Built to Spill

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"No offence but Pixies blows both Built to Spill and Modest Mouse away."

No, not really. The Pixies are just an overrated, trite post-punk band, like Sonic Youth and Pavement. They are okay sometimes, but for the most part they are just monotonous, generic lo-fi crap. I don't really see them as talented at all.

As for talent, look at Modest Mouse's songwriting. There's really never a monotonous or boring moment. And the way the vocals and everything mesh is just amazing. And Built to Spill's songwriting is no less amazing. The guitar layering is just awesome. If you don't believe me check out "Broken Chairs."

 

[Aborted Fetus]

I definitely prefer Modest Mouse too. They're fantastic.

Hehe, until a few months ago, I have lived all of my life in Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida...so I have had PLENTY of exposure to freebird. I think I'm just so sick of it being played in jukeboxes at restaurants, and having drunk guys who think they're funny shout out "FREEBIRD" at every damn rock concert.

I guess that's what it was so funny when BTS actually played it...

This is true. The drunkards yelling at every concert does get annoying, but fortunately, I haven't experienced that in a year or so.

 

[Nugent Goes AOL]

"No offence but Pixies blows both Built to Spill and Modest Mouse away."

No, not really. The Pixies are just an overrated, trite post-punk band, like Sonic Youth and Pavement. They are okay sometimes, but for the most part they are just monotonous, generic lo-fi crap. I don't really see them as talented at all.

Uhh...NOPE! Looks like for once, you and I are going to be disagreeing on music (well, except for that Burzum thing).

Although I do like Modest Mouse more than the Pixies, I still think the Pixies are fucking AMAZING. Modest Mouse wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them...Isaac Brock steals a whole lot from Black Francis, it's pretty obvious. But he makes it his own style, which is great.

Have you really heard the Pixies that much? "Surfer Rosa" and "Doolitte" are two of the most creative, rocking, best-produced (not lo-fi) albums I've ever heard!

I also think that Sonic Youth is incredible. "Daydream Nation" is one of my favorite albums as well...the song "Teen Age Riot" is one of the most beautiful and killer rock songs ever written. They, too, are one of the most influential rock bands of the last 20 years.

I only have a few Pavement CD's, and I don't listen to them as much as I do a lot of the other bands I have just mentioned, but "Slanted and Enchanted" is fucking classic, and their influence on a lot of the bands around today is ridiculous.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is another story...they just suck...

If you've gotten in to indie rock in the last few years, it's understandable how the allure of bands like GYBE, Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, Flaming Lips, etc. is much richer than some of these older bands. But, to put it simply, you can't overlook them. Give them a chance...trust me.

OH! Dude, you need to read this book. It's called "Our Band Could Be Your Life"...it's by Michael Azerrad and is the best rock book I've ever read (even better than Lords of Chaos, hehe). It chronicles the birth of the indie underground in the 80's and gives long bio's on a lot of the really influential and important bands. It's well-writen, captivating, informative, and fucking awesome. Give it a try.

 

[_]

Eh, I see what your saying, but I'm just not really into the post-punk, new wave, late 80s/early 90s sound. I can handle some Talking Heads, some Husker Du, and some Pixies but that's about it, haha.

 

[poldarn]

No, not really. The Pixies are just an overrated, trite post-punk band, like Sonic Youth and Pavement. They are okay sometimes, but for the most part they are just monotonous, generic lo-fi crap. I don't really see them as talented at all.

As for talent, look at Modest Mouse's songwriting. There's really never a monotonous or boring moment. And the way the vocals and everything mesh is just amazing. And Built to Spill's songwriting is no less amazing. The guitar layering is just awesome. If you don't believe me check out "Broken Chairs."

As always it boils down to a matter of personal taste but...
most of Pixies' songs are about 2 minutes long so I don't really don't see them being that monotomous at all. They are most often very dynamic so there aren't really any room for boring moments, they're just outbursts of energy combined with sweet harmony. I consider Black Francis one of the best and most innovative and influential songwriters of all time (and an amazing vocalist too). No Pixies = No Nirvana, Modest Mouse, Radiohead etc. etc.

"Lonesome Crowded West" is, while good, basicly a rip-off Pixies record. I mean it's all there, the similarities are quite remarkable, Isaac Brock doing a typical crazy Black Francis imitation while the music has that Pixies-sort-of-quirkiness.

Don't get me wrong now I like both MM and BTS but the Pixies simply blows them away. I guess it's easier to get into MM & BTS, they're much more easier on the ear (well, atleast BTS) while Pixies are an acquired taste.

I suggest that you follow Nugent Goes AOL's advice, check out "Doolittle" and "Surfer Rosa".

Ps. Pixies aren't lo-fi.