Pixies at the BBC [Live]

Editorial Reviews
New Musical Express
The gem in question on "Pixies At The BBC" is their hysterical reading of The Beatles' "Wild Honey Pie", a furious collage of lacerated guitars and Francis' pained yelping, while the eerie version here of "(In Heaven) Lady In The Radiator Song" (from David Lynch's provocative movie, Eraserhead, and originally a B-side to "Gigantic") marks it out as one of the most beautifully unhinged songs the Pixies ever performed.

Pixies at the BBC
Average customer rating:

Live? Well, sort of...

Excuse me, but did you say "EXTRA TRACKS"????

Pixie are the best band ever!

Pixies at the BBC
Pixies
Manufacturer: 4ad / Ada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pistolero

ASIN: B00000B9DL
Release Date: 1996-12-15

Tracks:

Wild Honey Pie
There Goes My Gun
Dead
Subbacultcha
Manta Ray
Is She Weird
Ana
Down to the Well
Wave of Mutilation
Letter to Memphis
Levitate Me
Caribou
Monkey Gone to Heaven
Hey
In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)

Customer Reviews:

Live? Well, sort of..........2005-08-21

This is listed here as a 'live' album. This should be clarified for potential buyers: this is not the 'live' album you are hoping/looking for. This is a collection of songs by the Pixies recorded at BBC Studios in the UK over the course of several years. Yes, the tracks appear to have been recorded live (most likely in one take), but otherwise any resemblance to a live album ends there. And besides, nowhere on the cd does ever use the actual word 'Live'. With that clarified, let's move on.

While some Pixies fans balk at this album, I actually find it to be pretty essential-easily up there with their collection of B-Sides, and in my opinion, up there with Bossanova (their weakest album). Pixies at the BBC offers a view of the band that cuts to the bone: no studio gimmicks, up front vocals, solid mixing of the rhythm section, and an incredible spread of songs from every album (minus Surfer Rosa), plus 2 outstanding covers (of The Beatles and David Lynch, no less-Pixies were the masters at choosing the best cover material ever).

Many songs here are somewhat stripped down (possibly causing much of the fuss with hardcore Pixies fans) here. 'Is She Weird' for example dispenses with any lead guitar, providing the song with even more immediacy. 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' seems more primal performed without the string section. 'Manta Ray', always a personal favorite of mine (an outtake from Doolittle), shines so pristine here, it's too bad they didn't squeeze it onto Doolittle. And 'There Goes My Gun' tears out of the speakers like a rocket-seeming more like a companion song to 'River Euphrates' and 'Something Against You' from Surfer Rosa than anything off Doolittle. It's actually quite interesting to see how the band's sound was shaped in the studio to a large degree.

My favorite song here, though, has to be '(In Heaven)'. A fan of surreal cinema (also check the lyrics to Debaser), Frank/Black/Francis loved Eraserhead, and so, the Pixies covered this song penned by David Lynch. It's so utterly raw, terrifying, and simple, that for me, it's one of the band's defining moments. And the shock of feedback/guitar hitting the floor at the end perfectly finishes it all off.

Certainly this is not a typical Pixies 'album', and it is far from perfect (no Surfer Rosa tracks-come on!!!), yet somehow, as much as any other Pixies release (with the exception of the truly live 2nd disc from the Death to the Pixies compilation-an absolutely stunning testament to the greatness of this band), Pixies at the BBC captures their essence: exciting, raw, odd, adventurous, funny, and, yes, cool.

While it's no Surfer Rosa or Doolittle (I mean, come on, what is?!)-this is as good of a place as any to discover the most exciting and creative rock band to emerge since the 1960's.

Excuse me, but did you say "EXTRA TRACKS"????.......2005-03-06

The title of this CD mentions "EXTRA TRACKS", but the song listings are the same as the other PIXIES LIVE CD. They both have 15 songs listed, and are in the same order. I don't see any extra tracks here. Where are the extra tracks thou speakest of?

Pixie are the best band ever!.......2000-02-07

BBC is a wonderful compilation of the Pixies. It contains several alternative versions to many of you favorite Pixies songs. I recommend that anyone who like great music should obtain BBC.

Average customer rating:

know what you're buying!
Pixies at their best
5.0 music but poor set up loses a star
Pixies at the BBC
First time listeners buy this album!!!

Pixies at the BBC
Pixies
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000007SBC
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Wild Honey Pie
There Goes My Gun
Dead
Subbacultcha
Manta Ray
Is She Weird
Ana
Down to the Well
Wave Of Mutilation
Letter to Memphis
Levitate Me
Caribou
Monkey Goes To Heaven
Hey
(In Heaven) Lady in the Radiator Song)

Customer Reviews:

know what you're buying!.......2005-07-06

I am a huge Pixies fan and after purchasing their 5 studio albums I decided to give this live cd a try. I was sorely disappointed at how incredibly short all the songs are. the longest is caribou which clocks in at just over 3 minutes. Not only that but the material is just bad! The only songs that are worth listening to are Wave of mutilation, Caribou, Monkey gone to heaven, and Hey. In every other song what you hear on the clips here at Amazon is ALL there is in every song. They are repetitive, directionless, sloppy, and flat out unmelodical(for lack of a real word). I was most disapointed with In Heaven because it's supposed to be this awesome song. Black just yells the same damn thing over and over for 2 minutes and then- SUPRISE!!! The cd's over and you just wasted your money! I would not reccomend this cd for anybody who isn't just trying to get all of the Pixies' cds. It really isn't worth 15 bucks (or 22 bucks if you buy it at Sam Goody). Get Death to the Pixies if you want good live Pixies music.

Pixies at their best.......2004-02-23

I neglected getting this disk for quite some time. I figured I already had the original recordings of every song on here... When I finally got it, I was blown away. There are superb versions of many of the Pixies' classic songs. The haunting renditions of 'Caribou' and 'Is She Weird' are among my favorites. 'Wave of Mutilation' and 'Monkey Gone to Heaven' surpass the album versions. I'd like to have seen 'Gigantic' and 'Here Comes Your Man' on here, but now I'm quibbling... Very highly reccommended.

5.0 music but poor set up loses a star.......2003-02-21

The Pixies were and will always be remembered as a formidable live act. When they hit the stage, Frank Black and Co. belted out their tunes like a band possessed and BBC Sessions, a document of the Pixies numerous live radio appearances, finally does justice to the group's unrivaled stage presence. The tempos are sped up, the instruments are amped up, and the vocals sound like the devil himself is at the mic making for a collection of live takes that will leave a lasting impression, to say the least. Overflowing with passion and oozing with energy, every cut brings new life to the Pixies impressive back catalogue, piecing together memorable tracks from each incredibly diverse studio album to finally give a sense of totality to the Pixies career. Unfortunately, while BBC sessions proves to be a wonderful summation musically, finally tying together the seemingly unrelated aspects of the Pixes sound into a cohesive package, its actual layout leaves much to be desired. Although a date is placed next to each song, the tracks seem to be organized without any attention to these dates or without even any sort of vague chronological plot in mind. Therefore, despite the brilliant revelations of the music contained within, the experience is tainted by poor planning on Elektra's part and BBC sessions is reduced to simply being a good live compilation as opposed to the definitive live Pixies document it could have become.

Pixies at the BBC.......2002-09-12

This is a fantastic live album. Anyone who enjoys "true" independent music with soul and emotion, i urge you to pick up this album. It will blow you away. They perform 15 flawless classics LIVE!!!

First time listeners buy this album!!!.......2002-07-14

When I first heard the Pixies it was the BBC Sessions and I couldn't stop listening to it. I think the BBC Sessions by the Pixies is their best album and a good one to show to fisrt time listeners of the Pixies. If you never bought a Pixies album then the BBc Session is a good album to start with because it gives you songs from all their albums and puts it into one.
HIGHLY RECCOMMEND!!!

Average customer rating:

Great sound

Live!! At the BBC
Pixies
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005660S

Customer Reviews:

Great sound.......2004-02-01

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