Customer Reviews

Pixies at the BBC

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is listed here as a 'live' album. This should be clarified for potential buyers: this is not the 'live' album you are hoping/looking for. This is a collection of songs by the Pixies recorded at BBC Studios in the UK over the course of several years. Yes, the tracks appear to have been recorded live (most likely in one take), but otherwise any resemblance to a live album ends there. And besides, nowhere on the cd does ever use the actual word 'Live'. With that clarified, let's move on.

While some Pixies fans balk at this album, I actually find it to be pretty essential-easily up there with their collection of B-Sides, and in my opinion, up there with Bossanova (their weakest album). Pixies at the BBC offers a view of the band that cuts to the bone: no studio gimmicks, up front vocals, solid mixing of the rhythm section, and an incredible spread of songs from every album (minus Surfer Rosa), plus 2 outstanding covers (of The Beatles and David Lynch, no less-Pixies were the masters at choosing the best cover material ever).

Many songs here are somewhat stripped down (possibly causing much of the fuss with hardcore Pixies fans) here. 'Is She Weird' for example dispenses with any lead guitar, providing the song with even more immediacy. 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' seems more primal performed without the string section. 'Manta Ray', always a personal favorite of mine (an outtake from Doolittle), shines so pristine here, it's too bad they didn't squeeze it onto Doolittle. And 'There Goes My Gun' tears out of the speakers like a rocket-seeming more like a companion song to 'River Euphrates' and 'Something Against You' from Surfer Rosa than anything off Doolittle. It's actually quite interesting to see how the band's sound was shaped in the studio to a large degree.

My favorite song here, though, has to be '(In Heaven)'. A fan of surreal cinema (also check the lyrics to Debaser), Frank/Black/Francis loved Eraserhead, and so, the Pixies covered this song penned by David Lynch. It's so utterly raw, terrifying, and simple, that for me, it's one of the band's defining moments. And the shock of feedback/guitar hitting the floor at the end perfectly finishes it all off.

Certainly this is not a typical Pixies 'album', and it is far from perfect (no Surfer Rosa tracks-come on!!!), yet somehow, as much as any other Pixies release (with the exception of the truly live 2nd disc from the Death to the Pixies compilation-an absolutely stunning testament to the greatness of this band), Pixies at the BBC captures their essence: exciting, raw, odd, adventurous, funny, and, yes, cool.

While it's no Surfer Rosa or Doolittle (I mean, come on, what is?!)-this is as good of a place as any to discover the most exciting and creative rock band to emerge since the 1960's.

I bought this CD grimacing, I needed to own (In Heaven)and Wild Honey Pie because they are such brilliant renditions, but i had to shell out 15 bucks for it. I was surprised it was worth it, hearing new versions of all these songs was very refreshing. Punked up versions of There Goes My Gun and Dead along side the laid back spine tingling version of Monkey Gone to Heaven (I love how he screams God is 7 in this version). I think the version of Caribou is better just because his scream is more intense during "REPENT." It contains the "early" version of Down to the Well and of course, the UK Surf of Mutilation. Overall, not all these versions are better, but they all are certainly interesting. My only pet peeve is that there are 6 or 7 other BBC versions of songs NOT included on this disc (Tame, Motorway to Roswell, ext). That really annoys me....i don't want to dig up a copy of Rough Diamonds for 50 bucks to get those extra songs, why couldn't they just inlude them in this??

All credit to the mighty Pixies - they never did anything expected. Instead of releasing a "Greatest Hits Live" package, they've treated their devoted following to a selection of songs from the John Peel (seminal British DJ) BBC sessions. Yes, there is no 'Debaser', no 'Here Comes Your Man', no 'Where is my Mind?', but don't let the track listing put you off. The live interpretations of some of the album tracks are astonishing; 'There Goes My Gun' is transformed from one of "Doolittle"'s most undistinguished songs into a rollicking punkabilly bounce, whilst the opposite goes for 'Wave of Mutilation', with the gentle surf-guitars and Frank Black's caressing vocals contrasting with the "Doolittle" pop-punk version. Also interesting is the half-finished version of 'Dead', which I believe has a lot more punch than the album version, and the two curious covers (a deranged 'Wild Honey Pie' and the terrifying 'In Heaven' from "Eraserhead"... I defy anyone not to be startled by the ending of the latter). True, some tracks are almost identical to album versions, but when they're as strong as 'Letter to Memphis' and 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' you don't seem to care. But the highlight of this great set must be the phenomenal 'Levitate Me', where the bass heavy production and forceful backing vocals turn the (still excellent) 'Come on Pilgrim' closer into something towering, beautiful and epic. Worth the price of the CD alone? Probably not, but there's 14 other great tracks, so nothing to lose.

I neglected getting this disk for quite some time. I figured I already had the original recordings of every song on here... When I finally got it, I was blown away. There are superb versions of many of the Pixies' classic songs. The haunting renditions of 'Caribou' and 'Is She Weird' are among my favorites. 'Wave of Mutilation' and 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' surpass the album versions. I'd like to have seen 'Gigantic' and 'Here Comes Your Man' on here, but now I'm quibbling... Very highly reccommended.

Back in 1999, I went into a large record store. In an attempt to find Bjork's original band (The Sugarcubes), I mistakenly picked up The Pixies. Somehow, I associated Bjork with a pixie. Oops, my mistake. When I went home, I tossed in Pixies At The BBC.

Thinking to myself: "Hey, where's Bjork? I do not hear anything that sounds like "Vitamin" or "Hit," huh? Oh, but I like this...really. It kind of reminds me of early Nirvana and I dig the lead singer's sonance."

The next day, I listened again. As a direct result of my subconscious, this CD leapt onto my top shelf.

The Pixies were Black Francis (lead vocals), Kim Deal (background vocals and bass), Joey Santiago (lead guitar) and David Lovering (drums). Pixies At The BBC balanced insanity-riddled chants, harmony, an unorthodox structure and dark balladry. Moods shifted from insane, slaphappy, bittersweet, intense and desperate.

Schizophrenia highlighted the tones of Black Francis' delivery and lyrical contributions. His primal personality was reflected with the dementia that poured from his vocal chords in the demonized cover of the Beatles' "Wild Honey Pie" and "Is She Weird's" progressive deliriousness. Teetering within his periphery were the tones of cryptic melancholy ("Wave of Mutilation"), teenage giddiness ("Down to the Well" and "Hey" respectively) and many others. Although Black Francis' multiple temperaments frequently contributed, "they" were not the only notable contributors to the Pixies' oeuvre.

A combination of the elements from each and/or all of band member's talents glossed every song. Whether it was Deal's harmonies and templates ("Levitate Me" and "Down to the Well"), Lovering's savage pounding ("Dead") and/or Santiago's blustery riff and lick work (entire album), they concertedly championed the Pixies significance. Unfortunately, Francis' solo vision and ego collided with Kim's ever-growing need to be heard and the band (err...Francis) called it quits a decade ago.

Although it is considered a 'live' recording, these BBC sessions did not sound especially unique to the studio versions because they were without audience noise and only "Wave Of Mutilation" was arranged noticeably different. For completists, the "Wave" arrangement, Beatles cover (not on any other official release), raw energy of the songs included and odd yet effective sequencing make this very worthwhile. Pixies At The BBC includes 15 songs that display both recording and track selection excellence, so it's total duration of only 35:23 should not deter any.

My Pixies mistake turned into my richest CD 'find' and I have purchased all of their officially registered and many of their bootleg CDs since. The Pixies now rank as my third favorite musical artist/band (behind only Elvis and Bob Dylan). Collectively, the songs compiled here generally encapsulate the qualities of their brief, but rich recording career (1988-1991). There is no chronological listing of the tracks, thematic or any other recognizable order to them, but somehow (much like the band) they play accomplished "AS IS". Listen to Pixies At The BBC if you want to hear the sound that the White Stripes and Nirvana looted.

this is a great album to all your pixies collection because it has a unique sound to all the other songs. I love the sound more on this album then on the studio songs because it has a different approach. It's not a live sound but is very different.

This was actually the first Pixies album I got (ca. 1998, better late than never) and it's still one of my favorite albums by anybody. The first song is a very creative take on an obscure semi-song from the Beatles' White Album. Black Francis and co.'s screamed version is almost unrecognizable, but in a delightfully ear-splitting way. Most of the songs are stripped to their core essence, highlighting the band's rock-solid songwriting. It also makes an interesting introduction to the band's catalog - sort of like an "alternative" greatest hits album.

This cd is a must have for Pixies fans. No new songs, but new versions of the old songs we love so much. A few which are faster than the originals we are use to hearing, which make it almost a new kind of feeling. earns the full 5 stars with out a dought

I have just about all of the Pixies albums, and this one is very different for obvious reasons. It is not truly live, as is the second disc of "Death to the Pixies," but it is a much better recording. This album captures the pure power and emotion of the Pixies that is not found on any other album. Black Francis' vocals rip through some great songs, Kim Deal's bass sound is dominant, Lovering pounds with authority, and Santiago is awesome as usual. This is a must for any Pixies fan and a good introduction for those who want to know true musical expression--Pixies style. Great!!

An excellent capstone to the aura of the Pixies. The songs are cleanly reinterpreted without the guises of studio production. They lie somewhere between the live and studio experience. In short, true greatness.