Reviews (page 8 of 15)
Album art: 4
I'll be honest I was expecting something more but I guess it's one of those influential albums that resulted in better albums
Obnoxious fairies
[[1001- 3 Pixies - Surfer Rosa]] Is todays, released 2 years after yesterdays Graceland, this one is more to my tastes when it comes to tonality, distorted, heavy and a little rough round the edges. I can see why they were popular at the time and honestly, so far it still holds up today. Oh and there it is, the one I know, Where is My Mind, proper banger if a bit overplayed. Thoroughly enjoyed Tony's Theme and Vamos in particular on first listen, I can see this becoming a favourite.
Definitely understand that this was incredibly influential and inspiring for a lot of punk bands afterwards, and it definitely has quite a lot of qualities. A lot of the riffs are Solid, the drums good and the general energy very effective. That being said its also just really not the type of Music I currently love. Might enjoy it more later, but 3/5 for now
Bone Machine Gigantic Where Is My Mind? Cactus
I didn't feel anything for this album.
There’s a couple of great songs on here in gigantic and where’s my mind but the rest just feels a bit sloppy
Fantastic album
This is possibly a 5 star record. I might be underselling it. There are only a few mid-level Pixies songs on here. The rest are some of their best work.
Aight
Classic. No notes
I'm not particularly in the know around Pixies, and only know the tracks that everyone does. This album felt like a debut album, and like a predecessor to their next great step. Too haphazard for my liking. I'm hoping there is another album on the list from them that can show them hitting their peak?
a lovely, unkempt piece of sloppy madness. it's so weird and i love it top to bottom.
Well, that was an unpleasant experience. I wasn't a big fan of anything I had heard prior to listening to this whole album, and it did nothing to change my mind.
Just couldn’t really get into it or even feel comfortable listening to it. Raw and original but just dissonant and not really enjoyable to listen to. And maybe that’s what they were going for, but not an enjoyable experience for me. Left me feeling tense and grasping for things to hold onto. But I liked the originality and quirkiness too. Can’t work out if it works better in songs like Gigantic and Where is my Mind, or if that’s just because they are more familiar? (2.5) +.5 for those two belters!
Just a great album. Love none machine, gigantic, where is my mind. Wacko lyrics and jammy guitars. Beaut!
My favorite Pixies album
a classic and a gem
Loose but impassioned. Seemingly purposefully amateurish recording as an aesthetic.
AJJ adjacent experimental
just a group of people having fun
Not my favourite. Where is my mind is quality though
A little too noise rock for me…
this was ok- im not a big pixies fan but i did like a few of the songs on this album! obviously the most popular one- "Where is My Mind" was good, but I also enjoyed most of the songs later in the album too. i think that this album is incredibly important for this history and evolution of the rock genre, but it is not necessarily something i would listen to.
This is #day270 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my first Pixies record on the list. That album cover alone makes me want to stare at it forever, or better yet, have it on vinyl and do both. The music? I kept thinking I was hearing In Utero-style drumming throughout. No surprise there: Kurt Cobain was a huge Pixies fan, and their influence on Nirvana is unmistakable. That raw, roomy sound? Classic Steve Albini. What a signature to recognize. If you're diving into the history of '90s alternative rock, this is your first stop. Also, "Where Is My Mind?" is such a classic... This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day271.
Not bad
Gjorde punk agression mere poppet. Inspirerede Radiohead og Nirvana. Stor inspiration for nevermind.
3/5
Pretty great.
The band arrives with a bang with this debut. The formula would be perfected with Doolittle but the influence of this one was huge.
too alternative for me
ну достаточно крэйзи музыка конечно
Listens: 3 Standout tracks: Where is my mind?, Oh My Golly!, Bone Machine Added to Library: TRUE I've tried to listen to this album for a long time, but its never clicked over the disparate times over the years. Finally forcing myself to listen to it, holy shit is it clicking now. I hear Modest Mouse, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, all bleeding through this album. I will also never get tired of Where Is my mind? Fight Club ending! The renditions of it in The Leftovers. Damn.
Not my first listen. Gefällt mir, ich denke wenn ich wieder ne Band hätte könnte sich die Musik ungefähr so anhören die wir machen würden. Highlights: Where is my mind; Gigantic; Cactus (das ich zuvor auf Bowies Heathens gehlrt hab und nicht wusste, dass er es gecovered hat)
My third favorite Pixies album when they were at their primal nest.
This is a very generous 2
This is a song about a superhero named Tony
One of my top ten favorite albums of all time, from one of my top 5 favorite bands. I fell in love with the Pixies the moment I heard them....and this album, for me, is perfection. Fave tracks: Where Is My Mind? (one of my theme songs), Cactus, and Tony's Theme (because it always reminds me of my friend Tony who's one of my favorite people on the planet)
OK, it disintegrates a bit at the end, but it's still a beautiful album. Kim's voice and Joey Santiago's guitar, with Black Francis just a suggestion in the background, are just gorgeous together. It's always good to be reminded to listen to the whole album and not just the songs you hear all the time (and know from that weight-loss ad, ugh).
One of my favorite albums ever. This is a record that changed what I liked about music.
Bone Machine - 2/4 Break My Body - 3/4 Something Against You - 2/4 Broken Face - 2/4 Gigantic - 2/4 River Euphrates - 2/4 Where Is My Mind? - 4/4 Cactus - 2/4 Tony's Theme - 2/4 Oh My Golly! - 2/4 Vamos - 2/4 I'm Amazed - 2/4 Brick Is Red - 2/4
didnt like the genre or the overall music
Anything by first time round Pixies is god like
My favorite pixies album
Another nice album by the Pixies
Glad it was only 33 mins. Mix was all over the place, guitar masturbation and garage band quality. Over all, a tough listen.
Not bad, grungy, music in the differ ent ears of the mixing. Vocals delicately pitchy
(soft LOUD soft LOUD bridge LOUD LOUD)×albini
- I listened through this album twice while working...and nothing really stuck out as either really good or bad. It just...kind of was. - I didn't know any of the songs on this album, I know more from the next two albums, and even those I don't know well. - Likely wouldn't go outta my way to listen to this album again in the future.
Two consecutive songs about bones? Another involving a broken face which I assume is also bones? Pixies are a pretty strange band. There's some stinkers, and there's some alright tunes. "Where is my mind?", is a classic however, and will be going on the 1001 playlist. Bumped up to 3 Stars just for that song alone.
Ok
Quite enjoyable
I was quite disappointed in this one. When I saw this was the album with 'Where is My Mind?', I was hoping for more of the same and I got my wish. However, I didn't realise that WIMM? is special in that, yes it's still just yelling into a mic that somehow feels both too far away and too close to the singer's mouth, and the lyrics are kinda nonsense, and it feels very thrown together, but it's thrown together in exactly the correct measurements to create something good and that's unfortunately not the case for almost every other song on the album which feels like a miss. I think 'Tony's Theme' and 'I'm Amazed' are the only other songs I kinda liked. I'm tired of giving so many albums a 3 but that's all I can give it, and that's only because of just how good WIMM? is.
Classick, quirky and unique pixies sound. Maybe my favorite album of theirs
Love this album. Bone machine, Where is my mind… classics.
Really great & fun indie record, the riffs & performances are amazing, everything's just great.
Big fan of The Pixies
It was 1993 in Fort Lauderdale, my first time at Garageland, a storage place that hosted local punk rock shows. For many years I saw my life as something that took place before Garageland and after Garageland. I went through what I imagine is the normal process of learning about punk rock music. You start with The Ramones and Sex Pistols and then work your way back and forth until you find something that fits. Then you throw yourself into your first mosh pit but that's a tale for another album review. I was nervous when I walked into the local punk rock record shop, a small store near the north corner of the Sunrise and US1 intersection. I probably looked like a deer caught in the headlights but I did my best to hide my confusion. My heart was beating fast as I looked at the tapes. I didn't recognize any of the names until I saw "The Pixies". I'm pretty sure the first time I'd heard them was "Wave of Mutilation" from the "Pump Up The Volume" soundtrack. I grabbed "Trompe le Monde", paid and left. I know this review is for a different album but I do love me some Pixies, including "Gigantic" and "Where Is My Mind?" which are both on Surfer Rosa. Five stars.
I often think about how the reason I got into the Pixies was that I read (probably in Spin or something) that a young Thom Yorke idolized them. Anyway, Surfer Rosa rules. 4.5.
Right from the jump things are off-kilter with Lovering’s tempo which in retrospect is a little funny: Charles and Joey really wanted this to be a huge band, just as much as the Gallaghers envisioned being rock n roll stars. Old Days: Hugely important album for me, along with the rest of the 87-91 period (and the first few solo/Breeders records). I got in right before they broke up, loved Trompe le Monde even more than Nevermind. A few years later I was starting to play in bands and had a memorex cassette tape that contained the entire discography front to back and hoo boy did I ever wear that out. I’d already purchased the Gigantic single/EP with its alternate version of Euphrates, which showcased Joey’s playing and that was the ultimate attraction for me with the Pixies: his guitar. I was already a “guitar guy” but like, a fan of the Edge, Robert Smith, Peter Buck: oh you use feedback and noise? I’m in! Joey was doing a masterclass with that. Like, “Vamos” was the clear album centerpiece for 16 year-old KPH. We later used one of the studios they recorded at (Albini hated it) and then with some of the same people at what Fort Apache turned into. So that was fun and for a normal person would’ve been meaningful but it was just another boring ass studio to me. Today: Hard to hear any of this fresh. “Where is my mind?” was my jam in 1993-94, but weirdly, I was alone with that. “Gigantic” and the subsequent albums highlights got all the attention, whereas for a while there, “Where is my mind?” was kinda forgotten. And now everyone has it. That’s the indie rocker dilemma I suppose, I have my special thing that means a lot to me and I want to share it with everyone and then it does get shared with everyone and becomes a commercial jingle, soundtrack staple/shorthand for “life is crazy eh?” Also, like a lot of “underground” music there’s a lot of patience here for experimental or offbeat lyrical approaches, which maybe worked at the time, but even Charles steered away from the dada/surrealist stuff the longer he stayed at it.
I came to the Pixies a little back asswards. We didn't have college radio or anything of the like in Florida, so my understanding of what was cool mostly came from music magazines, and I remember reading about the Pixies just when I was getting into guitar/alternative music again. And, of course, they opened for U2 on a leg of the Zoo TV tour, which was enough for me to chase them down. Chasing them down meant looking for their CD in the used racks, because I wasn't really sure where to start. And, of course, the record that was found in EVERY used CD racked around 1991/92 was Trompe Le Monde. So I bought that, and thought, "eh, UMass rocks but there's not a ton here." Then slowly I started hearing more of their stuff, surely by college I was familiar with the hits on Surfer Rosa, but it was awhile before I actually got around to listening to the record itself. Anyway, at some point this stuff became part of the water in which I (we?) all swam. It was just something everyone agreed upon, so there it was, at every party, every dance night, etc. I tried going back and listening to this fresh as part of this exercise, but it's hard, the songs all seem so firmly rooted in a time and place for me. I'll sing along to Gigantic and Where is My Mind? when they're on at a bar, but wouldn't put them on. Still, the album tracks here more than make up for my exhaustion with the hits. 5 stars, good music.
Can’t believe I slept on these guys for so long
A perfect band. So odd and lopsided but also simple and childlike all at once. Where Is My Mind however much I hear it remains a perfect song.
Not my taste
Pivotal album but I prefer Doolittle.
A harcore Pixies fan since day one, I love this album with its mix of energy and noisy sounds that never forget the melody layer. Yet, despite the iconic Where is my mind, their 3 following albums are better in my opinion.
What a good surprise to see this album in this list! Back in 1988 came Surfer Rosa, this total UFO of an album that totally flopped when it first dropped… but which has since proved to have been a game-changer in music. To this day, this unique, proudly weird, wildly inspired…and even occasionally gorgeous album rivals anything garage rock has produced since. However, it isn’t their most accessible work.
Where is my mind is a great song, kind of carries the rest of the album in my opinion
Such a great musical roller coaster ride. Cut and paste approach of styles and wild production still sounds very fresh and raw.
All over the place but in a good way.
4-
Hit or miss, pretty good
It was ok. Some was better than others.
finally some good fucking food
cover ... wow!
I like Pixies but only some of this was good. They have a tendency to be noisy and annoying just as much as noisy and catchy.
Totalne złoto. Wprowadza mnie w nastrój "jest brud, zło, jest mi wspaniale"
A fun band.
The first decent album recommended by the site in a week. Good experimental rock 'n' roll. Of course I've heard of the Pixies and I know some of their songs, but I never listened to a whole album before. I'm not real fond of Black Francis' high pitched singing voice- Kim Deal fares much better here, but it's not a deal breaker. This is a good album that I'll listen to again. 4 stars.
9/10
I like Pixies. I do. But for some reason this album didn’t fully connect with me. Outside of “Where is My Mind?” I found most of songs fine but not great. Still might return to this again, though. 3/5
The pixies are one of my favorite bands, and while surfer Rosa is a great album, I find it to be the least interesting up to trompe le monde.
Great album. One of the bands I don’t listen to very often. But when I do, it’s always awesome. I mean, david Bowie covered a song on this album. That’s how you know it’s a good album. Which makes me feel bad for giving it 3 stars.
I can see how this would be revelatory if you were a certain sort of 16-year-old when it came out. But I'm not 16 now, and I wasn't then, and this is just really effing average.
If I hadn’t loved this album in the 90’s, I’d probably hate it now. But I was super into this album in the 90’s and so now when I hear Frank Black yelling and the guitars buzz-sawing, I don’t think “ahh! stop all that terrible noise! you’re hurting my ears!” like I do with a lot of the more discordant albums on this list. I think “Gods I rocked hard then” and my soft, quiet music-loving soul fills with joy at the fond memory of a hard-rocking past that probably never really existed. But even if I heard this album for the first time today, the fact that it has both "Gigantic" and "Where is My Mind?" on it would likely win me over despite the rest of the album being a bit too abrasive.
Yeah actually I quite enjoyed this, I'm not really into lazy vocals but I think this really worked for some songs and then it belts out when it needs to.
4 stars just for "Where is my mind?"
Could see people absolutely losing their shit over this in the 90s. where is my mind still an all time classic.
One of those bands and albums, that no matter who says, "they've had a huge influence on me", I would still love them. Journalist - "So, Lee, you may be of the singers in Blue, I hear you have quite a wide taste in music?" Lee Ryan - "yes. I love The Pixes. Especially the album Sofa Rosa. The way Black Francies can give a vocal performance so visceral such as on Broken Face and yet bring a different vibe with tracks like, "Where Is My Mind". I love it sad often feel inspired by this with my performances in many of our hits, such as 'All Rise'. Me (with gritted teeth and clenched fists), I still like the Pixes. Please note this is a completely imaginary quote by Lee Ryan. But still... fuck that guy.
There's nothing more I can say that hasn't already been said by m'colleagues. Enjoyed it, would listen again, made me actually stop my DIY task of putting bolts on a door to listen. Clearly I'll have to go back to one of the previous albums to get the task done because the gosh darn musical gifts from The Pixies were too good for to focus on otherwise. 4/5 for the album 1/5 for the back door lock. I've stripped a screw and buggered it all
Once again asking for half stars because this is a strong 4.5 for me. What a good reprieve after the last couple of days.
This is great. I prefer Doolittle and I guess that's just cos it's a bit more song-y. Winner.
These riffs are fucking grating holy
Couldn’t get into it
love them and the deal sisters lovelovelove!!!!
LOVE THIS ALBUM! I can't get enough of it. It's unusual, energetic, and kooky at times. It takes me to a place where being weird is celebrated, like Austin circa 1988.
These guys sure busted things open. Things look a bit different without this album. 3 stars for Gigantic alone. We had to wait a few more years for more KD. But so worth the wait. RIP Steve A.
Couple good songs, lot more chaotic than I envisioned. Can see why they’re as influential as they are not not fully my bag
Great album overall, good flow, lost me a bit towards the end, I felt the first half was better than the second.
Listened. Cracking album. Where's my mind and and Bone Machine are good. Tapers off a little bit
Obviously one song stood out from all of the others but that doesn't take away from the other songs. I would have to be in the mood to listen to this and unfortunately I wasn't really in the mood :/. I got like 1/5 enjoyment from it but objectively it's at least 4/5.
Some absolute bangers, but a couple misses for me as well. But I do feel like I appreciated it more the further I listened. So will probably give it another listen and maybe I'll feel differently.
Classic garage/grunge, hard to get through if you aren't in the mood though. The vibes are classic either way. Has Where Is My Mind, which is a classic.
I really enjoy this album, it has a lot of good and fun songs. It also has my favorite Pixies song, Gigantic, on it.
I never liked the pixies, still don’t. Probably won’t.
I got into Pixies on the release of Death to the Pixies. Also my introduction to 4AD and the artwork of Vaughan Oliver. Strange stuff, an uncanny blur of rock - a decent description of the cover and the sound. Working back to the records proper meant a version of Surfer Rosa with Come on Pilgrim stuck on. It was a long album then, with the Best Of bits already familiar. It wasn’t the record itself. It’s hard to think of it as only 34 minutes of music. In 1999, Fight Club came out and made an album track into a cultural touchstone, maybe even a lodestone - Where is my Mind? was only fourteen on the track list, last of the six Surfer Rosa/Come On Pilgrim songs - but, to read some of the reviews here, it is the only song of merit. At the time of release, if we are to believe Fool the World, the oral history of Pixies, Gigantic was the song of highest merit. Kim Deal’s only lead contribution, it stood head and shoulders about everything else on the debut album. I don’t think any of these estimations are accurate, but I think it’s true that I’ve never heard the true Surfer Rosa - with all its incendiary aggression and manic energy, with any of its freshness. Those coming to it in the reverberations of Where is my Mind? have not and cannot hear it through the tinnitus of that one song’s inexplicable explosion. Death to the Pixies was sold on the band’s influence on Kurt Cobain, which causes a similar tinnitus. Here, we were told, was a near perfect four album catalogue and, coming to Pixies then, meant grappling with an oeuvre, not an album. Perhaps, like I mentioned in my Cure review last week, Pixies is a five-star band without a five-star record or that this discography (from the original run at least) is greater than any component part of it. I don’t think that’s the case entirely, but I find it hard to think of Surfer Rosa in isolation. Most remarkable is how the songs from Come On Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa, and some from Doolittle were written in a six month purple patch that Black Francis was never able to replicate. It’s really this six month period, after a trip to Puerto Rico, that looms larger than everything else - when he was swimming in the Caribbean and losing his mind. That deserves a 4.5 at least, even if the burst of Surfer Rosa may not. Surfer Rosa is a weird album. There are a lot of great tracks on it but it isn’t quite a great album, in my opinion, because they don’t feel (to me) like they are in any order. That’s excepting Bone Machine as an opener, which is a wonderful idea. It’s a petty thing to complain about. When so much talent is dumped in front of you it’s looking a gift horse in the mouth to say ‘Brick is Red’ isn’t a great closer (doesn’t help that Surfer Rosa/Come on Pilgrim is how I have always listened to this record) or ‘Where is my Mind?’ is an odd choice for opening side B, for example. Or that the (de facto) skits are annoying and unnecessary. Or that Broken Face isn’t any good. Why isn’t Broken Face any good? I’ve no more idea than I do about why most of the rest of the album is brilliant. I was going to write something about the strength and clarity of the musical ideas and their brutal economy of phrase construction…but really I’ve no idea. Pixies are just special. Never has music that sounds so stupid been so incomprehensibly clever. 4/5
All crap except Where is My Mind?.
A solid album with some great songs on it. Too chaotic to listen to at work, so I ended up listening in the car. It is less listenable I thought than the previous Pixies album, but still solidly good. Almost a four. Worth another listen.
deze plaat kan NIET overschat worden
This is really a love or hate it thing, you're either into this energy or not, and let me tell you I am. While not every song is a structural or lyrical masterpiece, the energy this record has is a phenomenal achievement.
This guy's voice and the delivery...they almost made me tap out. There are some cool songs, then I found out this is the same band that made "Debaser" off the Skate 3 soundtrack, so that's cool. It would take a lot to get passed bro's voice, though.
Really good. Not really sure what I would change and what's keep this from being a 5/5, maybe just personal preference. Protecting the 5 spot for all time greats. This was surprising to me though. I've always wanted to do a Pixies deep dive and don't think I've heard any of these, aside from Where is my mind. On another note - I've already realized I underrated Jesus and MC... Hit me on the Hardest Walk. Great song. Def a 4 or 5 album. My b.
Where is my mind and gigantic feel like the only songs where they were trying to make actual songs. The rest of this feels like half-baked filler disguised as avante garde anti-songs.
Man, the Pixies have such a distinct sound. Im much more familiar with Doolittle (and to be honest, I still prefer it), but SR was tastefully raw and so far ahead of the curve sonically. The front half is way stronger than the second half, but its a loaded 30 mins of fun with only a few skips Favorites: River Euphrates Bone machine Gigantic, Where is my mind 4.5 stars and rounding up.
That's alot of 80s post punk recently - hard to complain! The front half of this album steals the show - Gigantic, River Euphrates, Where Is My Mind? 3.5 for me - will round up because Kim Deal > Kim Gordon.
although not an overall fan of the album, this is an experience from the first to the last song. there's more to love in this album than the (nonetheless awesome) "Where Is My Mind?".
Bone Machine 4 Break My Body 4.2 Something Against You 3.8 Broken Face 3.9 Gigantic 4.5 River Euphrates 4 Where Is My Mind? 4.6 Cactus 4 Tony's Theme 4 Oh My Golly! 3.8 Vamos 4 I'm Amazed 3.8 Brick Is Red 3.8 Score: 4.030769231
bof
I made it through.
I know it was influential to a lot of early 90s alt-rock groups that I really like, but this one never resonated that much with me.
This album was released a good 7 years before I thought it would have been. The fact that this album contains where is my mind adds an extra start at least. Overall a really good album in its own right.
Not much to say, it's just good and kinda weird, but in an interesting way.
Way too sonically ugly.
What're the odds I get this two days after I make the "Where Is My Mind?" comment?
Wore out its welcome pretty quickly for me
Love where’s my mind
I get some Mother Mother vibes here, overall decent music that can be a bit grating in parts.
Done
Just not my style
The highs were really high, didn’t hold up all the way through for me.
All the classics on this one
Kinda whiny & ruins the songs I already liked.
It's not Doolittle, but it's still pretty good.
Sounded like old teenage angst and loud noises. This felt more like a chore to listen to and at points very hard to decipher, dissect, and listen.
Enjoyed thoroughly I liked; Gigantic River Euphrates Where is my mind Cactus Camps
Had a recognizable tune, some good riffs, some of the background talking was weird.
I can understand the significance but it didn't really do it for me
Every time I listen to this album I’m a little disappointed because it is very hyped up, so I expect something polished and beautiful. But maybe the beauty in it is how well it gets away with sounding kind of like shit. Just as something beautiful isn’t always enjoyable, something messy is often very lovable.
Pixies would go so hard 3 beers deep at your local bar. Where Is My Mind is so iconic and good.
Some nostalgic songs. Good beat, hit or miss on some songs. Shrill voice, but overall good sounds from a dated era
Basically unlistenable
Good
I was a Breeders and Kim Deal fan before I ever heard the Pixies. I really like this album and want to rate it higher but the second half does not match the beginning. It's still worth listening to again after not having heard it for 3 to 4 years.
also reminds me of my ex love the pixies though
Good album
Maybe I just didn't get it but save for the album cover, this just wasn't very good. Droning on and on and the instrumentals weren't very good. I will say that "Where Is My Mind?" was very good, so that kind of saved the album from being a total loss. 3/10.
I'm just not sure the Pixies are for me. They're fine. Except for Where is My Mind? That's a good one.
8.8/10
Oh Hell Yeah!! Great album with raw power to make you feel like you can take over the world.
Dunno if it's just my age, but it's just noise to me. After a track and a half, I skipped to the one song I'd heard of to see if it might explain why the Pixies had achieved a place on this list. It gave a little redemption, but can't say I'd ever listen to this album all the way through
Sounds a few years ahead of their time on this one, solid indie punk rock. Probably influenced a ton of 90s bands
this is all over the place. did they not try to put the pieces together before releasing the album?
fantastic
Really like Pixies but not convinced by this album as a whole sadly.
https://youtu.be/A7VhNjZXALU?si=_MeGCxH2axbJH3p3
Only one good song
Some good tunes and some bits of random noise.
Not my cuppatea
Meh. Not my jam. Not terrible. Not great.
I'm completely subjective about this one - it is a definite 5. This was the music from my uni years but it still sounds fresh and unique. This is energetic, no faff, fun, with elements from rock, punk and more. Gigantic - what a song, driven by an extremely simple but equally functional bass line and a penetrating guitar. And the energy! But there are lots of other great songs.
liked the first track 'Bone Machine' best. already familiar with 'where is my mind?' overall quite a lot more punky than I had imagined. Gonna give it a few more listens.
Absolute banger. 5/5
Such a classic!
Boobs?? At this hour? At my job? Ah man. I’m offended and the Pixies have been cancelled. Sorry fellas. As a devout male feminist, I have to put the kibosh on this feminine expression. It’s in my job description. Despite the scandalous nature of the sleeve, I am giddy for more Pixies. I feel as though they might have a perfect early run. Of course, my reviews will continue to dip in quality as the plastic in my bloodstream cripples each lobe of my brain like an encroaching oil spill, but I shall persevere and attempt to transcribe the following. Cowabunga, Surfer Rosa. Don’t jump the shark. Carol gets a whole song? What do I get? This almost has elements of Devo. The frantic caterwauling. You can hear that this influenced so much indie music right away, and I suppose Devo is in many ways the spiritual grandfather of said indie music. This song is downright futuristic for 1988. Cool track. Break your Body? I will do no such thing. Despite my powerhouse physique and my prison nickname being “The Spleen Incinerator,” I do NOT work for free. Sorry pal. Now, will I hold your bones? Absolutely, BUT only if you pay for the body breaking seminar. Bone holding is complementary with seminar purchase. Tons of energy in this song. They really want that body broken! Sponge-Core. Not a bad instrumental break. I love the unhinged screeching. Buddy’s got a broken face. What can I say? Asked for a broken body, and somebody breaks his face. You know what they say, If you want something done right, hire the Spleen Incinerator. Remarkably reasonable pricing. This track rules. Oh no. I used to make fun of this song. My teenage self is looking at me with arms folded in anticipation. Yes, he is wearing a Demolition Hammer t shirt. Guess what lil fella. I still think this chorus is a dumpster filled with Carnak-esque predictions of what 2011 pop hits would sound like. You can rest easy. However, the verses are great. Not “.44 Caliber Brain Surgery,” but still great. Oh, while I’ve got you in this time portal, please buy real estate with your part-time job money. I’m sure that 300 dollars a month should do it. Gaza strip has been discussed. Genocide is bad. All religion needs to be abolished. Hope things improve there. Anyway. The song is cool once again. The shrieks are so good. Not a misspelling of sheiks. I mean. It has a billion plays or something. It’s so god damn good though. Ugh. I hate myself. Emotionally poignant, varied, a little funny and ultimately, beautiful. Jeez follow that, right? Not an easy track to respond to. The coolness keeps on coming though. Good. The superhero named Tony probably owns Tony’s on Robie Street in Halifax. SOLID donairs. A worthy theme song for a purveyor of such fine meats. You’ll do a *gulp* topless woman on the front cover, but won’t say “Oh my sweet fucking Christ.” That would’ve been cooler. Oh he said fuck. Ok. He said it a lot. The title track in parentheses. Too cool to even do the full title track. My word, the screams are great. It’s such a nice touch and they fit so well. This song is a little off its rocker, but that is very much ok with me. Hell yeah. Hey Paul McCartney, this is how you get decisive. You’re all like “well gee I don’t know, MAYBE I’m Amazed” and then the Pixies rock up a couple decades later and are all “oh yeah I’m amazed big time. The wonders of this event are immeasurable and have bewildered us into a state of amazement.” Make a commitment for once in your life Paul. If the Pixies can do it, well, actually, they’re pretty good, so maybe sit this one out. Decent song. Brick IS red. I liek this album ‘cause it say true thing. Man. You have to love songs that mention hanging. Easily the most artistic execution style. For the real melancholia heads. This album could’ve kept going. That ending almost felt premature. Just goes to show that I continue to really enjoy discovering this band. I just needed a reason to finally explore all of the (mostly bad) music people have been obsessed with for all these years. For all the hatred I spew towards many of the albums that pop up, I’m glad this list has given me that reason. If nothing else, for artists like The Pixies. Surfer Rosa is aggressive, creative and even a little bit funny here and there, and I think it’s absolutely sublime. I have an HR meeting scheduled for later today. I’m sure it has nothing to do with writing lengthy reviews under a picture of a topless woman. You just need context, I swear!! Well, that context is a wonderfully cool album. This whole ordeal reminds me of that time I used a boogie board to surf the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and was summarily tased and incarcerated by UNICEF. “My Summer in Jakarta, How I Boogied my Way Into the Hearts (and Prisons) of Southeast Asia” is on shelves this fall. Surfer Rosa, however, is on repeat right now. Hang loose, brah. 4-4.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Break my Body, Broken Face, Where is My Mind?, Tony’s Theme, Vamos (Surfer Rosa), Brick is Red
Good album, more optimistic sounding than I expected. Good length, no frills. Where is my mind was the highlight for me
I wish I’d gotten into pixies earlier. Great stuff.
Unexpectedly mid
Some good guitar playing on this album. Not very memorable for me, but the music is ok and reasonably creative. Apparently the Pixies influenced a lot of later artists.
(the) Pixies are another one of those bands I'm vexed there's not a "the" in! I should have started a list of those. Anyway, yay, a band I like. Maybe because I was negative years old when it came out, I never saw this topless lady album cover, so I wondered "was there a different version in the US?", but the answer is no. This makes the Strokes 'Is This It?' alt-US cover seem extra weird to me, but I guess it's more up to the artist & label than any album cover ~rules~. Also, going down this rabbit hole, I read that some scandalous albums were only sold in paper bags, something I just associated with alc 'til now. I wonder what other indecent things I haven't been buying that I could've gotten in a paper bag! Cigars?? Lottery tickets?? Anyway, speaking of things that are subjective, I enjoyed this album a lot even though I imagine someone else might think it's just noise. The tracks are short and nothing overstays its welcome. Highlights: 'Gigantic', 'Where is My Mind?' (great, but overused in media), the line "soy playero pero no hay playa" (the spiritual prequel to "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier") Lowlights: 'Something Against You' (OK, maybe this one is just noise)
Hardcore/punk garage rock. Precursor to the grunge movement. Tough listen. Drums sound like they were actually recorded in a garage even though he keeps good time. Not an impressive display of musicianship. Kim deal went on to better things. Decent three song stretch in the middle.
Some cool alt rock leanings. I think I prefer Doolittle
It was alright. Cranked out some homework while listening. Music was all a little raunchy which was kinda fun. 4/5 rating
Already love this album, but I think I like doolittle more.
Pretty solid album through and through
This fucking ROCKS!
I expected to like this more than I did, far more hit or Miss than I expected. Some of the songs feel like a first attempt or demos that could do with some more attention to avoid sounding half baked or unfinished. I appreciate that that was the aesthetic the band was aiming for and there quite a few songs in the track list where it comes off as really endearing and reminiscent of just jamming with your friends. But often it detracts from the listening experience, it is really noticeable however how influential the sounds on this album were. I don’t know if calling it proto-grunge is appropriate but it certainly feels like it. Best song is obviously Where Is My Mind? and the worst song is easily Tony’s Theme which quickly loses its charm and ends up just being annoying. Overall 2/5, I liked the soundscape of this album but the songwriting for the most part was pretty lacking for me.
## In-Depth Review of *Surfer Rosa* by Pixies Released in 1988, *Surfer Rosa* is the debut full-length album by Pixies, a seminal alternative rock band that helped shape the genre's future. Produced by Steve Albini, the album is renowned for its raw production, dynamic sound, surreal lyrics, and thematic boldness. Below is an analysis of its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** Black Francis (Frank Black), the band's frontman and primary lyricist, crafted surreal and provocative lyrics that remain a hallmark of *Surfer Rosa*. The album explores dark and unsettling themes such as sexuality, violence, voyeurism, and alienation. - **Sexuality and Taboos**: Tracks like "Bone Machine," "Break My Body," and "Broken Face" delve into sexual taboos and deviant behavior. For example, "Bone Machine" juxtaposes betrayal with sexual imagery, while "Broken Face" narrates a grotesque tale of mutilation and incest[1][7]. - **Surrealism**: The lyrics often lean toward the surreal and cryptic. "Where Is My Mind?" evokes a dreamlike state with its existential musings, while "Cactus" uses minimalist imagery to depict longing[2][6]. - **Cultural References**: Songs like "Oh My Golly!" and "Vamos" incorporate Spanish lyrics and references to Puerto Rico, reflecting Francis' fascination with Hispanic culture[7]. Francis' ability to blend grotesque imagery with humor and absurdity adds depth to the album's lyrical content. However, the abstract nature of the lyrics can make them inaccessible to some listeners. --- ### **Music** Musically, *Surfer Rosa* is a fusion of punk energy, pop sensibilities, and experimental tendencies. The band’s signature quiet-loud dynamics are prominently featured throughout. - **Quiet-Loud Dynamics**: This approach—soft verses exploding into loud choruses—is evident in tracks like "Bone Machine" and "Gigantic." This technique later became a staple in alternative rock[2][4]. - **Diverse Styles**: The album oscillates between aggressive punk tracks like "Something Against You" and melodic pieces like "Where Is My Mind?" This variety showcases the band's versatility[7]. - **Instrumentation**: Joey Santiago's distorted guitar riffs add a raw edge to the songs, while Kim Deal's bass lines provide a melodic counterpoint. David Lovering's drumming is dynamic yet restrained when needed[4][5]. - **Vocals**: Black Francis’ screamed vocals contrast sharply with Kim Deal’s soft harmonies on tracks like "Gigantic," creating a compelling interplay[4]. While the music is innovative and engaging, some critics argue that certain tracks feel underdeveloped or overly chaotic. --- ### **Production** Steve Albini's production is one of *Surfer Rosa*'s defining features. Albini emphasized a raw, live sound that captures the band's energy: - **Minimalist Approach**: Albini avoided overproduction, opting instead for natural reverb and minimal overdubs. This gives the album an unpolished yet authentic feel[4][5]. - **Experimental Techniques**: Albini employed unconventional methods such as recording vocals through guitar amps ("Something Against You"), adding an experimental edge to the sound[4]. - **Drum Emphasis**: The drums are particularly prominent in the mix, giving tracks like "Bone Machine" a visceral impact[5]. While Albini’s production style enhances the album’s raw aesthetic, it may come across as abrasive or unrefined to listeners accustomed to cleaner production. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Surfer Rosa* is rich and multifaceted: 1. **Sexuality**: Several songs explore themes of voyeurism ("Gigantic"), sexual otherness ("Bone Machine"), and taboos ("Broken Face")[1][7]. 2. **Violence**: Tracks like "Break My Body" incorporate violent imagery to evoke discomfort. 3. **Alienation**: Songs such as "Where Is My Mind?" reflect feelings of disconnection from reality. 4. **Surrealism**: The album frequently juxtaposes bizarre scenarios with mundane details, creating a dreamlike atmosphere[2][6]. These themes contribute to the album's unsettling yet captivating nature. However, its dark subject matter may not resonate with all listeners. --- ### **Influence** *Surfer Rosa* has had an enduring impact on alternative rock: - **Kurt Cobain's Admiration**: Cobain cited *Surfer Rosa* as a major influence on Nirvana’s *Nevermind*, particularly its quiet-loud dynamics and raw production[2][4]. - **Shaping Alternative Rock**: The album inspired countless bands in the 1990s grunge movement and beyond. - **Cultural Legacy**: Tracks like "Where Is My Mind?" have become iconic, appearing in films like *Fight Club* and gaining new audiences over decades[6]. The album’s innovative approach to songwriting and production set a blueprint for alternative music that remains relevant today. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Innovative Sound**: The quiet-loud dynamics were groundbreaking at the time. 2. **Raw Production**: Steve Albini’s minimalist approach enhances the album’s authenticity. 3. **Diverse Styles**: The mix of punk aggression and melodic sensibility keeps listeners engaged. 4. **Lyrical Depth**: Black Francis’ surrealist lyrics invite multiple interpretations. 5. **Cultural Impact**: Its influence on artists like Nirvana solidifies its place in rock history. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Inaccessibility**: The abstract lyrics and dark themes may alienate casual listeners. 2. **Unpolished Sound**: While intentional, the raw production might feel abrasive to some. 3. **Uneven Tracks**: Some songs feel less developed compared to standout hits like "Where Is My Mind?" or "Gigantic." 4. **Polarizing Vocals**: Francis’ screamed delivery can be jarring for certain audiences. --- ### Final Assessment *Surfer Rosa* is a landmark album that combines raw energy with artistic ambition. Its innovative dynamics, provocative themes, and unfiltered production make it essential listening for fans of alternative rock. While not without flaws—its abrasiveness and thematic darkness may deter some—it remains one of Pixies’ most influential works. For those willing to embrace its eccentricities, *Surfer Rosa* offers an unforgettable experience that continues to resonate decades after its release.
Overrated. 3
Meh
Album feels very indie-unpolished but has good musical ideas. Where Is My Mind is a classic! 3.7
I feel like I want to like Pixies, I really do. This album was just okay though. I think I heard “Gigantic” before and I definitely have heard “Where IsMy Mind?” as it gets regular play on Sirius XM. Musically it’s primitive in that the musicians really don’t seem to have much experience. Lyrically there’s not much to praise here. The vocals weren’t great. Nice cover though haha. 3/10. Rounded up.
Fantastic
Most excellent.
49/1001 - A little better than Doolittle (less screaming/makes more sense when screaming happens). Song structure seems samey.
Fantastic album
What another great album from the Pixies! This was such a pleasant listen as I love the pixies and this is prob my second favorite album of theirs! Definitely has great vibes and is a solid work!
A really weird and grating listen. A couple of decent tracks sandwiched in-between a lot of punk-adjacent screaming and bloat. Which already isn't great for an album under 35 mins. Top tracks: Gigantic, Where Is My Mind?
Great band, not their best album but still a fun time
Caged animal gnashing, dirty desert atmospherics, strange American characters, spidery surf rock and a library's worth of literature. In a blender.
Ages well over the course of the album
4.5/10 Favorite Tracks: Where Is My Mind?, Break My Body Least Favorite: Vamos(Skip), I'm Amazed (Skip), Cactus (Skip), Tony's Theme (Skip)
Not as good as Doolittle but it's Pixies, baby!
I enjoyed it with 'Where is my mind?' as a clear favorite.
This record is downright awful from beginning to end, the only exception being „Where's my mind?“. Whats the point about out of tune singing and playing? I don't like producer Steve Albini's sound design anyway - the dry guitar sound in particular. It's good to be remembered why I sold this many years ago. The real question is: Why is this piece of trash part of the book? I strongly feel some editing is required.
A little too crazy for a 5 but i can appreciate it.
Another big influence on Nirvana, Pixies had a distinctive sound all to themselves (although Frank Black [/Black Francis] credits Sisters of Mercy as where they got the "quiet-loud thing"). And that sound could be maddening: flurries of hooting, talking, shouting and sorta-singing over abrasive electric guitars at mostly mid-tempos (except for the speedy "I'm amazed"), with occasional massive hooks like "Gigantic". Sometimes both things would kind of happen at the same time, like in "Euphrates" or the sad-sack classic "Where Is My Mind?" and it works. Much of the songs just don't work for me, they just give me a headache. If you imprinted on this genre and record at that pivotal time in your life, good for you. I can take from 3-5 songs from this and the next 3 LPs through "Trompe Le Monde" and make a great longish album. But I don't see "Surfer Rosa" in its entirety as an all-time great, classic, must-have, album. It's for a very narrow swath of hipsters who like things that sound intentionally abrasive. More power to 'em.
It was ok
Some great stuff, some real rubbish. For me their third best, from a band who recorded possibly one of my top five all time albums. Kim is the real Deal as ever.
Good album to wake up to; fast, loud & fun. Plenty of variety so you don’t get lulled into just one thing. Always a good sign when I make it through an album and then check my phone & realise I’ve just listened to three other songs from a different album of theirs as well.
The 3 song slice from Gigantic to Where is my Mind is perfect. As overplayed as WIMM is, it's no fault of Pixies. I'm indifferent to the rest of the album, apart from a 45 second section where someone tries to explain their joke which is horrifically relatable.
This might be my favourite Pixies album, though Dolittle is close enough that it on more listens it might take that. I love how distinct they feel as a band and despite nothing that complex instrumentally they really do carve their own space. I'm a big fan of the production on it that makes it really feel loose. It's got a good amount of space that despite it being a short record it still doesn't feel dense. I was surprised how Ska adjacent the album felt. Songs like Something Against You feel like some early third wave Ska but swerving into punk before reaching that. Also, listen to Kim Deal's new solo album, it's very good. Highlight: Gigantic
I really enjoyed the album. Need to listent to more of them.
Gigantic, big big love
Vamos a jugar por la playa Vamos a jugar por la playa Vamos a jugar por la playa Vamos a jugar por la playa Vamos a jugar por la playa
Consistently energetic and wonderfully produced alt-rock.
Eight of 1001... Although on paper they look appealing to me, I've never quite warmed to The Pixies the way I always imagined I should. While I can appreciate what the fuss must have been all about in 1988, I personally came to these albums after hearing what Nirvana had already crafted with the same building materials, so the novelty was always a bit lost on me. Everything beyond the obvious choices - Where Is My Mind? and Gigantic - is just too intentionally inaccessible, too chaotic and just too lacking in hooks to stand up to repeated listening. I doff my cap to Surfer Rosa, but it's never been an album I want to return to time after time. Indeed, The Pixies did better than their debut - in fact I even prefer Frank Black's solo output to this. Huge respect but a low score, I'm afraid.
Mmm yeah well, whatever.
Thank you Pixies for introducing me to the beautiful concept of surfer grunge. Super fun album that channels the adventure and pretentiousness of being a teenager. Almost makes me want to go back to 15
28/02/25 Pixies at their best. Couple of tunes on here that are really great, not so much of a fan of the real screeching in the guitars in at times, still very solid tho! 3/5
OK, will keep the download.
Super rad Forgot how good this album is
I guess I really enjoyed it because once the Spotify autoplay song came on after the album ended was jarring and disappointing. At only 34 minutes one of the shortest albums I've gotten so far and of course one of my favorites.
i actually do like the sound they’re going for i just hate the main singers voice for some reason so much. exactly how i feel about the smashing pumpkins. anyway at least where is my mind was on here
Pre-listening thoughts: I got Doolittle as my second album ever on this generator and I think I hold an unpopular opinion cause I really didn’t like it. Not super enthusiastic going into this one. Post/during listening thoughts: the pixies love to just yell and talk during their songs. Yeah I like this just as much as Doolittle. Which is not really a whole lot. 3/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: break my body, where is my mind Least fav tracks: something against you, broken face, river Euphrates, Tony’s theme, oh my golly, vamos
Absolutely essential and ground breaking guitar pop
Used to be my fav album for a reason
Classic "Where is my mind?" is on here. Many other songs can be quite annoying.
Imma surf on right out of that
They probably didn't peak until Doolittle but Surfer Rosa is a belting album as well. I love the distorted guitars - just crank this MF up and it's hard to resist its charms. Loud, intense, chaotic but with catchy elements that you can sing along to in places. Massively influential on the grunge genre in the 90s but extremely fun in its own right too.
I was swimming in the Carribean
Highs are brilliant, lows were strange
Few ups, some downs, mostly somewhere at low fourths. Doesn't give much.
My least listened Pixies record and I feel there might be a reason for it. Surfer Rosa is missing the catchy tracks for me, it's all awkward and quirky.
Ok. Close to genres I like but I don’t think I’ll ever single out Pixies stuff or search it out.
Wonderful album, though "Doolittle" keeps (deservedly) getting the spotlight.
Groundbreaking essential listening! Pixies helped pave the way for what would become mainstream alt-rock of the 90’s. To those that don’t seem to ‘get’ Pixies music or the critical legacy they have garnered, particularly with their first 3 releases, you have to remember the time in which these albums were released; an era in which 80’s synth pop and hair metal bands were dominating the charts. Pixies were simply WAYYYY ahead of their time! There is a famous quote that sums this up best- ‘in 1987 Pixies sounded like no other band. By 1992 every band sounded like Pixies with loud…quiet…loud song dynamics’. I may be a bit biased here as Pixies are among my all-time favorite bands, however without them many of those others would simply not exist within the same realm. 🎧 Classic Track- Where is My Mind? 🎧 Hidden Gem- Vamos 🎧 Personal Favorite- River Euphrates The vocal delivery of Frank Black Francis’ howling aggressive shrieks against Kim Deal’s mellifluous melodic harmonies, blended with Joey Santiago’s uniquely creative guitar whaling and David Lovering’s masterful drum beats continue to be unmatched by any other band to this day (including the current incarnation of Pixies). Mr. Albini can also thank Pixies for the record production and engineering career notoriety he would receive with capturing such raw sounds with helping many other bands achieve (namely The Breeders, PJ Harvey, Nirvana & Low, in addition to his own bands Big Black & Shellac). 🖼️ Album Artwork: Classic! 💿 Absolutely hold a place for it in your vinyl collection! **Although their 1990 album Bossanova is also included in the 1001 list, for my money their 1991 release Trompe Le Monde is even better and serves as a great appetizer to Frank Black’s extraordinary solo discography. **I also HIGHLY recommend listening to Kim Deal’s band The Breeders first release Pod (1990), which was also produced by Steve Albini. That recording contains a very similar raw sounding and punchy drum aesthetic. Click the thumbs up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
It’s a low tier effort with this one. This is the 2nd Pixies album I’ve listened to and I’m starting to wonder what all the fuss is about with them. I don’t know how you will feel about it reader, but I will say this album won’t make you a fan.
This album is weird, chaotic, and raw. It's full of energy and fun little skits. I love all the high energy riffs.
What a fantastic record. This has all of the right ingredients for a perfect punk record. Its fast, weird, silly, sexy, uncomfortable, loud, noisy, but it all flows together so perfectly. Its funny how much I value diverse sounds, and instruments blending together (the 2 soul / funk albums this week are good examples), but when I listen to this it, it really isn't that much different. Its just a wide variety of sounds, interesting guitar riffs, with overly distorted guitar, groovy bass lines and very snappy drumming. Then the vocals and lyrics are all over the place. Sometimes its ska, other times is Bowie-esque psych, then its hardcore and punk. It all just meshes to well and also so aggressively. This isn't easy listening, but its engaged listening. Which is why its so fantastic and so fun to get into. Pixies will always be an important band to me, and I had a blast going through this multiple times today.
mit Hit Where is my Mind!
4.8
Nope. Not for me. 2/5.
So much screeching, lots of bangers I didn’t even know I knew top 3 1. Tony’s theme 2. Gigantic 3. Where is my mind
I’m not Black like Barry White no I am white like Frank Black is.
They have some good tunes but many Pixies albums like this one just sound they're trying to hard. Music for people who want to be cool and are more about telling us that they listen to good music than actually doing it.
Fun indie rock. There's not much more to say. It's pretty good, but lacks some extra punch, so I can't say it's great. To be honest, I don't really get the hype around Pixies' first two albums. They’re not impressive at all. 7/10
I guess I finally got the hype on the Pixies with this album. They introduced the exact amount of noise and strange stuff without being too pretentious or too experimental. I didn't enjoy so much the other Pixies releases I got here on the list, but I guess I'll have better impressions listening to them again after this album.
Tony's Theme was fun, but mostly I didn't find much inspiration here. 2 star I think. Brick is Red is also ok.
Very much not my thing. Can definitely hear how it could have influenced Nirvana's Nevermind, though.
Unhinged and unpredictable. Noisy chaotic and at the same time pure pop. Pixies are the sound of your brain scrambling to get a killer song out. Unfiltered joy
Ну это пиксиис это баааза
Hmmmm. Massively influential band, but really not a great album. It is very rough around the edges, and there are some flashes of quality, notably in Gigantic and Broken Face, but overall not great.
too screamy
One or two good songs but consider this vote a protest against a THIRD Pixies album
I hadn't listened to this one before. Good record #NotAHater
This is an interesting one. I can hear the sound carried over to Nirvana in the thunderous, aggressive drum sound and the driving guitar riffs. I don't really see the connection to PJ Harvey as mentioned in the album's Wikipedia article, but even so, clearly this album was widely influential. And what for? Sure, the sound is kind of fun, liberating, emotional – presumably what the Pixies were aiming for – but I don't see anything that really elevates this to the legendary status so many musicians, critics, and regular listeners tout it for. There are countless 5-star reviews that cite reasons like "timeless", "scratches an itch", "classic", "human" – but very few address exactly what it is that makes Surfer Rosa a masterpiece. I wish I knew. The main problem here is the vocals, which are bad. They're weakly delivered, mixed badly, and are often out-of-tune. The instruments are actually really good, significantly elevating the music's quality where the singing betrays it. The riffs are great, and again I can hear direct parallels to Nirvana's later music. Where Is My Mind?, Cactus, Bone Machine, and Gigantic are all standouts for being really catchy in spite of the singing. It's a general improvement on the punk genre (which is known for disregarding good sound in both instruments and vocal). And for that reason, I can acknowledge it as a crucial step in the punk-to-alt rock movement. 3/5 Key tracks: Gigantic, Where Is My Mind?, Cactus
A very strong contender for the worst garbage I have ever heard. Self indulgent noise. And I expected to love this LOL.
I recognized the popular song
+ 0.3 for woman singing, + 0.7 for Where Is My Mind
Listen again- yes! Favourite track- too many to list Unskippable album- yes 9/10
The album artwork is probably the best part of this album, because the music is mostly just meh. There are some things happening and you could manage listening to the whole thing if you just leave it playing in the background but overall nothing really exciting, at times even irritatingly repetitive. The one okay song, as I went "oh, that sounds alright, OH, and it sounds familiar as well", is "Where is my mind?" and it has a billion listens, so this is the one that is alright, the rest are definitely meh at best. In the Gigantic song, they sing "A big, big love" towards the end, repetitively, and I just kept hearing "A pp love", which.. slightly disappointed after I looked up what it actually is.
This must be our second or third Pixies album on the list, and I think I've concluded that it is not for me. For starters, punk is not really my favourite genre. 'Where Is My Mind?' and 'Gigantic' are really cool songs, but that's about it. Overall I think I prefer the songs when the girl is singing. Not much more to say, a bit disappointed that it didn't deliver more for me. It just gets a bit too much with quite samey guitar riffs in many songs, and with songs like 'Tony's Theme' where the singing sounds like it was recorded with a toaster. The album is weighed up by two good songs.
Thought Doolittle was the stronger Pixie album. Never really got in to them which I'm not sure why since it should be up my alley. "Where is my mind" is a very good track and I enjoyed the energy throughout. I think I maybe just need to listen to it a bit more "get it". Mid 3 for now.
I'm the horny loser You'll find me crashin through my mothers door I am the ugly lover You'll find us rolling on the dirty floor Break my body hold my bones Hold my bones Yeah, this is a damn good album. Ahead of its time. 5/5
Nice. Great stuff
Edgy, provocative, and humorous. An album that leaves me feeling strange and rather disoriented. Certainly never a dull moment. Where Is My Mind? stood out to me.
Very good! Pixies never disappoint. There's the classic "Where Is My Mind?" here, and that's worth listening to the whole album, which is very enjoyable to listen to.
I listened to this album so much at the time I almost sickened myself. Also with age and familiarity the lyrics seem a little silly. But I sat and gave it a proper listen for the first time in years and it is an amazing piece of work. From a UK perspective it felt revelatory at the time ushering loud guitars back to a level of popularity after years of jingle jangle. Some simple four piece bands just have a special magic when they meet and Pixies had that on the first few records. They were also great live. This is also the record that cemented Steve Albini as a celebrity recording engineer. It still sounds extraordinary and arguably neither PJ Harvey or Nirvana were able to fully repeat the trick when they asked him to record their Surfer Rosas later.
Fun. Gigantic, where is my mind.
eh
Great record. Sick drum sound…!
Pretty good album and I love the pixies but not their best
A somewhat restless and nervous mood that no longer appeals. The target audience in the year of release was probably quite young, so it suited a kind of rebellion and being different.
I mean yeah, Pixies. Give me more. A relic of its time for sure, but every track on this album brings the same energy. Great alt-punk-grunge-rock, if a little out there.
Not as immediate of an album for me as Doolittle, but still good. Will be listening to this quite a bit. Much more audacious. Kim Deal is stellar.
Didn't love, didn't hate.
Hurt my ears
Fantastic debut, one cant fault this album
Enjoyed it for the nostalgia but other than Where is my Mind I won’t be returning to it.
Sounds live with lots of yelling from relatively untalented singers. 1/5
Where is my mind?!?! anyone else solely relate the pixies to fight club?
A few hits, mostly misses. 20-year old dude garage band vibe, definitely not my thing (now, or back then). Lyrics are trash, melodically a little better. DNF most songs
I have a weird relationship with Pixies where I can enjoy some of their songs but overall their albums never really hit for me for some reason. Even thought they play well within all the genres I enjoy, I think mainly because the way they go about how the songwriting leans in a poppier, surfier, more light(? direction than I ever expected from their music (or at least based on this and Doolittle), which ofc affects my view of them and certainly made me appreciate this album last time I heard it around last year. Now maybe it's the fact that I know someone who loves this band and has explained why she finds them so amazing or maybe it's the fact that I've found more appreciation in the way they introduce these poppier, sloppier and amateurish elements of the music and also how that plays off the more punk elements in the opener or River Euphrates or Tony's Theme, maybe too that I'm more in the mood for some of the sillier ideas like Oh My Golly! So, who knows maybe this one will keep growing on me, I sure hope it does because I love this era of noisier and punkier indie rock before it truly hit it big so who knows, maybe in the future I will get why Where's My Mind is so great to people.
Fantastic
Some good songs, very original, lots of screaming chaos :)
This album strikes me as the product of a really good garage band. A cool sound for 1988 that definitely influenced a lot that came after it. “Where is my mind?” Is such a standout track.
This is interesting to listen to as a document from the time between the height of 80s punk/hardcore and the emergence of 90s grunge/alternative. I don't particularly care for the actual music. Where Is My Mind? is a great song, though.
Not to my liking
Good Album - I enjoyed
one of the worst things i heard. only good song is where is my mind. 1.88
Pioneers of the garage-indie sound that would takeoff in the following decade. Pixies blast open the door of what an indie rock album can sound like. Sonically gritty, experimental and vast, although far too much flak for this record to be an enjoyable listen, particularly with Doolittle arriving just a year later. Best Tracks: - Where Is My Mind - Cactus - Gigantic Worst Tracks: - Oh My Golly! - Brick Is Red Rating: 5.5/10
not really a fan too avant garde to me I think - moany rock
Half decent, and a bit less shouty than the previous Pixies album I got. Not bad at all and I could listen to this again.
One of the originals of new music that would be arriving into the 90s. Different at the time.
Haven’t listened to much of Pixies before. Iconic tone, but not my preference
Exceptionally raw emotion
Pixies are unhinged, in the best way possible. They can pull it together and put on a nice smile for you for a few seconds, before they rip the flesh of their faces and spew all over you. Black Francis sounds like a guy I wouldnt trust who’s about to have a mental breakdown, and then just narrowly avoids it through primal cathartic release. Santiago plays short melodic riffs that can glide into the stratosphere or stab you with a spastic blistering. Kim Deal lays down simple, infectious baselines and sings a harmony with some character. Their loud-quiet combination is pleasurable, exciting, noisy, catchy, aggressive, bizarre, almost frightening. That’s to say, it’s great. Though some songs could probably be developed a bit more, but them not being is the charm of it.
Great great great can think of the last time I listened to it front to back. Some forgettable songs but Gigantic and Where is my mind. Still loom large.
Really cool album. Great drum lines. More varied than expected for a punk album, too. Can see why the Pixies are so influential. Where is my Mind is a classic, but I also love Tony's Theme and Oh My Golly!
This is just great music.
I want to like the Pixies more than I do.
Agresywne i dzikie, bardzo fajny album, wpada w ucho i zostaje na dłużej.
Nice
There are a couple of standout tracks on here, and I enjoyed the overall anarchic spirit and percussion work. "Where is My Mind?" is the only track I'd heard before, which is interesting as it feels quite tonally different to most of the rest of the album, more polished. I liked Gigantic (which was probably the most similar to WIMM in terms of polish level) but also really enjoyed Vamos, which is one of the least. You can almost feel the band trying some different things to figure out what their "sound" is. Hoping some of their later work is on this list somewhere so I can see where they eventually landed!
Awesome album
The Pixies had an insane run of albums from 1987-1991. It's possibly one of the greatest album runs in the history of music. Even though I prefer the two albums that followed (Doolittle and Bossanova) this is the album that really cemented the band as one of the greats. While its not as consistent as Doolittle, there are still plenty of fun and memorable tracks here. Some of the stand outs are "Bone Machine" and "Gigantic". Of course then there's the elephant in the room.. This album contains one of the greatest songs of all time. "Where Is My Mind?" is one of those defining songs that really changed the game. The second half of the album just cannot compete with it or even some of the other songs from the first half, but there are still a few notable tracks. Overall Surfer Rosa is a very punchy, fun album that I have a lot of appreciation for. I just love the Pixies so much man so any excuse to listen to them is a treat. Favorite track: Where Is My Mind? (I mean what else could it be?) 4.5/5
It's a good 3. I think Doolittle is a 4 and this is not quite that level. Unlike Doolittle I'm not sure it should really be in this 1001 album list. It was before Doolittle so maybe it's seminal or influential? It's alright.
4 great album. Fav songs: broken face, gigantic, and where is my mind
Thoughts before listening: Pixies are one of my favorite bands, and they were extremely influential for most of the alt-rock I grew up listening to. I love this album. Review: Pixies play with the ferocity of punk rock, but with riffs, melodies, and textures not typically found in the genre. This album's sound is also much cleaner and more dynamic than many of their peers like Husker Du and Dinosaur Jr. I love both of those bands, but their 80s albums are harder to listen to because of the poor sound quality. It's amazing how iconic this sound is to me for a band that didn't have huge success during their initial run. This sounds like quintessential 90s alt-rock because it was the blueprint for those bands. Thankfully my generation, which came of age a decade after Pixies' initial run, discovered this band and made them stars. This album was their start and it deserves 5-stars.