NEWS: Pixies' 'Surfer Rosa' Gets High Quality Remaster Treatment

MUSIC: Pixies' 'Surfer Rosa' Gets High Quality Remaster Treatment

On March 27th, Mobile Fidelity Labs is releasing a special edition of the Pixies' seminal debut full-length, Surfer Rosa. The CD has been remastered from recently discovered, first-generation analog original master tapes. The limited first edition will come housed in a numbered "mini-LP" sleeve. Plans are also in-the-works for a vinyl LP reissue from the same master. Mobile Fidelity's website is offering the CD for pre-order.



In related news, Pixie Kim Deal will release a new album with her other band, The Breeders, this year. Metacrtitic.com is listing it as a spring release, and Breeders drummer Jose Medeles revealed this past December that the album was near completion.



Recommended Viewing:

the Pixies performing "Gigantic" circa 1988.

This is GREAT news. I will buy it as soon as I can get my grubby little fingers on it!

omg thats the best news i have heard in a long ass time!

I'm still listening to it on cassette.

It's Albini, I doubt there's much difference.

Keep in mind, this is a SACD release .... it requires a SACD player and will not play on a "standard" CD player.

I think that a new issue of this album and all the fanfare that'll accompany it will be great and definitely turn more people on to this amazing band and record... but am I the only one that doesn't like the idea of one of the most recogniseable, unique, and downright awesome mixing/mastering jobs in all of recorded music being tampered with?

I mean, I'm lucky enough to own this album on vinyl, a format that really allows the odd production of Surfer Rosa to shine, and when I listen to it, it sounds like the band is in the room with me, playing live - it's that good. Personally, I'm too attached to the old sound of this record and I'm hesitant to welcome a remastering job.

From the Mobile Fidelity website FAQ:

Can not wait!! My favorite band of all time.. (And they wrote the best song ever about my college!)

This is good. Very good.

My bad. Didn't know it was a hybrid disc...

Though not to the extent they did in the late 80's/ early 90's, MFSL stuff really does
sound far superior to the standard redbook releases.
I've pre-ordered mine.
Thanks for the tip.

Yes.

im ok with my roughy surfer rose but new breeders, fuck yeah.

one of the best freakin albums of all time. hellllll yeah!

So some suit's decided to fuck up Albinis mixes by getting someone else to remaster the recordings?
Great, its like In Utero all over again

Hmm. I wonder if the SACD will be a stereo hybrid like the Can reissues, or if it will be in 5.1. Either way, it's going in my SACD/DVDA-combo player.

And given that my doctor pointed out that I'm starting to look a bit like Frank Black around the middle, this'll motivate me to run around lots to shed some of those pounds.

That is just awesome news! I really enjoyed seeing them again on that reunion tour several years ago.

Oh, my golly! (Gay ass pun intended )

..I do what wonder it'll sound like, though. I don't think it's ment to be tampered with. I have mine on vinyl, a gift from my cousin when I was in like first grade. I cherish it.

However, this album will now get more exposure, and rightly so. Everyone who swears Doolittle is their best album, obviously has not heard SR.

Personal preference is one thing, but Doolittle trumps Surfer Rosa in just about every album-related fashion. Surfer Rosa plays more like a low budget noise band's best-of collection than a proper album.

That said, Surfer Rosa is still an easier listen all the way through than "the other two albums." But picking a fight with one of the best albums ever is a fight for the challenger to lose.

I just got turned onto the Pixies this year; part of my recent meanderings through Alternative from the 80's and 90's (also just discovered the Meat Puppets a few months ago as well wooo! )
Anyway, I have to say that I do prefer Sufer Rosa to Doolittle. I can't put my finger on the reason, exactly, but it is a bit more my style for some reason *shrugs*
BTW, now that the band is back together, has anyone heard if they will be putting out a new album? I seem to to remember reading something about it; but it just might be my music starved brain making things up again

Awesome!!!! I preordered!

When Come On Pilgrim and Surfer Rosa came out in 1987/88 it changed my world forever!! Pixies were my life changing band. There was nothing like them at the time, and absolutely no good music on the radio at all in those days, so underground music really was underground, and the Pixies were the band to spearhead a lot of what has evolved over the last decade that we have come to take for granted.

Also, the label 4AD that they were signed to were the most eclectic record label at the time, and I'm so glad I was introduced to such a variety of music at such an early age from this label.

Kim Deal has one of the most life affirming voices ever, and is just a bass goddess! Has there been any other woman looking and sounding this natural and good in an old sweaty t-shirt since? She is so lovely and she grins like a Cheshire cat! Love her to bits!!!

I love the original recording and mix of this stunning album. I'm sure this remaster will look great, but I just hope whoever is actually remastering the music doesn't screw it up

that live performance is sweet.

Masshole?

I was wondering what happened to this, so I went to the website. Apparently it's been pushed back to an unspecified day in May...