No Pixies song is more relevant to the current day than “Monkey Gone to Heaven.” That’s not something we usually associate with Pixies given the rather cryptic and idiosyncratic lyrics of Black Francis/Frank Black. But with lyrics that describe environmental problems of the 1980s combined with allusions to ancient gods and the bible and a strong implication that human beings are not going to survive these problems, it feels awfully pertinent right now.

Boston folk pop group Noble Dust have a bit of a unique shtick, as they are the rare band that have trumpets as a core part of their sound but they don’t play ska. They’ve have strayed somewhat outside of their musical niche to record a new cover of “Monkey Gone to Heaven.” Pixies are, after all, known for their loud rock sound that anticipated Grunge. But Noble Dust have found a song that suits their vibe as, until Black starts screaming at the end, it’s a relatively sedate ballad for Pixies. Continue reading »