{"id":4150,"date":"2016-09-22T13:00:17","date_gmt":"2016-09-22T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/album-review-pixies-head-carrier\/"},"modified":"2018-03-21T21:20:41","modified_gmt":"2018-03-21T21:20:41","slug":"album-review-pixies-head-carrier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/album-review-pixies-head-carrier\/","title":{"rendered":"Album Review: Pixies – Head Carrier"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Lets be honest, when it comes to alternative music in America, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Pixies<\/b>; they practically invented that irresistible combination of scathing guitars, eloquent pop melodies and left field lyrics. The fact that ‘Head Carrier’<\/i> is their first proper album in 25 years and the first with contributions from new bassist Paz Lenchantin, 2014’s EP collection ‘Indie Cindie’<\/i> notwithstanding, means expectations are high.<\/p>\n

So, does it deliver? Pretty much. Sure, it takes a few listens and is pretty smooth, not really venturing beyond the realms of Black Francis’ own off beat comfort zone, but it stacks up as fine a collection of indie sludge as you’re likely to hear.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The mid-paced rock groove of the title track kicks things off stylishly, it may not be a raging beast, but it’s dark vibe carries all the Pixies<\/b> trademarks and it is certainly a grower. There are plenty of tracks which stay in safe indie pop territory and showcase the band’s ear for a melody, the hooky ‘Classic Masher’<\/i> and the eighties tinged storytelling of ‘Tenement Song’<\/i> both nailing it. However, some songs, although likeable, are a little bland, ‘Bel Esprit’<\/i> and ‘Might As Well Be Gone’<\/i> being notable examples.<\/p>\n

The tracks that work best are those which take a step or two towards the leftfield; ‘Oona’<\/i> has a certain off beat charm, while ‘Baals Back’<\/i> harks back to angrier times as Francis screams his way through this abrasive rocker. Obvious stand outs are the nostalgic ode to Kim Deal, ‘All I Think About Now’<\/i>, the blissful ‘All The Saints’<\/i> and the urgent rockabilly of ‘Um Chagga Lagga’<\/i>, which is a stone cold classic.<\/p>\n

Expecting a middle aged band to come up with a creatively compelling record as challenging as those from their early career is maybe a bridge too far. Even so, there is plenty of quality to ‘Head Carrier’<\/i> and it makes for a fine listen.<\/p>\n

4\/5<\/p>\n

‘Head Carrier’<\/em> by Pixies<\/strong> is released on September 30th on Pixiesmusic<\/b>\/PIAS<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Pixies<\/strong> links:Website<\/a>|Facebook<\/a>|Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

Words by Edward Layland (@EdwardLayland<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lets be honest, when it comes to alternative music in America, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Pixies; they practically invented that irresistible combination of scathing guitars, eloquent pop melodies and left field lyrics. 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