“Dancing the Manta Ray”

Back from unplanned hiatus to warn you that you are missing out on a free four-song live sampler from the Doolittle 20th Anniversary tour (cash-in). Doink. It’s worth the space on your hard drive. This is the only non-album track, and thus the only track where you can’t hear the dull roar of the audience singing along in the background.

Despite the rumors of lifeless performance I’d heard about the various (there have been various, now, right?) Pixies reunion tours, these songs sound pretty full of energy. I mean, noncommittal vaguely tuneful moaning was always part of the shtick, but where 1989 Black Francis primally screamed, 2009 Frank Black still does a passable job. By the end of Gouge Away it sounds like something I wish I could stand to be there for.