Bossanova

Solid, fun, and creative alt rock, with a bit of a weirdo twist. I think the whole of the album was a little greater than the some of its parts; none of the songs themselves stood out to me significantly, but the album as a whole did. I'm interested to hear some more from them.

Zipless. The best description I read of this album was that it's surf rock for gothic kids who wear black to the beach which is literally me. The album reminds me of the mid-90s and of certain boys. Of all the Pixies albums, Bossanova feels the most realised, taking their strengths and pointing that in a particular direction. Not all the songs work and tbh I would be happy to ditch about half the tracks. But when it opens with the cool surf instro of "Cecilia Ann" and includes the swoony "Ana", the saucy "Down to the Well" and the hip "Hang Wire", there is a lot to love.

When I first heard Bossanova when it was released in 1990, I deemed it a disappointment. This album followed the Pixies "best" records, Surfer Rosa and Doolittle, so it was a tough act to follow and though the opening track instrumental sucked me in, I lost interest in the rest of the album. Fast forward to now and listening with fresher (older) ears, I listened To Bossanova, the whole way through, back to back and have to now reconsider my original opinion. The records good, it engaged me and is much better than I remember and it's better than anything else the Pixies released after. If you don't compare it to the previous albums, on it's own it's a solid album. Thanks album generator for letting me re-discover this underrated near-classic!

The Pixies are a great band if listened to in the right mood/mindset. This album isn't my favorite of theirs but it is the truest to who they are. If you like the Pixies as a band then this is a great album but if you like the Pixies cause you heard them on the radio then you are going to be disappointed by this album.

My 2nd Pixies Album of the list, this one containing no songs I've heard before. The album is definitely full of the Pixies "sound" though, it's got the surfer-rock tinge while they do their grungy frantic post-punk that you'll come to expect form the band. Really enjoyed this, was consistent and had some good tunes that I've added to the playlist.

This is just a great album. Super fun, razor sharp, and just a bit ridiculous. Nothing to hate, lots to love. Full marks.

This is their third album. Apparently their second, "Doolittle," is the one everyone loves... so why am i listening to this one? The album is fine. I like "Allison." LOL at bass players: Two weeks later, Francis placed an advertisement seeking a bass player who liked both the folk act Peter, Paul and Mary and the alternative rock band Hüsker Dü.[6] Kim Deal was the only respondent, and arrived at the audition without a bass, as she had never played one before.[7][8] She was invited to join as she liked the songs Francis showed her. She obtained a bass, and the trio started rehearsing in Deal's apartment.[9]

It's the Pixies so of course I am going to love it as they are one of my favourite bands. Veloouria and Dig For Fire are the stand out tracks but this album works best listened to in one sitting. When I was first getting into the band I remember a guy in the year above me at school refer to the band as surf music for people who hate the beach. It was a pretty accurate discription.

In the Sonic Youth vs Pixies war of the early 90’s, I served proudly on the Sonic Youth side. Their sound was cooler: more unpredictable, experimental and unique. Their name was cooler. They were from New York City, man…and the Pixies were from Boston. Rightly or not, these two bands are inextricably linked in my mind as being in opposition to each other, like two sides of a coin. Not that you couldn’t like both bands, but at some point you were going to have an argument with someone about which was better. To this day, I’d take a Sonic Youth record with me to a desert island before a Pixies record. I get why people would enjoy Pixies over Sonic Youth, though. It’s a much easier sound to digest: more conventional and familiar from a rock perspective, with a bit of controlled chaos thrown in. Me? I want to tear it all down, no rules, no adherence to tradition. Dismantle it and put it back together as something new and unique. Through that lens, Bossanova isn’t really anything special: a mostly traditional rock record with noise and aggression sprinkled through out. Especially listening to it now, their loud-quiet-loud formula has been used ad nauseam in mainstream alt-rock for the last few decades. What was once new and fresh is now cliche. Taken through another lens, the classic Pixies records were kind of a blueprint for what was to come. It’s not their fault that they struck gold and everyone else rushed to do the same. They were part of the push to take down the old guard and remake the mainstream for the better, even if it only lasted a couple years before getting swallowed up and re-relegated to the underground. So maybe it shouldn’t have been a discussion of Sonic Youth vs Pixies back then, but a discussion of Sonic Youth *and* Pixies (plus others) vs the world… Sonic Youth is still cooler, though.

My best friend in high school dated a guy whose favorite band was The Pixies. I remember being shocked. The Pixies are cool and all, but *favorite*? Really? Like, just get into Velvet Underground already.

Aww, I haven't listened to this album in full in a really long time. It was in my heavy rotation during my sophomore year in college though. 1989-91 was peak time to be a Pixie's fan. Little did we know the albums weren't going to keep coming out every year like that. This isn't the album that immediately comes to mind when I think of the Pixies, but Bossanova is still light years beyond most of the alternative albums that were out in 1990. It's missing some of that frenetic wildness of the earlier albums, but it's no less creative. The album is more polished, maybe a tad more accessible than previous efforts. It follows along the same lines from the previous year's Doolittle, with a catchier and more melodic sound. The Pixie's have an incredibly unique style, that twisted surfer from hell vibe with the strange cryptic lyrics... that hit all the right notes with weird kids like me. The songs are full of great tonal shifts from the quiet to the melodic to the raging. There aren't a lot of bands I can think of who float so effortlessly from pretty to ugly and back. It can be startling, but it's also exhilarating in a way no other band really captures. It goes without saying that nobody screams like Black Francis/Frank Black. What tempers that rage is of course the haunting softness of Kim Deal. There is some kind of special magic between those two when they hit an off-kilter harmony together. Musically, everyone is on point here. Joey Santiago's guitar is blisteringly good, Deal's bass is solid, David Lovering's drums are propulsive and energetic. I agree with the reviewer who said this album is greater than the sum of its parts. This is an album to enjoy in full, but it's more than worth the time. It also grows on you with repeated listens. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Dig for Fire, Havalina, Rock Music, Down to the Well, Stormy Weather, Blown Away, Velouria, The Happening, Cecilia Ann, Ana, Allison, Hang Wire, All Over the World, Is She Weird

I was so excited to see Pixies coming up and even more excited about Bossanova being assigned to me for the occasion. I love this record, actually I love all the Pixies records, but hey, great starting point.  Cecilia Ann starts off the album with clearly a surf influence. Then Rock Music comes in and Black Francis voice sounds more demonic than ever, while Santiago puts his guitar on fire (I can't help but thinking of that moment of the show where Santiago makes his guitar squeak and squeal and even if it's not the case you would think that he is alone on the stage, but I think about that specific moment in several points of this album).  Two songs later we are treated with Is She Weird, probably my favourite song ever; nobody knows what is it about but I could listen to this 28 times in a row and sing along (shout along!) every single time. It's right here in my opinion that the album really takes off: Ana is such a sweet song, with all those subdued guitar parts and the almost whispered backing vocals; kind of the same trick on All Over The World, but with more loud parts and with an epic ending (Santiago again center stage). It's a great transition into the kind-of-funky Dig For Fire. Has anyone else heard those ghostly voices in the background on Down To The Well? And what to say about The Happening? It's irresistible, if you don't bounce your head and/or dance to this song you are not from this planet, but neither Pixies are so nothing wrong with you. And then it comes Blown Away which in some ways show the direction they would take on Trompe Le Monde (controversially, my favourite album of theirs ever!). Hang Wire comes storming before Stormy Weather almost at the end of the album and then you realize that they haven't let go for a single second. That's a magnificent run of songs!  And finally Havalina sort of comes back to the mood of Cecilia Ann.  I don't know if I should say that this is a masterpiece, but I really really love this album and I know I already said it but there it is. 

Not my favorite Pixies album, but it's the fucking Pixies! It rules!

I’d been wanting to explore the Pixies for a while and this gave me the perfect excuse. Bossanova is phenomenal. The post punk, surf rock, and folk rock influence is obvious, and their own influence in later bands such as Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, and Nirvana is abundantly clear. So great I immediately started it over

This is a fun little album. I'm predisposed to like the Pixies. It just does what it does and doesn't annoy me, I guess. I'm tired. Have a 4.

This was a cool listen, with some lesser-known (and new to me) gems. I love the tricks they use in their songs, like a 3-chord repeating chord progression, or those spiky lead lines as countermelody to the vocals.

Not usually the kind of rock I’m into but I actually really enjoyed the album. Songs were repetitive but fun to listen to

5* every day Album 3 by Pixies and they are still crunching out fresh whopper tunes as tho it’s their 1st album. There are many references to a best debut category. If there was a best first 3 albums band it could only be Pixies. Cover art 5/5. I love every cover on the 4AD label

Not regarded by most as such, but for me this is the best album from one of my favourite bands. So weird and otherworldly but at the same time melodic and familiar. Simply amazing!!

Typische Pixies-sound. And I like it

Plenty to really really like. To name a few, the Instrumental opener, Deal’s pounding bass lines throughout, the guitar oli on Alison, the theramin on Velouria. But it’s nothing crazy by Pixies’ standards I think As far as their post-Doolittle albums go, I’ll always prefer Trompe Le Mondo and I’m not sure why that isn’t a much more popular opinion

I feel like the tracking was a bit off for this album. The opening instrumental was a lot of fun and then it led to "Rock Star," which is not a bad song but I think "Velouria" would have been a better second track. The Spotify listening numbers disagree with me, but I feel the back half is stronger than the front half. I have always been a Pixies greatest hits type of listener but really enjoyed (outside of the hits on the album) Alison, Is She Weird, All Over the World, The Happening and Stormy Weather. In fact, the only song I didn't particularly care for was Rock Music, hence why I didn't love the tracking. I have not gotten "Surfer Rosa," which I am told is actually better than this album.

I love the roughness of Pixies records. Some real quality grunge. Dig for Fire is the best track, displaying all the best qualities of the Pixies.

Solid. The beginning of 90s rock, I fucks wit it.

Some nice stuff here, some quite annoying sounds, some really lovely songs.

Vous qui suivez mon parcours grâce aux différents partages de localisation qui émanent de mon téléphone portable savez que j'ai écouté cet album alors que je me trouvais dans le Generator Hostel de Hambourg, réputé être un lieu saint de la communauté des 1001. J'étais donc parfaitement disposé à apprécier cet album, et ce fut le cas. J'ai néanmoins été très peiné de voir que Robert Dimery avait décoré son auberge de jeunesse d'une fresque constituée de différents albums recalés de la liste. Une vidéo prise en caméra cachée par mes soins pourra servir de preuve en cas de besoin.

Saved Prior: None Saved Off Rip: Cecilia Ann, Velouria, Allison, Ana, Havalina Cutting Edge: Dig for Fire Overall Notes: I REALLY did not like this one at first. Luckily it's pretty short so I could listen to it a bunch of times, and it has very much grown on me. A lot more abrasive than I was expecting going in, but once I more or less knew what was going on in the songs they were pretty good. Excited for the other Pixies albums.

Not as disappointing as Surfer Rosa. Still a chore to allow to proceed through all 14 tracks and 44 minutes. Best track: the Happening

It's OK. Just average alt rock. I won't listen to it again and don't remember a single note of it.

Pixies always good, but nothing struck out to me here

This album didn't really move the needle for me. After the second track I almost turned it off, but then settled in as some decent background music, so it wasn't bad enough for me to turn it off, there's that I guess.

Pixies were my absolute favourite band in my late teens. I must have played this album thousands of times on my walkman going to and from school. I probably played it even more than Doolittle. This is a bigger and slicker sounding album - that's the surfrock influences at work - but it is just as varied. I think that's what I liked about the band foremost: they did angry shout-y stuff, grungy and intense songs, more poppy tracks, fast ones, slow ones. I am easily bored. Listening to the Pixies I am not.

Every. Single. Song. 10/10.

Nothing but love for this album.

Loved this band! Can’t believe I’ve been missing out on them for so long (I have probably heard some of their hits before)

Excellent!

Favourite tracks: Cecilia Ann; Alison; is she weird; all over the world; ana; hang wire

This is not my favorite Pixies album, but I think all the original albums are worth 5 stars. They still sound amazing, and the songwriting is still surprising and fresh, even after I've listened to them so many times. Yes, many bands took things from The Pixes, but no one has been able to completely replicate or replace what they did, and I don't think anyone ever will, especially this far out. There were just too many things that led to the lightning in a bottle that were that band. Yes, the Pixies themselves are still around and making new music, but even they are obviously something different.

Best one yet. Gonna come back to it

I always adore Pixies, they are like one of my favorate 80s-90s alter rock band. Bossanova is a classic and I love it. It's a pleasure to revisit this album, and good to know I still enjoy it.

Love Pixies. Love this album. This and Trompe le Monde are definitely underrated compared to Surfer Rosa and Doolittle. But they are just as great in my opinion. Pixies are definitely in my top 5 favourite bands. I even like their new stuff. New album coming out tomorrow!

Everything after the first two songs is 🔥

Shows a diverse range from a band I was aware of but not overly familiar with. Will be listening to much more from them.

“ From distant star to this here bar The me, the you, where are we now? Hurray the blues of everyone ALLYSON” Enough said.

I don't know why I haven't listened to the Pixies before this. So good, so deserving of their reputation. There's so much variety, ups and downs, slower stuff and faster stuff, love it. The way the album starts is great love the slap in your face that "Rock Music" brings. The surfer vibes are great. This album is absolutely immaculate.

4.6 2x another classic to me

8.7/10 👍🏻

What a stunner of an album. "Rock Music" is the weakest link, but it's still a decent tune.

Excellent. Raw and gritty but also melodic and easy to listen to.

I really enjoyed this album.

As a fan of the whole 90's grunge era, I know I'm supposed like the Pixies, but honestly, I don't. I never have.

To me this was totally different then the Pixies' first two albums but I still really dug it. This was harder and you can see how they grew and helped to develop the 90s rock era but still kept their own Pixie charm. The Happening really was a perfect mesh of their previous sound with those newer 90's sounds.

One of my favorite albums by one of my favorite bands! This one is maybe not quite as good as Doolittle or Trompe le Monde. I give it a 4.5 but they start the album with an instrumental. I love a good instrumental. so... cinco.

This was like being back dancing the night away at Le Diapason I my teens

Outstanding, one of the last truly great bands.

What I consider a gem of punk from the 90s. Has aged extremely well and I think its better today than it was when I was in grade school. Amazing producing, order, recording, clear sound. Just one of the greatest post punk albums ever

Great album not even their best imho Standout album after some recent ropey choices been provided

Obligatory 5 yayy pixies yaayyyy

Another great album by Pixies. Another great album to listen at maximum volume. Another great album to remember the first time I heard it. A few days later I played "Rock Music" for my roommate who was in a band and loved hard rock and heavy metal, and his face absolutely melted. His respect for my twee indie tastes grew three sizes that day. Another memory of getting this on a vinyl repress after my divorce and absolutely rattling the plaster off the walls with it. And to think this is commonly regarded as only the third best Pixies album.

Great album by the Pixies

An effortless cool Layered in wild chants and riffs Beauty and madness

Great.

There have been a handful of artists who, after getting exposed to their music through this project, have had their discographies become a regular part of my musical rotation. The Pixies are one of these artists. This record is super good. I love the industrial sort of off-rythym sound they have, coupled with the signature '90s alt and grunge vibe. If this is what all surf rock sounds like (I have no idea, honestly), then I'm a fan of the genre. Standouts are Allison, Is She Weird, Down to the Well, and The Happening.

I don't listen to the Pixies much. This album explains to me why I'm wrong.

I love the Pixies. But this is their last really good record. That’s why it’s even more important!

Brilliant

Well let’s start by saying that I’d give any of the first few Pixies albums a 5, so thats got that out of the way pretty easily. Just such a unique band, so sinister and brutal yet beautiful and kinda euphoric. While they’ve been a massive influence on others, nobody ever has or likely will sound like them. Anyway, listening to this again (for the thousandth time) got me on the age old question of what’s your favourite Pixies album. I don’t think it’s the most common view but this always comes out as mine. Which might seem odd given Kim Deal had a massive back seat on this one (start of the fall-outs I think). I think for me the thing I most like about the Pixies is the rhythm guitar and those chugging odd chord progressions that drive everything. This album of all of them I think has that more to the forefront. Plus as an album it just builds from start to finish (every song just seems to get better) and by Hang Wire and Stormy Weather you’ve got just the most fantastic crescendo. I suspect this would be in my Top 10 on this list as a whole (and we’ve still got 3.5yrs of it left to go!).

This was my gateway drug to the world of US rock on the bus to school and it stills sounds amazing today. Who knows what nonsense he's screaming about but it made sense to me at the time. Plus as a geographer, there was the bonus of a song about the weather. Just awesome.

Love it! On repeat all day.

Cecilia Ann- this song actually makes me feel like I'm in an action movie. Rock Music- this song has the perfect title. I like the way Frank screams the lyrics. Velouria- I can't even decribe my feelings for this song. It makes me ascend. I love it so much. I think it can be agreed that this is the best song on the album. Allison- I also love this song. It is such a vibe. "I saw the face of Allison" is delivered perfectly. Is She Weird- this is such an amazing song. The bass is really what pulls this together. This feels like an ideal Pixies song. "Is she over me?" *chef's kiss* Ana- this song reminds me of wasting away in the sunlight. This is the first song I ever heard off of this album and I'll always love it. All Over the World- this song reminds me of the apocalypse and experiencing death. This is a great song. It feels so Pixies. Dig for Fire- I've never been a huge fan of this song. It doesn't feel like the Pixies. It feels to happy and upbeat. It's safe to say this is my least favorite track off the album. Down To The Well- this song is angsty. Once again, it was never one of my favorites. The Happening- this song also reminds me of the end of the world. I like to pair it with All Over the World. Blown Away- this song is so easy to forget sometimes. It didn't even do anything wrong. It sounds good, so why don't I treat it like it is? Hang Wire- this is a good angsty song. I feel like a villain listening to this. "That man is a liar" perfect. Stormy Weather- this is a pretty okay song. It's not one of my favorites off of the album. It is kind of a bop, though. Havalina- I also feel like wasting away to this song. I like to pair it with Ana. I like this song. It sparks some emotion that I literally can't describe. It's like the song is trying to say goodbye to the listeners. Overall- this is not my first time listening to the album. It's not even my fifth time. I love this album and I love the Pixies. Although this isn't their best or their most iconic album, it is still worth the listen. My favorite tracks are Velouria, Ana, Is She Weird, Allison, and Havalina. Although the second half does feel a little filler, the first half makes me want to ascend. 5/5

Right fucking on, man! I’ve been rewarded. The universe heard my desperation while I was going through it with that Radiohead shit yesterday and maybe somehow knew I’m seeing the Pixies this weekend? This album is a tour de force, so many incredible songs. Whenever “what’s your favourite Pixies album” is asked I find it impossible to decide. This whole album flows so perfectly, and every track has something unique to engage, either musically or lyrically. I love this band. They are so underrated and unappreciated (at least in the circles I'm stuck running in.) For a period of time there the Pixies were putting out straight fire, year after year and I wish I'd come of age in their peak era. Is she weird? Yes! Is she white? YES! Is she married to the night? Yes Yes! Feels like this album was made for my ears because they love every note and want there to be more. It's just so fucking good!

El mejor álbum de los Pixies en mi opinión. Con un sonido sumamente lúgubre en comparación a sus discos anteriores, la banda Black Francis explora nuevos horizontes agarrando una tabla de surf, pero vistiéndose completamente de negro. Más consistente como trabajo completo que Doolittle o Surfer Rosa. Lo recomiendo completamente.

The first song is one of the worst I’ve ever heard, but the rest of the album rated a five

Out of the original Pixies' albums this one is probably my least favorite, because the second half has some filler. But it is still the Pixies so it is amazing and I did enjoy it more than previous listens. This album also has some of my all time favorite Pixies' songs: Velouria, Is She Weird, The Happening, Ana I recommend seeing them live if you get the chance. 4.5

A true banger of an album. Every single song fucks!

come on man its pixies

Wow!

One of the great ones of this era. More to come from this band

AMAZING

Generally not held in as high regard as Doolittle, I listened to the album waiting for a few clunkers. They never arrived. A solid album from start to finish. Highlights being Velouria, Ana, Allison and Is She Weird. Admittedly, the highs don’t quite reach the Doolittle highs, but it’s a more consistent album overall.

5/5 - basically a classic

A delight! I am a long time Pixies fan but didn't consider this as one of my favourite albums until giving it a couple of more active listens. What a delightful mix of strange lyrics and organized chaos. Had to resist dancing on the bus to this! The timeline on this one was perfect for my mood and has no doubt reignited my Pixies obsession. Not even my favourite Pixies album but fantastic none the less! Favourite tunes (hard to choose): Velouria, Havalina, Rock Music

This is the type of indie rock I like. Give me this style of music every day. I'd never listened to a Pixies album and this is super dope.

Not the best Pixies album by any means, but still a great listen. There are a couple of lesser quality tracks towards the end, but they don't ruin it. When I first heard this album years ago, I remember reading a review that dubbed it "the best album to listen to while driving across a desert", and I always wanted to test that theory. I finally got the chance a couple of years ago, driving from Las Vegas to Flagstaff along Route 66 in a rented Ford Mustang. Have to say, it was pretty fantastic!

HAVALINAAAAA… HAVALINAAAAAA

Album 371 of 1001 Pixies - Bossanova Rating : 5 / 5 I've grown to like the Pixies. Even more into Black Francis' releases as Frank Black. They get an extra point just because I enjoy them so and I didn't do Surfer Rosa justice when it was album of the day. Probably not a 5 to many others but today it is, for me.

A classic !

Great

Sublime

AMAZING

Velouria, Ana, Allison.

It doesn't have the hits of their other albums but Bossanova is solid.

Love Pixies.

Such an influential band. I tend to lean towards Doolittle as my favorite, but this is a great record.

OH SHIT OH DAMN OH FUCK. Finally something good! I’ve always liked this one a lot. Pixies discography is pretty much essential listening so kicking the day off with Cecilia Ann feels sooooo right. There’s so much going on right off the bat and it’s just so much fun. I can imagine pixies shows around the time this came out must have been crazy. Good ass simple fun songs with tons of energy, nice and quick listen. Doesn’t need much of a deep interpretation beyond the cool stuff that jumps out, like the crispy guitar tones in The Happening to the radio friendly Dig for Fire it’s like a good ass mess of frenzy and chill.

Pixies are in my top bands of all time. Love this album! Still holds up and my favorites are and were Velouria and Dig for Fire.

love!

As a very casual Pixies fan most of these songs are totally new to me. On a first play through, i think I actually prefer this to Surfer Rosa - it would certainly be a close run thing. Very satisfying, cohesive album with plenty of pixies weirdness

Very enjoyable from start to finish

I have this on “CD” but know Doolittle better. Man I’d forgotten HOW GOOD THIS IS!