 | Tracklist:
1. Cecilia Ann
2. Rock Music
3. Velouria
4. Allison
5. Is She Weird
6. Ana
7. All Over the World
8. Dig For Fire
9. Down to the Well
10. The Happening
11. Blown Away
12. Hang Wire
13. Stormy Weather
14. Havalina
| Ranking: #74 for 1990 | |
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On 33 Lists
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| Summary: Oh look, a Pixes album. Must be great :) |
4 of 4 thought this review was well written
OMG this album kicks my butt.. After much critical and some indie / underground success, the Pixes were on a creative roll back in the late '80's. And to get the '90's started right they would make this album, Bossanove.
Right off you can hear Bossanova is going to be a little different then previous efforts by the group. Although produced and engineered by the same team that worked on the now classic Doolittle less then two years before, it has a more polished, layered, and textured sound then the band possessed up to this point.
Kicking it all off with the surf rock instrumental Cecilia Ann the album roars from the start. Guitarist Joey Santiago is especially good on this cut, laying down some sonic Beach Boys twang while the rock solid rhythm section of bassist Kim Deal and David Lovering keep everything well anchored. But its anchors away lol with the next cut, Rock Music. Two minutes of ranting and screaming by singer Black Francis, and music so vicious if it were real it could blow on you and you'd turn to dust. I have no idea what this song is about, as the vocals are a scream. And really, the best thing is not knowing what its about. It's called Rock Music and it could burn down a barn, that's all I need to know.
Oh velveteen.....the real start of the album is at hand now, as the lovely and lush lead single Velouria spills from the speakers next. This song sets the tone for the rest of the album as its the first true song of the record, and features Kim Deal on vocals for the first time. Its a mid tempo number and reveals strong songwriting skills that while apparent before, were never quite this clear. The production makes the difference here, as the smoothing out of jagged edges and bolstering of the mix allow the songs to be fully fleshed out on record like never before.
From here on its just a matter of letting the album lead you. This is not the first Pixies album with a mainstream sound, but it is the first where you could say they were trying to make it sound real good in a studio craft sense. Every sound and nuance is honed to perfection, from the rich harmony vocals to the clean guitar work and tight, explosive drums of David Lovering. Some felt this recording was too refined to be a Pixies album, but the songs here overcome any niggles some might have about that. And the album sounds great. So 'peeps should stfu and enjoy greatness. =]
This album is very focused and expansive. It feels like a large work, a lot to take in. Ana is barely two minutes long but feels like five with it's mellow guitar intro and lush harmony vocals, Is She Weird is classic twisted Pixies with cryptic lyrics from Francis and some tasty guitar licks from Santiago, and Down To The Well is what The Toadies would have recorded four or five years later if they were worth a shi.t. I can hardly wait, BABY!, Francis sings out front of a slow, simmering, bombastic mega riff that would make Led Zeppelin hide their guitars. The is a sexy song. The Pixies are a sexy band. This is a sexy album. On this track the Pixes sound like a wrong turn down a dark road with a woman you shouldn't be with and bad intentions on your mind. They're like that sometimes. Sexy.
lol ok this review is getting long and I have to go to Walmart. So ima wrap it up. Other highlights include the drudgingly sonic Blown Away, with Francis sounding like Kim Deal on lead vocals, Dig For Fire with it's weird, stuttering rhythm and breaks, the ferocious Hang Wire (which features the lyric that gives this album its name), and the surf punk tune Allison. And everything else.
Pixies rock, 'nuff said. I have some toothpaste to buy. :wave:
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
You are the best writer on this website. Hands down. This is a great album, gret review. Keep em' comin.:smash:
Digging: Lil Wayne - Dedication 2 Digging: Lil Wayne - Dedication 2
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
We talked about this on the forums I think, so I'm not gonna repeat myself, suffice to say we disagree on this' production. Velouria really is one of the best Pixies songs of all time though.
Great review.
| | | Album Rating: 4
C'mon JXD, just approve this account.
Digging: Ultramontane Northern Winds - kutte hjertet Digging: Ultramontane Northern Winds - kutte hjertet | | |
i think its dumb that you use stuff like "lol" and "omg" in your review
its whatev tho
| | | Album Rating: 4
This isn't a professional site, but many are stuck in that state of mind though. This place isn't any more professional than Rate Your Music.
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do you think i don't know that
i still think its dumb
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Why are you using this account?
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Have to say, I liked reading most of this, your enthusiam came through. It's a review that wasn't too full of itself, if you know what I mean.
But I must admit, lols, stfus and omgs don't really fit, and neither does this finish:
Pixies rock, 'nuff said. I have some toothpaste to buy. :wave:
| | | Album Rating: 4
Well, if JXD was doing it, it's dumb, but this is SixGuns, his alternate account. That's why alt accounts are fun.
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How do you know that its a alt account, I'm stupid.
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Because we just know.
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YOU just know. I'm to supid ta know...
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Yes. You are stupid.
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Not a fan of the review style but there was still a lot of info here. Probably my least favourite Pixies album.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Why are you using this account?
i only review new releases on my other. i have reviewed only six non new releases in the past year on it, and decided i wanted a way to write reviews of older albums without cluttering the staff page with them. plus i get to be casual about it and not be so precious about using certain words, phrases, reaching a certain standard, or anything, really. its fun =]
That's why alt accounts are fun.
WINNAR!
lol thats just how i roll :cool:This Message Edited On 07.01.07
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Other than Stormy Weather- possibly the only crap Pixies song its a great album "All Over the World" one of my favs.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
The awesome thing is that Stormy Weather doesn't even suck!This Message Edited On 12.16.07
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I have all Pixies albums besides this, and love Doolittle and strongly like Trompe and Surfer Rosa. How does this one compare?
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