Choose Between The Pixies & The Smiths

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Smiths!

― Lee Brown, Saturday, 22 February 2003 11:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Prick.

Pixies.

― BrianX, Saturday, 22 February 2003 12:04 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smiths, by such an extent it isn't even funny.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 22 February 2003 12:11 (twenty-two years ago)

explain that statement in no more than 25 words.

― BrianX, Saturday, 22 February 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smiths were better.

Did it in four.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 22 February 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Why am i a 'prick' brian x?

― Lee Brown, Saturday, 22 February 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Smiths. Pixies are great too, but if my arm is twisted, Smiths.

― Zora (Zora), Saturday, 22 February 2003 12:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Apples and Oranges.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 22 February 2003 12:42 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smiths, because I'm a saddo.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 22 February 2003 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smiths. this is not a criticism of the Pixies, it's more a reflection of how Marxist science demonstrates that every Smiths album is better than every album by every other band. Also, the Smiths only have three duff songs, whereas the Pixies have an entire duff album.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Saturday, 22 February 2003 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smiths certainly win in the category of pretentiousness -- Cemetry Gates, anyone? -- which is apparently a plus in the minds of so many who post here.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Saturday, 22 February 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

what on earth is pretentios about cemetry gates? any more than something like 'i hate oasis and i hate the beatles' or any other songs about music? you know, this little school of ours is literary as well as musical.

― matthew james (matthew james), Saturday, 22 February 2003 15:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Apples and Oranges.

The correct answer.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 22 February 2003 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Oranges. Smiths.

― Adam A. (Keiko), Saturday, 22 February 2003 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

the Pixies have an entire duff album

Which one would that be? I'm curious.

― paul cox (paul cox), Saturday, 22 February 2003 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

i bet its bossanova

― jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 22 February 2003 17:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd rather listen to the Pixies than the Smiths when I'm feeling sad.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Bossanova is the best album in the world. That's right, folks. There is no single album in the universe that is better than Bossanova. Bossanova will be cherished and worshipped for years to come. I sleep with a copy under my pillow. Also, Black Francis is the best person who ever lived.

― William R Henderson (Cabin Essence), Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Bossanova is the duffest by a longshot, but I still like it a fair bit.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies. Because at least they liked to rock.

I've always found The Smiths too effete for me to sympathize with. And the songs never do anything unpredictible enough or catchy enough for me to enjoy them on that level. I do like many bands who are obviously inspired by them though, so rather than being anti-Smiths I'm very prepared to acknowledge that I probably just don't "get" what they're doing.

― Mean Guy, Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Cemetary Gates is certainly quite pretentious as its thrust can be summed up "Wilde is better than both Keats and Yeats because Wilde is just so WUNNAFUL" which is a mighty pretentious position to hold

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Bossanova the best, too.

Back in 1995, I got into the Pixies and the Fastbacks at about the same time and I remember thinking it was cool that Kurt Bloch (of the Fastbacks) listed it as is his #1 favorite album in the Spin Record Guide.

― Mean Guy, Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

trompe le m roxx u r all gay

― jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies. Smiths are fine, but when you're not emotionally overwraught the Pixies make for better bubblegum guitar rock. And while Morrissey is fine, it's been awhile since I've been in that "only YOU understand, Mozz" mood.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies way more consistent too.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:37 (twenty-two years ago)

no one needs to understand the pixies because they weren't about anything

then again neither were the smiths

― jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 22 February 2003 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I can put Smiths on the public-hearing disc player at work, but not the abrasive Pixies! This means the Smiths win.

― Fivvy, Saturday, 22 February 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)

See, I like the Pixies T H I S much.
And I like the Smiths T H I S much.
So the Pixies win by several millimetres.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Saturday, 22 February 2003 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies maybe better album band and smiths better singles band? I luv all pixies albums but strangeways only smiths l.p. i wanna play all the way through. can't remember the last time i wanted to listen to meat or the debut.I put on hatfull or louder than bombs when I need a dose(even tho my amurican copy of louder sounds like shit.I only have smiths vinyl).Queen is dead as good as any pixies album,but haven't played that in a long time either.I play the casette of moz singles and b-sides a lot still. made it years ago.I heart vini reilly! Most Durutti Column albums are good all the way through.Great singles too! HMMM...if you made the ideal smiths album with only the best of best it might beat pixies.Um,they are both great. I choose Black Sabbath!(my favorite band next to Joy Division and Felt.)

― Scott Seward, Saturday, 22 February 2003 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

the Pixies were about lots of stuff! Or at least it was about how NEAT lots of stuff is (hispanic languages, catholicism, sex, aliens, girls, etc.).

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 22 February 2003 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"A ha ha a ha ha, mi madre es un whora
A ha ha a ha ha, mi espanol es muy poora".

I've never been able to listen to The Pixies after Chris Morris' "Motherbanger", really.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 22 February 2003 21:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I choose XTC.

― Famous Athlete, Saturday, 22 February 2003 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I choose The Smiths. Any other answer is unexcusable.

― mallory bourgeois (painter man), Saturday, 22 February 2003 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

These threads are beginning to remind me of the end of Ghostbusters where the demon woman repeatedly says 'CHOOSE THE FORM OF THE DESTRUC-TOR'. Which conjures up such a lovely image of a giant crazed Morrissey destroying downtown New York by flailing gladioli around that I'm going to go to bed.

― Ferg (Ferg), Saturday, 22 February 2003 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Haiiiil no, it's "Wilde is better than both Keats and Yeats because Wilde was a Wild Lovah"!

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 22 February 2003 22:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought it was coz he was so quotable ?

― Adam A. (Keiko), Saturday, 22 February 2003 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't it "weird lover Wilde"?

(Smiths win. Pixies more pretentious.)

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Saturday, 22 February 2003 23:44 (twenty-two years ago)

the smiths

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Sunday, 23 February 2003 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

the chemical brothers

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 23 February 2003 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

balls! keats and yeats are accused or encouraging rip off romanticism (tha modern world being largely romantic and ill considered) instead of the cynical wilde. apologies for sweeping statements without evidence, i've had a few. but hell, the sixties were idealistic, punk more idealistic still, and those two cornerstones infuse all sorts of peopel with all sorts of nonsense. thank christ at least we're out of considering things to be 'real'. pith the answer is studied artifice (in the most wildean sense) that's never quite sure why it's working on that high-formal level.
oh, and the Smiths were better. the Smiths had a vision where the pixies had charming habits.

― matthew james (matthew james), Sunday, 23 February 2003 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

When The Smiths were bad they were awful. When the Pixies were bad they were silly (Theme from NARC!).

Therefore: the pixies!

― Jonathan Williams (ex machina), Sunday, 23 February 2003 03:53 (twenty-two years ago)

keats and yeats are accused [sc. "of"] or encouraging rip off romanticism

If that's what our Mozz is accusing Yeats of then the light that shines out of his behind comes from the whites of his eyes - Yeats as a ripper-off of romanticism? Or encourager of same? Morrissey's point has always seemed really facile and strike-a-posey: "I lerv Wilde, therefore these other poets are ass"

I must admit to a special irritation with this because goth friends of mine would on Mozz's recommendation get into Wilde and pronounce him a grebt JEENIUS, whereas full immersion in quality Smiths records should point one straight in the direction not of Wilde but of Yeats himself, who is really more on Morrissey's "side" than Oskar is

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Sunday, 23 February 2003 08:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Choose Between The Pixies & The Smiths

I will not. You can't make me. I WON'T DO IT, I TELL YOU, I WON'T!

(kicks and screams)

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 23 February 2003 08:48 (twenty-two years ago)

the Smiths easy

― James Blount (James Blount), Sunday, 23 February 2003 09:08 (twenty-two years ago)

if i had to listen to 1 of these 2, ok it'd be the smiths easy. but i'd really rather never hear either

― duane, Sunday, 23 February 2003 09:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I can draw a few conclusions about Duane from this answer, I think.

A) He is not a "rockist."

B) He has faith in his own opinions.

C) He is an idiot.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 23 February 2003 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

(Sorry Duane. Damnit, I try so hard not to be petty and judgemental, and then you go and lead me into temptaion like that.)

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 23 February 2003 09:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smiths. 'Cos they never had any oh-so-zany lyrics abt monkeys and ufos and all that college rock shit.

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Sunday, 23 February 2003 10:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies by far. The self obsessed, Union Jack waving Smiths frontman was the Smiths downfall for me

Warlock Pinchers summed up the world of Mozzer best in their spitting 'Morrisey Rides a Cockhorse'

"cry baby sonofabitch,
no talent motherfucker
baggy shirted
depressed
Dean loving bonehead...."etc etc...

Having said that, I did very much like "the Headmaster Ritual'(Marr's guitar) 'Sheila Take a Bow' and perhaps two others.

Any song on The Pixies Surfer Rosa alone was better than any Smiths song

― panico (panico), Sunday, 23 February 2003 12:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies.

I like apples better than oranges.

― mei (mei), Sunday, 23 February 2003 12:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 21 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

The Smiths. There is a Light that Never Goes Out is the most romantic song ever written. And Half a Person and How Soon is Now make it three songs alone that pretty much shit over every other song ever made. Ever.

― Calum Robert, Sunday, 2 March 2003 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

The Pixies were heroes to most but they never mean shit to me.

Smiths.

― original bgm, Sunday, 2 March 2003 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with Alan. The Pixies just irritate me.

― Clarke B., Sunday, 2 March 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I do really enjoy the Pixies though I don't ever play them on my own.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 2 March 2003 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Pixies, easily, for gut feeling. Morrissey is more likable to me in theory than on record. "Rusholme Ruffians" is underrated though.

― scott m (mcd), Sunday, 2 March 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The Smiths... for more distinct vision, and more beautiful music. The Pixies have many fine songs, but few perfect albums... actually 'Bossanova' and 'Trompe la Monde' are maybe my favourites...
Then no Smiths album is perfect, though 'Meat Is Murder', 'Queen is Dead' (slightly overrated mind, has some weak tracks later on) and 'Strangeways Here We Come' are brilliant stuff... rediscovered 'Strangeways' a few months ago; it really is their best album in my opinion... if only they could have continued... Morrissey himself was only on a downward trajectory around the time of 'Kill Uncle', and then after 'Vauxhall and I' (fine record)... Marr has remained a fine musician...

― Tom May (Tom May), Monday, 3 March 2003 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

For me its the Pixies. If I wanted a depressing band to listen to, it would be the Joy Division.

― Justin Price, Monday, 3 March 2003 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I choose The 'Mats.

― ben welsh (benwelsh), Monday, 3 March 2003 00:50 (twenty-two years ago)

but the Smiths aren't depressing, they're funny!!

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 3 March 2003 08:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Smiths, although both were overrated.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 3 March 2003 11:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Taking Sides: ILE picture threads vs ILE advice threads!

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 3 March 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

picture threads!!

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 3 March 2003 11:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Picture threads = way cool razzle-dazzle geek enthusiasm and no emotional connect (in a good way).

Advice threads = if you empathise you empathise and if you stick around there's usually a few good one-liners from N. too.

i.e. I want both

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 3 March 2003 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I get emotional connect from pictures!

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 3 March 2003 11:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I do too but not usually from picture threads.

(I was trying to think of the kind of thread the Pixies remind me of and pic-threads are nearest, it's actually more like the threads where everyone gets fizzy and excited over a kewl link)

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 3 March 2003 11:32 (twenty-two years ago)

nine months pass...

Pixies by a country mile, hell Frank Black stuff over the Smiths.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Thursday, 18 December 2003 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Obviously the Smiths. Musically more interesting, the *mood* of their music is wonderful.
songs about Area 51 and aliens? c'mon. i know few people who haven't grown out of the pixies - not trying to sound condescending, but as someone said above - they're bubblegum alt-rock.

― paulhw (paulhw), Thursday, 18 December 2003 02:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Ummmmmmmmmm obviously not the Smiths, Pixies are the most important band of the past 20 years.

― Jim Reckling (Jim Reckling), Thursday, 18 December 2003 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Pixies are the most important band of the past 20 years.

I'm a huuuuuuuge Pixies fan, but even I wouldn't say that.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 18 December 2003 02:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Important - most useless word ever?

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 18 December 2003 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

(Tangent: Were The Pixies the American version of The Jesus And Mary Chain?)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 18 December 2003 02:47 (twenty-one years ago)

That seems kind of crazy, but I used to think that Prince was the American Morrissey, so I'm not sure my judgment counts for much.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 18 December 2003 02:51 (twenty-one years ago)

JaMC had no Kim Deal.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 18 December 2003 02:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Yo, the Smiths just namechecked a few poets everyone knows,

the Pixies have an entire song about a Bunnuel movie.

So where's the pretentiousness?

Both bands rock unbelievably. Which eye do I like more?

― dieblucasdie (dieblucasdie), Thursday, 18 December 2003 03:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i thought guns n roses were the american smiths? (where's gareth?)

― geeta (geeta), Thursday, 18 December 2003 03:24 (twenty-one years ago)

JaMC had no Kim Deal.

Bobbie Gillespie? :D

... I'll get me coat.

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 18 December 2003 03:34 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...

I love Bossanova. I could see why you might think it's a duff album though. Stormy Weather is a bit silly and so is hangwire's trite lyrics but the music is still good. I still adore Velouria, Ana, All Over The World, Happening, Blown Away, and Havalina. Not every album can be Doolittle. Cut em some slack, eh? The reunion show at the Fox in Detroit was killer by the way!

― Shawn Smith, Friday, 26 November 2004 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I love Bossanova and i think "Hang Wire" has great lyrics.

wind is whistling on the barbs
your head's a hammer

the day is like a warm night
salt rusts the cold line

if there were a fire
can we scratch beneath this?

They're gloriously puzzling.

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 26 November 2004 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

A Markov generator will make lyrics that are gloriously puzzling. But I guess that's not a good or bad thing.

I'm surprised how many people said Pixies - not that I think the position is unbelievable, it's just that when I saw the thread title I thought most people would say Smiths.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Friday, 26 November 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I loved both bands immensely at different points in my life but i choose the Pixies cos i still listen to them and love them. When i listen to The Smiths i wince a fair bit.

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 26 November 2004 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost
But Kevin, that's the obvious answer, that's like picking the Beatles, nobody's going to fall into that trap. I think Alex in NYC was on the money.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 26 November 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

PIXIES.

because they were amazing when i saw them on the current tour even with kim deal forgetting her lyrics and bass parts and generally appearing a complete mess.

― it's tricky (disco stu), Friday, 26 November 2004 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

"The Pixies get old if you listen to all of their
albums in one sitting (my favorite way to listen to
music), but individually their songs are quite good."

Unbelievable.

― danh (danh), Friday, 26 November 2004 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

PIXIES!!!! And I'm going to see them TONIGHT!!!

― Seb (Seb), Friday, 26 November 2004 21:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I never liked the Smiths (found them embarassing, actually) and think that they've aged poorly. I kinda liked the Pixies, and think that many of their songs have not aged at all.

― peepee (peepee), Friday, 26 November 2004 22:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I do indeed find both slightly overrated, but The Smiths had a few classy tunes that makes me pick them.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 26 November 2004 22:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The Smiths I've never really liked apart from "Hand in Glove".
The Pixies have some good stuff like "The Holiday Song" and "Levitate Me" and their cover of "Head On" was pretty good. And I guess the "You fuckin' DIE!!" bit is kinda funny. I'll take the Pixies.

― Mr. Snrub, Saturday, 27 November 2004 05:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Whoever said smiths, but they'd rather hang out w/pixies voters, i agree w/them. I like the pixies music, but black francis singing, i find kind of annoying. sorry, pixie loverz.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Saturday, 27 November 2004 11:55 (twenty-one years ago)

oh christ, come on!

THE FUCKING PIXIES!

The Smiths are good but they don't rawk! and rawk is important to me.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

The Smiths got progressively better. The Pixies got progressively worse. So I'm going to arbitrarily go by career arcs and vote The Smiths.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Saturday, 27 November 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

The Smiths are good but they don't rawk!

You haven't heard "London" have you?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 27 November 2004 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

The Pixies got progressively worse? How is that possible when the band's last two albums are their very best? That makes no sense.

― danh (danh), Saturday, 27 November 2004 18:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh jeez, the Pixies. Come on. While hardly my favorite band or anything, on a purely musical level they take the monochromatic, blandorama output of Moz & co. and slice it like a cow's eye.

Better tunes, better sounds, better singer, better everything. I will say that I certianly enjoy a few Smiths songs but overall they are, to my ears, almost totally lame. Also they possess one of the most feelble rhythm sections I have ever encountered, though lameass 80's production may be somewhat to blame. The Pixies are way overrated but this ain't even a contest.

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Saturday, 27 November 2004 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey, I have an idea - let's judge them solely on their 2004 output... whereas "Irish Blood, English Heart" beats the shit out of "Bam Thwock."

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Saturday, 27 November 2004 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure in what parallel universe Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde are the Pixies' "very best" albums. I'm just glad I don't live there.

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Saturday, 27 November 2004 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

give the smiths some real competition, not those college rock phonies - who gives a fuck that they've reformed NOW (ditto Mission of Burma)

― ssss*******xxxxxxx, Saturday, 27 November 2004 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

There is no doubt: Pixies.

― Apparently now known as (o )( o) (Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 27 November 2004 23:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Sir, your crack is ready.

Yeah, sure. More romantic than "Night and Day," "I Concentrate On You" and "The Number of the Beast..." Riiiiight.

I would go with the Pixies because they deliver the essentials of modern mix: disturbing sexual imagery, sonic punch, wackiness and plaid shirts (much like the Bay City Rollers). Love the Smiths, too.

― Vlad the Impala, Saturday, 27 November 2004 23:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The Smiths are good but they don't rawk!

You haven't heard "London" have you?

....or "Sweet & Tender Hooligan" or "The Queen is Dead" or "Rusholme Ruffians" (live version off of Rank)...or "Bigmouth Strikes Again"...or...etc. etc.

Two things: The Smiths weren't all twee, fey filigree and the Pixies weren't Motorhead.

Still, as they owe absolutely nothing to each other, this comparison remains -- as it did upon its inception in Feb. 2003 -- entirely moot.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 28 November 2004 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

The Smiths totally rock, they put combat boots and a lace collar on morbidity and sent it out for tea. They wrote lyrics about Joan of Arc's Walkman melting. They created a generation of vegetarians.

The Pixies are just a mediocre college rock band from Boston. And they came along like a century later. They did make 300 songs out of a handful of musical ideas, so they must be really good at math.

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Sunday, 28 November 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

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