Doolittle is the second studio album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, released in April 1989 on 4AD records. Its idiosyncratic lyrics were written by the Pixies' main songwriter and lead vocalist Black Francis, and allude to surrealist imagery, biblical violence and descriptions of torture and death. Their 1988 album Surfer Rosa was highly acclaimed, leading to high expectations for its follow up. Doolittle was an instant critical success, and became their break-through album. It was especially well received in Europe, where the British music weeklies Melody Maker and Sounds both named it as their album of the year.