"Head Carrier" is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released on September 30, 2016. The album is a follow-up to Indie Cindy, which came out in 2014 - their first studio album in 23 years after Trompe le Monde (1991).
Head Carrier marks the band's first album with bass guitarist Paz Lenchantin, who officially joined Pixies in 2016 after playing live shows with them since 2014, replacing founding bassist Kim Deal.
This album, like its predecessor, received more mixed reviews from critics than the band's 1980s and early '90s work. However, it was praised for its more collaborative approach to songwriting, considering the contribution of Lenchantin as a new band member.
The album title "Head Carrier" references a translation for the name of a 4th-century Christian martyr named Denis, who is considered to be one of the patron saints of France. The first track on the album is also dedicated to this martyr.
Running for approximately 33 minutes, the album features production work from Tom Dalgety, recorded at the esteemed Rockfield Studios in Wales. With 12 tracks in total, "Head Carrier" continues to deliver Pixies' signature sound, revisiting the raw, abrasive, melodic complexity that the band is known for.
