THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

688-Pixies-Cactus.

1988-It has never been release as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.11. ‘P.I.X.I.E.S.’ Surely there is no need to spell out to you how good this song is.

The Pixies were formed in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, in 1986, by Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV, who is better known by his stage name Black Francis, (vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriter) Joey Santiago, (lead guitar) Kim Deal, (bass, and vocals) and David Lovering (drums.) The Pixies split in 1993, but reformed in 2004, and at the time of writing they remain active. Paz Lenchantin, (violin, bass, piano, and vocals) joining the group in 2016, after Kim Deal had left in 2013. The groups name was chosen by Joey Santiago, who selected the word ‘pixies’ randomly from a dictionary, liking how it looked, and its definition as ‘mischievous little elves.’

The Pixies are considered one of the most influential acts of the 1990’s in the genre of ‘Alternative Rock,’ being an influence on acts such as Nirvana, (see also best songs 788 and 9) Radiohead, (see also best songs 33) and the Smashing Pumpkins (see also best songs 374.) Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) has spoken about the Pixies influence on his classic ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ (1991-Billboard Number 6 & UK Number 7) ‘I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it, when I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily I should have been in that band, or at least in a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.’

The discography of the Pixies includes eight studio Albums released between 1988-2022, and 22 singles issued in the same time period, there are also six official compilation Albums, five extended plays, and 17 live Albums available. The Pixies have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, although six of their tracks have reached the Billboard ‘Alternative Airplay’ chart, with ‘Here Comes Your Man,’ peaking the highest at Number 3 in 1989. In the UK, the Pixies have had three top 40 hits, with ‘Debaser’ from 1997, charting the highest at Number 23. Black Francis has also released 15 studio Albums as ‘Frank Black,’ ‘Frank Black and the Catholics,’ and ‘Black Francis,’ between 1993-2011, while Kim Deal who would go on to form ‘The Breeders,’ has released five studio Albums between 1990-2018, with that group.

‘Cactus’ is track eight of 13 on the critically acclaimed ‘Surfer Rosa,’ which was the debut studio Album from the Pixies, from March 1988. ‘Cactus’ was written by Black Francis, with, the production being by Steve Albini, who also produced all of the other 12 tracks on the Album. Steve Albini who is a singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, audio engineer, and music journalist, was born on July 22nd, 1962, in Pasadena, California, United States. As a musician, Albini has fronted the ‘Rock’ bands ‘Big Black,’ ‘Rapeman’ and ‘Shellac’ on guitar and vocals, and since going in to music production, he has in his own words, ‘Worked on several thousand Albums,’ over his career. His production work includes producing ‘In Utero,’ the 1993 third and final studio Album by Nirvana.

‘Cactus’ tells the story of a man in prison who is missing his wife. He wishes that she would send him something with her scent on, hence the lyrics,’Bloody your hands on a cactus tree, wipe it on your dress, and send it to me.’ Between the second verse and the chorus, the group can be heard chanting ‘P.I.X.I.E.S.’ this is in order to pay homage to one of the bands heroes Marc Bolan, (1947-1977) (see also best songs 790-386 and 67) who chanted ‘T.R.E.X.’ on his 1973 UK Number 4 single ‘The Groover.’ In 2002 David Bowie (1947-2016) (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5) covered ‘Cactus’ for his ‘Heathen’ Album, and during the instrumental break he spells out ‘D.A.V.I.D.’

‘I miss your kissin’ and i miss your head, and a letter in your writing doesn’t mean you’re not dead. Run outside in the desert heat, make your dress all wet and send it to me.’