Black Francis

Recently, a student asked me if I liked the Pixies. Seriously? Do I "like" them? No. My fascination with Pixies is far beyond "like".

The first time I saw one of their records was in 7th grade (1991). It was their final release, Trompe le Monde, from the same year. This (relatively) odd girl that sat next to me in English had several of their albums one day and we were checking them out. It was one of those weird moments where "you know something's happening, but you don't know what it is!"

I listened to them all and found them strangely exciting. I had never heard anything like it before. Trompe le Monde is a stunner! Not a bad song from start to finish. Nothing even resembling a bad song. There are plenty of hands-down standards: "Planet of Sound", "Alec Eiffel", "The Sad Punk", "U-Mass", "Subbacultcha", etc...

Their previous record, Bossanova (1990), opens with an instrumental cover called "Cecilia Ann". It is full of energy, but the next song is an absolute shredding masterpiece simply called "Rock Music". After blowing your hair back with both openers, they simmer down with a sort of epic called "Velouria". This was the initial standout. Of course, the two songs that follow are even better.

"Is She Weird" was the song that proved I was listening to something that no one else was listening to. With plenty of starts and stops as well as a bit of shouting and screaming, many of my friends said it was "too weird". Perhaps, that was the message.

After devouring these two seemingly flawless albums, I went back to the beginning. The first EP released by Pixies was titled Come On Pilgrim. It came out in 1987. The top three songs that year were by George Michael, Heart and Whitney Houston. Needless to say, this flew under the radar!

Come On Pilgrim opens with the seductive "Caribou". Then, Black Francis quietly begins speaking Spanish. After the band catches up he switches back to English. "Vamos" is a great, fast-paced little ditty. However, once they draw you in they smash your head with "Isla de Encanta" sung nearly all in Spanish. "The Holiday Song" is anthemic, but "Nimrod's Son", with it's declaration that the subject of the song was born of incestuous union, is unparalleled. Still, I prefer "I've Been Tired". Great!

Obviously,  fans and critics agree that Doolittle is their best. I say this... Do I like Pixies? Very very much. Where to start? Doesn't matter! Just start!