Is She Weird (Review)
Wave of Mutilation, taken from the Pixies 1989 album Doolittle, breezes from the speakers in a wash of glistening distortion.
A steady bass line stalks alongside an uncomplicated drum groove in the opening bars of Is She Weird?, a track from The Pixies 1990 album, Bossanova. It is as sinister as it is undeniably catchy. While the verses prowl with the sprinkling of a slightly discordant jazz guitar, the chorus centers around a vocal chant that is backed by a wall of deliciously dirty grunge.
Lyrically, Francis takes the listener to a surreal and often overtly sexual place, delivering lines such as, "Your mouth is everywhere, I'm lyin' in it," in barely a whisper. The entire Bossanova album was written by Francis, and is reflective of his well documented fascination with science fiction and extra terrestrials. The chorus of Is She Weird? romps, "Is she weird, is she white, is she promised to the night? And her head has no room...," which could just as easily be a reference to the alternative street culture that was emerging at the time.
Is She Weird? builds to a frenetic mess, and as the chanting becomes more intense the listener is acutely aware of the tension that existed between the band during this period. The recording process was plagued with problems from day one. Cherokee Studios in LA had a host of technical issues that producer Gil Norton could not resolve, and so the recording was moved midway to Master Control. In addition, The Pixies only rehearsed for two weeks before entering the studio, where in the past they had been rehearsing constantly.
Offbeat, somewhat disturbing and brilliantly odd, ʻIs She Weird?ʼ poses a provocative question. The answer, is probably "yes."
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
— MK
The Pixies are one of those bands that manage to appeal to an extremely diverse cross section of society. As time passes, they claim an even greater entitlement to their reputation as one of the coolest American indie/alternative bands in history. Referenced openly by contemporary acts such as Placebo and Nirvana, and featured in the soundtracks to groundbreaking films such as Fight Club, this Boston band formed in Massachusetts in 1986. Members Black Francis, Joey Santiago, Kim Deal, and David Lovering succumbed to a spiraling demise of post 80s excess in 1993. The group disbanded for a time, before reuniting in 2004.
Is She Weird? (Lyrics)
I know, you're rich in
Good clothes, and little things
Your mind, is fancy
[And your car is bitchin']
Is she weird
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
And her head has no room
Your heart is rip-shit
Your mouth is everywhere
I'm lyin' in it
Is she weird
Is she over me
Like the stars and the sun
Like the stars and the sun
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
And her head has no room
No more of this girl cryin'
I'm here, your big man
You're mine
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
Is she weird, is she white
Is she promised to the night
And her head has no room
And her head has no room
Contact Information:
The Pixies
pixiesmusic.com
facebook.com/pixiesofficial
Is She Weird? (Studio)
