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Alpha Soixante
- FB Fan -
Canada
129 Posts |
 Posted - 06/17/2004 : 10:53:29
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http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/wearetheworld/04-06-17.shtml
It's a little negative, but if you read the whole thing, it's seems like a carefully considered and thoughtful review.
quote:
While by no means a truly weak effort, the interminable repetition of the somewhat lacking chorus and its unrelenting Fozzie Bear invocation do fall a bit short of the band's previous standards. Additionally-- though this is slightly less significant-- the intense, determined charge that propelled the group's best work is somewhat diminished. And somehow, even with the songwriting falling short of the bar, it is good to hear the Pixies still challenging themselves melodically-- the track's widely discussed organ breakdown is an experimental quirk most groups wouldn't dare attempt after 13 years apart-- and otherwise maintaining high standards for distinctive and ambitious musicianship. And anyway, aren't we all withholding judgment until we hear what Frank has to contribute?
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Alpha Soixante
- FB Fan -
Canada
129 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2004 : 12:39:01
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I'm surprised no one has posted reactions to this article. I do think the attitude toward Kim's writing is a bit unfair. He mentions her "great (if spotty)" post-Pixies songwriting. But I think the same could be reasonably be said of Frank's post-Pixies work. And we can't fairly evaluate the merits of her Pixies work in comparison to Frank's since there's only two co-written songs to her credit. Who knows? If she had written more Pixies songs, they might well have been equal or superior to Frank's.
That said, I can sympathize with the reviewer somewhat when he says "aren't we all withholding judgment until we hear what Frank has to contribute?" (This line has, incidentally, been removed from the article.) Not because Frank is necessarily the better songwriter, but because his songs seem to be, overall, more characteristic of the Pixies' sound. Gigantic is a fantastic song, but I wouldn't pick it if someone wanted a good introduction to what the Pixies sound like. So if we want to get a sense of what a new Pixies album would be like, a Frank-written song might give a better indication.
As for the article's specific criticisms: "the interminable repetition of the somewhat lacking chorus and its unrelenting Fozzie Bear invocation." What exactly is the chorus lacking, given the kind of song it is--a quirky highspirited pop song? Is it lacking in comparison to say the chorus "Dead!" or "Tame!" [x4] or "I've got something against you!" [repeat]? Sure, you could understandibly find the wocka "invocation" irritating, if you're not in the right mood. But isn't that also true of "boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom", the "ride ride ride ride ride" in "River Euphrates", "your mouth's a miles a way" screamed 8 times, or Dead's repeated invocation of "the crapper"? |
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Helmut
= Cult of Ray =
315 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2004 : 20:06:27
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Pixies: "Bam Thwok"
Generally, when bands come lumbering out of their graves after more than a decade dead and gone, they can rely upon two things: The initial awkwardness of their first post-reunion band practice, and a mixed reaction from wary fans who've either come to associate their music with their youths, or who've only become fans in the years since the group disbanded. A well-warranted fear tends to pervade the excitement: What if they blow it? The fact is, we all want our favorite bands to remain immortalized in youth and talent, perfectly frozen in time on plastic and acetate, and to never witness them pissily fumble lyrics and drum fills onstage like some awful bastardization of all they once represented.
Yet, recently, the reunion tides seem to have turned: Wire, The Wrens and Mission of Burma have all reformed since the turn of the decade to not only stun audiences with awe-inducing live shows, but to also record new albums strong enough to stand alongside-- and sometimes even eclipse-- their greatest achievements. And when word leaked that the Pixies would actually, really, truly get back together to perform, their fans exhibited notably less caginess than I'd expected. People were, in fact, genuinely thrilled. As it turns out, there was good reason to be: Despite the expected wear-and-tear on the members' vocal cords, the Pixies have absolutely nailed their sets to date, sending fans away reveling in their best-case-scenario encounters.
So here's where things get complicated: On Tuesday, with no warning whatsoever, the Pixies released a brand new song. And it was penned by Kim Deal, whose songwriting credits with the band consisted of only two co-writes with Frank Black: Doolittle's second-to-last track, "Silver", and Surfer Rosa's blissful "Gigantic", one of the group's finest moments. Though Deal has earned a rep as a great (if spotty) songwriter in her own right with The Breeders since the Pixies' dissolution, it seems an odd return, and why they've chosen this track in particular is open to speculation: Maybe it's the most fully formed song they've recorded and they just wanted to get something out as quickly as possible; Maybe it's an appeasement, as one of the band's original alleged contentions was Black's refusal to record many of Deal's songs; Or maybe after giving it a shot, they were just damn proud of it and wanted to share it with us.
Whatever the case, there's no mistaking the track as a Pixies song: Joey Santiago's signature guttural guitarwork alternately wails and groans like a tortured wild thing while David Lovering's drumkit guides Deal's jagged, unpredictable hooks with graceful effortless. In fact, the only major difference in the actual sound of the band today is a more confident air of technical proficiency. Where "Bam Thwok" falters is in the songwriting itself: Inspired by a story Kim Deal found on the street in a child's abandoned art book, the song's chorus sends a vague message of universal togetherness-- "Love, bang, crash, wakka wakka, bam thwok"-- that unfortunately grates by the end of the song's brief 2½-minute runtime.
While by no means a truly weak effort, the interminable repetition of the somewhat lacking chorus and its unrelenting Fozzie Bear invocation do fall a bit short of the band's previous standards. Additionally-- though this is slightly less significant-- the intense, determined charge that propelled the group's best work is somewhat diminished. And somehow, even with the songwriting falling short of the bar, it is good to hear the Pixies still challenging themselves melodically-- the track's widely discussed organ breakdown is an experimental quirk most groups wouldn't dare attempt after 13 years apart-- and otherwise maintaining high standards for distinctive and ambitious musicianship. [Ryan Schreiber; June 17th, 2004]
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whoreatthedoor
> Teenager of the Year <
Spain
2873 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2004 : 00:38:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Alpha Soixante
As for the article's specific criticisms: "the interminable repetition of the somewhat lacking chorus and its unrelenting Fozzie Bear invocation." What exactly is the chorus lacking, given the kind of song it is--a quirky highspirited pop song? Is it lacking in comparison to say the chorus "Dead!" or "Tame!" [x4] or "I've got something against you!" [repeat]? Sure, you could understandibly find the wocka "invocation" irritating, if you're not in the right mood. But isn't that also true of "boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom", the "ride ride ride ride ride" in "River Euphrates", "your mouth's a miles a way" screamed 8 times, or Dead's repeated invocation of "the crapper"?
Stormy Weather???, There goes my gun???. This reviewer guy have forgotten something.
 "Join the Cult of the whore at the door / And You'll find no answers, but real fun" |
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Otherfellers
- FB Fan -
Ireland
87 Posts |
Posted - 06/25/2004 : 01:19:15
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| I got annoyed at the amount of times "We're chained" was sung in Hey once (now I love it). I think I counted and lost track around 37. |
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model consumer
- FB Fan -
USA
128 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2004 : 21:58:49
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fwiw, Pitchfork reviews have pissed me off so many times I've stopped reading or visiting their site years ago. Bunchacunts.
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"What's all I listen to? It's all freedom rock!" |
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Pitchfork review of Bam Thwok
