Pixies' sound was always special – the aural equivalent of being punched in the face by a beautiful, shrieking alien woman – and Doolittle was probably the tightest, sharpest take on it.

The opening salvo of ‘Debaser’, ‘Tame’ and ‘Wave Of Mutilation’ is one of the most astonishing in rock history, a thrilling volley of chaotic noise – Black Francis's bonkers wordplay matched by the twisted beauty of Joey Santiago’s guitar playing. The sweet surf-pop of ‘Here Comes Your Man’, and haunting ballad ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’ also showcased a softer side to Pixies, making this their most complete work.

Joey Santiago, speaking to Hot Press in 2013:

“When I first listened back to Doolittle, I genuinely felt it was going to be a stepping stone for other bands. I had a feeling it was going to be a classic record and it will always be up there. You go to college and there’s always someone who wants to explore the horizons – and we’re one of those bands who seem to be on those horizons, which is absolutely amazing. We seem to be one of those lucky bands that people are eventually going to bump into on their musical travels..."

Revisit Doolittle below: