Apr 21 2009 06:04 PM ET

The Pixies' 'Minotaur' box sets: Will you buy 'em?

Categories: Reissues, The Pixies

Unless and until the Pixies’ on-again/off-again reunion leads to any more new recordings, fans will have to content themselves with listening to the four awesome albums (and one awesome EP) that the alt-rock pioneers released between 1987 and 1991. At least we’ll have a new way to enjoy that catalog this June 15, when the Pixies release a comprehensive box set titled Minotaur. For $175, they’ll give you the Come On Pilgrim EP, Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova, and Trompe le Monde, all with newly expanded artwork, plus a book and a DVD with a 1991 concert and all of the band’s videos. For $450, serious collectors can purchase a limited edition that includes all that as well as the five releases on audiophile-quality vinyl, a bigger book, more artwork, a Giclee print, and so on.

Both options sound very nice — though I’ll admit the prices feel a little steep for something that doesn’t involve any remastering or (so far) any confirmed bonus tracks. Still, visuals were such a critical part of those Pixies albums that it would be a mistake to underestimate how cool the new art could be. What do you say? Will you consider shelling out for either edition of Minotaur, or are you happy with that scratched-up CD you bought in 1990?

More from EW’s Music Mix:
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Comments (1-4) of 4 Add your comment

  • Mo

    Scratched up CD?….how about my ancient cassette tape from 1987 (yes, I am old). It still works and I listen to it all the time. Oh to have the $$ to buy something like that fancy schmancy box set.

  • Jim La Rose

    Ummmmmm………no. That’s ridiculous pricing. There’s this recession i’ve been hearing about.

  • njc

    *sigh* i love the pixies so much. but it seems like charles is just living off his past achievements. i mean…
    >death to the pixies, best of
    > wave of mutilation, best of
    > frank black christmass (acoustic versions of songs i already have)
    > frankblackfrancis (demo cd of released songs, and some crappy casio keyboard version cd)
    > frank black 93-03 best of…
    how many bonus/rereleased albums does he need? how about some new pixies material instead?

  • Jose

    I love the pixies, have the best of compilations, but this “Box set” is light years ahead of what a box set is. The reworked artwork by Vaughn Oliver alone will make this 450 bucks box worth at least 4x more expensive in the coming year. Since I only have Doolittle in cd, this new set is moore than welcome.

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