It’s been just over 36 years since the foundational Boston alt-rock band Pixies released their debut album, Surfer Rosa. That album’s been on a lot of people’s minds lately due to the untimely passing of Steve Albini, who engineered the record and was famously critical of it. Despite the reflection on their groundbreaking past, Pixies are pushing forward with new material that marks a fresh chapter in their storied career.
Recently, Pixies fired bassist Paz Lenchantin and brought in Band Of Skulls’ Emma Richardson to fill the spot formerly held by Kim Deal. Today, the band dropped a new two-sided single that represents their first new music since Richardson joined the lineup. The A-side, “You’re So Impatient,” is a punchy two-minute track that captures the band’s signature alt-rock vibe, narrating a date at a dying mall with lyrical wit and urgency.
The B-side offers a haunting cover of the classic “Que Sera Sera.” Originally sung by Doris Day in the 1956 Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much, the song won an Oscar and became a chart hit. The Pixies’ rendition, recorded for the horror series From, infuses the nostalgic tune with an eerie, contemporary twist, making it uniquely their own.
While the new songs don’t directly connect to Surfer Rosa, they underscore the Pixies’ ability to evolve while staying true to their roots. The addition of Richardson and the release of these tracks signify the band’s resilience and willingness to explore new sonic landscapes, all while honoring the legacy that brought them to prominence.
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