Pixies

Welcome to Frank Black's world! It wasn't a huge surprise that the band broke up after this release; Black was essentially running the show sans Kim Deal's input. But that doesn't mean that the songs don't go for the throat, because they do. "Planet of Sound," "Alec Eiffel" and "U-Mass" hit hard with purpose.

Not as catchy from the git as Bossanova, which with eyeballs all over the cover and escape from terra firma all over the lyric sheet is risky if you want to get a rack jobber's attention or respect. But postpunk formalists-in-spite-of-themselves, a category that includes any consumer/tastemaker who's zoned in on 50 or a hundred relevant albums, would be fools to deny themselves the feast that awaits. These devilkins have the music down, and they never overstay their welcome. (Grade - A-)