Bam Thwok

Bam Thwok is a fascinating outlier in the Pixies' discography, a sun-drenched anomaly that swaps out the band’s signature serrated edges for a sense of whimsical, technicolor joy. Released as a digital-only single to mark their 2004 reunion, it feels less like a comeback statement and more like a celebratory exhale. The track is dominated by Kim Deal’s unmistakable, breezy alto and a swirling, carnival-esque organ that provides a wocka wocka texture, moving the band away from the loud-quiet-loud dynamic they pioneered and toward something closer to psychedelic power-pop. It is the sound of four people rediscovering their chemistry without the pressure of having to reinvent the wheel.