PIXIES Doolittle (2023 UK/EU 15-track LP pressed on 180-gram black vinyl. Doolittle is the moment the Pixies' volatile dynamics and razor-sharp songwriting locked into place. Where Surfer Rosa pushed abrasion to its limit, here the band channels that edge into something leaner, stranger, and effortlessly memorable. Black Francis delivers some of his most distinctive vocal work, veering from quiet mutter to serrated howl, countered by Kim Deal's cool, anchoring presence-nowhere more evident than on "I Bleed" and the spectral "Silver." The album's range remains staggering: the pure pop immediacy of "Debaser" and "Here Comes Your Man," the tidal churn of "Monkey Gone to Heaven," the clipped aggression of "Tame," and the deceptively tender sway of "Hey." Gil Norton's production sharpens the focus without sanding off the band's edges, resulting in a set of songs that became alt-rock touchstones without losing their odd, nervy charm. Picture sleeve replicating the original cover artwork, factory sealed. Recommended)
#Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time.