Bossanova

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This article is about the Pixies album. For the Brazilian music style, see bossa nova.
Bossanova
Bossanova cover
Studio album by Pixies
Released August 13, 1990
Recorded 1989–1990
Genre Alternative rock
Length 39:45
Label 4AD (UK)
Elektra Records (U.S.)
Producer Gil Norton
Professional reviews
Pixies chronology
Doolittle
(1989)		 Bossanova
(1990)		 Trompe le Monde
(1991)

Bossanova is the third album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in August 1990 on the English independent record label 4AD. All of Bossanova's original material was written by the band's frontman Black Francis; it marked the point where his artistic control over the band became absolute. The album's sound, inspired by surf and space rock, complements its lyrical focus on outer space, which references subjects such as aliens and unidentified flying objects.

Because of 4AD's independent status, major label Elektra Records handled distribution in the United States; however, Bossanova only reached #70 on the Billboard 200. It charted significantly higher in the United Kingdom, reaching #3 in the Albums Chart. Two singles were released from Bossanova, "Velouria" and "Dig for Fire"; both charted highly on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Contents

[edit] Background

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During the record of their 1989 album Doolittle, tensions between Francis and Deal became visible to the production team and those close to the Pixies; bassist Kim Deal's husband John Murphy later commented that the recording process went "from all fun to just work".[1] This led to increased stress between the band members.

[edit] Release

The album was released in August 1990 on 4AD in the UK and 4AD/Elektra in the USA. After 4AD re-acquired sole distribution rights for the Pixies' back catalog, a re-issued CD (although not remastered) appeared solely on 4AD in the USA in 2004.

[edit] Music

Audio samples of 'Bossanova'

[edit] Critical recognition

The UK reviews of Bossanova were generally positive. Q's Mat Snow, in his September 1990 review of Bossanova, said "the Pixies are masters of the calculated incongruity," and commented that "they give other rockers an object lesson in the first principles of how it should be done."[2] NME noted that the album's production "leans towards the harsh garage grunge of Surfer Rosa", although the songs retain the strong melodies of Doolittle," and said that "Bossanova is the composite Pixies LP."[3]

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Cecilia Ann" – 2:05
  2. "Rock Music" – 1:52
  3. "Velouria" – 3:40
  4. "Allison" – 1:17
  5. "Is She Weird" – 3:01
  6. "Ana" – 2:09
  7. "All Over the World" – 5:27
  8. "Dig for Fire" – 3:02
  9. "Down to the Well" – 2:29
  10. "The Happening" – 4:19
  11. "Blown Away" – 2:20
  12. "Hang Wire" – 2:01
  13. "Stormy Weather" – 3:26
  14. "Havalina" – 2:33

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Charts

[edit] Albums

Chart (1990) Peak
position
The Billboard 200 70
UK Album Chart 3

[edit] Singles

Single Chart (1990) Peak
position
"Dig for Fire" Modern Rock Tracks 11
"Velouria" Modern Rock Tracks 4

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Frank, Ganz, 2005. p. 115
  2. ^ Snow, Mat. "The Pixies - Bossanova". Q #48. September 1990
  3. ^ Staunton, Terry. "The Pixies - Bossanova". NME. August 1990.

[edit] External links

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v • d • e
Pixies
Black Francis · Kim Deal · Joey Santiago · David Lovering
Studio albums
Come on Pilgrim (EP) · Surfer Rosa · Doolittle · Bossanova · Trompe le Monde
Compilations and live albums
Singles
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