Double Black Vinyl LP

During their six years together, the Pixies released five albums: Come On Pilgrim (1987), Surfer Rosa (1988), Doolittle (1989), Bossanova (1990) and Trompe Le Monde (1991). Experiencing particular success in the UK and Europe, the Pixies played sold-out festivals and received a multitude of fan, peer and critical acclaim. The band’s influence was far-reaching; U2’s Bono referred to the Pixies as “one of America’s greatest bands ever”; David Bowie called their work “just about the most compelling music of the entire ’80s”; and Kurt Cobain, who identified Surfer Rosa as his favorite album of that entire decade, confessed, when writing “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” that, “Basically, I was ripping off the Pixies.”

This 23-track “Best Of” set runs (almost) chronologically and expands on the previous compilation, Death To The Pixies. The recordings remain fresh and vibrant — and a splendid introduction for old fans and new converts alike. Inevitably there are half a dozen tracks from Doolittle, the record that NME proclaimed the “second best album ever,” but there’s also a couple of B-sides, the live favorite “Into The White” and the band’s cover of Neil Young’s “Winterlong.”

Released: 1/11/11