From the Vaults Friday: The Pixies, Doolittle (1989)

The Year: 1989
The Album: The Pixies, Doolittle
Who It Influenced: Pavement, Nirvana, The Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Spoon, TV on the Radio

If you remember when Doolittle came out, you are old. You're also probably the core audience the reformed-for-the-money Pixies are targeting with their recent endeavours: the vaguely obscene, status-symbol-ish Minotaur boxsets, and their soon-to-arrive 20 year anniversary Doolittle tour dates.

Of course, if you remember when Doolittle came out, you've had two whole decades to affirm the fact that this album kicks all kinds of ass. Okay, such a statements cuts not the critical mustard, but listening to Doolittle can sometimes feel like taking in a greatest hits record. "Here Comes Your Man" and "Debaser" and "Silver" and "Mr. Grieves" and "Wave of Mutilation" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven" on the one album? Is this for real?

Hardcore fans and all-around tough types will invariably cite Surfer Rosa as the better set; as the record on which Black Francis sounds his most hysterical and unhinged, when The Pixies were at their most pummelling. It's an argument 20 years old, already, and one that'll never reach a resolution. Especially not from me saying, simply: it's hard for any record, be it by The Pixies or any other band in rock history, to be much better than Doolittle.

• Full review: The Pixies, Doolittle