The Pixies - Doolittle

April 17th, 1989.

4AD/Elektra

The Pixies' second studio album, Doolittle, elevated the band to the ranks of Indie Rock giants. The music world turned a page with The Pixies. Doors that were once non-existent presented themselves. The Pixies manifested said doors, walked right on through, and lead the way. The rest is rock, and on a wider scale, music, history.

The future of rock music can be found on Doolittle - the 1990's in the 1980's; the loud/quiet dynamic at it's most effective. It's a sound and structure that would grip world music through bands such as Nirvana - Kurt Cobain said that 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was his attempt at writing a Pixies song. The loud/quiet dynamic is like riding a wave that crashes, soothes and smooths out, only to rise and fall once more. Rudimental basslines, courtesy of Kim Deal, add an element of care-free fun to the under-control-though-catatonic state of The Pixies; a mental breakdown is only around the corner. A shot of the quirky stuff by way of abstract lyricism and unhinged performances. Unhinged with the guard rails up. Things haven't gone into No Mans Land, but things have left shore and they're heading in that direction - right on the outskirts of town. The mind is loose; the tongue untied. What subconsciously comes up, subconsciously comes out. Slicin' up my eyeballs, I want you to know.

The Pixies could get weird, but they always backed it up with solid style and tunes - the songs didn't get lost in the chaos. You can take left-turns as much as you wish, just remember to make it worthwhile. Doolittle is the perfect example of how to push things forwards while still remaining within reach of the scent of convention. 

'If man is five, then the devil is six, and God is seven.'