The Pixies have backed Dave Grohl’s declaration their landmark debut album Surfer Rosa is “the perfect record”.
Members of the influential alternative rock band agreed with the Foo Fighters frontman’s assessment ahead of their appearance at Madrid’s Mad Cool festival, NME has reported.
Dave, 57, made the comments during an interview on BBC Radio 6 Music earlier this month when he was asked to name the album he regarded as a masterpiece.
The Foo Fighters singer and former Nirvana drummer selected Pixies’ 1988 debut Surfer Rosa, prompting a response from guitarist Joey Santiago and drummer David Lovering when NME relayed the remarks backstage before the band’s recent headline festival performance in Spain.
David said on the BBC: “I love that record so much for a number of reasons.
“One, it was produced by the almighty Steve Albini. And it was maybe the first album to become popular and showcase his incredible engineering technique.”
Dave also praised frontman Black Francis’ songwriting and the chemistry between Francis and bassist Kim Deal.
He added: “His lyrics… kind of tethered back and forth from abstract intellectual to things that just sounded so absurd and almost, like, dumb in a way… his voice and Kim Deal, their two voices together – it was just such a wonderful blend. And it was unusual at the time. They really did sort of coin this specific dynamic and the simplicity of it was really powerful.”
Dave concluded: “That record I’ve probably listened to 10,000 times and I still love it. I could listen to it every day.”
Asked by NME whether Grohl was right to describe Surfer Rosa as “the perfect record”, Joey immediately replied: “I have to agree.”
Laughing alongside his bandmate, David said: “I agree. It’s my favourite one.”
Joey then asked exactly how Dave had described the album.
After hearing the Foo Fighters singer had called it “perfect”, he joked: “As long as he didn’t say ‘great!’ He’s right.”
The exchange comes as Foo Fighters remain in the spotlight following recent speculation about the band’s future touring plans, while Pixies continue to support their 2024 album The Night The Zombies Came and work on new material.
Dave is best known as the frontman of Foo Fighters and as the drummer on Nirvana’s era-defining album Nevermind, while Pixies are widely credited with shaping the sound of alternative rock through albums including Doolittle, Bossanova and Trompe le Monde.
Speaking to NME, Pixies also explained despite both bands having enjoyed parallel careers since the 1990s, they do not know Dave personally.
They said their encounters have largely been limited to crossing paths at airports and festivals where both acts have been on the bill.
When the conversation turned to Foo Fighters, the band were asked which of Dave’s records they regarded most highly.
After considering the question, Joey selected the group’s 1997 album The Colour and the Shape, praising its “good sonics” and highlighting the work of producer Gil Norton.
Pixies also offered an update on new music.
Joey said the group had continued writing after previously recording demo sessions with producer Tom Dalgety, who also produced The Night The Zombies Came.
He added: “We’re always in the works.
“Same formula. We have a break coming up in October and we’re gonna get together and piece more songs together.”