Bossanova

Not quite their best but still streets ahead of most

Ha! Two Pixies in a row! A treat or a test? Turns out it was a treat! I liked this one much better.

“Rock Music” will never get old! It’s definitely one of my go to tracks when I need a pick me up. As for the rest of the album, it’s solid. This one feels more polished than their previous releases, and it might just be their most cohesive and consistent effort up to this point.

Oeff heel moeilijk om te luisteren echt helemaal niks voor mij. Eerste nummer dacht ik nog instrumyaak leuk, maar dit is echt te rock voor mij. Ben nu bij nummer 2 maar ga denk ik niet af luisteren

Eerste twee nummers vrij vreselijk, daarna ouderwetse rock en vond ik eigenlijk nog best aardig

Don’t mind this at all, especially the second half

Meh Fave track: Velouria

Doolittle better. 3/5

Was not a fan of this

not gonna lie, i expected something way worse after hearing “Surfing Rosa”, but this album was much more conceptual, engaging and overall enjoyable. great stuff

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Is She Weird, Dig For Fire Second Pixies album on the List. For whatever reason, this felt less experimental than Surfer Rosa, and consequently more approachable; more refined, but still quite out there at times. The album opens with like a surfer rock song, but then the immediately next song is almost screamo rock music called... Rock Music. Three of the songs are named after women, at least. Velouria and Havalina could very well be too. On closer inspection of some of the tracks, I am left with an impression of: This reminds me a ton like the Smashing Pumpkins, both in the quality of the music, but especially because of the almost poetic quality of the lyrics. I think I gave Surfer Rosa a 4. I think that album is more likely a 3, but Where Is My Mind? elevates it to a 4. I think I like this album more than Surfer Rosa due to it being more refined, but it simply doesn't have that killer track on it.

The Pixies’ final masterpiece. More polish and refinement from their earlier work, but none the less impactful.

dnf

There is a definite spaciness to this album due in large part to the bright guitar playing. Bossanova upholds the melodic qualities of Doolittle while forgoing the claustrophobia and abrasiveness. To follow such a masterpiece would be no easy feat, but I think they did a decent job here. I enjoy the overall soundscape of Pixies, so I can’t complain. Maybe it’ll grow on me with time.

9/10 Incredible!

i didn’t think i liked the 90s or grunge but i actually rly liked this. fun album

I had a great time listening to this album. I knew a few of the tracks from it. It feels like it has a bit less of an edge compared to Doolittle, but it’s still good overall with some really catchy books and basslines. It’s been really nice to get to revisit Pixies, since I hadn’t really listened to their stuff in years, then got 2 albums within a month of each other. I will probably listen to this one again.

Less cacophonic than 'Surfer Rosa' but still pretty gristly. While there was only one song I found keepable on the former, this album at least has a few decent tracks (all be them still slathered in more noise than is necessary). This feels like a 3 to me. Less so as a statement of neutrality, and more as a net sum of the elements I genuinely enjoy brought down by the unfortunate noise rock, which I flatly hate.

Pixies aren’t doing it for me. This was more enjoyable than the last Pixies album. It didn’t do enough for me to move it into a 3.

So good I liked ANA

Fun, a little chaotic at times. Sometimes I loved the chaos And other times I hated it, but maybe in a healthy, cathartic type of way. Made me feel like an angry teenager, letting out some feels.

In 1990, if I wasn't listening to metal it was probably American alt rock. It's on my shelves. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆ (8/10) Total reviewed : 184 Already owned : 42 Purchased : 7 Buy : 5 Nope : 130

Better than Coldplay

Só conhecia uma música deles - “Where Is My Mind?” Achava que eram mais vibes chill, i guess not O álbum chama-se Bossanova mas de bossa nova não tem nada “Dig for Fire” bem haja brendon pelos ensinamentos de triângulo A intro da down to hell parecia que ia ser plagio da the man who sold the world Stormy Weather - não sei como caralhos eles tocavam isto ao vivo mas literalmente está sempre a mudar de dinâmicas e velocidade Havalina é vibes

3,7* Eita não tava à espera deste metal pesado do nd na 2 faixa aakakakak, e esta letrs tmb mt criativa, só 1 frase a música toda akaka Faixa 3 "Velouria" amei, imagino me a ouvir isto a estourar enquanto conduzo, that's a good sign Is she weird, is she white - hm ok akaka Velouria, Alisson, Ana, Betty, Havalina ns qm são vcs mas o pa lucky girls q têm músicas q falam em vcs akakaka Não percebi pq eq o album se chama Bossanova akakaka Gostei do álbum, tem uma vibe top, ouviria again. Fav song: Velouria

Só não e melhor que o doolitle ou surfer rosa

Pleasantly surprised! Reminds me of the cure, smashing pumpkins, and a bit of grunge 🕺🏻 I rate it!

would not listen to it

Bossanova pixies A instrumental/20 B 15/20 C 11/20 D 13/20 E 12/20 F 10/20 G 11/20 H 11/20 I 14/20 J 10/20 K 11/20 L 11/20 M 9/20 N 8/20 Album 11,23/20 3 stars

Missed it the first go round and found it heart pumping and fun!

I was in between a 4 and 5 but I think I’ll settle on a 4 because I’m not confidently at a 5. I really liked the sound of this. I’ve always meant to listen to more of their songs but never got around to it until now.

This is a good 90s alternative rock record. While it doesn't hold the same status within the alternative canon as Doolittle(which I rated a 5 earlier in this project), it is still an excellent record with many of the hallmarks of the Pixies' sound. It is both abrasive and melodic in equal measure; the vocals reflect this despite their questionable quality. It is undeniable that this is still a great album, even if it doesn't hold the same status as their earlier work. I do find this a bit more accessible than Doolittle, which is perhaps strange as it's said to be the most spiritually Pixies of all the Pixies records.

There may be more Pixies albums on this list than there are Bossa Nova records. I guess it’s interesting to hear how different all of their albums are from eachother, but I’m not convinced we need this many. For a band that inspired Nirvana so much, this is a decidedly non-grunge album for them to put out in 1990. I think that helps demonstrate how eclectic the Pixies catalog really is.

I enjoyed it as background music for working because the rhythm was perfect for that, but the lyrics were lacking.

I haven't heard this one before, but I've listened to Surfer Rosa and Doolittle a few times. Was really hoping this was their "disco" album, but alas, it's just more of the same.

Pretty boring, nothing special. I guess I just don't get Pixies

Really enjoyed this. Sits at a 4 for me on first listen but I suspect given a few more plays through I would be reaching for the 5 card.

I was familiar with the Pixies but had never really sat down and listened to one of their albums before this. It was an interesting listen, and I can hear why they were such a big influence on a lot of bands that came after them. The whole thing has this grungy, slightly weird sound that feels like it’s sitting right between alternative rock and what would later turn into full-on grunge. Some cool moments for sure, but nothing that totally hooked me.

I really enjoyed this one. Even though I’ve been familiar with the band I never really listened to them. I enjoyed seeing how varied music they have done. I didn’t know songs like “rock music” or other, I liked seeing that side of them. Other songs were also in line with my taste.

Pretty weird, but a lot of fun. I really liked their more out there tracks. Listened to this one a few times since it first showed up on the list and liked it a little more each time. Favorite Song: Hang Wire

a construção da narrativa desse álbum é muito linda; dá para perceber como uma música se conecta com a outra. a sonoridade, em muitas partes, faz com que você sinta que está flutuando. muito bom, esse álbum foi crescendo em mim enquanto eu escutava.

Was alright didn't get to listen to it properly

I love it so much. Perfectly listenable and all around great music for just listening.

That was quite enjoyable - I've only ever heard Debaser by the Pixies. would listen again.

Pixies: Bossanova On Bossanova, the Pixies trade their underground grit for a sprawling, celestial surf-rock ambition. It is a record of stark contrasts, leaning heavily into a sci-fi aesthetic that feels both extraterrestrial and sun-bleached. The album shines brightest when Black Francis leans into melody; tracks like "Velouria" and "Dig for Fire" showcase a band mastering the art of the "shimmering" alternative anthem, while the closing atmospheric drift of "Havalina" proves they can handle subtlety with grace. However, the listening experience is occasionally interrupted by the band’s penchant for sonic aggression. For those less inclined toward the abrasive side of heavy rock, tracks like "Rock Music" can feel like a jarring detour, bordering on the overwhelming. While these moments represent the band’s punk roots, they sometimes sit at odds with the "space-age" polish of the rest of the production. Despite these moments of friction, the production remains remarkably consistent, successfully anchoring the album’s eccentric themes in a cohesive, high-fidelity soundscape. It’s a solid, if occasionally turbulent, voyage through the stars.

Really like its sound, weak point is it felt repetitive after a while. Thank you for is she weird 🙏. 3.5/5

Solid rock

It's...fine. Nowhere near as good as their first two, but then again Surfer Rosa and Doolittle are bonafide classics. Velouria and All Over the World are my favourites.

Like it

yes i'm blown away

This is another case of the right band making the list but probably not their best album.

Fun, varied, heavy- good stuff!

How is every bad pixie song on the same album?

I know Surfer Rosa much better, but this is a solid record. No skips. Great musicianship and lyrics.

Veloria had cool theramins. Not a fan of the screaming vocals so far on some tracks, or weird whispery voices. Only a few interesting parts so far, probably a 2 here. Historicaly, I haven't been a fan of the Pixies, having 2 other albums on this list of theirs.

Nothing stood out.

Well, this is different than Surfer Rosa. Sometimes I think I like it more, other times I feel it hits different but in a generally similar intensity. A little more melodic I guess. I'm glad I heard it but I might never put it on again. 3.1/5

Há mais de 20 anos esse foi o primeiro álbum do Pixies que ouvi inteiro. Comprei o CD em uma lojinha de discos perto de onde eu estudava e ouvi muito no meu discmann a pilha. O disco continua ótimo. QoA Cloudscape.

One of many great pixies albums

Fruktansvärd produktion, låter som valfri ABF-hårdrocksproduktion för en egenpressad cd 1990. Det här måste va den värsta avarten av amerikansk alternativrock, jag tycker det här är hemskt. 14 låtar långt är det också, det är minst 15 (!) för mycket. Jävla pissband!

Mer rakt fram-rock än Doolittle, men fortfarande unikt och säreget. Mjukare och mer melodier. Lyfter låtar som Ana, My Velouria, The Happening, Havalina med flera.

För ovanlighetens skull så har vi amerikansk indie som faktiskt är riktigt bra. Detta är i mitt tycke Pixies bästa album. Gillar hur de använder de ensamma gitarrslingorna istället för att bara bröta på. Flera fina låtar, inte minst Velouria och Happening.

Bättre än förra Pixies-albumet vi fick till oss. Låter ibland som en dyster version av surf-rock. FLera fina låtar och några mindre bra. Is She Weird blir nästan som ett barnrim. Dig for Fire är inte heller någon höjdare. Annars tycker jag det håller en bra nivå.

168/1001 Pixies - Bossanova Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Whilst it doesn't have the incredibly great tracks like Surfer Rosa or Doolittle have, this is a a thoroughly consistent listen. There's the weirdness you get from Pixies, but also a level of polish about it. It's an extremely solid album.

80's metal not for me

Horrible 2/10 Best song cecillian Ann

Back in the day I checked out on the Pixies after "Doolittle". Most likely due to my late twenties hipster tendencies, once they had a hit they couldn't possibly be cool anymore. Listening to this today the songs don't grab me the way those first two albums did, but now I'm quite a bit older so things hit differently these days. It's alright, still very Pixies and off-kilter at just the right moments.

Iconic

Previously rated: #812 - Surfer Rosa (4/5) #289 - Doolittle (4/5) *************************** Album #996 I listened to this over a week ago, so I've forgotten the specifics, but I thought it was unique sounding and wanted to give it another listen, so 4/5 again.

Classic Pixies sound: fun, creative with the unique atmosphere that Pixies deliver

Not the most popular album from the pixies or one that I might use to introduce the pixies to someone. But solid album and very enjoyable

By this record Pixies were everywhere on college radio. I purchased this on CD and played it regularly for the kids at the school I was teaching science and math at. So frequent was this album in rotation that most of the kids could sing along to the deeper cuts. Surprisingly, for me anyway, was that the album opened up with Cecilia Ann, originally by the Surftones. Blew my mind as they stay remarkably true to the original. A little more aggressive perhaps but still pretty close to the original. Normally this would be buried towards the end of the record but here it works beat leads straight into Rock Music with Frank screaming repeatedly Your Mouth’s a Mile Away for most of the song. Velouria still sounds great after 35 years. Oblique lyrics which only make sense when you sing them. How does Lemur skin reflect the sea? Good question. What does that even mean? Somehow it all works. Straight forward rocker Allison has hints of the surf guitar but is just a teaser as Dig For Fire, The Happening and Hang Wire fill out the record with catchy sing-a-long songs. It’s a very good record and can be played on repeat without fear of the dreaded overplayed label that comes with some records. It’s the grit, it’s the grunge, it’s Kim who adds the nuances that make the songs so enjoyable. Top shelf this one! 4/5

feb 11th 2026 just what i like , i started off really strong then took a bit of a dive towards to end, but overall i fuck with it,

Really enjoyed havalina - quite dreamy and a great ending to the album. A solid album with a cohesive vibe but still takes from different genres for some contrast - great to just have on in the background.

ma ei teaaa polnud minu cup of tea eriti, mulle meeldivad teised Pixies albumid rohkem, midagi erilist ei torkinud kõrva

me senti teletransportada pra juventude dos anos 90. shoutout pra is she weird.

Rock alternativo é sempre 8 ou 80. Nesse caso tá mais pro 8. Eu entendo que é uma banda influente, mas eu não consegui sentir interesse por nenhuma música. Melhor do álbum: "Cecilia Ann. Pior do álbum: "Rock Music".

okay i didn’t like it at first but then i kind of came around with the later half of the album. dig for fire is good

***** ..and I have the cover framed in my dining room. 1. Velour is 2. Is She Weird 3. Dig For Fire 4. The Happening ..and it’s not their best!

Thats a good album! Every song has its own unique feeling, but without falls into the consistency of the album. Even keeping the wholeness of it, it was made in a way that every song has its own thing. It is new, even being old. I can see how pixie is a great band. Before listing to this album, i thought that it was a band of one song only, but goddam, how i am happy to be wrong. This album is amazing!

Great album!

Don't get me wrong, it's a great album - it's Pixies, duh. But well, I think Where Is My Mind? made me subconsciously expect every song of theirs to be some single-being-worthy hit with greater purpose ahead. But, well, no. It's just a very well-written alt rock album which I enjoyed and I might come back to, but I wouldn't call it an ethereal experience.

Damn, sure. Ok Pixies. My apologies, I was unfamiliar with your game. I don’t know where this came from, but I kind of loved it. I feel kind of bad saying the intro song “Cecilia Ann” is my favorite, but it is. I feel bad about it specifically because it doesn’t have any vocals, and I really did like this guys voice as well. I don’t know if you could call it a great representation of the band, but it’s getting added to my favorites playlist regardless. It was not only the perfect intro, but it had a classic surfing music vibe and reminded me of “Miserlou”, one of my favorite songs. Pixies are a band I’ve heard by name only, and can only pull their biggest hit out of my head “Where Is My Mind?”, which is not on this album, but I did also recognize “Is She Weird” from this album, so that was cool. I’m almost certain there are more songs I would recognize if I heard them by the Pixies. It’s one of those bands, you know the ones I mean. Can’t think of any songs you know, but end up recognizing more than you thought you would. This album was not your usual generic Indie Rock, it’s full of a bunch of different sub genres that jump from song to song and range from Surfer Rock, Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, Indie Rock, Punk Rock, and many more. All that is to say, it never gets boring. To me, this is a 4.0 on the dot. It JUST reaches into the territory of being outstanding, but still far from perfect. I found myself running into a good issue to have with this album a few times today. Every time the album would end and restart, I’d find myself saying “Damn, that was the entire album??”. At 39 minutes and 14 songs a pop, this one feels more like it lasts for 10 minutes. Like I said, it’s a good problem to have. This is the first of 3 Pixies albums I have rolled for this this project, and currently the lowest rated on the website. That absolutely shocks me. You’re telling me they get even better?? There’s a very high likelihood I give this band a 5 or 2 before this project is over if they keep kicking this much ass. Good stuff here. Will be returning to it for sure. I’m a big fan of this. Badass album art as well.

There’s something so alien about velouria, don’t you think? Like this mysterious ‘higher kind’ type being, that you fall into a pit of obsession with. Combined with one of the best / simplest riffs ever! And I love is she weird too it’s like this weird tribal worship levels of insanity. Dig for fire too is just brilliant, really catchy little chorus The happening, is a tad ominous and I really like that/ it ends in a great little rant I’ve had 2 1’s before this so it might sound better than it should but I’ll give it a 5

Not as good as dolittle

I was not maybe in the right frame to hear this today. I liked about 3 songs and found the rest pretty annoying

favorite tracks: velouria ana all over the world

I tried two times, but I feel like there is a clear reduction in interesting elements and quality as you go through this tracklist. The first two songs start the album off on a unique high, then after that a general progression into alt rock muzak. 2.4/5 -> 2/5

Nice vibe.

Velouria, Is She Weird, Dig for Fire rest is ok but not spectacular like the rest of their albums.

It always amazes me how weirdly good they sound.

I prefer "Surfer Rosa" but it's the Pixies. That's almost always gonna be 4 stars at least.

não achei que ia gostar tanto. vou colocar 3,5, mas dependendo dos próximos de pixies que saírem pode ser que eu aumente para 4.

It was ok. Pixies are one of those bands where a little goes a long way. No one track jumped out as being exceptional, and none were particularly egregious. 3/5

I avoided listening to this one for a while as I'd always heard people say that it's not the best Pixies album. That's a fair assessment but it's still pretty great. "Bossanova" lacks the obvious hits but otherwise fits right in with the band's style, merging proto-grunge and post punk with surf rock and

𝘉𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢 leans heavily into atmosphere and texture, drifting between surf-inspired guitar lines, sci-fi imagery and loud-quiet dynamics. The songs feel looser and more spacious, often prioritizing mood over sharp hooks or clear payoffs. That approach gives the album a distinctive character, but it also makes parts of it feel unfocused, with tracks blurring together rather than standing out individually. There’s plenty of style and confidence on display, yet the overall experience stays interesting without becoming fully gripping.

Huge fan of Allison. Pretty good, enjoyed the guitar riffs

This album really grew on me fast. At first I wasn’t so sure about it, but by my second listen I was pretty hooked. It’s not quite as great as the last pixies album I got that had the fight club song on it, but I’d say this album had other things going for it that I liked. My only problem is that for every song I really loved like Allison, or Hang wire there were songs that I didn’t care for and didn’t find memorable at all. Definitely a solid album, but not perfect.

This was ok but I don’t think I’ll be rushing back to it.

wild wild stuff

Great percussion Killer funk love it

I don't know what it is about Bossanova, but something about it charms endlessly. It's not the Pixies' best album, but it is so strong in spite of turmoil within the band. Kim Deal fades even further into the background than on Doolittle, but she would inject the surfy vibes from this album into the next The Breeders album. I think Deal would appreciate that the last truly 'good' Pixies album was the last one she was on. To their credit, while the songwriting isn't as inspired as previous records, there are some real earworms here, from beginning to end. Bossanova also gets the benefit of being newer and fresher to me, whereas I have played Doolittle to death. This is probably the Pixies album I reach for most often these days.

Not my favorite Pixies album

The Pixies have always struck me as pretty good, but not great. I feel like I should like them more - all the stuff I typically like is there - but they just don't quite connect. I've listened to their catalog quite a bit, in an effort to try to like them more, and I can't think of an album I would give a 5 to . . . or a 3.

I love Velouria, Ana, and Havalina. I like quite few more than that on this record. They kind of perfected their sound on this album, but it kind of makes me miss the less engineered feeling of the previous records. While they are not my favorite songs on their respective albums, I like the slapdash nature of Tony’s Theme or Hey. This album is more intentional. I also think that my introduction to the Pixies went Doolittle, back to Surfer Rosa and then Bossanova and that is affecting my perception of the relative value.

This was great! As a casual Pixies fan up to now I knew five or six songs; I think Velouria was the only track from this one that was even slightly familiar. I liked practically all of this a lot so it's hard to single out other tracks, but some of my favorites were Cecilia Ann, Allison, Is She Weird, and Stormy Weather.

5/5 - The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Not enough albums on this list have that quality, so I'll give it high marks for that. This has all the qualities of a PIxies album you'd expect along with a few tracks you can take home with you. It's a big comfy chair of loud-soft-loud and offbeat lyrics. Yes, please.

Not my jam. I probably should like the Pixies, but I just can't find a consistency or reason to latch onto them. Pitchfork: 9.1 Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs

Some good songs, some screaming I didn’t vibe with

A mix of alt. rock, grunge, and slightly surfer vibes. Not wholly my taste but would definitely listen to again. Plus Pixies are just iconic anyway.

I, for one, really dig the Pixies sound. It's dark and visceral and loud, but also energetic and powerful and also subdued. I can see why Pixies were such an influential sound for later bands. While this album is not my favorite by Pixies (hellooo Doolittle!), it is still a great sampling of their sound. I could listen to it again and again.

Love the pixies

Not bad to listen to but once was enough.

I really don't understand the hype around the Pixies.

One of the better things for me about getting older and not participating in music-based subcultures anymore is that I no longer had to pretend to like The Pixies. So it’s kind of a bummer to see this album pop up. As a band, they’re fine! I understand their influence, but I’ve never really got why they’re THE touchstone. “Velouria” is a good song even if it sounds like a restatement of “Wave of Mutilation” to my ears (which, to be fair, have not listened to The Pixies in quite some time). “Is She Weird” has a neat Cramps-ish vibe, though it mostly makes me wish I was listening to The Cramps instead. Some good bits of melody here and there, but yeah, none of this is making me reconsider my opinions on this band.

Seemed fine, probably will like it more on more listens. high 2.5

I don’t think we need 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 Pixies album on here. I wasn’t too crazy about it, a lot of nonsense and quite a bit of songs I didn’t feel like listening to all of. Still a couple standouts though, so that’s something. Best Track: Dig for Fire

loved it, love the pixies. all the songs were great!

You can still continue to fight me all you want, I am not backing down. This album is so much tighter and consistent than Doolittle and somehow manages to balance the rough around the edges approach with a lot of fun and exciting tracks that always put a stupid grin right across my face. I think people want a lot more of the bumps when it comes to Pixies because then it really highlights the best tracks on all fronts, but what they don't realize is that this album is all of those best songs just put together. Not a single song misses a single beat and the vibes are immaculate and sunny all the way through with no breaks until the album is finally over. This is easily the "fastest" feeling Pixies project while also being their smoothest yet, it all goes together so god damn well and it further solidifies this as the best Pixies album in my eyes. I am convinced the slight Surf Rock elements scattered all throughout this album really pushed it more into my alley and made this project much more of a win in my eyes. Sorry y'all but Bossanova rains superior.

Gigantic

If there's a band that mixes excellent hooks and melodies with weird and quirky tricks, it's Pixies. It's a lovably noisy album. They definitely wear their influences on their sleeves and mix it all into a cornucopia of their own.

Minimal fan

Did not excite.

YES! I love the Pixies and this album!

Pretty neat. I wasn't familiar with the Pixies non-hits, but this felt right at home.

Better than their Surfa Rosa album. More focused, better production. Still hit or miss for me.

Not my cup of tea

Sounds great, loved rock and roll, not as catchy or maybe distinctive as the others. Glad to have a pretty comprehensive view of The Pixies now, will prob take some time with this one.

Pixies feel like they are from another planet. Such strange choices that don’t all work in the moment, but add up to a crazed, manic, awesome whole. The more I listen to them the more I love them. Surreal and aggressive is a mix you don’t see a lot but it works. There might be it be a single here but the album works so well together I don’t think it matters. Can also hear their influence on alt rock ever since, esp w bands like modest mouse, dinosaur junior, ween.

EVERY MORNING AND EVERY DAY… I BOSSANOVA WITCHA - Hang Wire Doolittle was so great that it forced me to set my expectations SUPER high. This album has a handful of amazing moments that hang (Havalina, Valouria, Rock Music, Hang Wire), but it doesn’t pack the same punch. If Doolittle was a 100 miles an hour fastball, Bossanova is at 85 and Surfa Rosa is at 80. Remember back on Doolittle when Black Francis would open those screechy vocals up and let it rip? Not quite as aggressive on this. Ill cut the negativity though. This albums slaps and the Pixies are a truly great discovery for me on this journey. 3.5 stars and rounding up because Doolittle

Had never heard any of these before, but have given this album an unfair amount of listens over the last few days. At first, this was landing quite average, and was convinced it was just not anywhere near as good as Surfer Rosa or Doolittle, but now I would put it up there. Extra points for the pacing and song placement of this album, something these guys always do so well. I especially love how the first two tracks kind of build up to Velouria, and we kind of get these chunks of songs working so well together throughout the album - love the mix of long instrumentals like Ana and All Over the World and then lyrically dense moments like the end of The Happening. Another very Pixies thing is that guitar work on songs like "Is She Weird" where he's playing the exact melody of the vocals. Really fun. Will come back to this one.

ehh

Könnte gut sein, wird aber auf Dauer anstrengend, weil alle Songs sehr ähnlich sind. Dadurch fühlt sich das Album länger an, als es ist. Hätte aber Potential gehabt.

Decent but far from the best the Pixies have to offer. 6/10

ok I love the pixies but have never given this album a proper listen. I was stupid for that. This is amazinG!!

I'd heard of the Pixies many times without having actually listened to them. Not necessarily the bottle I'm reaching for, but a good execution of the sound.

I have really liked Velouria since I heard the bad plus cover it. Glad to hear the full album finally. Fun time, surfy, punky, grungy

What a doodoo album by a decent band.

One of my favourite bands and have listened to this album many times - currently sitting on an unused CD rack near me (like all my CDs). It's not as raw or edgy as the earlier efforts but probably their most polished and consistent, an amazing sound all-round. Production is spot on and Joey Santiago's guitar has never been better. Whilst nothing grabs your attention like Debaser or reaches the frenzied intensity of Gouge Away, as an album this probably all ties together the best. Velouria is obviously a standout all-timer, but there isn't a lot of filler at all here, the first eight songs in particular a great little run, from the instrumental of Cecilia Ann through to Dig for Fire. It's pretty timeless as just a superb rock album now 35 years on. There are three unmissable Pixies albums that are easily full marks, but this would be the last great album they would do before the disappointing Trompe le Monde (at which point the grunge movement had caught up with them), and the subsequent other projects .

Listenable.

The Pixies are cool—they’re always more than I’m expecting them to be. I feel like I wasn’t giving this album my undivided attention, so I’ll need to spend some more time with it. I appreciate the rapidity of ideas.

I absolutely love the Pixies. I am not a big fan of this album. It sounds like a band trying to sound like the Pixies. This album was the beginning of the end.

Good but needs more listens

It’s decent but I prefer Surfer Rosa and Doolittle over this one.

smorilo

I love picies but this album was not good

Unsurprisingly I love this album. I think it’s hard to rate the first four pixies albums because they’re sort of different but excellent in their own way this one is kind of a subtle record sometimes even though it starts with a crazy rock song I love this surf elements on this and it’s a real guitar record.

een mindere knaller dan de twee voorgaande LPs, maar toch nog steeds beregoed

3.......ALISSON!!!!

I appreciate what they are doing. Surprised at how 80s it sounds. For being such an indie influence the tone is not what I expected. Know I’m supposed to like this more

Y tú, ¿eres de “Bossanova” o de “Doolittle”? Pues los hitazos me gustan más los de “Doolittle” pero como álbum, “Bossanova” me parece más redondo. Y eso que ambos los escuché cuando Pixies ya no estaban de moda. Muy fan del sonido eléctrico, áspero y enojado de este. Hay algún tema que me pone algo de los nervios, todo hay que decirlo, pero está perfectamente integrado. Cuando queráis nos pegamos unos gritos juntos al ritmo de “Rock Music”.

Alright

Good!

awesome but not as good as dolittle

didn’t get to finish it all but there were some bangers for sure

is she weird is a banger omg, stormy weather is the only other stand out

didn't listen to this at the time, would probably have nostalgia love for it if i had. it's quite good. 3.5

great stuff

This? This is the Pixies? I feel like they have a huge following and I've never given them a chance, and I feel pretty let down by what I hear. There's a number of very different sounds on the album - but too many of them turn me off. I was good with Allison, and I liked Havalina, but those are a couple lesser-streamed tracks on this album, so it seems like that's not what Pixie fans are excited about from them. Feels a little like a 'guess you had to be there' album.

One or two missers, but the other songs I really enjoyed both truly listening and while playing in the background. Several playlist additions too.

This one is so hard to rate. It has some absolute bangers, which for me are for sure the opening track "Cecilia Ann" and the tracks "Velouria", "Allison" and "Is She Weird". The problem is a lot of the rest of the album has songs that I do not really love. The songs I mention make me want to give it a 5 but since those together are not even close to half of the album I am going to leave it at a 4

This sure does sound like music from 1990!

pixieeeees!

The only thing wrong with this record is that it came after two of the most perfect albums of all time.

Really do not the vocals Did anyone have a tuner? Same sounding songs

Good album. Nothing mind blowing but an overall solid album. 3/5 Might listen again

I wouldn't call it bad but it doesn't really click with me.

No idea what they're on about but enjoyed trying to find out.

Only knowing where is your mind, I had the wrong idea about pixies. That's definitely them at their best, but I'm glad I stuck this out. Improved as it went along and a thoroughly decent "weird rock" entry.

The more underappreciated Pixies album. A lot more tuned into surf rock and surf punk, and a lot more tuneful than Doolittle and Surfer Rosa. Still a fun time regardless.

Hell yeah, I don't think I'd actually listened to this pixies album before.

Meio qualquer coisa. Pixies é dessas bandas que são adoradas pelas pessoas do meio e que eu, particularmente, nunca entendi muito bem o apelo – principalmente do Doolittle. Infelizmente o caso do Bossanova é o mesmo.

about what I thought it would be

Solid

3.5/5

Nah!

Head bangin in a dive bar in the 90s, if the concept were distilled into musical form

Fun 90s space rock

I've listened to this album several times and I liked it every time. It is a very consistent alternative record from the 90's. I liked the weird melodies, the pleasant singing, the screams that sounds like a cat, the overall catchiness. Basically, there is nothing here that I can say that I actively disliked. However, I don't see myself returning to it. For all that I liked, I am not having the rewarding feelings I should get, and that by itself is kind of disappointing, not the album, but me. I am disappointed in myself for not enjoying it as much as I should, because I think this should be right up my alley. Consider this a very high 3 stars rating.

Patchy, not their best.

I’ve listened to the Pixies’ first two albums a lot but haven’t ventured too far into their stuff beyond that. Bossanova is really solid and probably about the best you could hope for. It’s not as great as those first two, but it’s still quite good from beginning to end. I’ll keep listening to it and who knows, it may just end up becoming a favorite too

Confusing album

Not bad

I wish the Pixies landed as hard for me as they do for so many others, including many of my best friends. Oh well.

Is it weird that I can hear Zoe?

I hated Sonic Youth so reading that Pixies are the other side of the same coin was not a good omen. I didn't enjoy this

Not bad, not exciting me though

Better than I expected.

szczerze nic nie pamiętam z tego albumu ale nie był najgorszy

1. Cecilia Ann - 9 Great instrumental track to open. Some awesome riffs in it that lead the song along the way right from the off. 2. Rock Music - 2 Awful sounding track. Moe noise rock than anything. The guitar's screeching is very unenjoyable as are the overly hoarse vocals. 3. Velouria - 4 It's a bit lyrically uninspiring. Very repetitive, way too much so. Instrumentally it's okay. 4. Allison - 5 It's okay. Better than Velouria but's a pretty average track overall. 5. Is She Weird - 5 Lyrics are very odd at times. They're a little too repetitive but vocally this is an improvement over Rock Music and Velouria. Not a bad track. 6. Ana - 6 It's good but too short. Could have been something more brilliant if we were given more of it since it's significantly better than the previous four tracks. 7. All Over the World - 7 It's a bit repetitive but I love the space the guitars are given to occupy on the track. It's instrumentally really good and there's a lot to enjoy about this track. 8. Dig for Fire - 4 Instrumentally it's enjoyable but lyrically it's very dull and repetitive. 9. Down To The Well - 5 Better lyrically but still just an okay kind of middle-of-the-road sounding track. 10. The Happening - 4 Vocally this sounds awful at times. Guitar sounds excellent between the vocals. 11. Blown Away - 6 Thankfully the vocals take a back seat to an awesome build through some excellent guitar. The second half of this track is some of the best on the album. 12. Hang Wire - 1 Awful sounding piece of music. 13. Stormy Weather - 1 Exactly the same issue with Hang Wire. Lyrically boring and vocally annoying. Just a bad piece of music. 14. Havalina - 6 I know this is horribly repetitive but the upbeat nature of the instruments and the almost choir-like vocals make it a really enjoyable track. Great way to end the album. Average Rating: 4.62 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.32 Rounded Down: 2 Stars

Happy that I listened. Not sure if I ever will again.

Like the condensed noise of a thousand 90s rock bands. You can smell the influence.

love da pixies

Dang, was disappointed by the other Pixies albums, but this one hits just right.

Interesting sound but gets a bit grating after a few songs. Doolittle is much better.

Pixies is always in my list. Grew up listening to them.

The Pixies are so cool. Their sound is unmistakable.

good!

I liked one song on this album. I really didn't like one song on this album. The rest was fine.

Rock, Punk, 1990 -> 2

There's rock music, and then there's rock music! Having recently been underwhelmed by ZZ Top and The Black Notes, having another rock band on the 1001 was beginning to irritate me. But this album's brilliant! From the thrilling opening of Cecilia Ann, through the rawness of Rock Music and the sheer 'weirdness' of Is She Weird, this album feels different and has a freshness that defies its 35 years. I have no idea what makes Stormy Weather so great, but I'm not going to overthink it, I'll just go with it. Awesome.

A high 2.5 for me. Nothing really stood out, but I didn't hate it either. It absolutely wasn't what I expected when I saw "Bossanova" as the album name, but it was pretty much what I expected once I realized it was the Pixies.

Começa legal mas vai ficando cada vez mais maçante. Top 3: 1- Cecilia Ann 2- Ana 3- Havalina

I missed the true era of Pixies mystery and appeal. Super catch hipster-nerd grunge. I would hear the occasional Pixies tune on alt-rock radio (think WHERE IS MY MIND 'first rule about Fight Club', DEBASER, MONKEY GONE TO HEAVEN) but wasn't quite yet an angsty mood-driven teen yet. For some reason, this album helped me attach to what the generation felt with this album. No surprise Radiohead and Nirvana were influenced by them. Key tracks: VELOURIA, IS SHE WEIRD, STORMY WEATHER, DOWN TO THE WELL.

I like the pixies but I wanted more out of this. Stormy weather rocks though

Eh not my kind of music

I didn’t really get the love for The Pixies at first, but I get it now. They have their own unique sound, and the vocals especially. I wouldn’t call them conventionally good, but they perfectly fit the instrumentals.

10/10 Pixies. They make good music. thank you. 11-04-2025

great stuff man

This isn't the best Pixies album by any stretch...

So this is an album i know, but have only listened to a few times. When I want to listen to the Pixies I usually take something earlier. I'm glad I did this album deserves more attention.

Obviously Pixies are an iconic band but somehow they passed me by , it is why I enjoyed listening to this album and rated it highly , the vocals were fab mainly because they reminded me a bit of Marcie Smith. The structure of the songs were great and the album raced by and could not wait until the the next track

Ah sweet Frank always a pleasure ❤️

Surfer Rosa is better (and so is Doolittle)

8/10

I like the surf music and aliens vibe. Love the raw vocals and the band is rocking. It's maybe a bit light on tunes to stop it being an absolute classic but this is good shit.

dobarrr 4.5 al ajde da i jednu petardu dam

I appreciated the novelty of it but that’s about it - a bit too aggressive for my tastes.

Track 1 - fun intstrumental. Good guitar. Track 2 - short and sweet song. Last lyric is slag which is funny. Track 3 - closer to other pixies songs i've heard compared to the others. Theremin is always a plus too. Track 4 - another small track. Nice guitar parts. Track 5 - great bassline. Catchy song. Track 6 - not horrible, but so far my least favorite. Just not that much going on. Track 7 - good Track 8 - another banger Track 9 - nice guitar/bass Track 10 - i like this one. Probably 2nd favorite. Track 11 - alright. Track 12 - catchy. Not that bad Track 13 - i like the vocals on this one Track 14 - pleasant and warm song

I haven't listened to this in ages and had forgotten about all the songs I like on it. The video for "Dig for Fire"/"Allison" was a staple of 120 Minutes back when I watched religiously. "Velouria" is a classic. "Is She Weird," "The Happening," and "Stormy Weather" are fun. There's nothing on here I dislike.

This is not my favorite album of Pixies songs, although Dig for Fire is a highlight for me. That said, the Pixies with their distinctive sound, surrealism, and characters are like a comfort sitcom for me - Mork and Mindy if you will? - and I am always down for the show.

Cecilia Ann, Velouria and Dig for Fire are great tracks

Great

Third best Pixies album but still absolutely phenomenal

a good vibe although different from stuff I already knew by them

Ehh. It's not a bad album, but unfortunately it lives in the shadow of Pixies' first two albums. Still some enjoyable alt-rock on here.

Superb!

My ears do not like. 2

Not for me

I get why it has fans but it ain't me

Too many of the same band again. Pick one of Surfer Rosa or Doolittle.

My least favorite pixies album but still damn good

top. may be biased xq ya lo conocia, o xq mi novio dijo q le encanta, pero top

Fantastic! Not their best, but an enjoyable listen. I feel like there was a good vibe, but not a lot of memorable songs.

Yes, it’s good but I still prefer Surfer Rosa for its raw edge. This just sounds too polished

I like when things are named simply and accurately; therefore the track "Rock music" is great. The album "Bossanova" is a lie though.

On a pure enjoyment level I might rate it higher than this, but it definitely is not an influential or genre-defining album. Just more of the same from Pixies.

F*** yeah! Pixies! How to describe this? It’s just so good! I

Solid rock album from 1990. I didn’t find any tracks really stood out to me. I won’t go listen to it again, but it was fine for what it was.

It’s okay just didn’t really leave a mark on me

I don’t get it

Only skipped through this one but all the songs sounded like the opening scenes in School of Rock in a very good way

Definitely in the top few albums on the list so far. I've never heard much of the Pixies aside form the big ones that everyone knows. Pleasantly surprised with how awesome they are. I'm gonna be cycling this album a lot. Not every song is a top track, but I added almost all of them. I think my favorite was The Happening

Pixies are just so good at the quiet-loud dynamic. It is a certified vibe. The album is short, punchy, and just efficient. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions Velouria Is She Weird Ana Dig for Fire

Easy listening.

1 stern

Ihan ok. 2,5/5.

Is she weird? Is she white? Is she promised to the night?

Actual good punk

It was okay.

It was okay. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t my favorite

I love this album.

Good album and worth listening to. But not the Pixies best.

I think every pre-breakup Pixies record is a classic. Good excuse to listen to this one.

By definition, a group of albums has to have a least favorite. And this might be my least favorite of the pre breakup Pixies. But that doesn't mean it's not great, because it is. I'll gladly listen to this (or any of those) albums again.

This is the 3rd album by The Pixies that I've listened to, and it's comfortably the worst - the other two got 2 stars, so that's a low bar to begin with. I couldn't even make it to the end of this one, so it's 1 star only.

A decent guitar band, but can see why they didn’t set the world alight

Idk it is kinda boring.

I would normally default to Doolittle (10/10) or Surfer Rosa when in a Pixies mood, and have overlooked this one before. This will be definitely be added to the regular rotation! 8/10

It’s the Pixies, it’s great. It’s not Surfer Rosa, which would get 5 stars from me immediately, this is more like 4.5

Not my thing

Love the instrumentals but find myself put off by the vocals

meh

I've never listened to this album (37). Starts great, but it gets a bit forgettable.

Wasn’t much of a fan of the Pixes when they first came out, and still not apart from the odd song.

Ikke den beste fra Pixies. "Velouria" er en favoritt dog.

80s and 90s darlings with another wonderful output.

It was ok

common pixies w

This is the third Pixies album I’ve gotten, and unfortunately I just don’t get the hype. I just can’t get myself in the mindset of the people whole love this band. It was fine

Eher langweilig - Gab nicht ein Lied das mich richtig abgeholt hat.

Soft 4, Strong 3. This felt oddly very Halloween-y. Not sure why or how. Just the vibe.

It was just a wall of noise with no structure. “Come On Pilgrim”, “Doolittle”, and “Surfer Rosa” are way better than this.

This was a new one to me. Enjoyed it - fun blast from the past, and at the end of the album, Apple Music segued right to the Breeders.

Maybe my rating is nostalgic because I just saw them, but I got fueled by anger yesterday from the news, so maybe that’s why it hit well too.

Interesting listen. In the end I had to rate each song and average them to decide how to rate it. Track 1 - Cecelia Ann - I dig this instrumental 4/5 Track 2 - Rock Music - “your mouth’s a mile away” shouted 30 times. 1/5 Track 3 - Velouria - melodic. I Like the spelling melody 4/5 Track 4 - Allison - a lot of name songs. 3/5 Track 5 - is She Weird? - great opening guitar tones. The rest Meh. 3/5 Track 6 - Ana - another girl name song! Guitar opening great again. 3/5 Track 7 - All Over the World - catchy. 4/5 Track 8 - Dig for Fire - talky start - I like his whiny voice and the driving drums and her harmonizing - to me this is classic Pixies - 4/5 Track 9 - Down to the Well - Betty. Fine. - 3/5 Track 10 - The Happening - like this opening, bopping beat - about aliens! Best song on here 4.5/5 Track 11 - Blown Away - it’s fine 3/5 Track 12 - Hang Wire - haiku! 3/5 Track 13 - Stormy Weather - repetition - pretty melody 3/5 Track 14 - Havalina - repetition - a band who got them stoned in Texas. Pretty melody. 3/5 Overall: 3.25/5

Buenísimo. Tan genial que enseguida agregué a la playlist la versión en vivo que dura 82 minutos y me urge escucharla. Discazo.

i can see myself going back to it probably, quite a vibe

Nice album, much less catchy than the last one but still pretty interesting.

When the album is called bossanova but there is no bossa nova in it 🤬

okay so this is what the cool alt girls at NYU are listening to Would I listen again: perhaps Deserves to be on the list: pixies deserve it 3.4

Gave this album quite a few listens. Really wanted to like it but this album did not do much for me. There was some good stuff on this but it never came together for me.

pretty damn good

This is such a classic album! Pixies at their peak. Liked Songs Added: Velouria Alison Ana All Over The World Dig For Fire Stormy Weather Havalina

Does this band have any good songs?

Waiting for Doolittle

This ok

not bad!

First time I've put this album on, very enjoyable

Loved getting this a day after a Frank Black solo album. Not my favorite Pixies album, but still a solid 4 stars.

I'm digging for fire!

Another pixies? Maybe is should be calmed 'indecisive critics argue over their favourite bands'. Pixies is a great band. But like most acts one is enough.

Peter from Scratches Records put me onto the Pixies when Doolittle came out. It was exciting and powerful and it was like the distilled apogee of the previous decade or so of alternative music. I immediately became obsessed and hunted down Surfer Rosa, Come on Pilgrim and the Breeders' Pod, and I then bought Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde as soon as they came out. And all those records were staples on the turntable of all the share houses I lived in during the early 90s. I don't really distinguish between any of the records from the Pixies first phase -- we played them all frequently and indiscriminatory, and so I tend to think of the whole corpus of work as "Pixies". I know the consensus is that Doolittle is their best album and Trompe is the weakest of their initial period, but I just can't differentiate between them. It's all terrific, and I will happily listen to any of those records any day of the week. Great tunes, surprising lyrics, sounds great, rocks hard. As I was thinking about my kids' musical education, I included the Pixies as 'must hear'. My 17-year old son has a strong taste for alternative rock, and he loves the Pixies. Next month, he and my wife and I are going to see them play at the Hordern Pavillion, a classic Sydney venue. We are very excited. POSTSCRIPT: We went to the Pixies show. Tight and loud, but a little lacking in energy, and all of the songs from their reunion albums stood out as noticeably weaker. But the crowd was largely made up of middle-aged parents with their teenaged kids, just like me.

Wonderful album, I know it well.

After the second song, Rock Music, I was going to give the album one star. But I actually liked some of it, and it ends up being between a 2 and a 3 for me. Since I doubt that I will bother to listen to it again, I’ll give a 2.

Pixies! Banda incrível. Os tons suplicantes de suas guitarras são inigualáveis. Eles misturam a garra e experimentação de Sonic Youth com riffs e refrões acessíveis e viciantes. E Bossanova em particular faz um casamento miraculoso entre o lado mais melódico de Doolittle com o mais abrasivo de Surfer Rosa, seus dois discos anteriores. Acredito que a sequência inicial desse álbum, no caso, suas três primeiras faixas, são o começo mais estrondoso de qualquer disco da década de 1990. E eles mantêm esse ritmo implacável durante o resto das faixas. É verdadeiramente fantástico e de tirar o fôlego. Tenho pra mim que Pixies é a banda mais COOL da história. Sério. Coloca um óculos escuro e bota esse disco pra tocar e tente NÃO se sentir extremamente descolado. É brincadeira, parcialmente, mas o lado estético é importantíssimo pro aproveitamento da música de um artista. Sonoridade impagável, senso estético aguçado, guitarras suplicantes, vocais glaciais, e a minha parte favorita, uma sequência e ordenação de faixas supremas. Um disco de respeito, aproveitável do começo ao fim, sem gastar tempo. Repleto de criatividade e atitude. Não tenho reclamações. 5/5

Sei la, bom e ruim??!

pixies are an absolutely brilliant music group and they show it to their extended and they album. I found it thrilling throughout and I can imagine myself listening to it again I already did once

J’ai vraiment aimé!

Ich muss zugeben, das volle Potenzial der Pixies habe ich erst sehr sehr spät erkannt. Erst mit Bossanova wurde mir klar, warum diese Band so legendär ist. Das Album klingt wie ein Fiebertraum zwischen Surfrock, Noise und kosmischem Pop – roh, experimentell und doch eingängig. Songs wie Velouria oder Dig for Fire zeigen, wie mühelos die Pixies Gegensätze verbinden: Melodie trifft Chaos, Schönheit trifft Wahnsinn. Bossanova ist vielleicht nicht ihr lautestes oder bekanntestes Werk, aber eines der faszinierendsten – ein Album, das wächst, je öfter man es hört. Heute verstehe ich, warum ohne die Pixies vieles, was später kam, gar nicht möglich gewesen wäre.