The new Pixies (not The Pixies frustratingly) album, Head Carrier, is the second since their 2004 reunion and is the first to feature music by new member Paz Lenchantin who replaces the original bassist Kim Deal. The album showcases the ability of the band who gave us the outro to Fight Club and the Dali-inspired ‘Debaser’ to continue to write cool, albeit not particularly up-to-date, rock songs. The record is also one of contrasts with alternating heavy and light songs making up much of the track list.

The album kicks off with a mid tempo hard rock song, also called ‘Head Carrier’, which is heavy on the distortion and has a rebellious vibe. The simple drum and bass line makes this an opener you might want to dance to. This is then contrast with the sweet sounding, backing vocals beginning ‘Classic Masher’, changing the mood with slightly sinister lyrics. Overall, a fun surf rock sound.

One of my favourite tracks on the album follows: ‘Baal’s Back’ picks up a religious theme (Baal is a false god in Judaism) present in a lot of the album and is heavy and fast-paced with Black Frances, the frontman, barking the lyrics throughout. ‘Might As Well Be Gone’ examines relationships in a light melodic song with a sinister edge. ‘Oona’ carries on the theme of sinister relationships, and this track sounds like an early Weezer song (which is not surprising since Pixies are said to be an inspiration for Weezer).

‘Talent’ is another fun feature and would not be a surprising component to a modern Pearl Jam album. It is a funky fast-paced indie-rock song. Several of the songs are simply laid-back rock songs, and ‘Tenement Song’ has a catchy beat but is not especially memorable. The next two songs appear to try to be Pixies songs, but out of ‘Bel Esprit’ and ‘All I Think About Now’, only the latter is particularly convincing for me.

‘Bel Esprit’, a duet between Black Frances and the new bassist, doesn’t quite make it work, sounding like Johnny Cash and June Carter doing a 90’s rock song. ‘Um Chagga Lagga’ is a satisfying addition to the album as a heavy fast-paced grunge song that makes you want to drive down country roads with the windows rolled down at night. The next two soft songs, ‘Plaster of Paris’ and the laid back ‘All The Saints’, finish off the album in a relaxed mood. The former has fun, slightly religious lyrics and really funky bass and lead guitar breaks. The latter track has a sweet distorted pseudo-instrumental intro and a relaxing vocal line.

Head Carrier is a nice nostalgic rock album with highlights in ‘Baal’s Back’ and ‘All I Think About Now’. In this record, Pixies show they can still write interesting music 30 years on. For the three or four quite good songs on it, the band gives half a dozen songs that you wouldn’t miss if they were gone. I hope they play the few new hits from this album live, but otherwise stick to the oldies.