What makes Velouria by Pixies notable?

Velouria received critical acclaim upon release and is often noted for its impact on the burgeoning alternative rock scene of the early '90s. With its distinctive sound, the EP helped solidify the Pixies' reputation as pioneers of the genre, influencing bands like Nirvana and Radiohead. Released in January 1990, Velouria was the Pixies' fourth EP, coming just after their breakthrough album Doolittle. The band was solidifying their unique sound, blending punk energy with surreal lyrics and melodic elements, which would influence countless alternative and indie rock artists in the years to come.

How many songs are on Velouria?

Velouria has 4 tracks, running approximately 10 minutes.

Velouria

Pixies · 1990

10 min · 4 tracks · alternative rock

A swirling mix of haunting melodies and driving rhythms that capture the essence of alt-rock's early '90s experimentation.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Velouria — The title track features a dreamlike atmosphere underpinned by a catchy chorus, encapsulating the band's ability to blend melody with art-rock sensibilities.
→
Make Believe — This track showcases a raw brevity and punchiness, exemplifying the Pixies' knack for concise songwriting combined with an infectious energy.
→
I've Been Waiting for You — With its introspective lyrics and haunting instrumentation, this song illustrates the band's capacity to evoke deep emotional responses within a compact format.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The EP showcases strong songwriting and production, solidifying the Pixies' unique sound within alt-rock.

What we noticed

The first track, 'Velouria', opens with a distinctive guitar riff that sets a swirling tone, followed by dynamic shifts in intensity throughout.
The EP concludes with 'The Thing', which incorporates unconventional song structures and abrupt tempo changes, leaving a lingering sense of unpredictability.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Velouria 3:43
2 Make Believe 1:55
3 I've Been Waiting for You 2:47
4 The Thing 1:58

What to play next

Listen next

Trompe le Monde

1991

Go back to

Bossanova

1990

Full Pixies discography Where to start with Pixies Artists like Pixies

alternative rock indie rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata