The Jimmy Bramlett Definitive Guide to the Best 15 Pixies Songs Ever

12. “River Euphrates” – Surfer Rosa.

“Ride the Tigris down the River Euphrates.” The song is two verses in haiku form. Again, Pixies simplicity at its best.

11. “Where Is My Mind?” – Surfer Rosa.

Fight Club yadda yadda yadda. The song is still great. Sure it’s been overplayed since all the frat dudes who missed the point of the movie decided it was the best new song of 1999. But those who know, know. It starts out with a simple strumming of the guitar, Kim Deal high-pitched oooooooh wooooooo. It crescendos as the madness increases.

10. “Tony’s Theme” – Surfer Rosa.

Although I was never a kid who imagined himself a daredevil nor read comics, this song just puts a smile on the face. “This is a song about a superhero named Tony. It’s called ‘Tony’s Theme’,” Kim Deal says in only the way that she can. This is just a fun burst of childhood fantasies and the sometimes jarring realities we all have to deal with.

In Santa Barbara, I had a friend named Tony whom I used to relentlessly harass with this song. He was one of an endless line of straight boys I had a crush on. Well I continue to have crushes on straight boys to this day, but I’m so jaded nowadays it comes across as nothing.

We used to escape to the beaches in Carpinteria. Although he loved to surf, he never did it when we used to escape. We never kissed, held hands, messed around, proclaimed love or any of that bullshit. I was content to just be around him. That was fine with me. (The story of my life.)