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Favorite Pixies song?

post #1 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:53am
Thread Starter 
Mine is definitely Debaser. It's got everything I love about them in one manic package.

I am un CHIEN Andalusian!
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post #2 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:07am
Debaser has definitely grown to me my favorite of theirs as well. I also like No. 13 Baby and Cecilia Ann for their great instrumentals.
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post #3 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:11am
It's a general favorite, but it still does it for me..."Here Comes Your Man".
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post #4 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:13am
"UMass." But I'm more of a punk/metal guy, so that figures.
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post #5 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:15am
Toss-up between Debaser and Where Is My Mind. I still get goosebumps when Kim's "oooh oooooohhh" part of Where Is My Mind kicks in.

EDIT: Goddammit, and Monkey Gone To Heaven. Bah.
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post #6 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:15am
"Monkey gone to heaven", although I'd be hard pressed to explain why.
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post #7 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:16am
Yeah, I like "Monkey Gone to Heaven" too, don't really know why either.
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post #8 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:21am
Debaser seems like *the* choice, but I'll go with "Gigantic" for the sake of diversity. It's the song that got me hooked.
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post #9 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:26am
Right now, the version of Monkey Gone To Heaven on the BBC record, specifically. Or the similar version of Wave Of Mutilation. Both make me listen to that song again. A lot. I know that's cheating so if I had to pick one, it'd be Wave by a hair.
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post #10 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:38am
'Hey' is my favourite.
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post #11 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:42am
Something Against You. It's short, sweet, and almost always on when I'm stuck in traffic.
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post #12 of 64
11/24/08 at 3:07am
"Where Is My Mind?" and "Velouria".
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post #13 of 64
11/24/08 at 3:09am
Hang Wire or Letter to Memphis.
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post #14 of 64
11/24/08 at 6:39am
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post #15 of 64
11/24/08 at 7:22am
It's always been Bone Machine for me.
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post #16 of 64
11/24/08 at 8:24am
"Where is my mind".I do have a fondness for "Gouge Away",you can really feel it when he sings that title line.

The Uk Surf version of "Waves of Mutilation" is quality too,its the drum beat that hooks me.
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post #17 of 64
11/24/08 at 9:09am
"UMass" or "Here Comes Your Man"
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post #18 of 64
11/24/08 at 12:06pm
Broken Face. I'm not really sure why, it just gets to me.

Mr. Grieves, Debaser and Alec Eiffel are all close for second place.
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post #19 of 64
11/24/08 at 12:25pm
Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf) from the Pump Up The Volume soundtrack was the first Pixies tune for me so it holds sentimental value, but I'd go with Here Comes Your Man as my favourite.
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post #20 of 64
11/24/08 at 12:27pm
Oddly enough, I think their cover of Neil Young's "Winterlong" sums them up better than a lot of their originals, good as they are. The Francis/Deal harmonies are on full display, there's a nice mix of acoustic strumming and simple, but just-noisy-enough electric leads, and the pop song format keeps them nice and focused. It's also unusually earnest-sounding for them, and a bit better than Young's original.

They're very much an album band to me, since a lot of the great songs don't do all of their sides justice - "Vamos" is fun, but it's only the fast, quirky side of the band; "Debaser" is the gonzo, angry element; "Gigantic" is the pretty, sexy side. But there are some that manage to hit a lot of what they do in one (un)tidy package - "Monkey Gone to Heaven," "Velouria," "Where Is My Mind," and "Winterlong," among just a few others.
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post #21 of 64
11/24/08 at 12:44pm
Thread Starter 
When he gets to the line "we will wade in the shine of the ever" in Velouria, I get chills. That's one of those songs where I love one specific part so much more than the rest of it, it feels uneven.

I wouldn't call Debaser their "best" song, from an objective standpoint, but right now I'm discovering punk rock (taking the roundabout route of Blondie, Nirvana, and The Pixies*) so that's been the object of my obsession (I've already worn out "Broken Face" by repeated listens). Also the desire to be subversive has always been strong for me and "I am un Chien Andalusian" is a terrific mantra for that.

As I stated in the Van Halen thread, I am a huge fan of noisy pop music, so going through the Pixies' albums (instead of their 2-disc greatest hits I previously had) has been an utter joy. Doolittle is my favorite so far, and will probably continue to be, but I have yet to really dive into Bossa Nova and the BBC Sessions.

*Any other suggestions for energetic, noisy-yet-pop-oriented music to get me into punk would be greatly appreciated.
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post #22 of 64
11/24/08 at 12:50pm
I'm a "Velouria" man myself. Not entirely sure why, but every time I hear that song, I just get a charge running through me. Plus, the video is pretty great.

"Where is My Mind" and "Wave of Mutilation" are up there, as well.
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post #23 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:01pm
"Velouria" might be my favorite, but it's hard to commit. Too many great songs. I love when Deal and Francis sing together, and that's pretty much my favorite example of that happening. Seeing them sing it live was one of the highlights of my concert-going career. I love Doolittle to pieces, though. "Hey" is kind of a forgotten great one off of that - cool to see Cognizant mention it up above.
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post #24 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
*Any other suggestions for energetic, noisy-yet-pop-oriented music to get me into punk would be greatly appreciated.
I think it's easy to mistake punk for "noisy and poppy," but it's really a pretty nebulous term, probably having as much to do with intent, style, era, and other non-musical factors as much as style. Blondie's not a route to punk so much as a manifestation of it.

That said, noisy and poppy music you should hear:

Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Hot Hot Heat's Makeup the Breakdown (which sounds like a Voidoids update to me - don't bother with their other albums, though)
Brainiac
The Dismemberment Plan
Husker Du (especially if you're on a Nirvana/Pixies kick, since the line traces directly back to HD - I recommend starting with Flip Your Wig)
Buzzcocks (likewise - you can probably make an argument for Buzzcocks -> Husker Du -> Pixies -> Nirvana)
The Replacements (especially Let It Be, if we're talking about noise and pop combined)
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post #25 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:06pm
I'll echo Matchstick. I can't choose. As I read each song title that people were listing, I kept thinking, "Yeah, that's my favorite too! No wait, that one. Shit."

Can I just have all of Surfer Rosa and Doolittle?
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post #26 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:07pm
Debaser, is really a perfect song. But personally, I really love Broken Fist. It's gotta be one of my favorite straight-up punk rock songs of all time. It just slams at you, over and over, then disapears before it wears out its welcome.

Actually, for a song that nobody ever brings up, I think Silver is really an amazing song.
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post #27 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
*Any other suggestions for energetic, noisy-yet-pop-oriented music to get me into punk would be greatly appreciated.
The Thermals. A great, fun band that makes you want to break things.
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post #28 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:20pm
Gosh...

::checks ipod::

Hm.

So just saying Doolittle isn't allowed, then?

Okay. Debaser, then. Or Hey. Or U-Mass. Maybe Wave of Mutilation.

This is hard.

And, Patrick, go listen to The Breeders if you like The Pixies.
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post #29 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post

*Any other suggestions for energetic, noisy-yet-pop-oriented music to get me into punk would be greatly appreciated.
Mclusky and Les Savy Fav are two that haven't been mentioned that spring to mind.

Also, there's a defunct band called Pony that only put out one album, but they really, really sound like the Pixies. Maybe a bit too close. Listening to the lyrics, the *cough* homage is obviously intentional, but still.
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post #30 of 64
11/24/08 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissZooey View Post
And, Patrick, go listen to The Breeders if you like The Pixies.
Definitely. Especially their first album, Pod, which was recorded with Steve Albini between Doolittle and Bossanova. I'm always a little surprised when this album doesn't get brought up in relation to the Pixies, since, due to the Albini production and the unusual song structures, it's probably closer in sound to Surfer Rosa than anything The Pixies ever did afterward.
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post #31 of 64
11/24/08 at 2:08pm
If I had to pick a song off of a studio album, it'd probably be Dig For Fire or River Euphrates.
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post #32 of 64
11/24/08 at 4:03pm
The opening 1-2-3 punch of Pong, Thalassocracy and Abstract Plain kick my ass every time.
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post #33 of 64
11/24/08 at 4:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveB View Post
Definitely. Especially their first album, Pod, which was recorded with Steve Albini between Doolittle and Bossanova. I'm always a little surprised when this album doesn't get brought up in relation to the Pixies, since, due to the Albini production and the unusual song structures, it's probably closer in sound to Surfer Rosa than anything The Pixies ever did afterward.
Make a mix of songs from this (and Last Splash, which is also an excellent album) and Frank Black's second solo album (Teenager of the Year) and you could convince yourself you've just compiled a lost Pixies album. Both are as close to being as good as the Pixies as possible. And all three are better than Trompe le Monde, which a lot of people love for some reason...
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post #34 of 64
11/24/08 at 4:54pm
Debaser, but seriously: No love for "Head On?" Takes a great song, inserts steroids and chaos.
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post #35 of 64
11/24/08 at 5:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wyshynski View Post
Debaser, but seriously: No love for "Head On?" Takes a great song, inserts steroids and chaos.
I really love what they did with "Head On," but the original's so damn good and iconic that, when the Pixies version came along, it seemed like a fantastic curiosity instead of "a Pixies song" to me, if that makes sense.
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post #36 of 64
11/24/08 at 5:32pm
Their version of "Ain't That Pretty at All" off the Warren Zevon tribute record is incredible.

Favorite song? "UMass," I think. Possibly "Debaser."
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post #37 of 64
11/24/08 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
*Any other suggestions for energetic, noisy-yet-pop-oriented music to get me into punk would be greatly appreciated.
Modest Mouse.
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post #38 of 64
11/24/08 at 8:05pm
Monkey Gone to Heaven, Wave of Mutilation (the fast album cut) and Where is My Mind used to be my favorite Pixies songs, but lately it's been all about Hey. I LOVE the atmosphere of that song. Just this slimy filthy desperate dank groove. You have to love a band that can convey that kind of emotion.
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post #39 of 64
11/24/08 at 10:58pm
Number 13 Baby. This was an easy choice for me, although I love many of their songs. This one completely rocks, though, it's super catchy, and ends with what I think is the best bit of music on any of their albums.
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post #40 of 64
11/24/08 at 11:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post

*Any other suggestions for energetic, noisy-not yet-punk- still rock oriented music to get me into punk would be greatly appreciated.
Velvet Underground.

I did the same as months ago. I asked some advice around here. I love the Bossanova stuff and I think Doolittle is perfect too.
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post #41 of 64
11/25/08 at 12:08am
"Vamos" for me, probably, esp. with their amusing "You fucking DIE!" sketch at the beginning. "Bone Machine," however, is a very close second.
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post #42 of 64
11/25/08 at 11:53am
Rep to all you Hey lovers. Hey to all you rep recievers. You're like whores in my head, really.

Incoherent and alarming outbursts were never more anthemic with the Pixies, gotta love them. I was going to implore you all to agree that Dolittle is their best but remembered the tracklist for Surfer Rosa. Guess we can agree Dolittle was their peak?
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post #43 of 64
11/25/08 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cognizant View Post
Rep to all you Hey lovers. Hey to all you rep recievers. You're like whores in my head, really.

Incoherent and alarming outbursts were never more anthemic with the Pixies, gotta love them. I was going to implore you all to agree that Dolittle is their best but remembered the tracklist for Surfer Rosa. Guess we can agree Dolittle was their peak?
Surfer Rosa's probably their most unusual-sounding, but Doolittle sounds a little more accomplished to my ears, even if it required them leaning a little more heavily on traditional song structures. The songs on Doolittle sound just as good removed from the album as they sound on it, while a lot more of the songs on Surfer Rosa work much better in context.
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post #44 of 64
10/5/09 at 7:52am
Saw them here in Dublin on the first date of their Doolittle 20th Anniversary tour. Sounded great, and I met Black Francis and Joey Santiago afterwards!
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post #45 of 64
10/5/09 at 5:44pm
Awesome, Raz!

My favourite's "Dig For Fire." Has been for years.
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post #46 of 64
10/5/09 at 11:35pm
then GOD IS SEVEN

GOD IS SEVEN

GOD IS SEVEN
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post #47 of 64
10/6/09 at 12:27pm
The crazy buildup of Something Against You always creates an adrenaline build in me that explodes right when the song does too.

The larynx-destroying screaming at the end of "Tame" continues to leave me slack-jawed every time I hear it.

Goddamn, I love the Pixies.
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post #48 of 64
10/6/09 at 12:54pm
"Where is My Mind", but not because of FIGHT CLUB.

While driving home from Houston at 2 am, I heard "Debaser" on the radio and went crazy, all by my lonesome in hundreds of miles of nothing. One of my coolest, private moments.

Also, I picked a Pixies shirt for 4 bucks in high school, back before they had their reunion and had their resurgence. Anyways, I came to college with that worn-out shirt, right when they were regaining the spotlight, and was the coolest cat around.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
*Any other suggestions for energetic, noisy-yet-pop-oriented music to get me into punk would be greatly appreciated.
For my money, one can't go too wrong with RAW POWER by The Stooges. It's really noisy, is proto-punk, and has a '50s rock 'n roll vibe. So it doesn't quite fit into the '80s - '90s sound at all, and came out in the '70s. Still, it was Kurt Cobain's favorite album of all time. Also, read the backstory as it adds tons of color to the precedings.
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post #49 of 64
10/6/09 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
*Any other suggestions for energetic, noisy-yet-pop-oriented music to get me into punk would be greatly appreciated.
I'd further DaveB's Bob Mould recommendation by (once again) plugging Sugar. Copper Blue was a perfect starting point, for me. It's not strictly a "punk album", but it's got energy most punk bands never achieve.
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post #50 of 64
10/6/09 at 11:25pm
my top 10 favorite Pixies tunes (no specific order)

U-Mass
I Bleed
River Euphrates
Broken Face
Cactus
No. 13 Baby
Mr. Grieves
Stormy Weather
Is She Weird
Oh My Golly!

Edit: plus Dig For Fire... so Top 11...
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