Head Carrier

Head Carrier
Head Carrier
Studio album by Pixies
Released	September 30, 2016
Recorded	February–March, 2016
Studio	RAK Studios, London
Genre	Alternative rock; indie rock; pop rock;
Length	33:48
Label	Pixiesmusic; PIAS;
Producer	Tom Dalgety
Pixies chronology
Singles from Head Carrier
	"Um Chagga Lagga"; Released: July 6, 2016; "Tenement Song"; Released: September 5, 2016; "Classic Masher"; Released: November 24, 2016; "Bel Esprit"; Released: March 17, 2017;

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	5.9/10^[1]
Metacritic	64/100^[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
The A.V. Club	C^[4]
The Guardian	^[5]
The Independent	^[6]
Mojo	^[7]
NME	4/5^[8]
Pitchfork	5.5/10^[9]
Q	^[10]
Rolling Stone	^[11]
Uncut	6/10^[12]

Head Carrier is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band the Pixies, released on September 30, 2016, on Pixiesmusic and PIAS. Produced by Tom Dalgety, and recorded at RAK Studios in London, the album is the first to feature new band member Paz Lenchantin on bass guitar, who joined the band in 2014 to tour in support of its previous album, Indie Cindy.

The album's title references a cephalophore, a saint carrying his own head, more specifically St. Denis of Paris.

Background

Production started around late 2015 after finding a new producer, Tom Dalgety (replacing previous producer Gil Norton, who had worked on the Pixies last four albums). The band met with him as they were recording demos for the followup of their 2014 album Indie Cindy. Previously they had debuted a number of songs live that they were testing as potential tracks for their next album. Such tracks included "Super Lecker", "O' Little Cloud", and "Down to Tulom".^[13]

This album marks the first full appearance of bassist Paz Lenchantin (formerly of A Perfect Circle and Zwan), after replacing previous bassist Kim Deal, who left the band in 2013. Lenchantin had previously been featured on the bonus track "Women of War" (a vinyl bonus track off of Indie Cindy), as well as live tracks for the deluxe edition of the same album. Lenchantin had previously been the touring bassist, but was promoted to full-time member starting with this album. She also has a writing credit and lead vocals for the song "All I Think About Now", which was written about Kim Deal and takes on the form of a thank-you letter.^[14]

The album was officially announced on July 6, 2016 with the release of its first single "Um Chagga Lagga". This was followed up by a second single, "Talent", on August 17, 2016. The whole album was streamed on NPR starting on September 22, 2016.^[15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Black Francis,^[16] except where noted

*Head Carrier* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Head Carrier"		3:36
2.	"Classic Masher"		2:37
3.	"Baal's Back"		1:54
4.	"Might as Well Be Gone"		2:48
5.	"Oona"		3:38
6.	"Talent"		2:12
7.	"Tenement Song"		2:57
8.	"Bel Esprit"		3:12
9.	"All I Think About Now"	Francis, Paz Lenchantin^[14]^[17]	3:07
10.	"Um Chagga Lagga"		3:00
11.	"Plaster of Paris"		2:06
12.	"All the Saints"		2:41
Total length:			33:48

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.^[18]

Black Francis – lead vocals, guitar
Joey Santiago – lead guitar
Paz Lenchantin – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "All I Think About Now"
David Lovering – drums

Technical

Tom Dalgety – production, engineering, mixing
Rob Brinkman – engineering assistant
Vaughan Oliver – art direction, design
Joshua Price – design assistance
Ian Pollock – illustrations

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Head Carrier*
Chart (2016)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[19]	23
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[20]	37
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[21]	5
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[22]	14
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[23]	13
French Albums (SNEP)^[24]	12
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[25]	32
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[26]	31
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[27]	20
Portuguese Albums (AFP)^[28]	21
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[29]	5
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[30]	23
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[31]	32
UK Albums (OCC)^[32]	7
US Billboard 200^[33]	72

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *Head Carrier*
Chart (2016)	Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[34]	135

References

^ "Head Carrier by Pixies reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
^ "Reviews for Head Carrier by Pixies". Metacritic. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
^ Phares, Heather. "Head Carrier – Pixies". AllMusic. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
^ Colburn, Randall (September 30, 2016). "Pixies sound confident on Head Carrier, but the music lacks personality". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
^ Mumford, Gwilym (September 29, 2016). "Pixies: Head Carrier review – indie-rock veterans fail to match past glories". The Guardian. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
^ Gill, Andy (September 28, 2016). "Album reviews: Drive-by Truckers, Van Morrison, Bon Iver, Pixies, Regina Spektor and more". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
^ Perry, Andrew (October 2016). "Capo di tutti". Mojo (275): 90.
^ Beaumont, Mark (September 28, 2016). "Pixies – 'Head Carrier' Review". NME. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
^ Berman, Stuart (October 6, 2016). "Pixies: Head Carrier". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
^ Doherty, Niall (November 2016). "Black Magic". Q (365): 109.
^ Harris, Keith (September 30, 2016). "Review: Pixies' 'Head Carrier' Features New Bassist, Old Sound". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
^ Bonner, Michael (October 2016). "Pixies: Head Carrier". Uncut (233): 37.
^ Grow, Kory (June 2, 2015). "See Pixies Play 'Planet of Sound,' New Song 'Um Chagga Lagga'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Hogan, Marc (August 4, 2016). "Pixies' Black Francis and Paz Lenchantin On Head Carrier and Replacing Kim Deal'". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
^ Heller, Jason (September 22, 2016). "First Listen: Pixies, 'Head Carrier'". NPR. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
^ "United States Copyright Office Public Catalog ". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved on August 17, 2020.
^ Lach, Stef (July 14, 2016). "Pixies' new album Head Carrier includes 'thank-you letter' to Kim Deal". Classic Rock. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
^ "Pixies: Head Carrier". Discogs.com. Retrieved on August 17, 2020.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
^ "Lescharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 41, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
^ "Charts.nz – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
^ "Spanishcharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
^ "Pixies Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 2016 Albums". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2016.

[1] "Head Carrier by Pixies reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved October 19, 2019.

[mc-2] "Reviews for Head Carrier by Pixies". Metacritic. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

[am-3] Phares, Heather. "Head Carrier – Pixies". AllMusic. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

[avclub1-4] Colburn, Randall (September 30, 2016). "Pixies sound confident on Head Carrier, but the music lacks personality". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

[guardian-5] Mumford, Gwilym (September 29, 2016). "Pixies: Head Carrier review – indie-rock veterans fail to match past glories". The Guardian. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

[independent-6] Gill, Andy (September 28, 2016). "Album reviews: Drive-by Truckers, Van Morrison, Bon Iver, Pixies, Regina Spektor and more". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2016.

[mojo-7] Perry, Andrew (October 2016). "Capo di tutti". Mojo (275): 90.

[nme-8] Beaumont, Mark (September 28, 2016). "Pixies – 'Head Carrier' Review". NME. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

[9] Berman, Stuart (October 6, 2016). "Pixies: Head Carrier". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

[q-10] Doherty, Niall (November 2016). "Black Magic". Q (365): 109.

[rs-11] Harris, Keith (September 30, 2016). "Review: Pixies' 'Head Carrier' Features New Bassist, Old Sound". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 1, 2016.

[uncut-12] Bonner, Michael (October 2016). "Pixies: Head Carrier". Uncut (233): 37.

[13] Grow, Kory (June 2, 2015). "See Pixies Play 'Planet of Sound,' New Song 'Um Chagga Lagga'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 10, 2016.

[pitchfork-14] Hogan, Marc (August 4, 2016). "Pixies' Black Francis and Paz Lenchantin On Head Carrier and Replacing Kim Deal'". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 10, 2016.

[15] Heller, Jason (September 22, 2016). "First Listen: Pixies, 'Head Carrier'". NPR. Retrieved September 23, 2016.

[16] "United States Copyright Office Public Catalog ". cocatalog.loc.gov. Retrieved on August 17, 2020.

[17] Lach, Stef (July 14, 2016). "Pixies' new album Head Carrier includes 'thank-you letter' to Kim Deal". Classic Rock. Retrieved August 14, 2020.

[18] "Pixies: Head Carrier". Discogs.com. Retrieved on August 17, 2020.

[ac_Australia_Pixies-19] "Australiancharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2016.

[ac_Austria_Pixies-20] "Austriancharts.at – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 13, 2016.

[ac_Flanders_Pixies-21] "Ultratop.be – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 7, 2016.

[ac_Wallonia_Pixies-22] "Ultratop.be – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 7, 2016.

[ac_Netherlands_Pixies-23] "Dutchcharts.nl – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 7, 2016.

[ac_France_Pixies-24] "Lescharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2023.

[ac_Germany_Pixies-25] "Offiziellecharts.de – Pixies – Head Carrier" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 8, 2016.

[ac_Ireland_-26] "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 41, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved October 14, 2016.

[ac_New_Zealand_Pixies-27] "Charts.nz – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2023.

[ac_Portugal_Pixies-28] "Portuguesecharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2016.

[ac_Scotland_-29] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2016.

[ac_Spain_Pixies-30] "Spanishcharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 5, 2023.

[ac_Switzerland_Pixies-31] "Swisscharts.com – Pixies – Head Carrier". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 12, 2016.

[ac_UK2_-32] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2016.

[ac_Billboard200_Pixies-33] "Pixies Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2016.

[34] "Jaaroverzichten 2016 Albums". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2016.

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v t e Pixies
Black Francis David Lovering Joey Santiago Emma Richardson Kim Deal Kim Shattuck Paz Lenchantin
Studio albums	Surfer Rosa Doolittle Bossanova Trompe le Monde Indie Cindy Head Carrier Beneath the Eyrie Doggerel The Night the Zombies Came
Mini-albums	Come On Pilgrim
Extended plays	Pixies EP1 EP2 EP3
Compilations	Death to the Pixies Pixies at the BBC Complete 'B' Sides Wave of Mutilation: Best of Pixies Minotaur
Singles	"Gigantic" "Monkey Gone to Heaven" "Here Comes Your Man" "Velouria" "Dig for Fire" "Planet of Sound" "Alec Eiffel" "Letter to Memphis" "Head On" "Debaser" "Bam Thwok"
Other songs	"Cactus" "Where Is My Mind?" "Wave of Mutilation" "Crackity Jones" "In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)"
Related articles	Discography Songs Tributes Frank Black Francis Fool the World The Breeders The Amps The Martinis Grand Duchy
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