The Breeders: Pod [4AD]

Why you'll love it

This 4AD reissue comes with a printed inner sleeve and was pressed in the EU. Pod reached No. 22 in the UK, and Pitchfork ranked it No. 81 among the best albums of the 1990s.

This edition

• Printed inner sleeve
• Pressed in the EU
• Lyrics included
• Stereo mix

About the album

The Breeders began as a side project between friends. Kim Deal of the Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses got close on a joint European tour in 1988, swapped guitar ideas and, after a Sugarcubes gig, decided to start a band. A country-tinged demo later, 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell agreed to fund an album. Their very first attempt, Donelly's "Rise," was cut with Throwing Muses drummer David Narcizo. Wiggs came over from the English band the Perfect Disaster.

They made Pod at the Palladium studio in Edinburgh with Josephine Wiggs on bass, Britt Walford on drums and Steve Albini engineering. Albini favoured feel over polish, so the takes have the spark of a band playing live in the room. Deal's voice is sweet and sly on "Glorious" and "Iris," "Hellbound" races along, and the Beatles' "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" gets turned slow and eerie. Vaughan Oliver designed the striking cover.

Kurt Cobain called it one of his favourite records, which is the kind of reference most bands would frame. It's the musical equivalent of a glowing letter of recommendation, written in very untidy handwriting.

Also at Kops: more The Breeders on vinyl · browse Alternative

Tracklist

Listen

On 4AD (cat# CAD 0006), a reissue of the 1990 album.