NewCC0079: Pixies
- Come on Pilgrim (87): *****
- Doolittle (89): **** 1/2
- Sufer Rosa (88): **** 1/2
- Death to the Pixies: 1987 - 1991 (97): *** 1/2
- Pixies at the BBC (98): *** 1/2
- Trompe le Monde (91): ***
- Bossanova (90): ***
This is a new entry in an up-dated series I'm calling the New Critical Consensus. Several people have requested updates of the older series, and since critical opinions shift, I am revamping the entire system. I am averaging the opinions of several excellent music critics to produce a list of each artist's albums. Rather than using a number system, which was perhaps a bit clunky, I will now be using a five-star system. The albums will be listed in a recommended purchasing order, so new fans will have an idea of where the best place to start buying an artist's work is.
These are not my opinions, although, since I have chosen the critics used (and I'm using many), my taste will perhaps seep through a bit.
Terribly nerdy, I know, but maybe this will help people only now beginning to dabble into certain artists' bodies of work.
Scale:
***** - Masterpiece
**** 1/2 - Classic
**** - Great
*** 1/2 - Good
*** - Above Average
** 1/2 - Average
** - Below Average
* 1/2 - Bad
* - Terrible
1/2 - One of the worst albums ever
I was thinking about giving The Pixies a try, and I wanted to ask about "purchasing order" on this list. I was curious to note that the EP "Come on Pilgrim" is listed first, but that "Doolittle" seems to be the one Listologists find most listworthy. Are they neck-and-neck, or is "Come on Pilgrim" your firm recommendation for first purchase?
Come on Pilgrim is rated higher by most of the critics I used (and myself, for what that's worth) and is a pure shot of Pixies. Doolittle is very good but slightly mainstreamed. It should appear on more lists; it was made to appeal to more people. You really won't go wrong with either, but I still think Pilgrim makes a better starter album. If you like Doolittle, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll like anything else by the Pixies. If you like Pilgrim, however, you have found a new band to love.
However, perhaps the best introduction to the band is an import disc readily available on Amazon for $18 that actually contains both Surfer Rosa and Come on Pilgrim. This is cheaper than buying both discs individually. If you like that disc, you can pick up Doolittle and pretty much have an instant Pixie collection.
Does that help?
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Sure does, thanks!
Thrilled to help. You spend this much time on these lists, you're very happy to use some of the information you pick up! I didn't even know about that import disc until doing research for this CC.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs