neekafat
A.R.O.
Staff

Reviews 84
Soundoffs 76
News Articles 19
Band Edits + Tags 178
Album Edits 245

Album Ratings 2350
Objectivity 65%

Last Active 01-03-23 11:21 pm
Joined 06-03-16

Review Comments 26,054

 Lists
03.28.24 20NEEK23 - Musics ♦03.02.24 20NEEK23 - Films ♦
10.21.23 Neek's 2023 Cram List ♦10.16.23 favorite alex garland movie
10.12.23 favorite robert eggers movie10.09.23 favorite ari aster movie
08.06.23 20NEEK22 - Album Ranking06.28.23 Neek's 2000 Ratings Spectacular (+ 7 YE ♦
05.13.23 Black Sabbath: Album Covers Ranked04.14.23 Metallica: Album Covers Ranked
02.15.23 Neek's 2023 Movie Hub01.11.23 20NEEK22 - Film Ranking ♦
11.28.22 i need a new favorite band05.05.22 Best Album Covers: Apr. 2022
05.01.22 Neek's 2022 Movie Hub04.24.22 neek is nonbinary and old ♦
04.21.22 Paramore NEEK'D03.23.22 Best Album Covers: Q1 2022 ♦
More »

Neek's Pixies Discog Run

Ars is getting me to finally check these guys and instead of him having to nag me to check one each individually I figured I'd do this to force myself to be more quick. Still probably gonna be super slow because of the numbers of runs and paths I'm going through right now but yknow. Also Papi said he wanted me to post one of these runs I do so some could follow, and I figured these guys are big enough that people might care. So here we are!
1Pixies
Come On Pilgrim

Rating: 3.3
Favorite Songs: "Caribou", "The Holiday Song"

I'm just gonna admit that I was a bit let down by this one, it was definitely super unique and interesting, but it didn't have that permanent impression I'd expect from a band so legendary. I loved the weird alt-grungy-noise sound, but it too quickly redundant within itself. A big pet peeve of mine is when an album (or EP) finds a really unique sound, like this great mix of weird alt-grungy-noise, but then gets repetitive within that sound. This was pretty guilty of that. The songs were too short and they blended together too often, but overall it had more than enough to make me excited for the future releases that would hopefully expand on the sound.
2Pixies
Surfer Rosa

Rating: 3.8
Favorite Songs: "Something Against You" "Where Is My Mind?"

This one definitely succeeded in having more variety and fucking around with the style more. It's a bit darker and more exciting than the EP, building upon it in different ways. I loved the harshness of "Something Against You," and the way that "Where Is My Mind?" was more accessible without losing their core sound. Some of the songs weren't very memorable, but the album worked great as a whole to the point where they didn't detract, they just kept it from being as short as the last EP. However, I thought that ending on "I'm Amazed" and "Brick as Red" was a bad decision, as they're good, but the least exciting or unique of the entire album. Still, great album, and I'm hoping to like Doolittle even more.
3Pixies
Doolittle

Rating: 3.8
Favorite Songs: "Monkey Gone to Heaven" "Mr. Grieves"

To be honest this was right one the edge of 3.7/3.8, but the last few songs convinced me that this was more of a 4.0 than a 3.5. The first half here is pretty rough, what with weirdly poppy songs, some of which work better than others (the surfy "Wave of Mutiliation" is more convincing than the dull and repetitive "Here Comes Your Man"), but they lead into the incredible one-two punch in the middle of the album of "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and "Mr. Grieves." These were both excellent and eclectic alt rock tracks (though the latter is bettered by a TV on the Radio cover), and the quality is in a much better place after them, with engaging and catchy rock tunes that showcase both variety and melody ending in the great closing number "Gouge Away."
4Pixies
Bossanova

Rating: 3.9
Favorite Songs: "Cecilia Ann" "Rock Music"

After an insanely promising opening one-two punch, I still didn't like this quite as much as I wanted to. Still, I'd have to say it's my favorite Pixies so far if only because of how damn consistent it is. It might not have the highs of "Monkey Gone to Heaven," but there are barely any lows in sight. It's all just fun, enjoyable alt rock that knows how to have fun and not take itself too seriously. I also really did the sonic experimentation here, it might not be as eclectic as some of their earlier releases, but they combine it with a great ear for melody and listenability, so this one was a winner for me.
5Pixies
Trompe Le Monde

Rating: 3.6
Favorite Songs: "Planet of Sound" "Space (I Believe In)" "The Navajo Know"

While there's a couple true bangers and one hell of a nifty closer (see above tracks), overall this was a kinda disappointing follow up to Bossanova. It seemed to take the usual weird Pixies sound and water it down to something more accessible but less exciting, not much is different, it's just less effective. Still, it's a solid album and it's pretty consistent aside from a few low points, it's just not something that I'd see myself coming back to much in the future.
6Pixies
Complete B-Sides

Rating: 3.2
Favorite Songs: "River Euphrates (Alternate Version)" "Letter to Memphis (Instrumental)"

Unlike some B-Sides collections, these tracks don't require much of an explanation as to why these were left as B-Sides. They contain elements that, while good enough on their own, are derivative from the Pixies sound without really adding onto it in any really exciting or unique way. Sure, there are some genuinely cool numbers ("Bailey's Walk" and "Build High" come to mind), but that doesn't hide the fact that the best and most exciting numbers here are just alternative versions of tracks already on their major releases.
7Pixies
Indie Cindy

Rating: 2.8
Favorite Songs: "Indie Cindy" "Bagboy"

I consider my position here as a comparatively objective one; since I'm going through this list as someone without a deep-rooted personal connection or nostalgia for the band, I can look at the material from a perspective not marred by preconceived notions of what they should sound like, or otherwise. That being said, Indie Cindy is not a good one. No, but it has a baseline enjoyability to it, a smooth laidback quality that allows you to slowly nod your head and take it easy on the ride to work. Fans of course will (and should miss) Francis's dexterous voice and the compelling loud/soft dynamics, but otherwise this has some fun to it. Of course, there's also plenty of flat out lame stuff here, along with some tracks so lethargic and uninspired its embarrassing, and a couple that sound weirdly pop-punk inspired, as if they were leftover from a Blink 182 record. Idk. I didn't like this per se, but I think the hate is a bit overblown.
8Pixies
Head Carrier

Rating: 2.2
Favorite Songs: "Might as Well Be Gone" "Baal's Back" "All I Can Think About Now"

Oh god. Yeah. Egh. I definitely can see why you guys hate this one. This was all over the place, and in nowhere good. The heavier moments and lighter moments sounded just as uninspired, and while there were some alright spots, there were other moments that were just inexcusably lame ("Talent" and "Oona" are two of the most boring rock songs I've ever heard). There's no bite anymore, and even the laidback tunes, the one thing I enjoyed about the last one, are careless and restless for no apparent reason. The most Pixies sounding moment comes from Paz, who wasn't even in the original band. It's sad. It's a sad album. And it kinda sucks.
Show/Add Comments (92)

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy