Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An almost impossibly good album, October 3, 2004
If asked what my favorite cut from this album is, I am very nearly at a loss. This disc is simply relentless, with one astonishingly polished, robust, inventive, glorious cut after another. We like to talk about albums that have no filler, but this is one of the few that justifies that description. If there is a critcism that could be made of this album, it is that it is too consistently brilliant to digest properly. By the way, if forced to chose a favorite cut, I might go with "Gouge Away," but I wouldn't go too far out of the way to defend my choice, and I might feel differently on a different day.
Black Francis aka Frank Black aka Charles Thompson (his real name) is the heart and soul of the band, writing all the songs and taking most of the lead vocals, in the performance of which he often literally screams out the lyrics. The man comes across as taut, angry, and more than a little manic. Though his singing and songs make this the classic it is, the rest of the quartet carries their load as well. Kim Deal adds some wonderful back up vocals throughout, and provides solid bass, never being simply a pretty face. David Lovering lays down solid beats throughout the album, crucial in a project that depends so strongly on powerful rhythms. And Joey Santiago plays great guitar on every song, providing an energy and texture that perfectly compliments Black's great songs.
I have a couple of friend's who don't like this disc, and I am powerless to explain this. This is one of those albums that, when fully digested, becomes part of one's emotional and musical furniture, a disc that I go back to again and again and again. And it remains as vital and as fresh sounding today as it did when I first discovered it fifteen years ago.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The greatest album by the greatest band. No exaggeration., June 12, 1999
By A Customer
The Pixies are one of the greatest bands ever, as innovative as Hendrix, the Beatles, and Dylan were in the '60s. Not only were they innovative and original, but so far ahead of their time that Rock is still catching up.It's hard to write a review of a Pixies album without gushing over the band instead of the album, but there's more than enough praise for the band on this page, so I'll get right to the album. Doolittle is, quite simply, the Pixies best album. It is an absolute masterpiece. There is no filler whatsoever. It starts out with the incredibly catchy "Debaser", moves into "Tame", which moves so incredibly well between quiet whispers and screeching (but somehow melodic) vocals. And then there's "Wave of Mutilation", a wonderful bit of surf music reminiscent of the Beach Boys. And "I Bleed", a spectacular duet between the anguished voice of the lead singer, Frank Black, and the sickly-sweet crooning of Kim Deal, who went on to form the Breeders. Then there's the pop masterpiece, "Here Comes Your Man", the anxious "Dead", the powerful "Monkey Gone to Heaven", the disturbing "Mr. Grieves"... And that's only the first eight songs, out of fifteen incredible, unbelievable tracks. I could go on at great length about Doolittle, but it truly is indescribable. Borrow a copy from a friend if you're not sure, but somehow you must listen to this album. Once you do you'll never look at Rock & Roll the same way again.
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40 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SONICALLY YOURS, October 6, 2000
If the late 1980s had some really contrived, horrendous garbage some people called music, there were certainly the alternatives who displayed scorching guitars, interesting and unexpected arrangements, clever lyrics, and great albums. One band who exemplified this alternative was the Pixies, disbanding in the early 90s creating their own side projects, but not before creating a few brilliant records, Doolittle being the most brilliant of them all. The vocals of Black Francis coupled with the softer and distinctive voice of Kim Deal was purely delightful, with some truly exceptional and memorable songs like "Debaser", "Wave of Mutilation", "Here Comes Your Man" (which is quite melodic!), "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and several other remarkable songs. This is a solid, superb album which any serious music lover must have. It is a little unconventional and might take some getting used to, but it is infinitely worth it.
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