Pixies - Doolittle

Doolittle is as good an argument as there is for simplicity in making music. They never get into complex structures or timing, they just make good rock music with a couple guitars, a bass, drums and a couple interesting voices. Kim Deal's pleasant femininity is a mellow counter to Black Francis' eccentric shouting, whispering, and laughing. He can still sing pretty normally when he wants too, though. It's a bit lo-fi, but better for it, as the lack of cleanliness in the production adds perfectly to the tone of the music. None of the songs are too long, with the 15 songs lasting less than a total of 40 minutes. They cut out all the fat and get straight to the essence of their sound, not a band for wasting time. It's definitely a strength of the album that it's so tightly focused. Deep, simple baselines and steady drums provide a backbone for alternating high-pitched and crunching guitar riffs. They often get into fast-paced, repetitive grooves that are as basely affecting as anything in music. They're usually a bit dark in tone, but can depart from that without sounding off. "Here Comes Your Man" sounds positively like surf rock, and "Mr. Grieves" has a reggae feel in the verse, but both still sound like Pixies.

"Debaser" starts it off perfectly, and is pretty much a microcosm of the band. "I Bleed" is slower paced, and uses Deal's vocals to great effect. Her voice has a haunting quality to it, and sets the mood for a lot of songs. "Monkey Gone To Heaven" has strange, spoken lyrics, string accompaniment, a great chorus and bridge, and might be the best of the album's many great songs. "Crackity Jones" is an awesome, very fast-paced song. "No. 13 Baby" is the longest track and given the most space to stretch out, which it manages to use well. "Silver" is another departure, which feels like a Western anthem. The dropping, picked guitar and forlorn vocals just brings the image of a duel with six-shooters in the dusty street to my head. "Gouge Away" is another nice song and brings it all home with the groovy verse and loud chorus. I didn't know music this old could be so kickass.