If you're reading this review, you're probably thinking about buying this compilation. If you don't already know that the Pixies are the greatest band of the late eighties and early nineties and one of the greatest bands of all time, this will prove it to you. If you know that already, but for some reason don't yet have this album, get it immediately.

The first CD, the "greatest hits" compilation, is a good mix of Pixies songs. Because the Pixies were so consistent in their greatness from one song to the next, it's hard to say what their greatest songs are. Still, this does a good job of picking ones that no one would argue against, the obviously great songs (as opposed to some of their more subtly awesome songs). The second CD, the live performance, is an incredible taste of what the Pixies must have been like in their hey-day. None of the songs on it sounds like the original, album version, and some of them sound very different. Highlights include the more mellow, slowed-down version of Wave of Mutilation, and Into the White, a B-Side from one of their singles that's simply gorgeous. Well, it's hard to write so little about such an incredibly original and outstanding band. If you don't have any Pixies material yet, hurry and buy this. If you're already a fan and have questioned if this is just a sell-out box set, it's not; it's a nice "greatest hits" CD coupled with an incredible live performance.

There are 2 reasons to want this album: a. You're looking into this band called the Pixies and figure a greatest hits comp is a good place to start (Disc 1), or b. you're a huge fan and want the live recording (Disc 2).

If you fall under reason (a), don't bother with this record- yet. You're better off with Come On Pigrim or, if you only heard of them through Fight Club, Surfer Rosa. The Pixies generally have three sounds: The beautiful and melodic, the screamy and noisy, and the creature you get when the two are glued together. The "greatest hits" selections are a bit suspect, leaving some of the best melodic songs (Motorway to Roswell) in favor of good, but not great tracks (Gouge Away). (Of course, if the tracks were indeed chosen by engineer Steve Albini, it would explain the preference towards the louder, noisier tunes.)

However, if you can file yourself under reason (b), despite the hefty price tag, the live album is absolutely fantastic. The sound quality is as good as I have ever heard on a live album and you can tell the band's having a hell of a good time on stage. The two highlights of this disc easily go to Into the White, one of the Pixies lesser known but most rocking songs, and Where is My Mind? where the crowd's ghostlike singing is even more haunting than Kim Deal's moaning on Surfer Rosa.

The flaw of the album is the price tag, because most prospect purchasers are only interested in one of the two discs, so my recommendation would be to buy it if you consider yourself the completist superfan, otherwise, just wait to find it in a used bin (if there ever is one there).

This is a great example of the wide variety of talent from the Pixies. Although Doolittle is my personal favorite album, I still love that this album provides samples from every album the Pixies has made which in turn provides a very pleasing listening experience. I would reccomend this album to even the slightest Pixies fan because it definately has the best of the best on it...

I don't care what anybody says--this is NOT a good introduction to the Pixies. Buy the studio albums, starting with Surfer Rosa and Doolittle. Trust me, you'll be a lot more satisfied.

As for the first disc--no River Euphrates? No Hey? No Alec Eiffel? No No. 13 Baby? Come on! While I can't complain with what they did pick (simply because 99% of the Pixies' material is flawless anyway) they seem to have skewed their choices toward the loud, aggressive songs and almost completely ignore the quieter, yet equally masterful compositions. I could name 17 other tracks that are just as worthy of inclusion as the tracks selected here, which is a testament to just how good the Pixies were.

Now, onto the live disc, which was recorded pre-Trompe Le Monde. Definitely some gems, including a great performance of B-side Into The White and an amazing rendition of Where Is My Mind? (complete with audience singing!). However, the steep price tag of this set will deter all but completists who probably already have Pixies Live At The BBC anyway (which is far from comprehensive but has some very interesting selections). So...why don't they release a separate live CD? Damn cheapskates.

Only recommended for serious completists (for the live CD). For the uninitiated, start with Doolittle and Surfer Rosa and move through the catalog.

Wow, what could I say. From the moment I listened to my girlfriends copy of disc one, I was floored. A perfect greatest hits compilation on the first disc...and when your done with that, you havea whole concert waiting to blow your mind on the second disc. Highly recommended for any piXies fan or if your just looking to get into them. This to me is just some of the best music ever made. The 90's alt rock/ grunge scene was the last time people like me would ever watch MTV. The music was just awesome, reminds me of the good times in Jr. High and early high school. And keeps a lot of those goodtimes just coming and coming...ah the beauty and sweet bliss of good music!!