LogFAQs > #954704207

Doolittle is my sixth favorite album of all time. This album really exemplifies a lot of what would come during the 1990s in alternative rock, but this towers over what followed. This is one of those rare albums where every track is great while also sounding nothing alike.

Debaser What better way to kick off one of my favorite albums than a song about one of my favorite films? The guitar suggests surf rock while Black Franciss vocals lend a more aggressive edge. Surrealist lyrics are common in the bands that followed in their footsteps, and giving homage to Un chien andalou makes this a manifesto of sorts for this particular brand of alt rock.

Tame The most aggressive track on Doolittle, with the lyrics again emphasizing the surrealist angle. While Black Francis screams his heart out, his words reveal he is merely complaining about a boringly average woman.

Wave of Mutilation Forms a perfect pair with Tame as its inverse this is pure surf rock bliss, as long as you ignore the lyrics about intentionally driving off a cliff for a watery grave.

I Bleed Certainly one of the lesser tracks here, but I love Black Franciss delivery. Part of what makes this album work as a whole is the jarring transitions, and this works as a visceral divider between the lighter Wave of Mutilation and Here Comes Your Man.

Here Comes Your Man Even the most esoteric rock albums need that one song that can hook an ordinary audience. But this is not a band selling out or anything like that Pixies do pop rock justice here. The bridge sends me to another level.

Dead Another element I love about Doolittle is how few of the tracks stretch beyond three minutes. Pixies stumble across a unique sound, do just enough to make it memorable, then move on to the next. This is aggressive, but in a way very unlike the aggression found on Tame.

Monkey Gone to Heaven Probably the definite track off Doolittle in the grand scheme of things, and its hard to argue against that perception. It captures the weirdness of the Pixies while managing to be outright beautiful. Black Franciss impassioned shouting at the end of verse three might be the best single moment on the album.

Mr. Grieves This covers a lot of ground in two minutes, starting off sounding like some twisted version of a song by The Police before ramping up the pace, only to dial it down into something else entirely. A Pixies version of the Happiness is a Warm Gun model.

Crackity Jones Really short songs sometimes feel designed to be overlooked, but Crackity Jones is a perfect example of a song that packs a whole lot into one short burst this could easily be a standout for those looking for a harsher sound.

La La Love You Black Francis apparently referred to this song as a comedic break, but on an album so strange, it fits right in as a standard tune. An intentionally shallow love song, and I love the intro.

No. 13 Baby A stray observation, but the longest song on Doolittle is shorter than the shortest on Sound of Silver. This feels like one of the best pure rockers on the album, and it easily earns its length due to a strong instrumental break.

There Goes My Gun This is the only song on Doolittle that doesnt really stand on its own to me, but its still a fun tune. Its a short burst of energy that does a lot to set up for the slower sound of Hey.

Hey This has always been the standout to me, and it feels like people are slowly catching on to its immense power. This feels like the Pixies at their slowest and most introspective, with a simple yet killer chorus Were chained repeated over and over, but with a revolution of delivery styles and Kim Deal eventually joining in to echo the second word. And then theres the second verse, which contrasts an intimate encounter with raw sexual relief and finally the pains of birth. Rarely has a song about sex sounded so desperate and isolating.

Silver A perfect penultimate track, coming off as the backing theme of two cowboys walking through the center of town ready to duel, a standoff scene for a bizarro western.

Gouge Away Doolittle closes out with what first sounds like a moment of cathartic release. The singer encourages the audience to gouge away, but only because his revenge is already planned. Black Francis certainly hits the right notes for emotional relief, but then the song continues, the anxiety lingering. A phenomenal closer because it refuses to let the listener off easy.

Track ranking:
1. Hey (redacted)
2. Debaser (redacted)
3. Monkey Gone to Heaven (#353 all-time)
4. Tame (#1432)
5. Here Comes Your Man (#1869)
6. Wave of Mutilation (#1939)
7. Gouge Away (#2402)
8. No. 13 Baby
9. Crackity Jones
10. Mr. Grieves
11. Silver
12. I Bleed
13. Dead
14. La La Love You
15. There Goes My Gun

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/