The Pixies or The Smiths?

Earthhorse

It's an odd comparison to make, even if they are amongst your favourites. Unlike the Blur vs Oasis, Nirvan or Pearl Jam type debates these bands tick distinctly different boxes and weren't really part of the same movement so to speak.

The Pixies are sort of anarchic and off kilter, often high intensity (primarily from Frank Black's vocals) but with elements of surf and country colouring many songs. The Smiths are an altogether different prospect, with Johnny Marr's guitars and Morrissey's world veiw heavily prominent on every song. Even in their similarities they are different; Frank Black's sense of humour is silly and rude whereas Morrissey's is dry and world-weary.

For me, it would have to be the Pixie's whose first three albums I love. I never really got into The Smiths.

flyswatter

Oh yeah, I do accept that there is a lot of humour, charm and wit in The Smiths music.

When you think about it though, Joy Division/New Order were a miserable band but they still had a lot of beautiful music and the recent New Order stuff from as early as the 80's through the 00's is very uplifting stuff, a lot of it, even though it still has the melancholy present.

There's definitely something miserable about how Manchester was. It used to be a cold, industrial place. I think that's one of the reasons the music is so depressing.

When bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays came along and the happier New Order Stuff and all the acid house music it was a much more cultured place. It really showed in the music, it's way more hopeful and optimistic.

Hail 2 Da Chimp

Tough choice for sure but it has to be Pixies for me.

Poll is 50/50!

pickarooney

I went for The Smiths but it was a mental coin-flip really.

smokedeels

Hard call, I don't like Morrissey post-Smiths and having seen the Pixies performing live last year, so cold and business-like, both bands are a little spoilt for me.

I think I'll go for The Smiths, if only for "The Queen is Dead" which I think is the best album released between the two bands.

take everything

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Yeah but its a combination of dark lyrics and very poppy upbeat melodies, thats why I love The Smiths.

"Girlfriend In A Coma" - I take your point about the song titles/lyrics being quite depressing but that song just makes me wanna get up and dance!

The lyrics of Girlfriend in a coma aren't depressing (apologies if that's not what's implied). It's wry and tongue in cheek IMO.

JerryHandbag

take everything wrote: »

The lyrics of Girlfriend in a coma aren't depressing (apologies if that's not what's implied). It's wry and tongue in cheek IMO.

No I was just commenting on the song title. The lyrics of I Know Its Over would be a better example.

RachaelVO

HARD QUESTION... Brain hurts trying to decide... Don't like this choice

I love them both, but marginally (and very marginally) I think The Smiths just win.

Ash.J.Williams

At this point I would like to pay homage to Andy Rourke. Probably didn't have to much creative input as a whole in the smiths, but man...those are some of the most well executed, diciplined and educated bass lines I have ever heard, the man is unbelievable.....

As for the pixies...there was magic in that band that (as with the smiths) that no individual member could recreate. Frank has a unique ability to throw a few chords together and make them sound new and brilliant, throw in Joeys leads and something very special happens.. on the other side then you have kims wonderfully laid back, stoneresque bass lines combined with loverings powerhouse beats and there you go...
Saw a pixies movie recently on skyarts....very weird...Kim was herself the comedian, frank was great, David was made out to be a complete pill addict bum who was absolutely depending on the pixies reunion to get a few quid (although he was at all times in a lovable happy person) and joey came accross as very grumpy and hated every minute of being away from home...strange documentary.

If you are on Twitter start following Johhny marr....he's funny!

take everything

JerryHandbag wrote: »

No I was just commenting on the song title. The lyrics of I Know Its Over would be a better example.

Ah right.
True about "I know it's over". It's so beautiful though.

take everything

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

At this point I would like to pay homage to Andy Rourke. Probably didn't have to much creative input as a whole in the smiths, but man...those are some of the most well executed, diciplined and educated bass lines I have ever heard, the man is unbelievable.....

As for the pixies...there was magic in that band that (as with the smiths) that no individual member could recreate. Frank has a unique ability to throw a few chords together and make them sound new and brilliant, throw in Joeys leads and something very special happens.. on the other side then you have kims wonderfully laid back, stoneresque bass lines combined with loverings powerhouse beats and there you go...
Saw a pixies movie recently on skyarts....very weird...Kim was herself the comedian, frank was great, David was made out to be a complete pill addict bum who was absolutely depending on the pixies reunion to get a few quid (although he was at all times in a lovable happy person) and joey came accross as very grumpy and hated every minute of being away from home...strange documentary.

If you are on Twitter start following Johhny marr....he's funny!

These are two bands you could just wax lyrical all day about.
As you say, Santiago's meandering, otherworldly guitar, the contrast between Deal's sweet and Black's harsher vocals, Deal's assured bass, the ever-so-weird, what-is-he-on-about lyrics- just the way the whole thing comes together in this visceral way. Just talking about it, you can feel it.

In some sense one similarity, apart from being influential and iconic bands, is how well both bands worked as a group. Like the above, the marriage of Marr's guitar and Morrissey's voice is sublime and unique, something i sometimes miss on Morrissey's solo work.

maccored

pixies. cant see how thats a hard choice.

runcowboy

the Pixies for me but still love the Smiths.

old hippy

Difficult one for me. Both excellent bands of the caustic 80s fringe, both stellar songmakers and both have a loyal following.

Prob Frank's mob as Morrissey's later naive flirtations with the far right kinda put me off.

Captain Darling

My head says the Smiths but my heart is feeling the Pixies.

endabob1

Hail 2 Da Chimp wrote: »

Tough choice for sure but it has to be Pixies for me.

Poll is 50/50!

Not anymore :P

I always found the Pixies quite one dimensional, the Smiths were far more interesting and musically I think Marr is head & shoulders above anyone in the Pixies

JerryHandbag

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

If you are on Twitter start following Johhny marr....he's funny!

Just started following him, brilliant! Love that manc humour.:D

Up-n-atom!

It's like asking what you like better, chocolate or ice-cream...I want both dammit! Someone threatened to pull out my fingernails I'd probably go for the Smiths...I listen to them more and love their lyrics and find them incredibly uplifting (oddly). Songs like 'The Bomb', 'Shelia Take a Bow' just make you want to jump around singing. Objectively I think the Pixies are probably better, I adore them.

KnifeWRENCH

I never really liked the Smiths. I've just never gotten the big deal with them. Like I understand why people like them....but they just don't do anything for me.

Also, Pixies have Kim Deal. Anything with Kim Deal will get my vote ahead of a non-Kim Deal option!

KrazeeEyezKilla

It impossible to choose. They are the two best Indie bands ever. Both had fairly similar runs. Release an album a year for 4/5 years and then split up which is the best way for a band to go imo. The Smiths did have one weak album in Meat is Murder which I don't think think the Pixies had so the Pixies might be slightly ahead. If I was old enough to remember either band when they active I would have definitely prefered the Smiths. They were a better Singles band and worked better a a Pop group with their image, interviews etc.

ricero

the smiths

Anywhoodle

Vote for the Pixies from me.. Never liked The Smiths to be honest..

Beanstalk

agonising choice but went with the pixies, simply because of the fond memories i have listening to them as a teenager.

smokedeels

Has anyone been able to able to turn a friend onto the Smiths in later life, it seems impossible unless the person discovered them during their teenage years.

My g/f likes "Stop me" and nothing else, she says they're too mopy, my counter-argument is "well, so was I when I first came across them" and few bands encapsulated that better for me.

The Pixies are probably more universal, but less personal.

gimli2112

Like both but the fact that a mate was in a car crash and ended up in a tree just as "where is my mind???" started on the cd player swings it for me. No-one was hurt btw.

Sinfonia

gimli2112 wrote: »

Like both but the fact that a mate was in a car crash and ended up in a tree just as "where is my mind???" started on the cd player swings it for me.

Which way?

Scubadevils

Wow, sounds like I missed out so in terms of the Pixies, never listened to them aside from whatever singles I may heard along the way - I'll have to investigate now.

I was big into The Smiths and personally don't think they had one bad album, surprised to read the comment about Meat is Murder above. If I was trying to compare two bands that meant a lot to me in my teens, it would be The Smiths and The Cure but The Smiths would probably be the choice based on not having one bad album, which I can't say for The Cure - but The Cure did have 'Seventeen Seconds' which I listen to more often to this day than any Smiths material and would consider it in my all-time favourite albums.

I feel I missed a lot in terms of alternative etc after I became a 'raver :pac:' in my late teens - now many years later I'm catching up!

sugarplumkin

Both are good but pixies remind me of teen years

wayfarers

Surprises at the amount of support for the Pixies considering how revered Morrissey and Marr are. Dunno how the Velvet Underground found their way onto this thread but as its open season I'm throwing Wire into the ring. Listen to their "I Am the Fly" or "Underground Miner" full blast on your headphones and you'll feel like taking on the world afterwards.

ascanbe

Really like The Pixies. The Smiths by a long chalk, though.