PIXIES Surfer Rosa Vinyl

Kurt Cobain said Nevermind was his attempt to rip off the Pixies. Take that for what it's worth and then go listen to Surfer Rosa.

Produced by Steve Albini in 1988, this record sounds like it was recorded somewhere slightly dangerous, all raw drum rooms and Frank Black screaming about gigantic fish and Spanish colonial imagery with complete conviction. It's the blueprint for the loud-quiet-loud thing that rewired alternative rock, but hearing it now it still sounds more unhinged than most of what followed. This is not a nostalgia purchase. This is foundational punk and alternative listening that holds up because it was never trying to be palatable in the first place.

Full length album, vinyl. Released 1988. US origin. Genre: Punk/alternative/indie rock.

Fans of: The Lemonheads, Sonic Youth, The Breeders.