Wave Of Mutilation (Best Of Pixies) - Pixies > Reviews > Wave of Mutilation

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	A fine collection
Disadvantages:	Some people may find it just too alternative .  .  .  .  .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Some argue Nirvana were the definition of 'grunge', others say the Pixies were...I can't see the comparison to be fair, the Pixies rather encapsulate the definition of Indie and Alternative music, and this is the 'best of' collection that they deserve - 23 tracks to showcase the Pixies history from their five albums - 'Come on Pilgrims', 'Surfer Rosa' the classic 'Doolittle', 'Bossanova' and 'Trompe le Monde' - all made within a five year time-span.

The opening two tracks - 'Bone Machine', from 'Surfer Rosa', and 'Nimrod's Son' classify the alternative-ness to the Pixies style, and as my 'Disadvantages' state - it may just be TOO alternative for some, faint-hearted traditionalists, with the rhythm jumping about all over the place to Frank Black's shouting and grooving - to those new to the Pixies, you may instantly say "he can't sing for s**t" - but believe, give it time, this is originality as it should be, as those familar with the band will testify.

'Holiday Song' is the first taste of some of the guitar anthems the band came up with in their hay-day, and 'Caribou' is certainly an anthem amongst many fans. This is certainly building up the album's credentials, showing all the tracks taken from 'Come On Pilgrims', into a heavyweight of heavyweights.

The next three tracks, 'Broken Face', 'Gigantic' and 'Vamos' are all from 'Surfer Rosa', with 'Gigantic' showing us the vocal skills of bassist Kim Deal as well - personally, this is one of my favourite tunes from the album. And lest we forget track 15 - 'Where is my Mind' - taken from 'Surfer Rosa' too - brilliant.

The infamous album 'Doolittle' makes up a large number of the tracks on the album - the next seven tracks to be precise - 'Hey', 'Monkey Gone To Heaven', 'Debaser', 'Gouge Away', 'Wave of Mutilation', 'Here Comes Your Man' and 'Tame', as well as the b-side 'Into The White'. The album they came from is an essential one for any rock music fan's collection - buy it now!! All of these tracks are anthems in their own right - and if you think you're unfamilar and new to the Pixies - the likelihood, no, the certainty is you will have heard at sometime in your life the likes of MGTH, Debaser or HCYM, if not more of them......

From 'Bossanova' comes 'Velouria', 'Allison' and 'Dig for Fire', as well as b-side 'Winterlong' which concludes the album. 'Velouria' is a beautiful piece of music, and is certainly one of my 3 favourite Pixies tracks, and it should be one of yours too!! It could be argued from here on in, they were sliding down from the success of 'Doolittle', which is a fair argument, but they certainly didn't slide out of recognition without a fight.

'U-Mass', 'Alec Eiffel' and 'Planet of Sound' are on display from the band's final album; 'Trompe le Monde' - released in 1991, just when band's like Nirvana were getting recognition for their work at regaining the indie/alternative/rock genre back from the spandex-metal style of the 80's - proving surely that the Pixies really did kick-start the revolution.

For me, this collection is spot-on at defining the sound of the Pixies - nothing missed out that should have been, nothing included that shouldn't have been. As previously mentioned, those unfamiliar to the alternative genre may find some of the band's tracks, particularly their earlier stuff, just a tad too much for their musical palate. But those into alternative and indie music, who don't know enough about the Pixies - bow down to your saviours, as without them, there may no long be any indie or alternative music.....