| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 10/01/2022 : 01:35:25
What we know (in chronical order):
- Doggerel was made with the 40 demo's/ideas that Frank (and a couple more from Joey) brought to the sessions. They had some good songs that didn't fit the record so they were put aside (acording to FBF in the French Rolling Stone)
- Paz says the band worked on 16 of the 40 songs (bass magazine interview) [12 were released on Doggerel]
- In april (source?) of 2022 the Pixies and Tom Dalgety recorded for a week in Rockfield Studios (Wales).
- One of the songs Frank liked from the demo's, but did not do during the Doggerel-sessions, that they tried to record in Wales. Bluesy, stomper song, "I enjoyed it as an acoustic demo" [...] they tried to make it bigger, better and louder, but "in the end it was just too loud", "too much information". It didn't work out, it was failure, "thank god we didn't release this because we were in a rush"
(interview on Raised on Radio)
- Joey brought some songs to the table again (working titles Howie's Garage, I hear you mary, Taking care of bid'ness, according to Uncut interview). They recorded three ideas in Rockfield (according to Under the Radar interview), maybe those three?
- Paz recorded two songs for it (according to BF in French interview)
- Frank to SPIN: [On Doggerel] "I think that’s one more writing collaboration than has appeared on any other disc in the Pixies catalog. I imagine there will be much more collaboration forthcoming. I sense it.”
- Session in Wales didn't go that well, acording to FBF in Ultimate Music Guide :
"I was not in a good mood for lots of reasons"
I was very frustrated because now Mr Fucking Producer wants to work on all the fucking artsy-fartsy scraps from the margin. I got all these 40 fucking songs I wrote, for once in my life I do my homework............Now I show up with the goods and they're like [] these werid little things that you didn't intend over here bla bla
[ ]
I threw my notebook on top of the roof [..] I threw about three temper tantrums in about eight days
- Joey in Under the Radar:
"we have recorded so far about seven or eight demos for the next album. There will be a ninth album, we’re planning that already. After a good amount of a break, we will start recording again some time next year. We’re already kicking around what part of the world to work and record in next time"
- October 2023: Pixies record a new session with Tom Dalgety at Guilford Sounds, same place were Doggerel was recorded
- Paz leaves the band in october 2023 - march 2024
- Pixies play Vegas Suite, a new song, on the Bossanova Trompe tour
- Pixies rehearse a new song, which is posted on instagram: https://fb.watch/qROLONNt-1/
- Frank Black plays a new song, which is posted on instagram:
https://fb.watch/qROQ6dvc5M/
- 11 song titles are published on the BMI website
It's here: https://pixies.tmstor.es/
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| QuaBear |
Posted - 11/17/2024 : 10:33:16
It's been about a month, still think this is their best 2.0 offering. I think everything from the flow, to the songwriting, to the instrumentation, to the vocals (brilliant backing vocals of Emma), to the variety, or what have you; It feels fresh. It feels not as contrived as the other 2.0 records.....I don't know, I like this one. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 11/15/2024 : 06:44:43
When I sing Kings of the Prairie I start singing Caught in a Dream too |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/15/2024 : 06:18:54
quote:
Originally posted by Sprite
I gotta say am about 20 listens and the trio of Mercy Me, Ernest Evans and KotP are what I really look forward as I work through the record.
Ernest Evans is 100% Pixies for me, it's so much better than say St Nazaire or Um Chagga Lagga. I mean they are both good songs but Evans just has as some proper Pixies leanness and bite but also something new with the rockabilly angle. Joey's chord on the break into the chorus is pure Johnny Marr on a Smiths late career B-side. I would be very happy to see them go more in this direction.
I agree - but I'd expand it to Oyster Beds - Mercy Me - Ernest Evans - Kings of the Prairie - Vegas Suite. A great run. If Tom didn't sneak I Hear You Mary, I'd add Motoroller to that stretch. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/14/2024 : 21:34:07
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
I don't think so. I think second to last (or last) song is the perfect place for "it's all gonna be ok, if things are bad, we're here to make it all better." Similar to Dog in the Sand and So. Bay and Whispering Weeds or Havalina being at the ends of those albums. This is a Frank thing he's done before...A kind of comforting, sweet goodbye.
Well maybe it should have been the last song?
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Sprite |
Posted - 11/14/2024 : 12:23:46
I gotta say am about 20 listens and the trio of Mercy Me, Ernest Evans and KotP are what I really look forward as I work through the record.
Ernest Evans is 100% Pixies for me, it's so much better than say St Nazaire or Um Chagga Lagga. I mean they are both good songs but Evans just has as some proper Pixies leanness and bite but also something new with the rockabilly angle. Joey's chord on the break into the chorus is pure Johnny Marr on a Smiths late career B-side. I would be very happy to see them go more in this direction. |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/14/2024 : 08:29:29
I don't think so. I think second to last (or last) song is the perfect place for "it's all gonna be ok, if things are bad, we're here to make it all better." Similar to Dog in the Sand and So. Bay and Whispering Weeds or Havalina being at the ends of those albums. This is a Frank thing he's done before...A kind of comforting, sweet goodbye. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/14/2024 : 02:37:59
Yeah, you are both right probably. Nothing really wrong with KotP but I feel that it needs another place in the sequence.
One more piece of criticism: the 'ohh ooh Ohh" that mimicks the bass line after "we're on our way to you" sounds totally shoehorned.
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/13/2024 : 19:51:11
I agree on Ernest Evans, like if you're gonna do a throwaway song, make it more insane. I feel this way about Impatient also.
I don't agree on Kings of the Prairie, I think that's one of the best on the album. Frank in comforting, sweet mode. Not that I think the Pixies should ever be comforting. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 11/13/2024 : 13:09:04
Great review Mr Goodman, I agree with much of what you said
I really think Emma is a significant part of why the beautiful songs are so beautiful
I really like Kings of the Prarie though I wouldn’t want to miss that one being on the album |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/13/2024 : 11:43:32
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
5 Hypnotised
This is kind of a summary of the whole record. The verses sound like Pixies 2.0 by numbers. Very slick production, could have been a bit rougher IMHO. There's a Chicked-style lead by Joey in the chorus, which itself is a bit like the second half of the record (Mercy Me, Kings of the Praire, Vegas Suite) with the country feel and the two vocals. The part after the chorus where Frank sings "I have been hexed" is my favorite. It floors me. With the four on the floor bassdrum and the talk singing. What can I say. I just love Franks voice. I'm that easy.
That bit also feels like a nod to the sound of I Hear You Mary.
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
I was thinking that the spoken "I have been hexed" interlude is David's velvety baritone. What are others hearing? |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/13/2024 : 11:10:12
One of the best 2.0 records. It won't beat BTE for sure, but it's a close call between this and HC and Doggerel.
Cut away some songs and work a little harder on some others and you have an amazing record. For instance, No You're So Impatient and Kings of the Prairie. Fuck up Ernest Evans and Johnny Good Man a little bit with some psycho Joey and you have the best 2.0 record.
1 Primrose
A dreamy opener. Never heard a Pixies song like this, I guess? This kind of song makes me keep on listening to FBF. Emma is killing those backing vocals. Especially the glide/portamento in her vocals in lines as "here in sweet repose". Joey is also playing lovely Bossanova-type leads. I like Dave on the cymbals.
2 You're So Impatient
Love how this one shoots out of the gate, after the surprise ending of Primrose. I happen to like dry drums. But that's it. Throwaway rocker. Like the "favorite part" in the break. Joeys lines in the chorus (a boring one) are totally snoozers. I like the fact that this is a short song.
3 Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)
Weird verses and that's what FBF is all about. I like Spector and I love the shouts and the low "Jane" by Dave. Great song overall and it feels short too. Just like the songs before it. Smart choices. Great bass tone.
4 Chicken
Lyrics don't bother me anymore. Love the chords under "I'm just running in circles". The big chorus makes sense now, coming after Jane. Joey plays great again! Love his sound. Emma is also great on the bass. Superb one!
5 Hypnotised
This is kind of a summary of the whole record. The verses sound like Pixies 2.0 by numbers. Very slick production, could have been a bit rougher IMHO. There's a Chicked-style lead by Joey in the chorus, which itself is a bit like the second half of the record (Mercy Me, Kings of the Praire, Vegas Suite) with the country feel and the two vocals. The part after the chorus where Frank sings "I have been hexed" is my favorite. It floors me. With the four on the floor bassdrum and the talk singing. What can I say. I just love Franks voice. I'm that easy.
That bit also feels like a nod to the sound of I Hear You Mary.
6 Johnny Good Man
Opening riff which is also the chorus, nice Surf guitar chords. I miss some extra Joey magic and Frank is also very plain on this track. It could be a good song, but it lacks energy. The outro is pretty nice, could be an anthem. But it never sounds like one. Missed chance.
7 Motoroller
This one does have some energy and takes some left turns. In the end, I just want some new songs by Frank. And this is one.
8 I Hear You Mary
I like this one, cause it has some new things soundwise. Don't love the key change, but it doesn't bother me after a while.
It's a nice addition, nothig more. Love the way Frank sings about cobblestones and flesh on the bone.
9 Oyster Beds
Best one of the bunch. This does everything that You're So Impatient does not. It's all in the delivery, because the song itself is not all that special too. Joey plays along just like he does on You're So Impatient, but here it works. The toggle switch sound is totally fan services but I love it. Also Dave drums lift up the track. He rarely does anymore. I wish this was the lead single. Or that You're so impatient sounded a bit more like this. Oyster Beds is one of the tracks where Frank does a little hey or grunt or squeek and this is the only time it really works. Energy!
10 Mercy Me
Lovely song, a modern and more direct version of stuff like Wave or In Heaven. Does Joey play a little bit out of time? I think he's guitar could have sounded better too. Love Emma's vocal.
11 Ernest Evans
This could or should have been a lot faster, or shorter and have even more Joey. To be honest it feels like a missed chance. The song itself is nothing much. Could have worked with Oyster Beds. I see how it works in an album context, but I wished it was a b-side.
12 Kings of the Prairie
Another plain country song, and it feels a bit redundant. It's not better than Primrose, Mercy Me and Vegas Suite. I could have done without it. Emma's is great on the vocals again.
13 The Vegas Suite
Joey's sound is good, the break feels a little forced, but I'm happy with that kind of chances on a Pixies song. Lovely Emma again.
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| vilainde |
Posted - 11/12/2024 : 12:55:53
Anyone else thinks Mary sounds like The Damned? Reminds me a lot of the epics of their later years.
Denis
|
| Joey Joe Jo Jr. Chabadoo |
Posted - 11/12/2024 : 08:21:16
Okay, I bought the newest record the 30th of October.
I’ve been listening to it quite a lot (mostly in my car).
I stopped for like 3, 4 days and listened to it again and here are my very subjective impressions:
PRIMROSE – Andro Queen (Liddl version)
YOU'RE SO IMPATIENT – There’s a Moon On part 2, I’m afraid…
JANE (THE NIGHT THE ZOMBIES CAME) – Masterpiece. One of the most haunting songs by Pixies. A classic (more Classic than Masher).
CHICKEN – Fast Man / Raider Man type of song. Good filler
HYPNOTISED – The more I listen to it, the more I enjoy it.
A very decent Grand Duchy Tenement Song in the style of Get Simulated on Doggerel
but not at the level of a genuine Pixies song.
JOHNNY GOOD MAN – Fast Man / Raider Man again.
Interesting revamp of the story of Johnny Barleycorn,
a good man amongst Pagan Men… Further investigation needed…
MOTOROLLER – Not bad. Fast Man / Raider Man part 3
I HEAR YOU MARY – I don’t really hear it at the moment.
OYSTER BEDS – Good song. Sweet head banger.
The kids like it. Reminds me of Maelstrom by Rocket From The Tombs.
Less weird though...
MERCY ME – Dog Gone in the sand à la Fast Man / Raider Man. Nice.
ERNEST EVANS – I like it. Smells like Jumping Beans and Sugar Daddy,
the cover Frank Black (and Reid Paley) recorded
for Wig In A Box: Songs from & inspired by Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
KING OF THE PRAIRIE – Selkie Bride, Selkie Bride, but not…
THE VEGAS SUITE – Hmmm… What’s next ?
In the end, I hear a lot of similarities with FM/RM minus the greatest songs.
Now, I hope they’ll get a new producer soon (he's coming to save us). Jon Tiven would work fine for me at that point.
Any producer who would care for Dave and Joey's musicianship, actually.
I think Dalgety is very good at producing demos. He should stick to it.
Dave and Joey should reform the Everybody and invite Frank Black to sing (backing vocals).
The bass player? Whose bass player? Who cares now…
Anyway, it’s great to care for a new Pixies album.
Jane (TNTZC) is worth the price. It’s just fantastic!
Oh! And I love Pixies for 30 years!
Cool!!!
++++ |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/08/2024 : 20:02:27
I think me and Maharal have similar ears, and not just for the TMBG shoutout. (Hope you give my podcast a try sometime!)
The main thing saving Vegas Suite for me is Frank really sounds like he gives a shit, reminds me of a Catholics vocal.
I truly, truly hate the melody for the Johnny verses. The falsetto "the fiiiight", it makes me viscerally kind of irritated. I can't even explain it. Hypnotized is like that too for me. They are fast becoming skips as I feel I've made up my mind on them.
On the far other end of the spectrum, one of the melodic + lyrics highlight for me is Jane:
"Winter bitter gave him something that did make him small"
How fun is that to listen to and to sing? It's just infection to me. |
| The Maharal |
Posted - 11/08/2024 : 05:37:19
Only the second or third time I've listened to the album in its proper order (been busy and focusing more on TMBG but have played the songs on their own several times, some way more than others). Still reckon it's a 2.5 or 3 out of 5 stars.
Excellent songs: Mercy Me, Motoroller*, Oyster Beds, Jane.
Good and/or I'm still digesting this but reckon it'll move into 'excellent' category: Ernest Evans, Primrose, Kings of the Prairie
Decent: Chicken
I'm really not sure if I like or hate this: Johnny Good Man
Meh: You're So Impatient, middle of Vegas Suite, I Hear You Mary
You fuckin' die: Hypnotised, the chorus of Vegas Suite
* Motoroller is a beast, such a rocking song but the 'first you run outta time/space' lines really annoy me for some reason.
Still have Hypnotised as the weakest song. Dull, clunky lyrics. At first I thought maybe the hex and grace lines were callbacks to Indie Cindy but that's a bit tenuous. 'Is anybody out there?' might rival 'just slay it' as my all-time least favourite Pixies moment.
I think there's a good song in Johnny. Guitars are nice and crunchy but the verses are annoying and I think these lines just confirm that BF was lacking inspiration (not to mention he's already covered this topic on FMRM's Johnny Barleycorn):
This is just a drinking song
Something just for me to sing along
And if the proof is very strong
This is where I belong
I'm also sad that he uses the line 'This is where I belong', recalling one of the greatest songs ever written and one of the best covers BF has done. I think the outro is catchy and fun but I wish he was singing about something other than corn.
Don't quite get the massive love for Vegas Suite as I still kinda cringe at the chorus and it reminds me of the more boring moments of Doggerel. The song is passable in the middle when the tempo kicks up and the keys (?) start but the chorus and lyrics ultimately annoy me.
Also, Jane sounds to me like Pixies doing Fleet Foxes and that's a very nice thing indeed. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/05/2024 : 10:33:42
Be my guest, I would like to read it
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Joey Joe Jo Jr. Chabadoo |
Posted - 11/05/2024 : 09:32:00
The main issue (amongst many) with Dalgety's production is the way he doesn't manage Joey's guitar craft... but that's another RED HOT TOPIC....
++++ |
| cptnpasty |
Posted - 11/03/2024 : 09:08:24
I approve.
If I was the producer on the next record, I would string Joey's guitars with the heaviest gauge strings and turn all his shit up to eleven. Then I would tell him to play soft and pretty—if he could. The Santiago sound to me is like watching rodeo, like watching someone try to make sense of a wild animal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/14/books/funny-novels-humor.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/books/review-lake-of-urine-guillermo-stitch.html
|
| two reelers |
Posted - 11/03/2024 : 06:34:15
I overall like it, but I’m wondering why is Rich Gilbert playing lead guitar on most of the songs?
Emma is a great addition.
I joined the cult of Souled American / 'cause they are a damn' fine band |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/03/2024 : 05:15:52
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
Ok, I've now listened 7 or 8 times, enough to know each track pretty well.
1 Primrose -- strange opener for a Pixies record, but I have to say, it's so lovely that it's a major reason I put the album on. It's very sweet sounding, and it does have interesting timing, or meter, or something?
2 You're So Impatient - I want this to be better and I want to like it more but I still find this kind of flat. I wish it had more angular, weird, interesting stuff going on, since it's the big dumb pick-the-energy-up song anyway.
3 Jane (The Night the Zombies Came) - this does have an interesting, angular (sorry to keep saying that word) melody, it doesn't have that "pleasant" feel many other songs have, so it's a standout. I'm not crazy about the lyrics (edit: actually I just read them, they're weirder than I thought. Is this about drugged up junkies, not literal zombies?), but I'm more respecting Dalgety's production and how he's trying different things on this album compared to the last few. This maybe hints at reverb-heavy atmospheric songs like Havalina and yet it's also it's own thing and sounds nothing like any other Pixies, or Frank song.
4 Chicken - Some may be shocked but this is growing on me, mainly from watching them perform it on The Current and enjoying the more quiet, unproduced version. I still dislike the lyrics, but I'm enjoying the depressing back and forth nauseous vibe of the music, which I think becomes a good blend of past Pixies and current Frank songwriting. I just wish Dalgety didn't make every chorus so big. "I'm begging you please" etc...That's why I liked the version on The Current. It had some more restraint.
5 Hypnotised - This is one of the weaker songs for me, and genuinely kind of an annoying one (I really dislike the verses.) And my main problem is the slowed down chorus to this seems exactly like the chorus from Chicken. "Will you help me to see?" etc, it just feels like we just had this kind of chorus. In fact I kept mixing the two songs up and singing "I'm down on my knees" to the tune of "will you help me to see?" The only thing I like in this song is the one or two weird parts between the verses where I couldn't even tell you what's happening.
6 Johnny Good Man - Another least favorite, I actually really dislike the verses here, and find the melody kind of irritating when it goes "for the fiiight" etc. I don't know, some of these melodies feel like placeholders to me and not like what should have been the final song. These two songs back to back (and the lyrics to Chicken) are really where the album loses me. Thankfully, though...
7 Motoroller - The first song to make me think maybe I should keep listening to this album and see if it grows on me. It's the first one to get in my head and the first one to emotionally affect me. Great song! I wish the album went more in this direction: tense, rocking, driving, uncomfortable, just like Pixies should be.
8 I Hear You Mary - This is the new Another Toe in the Ocean. OK verses but a really, really overproduced and overly simple chorus. Some great poetic lyrics from Frank though.
9 Oyster Beds - fun stuff. Remember when Frank albums were full of stuff like this? How about some more? I like how the vocals sound. Again, I don't like everything Dalgety did on this album, but I like that he changed things up a lot. Eyrie and Doggerel had this very polished, clean, radio-friendly sound, but Zombies absolutely does not, like on this song.
10 Mercy Me - I found this song to be like a boring Fastman Raiderman reject, but then the middle parts started to hit me. "We heard the tragedienne" etc. Really nice melody and interesting structure too. So this grew on me. I will never not find it very weird that stuff like this is on a Pixies album. I mean he made Fastman during the Pixies reunion. Imagine if instead those songs were all just a new Pixies album or two? Wouldn't that be WEIRD? Well, that's what this is.
11 Ernest Evans - The Um Chagga Lagga of this album. Admirable for its energy but not exactly the songcraft. I will say I respect how low and weird the vocals are in this mix, you can't even hear Frank at all in the second verse. I hate how so much new music has crazy loud vocals so this is very appealing to me. This song is kind of boring though. I'm sometimes amazed what Dalgety chooses to be on an album compared to the stuff he rejects from them. I mean surely there was a song more interesting than this...?
12 Kings of the Prairie - This has surprisingly rocketed up to a favorite song. While I'm not thrilled with how "pleasant" this album is (I really think Pixies should have a lot of discomfort in the music), this one is just too damn nice. Kind of the new Here Comes Your Man. It's also a genuinely cute and sweet sentiment. We are here to play music for you and make you happy if you feel sad. Kind of like Dog in the Sand (the song.) Very touching, and very pretty. One of many songs where Emma's higher register kind of soars it to new heights.
13 The Vegas Suite - This took forever to grow on me but I think it finally got through. This is basically a classic Catholics song and I'm kind of taking it that way. I really appreciate Frank's heartfelt vocal performance here. I didn't really get the uptempo part, or thought it really went anywhere, but Frank "explained" it on a podcast and I think I can respect it more now. I'm still kind of undecided on this song though. Like...I genuinely don't know if I like it, or if I just know it so well that I accept it but it's just kind of okay. It was in my head all day today though. I do like the melancholy vibe. It's strange for a Pixies album to begin and end so wistfully and soft.
What could possibly be coming next?
I enjoyed reading this. I agree about I Hear You Mary (though I think Another Toe has great verses) - it's made me think that we may have dodged a bullet in them aborting the Wales sessions. I'm going to listen to the podcast later, but was anything else from the album recorded then? |
| kotvana |
Posted - 11/02/2024 : 22:43:33
PRIMROSE - NICE BUILDING BUT WHERE IS THE CHORUS?
5
YOU'RE SO IMPATIENT - ANOTHER STRANGLERS-LIKE SONG, WITH NO REAL SOUL AND ANNOYING LYRICS AND SHOUTS
4
JANE (THE NIGHT THE ZOMBIES CAME) - TRIES VERY HARD TO SOUND DARK BUT THE LYRICS ARE TOO CORNY AND THE MELODIC IS TOO SIMPLISTIC AND THE SHOUT 'JANE' IS QUITE ANNOYING
3
CHICKEN - OK SONG, A LITTLE BIT LIKE A COMBINATION OF "SILVER" AND "NO 13 BABY" BUT WITH STUPID LYRICS AND THE CHORUS A LITTLE TOO MUCH LIKE A COW MOOOOHHHH
6
HYPNOTHISE - ANOTHER OK SONG, AND ALSO OK LYRICS BUT TOO MUCH LIKE EARLY PIXIES 2.0 SONGS, POPPY AND NOT REALLY BRILLIANT.
6
JOHNNY GOOD MAN - NICE SONG ACTUALLY. GOOD BUILDING AND C PART, REMINDS ME OF "MOTORWAY TO ROSEWELL" AND "SPACE". AWFULL LYRICS, AGAIN (ABOUT DRINKING?)
7
MOTOROLLER - FIRST REAL GOOD SONG. INTERESTING LYRICS AND BACKING VOCALS, AND REAL FURY. GUITAR IS TOO BLANT, BUT THE SONG STRUCTURE IS REALLY GOOD SO IT'S NOT RUING IT.
8
I HEAR YOU MARRY - NOT VERY GOOD BUT NOT VERY BAD. NOT MUCH SONGWRITING IN THIS SONG. STARTS NICE BUT CONTINUE INTO A FAKE EMOTIONAL CLIMAX. GUITARS HELPS IT FROM BEING BAD.
6
OYSTER BEDS - "PLANET OF SOUND" VERSION PIXIES 2.0 AND AGAIN ANNOYING SHOUTS TO GIVE THE SONG "ENERGY".
6
MERCY ME - I LIKE THIS SONG. LIKE "DOG IN THE SAND" MEETS "STUPID ME" AND THE PRODUCTION IS MINIMAL ENOUGH TO NOT RUIN IT. LYRICS ARE WEIRD AND FUN.
8
ERNEST EVANS - "THE SAD PUNK" WITHOUT THE MELODIC POWER AND THE ANGST. I DON'T LIKE THIS SONG.
4
KING OF THE PRAIRIE - OK SONG. NICE GUITAR PART AND BACKING VOCALS. A BIT TOO MEDIOCRE MELODIC.
6
THE VEGAS SUITE - AT LAST, A-LEVEL SONG! LYRICS ARE BLANT, BUT THE MELODIC POWER IS BACK AND THE SINGING SUBLIME.
9
ALL IN ALL, ACCEPT THE "8" SONGS IF ANY OT THOSE SONGS WERE ACOUSTIC THEY WERE LIKE THE WORSE SONGS FB EVER WRITTEN BUT THE PRODUCTION SOMETIMES SAVE THEM, MAKING THEM APPEAR WITH MORE 'FLESH' THAN THEY REALLY ARE.
BTE WAS 9/10
DOGGREL WAS 8/10
THIS IS 6/10
frank blak/saved my life
visit me! http://kotvana.googlepages.com |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/02/2024 : 22:15:55
Ok, I've now listened 7 or 8 times, enough to know each track pretty well.
1 Primrose -- strange opener for a Pixies record, but I have to say, it's so lovely that it's a major reason I put the album on. It's very sweet sounding, and it does have interesting timing, or meter, or something?
2 You're So Impatient - I want this to be better and I want to like it more but I still find this kind of flat. I wish it had more angular, weird, interesting stuff going on, since it's the big dumb pick-the-energy-up song anyway.
3 Jane (The Night the Zombies Came) - this does have an interesting, angular (sorry to keep saying that word) melody, it doesn't have that "pleasant" feel many other songs have, so it's a standout. I'm not crazy about the lyrics (edit: actually I just read them, they're weirder than I thought. Is this about drugged up junkies, not literal zombies?), but I'm more respecting Dalgety's production and how he's trying different things on this album compared to the last few. This maybe hints at reverb-heavy atmospheric songs like Havalina and yet it's also it's own thing and sounds nothing like any other Pixies, or Frank song.
4 Chicken - Some may be shocked but this is growing on me, mainly from watching them perform it on The Current and enjoying the more quiet, unproduced version. I still dislike the lyrics, but I'm enjoying the depressing back and forth nauseous vibe of the music, which I think becomes a good blend of past Pixies and current Frank songwriting. I just wish Dalgety didn't make every chorus so big. "I'm begging you please" etc...That's why I liked the version on The Current. It had some more restraint.
5 Hypnotised - This is one of the weaker songs for me, and genuinely kind of an annoying one (I really dislike the verses.) And my main problem is the slowed down chorus to this seems exactly like the chorus from Chicken. "Will you help me to see?" etc, it just feels like we just had this kind of chorus. In fact I kept mixing the two songs up and singing "I'm down on my knees" to the tune of "will you help me to see?" The only thing I like in this song is the one or two weird parts between the verses where I couldn't even tell you what's happening.
6 Johnny Good Man - Another least favorite, I actually really dislike the verses here, and find the melody kind of irritating when it goes "for the fiiight" etc. I don't know, some of these melodies feel like placeholders to me and not like what should have been the final song. These two songs back to back (and the lyrics to Chicken) are really where the album loses me. Thankfully, though...
7 Motoroller - The first song to make me think maybe I should keep listening to this album and see if it grows on me. It's the first one to get in my head and the first one to emotionally affect me. Great song! I wish the album went more in this direction: tense, rocking, driving, uncomfortable, just like Pixies should be.
8 I Hear You Mary - This is the new Another Toe in the Ocean. OK verses but a really, really overproduced and overly simple chorus. Some great poetic lyrics from Frank though.
9 Oyster Beds - fun stuff. Remember when Frank albums were full of stuff like this? How about some more? I like how the vocals sound. Again, I don't like everything Dalgety did on this album, but I like that he changed things up a lot. Eyrie and Doggerel had this very polished, clean, radio-friendly sound, but Zombies absolutely does not, like on this song.
10 Mercy Me - I found this song to be like a boring Fastman Raiderman reject, but then the middle parts started to hit me. "We heard the tragedienne" etc. Really nice melody and interesting structure too. So this grew on me. I will never not find it very weird that stuff like this is on a Pixies album. I mean he made Fastman during the Pixies reunion. Imagine if instead those songs were all just a new Pixies album or two? Wouldn't that be WEIRD? Well, that's what this is.
11 Ernest Evans - The Um Chagga Lagga of this album. Admirable for its energy but not exactly the songcraft. I will say I respect how low and weird the vocals are in this mix, you can't even hear Frank at all in the second verse. I hate how so much new music has crazy loud vocals so this is very appealing to me. This song is kind of boring though. I'm sometimes amazed what Dalgety chooses to be on an album compared to the stuff he rejects from them. I mean surely there was a song more interesting than this...?
12 Kings of the Prairie - This has surprisingly rocketed up to a favorite song. While I'm not thrilled with how "pleasant" this album is (I really think Pixies should have a lot of discomfort in the music), this one is just too damn nice. Kind of the new Here Comes Your Man. It's also a genuinely cute and sweet sentiment. We are here to play music for you and make you happy if you feel sad. Kind of like Dog in the Sand (the song.) Very touching, and very pretty. One of many songs where Emma's higher register kind of soars it to new heights.
13 The Vegas Suite - This took forever to grow on me but I think it finally got through. This is basically a classic Catholics song and I'm kind of taking it that way. I really appreciate Frank's heartfelt vocal performance here. I didn't really get the uptempo part, or thought it really went anywhere, but Frank "explained" it on a podcast and I think I can respect it more now. I'm still kind of undecided on this song though. Like...I genuinely don't know if I like it, or if I just know it so well that I accept it but it's just kind of okay. It was in my head all day today though. I do like the melancholy vibe. It's strange for a Pixies album to begin and end so wistfully and soft.
What could possibly be coming next? |
| sdon |
Posted - 11/02/2024 : 02:32:21
Highlights for me on Zombies are
Primrose
Jane
Chicken
Hypnotised
Mercy Me
Kings of the Prairie
Vegas Suite
I don't like Impatient and Johnny
I Hear you Mary is overproduced and a bit uninspired. Evans is fun but not a durable song. Motoroller is great but the lyrics irritate me a bit.
--
"Aristophanes! (gong sounds)"
"Fucking up my devotion!"
|
| Bedbug |
Posted - 11/01/2024 : 20:41:59
All right! Members of the Creature Crawling fan club unite! |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/01/2024 : 14:57:20
I get where you're both coming from, but I'm happy to have both Creature Crawling and Kings of the Prairie.
This album in particular to me sounds spontaneous and not overthought; wouldn't it be less punk to consciously try to tap into previous modes of songwriting? (+ Oysters Beds, Motoroller, and Ernest Evans are no slouches either) If mellow, pretty country songs are what are coming out right now, I have no problem with that, given that I find the songs satisfying (i.e., Primrose, Jane, Mercy Me, Kings, Vegas), and we never know what direction his muse will take him next. Lots of people had difficulty with the Catholics because they were mad at him doing alt-country instead of alt, or the Nashville records because they wanted him making more noise, or even the Black Francis solo albums because they wanted more Catholics, etc. rather than enjoying each period for what it was, knowing something else is going to come along later. That's not to say one shouldn't be critical, but just that I would hesitate to lean to heavily towards criticizing whatever the current iteration of his songwriting is for not sounding like or tapping into records from decades ago. |
| Skatealex1 |
Posted - 11/01/2024 : 14:22:49
I feel similarly with a lot of Frank's solo work. Maybe something a little more spontaneous or punky about it...
Even Bluefinger just had a kind of punk feeling about it, not overthinking it too much. I don't know if I can quantify exactly what mix of factors cause what though.
I'd be curious to hear what kind of songs came together if Frank tried writing some songs with the Teenager of the Year band. |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/01/2024 : 14:06:44
I was listening to my Halloween playlist, and Creature Crawling came on.
Certainly not a top tier Frank song for many, and yet I absolutely adore it, and I love it 10,000 times more than anything on the last few Pixies albums.
I'm just not sure why something like that can't be tapped into again. It's certainly not an overly ambitious or complex song, and yet it has this great feel and attitude that I feel is missing from this new stuff. I don't know if it's the chord progression or melody or what. I just keep listening to Zombies and wondering (especially with that title and thematic idea) why the melodies aren't more strange, haunting, angular, instead of so consistently pleasant and simple. You title an album The Night The Zombies Came, I want it to be filled with Creatures Crawling, not mellow and pretty country songs. |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/01/2024 : 13:06:42
The album is gelling really well for me. I've come around to the songs that I wasn't sure of originally, and think they've really matured into a new sounds of their own. Kings of the Prairies has really grown on me as a wistful little number.
I think it sounds better on LP than streaming; less slick and compressed - more mysterious and dynamic.
Right now I think I'm
Beneath the Eyrie
Indie Cindy
***
The Night the Zombies Came
Doggerel
***
Head Carrier
It's similar in quality to Doggerel, but as mentioned previously, I just think it has a lot more personality.
My song tiers at the moment look something like this:
Motoroller
Mercy Me
Oyster Beds
Vegas Suit
***
Primrose
The Night the Zombies Came
Kings of the Prairies
***
Ernest Evans
***
Johnny Good Man
You're So Impatient
***
Hypnotized
I Hear You Mary |
| Active Duck |
Posted - 11/01/2024 : 00:42:38
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
I find Hypnotized to be very bad.
Motoroller pulled me in, and last night I found myself enjoying Mercy Me and King of the Prairies more.
Ha! Yeah, I'm not totally convinced that it's not bad. There's something about the vocals around the 1:25 mark (The clouds in my eyes, they're not leaving) that got my attention. |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 10/31/2024 : 11:51:30
quote:
Originally posted by Active Duck
I'm on a similar journey. This album is starting to pull me in. Is there a song that has been the key?
Weirdly, as it doesn't seem to be the most loved, Hypnotised has been the one that has opened things up for me. At first it felt like several songs badly stitched together but being irritated by it made me pay more attention and suddenly the mood of the album started to make sense to me.
I find Hypnotized to be very bad.
Motoroller pulled me in, and last night I found myself enjoying Mercy Me and King of the Prairies more. |
| kotvana |
Posted - 10/31/2024 : 03:07:27
2 first listen thought it was a horrible album, unless the closer.
After third listen, I think think the 2 previous albums were MUCH MUCH better, especially BTE, and for the first time in his career there is a decline in FB ARTISTIC POWER, both lyrically and musically, but.. MERCY ME is also quite good...
frank blak/saved my life
visit me! http://kotvana.googlepages.com |
| Active Duck |
Posted - 10/31/2024 : 00:57:23
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot
I listened like two more times. The album is slowly growing on me. Instead of not liking the whole thing, I think I like maybe a good third of it. I'm still figuring it out.
I'm on a similar journey. This album is starting to pull me in. Is there a song that has been the key?
Weirdly, as it doesn't seem to be the most loved, Hypnotised has been the one that has opened things up for me. At first it felt like several songs badly stitched together but being irritated by it made me pay more attention and suddenly the mood of the album started to make sense to me. |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 10/30/2024 : 23:25:15
I listened like two more times. The album is slowly growing on me. Instead of not liking the whole thing, I think I like maybe a good third of it. I'm still figuring it out. |
| auxfnx |
Posted - 10/30/2024 : 02:08:39
the more i listen, little doubts kinda melt away and the melodies become seriously satisfying to hear each time.
this is a really consistent album and i love it. there's a lot of clever and addictive off kilterness to the chord progressions and melodies.
some The Catholics flavour on here too that i know not everyone loves but i'm all for it. very pleased. and i also like that they brought back the centre label 'window' in the vinyl sleeve and incorporated it into the artwork, especially for a full length LP like this. don't see that too often these days and when you do it's generally a single.
some tunes on here really feel like classics already, like Vegas Suite. |
| hammerhands |
Posted - 10/30/2024 : 00:43:32
quote:
Originally posted by hammerhands
I have a couple of technical questions.
1. Does the digital download come with the CD on PixiesMerch.com?
2. What is the format/resolution of the digital download on PixiesMerch.com?
I can get 24/48 .flac from ProStudioMasters, which is what they have for the last few releases.
I asked the website and they have replied:
1. No the CD does not come with a digital download.
2. The format of the download is 24/48 .wav |
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