Surfer Rosa

Pixies

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1988
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 4ad / Ada
• ASIN: B00008YJH5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (176 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,716 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Before the Breeders and Frank Black, there was this Boston quartet, playing hardcore's rush and terseness against the acoustic grit and the minor-key flourish of Latin pop. Their first full-length album is their starkest, harsh and trebly, with the drums right in your face, and songs edited to eliminate any note that's not absolutely necessary. Singer Black Francis yelping away about destroyed bodies and the river Euphrates, alternately acting cryptic and crazed. Kim Deal, then calling herself "Mrs. John Murphy," contributes the highlight, "Gigantic," a creepy anthem about childhood voyeurism. The playing is snarly and tricky but unfailingly tuneful, and the hooks come out of nowhere, hiding behind the noise, and bite down hard. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best albums ever made, April 8, 2000

By	"the_ninja" (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surfer Rosa (Audio CD)

The Pixies "Surfer Rosa" is an amazing experience. This 1988 album is a superb mix of brilliant songwriting, insane lyrics, abrasive guitars and stunning melody. Many of the songs are brutal, with heavily distorted guitars and strange lyrics about incest and injury, yet they are often quite catchy and melodic. This single album influenced more bands than any other album of the late 80s. But none of them can ever even hope of making something even half as brilliant as Surfer Rosa.

The first song, "Bone Machine" is a classic. It's the quintessential Pixies song. Also, listen to it and you'll realize how much they influenced Nirvana. "Break My Body" and "Something Against You" are fast and furious, "Broken Face" is one the best Pixies songs. "Gigantic" is haunting and beautiful, with thunderous guitars and drums swirling around Kim Deal's lone bass and beautiful voice. "River Euphrates" is all about melody, and it is excellent.

"Where is my Mind?" is the climax of the album, and possibly the best song made in the 80s. It is chillingly beautiful and unforgettable. If you haven't heard it, it's the song used over the credits at the end of Fight Club (great movie). "Cactus" is different, and "Tony's Theme" rocks. Although the last four songs don't seem quite as focused, they are still excellent.

To close, Surfer Rosa is one of those timeless, brilliant rock albums that everyone should own. What are you waiting for?

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely deranged. In a good way., February 7, 2003

By	Shotgun Method (NY... No, not *that* NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surfer Rosa (Audio CD)

Ah, the Pixies. What can I say about them that hasn't been said before? About 3 years before Kurt Cobain released Nevermind, the Pixies were hard at work perfecting their brand of twisted Beach Boys-meets-Sonic Youth-meets-Lou Reed-meets-Ramones indie rock.

Surfer Rosa is their hardest and rawest album--Steve Albini produced this one and it shows. Black Francis is even more psychotic than in Doolittle, ranting and screaming about incest and broken bodies in his bilingual vocals. Bassist Kim Deal contributes some beautiful backup vocals and a Pixies classic, the creepy Gigantic. Joey Santiago continues to prove himself as the most underrated lead guitarist ever, and David Lovering's percussion is...well..kinda there. It all amounts to a catchy, disturbing, and very unique recording that hasn't aged a day.

Amazing songs abound. The one-two punch of Bone Machine and Break My Body pretty much set the tone and it just gets better from there. River Euphrates and Where Is My Mind? are both among my personal Top 10 Pixies songs and the latter follows on the heels of the former. It's a slice of heaven. The rest of the album right up to the almost-instrumental closer Brick Is Red holds up to this high standard.

You want/need an introduction to the Pixies, and the origins of the modern alternative movement? Buy this and Doolittle right NOW.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pixies are my friends, February 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Surfer Rosa (Audio CD)

The pixies saved me from the torments of social isolation.

The pixies are so awesome they make me want to eat people.