In 2000, Invisible Records Japan released a “Tribute to the PIXIES”, a compilation of Japanese rock bands covering tunes by The Pixies.  Japanese record labels are well known for showing their appreciation for western artists with beautiful tribute albums (a topic I plan on addressing in more detail later), and “PIXIES” is a perfect example. The only non-Japanese band on the album is Seafood (from the UK), who do a faithful-but-plain rendition of “Levitate Me”.  The rest of the artists offer amazing and unique treatments of classic Pixies songs, from punk rock renditions to noise/experimental interpretations.

Highlights include Japanese indie band Feed’s surreal cover of “Debaser”, which includes the sound of dogs barking underneath the chorus, and Cowpers singing “Bone Machine” with Japanese lyrics.

Tribute to the PIXIES

Tribute to the PIXIES (2000)

Feed – Debaser

DRUM:KAN – Alec Eiffel

The album closes with a band called Wakusei covering “Gigantic”, pronouncing it with a hard ‘g’ sound. The BEAT CRUSADERS also appear on this album, covering “Debaser”. BEAT CRUSADERS is a popular Japanese pop-punk band that appears on a ton of tribute albums.

Tribute to the Pixies @ Amazon.com