NR Essentials #15: Pixies - Pixies At The BBC

noisereductions · 06.18.2009, 07:48 PM

Pixies
Pixies At The BBC
1998, 4AD

The Pixies are very high on my list of best bands ever and this compilation is a pretty good explanation of why. Though SURFER ROSA is easily my favorite Pixies album, it obviously only highlights one aspect/era of the band. And no matter how many times the labels have tried, a "best of" never quite seems to get the story right. But this. This collection of tracks recorded for various BBC sessions throughout the band's rather short career is so fucking perfect, it's almost unreal.

Unlike the usual bestof/greatesthits/singles collections, the set list here is actually super weird. It combines singles, covers, bsides, etc with no regard for commercial viability. The surf tracks mesh with the rawk tracks and creepy riffs and droney singing and..... I can't even say it right. But more importantly, every track is fucking awesome.

The set opens with "Wild Honey Pie." Do I need to say anything else? It opens with a fucking WHITE ALBUM Beatles cover. What the fuck? Who does that? And then it lurches into a version of "There Goes My Gun" that makes me think the DOOLITTLE version totally flacid. Actually same goes for the LP versions of "Is She Weird?", "Subbaculta," and "Hey" to be honest. The versions here are so much more spontaneous and intense sounding.

Throw in a perfect take on the b-side "Manta Ray," the UK Surf version of "Wave Of Mutilation," and OM fucking G... "The Lady In The Radiator Song" from muthafuckin' ERASERHEAD!!!

This album is the balls, dudes. Fucking get it.

joe11121 · 06.18.2009, 09:22 PM

Like it, hate the cover

loubarret · 06.19.2009, 04:25 AM

Not the best pixies release but still great.

Nice thing to know that their first 'session' was just some things of the purple tape being played.

jimbrim · 06.19.2009, 04:58 AM

I'll look into this. I saw Pixies play last week, really enjoyed it

noisereductions · 06.19.2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loubarret

Not the best pixies release but still great.

Right. Like I said SURFER ROSA is my favorite album. But I think all of the DOOLITTLE recordings here are much better than the LP versions. Much better. "There Goes My Gun" alone is worth the price of this CD. And like I said this to me is the best collection, if yr in the mood for Pixies with no specific era/album in mind.

floatingslowly · 06.19.2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noisereductions

This album is the balls, dudes.

funny you should say that, I can't get over thinking that's frank black's nutsack on the cover.

anyways, when I'm in the mood for the pixies (and I'm not listening to Trompe), this is what I listen to. I love The Lady In The Radiator.

noisereductions · 06.19.2009, 09:01 AM

funny you mention TROMPE... Last night after listening to this I threw TROMPE on and I swear, I always forget HOW GREAT that record is. I feel like it's always sort of looked at as like a disappointment or something. I think song-for-song, it's better than BOSSANOVA. And have I mentioned how much I hate the production on DOOLITTLE? Because I do. The songs are great. But the production fux it.

floatingslowly · 06.19.2009, 09:05 AM

I rarely pay too much attention to other's opinions about music. it's too subjective of an experience.

Trompe le Monde is EASILY in my top 10 favorite albums ever.

noisereductions · 06.19.2009, 09:39 AM

I wouldn't say I pay a lot of attention to others opinions per se, but if everyone on the board says "this album's awesome," then I'll probably check it out, to see if I like it. Y'knowutImean?

Shifty Prophet · 06.19.2009, 09:58 AM

This is going to sound like I've never wiped my own ass, BUT, I've been searching through all the ''Essentials'' thread by various posters and I have to say that you sir (noisereductions) have either:

A.) Got your shit together.

B.)Are 11,have heard none of these records and spend a lot of time googling opinions on various websites and message boards.

C.) both and and b

or

D.) Are addicted to drugs, fast food and addictions.

noisereductions · 06.19.2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shifty Prophet

This is going to sound like I've never wiped my own ass, BUT, I've been searching through all the ''Essentials'' thread by various posters and I have to say that you sir (noisereductions) have either:

A.) Got your shit together.

B.)Are 11,have heard none of these records and spend a lot of time googling opinions on various websites and message boards.

C.) both and and b

or

D.) Are addicted to drugs, fast food and addictions.

I dnt really think I have my sht together. But it's not B or D, so...

Shifty Prophet · 06.19.2009, 10:20 AM

The answers are always a combination of everything and nothing.

The Earl Of Slander · 06.19.2009, 11:54 AM

Trompe was for the longest time my least favourite Pixies album. I really didn't like it very much, and totally got why people thought it was such a disappointment. Then one day I just happened to give another chance in the right mood and it completely fucking blew me away. So stunning on so many levles, and waaaay too overlooked. As a whole album, it's a strong candidate for there best. Destroys Bossanova. The way the tracks are programmed, especially on the first side, so they just each catapult into the next is unbeliavable. Like every track is a classic, and there's no break between them, so before you've even absorbed how much your face has been rocked off you're already thrown into another classic. Amazing amazing album. I mean seriously, Trompe Le Monde, Planet Of Sound, Alec Eiffel, The Sad Punk, Head On, U-Mass, Palace Of The Brine and Letter To Memphis right after each other in like 18 minutes? How is it even possible for one album to bring so much awesome so quickly? Everyone else who didn't give it time, lkike me at first, needs to give it another listen. I don't have the BBC album, but now I'm really psyched to get it.

floatingslowly · 06.19.2009, 12:02 PM

D = R x T

noisereductions · 06.19.2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Earl Of Slander

Trompe was for the longest time my least favourite Pixies album. I really didn't like it very much, and totally got why people thought it was such a disappointment. Then one day I just happened to give another chance in the right mood and it completely fucking blew me away. So stunning on so many levles, and waaaay too overlooked. As a whole album, it's a strong candidate for there best. Destroys Bossanova. The way the tracks are programmed, especially on the first side, so they just each catapult into the next is unbeliavable. Like every track is a classic, and there's no break between them, so before you've even absorbed how much your face has been rocked off you're already thrown into another classic. Amazing amazing album. I mean seriously, Trompe Le Monde, Planet Of Sound, Alec Eiffel, The Sad Punk, Head On, U-Mass, Palace Of The Brine and Letter To Memphis right after each other in like 18 minutes? How is it even possible for one album to bring so much awesome so quickly? Everyone else who didn't give it time, lkike me at first, needs to give it another listen. I don't have the BBC album, but now I'm really psyched to get it.

with you every step of the way.

noisereductions · 06.22.2009, 08:48 PM

bumped. because. you know what? this album is awesome.

Sonic Youth 37 · 06.22.2009, 08:52 PM

Manta Ray is one of my all time favorite Pixies songs. I did like it better when Kim sang "In Heaven" during the reunion

noisereductions · 06.23.2009, 07:16 AM

Kim's version of "In Heaven" was great. Yes. But when this record came out, it was like "dude! This is the ERASERHEAD song! Yo!"

06.18.2009, 07:48 PM	#1
noisereductions invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England, USA Posts: 16,210	Pixies Pixies At The BBC 1998, 4AD The Pixies are very high on my list of best bands ever and this compilation is a pretty good explanation of why. Though SURFER ROSA is easily my favorite Pixies album, it obviously only highlights one aspect/era of the band. And no matter how many times the labels have tried, a "best of" never quite seems to get the story right. But this. This collection of tracks recorded for various BBC sessions throughout the band's rather short career is so fucking perfect, it's almost unreal. Unlike the usual bestof/greatesthits/singles collections, the set list here is actually super weird. It combines singles, covers, bsides, etc with no regard for commercial viability. The surf tracks mesh with the rawk tracks and creepy riffs and droney singing and..... I can't even say it right. But more importantly, every track is fucking awesome. The set opens with "Wild Honey Pie." Do I need to say anything else? It opens with a fucking WHITE ALBUM Beatles cover. What the fuck? Who does that? And then it lurches into a version of "There Goes My Gun" that makes me think the DOOLITTLE version totally flacid. Actually same goes for the LP versions of "Is She Weird?", "Subbaculta," and "Hey" to be honest. The versions here are so much more spontaneous and intense sounding. Throw in a perfect take on the b-side "Manta Ray," the UK Surf version of "Wave Of Mutilation," and OM fucking G... "The Lady In The Radiator Song" from muthafuckin' ERASERHEAD!!! This album is the balls, dudes. Fucking get it. __________________ noisereduxinstalled.weebly.com
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06.18.2009, 09:22 PM	#2
joe11121 expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brantford, Canada Posts: 1,843	Like it, hate the cover
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.19.2009, 04:25 AM	#3
loubarret expwy. to yr skull Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Dutch suburbs Posts: 1,573	Not the best pixies release but still great. Nice thing to know that their first 'session' was just some things of the purple tape being played.
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06.19.2009, 04:58 AM	#4
jimbrim expwy. to yr skull Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 1,308	I'll look into this. I saw Pixies play last week, really enjoyed it
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.19.2009, 09:01 AM	#7
noisereductions invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England, USA Posts: 16,210	funny you mention TROMPE... Last night after listening to this I threw TROMPE on and I swear, I always forget HOW GREAT that record is. I feel like it's always sort of looked at as like a disappointment or something. I think song-for-song, it's better than BOSSANOVA. And have I mentioned how much I hate the production on DOOLITTLE? Because I do. The songs are great. But the production fux it. __________________ noisereduxinstalled.weebly.com
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.19.2009, 09:05 AM	#8
floatingslowly invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 21,165	I rarely pay too much attention to other's opinions about music. it's too subjective of an experience. Trompe le Monde is EASILY in my top 10 favorite albums ever.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.19.2009, 09:39 AM	#9
noisereductions invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England, USA Posts: 16,210	I wouldn't say I pay a lot of attention to others opinions per se, but if everyone on the board says "this album's awesome," then I'll probably check it out, to see if I like it. Y'knowutImean? __________________ noisereduxinstalled.weebly.com
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.19.2009, 09:58 AM	#10
Shifty Prophet 100% Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ Posts: 725	This is going to sound like I've never wiped my own ass, BUT, I've been searching through all the ''Essentials'' thread by various posters and I have to say that you sir (noisereductions) have either: A.) Got your shit together. B.)Are 11,have heard none of these records and spend a lot of time googling opinions on various websites and message boards. C.) both and and b or D.) Are addicted to drugs, fast food and addictions.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.19.2009, 10:20 AM	#12
Shifty Prophet 100% Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ Posts: 725	The answers are always a combination of everything and nothing.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.19.2009, 11:54 AM	#13
The Earl Of Slander the end of the ugly Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,156	Trompe was for the longest time my least favourite Pixies album. I really didn't like it very much, and totally got why people thought it was such a disappointment. Then one day I just happened to give another chance in the right mood and it completely fucking blew me away. So stunning on so many levles, and waaaay too overlooked. As a whole album, it's a strong candidate for there best. Destroys Bossanova. The way the tracks are programmed, especially on the first side, so they just each catapult into the next is unbeliavable. Like every track is a classic, and there's no break between them, so before you've even absorbed how much your face has been rocked off you're already thrown into another classic. Amazing amazing album. I mean seriously, Trompe Le Monde, Planet Of Sound, Alec Eiffel, The Sad Punk, Head On, U-Mass, Palace Of The Brine and Letter To Memphis right after each other in like 18 minutes? How is it even possible for one album to bring so much awesome so quickly? Everyone else who didn't give it time, lkike me at first, needs to give it another listen. I don't have the BBC album, but now I'm really psyched to get it. __________________ The toothaches got worse, she dreamed of disembodied voices from whose malignance there was no appeal, the soft dusk of mirrors out of which something was about to walk, and empty rooms that waited for her. Your gynaecologist has no test for what she was pregnant with.
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06.19.2009, 12:02 PM	#14
floatingslowly invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 21,165	D = R x T
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.22.2009, 08:48 PM	#16
noisereductions invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England, USA Posts: 16,210	bumped. because. you know what? this album is awesome. __________________ noisereduxinstalled.weebly.com
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06.22.2009, 08:52 PM	#17
Sonic Youth 37 invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: if there is a bright spot in the universe, the farthest point from it Posts: 9,443	Manta Ray is one of my all time favorite Pixies songs. I did like it better when Kim sang "In Heaven" during the reunion __________________ "One: Where's the fife? and Two: Gimme the fife."
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06.23.2009, 07:16 AM	#18
noisereductions invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England, USA Posts: 16,210	Kim's version of "In Heaven" was great. Yes. But when this record came out, it was like "dude! This is the ERASERHEAD song! Yo!" __________________ noisereduxinstalled.weebly.com
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|