Despite so many years of being a rock girlie, all I know about Pixies is "Where is My Mind." Sooooo... this is a solid way to kick off this album listening project.
(And hey, TIL they're from Boston. Also Black Francis graduated from Westport High and won a "Teenager of the Year" award? lol)
So I'm coming in extremely blind, only knowing the name and the influence. This is not what I expected them to sound like. I think I expected something heavier. But I was really happily surprised by all the genre bending -- surf pop, punk, and oh wait is that reggae/ska? I don't know how often I'll return to it, but I'm hearing how foundational they are to the 90s alternative scene and a lot of other bands I've loved.
Some Related TBLs:
- Nirvana - Nevermind (finally? because they cite this as an influence and I have never listened to it. I was just a little too young for the grunge movement.)
- The Breeders - Last Splash (bassist Kim Deal's follow up all female alt band. I do love it when the girls make rock music)
Standout Tracks + First Impressions:
- Debaser - the sound grabbed me out the of the gate
- Wave of Mutilation - the jauntiest surf bop about overworked Japanese businessmen dying by suicide, geez.
- Here Comes Your Man - oh, this is a fun vibe. I won't look up the lyrics to find out if it's super dark yet ha. I like the vocal interplay between the two lead singers.
- La La Love You - mostly instrumental, groovy vibe, nice bass line and guitar noodling, and maybe even a touch of new wave?
- Silver - is just a little bit weird and feels like a spaghetti western? I'm into it.
Somewhat out of my wheelhouse, but kind of feel like I should listen to R&B / soul / funk more often? Reminds me of the kind of music I'd listen to growing up on oldies.
Standouts:
- This cover art.
- So in Love - such a smooth vibe
- Jesus - kind of want to look closer at the lyrics
- Hard Times
- Love to the People
Stream of consciousness first impressions:
So I didn't actually finish this one, because I got sidetracked. But I listened to about the first half while making dinner.
I have never heard of this band and I never would have picked it up based on this cover. But dang, this was fun. I will always have a little soft spot in my heart for youthful pop punk, for the energy and freedom.
In 1995 I was listening to my mom's music -- oldies and grown up CCM. I didn't start exploring alt music until a couple years later, and even then I was staying in the Christian music fence. So of course I wouldn't have heard this. But that's the fun thing. I am in my 40s, there is always something to discover in 90s music, and somehow it still taps into nostalgia for a life I didn't exactly live.
Anyway, I'll go back and revisit this one in full later. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Day 4 of the challenge. Is this the greatest album ever? idk. Is it my favorite of the ones I listened to so far, so much I put it on loop while I did my silly little work tasks? Yes, yes it is.
Reminds me of the brief time I was super into Morning Phase and forgot about Beck. I have a weakness for sad singer songwriter folkiness with interesting production.
Then followed up with Guero for the first time, so this was Beck day. Saving in my library.
Rap/Hip hop is a SUPER blind spot for me and I've always aspired to fix that. I have no business reviewing or rating this. Gonna need to do a deep dive later.
Live commentary from an elder millennial lady who mostly knows Van Halen for "Jump":
- Oh, Runnin with the Devil? I know this one!
- Damn, how is "Eruption" physically possible?
- They covered "You Really Got Me?"
- I really don't want to like dude rock hair metal, but is this going on my album of the summer list?
- I should call my dad today.
Anyway, I had a great time.
Listening to this be like:
- Huh, never heard of Primal Scream, what 90s weirdness am I up to?
- Is this... gospel?
- Wait no, it's... house music?
Anyway, this sounded nothing like I expected and I was pleasantly surprised.
DOLLY π are you kidding I CAN'T GIVE THIS LESS THAN 5 STARS THIS WEEK
But also this is literally the first time I've listened to any of her music other than the classics everybody knows. When I was a baby music snob embarrassed by my small town life, I hated this style and would've written it off as "my country grandma's music." Now I hear these songs and feel a compassionate connection to my family and the land that raised them.
Am I getting soft and sentimental in middle age? Sure hope so. Thanks for being a light Dolly. π
Oh hey, this is the first one to come up that I am not hearing for the first time. And I have FEELINGS. This album seriously imprinted on me as an angsty 27 year old and itβs wild to revisit as an angsty 43 year old.
I was just hipster enough to think listening to indie rock made me cool, and just starting to feel aware of aging. I felt nostalgia for childhood and I wanted to escape the childhood hometown I was still living in. So I'd pop this CD on in my 2004 Civic (purchased on Amazon MP3 and burned to a CD, natch), turn it up on my commute to work, and FEEL THINGS. I can't think of another album that better captures that weird tension of feeling stagnant and nostalgic at the same time.
Now I'm feeling properly middle aged, married and living in a city far away from where I grew up. I drive a 2008 Civic with a CD player. I'm solidly aware of my aging, how much my hometown is changing, how everything is built to change and old friends feel distant. If anything, these songs make even more sense now.
Anyway, yeah, they never made another record like this and I don't know if I'm colored by nostalgia or what, but I don't care, personal canon record for sad millennials like me.
It's... all right. I appreciate it on a cool sound and production level and enjoy some Bowie vibes, but I don't have any strong feelings about it. Β―\_(γ)_/Β―
It delights the part of my brain that enjoys Queen / 70s poppy rock. I don't have any thoughts deeper than that.
I think I listened to Dark Side of the Moon a few times ages ago (thanks Dad) and a few songs from The Wall. That's my Pink Floyd knowledge.
Super interesting to learn the backstory going in. Even with the very 70s prog sound there's something kind of timeless about the emotional landscape. (I also love that it's a tight 45 minutes lol)
If I'm learning anything through this 1001 albums thing, it might be just how much of a soft spot I have for 70s music.
What the...?
Like it's so weird and silly. But also annoying. But also I laughed out loud. But also I wanted it to end. But it's also such a vibe.
idk how to rate this dude. ROCK LOBSTAH.
idk, maybe the sound is dated, but I like this flavor of late 80s/early 90s folky pop rock. I could see playing this on a long drive when I need to feel my feelings but not get too depressed about it.
3 stars to spite the haters. :)
