Pet Shop Boys | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Post-modern ironists cloaked behind a veil of buoyantly melodic and lushly romantic synth pop confections, Pet Shop Boys offer wry yet strangely affecting cultural commentary communicated by the Morse code of synth washes and drum machine rhythms. After first emerging in the mid-80s with "West End Girls" and "Opportunities (Lets Make Lots of Money)," Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe quickly established themselves as hitmaking singles artists who were also able to craft emotionally resonant albums, like 1988s Introspective and 1990s Behaviour. The duo navigated the constantly shifting landscape of modern dance-pop with grace and intelligence, moving easily from disco to house music to thoughtful synth pop without losing their distinctive style in the process. The duo incorporated Latin music on 1996s Bilingual, expanded into theater and ballet and morphed into elder statesmen of electronic pop, still able to release interesting albums after more than 30 years, as evidenced by 2016s Super. Pet Shop Boys formed in London in August 1981, when vocalist Tennant (a former editor at Marvel Comics who later gained recognition as a journalist for Smash Hits magazine) first met keyboardist Lowe (a onetime architecture student) at an electronics shop. Discovering a shared passion for dance music and synthesizers, they immediately decided to start a band. After dubbing themselves Pet Shop Boys in honor of friends who worked in such an establishment -- while also obliquely nodding to the sort of names prevalent among the New York City hip-hop culture of the early 80s -- the duos career first took flight in 1983, when Tennant met producer Bobby "O" Orlando while on a writing assignment. Orlando produced their first single, 1984s "West End Girls." The song was a minor hit in the U.S. but went nowhere in Britain, and its follow-up, "One More Chance," was also unsuccessful. Upon signing to EMI, Pet Shop Boys issued 1985s biting "Opportunities (Lets Make Lots of Money)." When it too failed to attract attention, the duos future appeared grim, but Tennant and Lowe then released an evocative new Stephen Hague production of "West End Girls," which became an international chart-topper. Its massive success propelled Pet Shop Boys 1986 debut LP, Please, into the Top Ten, and when "Opportunities" was subsequently reissued, it too became a hit. Disco, a collection of dance remixes, was quickly rushed into stores, and in 1987 the duo resurfaced with the superb Actually, which launched two more Top Ten smashes -- "Its a Sin" and "What Have I Done to Deserve This?," a duet between Tennant and the great Dusty Springfield. Later that year, "Always on My Mind," a lovely cover of the perennial Elvis Presley standard, reached number one in several countries and the Top Ten in the U.S. A documentary film titled It Couldnt Happen Here was released one year later. In October 1988, Pet Shop Boys issued their third studio LP, the eclectic Introspective. "Domino Dancing" and "Left to My Own Devices" both reached the Top Ten in Great Britain. The following year, Pet Shop Boys collaborated with a variety of performers, most notably Liza Minnelli, for whom they produced the 1989 LP Results. They also produced material for Springfield, and Tennant joined New Order frontman Bernard Sumner and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr in the group Electronic, scoring a hit with the single "Getting Away with It." Tennant and Lowe reconvened in 1990 for the muted, downcast Behavior, produced by Harold Faltermeyer. Their hit medley of U2s "Where the Streets Have No Name" and Frankie Vallis "Cant Take My Eyes Off You" was released in 1991, and was followed in 1993 by Very, lauded as one of the duos finest efforts. After a three-year absence, Pet Shop Boys resurfaced with Bilingual, a fluid expansion into Latin rhythms. Nightlife followed in 1999 and sparked the dance club hit "New York City Boy," whose success allowed the group to tour the U.S. for the first time in eight years. While on tour, the duo also collaborated with playwright Jonathan Harvey on a musical surrounding gay life and societal criticisms, which the three had been planning since 1997. Closer to Heaven made its West End debut in 2001 and had a successful run for most of the year; Pet Shop Boys score of the original cast recording was also a hit in the U.K. They still had time to make a record for themselves, too: In April 2002, Tennant and Lowe issued Release and Disco 3 was compiled for release the following year. Pet Shop Boys continued releasing material throughout the decades latter half. In 2005, they put together a volume of the Back to Mine series and released their soundtrack designed to accompany the 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin, a soundtrack theyd performed a year earlier at a free concert/screening in Trafalgar Square. A year later, they issued Fundamental, a mature, sometimes political album produced by Trevor Horn. The live album Concrete: In Concert at the Mermaid Theatre appeared at the end of the year, and Yes -- a collaborative effort with the production crew Xenomania -- marked the bands tenth studio effort in March 2009. While playing shows in support of that album, Pet Shop Boys also released a hits compilation, Party, to coincide with the Brazilian leg of their tour. In 2010, the tour was documented on the CD/DVD release Pandemonium, and another greatest-hits compilation, Ultimate, arrived. Their 2011 effort, The Most Incredible Thing, was a two-disc ballet score composed for the Sadlers Wells Theater in London, while 2012s Format rounded up the duos B-sides and bonus tracks from the years 1996-2009. Also in 2012, the duo released the sports-themed single "Winner" and performed the track at the 2012 Olympics Summer Games, held that year in their hometown of London. The track landed on that years album Elysium, which was produced by Kanye West affiliate Andrew Dawson. Stuart Price (Madonna, Seal, Kylie Minogue) was the producer of 2013s Electric, an album that featured no ballads, just dance tracks. In May of 2014, the duo announced more original music, this time with a concert piece scheduled for a July date at Royal Albert Hall commemorating British code breaker Alan Turing and including the BBC Concert Orchestra. Price returned as producer of 2016s Super, the second album in a row where the group were "electronic purists," meaning no guitars, no orchestral support, and no organic instruments. The following year saw the band issue the Undertow EP, which featured two remixes of Supers "Undertow," a remix of "Burn," and a new version of "Left to My Own Devices," produced by Stuart Price. They were also awarded the Godlike Genius Award by NME. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 23 Title: Please Released: 1986-03-24 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Two Divided by Zero (03:34) 2 West End Girls (04:45) 3 Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) (03:45) 4 Love Comes Quickly (04:18) 5 Suburbia (05:11) 6 Tonight Is Forever (05:06) 7 Violence (04:28) 8 I Want a Lover (04:05) 9 Later Tonight (02:47) 10 Why Don’t We Live Together? (04:45) |
| Please : Allmusic album Review : A collection of immaculately crafted and seamlessly produced synthesized dance-pop, the Pet Shop Boys debut album, Please, sketches out the basic elements of the duos sound. At first listen, most of the songs come off as mere excuses for the dancefloor, driven by cold, melodic keyboard riffs and pulsing drum machines. However, the songcraft that the beats support is surprisingly strong, featuring catchy melodies that appear slight because of Neil Tennants thin voice. Tennants lyrics were still in their formative stages, with half of the record failing to transcend the formulaic constraints of dance-pop. The songs that do break free -- the intentionally crass "Opportunities (Lets Make Lots of Money)," the lulling "Suburbia," and the hypnotic "West End Girls" -- are not only classic dance singles, theyre classic pop singles. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 23 Title: Actually Released: 1987-09-07 Tracks: 10 Duration: 47:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 One More Chance (05:30) 2 What Have I Done to Deserve This? (04:18) 3 Shopping (03:37) 4 Rent (05:08) 5 Hit Music (04:44) 6 It Couldn’t Happen Here (05:20) 7 It’s a Sin (05:00) 8 I Want to Wake Up (05:08) 9 Heart (03:58) 10 King’s Cross (05:10) |
| Actually : Allmusic album Review : With their second album, Actually, the Pet Shop Boys perfected their melodic, detached dance-pop. Where most of Please was dominated by the beats, the rhythms on Actually are part of a series of intricate arrangements that create a glamorous but disposable backdrop for Neil Tennants tales of isolation, boredom, money, and loneliness. Not only are the arrangements more accomplished, but the songs themselves are more striking, incorporating a strong sense of melody, as evidenced by "What Have I Done to Deserve This?," a duet with Dusty Springfield. Tennants lyrics are clever and direct, chronicling the lives and times of urban, lonely, and bored yuppies of the late 80s. And the fact that dance-pop is considered a disposable medium by most mainstream critics and listeners only increases the reserved emotional undercurrent of Actually, as well as its irony. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 23 Title: Introspective Released: 1988-04 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:58:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Left to My Own Devices (08:17) 2 I Want a Dog (06:15) 3 Domino Dancing (disco mix) (07:40) 4 I’m Not Scared (07:25) 5 Always on My Mind / In My House (09:04) 6 It’s Alright (09:23) 1 I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too) (05:35) 2 Don Juan (demo version) (04:22) 3 Domino Dancing (demo version) (04:47) 4 Domino Dancing (alternative version) (04:52) 5 The Sound of the Atom Splitting (05:13) 6 What Keeps Mankind Alive? (03:26) 7 Don Juan (disco mix) (07:35) 8 Losing My Mind (disco mix) (06:09) 9 Nothing Has Been Proved (demo for Dusty) (04:51) 10 So Sorry, I Said (demo for Liza) (03:26) 11 Left to My Own Devices (7″ mix) (04:47) 12 It’s Alright (10″ version) (04:47) 13 One of the Crowd (03:56) 14 It’s Alright (7″ version) (04:20) 15 Your Funny Uncle (02:18) |
| Introspective : Allmusic album Review : Featuring a mere six tracks, most of them well over six minutes in length, Introspective was a move back to the clubs for the Pet Shop Boys. Over the course of the album, they incorporated various dance techniques that were currently in vogue, including Latin rhythms and house textures. The title isnt entirely an arch joke, however. Like Actually, Introspective was an exploration of distant, disaffected yuppies, which naturally resulted in a good deal of self-analyzation. Melodically, the essential song structures were as strong and multi-layered as the previous album, yet that was hard to hear beneath the varying rhythmic textures that composed the bulk of each track. Nevertheless, the mixes are more compelling than the remixes on Disco, and the songs include several of their best numbers, including "Left to My Own Devices" and "Domino Dancing," as well as the reconstruction of "Always on My Mind" and a cover of Blazes club classic, "Its Alright." | ||
 | Album: 4 of 23 Title: Behaviour Released: 1990-10-22 Tracks: 23 Duration: 2:06:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Being Boring (06:49) 2 This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave (05:30) 3 To Face the Truth (05:33) 4 How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously? (03:56) 5 Only the Wind (04:18) 6 My October Symphony (05:18) 7 So Hard (03:59) 8 Nervously (04:06) 9 The End of the World (04:43) 10 Jealousy (04:48) 1 It Must Be Obvious (04:26) 2 So Hard (extended dance mix) (06:39) 3 Miserablism (04:07) 4 Being Boring (extended mix) (10:41) 5 Bet Shes Not Your Girlfriend (04:30) 6 We All Feel Better in the Dark (extended mix) (06:48) 7 Where the Streets Have No Name (I Cant take My Eyes Off You) (extended mix) (06:47) 8 Jealousy (extended version) (07:59) 9 Generic Jingle (00:15) 10 DJ Culture (extended mix) (06:54) 11 Was It Worth It? (twelve-inch mix) (07:16) 12 Music for Boys (ambient mix) (06:13) 13 DJ Culture (seven-inch mix) (04:26) |
| Behaviour : Allmusic album Review : Behavior was a retreat from the deep dance textures of Introspective, as it picked up on the carefully constructed pop of Actually. In fact, Behavior functions as the Pet Shop Boys bid for mainstream credibility, as much of the album relies more on popcraft than rhythmic variations. Although its a subtle maneuver, it would have been rather disastrous if the results werent so captivating. Tennant takes this approach seriously, singing the lyrics instead of speaking them. That doesnt necessarily give the album added emotional baggage -- all of the distance and detachment in the duos music is not a hindrance, its part of the concept -- but it does result in an ambitious and breathtaking pop album, which manages to include everything from the spiteful "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?" to the wistful "Being Boring." | ||
 | Album: 5 of 23 Title: Discography: The Complete Singles Collection Released: 1991-11-04 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:16:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 West End Girls (03:59) 2 Love Comes Quickly (04:18) 3 Opportunities (Lets Make Lots of Money) (03:36) 4 Suburbia (04:02) 5 Its a Sin (04:59) 6 What Have I Done to Deserve This? (04:19) 7 Rent (03:32) 8 Always on My Mind (03:53) 9 Heart (04:16) 1 Domino Dancing (04:17) 2 Left to My Own Devices (04:45) 3 Its Alright (04:19) 4 So Hard (03:59) 5 Being Boring (04:50) 6 Where the Streets Have No Name (I Cant Take My Eyes Off You) (04:31) 7 Jealousy (04:14) 8 DJ Culture (04:13) 9 Was It Worth It? (04:22) |
| Discography: The Complete Singles Collection : Allmusic album Review : Most of the Pet Shop Boys albums are well-crafted and thoroughly intriguing in their own right, but dance-pop is a medium that is driven by hit singles. Discography collects all the duos numerous hit singles, including a handful of non-album tracks, in their original 7" single mix, which occasionally varies from the album version, particularly in the case of the Introspective material. Presented chronologically, the singles not only demonstrate the bands increasing musical sophistication, they illustrate what fine songwriters Tennant and Lowe are. These 18 songs form one of the most consistent and innovative bodies of work of its era. Some of the production techniques have dated slightly, but the music has remained impressive. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 23 Title: Very Released: 1993-09-27 Tracks: 12 Duration: 53:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Can You Forgive Her? (03:53) 2 I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing (03:03) 3 Liberation (04:06) 4 A Different Point of View (03:26) 5 Dreaming of the Queen (04:19) 6 Yesterday, When I Was Mad (03:55) 7 The Theatre (05:10) 8 One and One Make Five (03:30) 9 To Speak Is a Sin (04:45) 10 Young Offender (04:49) 11 One in a Million (03:53) 12 Go West / Postscript (08:21) |
| Very : Allmusic album Review : Because they work in a field that isnt usually taken seriously, the Pet Shop Boys are often ignored in the rock world. But make no mistake -- they are one of the most talented pop outfits working today, witty and melodic with a fine sense of flair. Very is one of their very best records, expertly weaving between the tongue-in-cheek humor of "I Wouldnt Normally Do This Kind of Thing," the quietly shocking "Can You Forgive Her?," and the bizarrely moving cover of the Village Peoples "Go West." Alternately happy and melancholy, Very is the Pet Shop Boys at their finest. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 23 Title: Disco 2 Released: 1994-09-12 Tracks: 12 Duration: 47:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Absolutely Fabulous (Rollo Our Tribe Tongue‐in‐Cheek mix) (snippet) (00:29) 2 I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing (Beatmasters Extended Nude mix) (04:15) 3 I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing (DJ Pierre Wild Pitch mix) (02:59) 4 Go West (Farley & Heller mix) (03:40) 5 Liberation (E Smoove 12″ mix) (06:09) 6 So Hard (D. Morales Red Zone mix) (02:48) 7 Can You Forgive Her? (Rollo dub) (04:03) 8 Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Junior Vasquez Factory dub) (04:54) 9 Absolutely Fabulous (Rollo Our Tribe Tongue‐in‐Cheek mix) (06:01) 10 Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Coconut 1 12″ mix) (02:12) 11 Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Jam & Spoon mix) (05:01) 12 We All Feel Better in the Dark (Brothers in Rhythm Ambient mix) (05:21) |
| Disco 2 : Allmusic album Review : The Pet Shop Boys second remix record is more long-winded than their first, suffering not only from too many pointless remixes, but a surprising lack of cohesiveness, making it for devoted fans only. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 23 Title: Alternative Released: 1995-08-03 Tracks: 30 Duration: 2:14:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 In the Night (04:50) 2 A Man Could Get Arrested (04:19) 3 Thats My Impression (05:18) 4 Was That What It Was? (05:14) 5 Paninaro (04:40) 6 Jack the Lad (04:31) 7 You Know Where You Went Wrong (05:51) 8 A New Life (04:56) 9 I Want a Dog (04:58) 10 Do I Have To? (05:14) 11 I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too) (04:54) 12 Don Juan (03:54) 13 The Sound of the Atom Splitting (05:12) 14 One of the Crowd (03:55) 15 Your Funny Uncle (02:16) 1 It Must Be Obvious (04:24) 2 We All Feel Better in the Dark (04:00) 3 Bet Shes Not Your Girlfriend (04:28) 4 Losing My Mind (04:34) 5 Music for Boys (03:36) 6 Miserablism (04:10) 7 Hey, Headmaster (03:06) 8 What Keeps Mankind Alive? (03:24) 9 Shameless (05:02) 10 Too Many People (04:17) 11 Violence (Hacienda version) (04:58) 12 Decadence (03:56) 13 If Love Were All (02:59) 14 Euroboy (04:27) 15 Some Speculation (06:34) |
| Alternative : Allmusic album Review : Alternative is a double-disc set of The Pet Shop Boys B-sides. Far from being a superfluous collection, the album contains a wealth of prime material, including several tracks that surpass those the duo put on their albums. Consequently, the set is worthwhile not only for hardcore fans, but for listeners with a passing interest in the group. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 23 Title: Bilingual Released: 1996-07-07 Tracks: 12 Duration: 53:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Discoteca (04:37) 2 Single (03:48) 3 Metamorphosis (04:03) 4 Electricity (04:58) 5 Se a vida é (That’s the Way Life Is) (04:01) 6 It Always Comes as a Surprise (06:07) 7 A Red Letter Day (05:09) 8 Up Against It (04:16) 9 The Survivors (04:30) 10 Before (04:32) 11 To Step Aside (03:48) 12 Saturday Night Forever (03:58) |
| Bilingual : Allmusic album Review : As a title, Bilingual is a double-edged sword. Disregard its sexual connotations and concentrate on its musical implications -- Bilingual is a rich, diverse album that delves deeply into Latin rhythms. Its not a crass, simplistic fusion, where the polyphonic rhythms are simply grafted over synthesizers and a disco pulse. Instead, Bilingual is an enormously subtle album, with shifting rhythms and graceful, understated melodies. The music isnt the only thing subtle about the album -- Neil Tennants voice and lyrics are nuanced, suggesting more than they actually say. Furthermore, Bilingual consists of the most optimistic, happy set of songs the Pet Shop Boys have ever recorded. Whether its the smooth disco of "Before" or the insistent rhythms of "Se a Vida E," Bilingual is filled with joyous, if subdued, sounds. If anything, its further proof that even if the Pet Shop Boys arent gracing the top of the charts as frequently as they did during the late 80s, they are crafting albums that are more adventurous and successful than they did when they were one of the top singles acts in pop music. [The Further Listening 1995-1997 expansion of the album adds fiteen tracks that are a mix of B-sides. mixes and new versions of old songs. New takes on "Paninaro" and "In the Night" kick the disc off with a bang, then highlights like the goofy Oasis-inspired "The Truck Driver and His Mate" and the jungle-influenced "Betrayed" follow. Add some fun tracks like the Danny Tenaglia-produced "The Boy Who Couldnt Keep His Clothes On" and the Big Beat pastiche "Disco Potential" and it shows just how wide the PSBs could range on their B-sides. Along with the previously released songs, there are unheard mixes of "Discoteca" and A Red Letter Day."] | ||
 | Album: 10 of 23 Title: Essential Released: 1998-03-31 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:13:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Domino Dancing (alternative version) (04:42) 2 West End Girls (dance mix) (06:29) 3 Opportunities (Lets Make Lots of Money) (03:47) 4 Paninaro (04:40) 5 Thats My Impression (04:48) 6 We All Feel Better in the Dark (extended mix) (06:47) 7 It Couldnt Happen Here (05:19) 8 It’s Alright (04:20) 9 Left to My Own Devices (04:48) 10 In the Night (remix) (06:28) 11 Two Divided by Zero (03:35) 12 Love Comes Quickly (dance mix) (06:48) 13 Being Boring (extended version) (10:40) |
 | Album: 11 of 23 Title: Nightlife Released: 1999-10-09 Tracks: 12 Duration: 52:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 For Your Own Good (05:13) 2 Closer To Heaven (04:06) 3 I Dont Know What You Want But I Cant Give It Any More (05:09) 4 Happiness Is An Option (03:48) 5 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When Youre Drunk (03:11) 6 Vampires (04:43) 7 Radiophonic (03:31) 8 The Only One (04:21) 9 Boy Strange (05:09) 10 In Denial (03:20) 11 New York City Boy (05:15) 12 Footsteps (04:16) |
| Nightlife : Allmusic album Review : Nightlife is a loose concept album -- more of a song cycle, really -- about nightlife (naturally), a collection of moods and themes, from love to loneliness. In that sense, its not that different from most Pet Shop Boys albums, and, musically, the album is very much of a piece with Very and Bilingual, which is to say that it relies more on craft than on innovation. Depending on your point of view, this may not be such a bad thing, since Pet Shop Boys specialize in subtle craft and masterful understatement. Such skills serve them well when theyre essentially following familiar musical territory, which they are on Nightlife. At its core, the record is very much like Very -- a clever, skillful updating of classic disco, highlighted by small contemporary dance flourishes, and infused with a true sense of wit, sophistication, and intelligence. Pet Shop Boys do this music better than anyone else ever has, and theyre at the top of their form here, but its hard to shake the initial impression that theyve done this before. Each individual song works beautifully, from the wistfully dejected "I Dont Know What You Want But I Cant Give It Any More" to the exhilarating Village People homage "New York City Boy," but as a whole, Nightlife seems less than the sum of its parts. Repeated listens reveal the songs charms, yet Nightlife coasts on its craft a bit too much, which makes it feel like one of their second-tier albums. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 23 Title: Release Released: 2002-03-20 Tracks: 10 Duration: 44:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Home And Dry (04:21) 2 I Get Along (05:49) 3 Birthday Boy (06:26) 4 London (03:46) 5 E-Mail (03:55) 6 The Samurai In Autumn (04:17) 7 Love Is A Catastrophe (04:50) 8 Here (03:15) 9 The Night I Fell In Love (05:04) 10 You Choose (03:13) |
| Release : Allmusic album Review : The Pet Shop Boys have never made a bad album, but with Nightlife, they started to seem a little worn out, as if they had explored their sound as far as it would go. But Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are among the smartest, pop-savvy groups to ever record, so they not only realized they were stagnating, they knew what to do about it, bringing Tennants Electronic partner and former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr for several songs, and moving the group toward careful, considered, mature pop for their eighth album, Release (another pun-worth title, worthy of Please). For most artists, the adjective "mature" would seem an epithet, but here its an accurate description for this elegant, eloquent, knowing music -- its maturation achieved through experience and worldliness, not an exorbitant bank account. On that level, this is about the most mature pop album released this decade, exhibiting a refined sense of craft and a keen sense of purpose, marrying the particular sentiment of a song with the right production. Its hard to call Release an album of its time, since it hardly falls prey to trends, but its aware of its time -- an album thats proudly out of step with the particulars of hipness, but knows what they constitute, knows what they feel like, knows what modernism means for somebody whos lived their life with the burden of being hip, whose always felt a compulsion to stay on top of things -- and feeling that desire fade as you get older. So, that means that while Release occasionally sings of the new -- synth lines, vocoders, beats, a song designed to respond to Eminems homophobia (the exquisite "The Night I Fell in Love") -- its from the vantage of people who have lived through all of this before, and know particulars will pass while the song remains the same. The great thing is, even if this sentiment has been present in previous Pet Shop Boys albums, they have brought the dance-club to the background (partially due to Marrs presence) and have brought the songs to the forefront, resulting in a record that feels like the Pet Shop Boys, even when it doesnt sound like them. And thats a good thing, since it retains their greatest attributes while giving them a new spin, and it makes for the best Pet Shop Boys album in nearly ten years. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 23 Title: PopArt: The Hits Released: 2003-11-19 Tracks: 35 Duration: 2:27:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Go West (05:04) 2 Suburbia (05:11) 3 Se a vida é (That’s the Way Life Is) (04:00) 4 What Have I Done to Deserve This? (04:18) 5 Always on My Mind (03:56) 6 I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing (04:45) 7 Home and Dry (03:58) 8 Heart (03:58) 9 Miracles (03:55) 10 Love Comes Quickly (04:18) 11 It’s a Sin (05:00) 12 Domino Dancing (04:18) 13 Before (04:06) 14 New York City Boy (03:20) 15 It’s Alright (04:19) 16 Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You) (04:30) 17 A Red Letter Day (04:34) 1 Left to My Own Devices (04:47) 2 I Don’t Know What You Want but I Can’t Give It Any More (04:24) 3 Flamboyant (03:50) 4 Being Boring (04:50) 5 Can You Forgive Her? (03:53) 6 West End Girls (04:01) 7 I Get Along (04:11) 8 So Hard (03:59) 9 Rent (03:33) 10 Jealousy (04:15) 11 DJ Culture (04:20) 12 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk (03:13) 13 Liberation (04:06) 14 Paninaro ’95 (04:10) 15 Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) (03:45) 16 Yesterday, When I Was Mad (04:00) 17 Single‐Bilingual (03:30) 18 Somewhere (04:42) |
| PopArt: The Hits : Allmusic album Review : Looking back at the 20 years since Neil Tennant left Englands Smash Hits magazine to form the Pet Shop Boys with Chris Lowe, the two-CD Popart opens itself up for arguments while surpassing 1991s Discography as the ready-to-wear selection. All the growing up and becoming more emotionally focused that the duo did post-Discography could have yielded a dour hits collection, but putting new tracks like the plaintive "I Get Along" between the slick chestnuts "West End Girls" and "So Hard" works to the listeners advantage. The tropical and wistful "Single-Bilingual" and the clever and melancholy "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When Youre Drunk" add more latter-day treasures that Discography couldnt include, and the only thing left to do besides submit is argue about the details. There is one disc full of "Pop" moments and the other "Art," but just try to figure out the criteria. The two new songs (the austere electro of "Miracles" and the fair "Flamboyant") are nice enough, but theyre not as fully formed as their surroundings, making them obvious late additions. A little bit of text and history in the liner notes would have helped, and fans should be aware that most of the tracks here appear in album versions rather than single mixes. Of course, compilers need to make decisions, and bookending the collection with the ultra-camp and semi-flippant covers of "Go West" and "Somewhere" could be seen as a comment on how listeners shouldnt worry so much and should just enjoy. Regardless of omissions and decisions, Popart is an excellent, hang-together listen and a better representation of the duos career than Discography. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 23 Title: Megamix Released: 2005 Tracks: 8 Duration: 40:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 One More Chance (original) (03:23) 2 Sunglasses at Night / West End (original) (04:26) 3 West End Girls (original) (06:13) 4 One More Chance (original Giga mix) (06:08) 5 West End Girls (remix ’05) (05:47) 6 Pet Shop Boys (remix ’05) (05:00) 7 Sunglasses at Night / West End (remix ’05) (04:34) 8 One More Chance (remix ’05) (04:54) |
 | Album: 15 of 23 Title: Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys Released: 2005-04-25 Tracks: 27 Duration: 1:59:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Dont Cry Tonight (04:54) 2 Take a Chance (06:04) 3 Dirty Talk (06:44) 4 Passion (08:24) 5 Ti sento (05:28) 6 Never Be Alone (04:03) 7 The Show Must Go On (04:07) 8 Stand on the Word (04:32) 9 I Was Born This Way (04:42) 10 Id Rather Leave While Im in Love (02:45) 1 Traum (04:49) 2 Pulse Pause Repeat (03:51) 3 Microgravity (04:46) 4 Come In!: II. (Ensemble Opus Posth) (04:24) 5 Promenade sentimentale (Sentimental Walk) (02:32) 6 La Baie (05:22) 7 Tiny (03:38) 8 Lauras Theme (02:30) 9 One Two Three No Gravity (Dettinger mix) (05:04) 10 Goin’ Back (03:31) 11 Lunz (04:00) 12 Sospiri, op. 70 (05:14) 13 DD Rhodes (04:53) 14 Video Kid (04:04) 15 Movement (03:19) 16 At Dusk (02:06) 17 Lyrische Stücke IV, Op. 47 Nr. 3: Melodie (03:59) |
 | Album: 16 of 23 Title: Fundamental Released: 2006-05-22 Tracks: 12 Duration: 48:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Psychological (04:10) 2 The Sodom and Gomorrah Show (05:19) 3 I Made My Excuses and Left (04:53) 4 Minimal (04:20) 5 Numb (04:43) 6 God Willing (01:17) 7 Luna Park (05:31) 8 Im With Stupid (03:24) 9 Casanova in Hell (03:13) 10 Twentieth Century (04:39) 11 Indefinite Leave to Remain (03:08) 12 Integral (03:53) |
| Fundamental : Allmusic album Review : Working together for the first time since the 1988 single "Left to My Own Devices," the Pet Shop Boys and producer Trevor Horn partner together for Fundamental, an extremely well-crafted effort that is more of its time message-wise than any previous PSB album. Fundamental is heavily influenced by Tony Blairs allegiance to George W. Bush and his dragging of the U.K. into the Iraq War, which has left previously Labour Party-loving vocalist Neil Tennant bitter and disillusioned. Fully aware that the Pet Shop Boys would sound ridiculous if angry and punkish, Tennant and partner Chris Lowe show restraint, putting their venom on simmer on the most riveting songs and searching for a reason not to stick their head in the sand elsewhere. Surprisingly, the usually extravagant Horn follows suit, and while he gives the album a very modern, slick sheen, the production is well designed instead of gloriously decorated. Beautifully polished by Horn, "Luna Park" lazily strolls through a holiday where fortune tellers and fire breathers divert attention from the slowly developing storm. Giving up hope entirely is "Numb," an insular ballad that songwriter Diane Warren originally gave to the duo for the hits collection PopArt thats much more at home here. Better still is infectious and uptempo "Im with Stupid," which casts Blair and Bush as irresponsible lovers who grin and pose while having their way with the world. Its not the only instantly gripping track -- the paranoid "Integral" speaks out for personal freedom with a wicked hook while the New Order-esque "Minimal" ranks with their best club cuts -- but the majority of Fundamental is like the majority of their great album Behavior in that repeat listens are required to do these rich songs justice. For Pet Shop Boys fans who lean to the left and are skeptical about the future, this is as close to heaven as they want to be. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 23 Title: Yes Released: 2009-03-18 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:28:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Love etc. (03:32) 2 All Over the World (03:51) 3 Beautiful People (03:42) 4 Did You See Me Coming? (03:41) 5 Vulnerable (04:47) 6 More Than a Dream (04:57) 7 Building a Wall (03:50) 8 King of Rome (05:31) 9 Pandemonium (03:42) 10 The Way It Used to Be (04:44) 11 Legacy (06:21) 1 This Used to Be the Future (05:13) 2 More Than a Dream (Magical dub) (06:10) 3 Pandemonium (The Stars and the Sun dub) (05:49) 4 The Way It Used to Be (Left of Love dub) (05:15) 5 All Over the World (This Is a dub) (05:21) 6 Vulnerable (Public Eye dub) (05:17) 7 Love etc. (Beautiful dub) (06:23) |
| Yes : Allmusic album Review : Coming down from the ambitious, politically charged Fundamental, Yes is the sound of the Pet Shop Boys unwinding and returning to their usual fascinations: isolation, fashion, grand arrangements, and witty synth pop anthems. Unfortunately, theyre in a slump with their songwriting, and subject-wise, every song here has a companion piece on some earlier album, but that doesnt mean the party is spoiled. The delicate electro opener "Love Etc." is PSB perfection with its memorable hook and faultless construction. Brian Higgins and his Xenomania team (Saint Etienne, Girls Aloud) share songwriting and production duties on the track, and while that later credit continues for the remainder of the album, the hip crew becomes invisible as singer Tennant and synth-man Lowe take over. Employing an Abbey Road orchestra and hiring Johnny Marr for some Hollywood guitar seems a familiar Pet Shop Boys maneuver, and when Neil Tennant tops it off with some sardonic lyrics, "Beautiful People" becomes a pleasingly comfortable gift for any fan thrown by Fundamentals action committee attitude. "Did You See Me Coming" is the exhilarated infatuation of "I Wouldnt Normally Do This Sort of Thing" all over again, while "King of Rome" is the spitting image of the duos 1987 chestnut "Kings Cross." These are good things, especially for the sworn fan, and so are the few quirky new ideas, like the duo trading lines Run-D.M.C. style on "Building a Wall." The grand closer "Legacy" is the obvious songwriting highlight, partly because of the Kurt Weill-like breakdown in the middle, but mostly because of the grim way it comforts the brokenhearted. Neil proposes that glaciers melt and stars burn out so theres a pretty good chance that given time "youll get over it." Its much better than the "Is that a riot/or are you just glad to see me" line in "Pandemonium" and just the touch Yes needs to put this above the standard PSB album. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 23 Title: Party: The Greatest Hits Released: 2009-11-04 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:16:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 West End Girls (04:01) 2 Love Comes Quickly (04:15) 3 Paninaro ’95 (04:10) 4 Its a Sin (disco mix) (07:39) 5 What Have I Done to Deserve This? (04:18) 6 Always on My Mind (extended dance version) (08:13) 7 Domino Dancing (04:18) 8 Its Alright (Seven Inch version) (04:19) 9 Being Boring (04:51) 10 Go West (04:19) 11 Before (single edit) (04:05) 12 New York City Boy (05:15) 13 Home and Dry (radio edit) (03:56) 14 Minimal (radio edit) (03:35) 15 Love etc. (03:32) 16 King of Rome (05:31) |
 | Album: 19 of 23 Title: Ultimate Released: 2010-10-29 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:18:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 West End Girls (04:01) 2 Suburbia (04:03) 3 It’s a Sin (05:00) 4 What Have I Done to Deserve This? (04:18) 5 Always on My Mind (03:56) 6 Heart (04:17) 7 Domino Dancing (04:18) 8 Left to My Own Devices (04:45) 9 Being Boring (04:50) 10 Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You) (04:30) 11 Go West (05:04) 12 Before (04:06) 13 Se a vida é (That’s the Way Life Is) (04:00) 14 New York City Boy (03:20) 15 Home and Dry (03:58) 16 Miracles (03:55) 17 I’m With Stupid (03:27) 18 Love etc. (03:32) 19 Together (ultimate mix) (03:30) |
| Ultimate : Allmusic album Review : By 2010, the Pet Shop Boys’ discography had grown to such a size that any one-disc compilation was bound to just scratch the surface, and that’s what Ultimate does, splendidly. Chronologically too, as the set opens with their debut -- and still signature -- hit, “West End Girls,” before laying out a lopsided history lesson that favors their early years and then sprints through their other eras before closing with the 2010 previously unreleased number “Together.” Along the way there are grand moments like the Dusty Springfield collaboration “What Have I Done to Deserve This?,” the melancholy and moving “Being Boring,” plus their minimal electro comeback single, “Love Etc.,” which proved that the synth pop pioneers were still relevant in the age of La Roux. Casual fans get to get catch up on important late-period singles they probably missed, and while it’s easy to argue about the B-list choices (whether “Paninaro” should be here instead of “Before”), the only glaring omission is their second single, “Opportunities.” But look at the overabundance of great early tracks, and deciding what to sacrifice would be difficult. Take the one-disc limitation into consideration and the set is certainly Ultimate. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 23 Title: Format: B-sides and Bonus Tracks (1996-2009) Released: 2012-02-06 Tracks: 38 Duration: 2:36:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Truck‐Driver and His Mate (03:34) 2 Hit and Miss (04:07) 3 In the Night 1995 (04:16) 4 Betrayed (05:17) 5 How I Learned to Hate Rock‐And‐Roll (04:37) 6 Discoteca (new version) (03:43) 7 The Calm Before the Storm (02:46) 8 Confidential (demo for Tina Turner) (04:46) 9 The Boy Who Couldn’t Keep His Clothes On (06:05) 10 Delusions of Grandeur (05:03) 11 The View From Your Balcony (03:44) 12 Disco Potential (04:06) 13 Silver Age (03:32) 14 Screaming (04:55) 15 The Ghost of Myself (04:02) 16 Casting a Shadow (04:36) 17 Lies (04:39) 18 Sexy Northerner (03:42) 1 Always (05:03) 2 Nightlife (03:53) 3 Searching for the Face of Jesus (03:26) 4 Between Two Islands (05:06) 5 Friendly Fire (03:22) 6 We’re the Pet Shop Boys (04:55) 7 Transparent (03:51) 8 I Didn’t Get Where I Am Today (03:37) 9 The Resurrectionist (03:10) 10 Girls Don’t Cry (02:34) 11 In Private (7‐inch mix) (04:10) 12 Blue on Blue (03:11) 13 No Time for Tears (7‐inch mix) (03:35) 14 Bright Young Things (04:55) 15 Party Song (03:39) 16 We’re All Criminals Now (03:54) 17 Gin and Jag (04:28) 18 After the Event (05:15) 19 The Former Enfant Terrible (02:51) 20 Up and Down (03:42) |
| Format: B-sides and Bonus Tracks (1996-2009) : Allmusic album Review : The fan-geared Format follows in the footsteps of 1995s Alternative which collected the synth pop groups B-sides from the years 1985-1994. Here, its 1996-2009, which means from Bilingual to Yes with a couple of musicals, ballets, and silent film soundtracks in between. Remixes are, for the most part, left for another set and while many fans keep up with PSB singles for the B-sides, this set, like Alternative, is appreciated by the faithful for its ease of use alone. Highlights include grand moments like "The Truck Driver and His Mate" and "How I Learned to Hate Rock N Roll," along with some more whim-like numbers like "Were the Pet Shop Boys." If B-side collections spawned singles, the redo of "In Private" with Elton John as guest would be huge, and its interesting how the demo of "Confidential" for Tina Turner recasts the song as one wistfully pining for a closeted lover. If youre not a PSB B-side regular, then Format will be a roller coaster ride of styles while jumping, without warning, from the sublime to the ridiculous, but the physical version and some downloadable versions come with helpful liner notes featuring an interview with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe conducted by pop music writer Jon Savage. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 23 Title: Elysium Released: 2012-09-05 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:41:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Leaving (03:48) 2 Invisible (05:03) 3 Winner (03:47) 4 Your Early Stuff (02:33) 5 A Face Like That (05:03) 6 Breathing Space (05:08) 7 Ego Music (03:05) 8 Hold On (03:17) 9 Give It a Go (03:53) 10 Memory of the Future (04:28) 11 Everything Means Something (04:47) 12 Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin (05:46) 1 Leaving (instrumental) (03:50) 2 Invisible (instrumental) (05:05) 3 Winner (instrumental) (03:50) 4 Your Early Stuff (instrumental) (02:33) 5 A Face Like That (instrumental) (05:06) 6 Breathing Space (05:08) 7 Ego Music (instrumental) (03:05) 8 Hold On (instrumental) (03:12) 9 Give It a Go (instrumental) (03:53) 10 Memory of the Future (instrumental) (04:31) 11 Everything Means Something (instrumental) (04:50) 12 Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin (instrumental) (05:48) |
| Elysium : Allmusic album Review : Besides being mostly midtempo and mostly mid-temperature, Pet Shop Boys 11th studio album is an oddly structured effort, giving up its theme during track number four, a seemingly throwaway, two-and-a-half-minute ditty called "Your Early Stuff." They may be dashing, tasteful pop craftsmen to their fans, but Elysiums prime number finds them pre-gig and stuck with a cabbie who sees this duo as A Flock of Seagulls-styled nostalgic fluff, where haircuts and videos are discussed before anyone remembers the song was called "West End Girls." Good news, because PSBs catty moments are some of their most delicious, and while the fine "Ego Music" ("In the sea of negativity/Im the Statue of Liberty/Thats why people love me/Its humbling") balances bliss and spite with the grace of their 1991 single "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?," feeling prickly is out of fashion when the Olympics come to town, and this is the Pet Shop Boys album with their Olympic single "Winner." Low-key and still triumphant, the cut feels like fists in the air while wearing tasteful trench coats, and without the usual panache, this misty victory is still an acquired taste. The hooky "A Face Like That," on the other hand, is winning crossover, paying extra dividends to fan club members who will see it as a sped-up "Love Comes Quickly," and with ironic swan song "Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin" soaring with classical arrangements, Derek Jarman references, and memories of "the clichés, the candles, the mess," the albums awkward juggling of self-doubt and spectacle is on point for a moment, suggesting return visits to Elysium will provide answers and insight, Behaviour-style. Maybe that motorcycle heard at the end of the album is speeding toward a new tomorrow, or maybe its headed toward the Olympic closing ceremonies for Pet Shop Boys to perform "West End Girls" when theyd prefer to do "Winner." Either way, Elysium is an interesting, sour, and insider-aimed dispatch from backstage, interrupted by some big moments that sound entirely commissioned. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 23 Title: Electric Released: 2013-07-12 Tracks: 11 Duration: 57:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Axis (05:32) 2 Bolshy (05:44) 3 Love Is a Bourgeois Construct (06:41) 4 Fluorescent (06:16) 5 Inside a Dream (05:37) 6 The Last to Die (04:12) 7 Shouting in the Evening (03:36) 8 Thursday (05:02) 9 Vocal (06:34) 10 Axis (Boys Noize remix) (04:10) 11 Axis (Boys Noize dub remix) (04:10) |
| Electric : Allmusic album Review : While it entirely feels like a return to form, theres nothing quite like Electric in the Pet Shop Boys back catalog, at least not on an album level. Immediately achieving escape velocity from the dour doldrums of their previous effort Elysium, this taut, electro-disco wonder kicks off with the Kraftwerk-meets-Giorgio Moroder highlight "Axis" and stays in the zone with both icy cool productions from Stuart Price (Madonna, Seal, Kylie Minogue) and a bpm count that remains high with nothing coming close to a slow dance ballad. While previous albums were broken up by large scale numbers like "It Couldnt Happen Here" or slow burners like "Love Comes Quickly," this one adds variety by going for danceable wit ("Love Is a Bourgeois Construct" so "You wont see me with a bunch of roses/Promising fidelity"), sheer joy ("Bolshy" is both ridiculous and ridiculously fun), and Bruce Springsteen ("The Last to Die" is a cover of the Boss anti-war number, now turned into a floor-filler, and it somehow works). With PSB members Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe already known for their dry delivery, "Thursday," with rapper Example, turns into a grand, posh posse cut with a razor-sharp crease, and when the closing highlight "Vocal" offers "Everything about tonight feels right and so young," former Smash Hits critic Tennant could replace "tonight" with "the album" for his headline review. Keeping the track list to nine cuts only sharpens the effort, but these dance numbers are allowed to run past the six-minute mark when need be, as if Electric were some kind of 12" collection of alternate universe, fan favorites. An excellent, unexpected, and infectious triumph. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 23 Title: Super Released: 2016-04-01 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Happiness (04:04) 2 The Pop Kids (03:55) 3 Twenty-Something (04:22) 4 Groovy (03:29) 5 The Dictator Decides (04:50) 6 Pazzo! (02:44) 7 Inner Sanctum (04:18) 8 Undertow (04:15) 9 Sad Robot World (03:18) 10 Say It to Me (03:08) 11 Burn (03:53) 12 Into Thin Air (04:17) |
| Super : Allmusic album Review : Coming almost three years after their excellent, unexpected, and infectious LP Electric, 2016s Super is the second album where the Pet Shop Boys call themselves "electronic purists," holing up in the studio with returning producer Stuart Price and a mess of PCs, drum machines, and synths. The musical landscape is the same and still, its not a sequel or a very proper follow-up. It feels confident, loose, and free like a swaggering epilogue, like the smaller Quantum of Solace following the epic Casino Royale. At first, everything is in its place, as nostalgic single "The Pop Kids" acts as this albums "Being Boring" with alluring house music and quintessential PSB lyrics ("I studied History while you did biology/To you the human body didnt hold any mystery"). "The Dictator Decides" is this albums "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously" with focus shifted to the 2016 political landscape ("My facts are invented, I sound quite demented"). A healthy dose of classic spite fuels "Twenty-Something" as electro bachata makes the songs Oscar Wilde outlook and Dorothy Parker attitude sound cool rather than curmudgeon. Borrow some riffs from Kraftwerks "Trans Europe Express" and Mobys "Go" while giving the style-less EDM kids a kick during the great "Inner Sanctum" and this sounds like Electric once again, but Super ventures into B-side territory with the brilliant instrumental "Pazzo!" along with most of the albums spirited and sprawling second half. Still, PSB B-sides are larks and experiments of the highest order, so while Super scores as high as the crossover-ish Electric, its built more for the fan who puts "Paninaro" at the top of their list, well ahead of "West End Girls." | ||