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I'm Amazed: The Pixies Return!

The Pixies were one of the most influential bands of the 90's. They broke-up before the alternative music they helped pioneer hit the mainstream, but they are now set to return this spring! Music fans everywhere rejoice!

As first reported by klamkilla on our boards (I wonder why...), this April (2004) the Pixies are reuniting for a world tour, and all 4 members will be back! Black Francis (now known as Frank Black, but who's real name is Charles Michael Kitteridge Thompson IV), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), David Lovering (drums), and even Kim Deal (bass) is back! If that's not enough, they say if everything goes well they will work on a new album. I'm quite excited to say the least since they are one of my all-time favorite bands. Next you'll be telling me Tribe Called Quest is coming back...

The Pixies are one of those bands that every "alt" rock band (and more) has been influened by, but yet the Pixies have never quite seemed to get their just due. Though huge bands as Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and even Weezer have gone on record saying how much they were influenced by the Pixies. Bloodhound Gang's hit single Fire Water Burn uses a whole verse to reference the Pixies' Monkey Gone to Heaven. On their last album, Papa Roach did a cover of Gouge Away (those bastards!). And where would the movie "Fight Club" be without Where is My Mind playing at the end as the world collapses.

The Pixies were first formed way back in 1986 in Boston by "Black Francis" and his roommate Joey Santiago. Black had been going to UMass as a anthropology major (and later in Puerto Rico to study Spanish), but dropped out to form the band. They brought in Deal (already in the Breeders with her sister) who then suggested Lovering for their drummer. After picking their name (which supposedly was picked as Santiago randomly looked through the dictionary), they were off and running. But by '93 after years of fighting (especially between Black and Deal), they "officially" called it quits for good (there had been numerous 'threats' of break-ups before, and both Black and Deal had already done 'side' projects).

During their career they put out 5 albums (well, the first was an EP). 1987's "Come on Pilgrim" was probably their "rawest" album, in a good way. It only had 8 songs, but they include some of my favorites like Caribou, Holiday Song, and Levitate Me. Plus there's Nimrod's Son which is a great Violent Femmes sounding song. Legendary producer Steve Albini helped bring about '88's "Surfer Rosa". Songs I like off this album include Gigantic (partially because it has Deal on vocals) and of course one of my all-time favorites, Where is My Mind. Next up is the album many consider their finest: 1989's classic "Doolittle". This much 'cleaner' sounding album was much more radio friendly (at least college radio friendly) giving us such classics as Here Comes Your Man, Wave of Mutilation, and Money Gone to Heaven. Though I think my personal favorite off this album is No. 13 Baby (no seriously, that's its title). It was this album that cemented the Pixies now legendary status.

Unlike today, the Pixies kept rolling out a new album every year and I think in 1990 it caught up with them on the album "Bossanova". I know many disagree with me, but this is the album I like least. It's still a darn good album, but not as good as the others in my opinion. The most notable tracks are probably Is She Weird and their Talking Heads homage Dig for Fire. Their last studio album came out in 1991 and many disagree with me here again since it might be my favorite (though it's like picking your favorite Aqua Teens character).

"Trompe Le Monde" is French for "fool the world". This album sealed the Pixies fate since many feel it was more of a Frank Black solo album then a true Pixies album. It pushed Kim Deal out of the songs and had a heavy sci-fi influence that Black liked. All I know is I'd probably have to list the entire track listings to name all the songs I like. There is Alec Eiffel. Their excellent cover of Jesus & Mary Chain's Head On. The classic U-Mass (because it's educational!). And my favorite off this album: Motorway to Roswell. Which is a sad song about an alien minding his own damn business flying around the universe, but ends up inside Area 51 in a crate.

Since then they put out 2 'greatest hits' CDs (one with a pretty darn crappy live performance on disc 1 of "Death to the Pixies"). A standard "at the BBC" disc. And of course a b-sides compilation (though this one was never released here in the States).

So what have they been doing since? Under the name of Frank Black, he has done several "solo" albums (often with the Catholics, aka The Cult of Ray). I like some of it to varying degrees, but nothing comes close to his Pixies days. Well, 1994's "Teenager of the Year" is quite good and a personal favorite that I recommend to any Pixies fan (includes his one 'hit' Headache). Kim Deal of course was a member of The Breeders (of Cannonball fame). The remaining members had formed The Martinis, but their only song has been a track on the "Empire Records" soundtrack.

But in the end, it's great to have them back for however long they can hold it together this time. Maybe they can open a few more ears to what they have done. Stay tuned as tour dates are announced!

• mtv.com