11.04.05
Review: Pixies DVD
Pixies were undoubtedly one of the most influential bands of the late eighties, and in fact arrived just slightly ahead of their time: just as they were breaking apart, Nirvana was breaking alternative music into the mainstream. All in all they left behind four studio albums and one EP, and since their demise a CD of B-sides and one of live performances in the BBC studios have been released, as well as a handful of collections, rarities, and some limited-edition recordings of their 2004 reunion tour. What was missing was … well, this DVD.
Pixies is an exemplary DVD retrospective, one by which future music DVDs can be judged. On a single disc it collects all of the band’s videos, one complete concert, and two documentaries — one follows them on an early tour of Europe, and the other is a retrospective featuring live footage, interviews with the band, and an assortment of musicians and critics discussing the band’s impact and importance. The videos range from early demo reels to more polished MTV-style stuff, and the documentaries couldn’t be more different, either: one’s just tosses you on the bus to tour with the band, while the other is all talking heads and inset album covers. My favorite bit was the concert footage — I often find myself cringing at my favorite bands’ live work, especially the frequently hopeless attempts to duplicate on stage the tight harmonies and intricate soundscapes made possible by high-priced producers and computer software, but the Pixies sound almost exactly the same live as they do on disc — a little more stripped down, maybe, a little more raw, but basically the same. And unlike a lot of self consciously pensive musicians these days, they all look like they enjoy what they’re doing — Kim in particular is clearly having a blast throughout.
If you’re a Pixies fan, this disc is essential — it’s not just another shameless cash-in, it’s a great up-close look at a band at the peak of its powers. There’s a lot of material here, every bit of it worthwhile. Don’t miss it.
