Surfer Rosa

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Surfer Rosa is Pixies' debut album and came out in March 1988 on the British label 4AD. After the mini-album Come On Pilgrim, label boss Ivo Watts-Russell wanted a full-length record. Steve Albini became the producer. In December 1987 the band recorded in ten working days at Q Division in Boston, on a modest budget of ten thousand dollars. Albini refused royalties, because he considered them an insult to the band.

Albini placed the guitar amplifiers in a tiled bathroom and used room microphones for an open, pounding drum sound. The lyrics contain Spanish, references to Puerto Rico and shocking subjects such as mutilation and incest. Gigantic became the only single. The album did not reach the charts, but often appears on lists of the best rock albums. Billy Corgan and PJ Harvey cite it as an inspiration, and it influenced Nirvana's In Utero, which Albini also produced.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Bone Machine3:03Apple Music ↗
2. 2Break My Body2:06Apple Music ↗
3. 3Something Against You1:48Apple Music ↗
4. 4Broken Face1:31Apple Music ↗
5. 5Gigantic3:56Apple Music ↗
6. 6River Euphrates2:33Apple Music ↗
7. 7Where Is My Mind?3:55Apple Music ↗
8. 8Cactus2:17Apple Music ↗
9. 9Tony's Theme1:53Apple Music ↗
10. 10Oh My Golly!2:33Apple Music ↗
11. 11Vamos4:23Apple Music ↗
12. 12I'm Amazed1:43Apple Music ↗
13. 13Brick Is Red2:02Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗