The
Pixies Sell Out: 2004 Reunion Tour (Music DVD-Video)
Picture: B-
Sound: B- Extras: A Film: A
Very few bands have a better claim on launching the
Alternative Music scene of the early 90’s than The Pixies. From the beginning The Pixies were unlikely
rock stars. They were fat, balding and
frumpy, even then, embodying the average college student. The idea that they could be anyone you knew
was part of the appeal. First appearing
in the Boston underground, they rose to prominence through college radio. A mix of surreal lyrics alternately shouted
and sung, distorted guitar, and hook-laden bass riffs helped define a musical
genre. Their first two albums, Surfer Rosa and Doolittle are
considered classic, near-perfect albums.
Many more famous rock stars, Kurt Cobain among them, list them as their
primary influence.
Unfortunately The Pixies had disbanded by the time
Alternative music became the mainstream.
It was for the usual reasons, personality conflicts and competing egos
primarily. Lead singer Black Francis
changed his name to Frank Black and has had a successful solo career. Bassist Kim Deal went on to form The
Breeders and got a lot of airplay with the song Cannonball. As good as they were individually nothing
quite lived up to their work together.
Along with guitarist Joey Santiago and drummer David Lovering, The
Pixies had a chemistry that most bands would die for.
Their differences are water under the bridge now. In 2004 they reunited and toured the
world. The Pixies Sell Out DVD
is a record of that tour. Time has not
diminished them. Part of their appeal
way back when was their live show. Filled with tremendous energy the songs come
alive in a way not evident on the studio albums (quite a statement considering
just how good those albums were).
The DVD is packed.
The primary footage is a concert performed in Belfort, France. The track listing is 28 of their greatest
hits.
1. Bone Machine
2. Wave of Mutilation (UK surf)
3. In Heaven
4. Something Against You
5. River Euphrates
6. U-Mass
7. Bone Machine
8. Cactus
9. Ed Is Dead
10. I Bleed
11. Monkey Gone To Heaven
12. Hey
13. Levitate Me
14. Subbacultcha
15. Dead
16. Gouge Away
17. Velouria
18. Mr. Grieves
19. Crackity Jones
20. Broken Face
21. Isla De Encanta
22. Tame
23. Here Comes Your Man
24. The Holiday Song
25. Where Is My Mind?
26. Vamos
27. Wave Of Mutilation
28. Gigantic
But it doesn’t end there.
The extra features include 16 more songs
Recorded at various venues throughout the tour.
1. Caribou
2. Here Comes Your Man
3. Debaser
4. Gigantic
5. U-Mass
6. Crackity Jones
7. Nimrod's Son (Melody Into 8)
8. The Holiday Song
9. Subbacultcha
10. Vamos
11. No. 13 Baby
12. Planet Of Sound
13. Is She Weird?
14. Into The White
15. Where Is My Mind?
16. Monkey Gone To Heaven
In addition there is an extra feature where the viewer can
choose any one of six different camera angles to view the show. This is shot in 1.33 X 1 analog video and
looks as good as it is going to look here or in any format, while the sound
options are either PCM 2.0 16Bit/48kHz Stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1, which are
both good, but DTS would have been a nice alternative. All in all, the DVD is an awesome collection
for the Pixies fan, or for anyone wishing to experience one of the truly great
bands.
- Wayne Wise
Wayne Wise is a native of Southwestern Pennsylvania
currently residing in Pittsburgh. In
2002 his first novel, King of Summer, was published. You can go to www.wayne-wise.com
and learn more. He saw the Pixies in
1989 and was completely blown away. His
first cover feature as a freelance writer was an article/telephone interview
with Frank Black. Several years later he met Frank through a mutual friend and
found him to be an articulate and down-to-earth regular guy. He saw the Pixies again in 2005 and was
blown away again.
