Surfer Rosa

Artist: The Pixies

Currently Unavailable New.

Average Rating: (See all 5 reviews) Label: 4AD (USA) 1  Bone Machine 2  Break My Body 3  Something Against You 4  Broken Face 5  Gigantic 6  River Euphrates 7  Where Is My Mind? 8  Cactus 9  Tony's Theme 10  Oh My Golly! 11  Vamos - (Spanish) 12  I'm Amazed 13  Brick Is Red Performer Notes The Pixies: Black Francis (vocals, guitar); Kim Deal (vocals, bass); Joey Santiago (guitar); David Lovering (drums). Recorded at Q-Division, Boston, Massachusetts. Now seen as an important alternative band of the 80s, it is a pity they were not more appreciated at the time. The Boston-based Pixies exploded into life with this abrasive selection. Produced by enfant terrible Steve Albini, the album emphasized the quartet's scratchy tension. A vicious drum sound underpins the group's uncanny blend of urgency and melody, where Black Francis's rabid intonation contrasts with Kim Deal's more gentle perspective. Obtuse lyrics and barely controlled guitar accentuate the Pixies' uncompromising visions and emphasize an approach that both excites and intrigues. Terse, exhilarating and single-minded, SURFER ROSA is an audacious collection. Professional Reviews Q (10/01, p.67) - Ranked #26 in Q's "Best 50 Albums of Q's Lifetime" Q (7/01, p.90) - Included in Q's "50 Heaviest Albums of All Time" - "...As cerebral as it is visceral....a relentlessly teeth-baring onslaught..." Alternative Press (8/01, p.112) - Included in AP's "10 Essential '80s Albums" - "...An alternatively explosive and tender opus..." NME (Magazine) (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #44 in NME's list of the `Greatest Albums Of All Time.' NME (Magazine) (9/25/93, p.19) - Ranked #14 among The 50 Greatest Albums Of The '80s. Producer: Steve Albini Format: CD (1 Disc); Stereo Country: USA UPC: 652637803020 Studio/Live: Studio Release Date: 20 May 2003

Along with Doolittle, this is the Pixies finest work to date. I agree with the other reviews in that its not as accessible or easy to get into as Doolittle, but it is definately worth the effort. It will certainly take a number of listens to fully appreiciate, but most good albums are like that. It means you won't get bored with it after a few listens. However, if you are new to the Pixies, then I would recommend getting Doolittle first.

Almost as great as "Doolittle" but not nearly as accessible, "Surfer Rosa" is full of all of the strange imagery and sounds that make Pixies unique and well ahead of their time. Who knows what Francis is singing about - don't try to work it out, just enjoy the images. The sound of the drums on "Surfer Rosa" are amazing and set the standard for what was to come. The cream of the crop is "Where Is My Mind?" - the perfect song to listen to when you are wondering if you are going crazy without knowing it.

This album has a lot more grit to it then doolittle has and so therefore is not as easy to listen to. It is still however one of the greatest rock albums ever made and has some incredibly catchy tunes like cactus, broken face, tonys theme, brick is red and of course where is my mind. I reccomend this as an alternative to doolittles sweet poppyness as this is truly a great record by a very good band.

Just listened to this several times, and much prefer "Doolittle".

Varies widely from the odd Bone Machine to Gigantic (which would have a good B side as a single with the Gigantor theme from "Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits".

The drumming is excellent, nice and spacey, particularly on Where is my Mind.

Some silliness and yammering in there, doesn't detract from it too much though.

This is a great cd by a great band. In my opinion its not the pixies best cd yet but its is still a great cd. The songs on it are: Bone Machine, Break My Body, Something Against You, Broken Face, Gigantic, River Euphrates, Where is My Mind, Cactus, Tony's Theme, Oh My Golly!, Vamos, I'm Amazed and Brick Is Red. If you don't have this cd and your a pixies fan i would highly reccomend getting it! but if your not a pixies fan yet but want to be i would recomend getting Doolittle or Death to the Pixies before this cd.