The new Pixies album Head Carrier doesn't do too much for me, it's alright but that's about it. Plus, Pixies without Kim Deal is a bit of a deal breaker for me. Mind you I wasn't too fussed about the new album they put out in 1990. After the brain melting shock of Surfer Rosa and Doolittle, Bossanova seemed a little humdrum, a bit ordinary. In the years since I've learned to love some of the songs off it, Velouria and Digging For Fire and some others, but nothing meets the standards they set in 1988 and 1989. And while some bands have persuaded me to keep buying their records I've never felt the same urge with Pixies. The compiled Peel Sessions and B-sides albums are well worth your time and money as companions to those two late 80s masterpieces..
Velouria (Peel Session)
I said it when the last album came out - the current Pixies simply cannot be expected to be the same Pixies of 1989. Even if they'd never broken up in the first place, and even if Kim was still in the band, the new album would still sound nothing like 'Doolittle'. Nothing could ever sound like 'Doolittle'.
ReplyDeleteFrom that point, 'Head Carrier' is actually not a bad record. It's not great, but it's better than most things I've heard this year. You're absolutely right that "nothing meets the standards they set in 1988 and 1989" - but no artist since then has ever met those standards (for me anyway), so I'm not going to hold it against Pixies.
Both 'Indy Cindy' and 'Head Carrier' may be patchy affairs, but the good moments are very good.
ReplyDeleteI quite like Trompe Le Monde.
ReplyDeleteHaven't bought anything since they reformed. Agree that the first two albums are essential but other later stuff had excellent moments.
ReplyDeleteDespite the fact Kim wont be in the line-up, I have got myself a ticket to see them in December for the reason that the Glasgow Barrowlands is tailor made for them.
Saw them at GMEX in 91. Very good indeed.
ReplyDeleteSwiss Adam
Probably heresy but I never really got into the Pixies back in the day, it took me to the early nought its to reappraise them even now I can take or leave them but do like Veloria a lot along with MGTH, of course and Wave of Mutilation (UK surf)
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