this question goes out to all you Pixies fans out there...

is there a definitive Pixies album? in other words, is there one album that stands above the rest, that anybody who knows anything about music must have?

i'm looking into possibly buying an album or two of theirs..
-di doctor-

That's a tough one. If I had to chose one Pixies album it would probably be Bossanova. But I personally love them all.

Doolittle is my personal fave - there is not a weak song on the album.

2nd choice would probably be Surfer Rosa.

i'd pick Doolittle w/ Surfer Rosa as a close second. i knew a girl who looked just like the woman found on Surfer Rosa, but not as well endowed.

Surfer Rosa is my pick. love that album.

I would definitely start with "Doolittle" and work your way backwards, not forwards.

You could always go for "Death of the Pixies" which is basically a best of. It's two disks of music and you get a little of all their albums.

Good point, but it's kind of expensive and most people don't like live music.

I'd go with Surfer Rosa simply for Gigantic and Where is My Mind. Can't go wrong with Doolittle either though

That's true. I know I don't really like buying live cd's. The first disk of Death to the Pixies is the studio versions and the second disk is live.

surfer rosa is my fav. i think it has some of their best work on it. come on pilgrim and doolittle are close seconds.

"Surfer Rosa" by a mile.

I'd still say Death of the Pixies...

1. Best of all their songs so YOU can figure out which album you'd like to purchase next.

2. One of the better live discs you can find. It is very good and I'm usually not a fan of live music albums either.

While you should own all of them, if I had to pick one I'd go with the live "Pixies at the BBC" CD. It serves as a greatest-hits disc but also features ferocious live interpretations of familiar favorites. One of the best "live" CDs I own. If I had to go with a studio release, I'd say "Doolittle" is my favorite. But go get 'em all! You won't regret it.

doolittle, then surfer rosa, if you don't want to get the best of.

I like Surfer Rosa way more than any other Pixies album.

My vote goes to Doolittle. Trompe Le Monde is nothing to sneeze at, either, but for sheer quality of the tracks, Doolittle wins.

The way I see it, judging from the responses in this thread, you either need to pick up both Doolittle and Surfer Rosa or Death to the Pixies. It doesn't really matter where you start, though. You'll end up with all their albums before long anyway because it's some good stuff.

BTW, my favorite is Doolittle.

thanks to everybody who has replied! i used to own Trompe le Monde (i think.. i owned the one with the song Alec Eiffel..) i've recently found myself diving back into cds that i used to have but sneezed at and didn't really appreciate (and i therefore sold them).. well, now i'm expanding my horizons.. for instance, i recently got into the Ramones (after having, at one point, owned a greatest hits album of sorts).. so, now i'm interested in getting ahold of some Pixies to see if i would like them now.

thanks again! keep your suggestions coming, as i will most likely not make it to a cd store for some time...
-di doctor-
-di doctor-

Doolittle & Surfer Rosa also!

Good Stuff =)

I haven't heard any of their songs, but apparently they were one of the first "grunge" sounding bands, and begun the "soft/then loud" genere, so that had me interested. Should i go for the 2 disc "death to the pixies" which is supposingly oop (i could find it at a used record store), or go for either Come on Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa, Doolittle.

start at the beginning. you can feasibly leave out come on pilgrim, and go straight for Surfer Rosa, then Doolittle, Bossanova, Trompe Le Monde.

While Doolittle is the most accessible, Surfer Rosa is way more seminal & grunge.

Bossonova is my favorite followed by Trompe Le Monde.

Letter To Memphis is my favorite song of theirs ...

I'd start with Doolittle and then go to Surfer Rosa (my favorite album!). Get the other two in any order. Doolittle is *probably* their most controlled and cohesive effort -which makes it a good entry point- but Surfer Rosa has all the punch and insanity. Either way, you need all of them.

And if Death to the Pixies is OOP, I need to go grab that copy that has been gathering dust in the local rekkid store's release bin for the past 2 years. I don't think it is, but I could be wrong.

Death to the Pixies is probably OOP because a new Greatest Hits is coming out.

Come On, Pilgrim
Surfer Rosa
Doolittle
Bossanova
Trompe Le Monde

Complete B-Sides
At the BBC

Purple Tape

Death to the Pixies (mainly for the second live disc)

For the most part, just buy them in order. I would buy Come On, Pilgrim and Surfer Rosa together and not spend much time on Pilgrim. S. Rosa is the first cohesive "album" and a classic. But there all good. Hope you enjoy!

jay77