Wikipedia:Today's featured article/June 15, 2014

"Bam Thwok" is a download-only single by the American alternative rock band Pixies. The song was written and sung by bassist Kim Deal (pictured), and released exclusively through the iTunes Store on June 15, 2004. It was the band's first recording since the 1991 studio album Trompe le Monde; the Pixies broke up acrimoniously in 1993 and reformed in 2004. Frontman Black Francis, the band's principal songwriter, said the recording session "was very relaxed, a nice way to break the ice". Originally composed for the movie Shrek 2, the song was not selected for the final soundtrack. The lyrics display a surrealistic and nonsensical nature typical of the band; Deal's inspiration was a discarded child's art book she found on a New York City street. She commented "This kid had written ... about a party that took place in another universe, about people and monsters that were partying together." The song is structured around a four-beat guitar melody which incorporates major chords throughout. It begins with full instrumentation, over which Santiago layers a short guitar solo. "Bam Thwok" debuted at number one on the first release of the UK Download Chart. (Full article...)

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