Trompe le Monde

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Trompe le Monde
File:Pixies-TrompeLeMondeCover.jpg
Studio album by Pixies
Released September 23, 1991
Recorded 1991
Master Control, Burbank;
Pacifique, Burbank;
Studio des dames, Paris;
Blackwing Studios, London.
Genre Alternative rock
Length 39:03
Language English
Label 4AD
Producer Gil Norton
Pixies chronology
Bossanova
(1990)Bossanova1990		 Trompe le Monde
(1991)		 Pixies
(2002)Pixies2002
Singles from Trompe le Monde
  1. "Planet of Sound"
    Released: May 28. 1991
  2. "Alec Eiffel"
    Released: 1991
  3. "Letter to Memphis"
    Released: 1991
  4. "Head On"
    Released: 1991

Trompe le Monde is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in 1991 on the English independent record label 4AD in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States. After the surf-pop of Bossanova, the album saw a return to the abrasive sound of the band's early albums.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4/5 stars[1]
Blender 4/5 stars[2]
Chicago Tribune 4/4 stars[3]
Entertainment Weekly A−[4]
Los Angeles Times 3.5/4 stars[5]
NME 7/10[6]
Pitchfork Media 9.4/10[7]
Q 4/5 stars[8]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars[9]
The Village Voice A–[10]

The album was described by Michael Bonner, writing in Lime Lizard, as "one of the best albums that you may very well ever hear" and "a strong contender for best album of the 20th century".[11] AllMusic writer Heather Phares noted the reduced role of Kim Deal, calling it "essentially Black Francis' solo debut".[1]

Content

The album name comes from the title of the first track, "Trompe le Monde", a French phrase meaning "Fool the World".[1] Unlike previous albums, the title of the album comes from the name of a song (rather than a song lyric), and is a play on the French phrase "trompe l'oeil"—a painting technique in which the painter fools the viewer into thinking objects presented are real.

"Head On" is a cover of the Jesus and Mary Chain track that was released as a single reaching number 6 in the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart.

"U-Mass" is a song about the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where Black Francis met Joey Santiago before dropping out to form Pixies. Santiago recalls that the original guitar riff was written while they were still enrolled.[12]

Track listing

All songs written by Black Francis except "Head On", which is written by Jim Reid and William Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain.

  1. "Trompe le Monde" – 1:48
  2. "Planet of Sound" – 2:06
  3. "Alec Eiffel" – 2:50
  4. "The Sad Punk" – 3:00
  5. "Head On" – 2:13
  6. "U-Mass" – 3:01
  7. "Palace of the Brine" – 1:34
  8. "Letter to Memphis" – 2:39
  9. "Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons" – 2:48
  10. "Space (I Believe in)" – 4:18
  11. "Subbacultcha" – 2:09
  12. "Distance Equals Rate Times Time" – 1:24
  13. "Lovely Day" – 2:05
  14. "Motorway to Roswell" – 4:43
  15. "The Navajo Know" – 2:20

Personnel

Pixies
Additional musicians
Production
  • Produced by Gil Norton
  • Engineered by Steve Haigler
  • Recorded at Master Control, Burbank; Pacifique, Burbank; Studio Des Dames, Paris; Blackwing, London
  • Mixed at Master Rock, London
Design

Charts

Album chart Peak
position
US Billboard 200[13] 92
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 7
Singles
Billboard (North America)
Year Single Chart Position
1991 "Letter to Memphis" Modern Rock Tracks 6
1992 "Head On" Modern Rock Tracks 6
Gallup (United Kingdom)
Year Single Chart Position
1991 "Planet of Sound" Gallup Top 75 27

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Magnet Magazine interview
  13. ↑ "Pixies – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Pixies.
  14. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.

Notes

  • While the album cover names the album Trompe le Monde, the CD disc itself spells the title incorrectly in some versions as Tromp le Monde.

External links

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