, Cactus, Tony's Theme, Oh My Golly, Vamos, and Brick Is Red are basically running in loops thru my head at all times. (Along with half the songs from *Doolittle*.) Frank Black is one of the all-time great songwriters, along with Robert Johnson, Bob Dylan, Lennon & McCartney, Carole King, Tom Waits, and Prince. Surfer Rosa is like a brilliant whirlwind of jokey, avant-garde, cut-and-paste, art-rock, barely controlled madness. It's like a Jackson Pollack painting or a Donald Barthelme short story. Even today it still sounds like the future. This shit is fucking fire.

Yeah Pixies!!!

Acceptable

good rock, obviously where is my mind is genius, but the whole thing still is good

I've listening too this album too many times. And then 25 years ago, one of the songs went mainstream famous which now disrupts the flow of the album. And I saw the Pixies live and the audience was full of bald heads. It made a lot of sense in the '90s (or the '80s, if you were there then) but now it's an awkward artefact of another time. Bone Machine and Brick Is Red are still the best opening and closing pair of any abum.

Too much unnecessary yelling and profanity in some of the songs. Did not care for the music.

Great album

Long time lover of the Pixies, heard Doolittle when I was like 11 and its still one of my favourite albums today. Going into this I only knew Gigantic and Where Is My Mind?, which to be fair I still feel like are the best songs on this album, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it on the first listen. Its everything great about Doolittle but a bit less, more unfocused and not quite as catchy. That said, its brilliant. I love Frank and Kim's vocals, the songs never go where you expect them to, the guitars are either comically classic or noisy as all hell, it's a great album that sounds like a bunch of kids having fun. Also one of Albini's best production credits, the loose feel and live sound perfectly capture the energy of the music. I think the thing I love most about the Pixies is they can scream and yelp and get weird af in an enjoyable way, and then the song will be the poppiest catchiest earworm imaginable, and they dance between the two so effortlessly. Where Is My Mind? obviously a classic song, massively influential introspective banger, but for me personally Gigantic is the song of the album. The bassline is great, the single note guitars in the pre-chorus building up the tension into one the most catchiest and cathartic choruses of all time. Where I would (and will in the hopefully near future) give Doolittle a 10/10, I could comfortably give this an 8. I imagine upon going back to it a few times I could come to give it a 9. But since we are locked to 5 its getting the top marks. Favourites - Bone Machine, Break My Bones, Broken Face, Gigantic, River Euphrates, Where Is My Mind?, Cactus, Tony’s Theme, Oh My Golly!

Found myself deliberating all day on this record. It’s so solid, not a bad song on it, but it didn’t grab me like I hoped it would. The main highlights for me were Kim’s vocal harmonies, and having the snare on the 1 and 3 during Bone Machine the saucy gits. And obviously Where Is My Mind? Is an all timer, no doubt about it. So is it a 5? Well, I gave Lynyrd Skynyrd a 5 and this a better album. So yes, but damn if it isn’t scraping it. Bone Machine (8/10) Break My Body (8/10) Something Against You (8/10) Broken Face (8/10) Gigantic (8/10) River Euphrates (9/10) Where Is My Mind? (10/10) Cactus (8/10) Tony’s Theme (9/10) Oh My Golly! (9/10) Vamos (9/10) I’m Amazed (8/10) Brick is Red (8/10) 8.5/10

Rocking and quirky

One of the best pixies albums

This was such an awesome experience to listen to. The last quarter of the album is pure perfection really.

Not my music and the vocals are not great.

Absolutely not my style. 1 star.

I really love this album and it started something amazing and beautiful and tragic. It also contains my favorite Pixie song. But Dolittle and later records feel more 5 star to me. This one could be 5, for sure. And the album is beloved. But for me: Surfer Rosa: 4 Dolittle: 5

I'm a fan. Several songs, like "Where Is My Mind," continue to last.

Aggressive and hard hitting, bordering on cacophonous at times

Their rawest and most abrasive album. First half is full of classics, Where Is My Mind is the peak of their career. Second half can't quite match up but it's still very good.

Suboptimal. I barely remember it, but I did not dislike it.

pixies coulda wrote heart-shaped box but nirvana could never write tony's theme

4 stars A classic. It is perfect in its imperfection. But it is imperfect. Last few songs are solid but not the best. But you can’t go wrong with this album.

Yes, I can see how this influenced future bands. And I really don't need to hear it again. Especially River Euphrates. And Tony's Theme.

BEST SONGS: - Where Is My Mind? - Break my Body - Vamos

eh. songs are too short. mostly just not great punk rock.

Was already familiar. Where is my mind alone is worth the album, and hard to ever forget. The rest of the album is a fun listen, but doesn't stand out nearly as much

one great song, some decent songs, some noise. Very 90s

A indie rock classic, this record contains ear worm hits like where is my mind as well as deeper cuts. The albums influence is widespread, and discoverable in bands that follow like Nirvana and PJ Harvey. The Pixies at their best!

Solid album. Variety of styles but still has a core feel throughout. Feels like everything was made as a bid for TV or movies though.

The pixies always deliver even their mid albums are well recorded, raw and real punk with no apologies. Real as they cone still underground and underrated as a group. Like the punk sonic yourh.

Before I even pressed play, I wanted to like this album and confirm my alt/punk bonafides. For the most part, I did like it, but I guess I didn’t love it. I guess I’m not as cool as I had hoped. “Where Is My Mind?” - there’s a reason this has 1Billion Spotify listens. It’s an anthem, but it’s an outlier on this album; I kinda hate when the one non-representative song gets pulled to be the single. Also slightly frustrating because “if you can do THIS, why are you spending so much time doing THAT?”. The inclusion of this song makes the rest of the album (especially the tracks after it) sound worse. “Vamos (Surfer Rosa)” - you can’t make me listen to this whole track. I tried twice and it can’t be done; the guitar solo is insufferable.

I remember seeing this album as a kid in the record store... Good times

Just read the reviews for this album and the only logical conclusion I can draw based on the evidence is that some people don't deserve ears.

Very good.

First impression pre listen: So I've already heard this album many times before. I really enjoy this era of Pixies. And while Doolittle is in my opinion a slightly better album Surfer Rosa is still fantastic as well. It's an instant 5/5 stars based on previous experiences. Individual track notes: Bone Machine I love the energy of this track. Fantastic guitar. Strange and dynamic vocals. The screams are wild. Impactful and rich drums. The bass grounds the track away from the eclectic craziness. Great. 4.5/5 Break My Body Fantastic guitar riff. The rawness of the chorus makes it even catchier. Solid bassline. Love the paired vocals. Fantastic. 5/5 Something Against You Blazing energy. The distorted vocals add a lot to the garagey sound. Wild and unfiltered. Does all it needs to do during its short runtime. Fantastic. 5/5 Broken Face Really weird. Fantastic fuzzy guitar. Again, love the energy. The verse melody is very distinct. Great. 4.5/5 Gigantic Fantastic bassline. Really catchy. Large and impactful chorus. Oozes of positive emotions. Nostalgic and pure. Fantastic. The guitar outro just slaps. 5/5 River Euphrates Ethereal and dreamy verse. Weird and abrasive chorus, great contrast. The siren like guitars add a lot of atmosphere. Great. 4.5/5 Where Is My Mind? From start to finish one of the most captivating songs to ever be made. The strange dream-like lyrics, the fuzzy and raw guitar and the infectious drum beat. Everything works to perfection. The howls are just amazing. Perfectly weird without being inaccessible. Sounds exactly like what the concept says it should. Fantastic. 5/5 Cactus Really weird. Instrumental, lyrics, presentation, it all is just weird. It's bleak and off-putting and the vocals sound pleading and pathetic. It all really works to create a surreal and interesting experience. Great. 4.5/5 Tony's Theme Fantastic energy. Charming lyrics. Great chorus. Thumping bass. Really like the distorted pastiche/parody of a tv cartoon opening theme, it's a fun concept for this sound. Almost has a cursed aura to it. Fantastic. 5/5 Oh My Golly! Guns blazing frantic craziness. The use of spanish lyrics with the latin sounding guitar adds a unique element to the song. Fantastic energy. The final part of the song is really awkward. Great. 4.5/5 Vamos A continuation of the Spanish themes from the previous song. Great drums. Frantic and fun chorus. Love the background screams. The weird experimental guitar effects are great. Really weird. Fantastic. 5/5 I'm Amazed Fun skit. Great guitar. Love the split vocals. Good. 4/5 Brick Is Red Infectious riffs. Solid guitar track. Really cryptic lyrics. Love the earnest delivery. Works well as an outro. Great. 4.5/5 Final review: Short and full of weird eclectic energy that is both entertaining and full of unique ideas. It feels like every song on this record was created from a sudden spark of creativity which gives it this raw and unfiltered aura. The band seems to not give a fuck about what others think, and are just playing whatever they wish to. It's experimental, noisy and wild, while still having moments that genuinely sound joyful and positive. The split male/female vocals, the squealing guitars and the driving basslines, along with the ever impactful drumming gives the album a unique sound which sticks long after you've finished listening. Does familiarity impact my rating? Perhaps, but it's still a banger. 5/5

The fun kind of noise! Vocals, guitar, bass, song structure, lyrics were all so different at the time and remain distinct from everyone who tried to follow in their footsteps.

Where is My Mind? was the stand out for sure, and I enjoyed the last 4 tracks. The first half kinda blended together for me.

I kind of enjoyed this. Good walking music.

I was excited to listen to Surfer Rosa because I saw Where Is My Mind? on the track list. Sadly, that ended up being the only song I enjoyed. I'm not sure how to define the Pixies genre (college rock? surf country punk rock?), but I'm sure that I don't like it.

Music can take you places. Either a place you want to go to or somewhere you’ve already been. I don’t want to go to these places. I don’t have enough nostalgia for this type of alternative punky rock nor is it somewhere I want to imagine myself

Felt like I was in someone’s garage listening to their high school band jam. Fun vibes but outside of where is my mind, nothing I’m going back to.

I wanted to like this album but couldn’t. I prefer the musicians they influenced to the real deal!

This album is so good. Could get to 5/5 with more listens. This influenced so much of the indie/alternative rock I love - Nirvana, The Strokes, so more. Grows on me with each listen. Current fave is River Euphrates. Where Is My Mind? is obviously a classic.

Where is my mind?

I'm listening to Surfer Rosa by the Pixies for the first time. I was in the car so I couldn't read the lyrics (and had trouble understanding them) but while this the guitar heavy raw sound I usually like, sonically it sounded the same for the majority of the tracks. I think if I heard the tracks come on the radio I would turn it up but as an album it didn't make me rush out and find a copy. Where's my mind was the standout for me.

I can hear the influence of this album, but apart from "Where Is My Mind" the vocals make for a challenging listen. Fun guitar, though.

I know this is an important record, but I have a hard time giving a shit. I might be in a bad mood today.

I just couldn’t get into the sound or songs.

Energetic and lively, but production is a bit rough-around-the-edges and only a couple standouts.

el album de where is my mind!!! cançó perfecta, la de broken face tmb top, ademés de q em pensava q eren un grup d tot tios i literalment no m'agrada molt el rollo (espere q les resenyes estes siguen anònimes pq no tinc ni idea de música igual em tiren pedres els intensets). bno no m'ha apanyat massa però està xulo crec q si l'escolte més vegades m'agradarà molt més

I enjoyed this, will listen again in its entirety. Where is my mind? obviously excellent, but I also thought the rest of the album was great. True Indy sound, the OG

A very influential album. A very consistent sounding record thanks in part to the great, unique songwriting as well as the stellar production from Steve Albini. Standout track is without a doubt “Where is my Mind?” However the rest of the songs hold their own to make one of the most influential albums of the 80’s.

Nice fun rock. I liked it more than the singer's solo album.

אלבום מצוין!!! השיר האהוב - Where is my mind מקום שני וקרוב מאוד - Vamos

Groupe connu de nom uniquement. J'avais par contre déjà entendu 'Where is my mind' (+1) sans l'associer à ce groupe. J'ai apprécié les morceaux plus dynamiques, mais c'est à peu près tout. Il m'a paru bien plus long qu'il n'est en réalité. Pas sur de vouloir l'écouter de nouveau. =>2/5

As a big fan of alt and indie rock I can see how this was an early influence, and even enjoyed a few of the songs, but overall this one felt a lot more chaotic than what I typically gravitate towards.

Just too avant garde for my liking. However Where is My Mind is one of my favorite songs of all time Best Song: Where is My Mind? Rating: 4.5/10 (Forgettable) Stars: 2/5

I've listened to this album once or twice before, so I was surprised at just how many songs I recognised and enjoyed from my previous listens. Pixies really knew how to write some good hooks and pop songs. There are some lesser weird tracks on here, especially on the second side of the record, but they're fun pieces at best that don't district from the listening experience.

Not heard the Pixies before. Enjoyed the album. I don't think I can rate it above four as for me (and based on two listens only) it doesn't come together as an experience it's more a collection of songs.

Fantastic. Energetic. Unique. Just bloody brilliant.

This album is awesome. There are huge indie songs here (Gigantic, Where Is My Mind?) And they are great despite how often I hear them. But some other great songs here are Bone Machine, Break My Body, and my personal favorite, the absolutely disgusting and desperate Cactus. I think what holds this album back is the back half. Tony's Theme onwards is pretty forgettable, but the first half was awesome.

I was never a big fan of punk, but this process has helped me develop a deeper appreciation for it. I have to be in the right frame of mind, but when I am, it can really hit. There are still a lot of misses for me (both in the genre and on this album) but there are also some real high points. I’ve come to enjoy the chaos. I plan to revisit this and other punk albums I listened to earlier to see how my feelings evolve with sequential listens.

Forgot just how fucking weird Pixies are. I'm here for it.

I dunno, nice sound tho.

Got about half way through so better than some

really good actually. did not realize “where’s my mind” was on here! love that song. “vamos” was also really good. pretty versatile for an album. 4/5.

Musically, I like the sound. But I really am not a fan of the singers or the lyrics. I'm sure there is a historical reason they are on this list of must-hear music. But without a music history lesson. It's tough to listen to.

excellent album, I need to listen to it a few more times

So many great songs, i instantly fell in love. I liked this a lot more than other fives I've put.. maybe I should be more stringent. A couple weak/niche sounds here and there (earl sweatshirt LLL vibes), but can't win em all. I guess im more into punk than I thought.. jk I always knew probably. Could definitely groove out to this. FIVE!

Undeniable punk energy. But never gives way to anything melodically or lyrically compelling.

Where is my mind

That's nice

You can hear where Nirvana got their influence

Only liked where's my mind, kinda... Not a fan

80s punk - not quite to the 90s alt sound yet. Not quite my thing

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decent aber manchmal bisschen much

I see the influence of this on Nevermind, but personally do not like it. It feels… a little lost and aimless. Nice drum mix though.

Favorite: Where is my mind? (obvi) Feels like a couple of kids in their garage laying a record down (which is not a bad thing). Not always my cuppa, but def a vibe.

One of the defining efforts of the coming sound of the 1990’s. This album, and later this band, changed my entire perception of what music could be.

What are my top favorite albums in absolute classic. Grunge before grunge was a genre.

Very formative for me. Love the energy.

Fun music. The lyrics can be a bit harsh.

Very cool album. Can see why it was pretty ahead of its time. Drums were great. Not my style but would listen to again.

I had a few pixies albums on this list, I believe and none of them quite resonated with me. This one is the best out of them. Or am I confusing them with Sonic Youth again?

Love this album but there’s some lesser songs on side b. First two songs are great though

Loved it - especially Gigantic and Where is My Mind? of course...

Listened via YouTube music in the car. This is probably the Pixies album that I listen to the least, but it’s still a classic. The B sides from this are great too. Emilia enjoyed listening to it too.

liked but yesterdays vibe wasn’t mixing i wish i could have postponed

Most of my favorite bands favorite band. I’ve tried listening to them before and found it hard to click with. No change this time through. I can hear their influence in a lot of 90s rock bands and I enjoy the sillyness they have in their music, but overall did didnt really enjoy the listen.

Слушаю данный альбом не первый раз и могу сказать, что он предоставил мне море эмоций. Хороший бэк-вокал и барабаны делают свое дело и мне не надоедает слушать их.

Apart from ‘Where Is My Mind?’ it was pretty bland and uninspiring

Not for me.

Noisy and not at all my thing.

I liked this album the most when Kim deal was on vocals but overall Very Decent.

38/1001. 2nd Pixies in this list so far, and I guess a few more to come. This one is more raw, and showcase a younger band perhaps still looking for it's place / songwriting style. That said it does sound very Pixies. But something in this doesn't speak to me that much, the songs aren't that good you know?

I know the song "Where is my Mind" but unsure where I heard it from. Not for me overall but two stars.

I mean cmon

Surfer Rosa is one of those albums I really wanted to love more than I did. It’s raw, it’s noisy, it’s definitely influential and I get why it matters. But as a listening experience, it often felt more like a blast of cool ideas than something I’d return to for pure enjoyment. There's a real scrappy charm to it, but also a lack of flow that left me drifting in and out of attention. The production is brilliantly abrasive, all echoing drums and jagged edges, and the songs bounce between creepy, funny, and flat-out chaotic. "Where Is My Mind?" is obviously a highlight eerie, catchy, and weirdly hauntin but too many of the other tracks blur together in a whirlwind of yelps and fuzz. I appreciate the energy, but I didn’t connect with much of it emotionally. I think if I’d heard this at a certain age or time, maybe when I was feeling more rebellious or wanted to annoy the neighbours, it might’ve hit harder. As it stands, I respect it more than I enjoy it.

p595. 1988. 3 stars. Proto Nirvana. Needs works on the lyrics. Some decent tunes. Good, but not exceptional.

The more I listen to the album the more it grows on me, particularly the non singles. I wish I would have been on this group when I was younger as this might be a 5 ... it's around a 4.5 for me, but dropping for now.

Only one decent song, "Where is my mind"

No creo que este disco sea para mí. Si te soy sincera el uso de tanto grito y sonido gutural me ha sacado bastante de las canciones, luego he flipado con escuchar español mal hablado; pero sí que es cierto que dos se salvan (una la escuché en TikTok por primera vez, no sé qué dirá eso de mí).

This is a great album even before we get to the song that starts with the word "Stop" that is so iconic. Favorite tracks: "Gigantic," "River Euphrates," and of course "Where Is My Mind?"

Awesome they do grunge so much better than so many others

Not really my style, but not horrible

Influential but not my favorite

Grunge art punk. This is a good inclusion. Great sound, and I don't mind the disjointedness. Favorite: "Where Is My Mind?"

bone machine- 6 break my body- 7 something against you- 7 broken face- he sounds like mickey mouse. 7 gigantic- 6 river euphrates- 7 where is my mind- 10. you met me at a very strange time in my life cactus- 6 tonys theme- 7. shout out tony oh my golly- 6 vamos- 6 im amazed- 6 brick is red- so true 6

Not my kind of music, Sorry. I know they inspired Nirvana.

This is really good. Wild, raw, great vocals. The songs are effective: short and intense.

high energy drums with screaming guitars, fast paced songs, and the quintessential "Where's My Head" - this album lives up to the hype, despite the fact that "Where's My Head" is one of the slower numbers.

Maybe their best

crazy for a debut

Amazing.

Offbeat and enjoyable. Not every track hit for me, but more did than I was expecting. Cactus and Broken Face are both standouts.

I love the guitar but the songs are kinda repetitive

Where is my mind is obviously a banger but I couldn't vibe with a few others

A unique album that defines indie rock of the 80s and beyond.

4.5 Just not quite Doolittle level, but amazing none the less.

Decent some good songs, some not so good songs. Did feel way longer than the album was. Low 3/5

I’d heard of, but never listened to, the Pixies. They’re great! The music is a little on the edge for me. But, it’s creative and delivered with talent and confidence. Could be a three, but it makes it over the threshold to a four.

Gratingggggg - except for Where Is My Mind? which is good, of course.

Best Pixies album - legendary.

This album is so influential and the blueprint for many more commercially successful indie/grunge/alternative albums and bands that followed, including Nirvana’s Nevermind a few years later. This is their rawest most punk Pixies album, and the lyrics and vocals are more deranged than the later ones. Makes this a harder listen, but still worthwhile. 4⭐️

I have always steered away from the band as I have deemed myself not cool enough to like them but I have to listen to them now because of this experiment. Yes, I have heard Where Is My Mind? Before and I do enjoy it. Luckily I think that after all these years I have finally discovered the Pixies as I enjoyed this album a lot. Very good.

Not terrible, but kinda annoying.

I was very excited about this album as I love Doolittle and Bossanova, but for some reason I don't find the songs anywhere near as engaging, interesting, or rewarding, with the exception of Where Is My Mind. I have kept trying, but don't think this will every do for me what the other two do.

this is THE pixies album - such a treat for the ears, their sound is just remarkable and it has been so interesting to hear this album with the fresh perspective into the development of their sound from their earlier work. bigly enjoyed.

If it was just the first half of the album, the rating would have been higher. But it fell off the cliff with the 2nd half

While not on the level of Doolittle for me, it still manages to capture what I found so enthralling about the pixies with some great guitar line and funky lyrics and vocals.

No es mi estilo pero tiene canciones entretenidas y con flow.

Quite good.

I think im just not a pixies fan

Como me encantan pixie 😭 Que puedo decir, un muy buen álbum de rock alternativo q me gustó mucho pq estoy acostumbrada al sonido de esta banda, igual, me desentona un poco la voz de la tipa en ciertas canciones… (Puñeta! su mejor frase) (Dato super importante: este álbum salió en el cumple de mi mamá!!)

I guess people like this shit. Sounds like unorganized whiney chaos just to be counter culture for the sake of being different. Not once did I think "Man, at least there's a lot of talent on the instruments." The vocals are fingernails on a chalk board, the whole album is that imo. Not my shit at all.

Did not love this.

I love cactus and where is my mind

Good enough album. Where is mind is obviously miles above everything else

One of my favorite albums.

My favourite Pixies album

Fantastic classic album. Gigantic and Where Is My Mind? are the obvious standouts.

Wijs album! Natuurlijk niet in de buurt van Doolittle, maar het komt wel een beetje dichter bij. Soms iets te noisy, maar bij de Pixies mag dat. 3.8

It's almost as if the band got together and said, "let's be weird". It does not feel organic. It seems like a great effort. And to name their album after the worst song on it. More than a few confusing decisions made on this record.

When this album came up, I audibly said "Fuck Yeah!" After listening to this album, I definitely was reminded of bands that came far after this was released, and it's easy to see how influential this was on the alt/punk/grunge scenes that followed in the 90's. While this album might bot be as well regarded as Doolittle, and mostly is remembered for the "Fight Club Song", I think it stands on it's own two feet as an incredible album that's worth a listen for anybody who even remotely enjoys punk. As a whole, I think this album really is carried by the instrumentals and what Joey Santiago is doing on the guitar, and somewhat held back by Black Francis' vocals. "Where is my Mind" has probably the most "normal" vocals on the album (which is saying a lot, because he was really going for it on that song, and it really worked), but I felt like on a lot of the other tracks, Francis was really trying out some things that just didn't work. That said, this album still absolutely fucks. 8.4/10

"Throw all your clothes on second side of Surfer Rosa and you leave me with my jaw on the floor" An ex-girlfriend of mine loved this album. She didn't love me, in the end, but she loved this album. I even bought her a copy of it on vinyl, even though she didn't have a record player. It was college, I was dumb. Don't worry about it. I expected so much more from this album. To be fair, it got better the further into I got, but it still wasn't amazing. I don't know, I've heard this album held up as one of the best of it's era, and it didn't necessarily strike me that way. The highs here aren't that high, and that to me is kind of all I needed to know once I was done listening. Sure, there's nothing outright bad here (though I do hate the way the line "Your bone's got a little machine" is sung), but some of it is definitely grating ("Break My Body," "River Euphrates," "I'm Amazed"), and some of it is genuinely amazing ("Gigantic," "Where is My Mind?", "Oh My Golly!"), but to me that just evens out to a pretty ok almost good album. The attitude is there, the innovation is there, the purpose is there. I just didn't like it as much as I thought I would. A solid three stars. Standout Tracks: Something Against You, Gigantic, Where Is My Mind?, Cactus, Tony's Theme, Oh My Golly!

Already familiar with this album. The rawness of this album is great. Although Doolittle is amazing, it lacks the same rough edges as its predecessor.

Pretty good.

I've really only ever liked one or two songs by the Pixies, and this just reconfirms my feelings. Not for me.

This went from, "oh this could be good and fun" to "what the fuck" real quick. Where Is My Mind is the only saving grace, and even that has been remixed to be better! Very happy these songs were short.

Unpolished but somehow melodic, a classic

Terrible

surfer wowsa

ganske dårlig og bråkete. En bra sang. De brukte gitardistortion på vokal?

Where is my mind reißt es raus, ansonsten eher Lärmbelästigung. Eva würde nur 1 Stern geben.

Leider mehr erwartet. Where is my Mind kommt auf die Playlist.

Strong start from Pixies with Surfer Rosa! Drum beats drive most songs which are all good, lead by Where Is My Mind. They definitely influenced alt rock bands of the 90s. (4.2*s)

There's a few good songs on here (you know which ones) and I hear the influence on future grunge but a lot of this album sounds the same and it loses me. It's disjointed, manic, and too weird at times. I liked Kim Deal vocals much better than angry fat man. "Where Is My Mind" feels out of place compared to the rest of the noise on here. 2.25 tops (topless).

First listen of the record foe me was top-down on the drive home from work and I did not like it much. A much noisier and more incoherent Pixies. After reading the synops, I had to return for re-listen in a more controlled environment and I'm glad I did. Still a bit of a noise fest but I picked up on the instrumental aspect more. Good guitar and drum work. I got a better sense of the influence this record had on other bands. Could do without Black Francis screeching and much preferred Kim Deal on vocals. "Where is my Mind?" and "Gigantic" best tracks with some other good ones like "River Euphrates" and "Vamos." Def glad I gave Surfer Rosa another chance and with a nice pair on cover bonus...3.1 stars.

To echo my prior Pixies reviews, Surfer Rosa is an OK album that does little to move the needle for me. Where Is My Mind is their most well known song and does a lot of the heavy lifting. The rest of the album is relatively mediocre. I will continue to scratch my head as to how/why Pixies are held at the top of the pantheon of musical influence. To me they sound like any other indie rock act from the era. They must be doing something different that I'm unaware of. Overall, I'm underwhelmed by most of what I was exposed to from Pixies. They are fine but that's about it from me. 2.44 stars

tried to listen but i couldnt even get to the first song because every time i opened the album i saw the cover and jerked until completion... dem was some nice tits!

It was ok, kind of cool

never was a big fan of alternative rock, but this album was really good so despite the fact that it was a alt rock album i still enjoyed it lowk tho was a lot of boring points in the album, struggled to keep me interested till the end. However the highs were really good. where is my mind is also not as good as i remember it being unfortunately I cant do 1/2's, but if I could I would give it a 3.5/5. might give it a relisten in the future Favourite song: Gigantic

me likey. my favourite song was gigantic it is crazy!!! the drums sound good and punchy, the guitar tones are pretty cool, however some of the songs I enjoyed but probably won't listen to it again. all in all, the album is a fruit basket, but with rock melon a plenty.

The Pixies Surfer Rosa ignores the overproduced synthy sounds of the 80s in favor of Steve Albini's raw, cold, unpolished production and it makes an abrasive statement on the cultural shift moving into the 90s. With songs covered by the likes of David Bowie, included in seminal 90s film Fight Club and its great influence on grunge music, its manic pessimism is still felt to this day. Like Sonic Youth the female and male vocals sold this album to me instantly when I first heard it, Frank Black and Kim deals vocals just coalesce into something far greater than the sum of their parts. Just take the backing vocals on Where Is My Mind, which are so harrowingly beautiful and mystifying that I can't help but be completely absorbed by it. Kim Deal gets her own track on the album, Gigantic, led by her powerful yet soothing vocals, definitely in the conversation of best Pixies songs. The way Kim sings the first verse is completely entrancing evoking a sense of teenage love, carefree and youthful as though she's completely entranced by this 'big big love'. Another one of my favourite tracks is Something Against You which starts sounding like an episode of spongebob with its opening guitar riff until exploding into sea of razor-blade guitars which swamp the vocals which sound like they're shouted through a broken megaphone. Also the lyrical content on this album is so raw and unfiltered, clearly making way for the grunge scene in the 90s. Lines like "I'm the horny loser... I'm the ugly lover" or "He bought me a soda and tried to molest me in the parking lot" or "The day before that I was wed, she went upstairs and shot her head." Just scream nirvana-isms, that they would employ on songs like 'rape me' and 'Polly'. The entire first half of the album up until cactus is fucking fantastic which is a bummer when you look at the last five songs which show the band slowly running out of steam. Theres lots of gringo Spanish and a song about a superhero named Tony on the back end, which are funny but certainly tonal whiplash from the strong first half. It does pick up slightly with the last two songs and some spoken word sections which I think add a lot to the album. 9/10

Crude singing, distorted guitar, thumping bass lines, poignant drums, all things the pixies have managed to master. Leaning into noise rock, and shit singing, have created a truly unique sound. The lead singer sound like Poofesure loosing it sometimes. Overall, a good punk album, but I felt some tracks just that little more to give. Probably won't listen to this ever again, but I can appreciate it's a good album. Best tracks: Something Against You, Where is My Mind, Tony's Theme, Vamos

Alt rock is not something i personally enjoy and Surfer Rosa does not change that for me. one song was talking about me btw (big big log). Instruments just sound like an ejaculation of different notes, sounding uninspired with little direction. I thought Where is My Mind was alright.

Not my cup of tea for sure. I feel like the vocals just genuinely didn’t sound good. The guitars went pretty hard in a few songs but then the singers would come in and just ruin it for me. The best song was easily “Where Is My Mind”. It felt like it was from a completely different album.

It's fine. Doolittle is better.

Other than the one good track, I don’t like the Pixies

This lot grate on me.

not as great as I remember? I remember going to the EMP music museum in seattle and seeing this record in the shop there, thinking it was a sign of ultimate coolness. I listened to it a bit after that and thought I really loved it.

It's more punk than I expected! I can definitely hear the echoes of their influence in music I listened to in the 90s and early 2000s. That said, I don't think I'll return to this.

It's difficult to review albums I already know really well. Overall, this isn't something I'd ever feel the need to seek out as an adult. It's very lyrically and musically simplistic. So many catchy songs on here, though, and there's always the nostalgia factor. I do find the Pixies' overall sound unique and mostly quite pleasant, even if it's punkier than I would like at times. Three stars?

They seem one of the best in this genre and there's some attempt at variety but no real appeal

Great album of college rock and the transition from the 80s to 90s indie rock

Explosive, catchy, furiously fun. It's a perfect blends of the heaviness, speed and dynamics of post-hardcore DIY indie rock with power pop hooks, surf bass + light hearted mood, and post-punk guitar textures + abstract lyrics. Just an unbelievable debut that right from the jump establishes a formula a million other bands have tried to do a million times.

A true gem.

Fun music. Shallow pool

This is what a schizoid identity crisis sounds like. If that is your thing, fill yer boots. Not for me.

Hmm another Pixies album. Hmm. I gave them a chance the last time with Dolittle, but this album is filled with masses of 2 minutes wonders that are so punky and over so quickly they don't touch the sides of your brain. The only highlight is "where is my mind" that is so lovely it makes you ache for what this album could be.

Weird, but fun? Liked a few, hated a couple. Very interesting over all.

“I got a broken faaaace” lol I always dug the unrefined punk sound of the pixies. Sometimes the melodies of the vocals is too weird to work for me. Other times it works just right. Gigantic is a solid song I’ve never heard before. Drummer has a great feel and lays down some solid grooves you can bob your head to. Never does too much. Obviously where is my mind is a song I’ve always dug. Digged? 🤷 I could see smashing punkins getting influenced by these guys. Not sure if that’s accurate. Over all they sound very original to me and it’s a fun listen. First pixies album I’ve listened all the way through

I'm pretty familiar with the Pixies, mostly the Doolittle album. This one seemed even weirder, but I can absolutely hear a lot of elements that eventually became Kurt Cobain's take on the Pixies via Nevermind. Where is my mind is the main hit, and it might be the only song off this album I'll continue to have on my playlist. It's easy to forget that this was 1988, and people weren't putting out music like this yet. Pioneers of the alternative genre and one of a handful of bands in that weird little era that bridged the gap from Guns n Roses hair metal to Nirvana grunge. So they've always got my respect. I'll stick to the main hits though, still.

God damn it, this is a great album. The Pixies time on this earth was too short.

Awesome!

this was BARELY better then the last pixie albums i listened to... tho saying that, where is my mind SUCKS OMG. can we just wait maybe 2 years to give me the next pixie albums i can't...

Man, I love the Pixies so much, wait no, man, I can't wait to hear them ever again in my life. What rubbish! Sounds like a noisy mess of blah and trash, like crappy punk music. Also, how does Where Is My Mind? have over 1 billion plays on Spotify? Do people listen to it with their ears turned off?

Love the intro drums. Another one where it is cool to see the influence on more recent bands

Not for me.

Loud. Off key? Garage memories, howling caribou. Challenging my patience at times.

Good rock album. Didn’t change my life.

One of my all-time favorite albums. This is just a classic-classic in my book.

Here is another album I may have appreciated more in my youth, had I been exposed to more alt-rock. In 1988 I was about rap and what was on the radio and MTV. The Pixies didn’t enter my world. I can easily see the influence on Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. Tonal shifts and lush guitars giving way to chaos. Garage rock and DIY sensibility. I like some songs, including “Where Is My Mind” which made it to the playlist. I’m iffy on the iffy vocals, the between-song patter largely doesn’t work for me, and the whole lands in “fine” territory.

Not really a big fan of punk/punk pop/ whatever this is, but I really enjoyed the album. It was interesting, in a way that I really enjoyed. Never boring. Plus... boobs. My Rating: 5/5

It's always nice to have an excuse to listen to the Pixies. I get that this is not for everyone, and that's fine. It's unhinged, beautiful, and bizarre. I love it.

'Our love is rice and beans / and horses lard'; 'Break my body, hold my bones, hold my bones.' Sadomasochistic, not so much: just up-front and in-your-face, involving lyrics that at times detail violence and upset. Few artists can do this gracefully, let alone tangibly, but that's what the Pixies pull off on this record. Black Francis and Kim Deal don't so much as sing as insist, a dynamic matched by the much lauded drummer David Lovering. This is what metal strives for but seldom achieves: if you want to go dark, go ahead, but it only hits when the brutality has intention and grit. This has all that and then some. Besides, no group remotely sounds like them, even tho you can hear the influences (Modern Lovers) and aftermaths (Nirvana).

Where is My Mind is the best on the album by a long shot. The rest was just okay.

Enjoyed the overall sound/vibe, and understand it was a hugely influential album, however, I didn't really find any of the songs to be great on their own (other than Where Is My Mind)

Chaotic, but instrumentally astounding