I just finished watching a British documentary on The Pixies, which appeared on the cable channel, Trio. With some great live performances and interviews from Bono, David Bowie, Radiohead, PJ Harvey, and Badly Drawn Boy, this documentary does an excellent job of showing how The Pixies were the most important alternative band of the 80's.

I figure this week in my music corner I will do a brief music retrospective of The Pixies.

Their first full-length CD, Surfer Rosa sounded like nothing I had quite heard before. With it's frenzied sonics mixed with other moments of whispered vocals, so many more recent bands (Nirvana, Radiohead, etc.) owe a lot to The Pixies.
Standout tracks are "Gigantic", "Bone Machine", "Broken Face", and my personal fav Pixies song, "Where is My Mind?". (Rating A-)

Next came their greatest album, "Doolittle". With great pop songs like "Here Comes Your Man" and "This Monkey's Gone To Heaven", I believe "Doolittle is one of the top 25 albums in alternative music's history. Other standouts include "Debaser", "Wave of Mutilation", and "Gouge Away". (Rating A)

"Bossanova" followed and even though it might not quite match the first two releases, this is still great from beginning to end. "Allison", "Velouria", "Dig for Fire", "Blown Away" are best, but this is the Pixies CD in which almost all the songs are in the same category. (Rating B+)

The final album the Pixies did was "Trompe Le Monde", which among critics and fans was seen as a notch below their other works. I would tend to disagree, as I feel it still lives up to the high standards the band previous work achieved. UMASS (It's Educational!) is one of the great rock tunes I've ever heard, plus "Planet of Sound" rocks almost as well. Alec Eiffel and their excellent cover of the Jesus and Mary Chain's "Head On" are other highlights. (Rating B+)

At this point, the band went it separate ways, as the leader of the group, Black Francis changed his stage name to Frank Black and has recorded a number of excellent solo albums. His self-entitled has my favorite song of his, solo or not, "Los Angeles". (Overall Rating B+)

His second solo offering "Teenager of the Year" is truly outstanding. It has 22 tracks and I would say 16 of them are great. If you have never heard this CD, pick it up. (Rating A)

Bassist and singer Kim Deal started a band you might have heard of "The Breeders". On their first album "Pod" check out their cover of "Happiness is a Warm Gun". One of the best Beatles covers I've ever heard. Their second CD, "Last Splash" contained the massive hit "Cannonball". On the single release is included a great cover of Aerosmith's "Lord of the Thighs".

The Pixies have reformed this year and have been touring to great success. Unfortunately, they haven't been near anyplace I could see them, so if you have caught them in concert, please give me your review.