Doolittle - Pixies

.../> The musical style of Doolittle is something that proves very difficult categorise due, in the main, to the fact that the Pixies sound is so different to anything else that went before or came after. Sure they had a huge affect on the era of grunge that was just beginning to sprout when Doolittle was realised (a certain Mr Kurt Cobain himself said no Pixies then no Nirvana) but Doolittle lacks the angst ridden pure aggression that typified grunge. ...
...like that. The music on Doolittle alone encompasses so many sounds ranging from metal to country with lyrics that are often dark and depressing in nature. Sticking with the label alternative rock is probably the best policy for those that need a genre. What can be said though is that the music of consistently high quality and is always a pleasure to listen to and is probably best described on a song-by-song basis.

~~#Debaser#~~
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After witnessing their stunning headlining set at this years Carling Leeds Festival I felt I had to have more albums by alternative rock legends the Pixies. The album I plumped for was 1989s Doolittle. Whilst I had heard very good things about this album I doubted it would come close to the brilliance of the wonderful Surfer Rosa LP. I was wrong.

Throughout their career the Pixies are a band whos members mixed infamously badly. Whilst this does seem to have adversely affected their last two albums and ultimately lead to their demise (they're now re-formed) it has not led to any audible problems on this third album, Doolittle. In fact the Pixies unique yet influential sound seems to have reached a near perfect pinnacle here. Lead singer Black Francis (Frank Black or Charles Thompson IV if you must) is on top form with his beautifully unusual vocals floating effortlessly from the gentile to heart-felt wails and screams. Black is backed up very strongly by Bassist Kim Deal who's haunting backing vocals mix excellently with Blacks on a number of Doolittles tracks. They may hate each other in 'real life' but on record they make a stunning combination. Their sound is completed by innovative, and often brilliant, guitarist Joey Santiago and drummer David Lovering.

The musical style of Doolittle is something that proves very difficult categorise due, in the main, to the fact that the Pixies sound is so different to anything else that went before or came after. Sure they had a huge affect on the era of grunge that was just beginning to sprout when Doolittle was realised (a certain Mr Kurt Cobain himself said no Pixies then no Nirvana) but Doolittle lacks the angst ridden pure aggression that typified grunge. The guitar work of Santiago hints at something more indie-esque but Blacks vocals say that isn't true. If truth be told the Pixies can not be fitted into a genre just like that. The music on Doolittle alone encompasses so many sounds ranging from metal to country with lyrics that are often dark and depressing in nature. Sticking with the label alternative rock is probably the best policy for those that need a genre. What can be said though is that the music of consistently high quality and is always a pleasure to listen to and is probably best described on a song-by-song basis.

~~#Debaser#~~
If nothing else the opening track of Doolittle is one of the most influential songs written. The aforementioned Kurt Cobain was thinking of "Debaser" when he wrote a little ditty by the name of "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It hardly needs to be said that without that song and the album from whence it came the rock music scene of today would most likely be something quite different. But Debaser is something else too - it's a stunning song in its own right. It's one of the albums more upbeat tracks with positivity spilling out of the guitar work and vocals. This opener shows what a fine voice Black has not because of his abilities as a singer but because of its knack of grabbing the listeners attention and not let go. Debaser is quite simply an excellent rock song which is not afraid to use upbeat pop sensibilities and mingle them with the Pixies unique stylings. One of the best opening tracks to an album? I think so.

~~#Tame#~~
Tame by name but certainly not by nature. The verses are quiet with Black almost whispering the somewhat simplistic lyrics about a girl who's, well, tame and they lack lead guitar instead preferring to be driven by bass and drums. But then just as you're thinking this is going to be a rather lack lustre effort it suddenly explodes into a chorus of truly aggressive screams of the near inaudible word Tame. Quite how so much emotion is put into one word I'm unsure but in this song of two sides it is done.

~~#Wave of Mutilation#~~
One of the better known songs off Doolittle, Wave of Mutilation, is also excellent. It's subject matter is, as the title suggests, rather depressing. Far from going down a depressive route though instrumentally this song is actually fairly upbeat. You could certainly dance along to its typically rocky guitar, drum and bass combo. As with many of the Pixies songs it's far from over complicated but the short simple approach works here. I'd imagine many bands writing a similar song would make it into 5 minute epic whereas the Pixies barely break the 2 minute barrier and it does prevent them from producing brilliant songs.

~~#I Bleed#~~
A slower, bassy song that has a dark, almost smutty feel that wouldn't sound out of place on a Placebo album. Kim Deal and Black Francis sing the smae lyrics but just out of time with one and other with Deals high pitched vocals having almost ghost like echoey qualities. I bleed probably won't captivate the listener immediately but it's a song that grows on you slowly but surely.

~~#Here Comes Your Man#~~
Providing a complete contrast to the previous track the Pixies go all "pop" on us here. Though the lyrics verge on the cheesy with overly repetitive choruses and the guitar work seems to have suspiciously country roots this song is actually one of my favourites. Quite why this is I'm not sure. Perhaps it's because it's super catchy and great to sing along to. It's probably just because it's a near perfect pop/rock song though.

~~#Dead#~~
Though by no accounts is dead, dead awful (Ahem) I must admit I haven't particularly warmed to it. To me the sound is not far from that of the white stripes and I never was a big fan of Jack and Meg. One of few slight letdowns on Doolittle.

~~#Monkey Gone to Heaven#~~
Best Pixies song? Well no, that privilege must go to "Where is my Mind" (found on Surfer Rosa), but it isn't far off. The lyrics may be verging on the ridiculous but somehow the song manages to exude bucket loads of cool. Everything just seems to work for Monkey Gone to Heaven from the strong bass line to the distorted guitars and its general upbeat nature. The word "Rock me Joe" introduce a nice Santiago solo and the spoken vocals of the verses and bridge are just superb. It even manages to get a message about the damage man is doing to the Earths environment too (at least that what I've got out of it.) A real jewel in the crown of alternative rock.

~~#Mr Grieves#~~
Bizarrely the intro to this song almost make it a ska/reggae number due to the typical ska sound played out on guitar. (Unfortunately!) that all changes when the bass kicks in after the first 30 seconds or so. Even after losing its ska sound Mr Grieves is a really groovy little track though.

~~#Crackity Jones#~~
Sounding like the Pixies were on a amphetamines when they wrote/ performed this (and in all likelyhood some were) Crackity Jones is an insanely fast paced track. Black Francis' rasping, urgent vocals just about work here. 1 minute 20 is all that they could manage and its probably wise they kept it short. Any longer and this song would probably fall flat. As it is it works well.....just.

~~#La La Love You#~~
This is a goodie! Kicking off with a drum intro, La La Love you is lyrically rather sparse (which are incidentally sung by drummer Lovering) but what it lacks there it makes up for with some lovely clean guitar. And just you try not to whistle along to the "woot-woo" whistles. It really is hard to resist!

~~#No. 13 Baby#~~
A fairly typical Pixies track this. It lacks anything that particularly sets it apart from its peers but is still a decent enough effort. You wouldn't skip it but you wouldn't skip to it either.

~~#There goes my Gun#~~
Beginning with some nasty, yet deliberate, high guitar feedback this is a jolly, if somewhat repetitive, track. I do really rather like the short solo though (even if I can't decide if it's performed on a four string or the lower notes of a six string. Hmm.)

~~#Hey#~~
A right funky little song is Hey. Underpinned by a typically groovy Pixies bass line, Black and Santiago combine nicely on lead and second guitar here. The vocals are pretty smart too.

~~#Silver#~~
Freaky is this one. Kim exchanges her beloved 4 string for 6 on which she pulls off some rather nifty slide guitar work. This mingles with her wailing, high pitched vocals to create a chilling, haunting. Slow, weird and yet in some strange way relaxing

~~#Gauge Away#~~
Not a bad way to finish off Doolittle at all. It's quick paced, beat heavy with a simplistic bass line. Gauge away is probably the track that most resembles the grunge sound that was just about to make it big.

Whilst it is for the music that you WILL(!) buy this album word should also be given to the sleeve and booklet that accompany the CD. Firstly the booklet contains lyrics for all the songs which is always handy (especially when you consider Black Francis' screams are often difficult to decipher.) But what sets the booklet out as something pretty cool are the photos. On each left hand page is a bizarre picture in brown, black and white of some odd object or other. It was only through writing this review that I realised these pictures related to the lyrics of Doolittles songs. The obvious one is a picture of a monkey sporting a halo for Monkeys Gone to Heaven. Others include a crab and half an old shoe sole for Wave of Mutilation ("I walked the sand with crustaceans") and a bell complete with set of molars for I Bleed ("a ringing bell, behind my smile, it shakes my teeth.") It took a bit of time to get all the connections so I'll leave the joy of figuring out the remainder to you. Aren't I nice?

All in all Doolittles songs are a near perfect mix of alt. rock that make an immensely good album featuring a number are absolute classics in their own right. If I have one criticism it's that sometimes, if you really listen, the lyrics seem to make little sense on many tracks and in some cases are just random words. This probably has something to do with the fact the Black believes he was abducted by aliens as a kid though and it's only occasionally I get to thinking like that. Overall the music of Doolittle is not far from perfect and it has quickly become one of my favourite albums.

Doolittle can be picked up right now for a bargain £5.97 on Amazon and cheaper still on Ebay.

Not convinced yet? Download (legally as you like):
Debaser, Monkeys gone to Heaven, Here Comes your Man.

For fans of:
Grunge, The Smashing Pumpkins, Janes Addiction and Faith no More.

ASIN: B000026YFS

 

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