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Album review: Doolittle 25 (Pixies)

SINGAPORE — In a very real sense, Pixies’ third album Doolittle was the bridge between ‘80s alt-rock pioneers Husker Du and Nirvana’s phenomenal mainstream success in 1991, aka “the year that punk broke”. The Boston-based band (Frank Black on vocals/guitar, Joey Santiago on guitar, Kim Deal on bass/vocals and David Lovering on drums) certainly helped to define the sound of alternative rock even as the previously dominant glam-metal sound was in its death throes. Songs like Debaser, Wave Of Mutilation, Here Comes Your Man and Monkey Gone To Heaven established the edgy ambience of this brave new world. A quarter of a century later and left-field guitar rock has effectively left the planet. Thus, it is timely to be reminded of what this type of music brings — melody and noise in equal parts. This collection of off-cuts is a boon for diehard fans and rock scholars eager to trace the evolution of these classic tracks. Rock archaeology at its finest.

Ghostface Killah’s 36 Seasons.

Ghostface Killah’s 36 Seasons.

SINGAPORE — In a very real sense, Pixies’ third album Doolittle was the bridge between ‘80s alt-rock pioneers Husker Du and Nirvana’s phenomenal mainstream success in 1991, aka “the year that punk broke”. The Boston-based band (Frank Black on vocals/guitar, Joey Santiago on guitar, Kim Deal on bass/vocals and David Lovering on drums) certainly helped to define the sound of alternative rock even as the previously dominant glam-metal sound was in its death throes. Songs like Debaser, Wave Of Mutilation, Here Comes Your Man and Monkey Gone To Heaven established the edgy ambience of this brave new world. A quarter of a century later and left-field guitar rock has effectively left the planet. Thus, it is timely to be reminded of what this type of music brings — melody and noise in equal parts. This collection of off-cuts is a boon for diehard fans and rock scholars eager to trace the evolution of these classic tracks. Rock archaeology at its finest.

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