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The Pixies' mix of relatively clean guitars, upbeat tempos and unglamorous arrangements helped to define American indie rock. While upbeat, the Pixies lack the aggression and spitfire of punk rock, though the band lacks the smooth edges of pop or mainstream alternative bands. While never gaining a wide fan base outside of their cult following, the Pixies continually received critical acclaim for their work, helping indie and alternative sounds establish themselves as an important genre in the '90s.

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