Pixies Songs Ranked
The Pixies are an American alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. The original lineup comprised Black Francis (vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim Deal (bass, backing vocals) and David Lovering (drums). The band disbanded acrimoniously in 1993, but reunited in 2004. After Deal left in 2013, the Pixies hired Kim Shattuck as a touring bassist; she was replaced the same year by Paz Lenchantin, who became a permanent member in 2016.
The Pixies are associated with the 1990s alternative rock boom and draw on elements including punk rock and surf rock. Their music is known for its dynamic “loud-quiet” shifts and song structures. Francis is the Pixies’ primary songwriter; his often surreal lyrics cover offbeat subjects such as extraterrestrials, incest, and biblical violence. They achieved modest popularity in the US but were more successful in Europe. Their jarring pop sound influenced acts such as Nirvana, Radiohead, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Weezer. Their popularity grew in the years after their break-up, leading to sold-out world tours following their reunion in 2004. Here are all of The Pixies songs ranked.
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20. The Holiday Song (Come On Pilgrim, 1987)
“I’d consider the Holiday Song the centerpiece of the album, one that really shows off the range and virtuosity talent the Pixies had for songwriting. And then you get that run of three songs to end the album which achieve a good blend of the formless noise and pop perfection we see scattered in the first four songs.”
19. Alec Eiffel (Trompe le Monde, 1991)
“I love the hypnotizing synth riff at the end – adding to the already decent melody of the actual song. The best off Trompe le Monde. The end of the song is awesome making a contrast with the beginning.
18. Tame (Doolittle, 1989)
“This song defines the whole genre of grunge. If anybody asked you for an example of grunge you could not choose a better song than tame. Black’s screech is otherworldly.”
17. The Happening (Bossanova, 1990)
“The second half of this is just so good I don’t know exactly what the lyrics are meaning I’ll check that later but it feels like such a nostalgic type story that Francis is telling and it’s just so listenable and soothing, almost as a relief to their common style. This should be pushing the top ten.”
See more: The Pixies Albums Ranked
16. River Euphrates (Surfer Rosa, 1988)
“Greatest pixies chorus celestial harmonies from Kim that complement frank blacks growling. Sinister, nonsensical but above all incredible”
15. Motorway to Roswell (Trompe le Monde, 1991)
“This should be an instant top 10, then again not many people have listened to it since it’s on Trompe Le Monde, a great but overlooked album. Their best song in my opinion. My favorite rock ballad of all time”
14. Velouria (Bossanova, 1990)
“Underrated! After “Here Comes Your Man,” this is my favorite – the angelic melody, dissonant guitar opening, and wonderfully catchy chorus make this one of the band’s greatest accomplishments.”
13. Vamos (Come On Pilgrim, 1987)
“A track I was never too crazy about, outside of Joey’s spastic guitar attacks. Here he convincingly demonstrates that he can physically abuse his guitar just as well live as in the Studio. In Heaven has Francis sounding surprisingly strained. It is a nice way to end the single; and matches the intensity of the cover quite well.”
12. I’ve Been Tired (Come On Pilgrim, 1987)
” I’ve Been Tired has completely batty verses with elements of ska thrown in but the window-shatteringly screamy yet tuneful chorus lifts it into its own unique league of awesomeness.”
11. No. 13 Baby (Doolittle 1989)
“The first half is encompassed in the outro. The outro is the bare bones structure of the song – an undead musical, a downward spiral, an inevitable tragedy – and when the signers, the instruments start expanding freely, and the tale is complete when they’ve won – fade out.”
10. Dig for Fire (Bossanova, 1990)
“This song from there third or fourth LP is pretty awesome, it makes me want to tear into my shirt and growl like a wolf. Seriously this is some good ish man, it has that sing along catchy hook, and those sweet vocals by Frank.”
9. Gigantic (Surfer Rosa, 1988)
“This song has a great story behind it. The bass on it is also awesome as well as the singing. I have been a Pixies nut for 25 years. Production on this song is faultless.”
8. Wave of Mutilation (Wave of Mutilation, 1991)
“This is well worth it and I think the Pixies are one of the greatest indie influences of the past 18 years or so. What I love about the Pixies is that they are different, eclectic, and awesome to watch live.”
7. Bone Machine (Surfer Rosa, 1988)
“The opener, Bone Machine, shows off Steve Albini’s signature lo-fi production, with some great background-ish lyrics from Black Francis, and then the chorus (“your bone’s got a little machine”). It is a brilliantly lo-fi and eccentric track, and brings about the Pixies signature screechy style and light-hearted tone into the fore.”
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6. Gouge Away (Doolittle, 1989)
“One of the best Pixies songs, pure balls to the wall insanity with great music. By the third time the chorus comes around you should be orgasming bricks.
5. Monkey Gone to Heaven (Doolittle, 1989)
“Musically, “Monkey” takes a mid-tempo approach to the loud-quiet-loud dynamic that would make Pixies a cornerstone of alternative rock in the coming decade. Augmenting the metallic sheen of Black Francis and Joey Santiago’s guitars is Kim Deal’s “heartbeat” bass line, and an understated – but wholly effective – string quartet arrangement.”
4. Debaser (Doolittle, 1989)
“Outrageously ecstatic, bizarre, manic fun. Only song I can think of that I really didn’t like upon first listen (debaser screamed endlessly) until it settled on me and I got it. Now my favorite and a classic like no other.”
3. Here Comes Your Man (Demos, 1987)
“This one may be a lot more poppy and simple than most other Pixies songs, but its definitely Black Francis’ catchiest composition. Kim Deal’s harmonies and David Lovering drum flourishes at the end are the icing on the cake.”
2. Hey (Doolittle, 1989)
“This is not only the best Pixies songs but arguably the greatest song of all-time… It never gets old. And I have been listening to doolittle since it was released. Arguably, doolittle is the greatest cd of all time.”
1. Where is My Mind? (Surfer Rosa, 1988)
“There’s so many mixed emotions that go through my head when listening to ‘Where Is My Mind?,’ and I suppose that’s the point. It’s as if Frank Black himself is unsure of his whereabouts, circling rousing guitars around pouncing drums with his manacle singing and laughing. The track itself isn’t unrealistic to Pixies’ discography, in fact it represents the bipolar group better than any song they have, with Black’s lyrics painting a unraveling portrait of in/sanity where you’re never quite sure which side they’re on.”
