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There are bands you study, and then there are bands you feel first — instinctively, almost physically, before the context catches up. Pixies have always belonged to the latter. Their songs don’t ease you in; they lurch, snap, and bloom without warning, shifting from hushed to explosive in a way that rewired what alternative rock could sound like. Decades on, that tension still holds, as unpredictable as it is precise.
As the alternative rock icons finally make their way to Manila on May 10, the anticipation leans into the chance to experience a catalog that shaped generations — from quiet-loud dynamics to surreal lyricism — unfolding in real time. Sure, this list contains tracks from their first four albums (the seminal 4AD run) and even the most casual Pixies fans will be familiar with them, but these twelve songs capture their strange and electrifying sonic sensibility, and the many ways their music continues to hit, linger, and unravel long after the first listen.
“Bone Machine”
Legend has it that studio engineer Steve Albini (RIP) gave the Pixies’ guitarists metal picks to record their first full-length album Surfer Rosa, and you can clearly hear the result on the slashing riffs of “Bone Machine,” the LP’s opening track. All the hallmarks of the band’s sound are here — massive drums, loud-quiet-loud dynamics, Black Francis and Kim Deal’s dueling harmonies, and the former’s highly descriptive, if not surrealistic lyrics.
“Where Is My Mind?”
Already considered a classic by Pixies fans by the time it was immortalized in Fight Club’s climax, “Where Is My Mind?” nonetheless served as a gateway track for a younger generation to get into the band, and reignited interest in their legacy, helping set off the band’s eventual reunion in 2004. Not bad for an acoustic guitar-driven ditty (with an undeniable electric hook by Joey Santiago) written about a little fish that Black Francis saw while swimming in the Bahamas as a kid.
“Gigantic”
Featuring lead vocals by bassist Kim Deal, this Surfer Rosa track became an instant favorite among fans, and gave listeners a taste of Deal’s melodic prowess that would come into fruition a few years later with The Breeders. A constant live highlight, the song reinforced the bassist’s onstage charisma in contrast to Black Francis’ nonchalance, sparking the storied friction between the two that would lead to the band’s eventual breakup in 1993.
“Vamos”
Pixies lead guitarist Joey Santiago has described this song as the one where “I just go crazy on the guitar,” and true enough, like a squad of Imperial Stormtroopers, he lets loose a barrage of notes that seemingly don’t make sense (an “anti-solo,” if you will), but unlike said Stormtroopers, it actually hits the target.
“Debaser”
1989’s Doolittle is widely regarded as Pixies’ masterpiece, as it contains most of the band’s most well-known (and -loved) songs. But it starts on a really bizarre note with “Debaser,” a song inspired by the 1929 short film Un Chien Andalou by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali. Like Dali’s art, the lyrics are as surrealistic as can be, as Francis sings about “slicing up eyeballs” and repeats the first verse as the second verse. The surf guitar hooks and Deal’s backing vocals make it irresistible, though — and is one of the greatest opening tracks of any rock album, ever.
“Here Comes Your Man”
Joey Santiago has mentioned the Beatles as a formative influence on his playing, and “Here Comes Your Man” — perhaps the most radio-friendly Pixies song ever — is filled with Fab Four references, from the ringing opening chord a la “A Hard Day’s Night” to the main guitar and bass riff that channels Paul McCartney (“Day Tripper”). It’s classic Pixies, though, and will almost always appear on every fan’s top ten Pixies tracks. At the very least, it’s likely the one played most at weddings.
“Monkey Gone to Heaven”
What is this song about, really? The verses mirror themes of environmentalism (“There was a guy / An underwater guy who controlled the sea / Got killed by 10 million pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey”) and Hebrew numerology (“If man is five / Then the devil is six / And God is seven”). No matter what it means, “Monkey Gone to Heaven” is one of the greatest Pixies tracks ever, climaxing with a twin lead guitar section that comes in after Francis declares, “Rock me, Joe!”
“Hey”
Speaking of guitar leads, “Hey” contains Joey Santiago’s most sublime guitar solo in the entire Pixies catalog, a circular, bluesy pattern with insistent unison bends that accentuate Deal’s cries of “Chained!” “Hey” is likely to generate massive sing-along moments this Sunday, from the opening “Been trying to meet you!” to the memorable guitar solo itself.
“Velouria”
Doolittle was a tough record to top — or even follow, but 1990’s Bossanova does a fine job of showing what Pixies are capable of in terms of evolution, incorporating more surf rock and sci-fi themes into their tried and tested formula. One of its highlights, “Velouria,” is a love song inspired by ancient folklore surrounding the lost mythical continent of Lemuria, but even if you didn’t know that, you would still adore the song anyway.
“Dig for Fire”
Dismissed by Black Francis as “a bad Talking Heads imitation,” “Dig for Fire” nonetheless shows that the Pixies were capable of funk — at least on their own terms. Another Bossanova standout, the track is another example of Deal’s backing vocals being used effectively, and a sign of great things to come if her and Francis’ relationship hadn’t soured at this point.
“Alec Eiffel”
By the Pixies fourth album, Deal’s vocal role had diminished completely, making 1991’s Trompe le Monde more like a precursor to Black Francis’ subsequent solo records (under the name Frank Black). Still, it contains interesting moments, like the chugging “Alec Eiffel” — a metal song done Pixies-style: skewed, strange, and absolutely nerdy, with a prog rock keyboard solo to boot.
“U-Mass”
On this most anthemic track on Trompe le Monde, Black Francis reflects on his and Santiago’s time at University of Massachusetts-Amherst before the pair dropped out to pursue the band. “U-Mass” is sentimental one moment and critical the next, but all in all, it’s educational — as the much-awaited show on May 10 will be to Pixies fans new and old alike.
Presented by Karpos, Pixies 40 In Manila happens on May 10, 2026 at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Tickets are still available here.