16 artists like Pixies
Matched on how their catalogues actually move — measured intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood across 47 Pixies songs (averaging 65/100 intensity). Each one comes with the single song to start with.
Shares the same melancholy register and plays calmer overall (41/100). 89 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (57/100), with the same energetic register running through 57 measured songs.
48 measured songs that keep the same intimate register — plays calmer overall (49/100).
Shares the same melancholy register and averages almost the same intensity (60/100). 20 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (59/100), with the same warm register running through 82 measured songs.
78 measured songs that keep the same contemplative register — plays calmer overall (49/100).
Shares the same intense register and plays calmer overall (54/100). 50 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (43/100), with the same intimate register running through 38 measured songs.
27 measured songs that keep the same melancholy register — plays calmer overall (43/100).
Shares the same melancholy register and plays calmer overall (52/100). 82 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (49/100), with the same melancholy register running through 64 measured songs.
22 measured songs that keep the same cathartic register — plays calmer overall (58/100).
Shares the same melancholy register and plays calmer overall (56/100). 20 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (53/100), with the same melancholy register running through 57 measured songs.
65 measured songs that keep the same warm register — plays calmer overall (45/100).
Shares the same warm register and plays calmer overall (52/100). 60 of their songs measured.
Frequently asked
What artists sound like Pixies?
The closest matches we measure are R.E.M., Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys. Artists are matched by how their catalogs actually move — average intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood — across 47 measured Pixies songs, not by genre label or chart adjacency.
Which song should I start with?
R.E.M.: “Departure” (95% feel-match); Arcade Fire: “Keep the Car Running” (95% feel-match); Arctic Monkeys: “Dangerous Animals” (95% feel-match). Each is that artist's single closest track to the Pixies centre of gravity, so it's the least jarring way in.
How intense is Pixies overall?
Across 47 measured songs, Pixies averages 65/100 on our intensity scale. Individual songs vary — see the full catalog breakdown on their artist page.
How do you decide two artists are similar?
Every song is measured on 8 dimensions (intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force, fine sound detail). We compare an artist's catalogue centre of gravity to every other artist's, then weight shared mood tags. Matches cross genre and era, because the measurements don't know what genre is.
Want matches for one specific song instead of a whole catalogue?
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