The Indie Rock 25

1989: THE PIXIES
Doolittle

The Pixies are such an influential act it is tempting to say that, had they not existed, someone would have been forced to invent them. But could even the maddest of scientists have come up with a band whose list of diverse interests merely begins with punk rock, surf music, UFOs, and incest? We're guessing not. The quartet's second album, Doolittle — which was distributed in the U.S. through Elektra (we know, a slight cheat!) — boasts a bright production lacking from their debut, 1988's Surfer Rosa. Yet this just casts the grunge-inspiring dynamics offered by such tracks as ''Tame'' and ''Monkey Gone to Heaven'' into even sharper relief. Indeed, a thousand bands would copy the band's neat trick of playing very softly and then VERY, VERY LOUDLY!!! Even fewer matched chief Pixie Frank Black's slyly pop-infused way with a tune. One that did was Nirvana, whose debut CD — and sole indie album — Bleach, also hit stores in '89.
ESSENTIAL TRACK ''Debaser''