Reviews (page 4 of 14)
I know that I say this about a lot of albums, but this album was, seriously, mind-blowing to me when I first heard it. It was my first dive into this type of music - the artsier, more colourful side of alternative rock. Wacky experimentation fused with genuinely solid alternative and predictive grunge and '90s alternative rock (insert Nirvana forefather statement here) is the name of the game here. And let me just say, I've listened to a lot of music since I first heard this years back, and still, nothing quite balances those two things as well as Doolittle. I mean, to start, there are so many cool little moments here, and almost every song has some defining little mark. The straining screams of 'Tame', the campy '60s pop-chorus and bouncy bassline of 'Here Comes Your Man', the dramatic strings on 'Monkey Gone to Heaven', the cheesy yet charming interjections of 'La La Love You', the blood-pumping guitar in that second half of 'Mr. Grieves' that comes out of nowhere, or the western throwback of the Kim Deal led 'Silver' - all these moments, I'd say, define their respective tracks, and the album as a whole. But that aside, it's still all so well done. Black Francis is a perfect vocalist, not too awkward and clunky like a lot of his contemporaries, yet dynamic enough to make each song sound unique. The guy's range is insane, and he's capable of being quite emotive, like on 'Hey', and especially on my favorite song here, 'Gouge Away' - an absolute monster of a closer that really nails the quiet and loud dynamics that are so heavily associated with this style of music. Joe Santiago shines too on many of the surf tracks here; his guitar lead on 'Wave Of Mutilation' just gives the entire thing such a jovial, day-on-the-beach feel, despite the song's pretty morbid lyrics. And Kim Deal was one of my defining bassists, and one of the reasons I picked up a bass in the first place - I mean just listen to that bassline on 'Debaser'. Her basslines tend to be simple, yet so effective and memorable, she's one of the greatest in the genre. With all that said, there were always a couple of songs here that I'd want to skip, like 'I Bleed', 'Dead', and 'No 13 Baby' (a blusier track that I now see clearly influenced the likes of Jack White/White Stripes). I enjoyed them a bit more this time around, but they're just not as incredible as many of the other songs here. They don't bog down the experience, though - this album still remains tight, vicious, and ambitious - and still has its bite so many years later. An absolute classic!
This is why we music
I love the Pixies. While I may prefer the sound of their first album, there is no denying that the songs of Doolittle are insanely well crafted.
Another great album from the Pixies. Definitely like them as a band.
Some of the greatest indie music.
first became familiar with this band when I was about 14. I was just starting to get into music that was outside the mainstream -- I knew bands like R.E.M. and the Cure, who were sort of "alternative", but still got played on the radio, but not much else. One night while watching 120 Minutes on MTV, I saw the video for "Here Comes Your Man" and instantly thought it was one of the most perfect songs I'd ever heard. It wasn't until a few years later I actually bought the album, but it quickly became a staple of my listening. Throughout my 20s I turned a few people on to this album who'd never heard it and their minds were instantly blown. More than any other band, I think this album really encapsulates my taste. It's catchy, but also abrasive. Black Francis/Frank Black/Charles Thompson famously recruited Kim Deal by posting an ad looking for a bass player who liked both Husker Du and Peter, Paul, and Mary. That's the essence of Pixies. Abrasive, yet pretty and tuneful. Even the songs that seem abrasive and noisy have this hidden beauty that shines though -- the incredible bridge on "I Bleed", the cool surf rock breakdown on "Dead". But of course, there's plenty of songs that are just simply catchy too. Highlights for me are "Debaser", "Wave of Mutilation", "Here Comes Your Man", "Monkey Gone to Heaven", "Hey", and "Gouge Away", but all the others are perfect too. 5 stars.
One of the best of the 1980's
WANNA GROW UP TO BE A DEBSASER DEBASERRRRR DEBAAAASERRRR This album rocks front to back, no skips. Also influenced so much.
I (shamefully) have to admit that before listening to this, I only knew a handful of singles by the Pixies... that being said - there was not a single moment that was even slightly boring on this album. I felt it was flawless after the first spin already and made me want to listen to it again right away. All killer, no filler.
Folk, indie, hints of grunge: this album has a lot going for it. Not only was it good to listen to all the way through, but each individual song is one I could see myself listening to an enjoying. I went from only knowing one song on the album to greatly enjoying the rest, really enjoyed this one.
One of my favorite albums!
A classic in alternative rock.
“Doolittle” is a flawless blend of raw energy, captivating melodies, and inventive lyrics. The album seamlessly shifts between quiet, haunting moments and explosive noise, creating an unforgettable, genre-defining sound. It's a masterclass in alternative rock, earning a perfect 5/5 for its innovative approach and lasting influence. Favourite tracks - Debaser, Wave of Mutilation, Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven, No 13 Baby. Least favourite track - Silver.
Groundbreaking and influential album.
Excellent Album.
Взрыв пост-панка с первых нот, пре-гранжевая эра, классные хиты Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven. Кажется, Pixies никогда особо альбомами и не слушал, но этот динамически интересен, разброс интересный.
Great live band.
Fuck yes. One of my favorite rock albums ever. It sounds so good, I'd believe you if you told me it was made yesterday. This is a perfect album, practically a greatest hits from start to finish. When you unintentionally hip-check the furniture you can whisper to yourself "Hips like Cinderalla" but if it hurt really bad you can take it up a notch and shout "Slicing up eyeballs, AWH HAW HAW HO" and I swear it helps.
Love love love. This is a favorite.
A masterpiece
Before there was Alternative Rock, there was the Pixies. While the college music snobs all loved their Surfer Rosa album (and played Gigantic over and over), it was Doolittle that made their blend of punk and pop cross over to more mainstream radio and the masses. Ok, not the masses. The masses never got the Pixies, but certainly more people beyond the college radio crowd heard the screaming Debaser, or the unsettling Wave of Mutilation, or the WTF is Gouge Away. The Pixies were unique then and now, but helped launched the transition from college radio to Alt-Rock, which exploded in the 90s. It not for the faint of heart, but greate nonetheless.
So many good songs
Great variety in songs. This album seems to have kicked off the 90s setting the flavor and taste of what’s to come. Favorite track: here comes your man other picks: hey, monkey gone to heaven, debaser
One of the greatest albums of all time. Just an unbelievable mix of nasty experimental noise, funky riffs, beautiful poppy tunes. At times it’s terrifying, other times playful and inviting. And at all times it’s engaging, exciting, interesting. I really can’t heap enough praise on it. It really takes their previous work and hones and perfects it. If Surfer Rosa is a 10/10, Doolittle might as well be 11
Yeah I totally adore this record. Probably my favorite Pixies, but that 4-album run of Surfer Rosa to Trompe le Monde is all incredible.
My third favorite Pixies album after Surfer Rosa and Trompe L' Monde, only by narrow and situational margins. It took me a while to fully come around to the Pixies bc I was a snooty college DJ at the time of their ascendancy and suspicious of anything that other people liked. This group's lara7 and I picked up a tape of Surfer Rosa at a yard sale and driving around to that won me over. Years later I took a road trip with a friend who only brought two tapes - Trompe L'Monde and Blondie's Greatest Hits which cemented that one. But Doolittle is the right entry point, their catchiest, their most aliens-recreate-rock'n'roll-in-their-language.
I remember my initial impressions of the Pixies when I first heard them in 1989, how their songs carried this incredible catchiness balanced by so much weirdness. There’s Kim Deal’s bouncy bass and sexy breathy vocals, Joey Santiago’s ferocious guitar lines and then this lead singer named Black Francis who sounds crazy as fuck, with childlike yelps and growls and lyrics that mask something terrifying. Songs like “I Bleed” legitimately frightened me, while “Here Comes Your Man,” “Mr. Grieves” and “Dead” evoked in me skewed cinematic western vibes. While “Doolittle” had nowhere near the (immediate) cultural impact of Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” it felt like a satisfying way to slam the lid shut on hair metal and all the other tired ‘80s music trends of the day and usher in an exciting new musical decade.
One of my biggest regrets when this lp came out was assuming that the Pixies were like the Sundays or the Blake Babies because I'd only heard Here comes your man and Monkey gone to heaven. So I ignored this band for way too long and I should have seen them when they played my crappy college town in 1990. Ah well. HEY may be the best minimal ballad ever to repeatedly use the word whores.
absolute quality album, love the vibe, good energy, good structure, good songs, hits hit, will definitely listen to this again
🌟
Fantastic album!!
It hits the 5 threshold for sure. Bangers all over.
10/10 own it on vinyl
the most commercially successful pixies album with a host of songs that were successful on college radio and even traditional radio. Far too many notable songs for me to not give at a solid 5. I do need to own the physical album of this at some point
inherently a bit exhausting lol but its hard to find a more whole and satisfying record in the rock idiom, surely. songs are strung together first from Sounds...basslines, yelps, and releases of euphoria. theres something v transparent and comforting about the whole process while also allowing for incredible diversity (i cant imagine even Hypothetically getting any two of these songs confused for one another), AND just being gut-level exciting! one of the tracks being an Answer to a track on VU&nico feels fitting in ways i dont even rly know how to articulate, other than theyre both records that are inspiring because of how much space they reveal exists inside of perceived limitations. i'd kill for a nick cave-esque all tommorows parties cover by this era of pixies
Favourite Song: Monkey Gone to Heaven
it's a stunning album that makes my pants tingle
I love this energy it has to it. It is chaotic, raw, violently wild and all that with a rich sound. Francis and Deal played off really nice with one another. The subject matter is daring, delightfully strange and unafraid of its own bizarreness. Maybe not everyone can stand this madness, but you should find out if you dig it before you kick the bucket
This is the stuff.
in some ways, this is THE rock album, as far as the genre's evolution from 1990 to the present day. the DNA for the modern alternative rock sound, in all the many shapes and sizes we can find it in today, is present in every song on Doolittle. the Pixies can go fast or slow, catchy or chaotic, loud or soft, and often do all of that in just two or three minutes, like on "Mr. Grieves." songs like "I Bleed" or "Debaser" are purpose-built for singing along. "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and "Hey" are tender moments perfectly placed. Kim Deal's basslines and backing vocals are everything. it's all so much fun! if this album has no fans, it means I'm dead, along with millions of others. 10/10.
Es un disco que he escuchado cientos, o miles de veces, y jamás me canso de él. Tuvo in impacto enorme cuando fue publicado, no por el éxito (muy limitado) que logró en cuanto a ventas, pero sí en cuanto influencia. Vendió poco (ha logrado apenas un millón de ventas en pongamos veinticinco años), la crítica lo recibió con ambivalencia, pero para algunos fue una aparación. Digámoslo claro: lo que hacían Pixies no lo hacía nadie. Eran de otro planeta. Este es en mi opinión su mejor disco, en durísima pugna con Surfer Rosa (y Trompe le monde, un disco muy infavalorado). Aquí la producción de Gil Norton (que había tocado el cielo con ellos en Gigantic), ya no está Albini, le otorga una pátina pop (hasta donde pueda ser) que hace de esta obra una absoluta joya. El inicio es arrollador: loud-quiet-lud marca de la casa, gritos, referencias hispanas, la banda funcionando como un todo, guitarras sorprendentes como Joey solo era capaz, coros inimitables (con Kim a pleno rendimiento)... la cosa no baja ni un milímetro a lo largo de los muy escasos minutos que dure el álbum. Tame es una bofetada, Wave of mutilation es otra joya que jamás deja de sonar gloriosa, I bleed hace a flombra roja a Here comes your man, y Dead es otra marcianada y Monkey gone to heaven es un cierre absolutamente celestial. La cara B, con Mr Grieves y Crackity Jones ye hace volar la cabeza, La La Love you juega al despiste con la voz de Lovering, Nº 13 baby, Silver, There goes muy gun... imposible elegir, aunque Hey y Gouge away tiene brillo propio. 5/5, 10/10, lo que sea, es una disco y un grupo esencial.
Debaser Tame Wave of Mutilation Here Comes Your Man Monkey Gone to Heaven Hey
Builds on the highs of Surfer and enters the stratosphere. A top-to-bottom classic.
Such a fun listen.
Great album. I was born in ‘88 and can tell that this was heavily influential for a lot of the 90s grunge and rock music. I can also tell that this was way ahead of its time.
I’ve heard this album a billion times already. One of my favorites and of course it gets the big F I VE
One of my favorite albums ever! So so good. Shout out to Maya's mom for suggesting it to me. Debaser: Those first few seconds are so electric -- such a good start to an album. Such a strong sound. I often relisten to debaser just for that delicious beginning riff. And then you listen more and it continues being great. Black Francis's silly, stupid lyrics, the line "I am un chein ! Andalusia," the way he pronounces "Andalusia," his crazed, deranged, discombobulated delivery contrasting with the lovely feminine "debaaaser!" Tame: Another favorite that I loved immediately the first time I listened to the album. The restrained drum beat and offputting vocals followed by the completely untethered, insane screaming of "TAME!" Ironic. Funny. Weird. And sometimes, I need to listen to screams. Wave of Mutilation: A song that I didn't love the first few times, and it's still not my favorite, but it's definitely grown on me a lot. It's got gentler vocals and overall sound than some of the other tracks, which is pleasant. The lyrics are interesting, because even though "mutilation" is inherently gory and aggressive, "wave" is like you're in Hawaii or something! And the vocals are like that too! It's kinda funny and very nice to listen to. Mutilation, so romantic. I Bleed: It's alright, but this is one of those that I usually skip. It's not catchy or interesting enough and the vocals become a little too eerie for me. It has grown on me, though, so I do listen through it on occasion. Here Comes Your Man: Love this, just like everyone else does. Very cute and upbeat and romantic and I love Kim Deal, as always. The kind of thing I'd listen to on Valentine's day. Makes me wanna dance. It's just so good. Dead: One of the songs I go back to again and again. I like the muffled sort of thing and the yelping of "Dead!" being the entire chorus is always funny. Black Francis is just so funny and expressive. Monkey Gone to Heaven: This one is special to me because it was one my dad would play on the guitar all the time when I was a kid (which is the way I know lots of songs, especially anything by Radiohead) and I'd get upset at the notion of anything not-human going to heaven. "Monkeys can't go to heaven!" But now, I love this song. It's got that wacky storyline and the "GOD is seven!" stuff is so wacky. So good. Mr. Grieves: My favorite song for quite some time -- not just off this album, my favorite song of the Pixies, my favorite song in general. Short and sweet, super catchy, has that cryptic lyricism and animated delivery we all know and love, plus some texture in terms of the pace. SO good. Crackity Jones: Another wacky, story-type song. I like his voice, I like the weird microphone quality, I like that he speaks a little Spanish. I like how quick it is. Never a dull moment. La La Love You: Love this one, too, and upon looking up the lyrics on genius, have just found out that it's sung by David Lovering, the drummer, rather than Black Francis. Which is cool! And he certainly has a smoother, suaver voice that is appropriate for a song like this. That "shake your butt!" lead-in is pretty cheeky (ha-ha, get it?) and the "first base, second base, third base, home run" also earns a good chuckle. Such a good listen. No. 13 Baby: This just might be my favorite. It's so great. It starts off weird (in a good way), but it really rocks the more you listen. "Tattooed tit". It's funny. And the "I'm in a state" chant is also great. His weird, whiny voice as he starts that third verse. There's too much to talk about. Every second is incredible. But the main bit isn't the best part -- the best part is the end. The minute-something at the end with the layered instruments is SO good. It cannot be overstated. It's orgasmic. It's jammy. It's the best. There Goes My Gun: Perfect, sharp guitar at the beginning with those "Yoo hoo!"s. Iconic. Super repetitive song, but so good. I always forget about this one until I listen to the whole album, but it's really awesome. Hey: Very jarring "HEY!" at the start, but it's the name of the song. "... or whores in my head, whores at the door, whore in my bed" is a great line. "If you go, I will surely die" is, too. Then the chai-a-ained bit is also incredible. What's not to love? Great guitar. God, it's like a night on an island. Then, I think the most remarkable part is the ridiculous "UH!" dialogue part? It's like, if you actually listen to it, I'm sure it has a real storyline which I ought to consider, but the way he says them is just so funny. "Whores like a choir." Silver: This is another song I didn't like at all when I first listened, but after some time I've grown to almost love it? Kinda? I certainly am willing to listen to it. It's got a weird, gold-rush-y vibe to it that I've actually started to appreciate despite the really freaky vocals. Gouge Away: SO good. The contrast in the vocals from the first and second verse is always interesting, and the "some marijuana, if you got some" is always a fun line and kinda reminds me of the line in Hair where he's like "can ya spare some marijuanaaaa?" I love this song. Just really solid. I do wish No. 13 Baby would come last so that my last taste of the album would be that luscious ending minute, but Gouge Away is completely worthy anyways. Overall, one of the best albums I've ever listened to. I'd say it's almost perfect. So creative and lively and each song is a little different, but there's just so much awesome sound and it's so so so so very great.
I have listened to this before, but coming back to it, it is still fantastic. Doolittle is packed with some of the most well written and catchy melodys of any alternative record of its time. Tracks like Here Comes Your Man and especially Monkey Gone to Heaven are spellbinding. I think with hindsight Surfer Rosa is a better album purely because of it production and soundscapes, but that should not take away from the fact that The Pixies Doolittle is one of the definitive Alternative Rock records of the 80s
I'm obsessed with this album. These musicians are geniuses.
Omg this quite possibly one of my favorite albums, so many good songs! I can't tell you how much I love this album!! It's just a fun catchy depressing album! I always think of the pixies and this album when I think of them, it's such an iconic one!
Nice
This will have been the third Pixies album I've ever listened to, after getting Bossnova the same week they released their most recent album The Night the Zombies Came. Both were alright, I want to revisit Bossanova sooner than the latter because something tells me this group peaked before their breakup in the mid-90s. Adding to that sentiment is how chaotically good Doolittle turned out to be. From the get-go with "Debaser", we are thrust into their rich blend of surf and punk rock, complete with Francis Black's unhinged hollering and Kim Deal's softer but still potent vocals. They maintained this wild energy through the runtime, where everyone does an excellent job at catchy guitar riffs, tight rhythm sections, and vocal deliveries that masterfully ebb from quiet to loud. It also helps that Gil Norton cleaned up the overall sound superbly, using compression, reverb and delay on the guitars, and multi-layered tracking to give the Pixies a polished presentation. Lyrically, Doolittle tip-toes the line between insane and wise. For every off-the-rails track where you don't mind the free-flowing words or bizarre imagery like "Debaser" and "Crackity Jones", there is a song that has a profound meaning behind the chaos. Whether it's the murder-suicide story of "Wave of Mutilation", or the biblical touchstones presented in "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and "Gouge Away", Francis drew a lot of inspiration from his own experiences to make such wonderful songs. Plus, they had some room to neatly fit in a few tunes that took the piss on music the band grew up with, such as the 1950s crooner "La La Love You" and the spaghetti western vibes of "Silver". Doolittle was such a fun album to listen to, as I can see why it's continued to get praise over the years. I'm glad we got this one out of the Pixies.
Listened
Unfamiliar with this one going in, a massive fan coming out. This album rocks. Insanely hard to decide whether I love the vocals or the guitar work more. Feels really original and earnest. The various sounds they are experimenting with work in tandem to create an masterful final product.
I’m reminded that it took me several listens to this album to really end up liking the Pixies, and ultimately to love them. This is certainly their “best” but I’m partial to Surfer Rosa. Still 5/5
GOT ME A MOVIE AH HA HA HAAAAA SLICIN' UP EYEBALLS AH HA HA HAAAAA
banger
Peak
Awesome
Doolittle is one of the GOATs, plain and simple. The oft-discussed soft/loud dynamics has been much imitated but never done quite as well as the Pixies did here (not even by Nirvana). More noteworthy though is the strange, fucked up world built in these songs. Slicing up eyeballs, monkeys gone to heaven, Bathsheba and whores in my head—they’re all there and all fantastic. I don’t know how many times I’ve listened to Doolittle (a lot) and every time it still feels fresh and gives me a jolt.
I have heard most of these songs on other Pixies albums but this one is really great. I really enjoyed it.
Heard this album countless times and it still rips. A rare album that has massive influence and still sounds great on its own, 35 years later
Doolittle is een waanzinnige plaat die scherp en hard is niet maar nergens te lomp of oorverdovend. Sommige tracks zijn echt pop (Debaser, Here Comes Your Man) maar worden afgewisseld met krijserige (Tame) of grimmerige nummertjes (Gouge Away). Ook al zijn de tracks vaak kort en recht voor z'n raap, Pixies voegt er altijd een element aan toe waaraan je hooked raakt. Vaak is dat de manie van Black, maar net zo goed de backing vocals van Kim Deal. Het maakt dit een waanzinnig alternative rock album, een inspiratie voor veel moois. Voor mij echt een all-time favourite waar de energie echt uit de voegen komt. Nee, misschien is het meer een serie van nummers dan een volledig album; de afzonderlijke nummers zijn echt stuk voor stuk smullen. Dan maak je ook een goed album hoor. 10/10 Highlights Debaser Mr. Grieves Hey
What an album - full of energy, incredible sound and very well rounded. Probably the best Pixies album in my opinion.
Until I saw the Pixies live, I didn't appreciate what Joey Santiago brings to the band. His leads are so different than any other guitar player, especially on Doolittle. Anyway, this album is very consistent and raw and sometimes minimal. It brings me right back to the early 90s. Liked Songs Added: Debaser Wave Of Mutilation I Bleed Here Comes Your Man Monkey Gone To Heaven La La Love You No 13 Baby Hey
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Yes, please.
GREAT ALBUM
Great way to start the week!
6/5. Fullkomin plata. Í styttri kantinum, svo að 10 gegnumspilanir finnst mér ekki vera ofaukið.
Fullkomin plata. Þétt, hrá og hröð, ekki veikur blettur Bara tvö lög yfir 3 mínútur og ekkert yfir fjórar. Svona eiga plötur að vera!
I had the pleasure of seeing Pixies perform this album in its entirety back in 2010. Just a wonderfully snappy, basically perfect album that I know like the back of my hand, easy 5.
Timeless collection of uniquely strange and beautiful songs
Day369 - i listen everyday to be surprised by something cool and this fits
Top 10 album for me. Pixies set the blueprint for the alternative wave that followed them, and the influence is everywhere. They walked so Nirvana could run. Every song on Doolittle rules, and the album flows perfectly from start to finish. As far as I'm concerned, they peaked here and never managed to reclaim the magic.
Freakin love this thing
I was a bit late in developing enthusiasm for the Pixies. They seemed to have singlehandedly made the soft-loud-soft pattern for alt rock into a bit of a cliche. Although I did have some Pixies albums in my collection, it took me a while to come round to appreciating them, most probably after The Breeders' first two albums were released. Anyway, now I think this album is a significant gem and quite influential.
Would love to see this one live - @Tom!
10/10
An album I have grown to love after so many years. The hits are so strong and the deep cuts pack a punch that makes the album so well rounded in many ways.
#447. This is an album I've always loved, but I couldn't really tell you why. It's just a haphazard collection of silly little songs thrown together with seemingly no sense of order or purpose, but somehow is something damn near a masterpiece despite itself. 5/5: perfect
Great, iconic album. Standout Tracks: - Here Comes Your Man - Mr Grieves - Hey
Does not get much better than this - outstanding from start to finish
The Pixies' raw, emotional, dark and most importantly seminal album. It paved the way for many grunge and alt-rock artists going forward. Every member has their own shining moments on this album. All to say, that there'd be no modern rock without Doolittle.
a classic for a reason
This album was great all the way through, had some of my favorite songs by the pixies on it and the ones I hadn't heard were all also really good. "Hey" is an iconic song that I absolutely love. Overall the album felt cohesive and really strong, starting and ending with bangers. Favorite songs were: 7. Monkey Gone to Heaven 13. Hey 15. Gouge Away 10/10
I first heard anything from this album when I did School of Rock in high school. I was in the part of the program that played shows at random youth oriented events as promo for the school. I played Monkey Gone to Heaven at a 10am concert at the SF zoo. We were the openers for a Wiggles type headliner at 11am. I have very fond memories of practicing the song in my bedroom, and especially thinking about the underwater guy who controls the sea. He sounded like a cool guy. Its been a while since I listened to Doolittle all the way though, and boy does it still rock. I love the Pixies' sense of humor, and how they blend it with their sound. My favorite moment on the record is just the way Frank says "Hey, I've been trying to meet you". It feels very in conversation with David Byrne. My surprise hit of the album is Silver. I'd never clocked it before, and I love its alt western style. Album cover: (B) That poor dead monkey. At least he's in a better place now.
"Debaser" has some rough-around-the-edge vocals, but the song is an absolute jam. I was having a great time listening, then the riff for "Here Comes Your Man" came in. Absolutely fire. I didn't know this was a Pixies song. It's so unlike the first few songs, but comes in so hot. The vocals have grown on me, they're abrasive but enjoyable. The riffs on this album are out of control. Basically every song is a jam. It feels like they were made in a lab to play in Allston basements. Knowing they're from Boston makes me like them at least twice as much. This album is a fantastic length. None of the songs drag. There is no pretension, just jams the whole way through. 9/10. I apologize to the Pixies for never having listened to them before.
Absolute perfection. Pinkerton before Pinkerton.
Com sua mistura única de surf rock, punk e psicodelia, o álbum apresenta uma sonoridade inovadora e cativante. Ainda mais, cria uma atmosfera intensa e emocionante em faixas como "Debaser", "Here Comes Your Man" e "Monkey Gone to Heaven". Na verdade, é um álbum que transcende os gêneros, desafiando convenções e estabelecendo os Pixies como uma das bandas mais influentes e inovadoras de sua época. Sua combinação de agressividade e melodia, de estranheza e acessibilidade, faz de Doolittle um dos discos mais importantes e duradouros da história do rock alternativo.
Loved it. Stands well above the majority of late 80's/ 90's grunge/pre / post grunge albums on this list - due to energy / joy in the music that jumps out and hits you. Would have loved to see it live. Great bass.
Absolute belter. From the first notes of Debaser you're in. Timeless. This time around I really found myself focusing in on just how raw the vocals are. Just A*
Debaser, wave of mutilation, here comes your man, monkey gone to heaven, hey and gouge away. That’s the reason why this album is a classic. The rest is great don’t get me wrong but it’s really rare to have 6 absolutely flawless songs in an album. Then on top of that being one of nirvanas main influences. Nothing is bad on this one, sometimes it’s too absurd but still great. Even la la love you and no 13 baby which usually don’t have the greatest reputations are great. 5/5
Liked songs: Debaser, Wave of Mutilation, Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Hey, Gouge Away liked songs: all the rest I love this album 4.5
This album was originally underrated. Then it somehow became overrated, listening again in 2024, it's definitely underrated again!
Hell of a start with that bass riff and that guitar in Debaser. I love the intro to Tame as well. Clean quiet bass and angry guitars and vocals. It's an effective combo that we see throughout. Wave of Mutilation is better still, swapping out the half yelled vocal for a smooth delivery, and I Bleed has the best riffing on the album so far. Here Comes Your Man has softer edges but is catchy with its almost surf rock sounding riff. Two more great tracks in Dead and Monkey Gone to Heaven close out the first side. I'm not sure if the second side is quite as good but let's not split hairs. Hey is the best track on the back half and maybe the whole album, the rhythm section carrying it again. Gouge Away is a big closer too, driving bass and crunchy wailing guitars. All killer, no filler.
One of the my absolute favourite albums of all time. By one of my favourite bands of all time.
I don't remember having listened to Pixies at all before. So this was unexpectedly fantastic. Killer bass, drums, guitar throughout. Broad range of musical styles. Absurd lyrics delivered absurdly. Loved nearly everything about this. One of the few actual gems that came out of this often laborious project so far.
Revisited this classic, which took me right back to when I first listened to it. I listened critically to it to see if there was anything that would make this less than a 5. I can happily report that this album has aged well for me, and it is still a five.
Has any band had a better 3 song opening sequence to an album?
Iconic album... one of my all-time favorites. Highly influential to '90s alt rock and grunge, while still retaining a one of a kind sound despite its many imitators. Just about every track has some idiosyncrasy or catchy hook to make it memorable. Doolittle displays a wide variety of styles - including the surf-tinged pop of Here Comes Your Man, the frantic punk of Crackity Jones, and the plodding creepiness of Silver. It packs quite the punch in just 38 minutes. Highlights: - Debaser - Here Comes Your Man - No 13 Baby - Hey - Gouge Away Lowlights: - There Goes My Gun
I'm surprised at how much I liked it. It's punk, it's rough, it's fun.
Rating: 10/10 One of the greatest albums of all time. Simultaneously weird, catchy, loud, quiet, and poppy, it is definitely one of the most unique albums I ever listened to.
Love Kim's backing vocals on this one, and all the Spanglish..
Finally! A Pixies album I really like. I was not looking forward to it after struggling previously with TLM and surfer Rosa so this came as a pleasant surprise.
Amazing piece of music. So many great songs on here. Crazy how much influence this band had on rock going forward into the 90s.
Fuck i came
A perfect album that is kind of all over the place, but in the best way. Wave of Mutilation is a masterpiece.
Rätt in i minnet utan att ha lyssnat tidigare aktivt.
still undecided after all these years whether this album is their best or surfer rosa not a fan of the album version of waves of mutilation best song: monkey gone to heaven worst song: dead
One of the greatest albums of the late 80s. I'd give it a 6/5 if I could.
The pixies are a band that I have never listened to. I guess I assumed that they were just a popular 90s band that wasn't really essential. I was very wrong. This album is absolutely essential and seems like a great introduction to Pixies for me. Debaser is a fantastic opening track and a great first track. The poppy guitar and grooves mixed with the visceral lyrics and desperate singing makes it hit that perfect sweet spot of musicality and raw emotions. Hey is great, Waves of Mutilation is awesome. Monkey gone to Heaven is fantastic, reminds me of Talking Heads but harder. Here comes your Man is great. The closing track, Gouge Away ends the album strong. These songs are so simple and straightforward but they are so effective and fantastic to listen to. This was a real blind spot for me. If I had listened to the Pixies in high school, I probably would have been obsessed with them instead of cage the elephant. This band does what I think Nirvana is best known for which is walking the edge. Making music that is so rough around the edge that it starts to lose you. Singing with such emotions it starts to become screaming but never quite losing it. When you're that close to the edge, there's a fear of losing control like being on the brink of insanity and this pixies album spends the whole album in that space. This is really one of my favorite albums that this list has introduced me to.
I was only familiar with songs from Rock Band and Fight Club credits. What a pleasant surprise this was. A big fan of the heavier songs, in them I hear the blueprints of grunge. In the lighter songs I hear inspiration for Weezer and their ilk. Very 90's, tickles me just right. Love, love, loved this.
I honestly have zero idea why it has taken me this long in my life to fully indulge in the Pixies. The only excuse I can think of is perhaps I wouldn’t “get” it. Maybe I’d go through an album and not understand what would make it that special. Like I would finish it and go “OK, but I don’t get it. Why is this acclaimed?” But that didn’t happen here. I get it now. This album feels like one of the very few so far that might actually be essential to listen to before you die. It is the blueprint for much of alternative rock to come within the following decade. I mean, most of this album sounds like a beta version of Nirvana around the time they only had Bleach to their name. It’s also one of the most well-balanced albums I heard so far. It feels pop-oriented, but touches upon other genres (Country for Silver, surf rock for Here Comes Your Man, even punk for Crackity Jones) to never feel slate. It’s definitely indie in nature, but never feels alienating or pretentious. The tracks stick to you and refuse to let go. Maybe it Francis Black’s vocals, coming out stretchy and torn before Kurt Cobain made it cool. Or how Kim Deal’s bass riffs perfectly intricate their ways through the songs along with the guitar riffs. How the hell did it take me this long to finally listen to these guys? Favorite track: Here Comes Your Man Other hits: Debaser, Monkey Gone to Heaven, Hey, Wave of Mutilation, Gouge Away
The Pixies are fairly uncharted territory for me, interestingly. There is "Where is my Mind", of course, but I've always found that one a bit annoying. But I dig this. I should have known it. Do I 5 stars enjoy it, the surf rock in here, I don't but it's definitely a +1 in AYMHBYD so.
Oh what killer garage rock this is. Fucking hell the Pixies can write a good tune. Great energy throughout. And I like the singer's voice. I can definitely hear where Jack White got influenced on the track "Dead"
One of the top 10 of the whole list. Say it live in 1990 in Paris. They are still performing it now and it has not dated. One of the reviewers spoke about his grandad have this album. Not a grandad just yet but it’s me. 😂
Perfect. This is the third and probably the last Pixies album I’ve had during this challenge and it’s undoubtedly the best. Just a perfect mix of garage rock, noise and poppy melodies. I liked all of the songs, the album was hugely influential and I have and will definitely be coming back to it many many times.
Very special for all the people who listen music between 80’s and 90’s.
Great album. Great way to round out the late 80s
My favourite album back when I was in my late teens and early twenties. Still remember every Kim Deal bassline, every Black Francis whisper, every Black Francis howl, every guitar explosion. It's a bit loud and aggressive and frantic for my current musical tastes but Debaser is still the perfect pop song and I really really enjoyed listening to it again.
Absolutely Peak alt rock. Wasn’t expecting to give this a 5 but on a relisten there’s just banger after banger.
This has been one of my favorites for several years. Easy 5 stars for me. There's not a bad song on this album. It holds up today perfectly.
Love this album.
Amazing. All timer.
A benchmark album for truly alternative rock
I know this album well. One of my favorites.
Loud. Quiet. Loud. The Pixies formula at its finest. Love this album.
One perfect surreal punk song after another.
Great classic album
Great album. Can see how it influenced a lot of bands in the 90s/00s.
Pixies at their finest. Variety of sounds and a lot to keep you interested.
9/10….90er Indie Sound in den 80ern
crazy good
Holy moly what a banger. These guys do to rock what sooo many of these mfs try and fail at!!!
One of the most inventive albums ever. So much variety.
Great album.... Owned for a years....
I'm not gonna lie, I love this album. Its just the right amount of weird. 5/5
Belter
Album full of bangers
One of my favorite albums from one of my favorite bands. It's hard to explain why I love Pixies so much. Kurt Cobain introduced them to me and this album was my initiation. I've seen them 2 and a half times and Frank Black solo once. At the half concert the woman I was with and was trying to date walked out of the no re-entry doors. I debated staying for the show but I liked her and did not want to make her wait outside without me. I get outside and get the old "I think we should just be friends." At the time, my heart was broken. But in retrospect I'm just mad she made me miss the rest of the concert. Less than a month later, they played another city in my state and I drove 3 hours with my best friend to see that show, which I consider my favorite. Joey Santiago was grinding the guitar while flipping drumsticks off the ground. It was amazing. The last time I saw them was to take my niece to her first concert with my wife. It was just not that great for some reason. I think partially because a new album had come out that they were pushing and that had not set in yet with us. Anyway, I don't know what it is about Pixies that I love, but I do. I miss Kim Deal and believe she was essential to the Pixies vibe. Paz was good, but is obviously canceled after her political views came to light. We will see how the newest "Kim" can do. Since I had heard this album many times before and know it by heart I decided I would try to listen to as many of the alternate versions and live versions of all the Doolittle songs as possible. I wanted to hear the original song followed by all the other takes so I put them in a Spotify playlist organized as such. The link is here if anyone would like to try to listen this way. I made it through the first three songs and couldn't take it anymore. There are 5 hours of music in this playlist so good luck! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/29j7msVdE0yRlZOtXzfZ7T?si=Md5TdmjeTr2V0A8d57g0ww
One of my favorite albums of all time, don't need to go listen to it as I've listened to it countless times
Influential album that ushered in the loud-quiet-loud era of rock. Good thing it's a total banger, Black Francis is in fine form, Kim Deal is driving with her bass, Lovering and Santiago are tight as all hell and there's no wasted time in the sub 40 minutes runtime (always good when it fits one one side of a 90 minute cassette). Hard to pick a favourite song but "Hey" has a special place in my life as it was the first baseline I learned and could still play it 100% on expert on Rock Band some years later.
Man I have been waiting for this one. I’ve gotten the opportunity to talk about both Bossanova and Surfer Rosa in the past. And I’m glad that I got to save the best for last. Because Doolittle is something else man. People need to really educate themselves on what the Pixies were doing. I always label them as one of the greats. And there are so many reasons why. Arguably the first indie rock band. And really one of the only groups that sounded like they were in the 90s in the 80s. They were way ahead of the curve. This is barely even an 80s record. But since it was released at the tail end of the decade, it earns itself a spot in my mind as one of most important records of that era. Here’s how I see it. If we look at the timeline of rock music, stretching all the way back to the 50s, there is a clear distinction between what we understand as rock pre-Doolittle and post-Doolittle. Things just weren’t the same after this released. It changed the fucking game. I mean this wholeheartedly. Nothing can convince me otherwise. It’s the same way I look at Nevermind and the alt-rock of the 90s. Funnily enough, Kurt Cobain was a huge Pixies fan. He claimed Smells Like Teen Spirit was his attempt to make the ultimate Pixies pop song. It definitely has that loud, quiet, loud feel that they pioneered. But I’ve always felt I Stay Away just oozed influence from them. Plus, they got Steve Albini for In Utero. But Nirvana is just one of many who loved this band. Pavement, The Strokes, PJ Harvey, Radiohead, Weezer, Modest Mouse, and even David Bowie for god’s sake. Creep is another song that fully embraces that same song writing structure. And of the three albums I’ve heard from this band, this contains everything that makes them so good. It is the body paragraph to Surfer Rosa’s thesis statement. The guitar playing is more interesting and dynamic. Frank Black is giving the best vocal performances of his career on tracks like Tame or Here Comes Your Man. And Kim Deal is one of the most kick-ass bass players ever. I mean, every time that line comes in at the beginning of Debaser, the neurons in my brain activate. I’ve grown up with that song because of a beautiful little video game called Skate 3. And I’m glad that as a young adult I’ve realized how awesome it really is. The impact this has had is nearly immeasurable. And I admire it as a piece of art so much for that. It also just so happens that the music is sick too. Rating: 9/10
This is already one of my all time favorite albums. One of the founding fathers of my music taste
This has some of my fav pixies songs. Good album
Pixies is one of the bands I didn’t realize I liked before I started 1001. This and bossanova were both really good. This was better though
've had one pixes album before and found it underwhelming. This however was fantastic, I can see why it influenced so many people, it's a 5 as I've already listened to it twice today
So awesome, absolutely love the sound of it and obviously really influential as well
I've listened to this album plenty of times in the past, but over the last few years it's pretty much just been Debaser and, occasionally Wave of Mutilation. I thought going in, that I was going to give it a 4 but, listening to the whole thing, I think it just about deserves a 5. There's a few absolute classics on here and the rest of the songs are upbeat alt rock that puts me in a good mood.
A near perfect album
Very noice
I first heard the Pixies as an 11-year-old watching the movie Pump Up the Volume, which has a (different, slower) version of Wave of Mutilation on the soundtrack. I fell in love with the song and ran to the record store to pick up a Pixies album. I landed on Come on Pilgrim because it was 3 bucks cheaper than the others, so I didn't hear Surfer Rosa or Doolittle until a few months later. It still amazes me how fully formed this band was right out of the gate. Levitate Me, I've Been Tired, and pretty much every other Come on Pilgrim track would feel right at home on Doolittle. And all of those songs were just taken from their demo, the Purple Tape. They started out perfect and had no need to evolve from album to album. There are so many classic Pixies tracks on Doolittle that it almost feels like a greatest hits album. Based on nostalgia alone, I'd give the nod for my favorite to Come on Pilgrim, but it's hard to argue with a record that includes Tame, Debaser, Wave of Mutilation, and Gouge Away.
brilliant
Landmark album for alternative music and also for my personal musical taste. When I picked this up as a teenager, I'd never heard anything like it. Something so serious but also a little whimsical. Great guitar work. Dynamic vocals.
If I’d gotten into the pixies in high school, they would have become my whole identity.
hey. been trying. to meet u
Speaking my language. Every song is good - multiple are classics - at least two are iconic in riffs, lyrics, style. Just great stuff.
Amazing.
I love the pixies and love this album. I wore this one out so much that I went a long time without listening to it. Yes 5+++ stars.
Well this one’s easy: 5. It’s relentlessly good and everyone contributes strongly to the effort.
An easy 5 stars. A great record and you can hear it's influence on a lot of 90s bands.
Another insta-5 for me. Such a good album, I've listened to so many times and will continue to listen again in the future.
Perfect, the first album I got on here that I had been listening to on repeat right before generating it. It also inspired me to watch Un chien andalou, which was pretty cool, so check that out.
Such a fun album! Manages to constantly surprise. Love the prominent bass. Compared to other great late eighties alt-rockers like Fugazi and Dinosaur Jr, Pixies is more tongue in cheek. There is an exuberant lust for experimentation here. So many great songs and a few duds.
Excellent band.
Just fantastic. Better than anything grunge did
Favourite tracks: debaser; here comes your man; wave of mutilation; monkeys gone to heaven; there goes my gun
Such a classic. I almost understand Frank Black being such a dick because of how good this album is. But let’s be honest, a good amount of the magic here is Kim Deal so I’ll keep my allegiance with The Breeders.
It’s been years since I listened to this front to back and it’s still just as good now as it ever was
When I was ~17 years old, I developed this theory that there are 3 Grandfather Alternative Bands™️ every alternative/hipster/scene kid knows, but everyone always only likes two of them. Those bands were The Cure, The Smiths, and Pixies. I’m not sure adult me would agree with these being the three correct bands, but I get younger me’s point, and she’s not entirely off-base. I, for one, was always a girl who loved The Cure and Pixies. Especially Pixies. A large part of that is thanks to Kim Deal, who has long been a North Star for me as a bassist, but really, it’s thanks to the fact that Doolittle melted my face off when I was 15 and heard it, piece by piece, via track-by-track YouTube videos that each took ~3 hours to load thanks to my parents still having dial-up internet in 2008. This is one of those records that I just can’t listen to critically. It truly changed my life. If you knew me as a teenager and drove anywhere with me, you 100% were subjected to me blasting this at full volume. I love every single song, every single lyric, every single note. It’s one of those albums from youth that I listened to so goddamn much that now, as a 31 year old Brooklyn transplant, I almost don’t need to replay it – it’s just there, in my mind’s eye, any time I want to hear it. That said, when I do play it, it’s like I’m 15 all over again, and the magic is still as strong as the very first time I listened to it. Even songs I typically skipped back in the day, like “Mr. Grieves” and “No 13 Baby,” sound amazing to me now, although I think that’s because I only became more exposed to weird chaotic noise rock adjacent bands as I got older, especially going to Providence basement shows in college. I’m also floored by how much Pixies fit into such a tight space; these songs are a *lot* shorter than I remember them being, but they still feel as full and detailed as a 5 minute track from another alt-rock band. Doolittle is an album that will forever live in my Top 20, no matter how much music I’ve heard in my life. Perfection is an understatement. And I’ll always say that I’m the kind of alt kid who likes The Cure and Pixies. Especially Pixies.
It's the Pixies. It's weird, it's loud, it's quiet, it's light, it's heavy, it's tender, it's joyful, absurd, brash, pop, punk. It's fucking wonderful.
Doolittle is undoubtedly the greatest indie rock album of all time by one of the most influential bands, the Pixies. It is important to ask where modern music would be without them. In a world without the Pixies, there would be no Nirvana, Radiohead, Weezer, Pearl Jam, or countless other bands. To understand what makes a great album, you have to look to the cover first. The imagery of the monkey with a halo can be traced back to the seventh track, Monkey Gone to Heaven, representing the song’s title. Also in the song, the lyrics “if man is five, then the devil is six, and if the devil is six, then God is seven” can be heard. This is illustrated by the three large numbers that decorate the cover of Doolittle. A fourth smaller number can be found in the lower right corner. This can be traced back to the eleventh track, No 13 Baby. It is clear that by looking at the cover’s representative imagery, you are going to be dealing with a phenomenal album. The mixture of Frank Black's manic singing and Kim Deal's (who I like to consider the greatest female bassist of all time) ingenious bass lines are what really make up the album. The lyrics aren't shy to taboo topics like mutilation, Biblical stories, and death. Doolittle offers a nice array of moods, like the danceability of Debaser and the angst of Gouge Away. It's hard to listen to this album and not be addicted to it. Although they didn't last long, the Pixies have left their mark on music history and they will never be forgotten. All the tracks are exquisite, however, I have my favorites and least favorites. Favorites: Gouge Away, Debaser, Hey Least Favorites: Silver, Tame, Crackity Jones
there are 5star albums and then there is Doolittle - it deserves another 5 stars at the very least. I'm struggling to think of an album that's better than this!
Objetivamente el mejor álbum de Pixies. Las composiciones de Black Francis están en su punto más pop y los arreglos con Kim Deal aún siguen siendo importantes para las canciones. Con pistas inmortales como "Debaser", "Here Comes Your Man", "Monkey Gone to Heaven" y "Hey", sumado a montones de "deep cuts" interesantes y ricos en temáticas surrealistas, Doolittle entrega poco más de 30 minutos del mejor rock alternativo que se puede consumir. No tengo nada más que decir al respecto, sumamente recomendable y realmente imprescindible.
These guys really know how to make guitar sound fucking cool.
One of the greatest records. Listened to it at least 1000 times.
Quite the palette cleanser after another awful Bruce Springsteen album yesterday. An album I've listened to hundreds of times in my life is a nice way to balance that out. I have no notes on this, Doolittle is nearly perfect for what Pixies were doing at the time.
Here comes your 5 star review!
Easy 5. (i forgot to save my review :[ )
Awesome record that I hadn’t listened all the way through for some mistaken reason. monkey gone to heaven is my favorite on the album. I was already familiar with a few songs and I think this is a great album to come back to.
Perfection
This is your favorite band's favorite album. This is easily a top 5 album for me. Everything is just so short and sweet. They cram so many ideas into such short songs. Every song has such a strong melody and it is so much fun to sing along too. Whenever I'm feeling bored or don't know what to listen to, I usually end up throwing this album on. This album is probably one of the single most influential albums in the last 50 years. Radiohead have a quote that is something like: "We stopped using guitars in our music because the Pixies stopped releasing music we could rip off". And of course they inspired countless bands like Nirvana with their loud quiet loud song structure. 10/5
Premium example of a no skip late 80's punk rock staple. Seeped deep with southern california influence and edge of the east coast and sun soaked guitar. Cryptic art house references and influence, as well as some pop rock nods to enhance accessibility. Songs like Debabser and Wave of Mutilation captivate early for you to be interested in listening to quiet dynamic songs such as Hey. I love Doolittle and the Pixies in general.
Best band of the late 80s / early 90s: Come on Pilgrim - Surfer Rosa - Doolittle - Bossanova are all easily 10/10 overall, and I would rate them in the top 25 of the 1001-list.
There were some amazing songs on Surfer Rosa, but I wasn't fully on board production wise. Listening to Doolittle, this was no longer an issue, and the songs were still great. Overall, a more enjoyable experience, so I give this an additional fifth star.
The Pixies have this unique combination of disturbance and harmony, melodies and hooks. This is one of their superb records.
Pérola
Their studio albums are gas. Their live shows are ass. Thank you for coming to my ted talk
timeless
Djöfulsins snilld!
My favorite Pixies album. It sets the template for 90s and early 2000s indie rock. Still sounds fresh and relevant today.
A classic that was ahead of it's time. The dynamics changes were a big influence on Nirvana. Here Comes my Man is one of my favorites
What a pleasure. Love this album 5 star
Catchy, memorable, stylish. Almost every song on the album hits. Cohesive yet varied. The pinnacle of their craft. Objectively I'd have to give a 4 but my nostalgia for this album and love for the Pixies bumps it to a 5.
UGH… SAID THE MAN TO THE LADY UGH… SAID THE LADY TO THE MAN 5* for that bit alone to be honest
Wonderfully sweet ear candy. Always a great album to listen to.
yeah baby this is awesome 5/5
yes. Love this band and this is one of their best.
I’ve listened to this album a couple times recently, and after today’s listen, I have to say…this album RAWKS. So many awesome songs. It’s fun and different and makes my pants want to get up and dance.
Great
I literally listened to this album yesterday, heard it many times before - love this one. Debaser may just be one of my favorite songs of all time, such a stronger opening that trully captures everything that is great about The Pixies. Tame was never my favorite but it's still pretty damn good, the contrast between the screamy chorus and those quiet nerveracking verses is really cool, lyrics are interesting too. I don't feel like writing about each song - this album is fantastic 5/5
I love this! Great in 1989 and great now. Love Frank’s punk rock cowboy storytelling and delivery and Kim’s backing vocals and bass and how danceable the album is. Stand outs for me: Wave Of Mutilation Debaser Hey (Kim’s bass!) Silver Gouge Away Monkey Gone To Heaven No. 13 Here Comes Your Man (that bass!!!)
Perfect combo of lo-fi, raw, noisy and catchy. Undoubtedly their best album, and one of the most influential of the late 80s/early 90s
Nearly a perfect album. Tough to choose a favorite song—Debaser? Wave of Mutilation? Here Comes Your Man? Monkey Gone to Heaven? Mr. Grieves? Hey? Gigantic is the song that got me into them in high school, Bone Machine is the better opening track, and Where is My Mind is the one every Fight Club fan knows, but this outpaces Surfer Rosa as a complete album. I will say, if I can offer a note on an undisputed classic, the closer should be No 13 Baby. That guitar solo could fade out and end the album. I think you could swap that one and Gouge Away and improve the sequencing measurably.
Solid album - not a new one but one of the favorites of the Pixies
How moly another Pixies album in a few days and I flipping LOVED. How do nearly all of their songs POW so hard. I've listened like 4 times on repeat. So tight and punchy. Totally in love.
Strange having the same artist again so close together. But again, it was great! I think I prefer Surfer Rosa but this is also very good
Toppp
Lots of bangers, very good.
Era defining
I've heard this album so many times that it exists less as individual tracks and more as a solid block of late 80s indie rock. There's so much pop running through this. And when people decry modern songs being short and having no bridges, there's a reminder that the Pixies were doing that (and making it sound amazing) decades ago.
This album was the blueprint for 90's alternative. Pop hooks with distorted guitars. Cryptic lyrics delivered in a screech. Loud, soft, loud song structure. But beyond the influence, this is a great album on it's own merit. Just the fact that something this different could cut through into the mainstream and make an impression proves it. It effortlessly mixes genres into something new and coherent. A truly classic album.
Ironically I saw them play Live just this past Saturday night. It'll be great to spend the morning and afternoon ride on my bike listening to the album versions of songs that I had just heard played live.
“Doolittle” is undeniably a classic album, but it doesn’t have the same raw, gritty production that “Surfer Rosa” had with Steve Albini. Instead, this album is much more polished, cleaner, and refined. Overall, “Doolittle” picks up where their last album left off. My favorite track on this album, hands down, is “Gouge Away”!
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW YES
Doolittle is a perfect album. Doolittle is the sophomore album from Pixies. From the basslines of Kim Deal (Debaser!) to the lyrics of Frank Black, some funny, some smart, this is a nice group project and an absolute must-listen. It's also quite easy to listen to in my opinion, due to the nice riffs and short length of the songs and album as a whole. I remember in 2020, when I listened a lot to this album during the lockdown. It is crazy that only now, in 2024, I will see Pixies live for the first time during de Lokerse.
I didn't even have to think or hesitate before I smashed the five stars on my screen. This is the Godfather part II of alternative rock albums.
I really like this album but I honestly don’t want to review it today so this is the review now
This is the first album that was generated that I had listened too before. It is also the first album that fit my musical tastes prior. I love this album it has a lot of the pixies biggest hits, it exemplifies the bands sound and is a fun romp the whole way through. The instrumentation is iconic and would be the inspiration for grungier sounds going forward. I have nothing bad to say 5/5.
Classic
I’ve just realised I’ve always called them “The Pixies” but there is no “the”. They are simply Pixies. Huh. Anyway, I only recently listened to Surfer Rosa and I think I said it was the perfect album. Then today I listened to Doolittle and found it to be even better. Does that make this album more perfect? No, it makes me an idiot. I had no idea that Here Comes Your Man was by Pixies. I love that song. I also never realised that Fire Water Burn by The Bloodhound Gang had lyrics relating to this album until I heard them - “If man is 5 and the devil is 6 then that must make me 7. This monkey’s gone to heaven.”
This is just an all around great album. Might be my favourite pixies album.
i already listened to this one many times, but i’ll gladly do it again. a great album
I can hear so many of the weird rock bands that I like in this album.
Very good monkey indeed.
Pixies songs are all over movies and tv shows today, so it’s bizarre that they never really achieved legend status and are currently playing mid-size venues and even breweries. Doolittle is full of classic singles that are both punk and catchy which can be hard to master in this genre.
A pioneering indie and alternative release with many copycats but few betters. Love the guitar tone.
Does a lot.
If I could talk to the Animals I’d say ‘You’re right! We do have to get out of this place!’
"Some accounts even claim that, in the first version of Debaser, ‘un chien Andalusia’ was actually ‘Shed, Appolonia!’, an oblique reference to the Amazonian co-star of the 1984 Prince flick Purple Rain."
Utterly superb and one of my favourite albums ever. Have listened to it hundreds of times over the years and it never gets old.
Killer album from start to finish!
Dear Pixies, You are too cool. 😎 I love this album when I first heard it and I don’t think anything has changed at all. Sincerely, Big fan.
Yup I like it… I’m intrigued by the way the songs are ordered and the inclusion of Silver I like it a lot (both) but it’s interesting to me
Fuck yes. Where has this been all my life? Awesome sauce front-to-back.
Brilliant album. Good bass sounds, good rhythm and vocals throughout. Anyone who is a fan of Nirvana and the Stone Roses should like this. I am and i did. Fab 👌 👍
4.7 I guess the one knock you could have is that the Loudquietloud can get a bit played out but there are too many burners on this album to not rate it a 5. Great hooks in every song too
I was listening to different genres of music in 1989, but I can see how this album would have influenced much of the alternative scene of the 90s, and wish I had heard it when it was contemporary beyond "Here Comes Your Man" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven."
One fo the best albums out there and a real influence on so bands many that came after. A must listen.
First album as 1001 Albums series. Never knew anything about this album and the band "Pixies". After listening the Doolittle for the first time, It's amazing and am going to listen again in the future.
Feels just as relevant today as it did when it came out. Excellent.
Weirdly enough, it's probably the least "crazy" Pixies record, which is saying something when it starts with "Debaser" and "Tame". But it's an incredible record that would color the coming decade, and make Pixies one of those "your favorite band's favorite band"-type bands. There's so much texture in the chaos, it's really beautiful. Favorite tracks: "Debaser", "Tame", "Monkey Gone To Heaven", "I Bleed", "Gouge Away"
Excellent
One of my All time favourites
Porté par des basses hypnotiques, cet album jette furieusement les bases d’une mythologie urbaine, froide, métallique et intuable
Great record. Perfect bridge between the 80's and the grunge boom in the 90's. Black Francis is a dick, but he's our dick; Kim Deal is the pride of Dayton, Ohio. I want to grow up to be a debaser.
Great album
Not even funny how good this album is. However, I will shake my butt as hard or as soft as I damn well please, thank you very much
Influential
own
A collection of idiosyncratic but compelling rockers.
Love this band, usually in the rotation. This album has most of their “hits” and is a good album to start with
Love this, I think it's their best.
Hey! Been trying to meet you.
Fuck yeah, Pixies! This is one of the best albums of the 80s and without it, the 90s alternative wave looks a lot different.
not sure what i can say about this album that the other reviewers haven't already said, but *slaps album cover* this baby can fit so many weird tracks in it also nothing goes harder than the end of the bridge in monkey gone to heaven where frank is screaming then GOD IS SEVEN favorites: debaser, wave of mutilation, here comes your man, monkey gone to heaven, mr. grieves, no 13 baby, hey, gouge away
I must have played this album hundreds of times over the last 20+ years. Tonight it moved me as much as it did the first time I heard it.
This is the Pixies album I have listened to the most, absolutely love it.
You do not need me to tell you this is five stars.
An awesome kaleidoscope of music. Perfectly on the edge of falling apart at several points throughout the album.
One of the best alternative bands and albums. 5 stars 🌟
Love Doolittle. Looking forward to seeing some more Pixies on this list as well.
First time I’ve gone through Doolittle in ages, and it was surprising how diverse it is. I am slightly in awe of just how good Doolittle is, the production, the songwriting, the performances and big fat bass tone. It’s a perfect album, and a perfect distillation of pre-Nirvana alternative
Absolute classic!
Loved it! Me lembrou a PJ Harvey em alguns momentos. O Black Francis (aka. Frank Black) é muito bom intérprete. As letras são bem "minimalistas". A produção é péssima em algumas músicas e parece que não querem que escutemos!!! Incrivelmente baixo. O que é uma pena, porque dá vontade de ouvir mais alto e eu estou sem fone!!!!!!!! 86/100
I don't need to listen to this, but everyone else does. This music started the nineties, and it's great. Own it on vinyl, it has a beautiful booklet of interpretative photos.
I'm a Surfer Rosa girl, however Doolittle was great.
Amazing 10/10
One of my favorites in the 90s
Surf punk from the beaches of, er, Massachusetts. This album induces whiplash in all the best ways: stop-start quiet-loud melodic-chaotic tension-release. Squirmy little guitar leads explode into huge riffs and even doubled up harmonic lines. The culmination of the post-hardcore wave, they also borrow liberally from the poppier 80s college rock sound for a bit of jangle, a knack for an extremely catchy chorus and fun lines to belt out. The band is a tightly coiled device that explodes on a whim. The lyrics are all abstract imagery taken from a world of industrial pollution, disillusioned relationships and dreamy free association. Not every song is a winner, but there are 6 or 7 all time great tracks on here.
Awesome
Another instant 5! This and Surfer Rosa are probably tied for my favorite Pixies albums and I never get tired of listening to either of them.
Love this album. Basically all the original Pixies albums are 5/5 though. They're all 4+. 5/5
A top 5, if not top 3, if not top 1 alt rock album from the best decade for alt rock. Nearly everything about this is immaculate, from the songwriting to production to the performances. There’s maybe one or two songs I don’t love as much, but it’s close enough to perfect. I think I’ll stick with an A-, but give it a 5.
Oh man. Probably a top 10 album for me! Not a bad song. This is just the crucial indie rock album. Solid 5
Классика. В серединке есть небольшой кусочек, когда песни становятся будто бы чуть менее интересными, но в однообразии и скучности группу обвинить никак не получается. Тем не менее, ультравлиятельный инди-рок; группа, из которой выросло миллион замечательных других. Это не идеальный альбом, но, во-первых, у меня давно не было пятерок, а во-вторых обложка потрясающая. Каждый раз, когда я слушаю его, я нахожу что-то новое, или внезапно врубаюсь в уже знакомые песни. Верю, что со следующим прослушиванием я наконец приму No 13 Baby. Лучшая песня - Hey.
Einfach eine astreine Platte
I cannot utter words not used before to describe this album. A true masterpiece. Each song explores a rhythm from a different perspective, all working holistically. It is impressive that this was released in 1989...
Classic alt rock/college radio album. So many hits on Doolittle. This album is up there with the Pixie's previous album, Surfer Rosa.
One of my all time favorites! This tape definitely got eaten by my Walkman at some point.
I never listened to the Pixies before doing this list, but they’re now one of my new favorite bands.
One of the best from the pixies!
An absolute classic. Chaotic yet organized. Energetic and youthful and fun to the core. Super influential and reliseneble
Großartig. Gefiel mir schon immer sehr gut.
This album is so much fun. The classics are great for a reason, but the deep cuts in the back half of the record like Mr. Grieves, Crackity Jones and No. 13 Baby made me smile. Unhinged, in the best possible way. I really wonder what the demos sounded like, I think Gil Norton probably played a big role in making some of these crazy ideas seem really cohesive and sound great together. Anyway, loved this a lot.
Pixies best imho.
I’m a sucker for any band that manages to reference Un Chien Andalou.
8 / 10 Principios del grunge. Mejor que su primer disco. Muy disfrutable.
If Best Album is 5, then this album is 6, and if this album is 6, then, sound of nature is 7.
Literally one of my desert island albums. I first heard this coming out of my roommate in colleges bedroom. I walked in there immediately and said what is this I must have it.
Hey! Been trying to meet you Hey! Must be a devil between us or whores in my head. Pixies one of the most notable alt pioneers with massive range of influenced artists shine on this album. Great cohesion and definitive sound for the band. Even now, the album sounds like it was released yesterday based solely on performance.
Hits in all the right spots. Great album.
v british so syempre i like
Doolittle is the second studio album from the Pixies, and was among the most influential alt-rock albums of the the 80s. The Pixies combined punk-like jagged guitar riffs with pop-like melodic elements and added a "soft/loud" dynamic; their songs have quiet, reserved moments broken up with a loud punch, typically from a wailing guitar and Black Francis' near-screaming vocals. Doolittle includes some of the Pixies' best known songs, like "Monkey Gone to Heaven," "Here comes Your Man," and "Debaser." These songs, and the Pixies' distinct sound, heavily influenced alt-rock for decades.
Pixies always a fun listen, I really enjoy this all time classic !
Now THIS hit the spot. I love the energy of this album - how every song sounds different, but the whole album still feels cohesive.
🥰
Awesome.
It's one of the greatest indie albums ever made. The grandparents of grunge, The Pixies, created some of the catchiest Rock songs in the most unconventienal way possible. Black Francis' vocals are screechy and hideous in the best way possible. Kim Deal laid some of the sickest bass lines I've ever heard in my life. Joey Santiago is a masterclass in noise and feedback. And Dave Lovering has the drumming stamina of a bull on coke without ever skipping a beat. And this is the pixies at the peak of their creativity. Absolute masterclass.