Beneath the Eyrie
by Pixies
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
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  1. Rolling Stone
    Sep 13, 2019
    60
    They’re trapped in the dusk on most of the album, and it’s the few beacons of light here, when they sound like they’re all having fun, that cut through the darkness and make for great Pixies songs.
  2. The Guardian
    Sep 13, 2019
    60
    Generally, the songwriting is solid rather than spectacular, although Catfish Kate, a tuneful tall story about a woman who battles with a catfish so she can cook him, is a real zinger.
  3. Slant Magazine
    Sep 12, 2019
    60
    Too often, Beneath the Eyrie sounds like other artists, which is especially disappointing for a group like the Pixies, who have always been more trendsetters than followers.
  5. Mojo
    Sep 11, 2019
    60
    It's a familiar world they inhabit, but still a deeply odd one. [Oct 2019, p.82]
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  6. Q Magazine
    Sep 11, 2019
    60
    A little too straightforward. [Oct 2019, p.110]
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  7. Uncut
    Sep 11, 2019
    60
    It suffers somewhat from inevitably diminishing returns, in that it simply isn't anywhere near as good as their canonical records; that said, not much is. [Oct 2019, p.33]
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  8. Boston Globe
    Sep 11, 2019
    50
    Lack of distinctiveness pervades “Beneath the Eyrie,” both on a song-by-song basis and taken as a whole.
  9. The Observer (UK)
    Sep 16, 2019
    40
    It’s not a terrible album – it’s better than many bands that Pixies inspired – but it isn’t terribly good either.

Awards & Rankings

87
#87 Most Discussed Album of 2019

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 28
  3. Negative: 2 out of 28
  1. jstudabaka
    Sep 14, 2019
    10
    While Beneath the Eyrie exhibits darker themes and often a slower, creeping pace than is typical of Pixies, it remains undeniably a PixiesWhile Beneath the Eyrie exhibits darker themes and often a slower, creeping pace than is typical of Pixies, it remains undeniably a Pixies record. Classic Pixies dynamics are featured on the album’s most radio-friendly, soft-loud rocker “Graveyard Hill,” the sardonic, folksy, stripped-down “Death Horizon,” and the surfer banger “St. Nazaire.” “This is My Fate” works a sinister, burlesque air for an intriguing detour. Paz Lenchantin shines throughout the record, with her bass-playing keeping the perfect tone and groove, and her vocal harmonies proving a key ingredient to filling out the tracks. Paz’s haunting vocals on “Los Surfers Muertos” are another highlight on the album. Beneath the Eyrie is fresh and interesting, demonstrating in many ways a band whose sound has appropriately aged and matured from their nihilistic, primal-scream moorings of the late 80s to a 2019 iteration that still works in surrealism, but in different shades, angles, and paces.… Full Review »
  2. lenny68
    Sep 13, 2019
    7
    As a long time fan of PIXIES this is a welcome return to form after the uninspired sounding Head Carrier. It's unfair to draw unfavorableAs a long time fan of PIXIES this is a welcome return to form after the uninspired sounding Head Carrier. It's unfair to draw unfavorable comparisons with albums like Doolittle; PIXIES have moved on and so should their fans. Let's just be grateful that they've still got music like this in them.… Full Review »
  3. badbrain
    Sep 13, 2019
    8
    Not sure what album the Boston Globe heard but at least they win the award for most pretentious review. Beneath the Eyrie is hardly aNot sure what album the Boston Globe heard but at least they win the award for most pretentious review. Beneath the Eyrie is hardly a masterpiece but the trademark odd hooks, dissonant chords and confounding lyrics of Pixies are all there. This is not a reproduction of another band - it's clearly Pixies...enjoy… Full Review »
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