Despite disbanding in 1993, The Pixies have returned to the road within the past year. During their reign starting in 1986, the band’s chunky alternative rock sound found an audience in college students but never connected with MTV or mainstream rock audiences. Their sound was abrasive, yet The Pixies were clearly rooted in pop. Yes, you read that right, one of the innovators of alternative rock music actually created a kind of pop music.
One major problem with The Pixies and one of the reasons they broke up had to do with ego. Both leader Black Francis (aka Frank Black) and bassist Kim Deal have definite ideas about music, control, and themselves and as a result it has led to much strife. Rounded out by Joey Santiago (guitar) and David Lovering (drums) the band released a string of sometimes excellent albums. While Doolittle (1989) is nearest and dearest to my heart, each of the other discs gives me a little something to cheer about. Debut EP Come on Pilgrim (1987) is outstanding, 1988’s Surfer Rosa is arguably a classic, and 1990’s Bossanova is a worthy offering. The only real stumble came with Trompe le Monde which is actually less a band effort than a solo Black Francis effort. In any case, there is no denying the presence of The Pixies in music today.
Bossanova is definitely not my favorite album from the band. As always, I feel the creativity and energy that makes The Pixies great. It’s all there, smashed into fourteen tracks. However where it falls flat is in the repeatability. When it comes to pop music, and in this specific case alternative pop-rock, it should be both immediately entertaining and memorable. Sometimes Bossanova is both of these things but by and large and in the end it does not stick. I want to say I love it, I’d jump at the chance to actually love it, but Doolittle and Sufer Rosa are the best Pixies albums.
There are some classic treasures on Bossanova fortunately. In particular, songs Velouria, Allison, and Is She Weird make an early impact. Velouria is a charming, enjoyable song is one of my favorites from The Pixies. While I also like Allison fine enough it is Is She Weird that features the most infectious arrangement of the entire album. Black Francis yips and yowls in typical fashion along side the stop-and-go guitar, bass, and drums. It works wonderfully and quite simply makes me like this album a bit more.
Bossanova takes a slight dive on the lackluster Ana and the atonal and purposeless All Over the World. One caveat about All Over the World is that Black Francis at least turns in a decent vocal performance, it’s just that the song drags painfully on long past its welcome expires. Dig for Fire is a slightly better track. I love the hip, upbeat arrangement and Black Francis’ spoken style. It works nicely, though still pales in comparison to Velouria and Is She Weird. Continuing on, Down to the Well is a decent rock track but it is weighed down by Down to the Well.
The final four songs of Bossanova are a mixed bag. The Happening is a lovely, mid-tempo pop gem while Hang Wire is a loud and rich alt-rock track in usual The Pixies fashion. Neither is really remarkable, but well worth hearing. Stormy Weather and Havalina are mediocre at best and rather, well, annoying at worst. Stormy Weather has a chorus that makes me want to like it but the dire, dreary and heavy arrangement make me very much dislike it. Havalina is another thing altogether. I appreciate and distinctly Spanish feel and the light, acoustic feel. However, once the song takes shape it really drones on it drops that bit and leaves the listener with a crooked ballad. If the song was more pointed and concise I’d like it better. As it stands, Havalina is hollow. I just don’t like it.
The Pixies are clearly an important band. You may not love them, but I can’t see how anybody could deny their considerable influence. With that out in the open, Bossanova isn’t even close to their best effort. It is slightly better than average fare for this outstandingly talented and creative band. My suggestion is that rock fans do need to buy this album, but only after they’ve grown to know and love Doolittle and Surfer Rosa (in that order).
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Cecilia Ann
02. Rock Music
03. Velouria
04. Allison
05. Is She Weird
06. Ana
07. All Over the World
08. Dig for Fire
09. Down to the Well
10. The Happening
11. Blown Away
12. Hang Wire
13. Stormy Weather
14. Havalina
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