STACK #223 May 2023

MUSIC FEATURE

PIXIES DOOLITTLE (1989) Albums are plentiful, but truly influential ones are rare. Cited by everybody from Nirvana to Radiohead as massive influences, Pixies basically

JACK JOHNSON IN BETWEEN DREAMS (2005) Returning to his beloved

CHART Vinyl

Mango Tree studios in Hawaii, on Jack Johnson’s third album In Between Dreams the surf-folk idol spins zephyr-bright layers of

acoustic guitar and his unhurried, gentle vocal into sonic gold. Its first single, the Grammy-nommed Sitting, Waiting, Wishing , closes out a Side One which rings with adorably loved-up opener Better Together and contemplative protest track Good People (”Where did all the good people go? I’ve been changing channels, I don’t see them on the TV shows”), while Side Two flings auxiliary percussion into arrangements of sunlit cirrus on the jaunty Staple it Together , and fourth and last single Breakdown displays Johnson in full ’smell the roses’ mode. The crisp twang of his fingers moving between frets is all the more exquisite to the ears when sent through the air via vinyl grooves – don’t miss this one. TOP TRACK: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing FAST FACT: Johnson learned the entirety of Sitting, Waiting, Wishing ’s lyrics in reverse, to serve the song’s backwards filmed video clip; it was later nominated for an MTV Video Music Award.

invented the quiet/ LOUD formula, and

honed it to perfection on second album Doolittle . Encompassing themes ranging from biblical to environmental to good old death, producer Gil Norton’s aim to commercialise the Pixies sound just a little gave us a long-player that burst from the speakers with the initial rush of Debaser , before taking us on a roller coaster ride of classic hooks on such gems as Monkey Gone to Heaven, Here Comes Your Man, and Gouge Away . TOP TRACK: Wave of Mutilation FAST FACT: Norton wanted Black Francis to make his songs longer. In response, the head Pixie handed the producer Buddy Holly’s Greatest Hits and said, ”If it’s good enough for Buddy Holly...”

1. METALLICA 72 Seasons

2. TAYLOR SWIFT Midnights

On The Record Radar

3. BOYGENIUS The Record

FOO FIGHTERS BUT HERE WE ARE ON WHITE VINYL AND BLACK VINYL The Fooey’s first album since the untimely passing of drummer Taylor Hawkins

ARLO PARKS MY SOFT MACHINE ON TRANSPARENT GREEN VINYL, BLACK VINYL The follow-up to Arlo’s

4. HARRY STYLES Harry’s House 5. TAYLOR SWIFT 1989 6. LANA DEL REY Born to Die 7. FRENZAL RHOMB The Cup of Pestilence 8. ARCTIC MONKEYS AM

OUT 2/6

OUT 26/5

Mercury Prize winning debut is an intensely personal investigation into the artist’s tumultuous 20s.

will land in rockin’ glory next month.

MATCHBOX TWENTY WHERE THE LIGHT GOES ON BLACK VINYL Rob Thomas and co. make an energetic return to the limelight with their first album in 11 years.

BODY TYPE EXPIRED CANDY ON BLUE JELLY BEAN VINYL

OUT 2/6

OUT 26/5

9. PINK FLOYD

The four gals who tore the roof off with their AMP-shortlisted debut are primed to drop their second

The Dark Side of the Moon

album of bangers.

10. TYLER,

THE CREATOR Igor

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