lux

I understood you, but I also realized that for you, Pop is practically a swear word! For me, it’s not! Laura Pausini is Pop with standard stylistic elements, not the Pixies with their Pop nuances! Not even in certain moments! (from Doolittle, maybe in other less successful albums, yes). Regarding that comment on the Pixies review: that guy only said that the Pixies weren't as technically poor as they seemed, he didn't say that the Pixies have the technique of Spiral Architect or Cynic!

I will finally share my digression on "Monkey Gone to Heaven" by the Pixies because it’s not enough to just say "The Pixies are brilliant" to get by... "Why is 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' brilliant? Simply because at the instrumental level, that bass seems to jump right before your eyes due to its dynamic touch and its ‘childlike’ and rich sound. In the vocals, Black sings à la Lou Reed (resulting in a style that is clearly more personal compared to the singing in an 'average' ballad, oscillating between the abulic and the grotesque, akin to David Thomas) over a simple yet striking melodic line, making the wonderful contrast between structural simplicity and great personality in conveying this simplicity even more evident. In the chorus, Kim’s voice adds a layer that seems to wander off on its own compared to Black’s, melodically juxtaposing (but with a hint of neurosis) to Black’s "narration" with its falsely detached tone in the verses (again, a contrast between structural simplicity and the hallucinatory attitude to play any note). To all this, add the austere yet mocking violin in the background... an example of how to play in a way that is absolutely APPARENTLY simple. Essential & Superpersonal."

Generally speaking, one could say that the Pixies are a pop-punk band, or a pop band with a punk edge. However, this wouldn't do justice to the thousand facets of an album like Doolittle. I firmly believe that there exists quality pop and supermarket pop. The Pixies, more than anything, used a pop attitude rather than "being pop." Because they were far too superior to labels. The rhythm section (especially the bass) is the quintessence of rock for me, of how many of today’s mediocre bands should sound, who have forgotten that, unfortunately for them, talent is something you're born with, not something you buy. Integrating influences with a unique style: that's the pinnacle.

No, what I’m saying is, a man in the ass.

In fact, you're just a pain in the ass.

Ah Starblazer, when are you going to fuck off with your damn ignorance, stupid sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll Rocker? You're really a pain in the ass with a cracked nail.

Let's not kid ourselves, this is definitely better than Amnesiac.

Mannerism is manner, manner is an aseptic cliché. Sure, even two chords can be played in a mannered way, but I really don't see what that has to do with the Pixies. I mean, as long as you say that some bass lines are similar, okay, but that's a whole different topic. Mannerism is the absence of talent, playing as if it were a job and not an art. Mannerism is a sad attitude, not a substance. For example: the intro of "Debaser" bursts with childish expressiveness from the very first seconds, and I dare anyone to say otherwise. It bounces in front of you like a clown; damn, it's pure expressionism in some aspects, it's a crazy distortion of reality, it's schizophrenia. The ska inflections (Mr. Grieves?) are lethally beautiful because it all sounds organic. Given the Pixies' particular style, they choose to play what they want while incorporating a wide range of influences, always remaining recognizable and original, simple and expressive. To me, they seem to be one of the most essential and direct bands (even amidst a multitude of influences) of the entire 80s, and beyond. Definitely not mannered, in short.

The bass intros all in 4/4 (Exaggerated...) I wouldn’t define at all as mannerist aspects; at most, they reflect a limit of the song form that remains quite simple. This is because the Pixies make essentiality and expressive immediacy their cornerstone, while always interpreting each piece in an original way. In short, the Pixies could not care less about extending and dilating the song... they loved to make a mess (in a good way) using the most humble and elementary structural and formal means: The verse, the chorus x 4. Mannerism goes hand in hand with the baroque, the redundant, the pompous, the artificial, the Dream Theater. The MANNER, indeed. Which has absolutely nothing to do with the Pixies, because every single note had a precise cultural and expressive meaning, aware of its own greatness. It had style!

The phrase you quoted I remember, it’s from a review of the Pixies, and honestly, I partly agree with it, because I don’t think they were so predictable even technically... I can see the mannerism, let’s say, in Trompe le monde, but it’s a completely different mannerism from what you can find on a DT album. In Doolittle and Surfer Rosa and also in large part Bossanova... I see only a childlike originality that is at the same time captivating!