The Pixies vs The White Stripes
Posted by: i am simon 2 on 30 July 2002
I was at a friends flat the other day, listening to some music, when I asked him what he thought of the White Stripes.
I have heard songs on the radio but not much else.
He said "if you think you like the Stripes, then listen to this"
He then played me some tracks from Surfarosa by the pixies.
This album from the early eighties (when I was about six) sounded more like the White stripes, than the white stripes.
I have now bought a Pixies album as I thought the original is likly to be better.
Has anyoune else noticed this stark similarity.
Simon
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by Former member
Good choice, my knowledge of the classics is too limited to pass any judgements - you have escaped my wrath!
Ah no, you saw the Pixies live, you loved them, that makes you "you're alright mate, your are" in my book!
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by Former member
The Pixies have been a fav of mine for over 10 yrs. I actually saw them open for The Cure in 1989.... I also got to see Frank Black open for the Ramones.... They also just recently published the "complete bsides" which I think is a must for every pixies fan. Also another great one is Pixies live at the BBC. I also have a bootleg video from the Trompe Le Monde tour, their last tour together..it's fantastic. I can't say I like Frank Black's solo stuff or The Breeder's (Kim Diehl's band) stuff as much....I wish they would get back together....
I've heard the white stripes but never really thought about the similarities....Falsetto voice and distorted surf guitar?? I think the stripes are a good band too....from my hometown in Detroit...
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by matthewr
David,
The documentary is called "Gouge" and as well as extensive interviews with all the Pixies apart from Kim Deal there are contributions from David Bowie (a *huge* fan), PJ Harvey, Radiohead and rather bizarrely Bono who got all pissed off in 1988 because U2 were the biggest band in the world but all the cool kids were into the Pixies and thought U2 irredeemably naff.
The concert footage is the highlight though and has several songs played through completely (more or less) although to be honest it would be worth it just to see Kim sing the intro to Gigantic <wistful sigh>
If you have stuff to trade you can get it from bootleggers such as
http://members.tripod.com/batyboot/bootleg2.html and
http://www.angelfire.com/ri/videolist I have it on video but its a pretty poor copy as I have a dodgy arial and I have na facilities for making copies. I'd guess C4 will repeat it at some point though -- keep an eye on the 4Music slot.
Matthew
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by David Hobbs-Mallyon
Shame about Kim Deal - can't watch too much of her. The fact that she had a twin sister made the fantasies even better.
quote:
U2 were the biggest band in the world but all the cool kids were into the Pixies and thought U2 irredeemably naff.
Still sounds good to me.
One of my favourite gigs of all time was seeing the Pixies supported by My Bloody Valentine. Not sure what could compete with that these days.
David
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by Former member
Truly you lived in the golden ages David! Two fantastic bands that I never had the pleasure of seeing live, to see them both together, well that makes me sad and green with envy!
Best gig I saw recently, not wishing to take the thread off topic or anything, was Godspeedyoublackemperor, but thats a different kind of music!
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by Mike in CO
Love, love, love the Pixies, but personal experience with a live show doesn't hold up to the legend. They played a show in Denver at an old movie theater (which has since been restored). A large group of us from a nearby college town made the eager pilgrimage to the show, and we were all totally disappointed. Could have been an off nite, they just seemed totally flat and bored, despite a packed house. I forget the exact year, but it must've been the Surfer Rosa tour. Sebadoh opened, and was far more intriguing and enjoyable. Got to talk to Lou for 20 minutes outside the theater before the show.
M
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by Paul Ranson
I saw them at the Brixton Academy, probably fairly late on, perhaps 1990? No support that I recall. Great show.
Paul
Posted on: 08 August 2002 by Tony L
I saw the Pixies twice, once on the Doolittle tour, and again on the Bossanova tour. Great both times,really tight and energetic. An excellent live band.
Tony.
PS I can't really see the comparison with The White Stripes, they are IMHO different things, and both great.
Posted on: 09 August 2002 by throbnorth
I bought & enjoyed 'Frank Black' and 'Teenager of the Year' and thoroughly enjoyed them in a non - Pixies way ...delicious tunes, and very poppy. Then 'Cult of Ray' left me completely cold, I never got into it at all. I would have left it there had I not come across 'Frank Black & the Catholics' cheap. Initially I was really disappointed, but it was a real grower and is now probably my favourite [and incidentally has fantastic presence as a recording, real demo stuff]. I think there are a couple more. What are they like? Worth getting?
throb
Posted on: 10 August 2002 by --duncan--
Also saw them at the Brixton Academy. Sounded pretty good to me. Found the old ticket which says 20th October 1990.
Also that Autumn: Soul II Soul, Shabba Ranks, Shinehead, George Clinton, Tackhead, Bootsy's Rubber Band plus the JB's, Electribe 101 at the Marquee (wonderful), Coldcut every saturday night at the Brixton Fridge, Pollini playing the Diabelli variations and stretching to January 1991, Tennstedt doing Mahler 8. Am I just getting old or have things gone down hill since then?
duncan
