The Pixies: The Night the Zombies Came

Led by Black Francis, the Pixies have performed with many incarnations since their debut in 1988, breaking up in 1993 and then reuniting to tour in 2004. Releasing new music since 2014, this influential Boston band forges on with their just-released The Night the Zombies Came, a playful collection of dark, quirky songs that echo their prime years. A surreal lyricist who likes to play with words, Francis implants a horror motif that cavorts through some Zombie songs. “Jane (The Night the Zombies Came)” charms with churning, dramatic guitars fronting a twisted tale of being “Hooked on drugs, lost in the woods” when zombies attack. Bassist and vocalist Emily Richardson adds a vibrant sheen to the music, especially on the stop/start squall of “Chicken” and chiming chorus of “Hypnotized.” Joey Santiago’s surf-snarl guitar—one of the Pixies’ defining features since their 1988 debut—spikes songs like “Motoroller” and “You’re Impatient” with a visceral edge.  If the Pixies’ last few records dabbled in folk, Zombies blitzes ahead with exhilarating sonic assaults. “Oyster Beds” and “Ernest Evans” thrash and thrill with the tearaway buzz of the band’s vintage punk roots. It’s heartening news that the Pixies still play scrappy, eccentric music that appeals to its listeners.