Pixies: Death To The Pixies (1987-1991)

Best-of collections for artists who never put out bad albums always seem like pointless exercises. Why settle for one disc of excellent music when there's so much more out there Still, since Pixies stands as one of the most consistently startling and influential bands of the last decade, credit is long overdue—and while flawed, the two-disc Death To The Pixies serves as a great starting point for the uninitiated, as well as a handsome nostalgia trip for longtime fans. Disc one gathers together 17 of the group's best tracks, and it plays like an excellent mix tape—although the selection, as on any collection, will be cause for debate. (No "Motorway To Roswell") Disc two is a fast-paced live set from 1990's Bossanova tour. It's good, but as with most live albums, there's an unshakable you-had-to-be-there vibe. A more serious setback is the disc's failure to include any hard-to-find non-album tracks, which are often more lighthearted and just as interesting as anything included on Pixies' albums. While it's hard to fault Death To The Pixies as a satisfying set of music, as a testament to the band's importance, it's far from perfect.