| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Carl |
Posted - 09/09/2009 : 03:04:03
Okay, so the old 'Really not worth a topic' thread is a total mess, with lots of stuff that's really not worth posting AT ALL. So, I thought I'd start a new thread for little articles and things, but not cram it with every little thing that mentions Pixies! So anyway, came across this and hopefully this is an example of something possibly worth posting:
NYTimes.com - Living With Music: A Playlist by Joanna Smith Rakoff.
1) Is She Weird, Pixies. Nowadays, when people talk about the 1990s, the first band they mention is Nirvana, but for me — and most of my college-radio-station-DJ, record-store-regular friends — that era was all about the Pixies, with their irresistible, genre-busting sound: the slow, precise bass, the shifting tempo, the eerie hiss and scream of Black Francis. In 1990, when “Bossanova” came out, I listened to it endlessly — even though it wasn’t on the level of “Doolittle” or “Come on Pilgrim” — thrilled by this brief, odd song, a freaky gloss on Macbeth: “Is she weird? / Is she white? / Is she promised to the night? / And her head has no room.” I was 18 then, and felt very weird and very white. |
| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Arm Arm Arm |
Posted - 09/30/2026 : 16:42:27
I think he pretty much would've done the same on any song really. I thought it was a good one for him to go with, high energy (it's been a while since I've heard the original, I usually check out the UK Surf version). I'm guessing it had some personal connotation for him and that's why he went with it, but who knows.
I think 1994 Eddie could've done a heckuva version of Tame.
|
| Bedbug |
Posted - 09/30/2026 : 08:06:25
Glad to hear your thoughts Arm Arm Arm.
It definitely was different than what I'm used to, which is probably the point.
As someone who barely knows PJ at all, maybe I could ask you: was that the right song for Eddie to sing on or do you think he could have killed it better on a different tune? I know I'm just nitpicking here |
| Arm Arm Arm |
Posted - 09/29/2026 : 18:41:21
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
Same feeling when Flea played bass on WIMM (for a charity event? Frank and Violet were there)
He was giving so much energy
Songs can fly that way too
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
Good point, Goodman.
I don't care for the Chili Peppers but I appreciated Flea being there and so obviously excited to be playing with them. I love how Frank signals to Joey to let Flea take a solo in Vamos.
If anything, I thought he was a bit restrained in that moment, but I still liked it.
As a live entity, Pixies have their standard stage presence, boom-boom-boom, here are the songs, 'each one's an anthem', doesn't matter what order they go in, maybe a wave hello, a bow goodbye and off, so seeing it broken open, if only temporarily is very entertaining. |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 09/29/2026 : 02:01:22
Same feeling when Flea played bass on WIMM (for a charity event? Frank and Violet were there)
He was giving so much energy
Songs can fly that way too
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Arm Arm Arm |
Posted - 09/28/2026 : 16:20:54
quote:
Originally posted by Bedbug
So....
How do we feel about Eddie Vedder jumping on stage with the band and doing the lead vocals on Wave?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddz9hl7Slx6/
How did I not know about this?! Thanks for posting Mr. Bedbug.
It's friggin' great! I love the part where he sings the "finding my way to Mariana..."
Interesting too, to see someone singing with such high energy and actively engaging the crowd, the exact opposite of Pixies's approach. Even going for a clap-along.
I get how this might be quite jarring if not altogether off-putting for Pixies/FB fans but I loved it.
Back in ye olde dayef of the forum, I recall Frank talking about how well PJ treated him and the Catholics when they opened for them back in '98.
Here and there Eddie has worked in some Pixies lyrics to the outro of their song Daughter.
And clearly Frank is not just gracious but looks like he appreciated the performance and was all smiles.
Fantastic! Thanks for posting this.
Cheers.
|
| Bedbug |
Posted - 09/28/2026 : 12:10:19
So....
How do we feel about Eddie Vedder jumping on stage with the band and doing the lead vocals on Wave?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddz9hl7Slx6/ |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 09/24/2026 : 21:19:16
The Pixies on David Fincher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEsKIr-ZPuo |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 09/08/2026 : 14:24:48
I don't like songs where I sit there thinking "I could have written better lyrics than this." |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 09/07/2026 : 04:16:37
I actually like that track
A bit tongue in cheek (musically) and sincere (lyrics)
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 09/02/2026 : 12:00:09
All I Think About Now played on the stereo at a bar near me as I waited to get some fries and a soup to bring home.
Needless to say I was extremely surprised. It's not a favorite of mine, but it was nice to hear it, and it actually worked well as bar background music that everybody is ignoring. I got too shy to ask the bartender if he picked the music. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 08/17/2026 : 08:17:00
Appreciation of Miley Cyrus' cover of WIMM
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/miley-cyrus-covers-pixies-where-084900207.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABbhF91d0Bio2hGboFYgjg03CPCVfPDDEDUJsavhbn6Qv7V_FKi7xHnEzuzTJCwPYlnH7x89nsqDzZC2OIq0TvNhJbrIxYTgFoujmfrKXuEvCrruoqrCslyHhUGMolGdxKJqNZVpw2YtJDRu1e_VCWP_z-GaE-HSa7857M3YWebu |
| Stevio10 |
Posted - 03/29/2026 : 11:26:27
Been listening to The Minutemen recently. Here Comes Your Man really seems to borrow from Take Our Test.
https://youtu.be/s5HjRMCw5VY?si=odqSA6C01UhBrfUD |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 03/15/2026 : 12:52:45
This might be AI too for all I know but I found it interesting
Behind the recording of doolittle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMl80bYuT8g |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 11/30/2025 : 04:55:26
Millionth analysis of Pixies influence on Nirvana but I found this quite watchable
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H78GXVL_9DI&pp=ugUEEgJlbtIHCQkWCgGHKiGM7w%3D%3D |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 11/21/2025 : 15:40:10
Kim in the village video popped up
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5W6ajhlTCcY&list=RD5W6ajhlTCcY&start_radio=1&pp=oAcB |
| Sprite |
Posted - 11/16/2025 : 04:09:46
Yep that just great! Funny to think he obsesses over the Winterlong chord progression the way we obsesses over many his. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 11/15/2025 : 17:32:13
That really was a great read. Would love to hear more |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 11/14/2025 : 00:51:52
quote:
Originally posted by Brank_Flack
https://stereogum.com/2476602/80-artists-pick-their-favorite-neil-young-song/lists
80 Artists Pick Their Favourite Neil Young Songs
Frank Black (Pixies): "Winterlong," 1973
"When I was a teenager, I had acquired the very well-regarded Decade compilation. That's where I first heard "Winterlong." "Winterlong" is a beautiful word. I believe the history of it goes back to the 1300s. Middle English, somewhere around there. I don’t think it’s a word that’s used that often in modern vernacular.
The opening chord sequence is kind of a 1950s progression — not so much from the R&B or rock 'n' roll side of things, but more from the doo-wop world. C to an A minor to an F to a G. It starts off in a place of almost resignation. Then the vocalist enters. "I waited for you winterlong/ You seemed to be where I belong/ It's all illusion anyway." That first couplet is sort of the implied chorus. The whole gist of the song. The chorus really only happens, in my opinion, one time at the end of the song.
There are a lot of great songs from the late '50s and early '60s where the chorus only happens once — you think you hear it a lot but you never really hear it until the end. Throughout "Winterlong," it’s been heavily suggested but we haven't heard it yet. Eventually there’s a tag that’s our first hint we're going to get to the bottom of all of this, we’re going to get some resolution. We don't hear that same chord progression. We drop that A minor so the chorus gets tightened up and all the pathos is wrapped up in the "I waited for you winterlong" over and over. I think "Winterlong" is one of the greatest pop songs ever — right up there with "Duke Of Earl" or a Roy Orbison song or "The Great Pretender" — for the casual ease with which it delivers this sophisticated, elegant arrangement. You almost feel like you've lived the chorus a few times until you actually get there.
I play it almost every night in the Pixies. We've been playing the song for almost 40 years. I don't know that we've ever done the song any justice, but I do it every night because I want to ring the bell finally. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't, but I'm always trying. I'm obsessed with the song, I can't stop playing the song. In my mind I'm always fantasizing: "What if this is the night Neil decides to walk in and I'm doing that song?" I hope that's the time we ring the bell really hard."
Really enjoyed reading this
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 11/11/2025 : 13:23:01
Fascinating! I'm not crazy about covers but that gives me new appreciation for it. I love Frank dissecting song structure like that. |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 11/11/2025 : 11:25:58
https://stereogum.com/2476602/80-artists-pick-their-favorite-neil-young-song/lists
80 Artists Pick Their Favourite Neil Young Songs
Frank Black (Pixies): "Winterlong," 1973
"When I was a teenager, I had acquired the very well-regarded Decade compilation. That's where I first heard "Winterlong." "Winterlong" is a beautiful word. I believe the history of it goes back to the 1300s. Middle English, somewhere around there. I don’t think it’s a word that’s used that often in modern vernacular.
The opening chord sequence is kind of a 1950s progression — not so much from the R&B or rock 'n' roll side of things, but more from the doo-wop world. C to an A minor to an F to a G. It starts off in a place of almost resignation. Then the vocalist enters. "I waited for you winterlong/ You seemed to be where I belong/ It's all illusion anyway." That first couplet is sort of the implied chorus. The whole gist of the song. The chorus really only happens, in my opinion, one time at the end of the song.
There are a lot of great songs from the late '50s and early '60s where the chorus only happens once — you think you hear it a lot but you never really hear it until the end. Throughout "Winterlong," it’s been heavily suggested but we haven't heard it yet. Eventually there’s a tag that’s our first hint we're going to get to the bottom of all of this, we’re going to get some resolution. We don't hear that same chord progression. We drop that A minor so the chorus gets tightened up and all the pathos is wrapped up in the "I waited for you winterlong" over and over. I think "Winterlong" is one of the greatest pop songs ever — right up there with "Duke Of Earl" or a Roy Orbison song or "The Great Pretender" — for the casual ease with which it delivers this sophisticated, elegant arrangement. You almost feel like you've lived the chorus a few times until you actually get there.
I play it almost every night in the Pixies. We've been playing the song for almost 40 years. I don't know that we've ever done the song any justice, but I do it every night because I want to ring the bell finally. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't, but I'm always trying. I'm obsessed with the song, I can't stop playing the song. In my mind I'm always fantasizing: "What if this is the night Neil decides to walk in and I'm doing that song?" I hope that's the time we ring the bell really hard." |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 10/19/2025 : 11:00:58
Lots of info here and great video of the two songs on the same turntable thing
https://www.stereogum.com/2326723/pixies-former-bassist-deletes-single-after-plagiarism-claim-current-guitarist-acknowledges-taylor-swift-where-is-my-mind-comparison/news/ |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 10/17/2025 : 00:04:53
quote:
Originally posted by Active Duck
Kind of agree that it feels like a win.
Joey's post on instagram is nice... https://www.instagram.com/p/DPc3KWXkajl/
this is great!
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 10/09/2025 : 06:36:23
quote:
Originally posted by Brank_Flack
I'm not going to subject myself to listen to it, but in an ideal world Charles would take a bite out of her billion dollar fortune to build himself a home recording studio and fund album-a-year releases.
I believe Frank has the recording studio already to do that.
The Catholics mobile studio, he could record all day, he once said in an interview
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| Discoking |
Posted - 10/09/2025 : 02:19:07
hahaha yes
 it's educational |
| Active Duck |
Posted - 10/08/2025 : 22:33:57
Kind of agree that it feels like a win.
Joey's post on instagram is nice... https://www.instagram.com/p/DPc3KWXkajl/ |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 10/08/2025 : 18:37:31
I feel like it’s actually a win for Frank |
| Jamie |
Posted - 10/08/2025 : 18:18:11
Plagiarism cases have been won on much shakier ground, but I'd lean toward it not being worth pursuing, given that she's a billionaire with a psychotic fanbase. |
| Troubles A Foot |
Posted - 10/08/2025 : 17:41:42
Listening now. Is that....allowed? I feel conflicted about plagiarism accusations when tons of songs use the same chords. But is it fair to say some chord progressions (and the rhythm they are played in) are more unique and iconic than others? |
| Brank_Flack |
Posted - 10/08/2025 : 08:00:28
I'm not going to subject myself to listen to it, but in an ideal world Charles would take a bite out of her billion dollar fortune to build himself a home recording studio and fund album-a-year releases. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 10/08/2025 : 06:15:01
Wow, you guys weren’t kidding.
How could that happen?
Will Frank care? |
| vilainde |
Posted - 10/07/2025 : 13:25:49
Actually Romantic
Denis
|
| Bedbug |
Posted - 10/07/2025 : 11:33:01
quote:
Originally posted by The Maharal
Kinda funny that Taylor Swift rips off Where Is My Mind on her new album. (I wouldn't have known only someone said BF should be suing her for royalties.) It's pretty bad.
Is there any way you can be more specific as to which song?
I don't mean to speak for the whole Frank Black Forum, but as for me I don't plan on listening to an entire Taylor Swift album just to try to find the Frank rip off. |
| The Maharal |
Posted - 10/04/2025 : 12:54:17
Kinda funny that Taylor Swift rips off Where Is My Mind on her new album. (I wouldn't have known only someone said BF should be suing her for royalties.) It's pretty bad. |
| Bedbug |
Posted - 06/03/2025 : 03:49:58
Tony Hawk talks about biggest albums in his life, SR/ Doolittle about halfway point
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l4zSZtYPPlo |
| danjersey |
Posted - 02/27/2025 : 19:25:00
That crazy fish.
I’ve only heard Placebos’s placebo.
Frank has spoken about writing the libretto for his songs. I wonder if he was already consciously writing lyrics as libretto when he wrote Where is my Mind. |
