Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental

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Tracklist:

1. God Willing
2. Minimal
3. The Sodom & Gomorrah Show
4. I'm With Stupid
5. Psychological
6. I Made My Excuses And Left
7. Integral
8. Numb
9. Luna Park
10. Casanova Hell
11. Twentieth Century
12. Indefinite Leave To Remain

Popjustice says it's their best since VERY.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Thursday, 29 December 2005 05:29 (twenty years ago)

There's an instrumental clip purporting to be "Psychological" flying around the intranot, but I've not heard it.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 29 December 2005 05:49 (twenty years ago)

http://media.phonicarecords.co.uk/psb002_1.mp3

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Thursday, 29 December 2005 05:49 (twenty years ago)

they still know how to write a song title, don't they? I wasn't huge on Release but I liked some of it a lot, this should be interesting.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Thursday, 29 December 2005 05:50 (twenty years ago)

I kind of liked Release (considering how rotten it could potentially have been), so I'm hoping they'll capitalize on the better parts of it.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 29 December 2005 05:53 (twenty years ago)

Which one did Diane Warren write? My money's on "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show."

― John Hunter, Thursday, 29 December 2005 05:59 (twenty years ago)

"Numb"

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Thursday, 29 December 2005 06:00 (twenty years ago)

"i'm with stupid"

― geeta (geeta), Thursday, 29 December 2005 06:16 (twenty years ago)

The "Psychological" track that Edward mentions is actually a full track which comes from a one-sided promo (http://www.discogs.com/release/589381). However, this promo version is fully instrumental, so doesn't give a very full sense of what the final track (which apparently has vocals), or the album, is like.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Thursday, 29 December 2005 06:19 (twenty years ago)

i know they've released albums but i don't care anymore.this sounds like a song title . they've done nothing good after very.
i feel like playing "actually".

― retroboy, Thursday, 29 December 2005 06:36 (twenty years ago)

"Miracles" and "Flamboyant" were great, I'd love an album in that vein. Release was eh.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Thursday, 29 December 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

I wasn't fond of Release either besides the Eminem track and the first single. The titles of these new songs makes me augur great things.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 29 December 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

i really, really hope this is great, and if it isn't as great as i want it to be that i can ignore it, because sadly retroboy otm.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 29 December 2005 17:09 (twenty years ago)

I'm a big PSB fan, but that snippet of "Psychological" sounds like the on-hold music for the BT Basic Teleconferencing service. BO-RING.

― schwantz, Thursday, 29 December 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

when is this out?

― heywood jablomi (heywood), Thursday, 29 December 2005 23:54 (twenty years ago)

Any ideas about genre? I hope they have taken some influence from Richard X, Annie and Kylie Minogue...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 29 December 2005 23:57 (twenty years ago)

I mean, it would be kind of typical of them, as they are a bit like Madonna in their ability to always pick the best of the new trends.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 29 December 2005 23:58 (twenty years ago)

Heavily electro-pop, apparently. "Release", I kind of em enh about, I like it when it's playing well enough but only "I Get Along" stands out as being one of their best.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 30 December 2005 00:00 (twenty years ago)

I am most looking forward to "I Made My Excuses And Left", which sounds as if it'll be of the same lineage as something like "Jealousy".

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 30 December 2005 00:00 (twenty years ago)

they've done nothing good after very

I consider "Nightlife" an overlooked gem of sorts. Particularly "Boy Strange" is a great song.

Regarding their forthcoming album, I didn't notice the links upthread, but that track sounds very promising. I suppose there will be a bit of Neil Tennant in there, and the backing track is exactly what I was hoping for them to do now.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 30 December 2005 00:05 (twenty years ago)

Any predictions on what "I'm with Stupid" will sound like?

― benj (benwelsh), Friday, 30 December 2005 01:57 (twenty years ago)

I consider "Nightlife" an overlooked gem of sorts. Particularly "Boy Strange" is a great song.

Geir and I agree. The world is a benevolent place.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Friday, 30 December 2005 02:06 (twenty years ago)

Heavily electro-pop, apparently. "Release", I kind of em enh about, I like it when it's playing well enough but only "I Get Along" stands out as being one of their best.
-- edward o (edwardo...), December 30th, 2005.
and if you forget the words you can sing oasis "whatever".

― retroboy, Friday, 30 December 2005 02:07 (twenty years ago)

Tracklist:
1. God Willing (this sell more than nightlife)
2. Minimal ( the fans effort to be interested anymore)
3. The Sodom & Gomorrah Show
4. I'm With Stupid
5. Psychological
6. I Made My Excuses And Left (producer stephen hague)
7. Integral
8. Numb (how i felt after 'release')
9. Luna Park
10. Casanova Hell
11. Twentieth Century (last time we had a top ten.)
12. Indefinite Leave To Remain

― retrogurl, Friday, 30 December 2005 02:11 (twenty years ago)

aussie band "mental as anything" called their album "fundamental".

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Mental%20As%20Anything

http://www.mentals.com.au/mentals/

― retrogurl, Friday, 30 December 2005 02:14 (twenty years ago)

anyone know the release date on this yet?

― Pablo (Pablo A), Friday, 30 December 2005 23:05 (twenty years ago)

February or March, I think.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 30 December 2005 23:52 (twenty years ago)

Popjustice says ... bwahahaha! :-D

― fandango (fandango), Saturday, 31 December 2005 02:04 (twenty years ago)

i hope it gets delayed..lol

― retrogurl, Saturday, 31 December 2005 02:26 (twenty years ago)

Any predictions on what "I'm with Stupid" will sound like?

I'll guess a mostly instrumental thing like Samurai in Autumn, in which the title does not appear in the lyrics.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Saturday, 31 December 2005 08:15 (twenty years ago)

Apparently "I'm With Stupid" does have a lyric, and is about dating some dumb celebrity whose resemblance to ____ is completely accidental.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Saturday, 31 December 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

And the release date for the album is April 17, aka TOO FAR AWAY.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Saturday, 31 December 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

fun·da·ment (f?n'd?-m?nt)
n.
The buttocks.
The anus.
The natural features of a land surface unaltered by humans.
A foundation, as of a building.
An underlying theoretical basis or principle: “All neighbor states … must revise … their policy fundaments” (C.L. Sulzberger).

― Momus (Momus), Saturday, 31 December 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

they've done nothing good after very.

This statement is not an opinion I can respect in the slightest.

― Dan (Madness) Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 31 December 2005 21:29 (twenty years ago)

It's one I'd strongly agree with though Very = rot setting in, after = not very good really when compared with pre-Very material = very, very good, exemplary, swish etc

― fandango (fandango), Sunday, 1 January 2006 13:54 (twenty years ago)

Very = rot setting in

Obviously, you have no ears.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 1 January 2006 15:29 (twenty years ago)

pffff!

http://petshopboysinparis.free.fr/promogowest.jpg

― fandango (fandango), Sunday, 1 January 2006 15:32 (twenty years ago)

The Samurai in Autumn lyrics mention the title:

It's not as easy as it was
or as difficult as it could be
for the Samurai in autumn

― National Roffle Association (Paul in Santa Cruz), Sunday, 1 January 2006 18:55 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

Looking forward to this album. This band just keeps getting better and better. I have heard the demo track for "Luna Park" and it sound like a track from Relentless, which is fine by me. This album will be the boys' masterpiece.

― Luke Forster, Friday, 20 January 2006 17:09 (twenty years ago)

That honor goes to Very, but we need a properly thumping autumnal masterpiece from then now – and Release wasn't it.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Friday, 20 January 2006 17:11 (twenty years ago)

This is going to be quite a year for returning heroes of mine; Pet Shop Boys, Morrissey, Scott Walker... All needed now would be for Prefab Sprout to reconvene - with the participation of Wendy Smith and Thomas Dolby.

'fandago' is rather spot-on; their more recent material stands up as pretty good in general terms. It's only poor next to their formidable earlier career. Hopefully this album will be a return to those heights...

― Tom May (Tom May), Saturday, 21 January 2006 00:05 (twenty years ago)

Apparently review copies have been sent out, anyone brave/foolhardy/kindly enough to YSI?

― Affectian (Affectian), Saturday, 21 January 2006 00:28 (twenty years ago)

All needed now would be for Prefab Sprout to reconvene

If Paddy is going to do more of the "I Travel The Megahrz" oddities, then he may as well stay away from the limelight for some more time. I would rather have a compilation of all the leftover material he made between 1990 and 1997 and never released.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 21 January 2006 00:31 (twenty years ago)

where is aztec camera ?

― cryptic child, Saturday, 21 January 2006 07:42 (twenty years ago)

they dropped the name and release records under the cunning alias "Roddy Frame"

― kit brash (kit brash), Saturday, 21 January 2006 13:55 (twenty years ago)

Roddy Frame = MF Do Dreary.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Saturday, 21 January 2006 14:02 (twenty years ago)

Very is massively overrated and everything they've done since then is underrated to varying degrees.

― Dan (Perspective) Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 21 January 2006 15:33 (twenty years ago)

'fandago' is rather spot-on; their more recent material stands up as pretty good in general terms. It's only poor next to their formidable earlier career.

-- Tom May

I was being rather more unkind than that re: the later material :(

― fandango (fandango), Saturday, 21 January 2006 15:41 (twenty years ago)

Not that I woudn't hope for a return to form this year...

― fandango (fandango), Saturday, 21 January 2006 15:41 (twenty years ago)

I really don't trust anyone who would argue that "Domino Dancing" is a better song than "Home And Dry".

― Dan (Hands Where I Can See Them, Buddy) Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 21 January 2006 15:47 (twenty years ago)

'Domino Dancing' is about 3 times better than 'Home And Dry'. However, it is only half as good as the Oh Romeo song the PSB covered on the Disco III album.

― Affect (Stating Things Without Any Justifcation) ian (Affectian), Saturday, 21 January 2006 15:54 (twenty years ago)

"Domino Dancing" DOES have a better video!

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 21 January 2006 15:56 (twenty years ago)

Here we go again.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 21 January 2006 16:00 (twenty years ago)

ILM, I rebuke thee and your asinine-sucky-music-liking-great-music-hating quirks.

― Dan (Sons Of Satan, All Of You) Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 21 January 2006 16:03 (twenty years ago)

Dan gets excited (and I get excited too).

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 21 January 2006 16:19 (twenty years ago)

I'm just one of the crowd.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 21 January 2006 16:19 (twenty years ago)

Now see, THAT'S a great song!

(xpost: That too!)

― Dan (_Alternative_ Is The Masterpiece, Not _Very_) Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 21 January 2006 16:20 (twenty years ago)

"Don Juan" sounds marvelous as the soundtrack to a lazy Saturday breakfast of oatmeal and bad Folger's French Roast.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 21 January 2006 16:23 (twenty years ago)

"Don Juan" is approximately 500 orders of magnitude better than "Domino Dancing".

― Dan (Perfect Single From That Era: "Don Juan" b/w "I'm Not Scared") Perry (Dan P, Saturday, 21 January 2006 16:24 (twenty years ago)

hehe Dan, out of interest, why do you hate Domino Dancing so?

― Affectian (Affectian), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:01 (twenty years ago)

OH NOOOOOO

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:02 (twenty years ago)

(Seriously, he's gone into detail about this elsewhere on ILX. Hold on and I'll find it.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:02 (twenty years ago)

1. The music is a sub-par Expose/Miami Sound Machine pastiche.
2. The chorus, particularly the "all day, all day" or whatever it is that's being chirped by the zombie backup singers, is one of the most irritating things ever recorded.
3. Much of the production seems to revel in all of the things they did wrong with the single mix of "Suburbia", mainly in highlighting the tenuous, reedy, unpleasant qualities in Neil Tennant's voice and reducing the rhythm section to something that sounds like it should be playing during one of the car chase scenes in "Mannequin".
4. It's too mid-tempo to pull of its Expose/Miami Sound Machine pastiche and ends up sounding like a tired, plodding mess.
5. It was the first thing they released after Actually and is so much worse than everything on that album (including "Shopping") that they should be embarrassed.
Also, the original b-side version of "I Want A Dog" on the "Rent" single is so infinitely superior to the Introspective version that it isn't even funny.

-- The Ghost of Dan Perry (djperr...), February 24th, 2005.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:05 (twenty years ago)

As stated on this wonderful thread:

The Pet Shop Boys' first twenty singles...

And echoed a bit here:

Seriously, is there anything better than the Pet Shop Boys?

Both essential reading.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:07 (twenty years ago)

Domino Dancing has great lyrics, an area where Release was lacking.

Home and Dry is better, though. I Get Along was great as well, except they nicked the chorus from the Super Furries.

― Gukbe (lokar), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:13 (twenty years ago)

except they nicked the chorus from the Super Furries.

Wow! I thought I was the only one that noticed that!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:15 (twenty years ago)

Gulp, yeah Dan's DD-hate is pretty much legendary but I just wanted the 2006 version. Does anyone else agree with him? DD is far from the best PSB but it fits in pleasantly enough on Discography.

― Affectian (Affectian), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:16 (twenty years ago)

Hmm...I see where he's coming from, but I think it works better together than he's giving it credit for. Of course, I love Introspective through and through (especially I'm Not Scared), so maybe I'm thinking in the wrong context. I shall find the shorter, single version.

― Gukbe (lokar), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:22 (twenty years ago)

Hahahaha the 2006 version is basically the same as the 2005 version with the following rider:

"I discovered recently that I don't actually hate Depeche Mode's A Broken Frame, I only hate one song on it; I might someday have a similar turnaround on Introspective but the last time I even thought about "Domino Dancing" or "Left To My Own Devices" I bit my tongue in revulsion so I'm not really holding by breath."

― Dan (And So On) Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:32 (twenty years ago)

Left to My Own Devices???

― Gukbe (lokar), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:36 (twenty years ago)

Yes, aka "The Most Lyrically-Awkward Song Neil Tennant Ever Wrote But Everyone Was All Over His Jock So He Could Get Away With It".

― Dan (Not A Fan) Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 21 January 2006 17:39 (twenty years ago)

After hearing the PSB remix of Madonna's Sorry I'm now seriously looking forward to this. Hopefully it's all hi-nrg sequencer heaven.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 27 January 2006 12:12 (twenty years ago)

The remix is brilliant, but am I the only one who can't help but think of R.E.M.'s "The Apologist" when Neil does his "sorry, so sorry" vocal bits?

I've put off buying another record player ever since I moved to Glasgow, but I'm considering it now as I'm sure the Fundamental vinyl will be glorious. Any word on who is doing the artwork? Or is that something nobody could possibly know/care about at this stage (or indeed, any)?

― Gukbe (lokar), Friday, 27 January 2006 12:29 (twenty years ago)

I've never forgiven "Domino Dancing" for clearing my dancefloor - and this while it was still in the UK Top 20. Ghastly song! Hate it!

Whereas the 12" of "Left To My Own Devices" soundtracked the peak moment of the best night of the best club I ever DJ-ed at. Genius song! Love it!

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Friday, 27 January 2006 12:49 (twenty years ago)

mike t-diva makes a valid distinction here.

But whatever its shortcomings as a song, the existence of "Domino Dancing" is justified by its video.

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Friday, 27 January 2006 16:28 (twenty years ago)

If any of you wants to know more info about psb ...Join my forum!
www.tennant-lowe.com

― LydiaPSB, Wednesday, 1 February 2006 23:00 (twenty years ago)

Whereas the 12" of "Left To My Own Devices" soundtracked the peak moment of the best night of the best club I ever DJ-ed at. Genius song! Love it!

Was that song released in 12" form? Or do you mean the album version?

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 2 February 2006 01:32 (twenty years ago)

11:27 Left To My Own Devices (the disco mix)?

― kit brash (kit brash), Thursday, 2 February 2006 02:45 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

A radio rip of "I'm with stupid". I think the verse is amazing. The chorus, not so much (a bit silly). But pretty good overall.

― daavid (daavid), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 06:58 (twenty years ago)

...there's a very 80's feel to it. It would have fitted nicely on "Please" or "Actually". Nice production too!

― daavid (daavid), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 07:13 (twenty years ago)

...and the lyrics are also very good. The Bush-Blair subtext is in there, but Tennant cleverly leaves it open enough for multiple interpretations.

― daavid (daavid), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 07:41 (twenty years ago)

Initial impression is that this is quite excellent.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 08:00 (twenty years ago)

Good grief, 10 listens in and it really is QUITE outstanding.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 08:50 (twenty years ago)

Those drums are epic. Very ABC, or am I using that as a comparison because it's Trevor? I hear it. And that occaisional big.fucking.bass. By all accounts, this is far from the best song on the album, so I think there is much to look forward to.

― Gukbe (lokar), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 11:41 (twenty years ago)

There's an Atlantic Ocean between this and something like "Love Comes Quickly".

I have a better Pet Shop Boys parody on my forthcoming album "Ocky Milk", just you wait!

― Momus (Momus), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 11:57 (twenty years ago)

It's not really comparable with "Love Comes Quickly" but then it's not a ballad anyway, surely a better stick to beat it with would be one of the more uptempo numbers from the same era?

I think it's really good, I like the PSBs enough that another album of them being themselves quite well will do just fine. Just nothing like "Nightlife" ever again!

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 11:59 (twenty years ago)

I hear a bit of "Very" - particularly "Can You Forgive Her", but also some "It's A Sin" and yeah, some Frankie.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 12:04 (twenty years ago)

I was nervous about them releasing a song that clearly was going to use "stupid" as a chorus -- because, hello, Culture Club -- but this is quite marv.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 12:54 (twenty years ago)

I can't stop listening to it. Indeed, I can't decide what's better -- the song itself or the mashup with "Theme From S'Express" that's also now running through my head.

― esque, Tuesday, 14 March 2006 13:20 (twenty years ago)

Those drums are epic.

DOM-DOM-DOM-BOM-BOOOM!

Hurrah.

(Also: horns. Blak-blak-blak-BLAAAK!!)

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 14:24 (twenty years ago)

i like when dan gets mad abt. domino dancing! more please!

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 17:41 (twenty years ago)

It sounds GREAT – deliberately retro, but not annoyingly so. I think I love it because it sounds vaguely like "Living In a Box."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 17:49 (twenty years ago)

I'd been trying to remember what other PSB song it reminds me the most, and now I know: It's "Two Divided By Zero".

― daavid (daavid), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:00 (twenty years ago)

the dickie x produced / mixed track aparently sounds very 1986/87.

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:07 (twenty years ago)

...The Bush-Blair subtext is in there, but Tennant cleverly leaves it open enough for multiple interpretations.

What I really meant here is that it's never that obvious (like the Eminem reference in "The night I fell in love").

― daavid (daavid), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:10 (twenty years ago)

I have a better Pet Shop Boys parody on my forthcoming album "Ocky Milk", just you wait!

But this is not a parody! Still looking forward to hearing your song though.

― daavid (daavid), Tuesday, 14 March 2006 21:50 (twenty years ago)

http://www.popjustice.com/images/stories/p/petshopboyspressshot1.jpg

― daavid (daavid), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 06:44 (twenty years ago)

???

― daavid (daavid), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 06:46 (twenty years ago)

damn i missed that ysi. repost?

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 12:37 (twenty years ago)

A friend reckons "I'm With Stupid" sounds like "Livin' On A Prayer".

― davidsim (davidsim), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 14:28 (twenty years ago)

It doesn't sound like that at all! The only thing they have in common is the "oh..." in the beginning of the chorus. We're talking about the Bon Jovi song here, right?

I'll repost the ysi soon.

― daavid (daavid), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 22:37 (twenty years ago)

http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=24OLFV7Y6L8RU1CYHRUX4TAAZ7

― daavid (daavid), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 22:49 (twenty years ago)

THANK YOU!

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 23:14 (twenty years ago)

GREAT cover art.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 23:31 (twenty years ago)

The Pet Shop Boys are playing at the Tower of London in June:
http://www.seetickets.com/see/price.asp?code=188791&userid=30626038&filler1=see

― davidsim (davidsim), Thursday, 23 March 2006 13:55 (twenty years ago)

oo 40 quid, get me 5! :-(

― Britain's Obtusest Shepherd (Alan), Thursday, 23 March 2006 14:00 (twenty years ago)

Looks like late May. Are US and UK releases around the same time? Anyone know?

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Thursday, 23 March 2006 17:21 (twenty years ago)

Pet Shop Boys to Headline IOW Bestival
http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=14968
Other acts on the bill include The Fall, Devendra Banhart, The Stranglers, King Creosote, Amadou & Mariam and Kid Creole and The Coconuts.

also clock this for electronic music fans

Melt
http://www.meltfestival.de/

Melt! Festival in germany
http://www.residentadvisor.net/event_view.asp?ID=7440

Pet Shop Boys
Aphex Twin
The Streets
2manydjs
Soulwax Nite Versions (live)
Phoenix
Art Brut
Mia.
Tomte
Blumfeld
Die Sterne
Hell
Miss Kittin
Dave Clarke
Ellen Allien
Slam
Roni Size & Dynamite MC
Klee
Erlend Øye
Deichkind
Egoexpress
Moonbootica
Isolee
Superdiscount (Etienne de Crecy, Alex Gopher, Julien Delfaud)
Wighnomy Brothers
The Gossip
Infadels
WhoMadeWho
Mediengruppe Telekommander
Whitest Boy Alive
Nathan Fake
Angie Reed feat. Eric D. Clark
Sid LeRock
Das Pop
Pitchtuner
Barbara Morgenstern
Oliver Koletzki
Schneider TM
Mathias Kaden

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 23 March 2006 17:46 (twenty years ago)

The cover:

http://static.flickr.com/35/122405545_ed625b41a0_m.jpg

― daavid (daavid), Monday, 3 April 2006 04:30 (twenty years ago)

The video premiere of "I'm With Stupid" has just been on Channel 4.

Umm... I really like the song, but perhaps Neil & Chris are better than resorting to Walliams & Lucas doing a comedy video? It's very meta though.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 14 April 2006 21:56 (twenty years ago)

i just started a thread about that but...

― michael wells (michael w.), Friday, 14 April 2006 22:09 (twenty years ago)

"Integral" and "Luna Park" have leaked. Haven't listened to Integral but everybody's saying it's great. "Luna Park" is embarassing though.

― daavid (daavid), Monday, 24 April 2006 13:30 (twenty years ago)

anyone YSI please? esp. "integral"

― william, it was really nothing (superpopelectro), Monday, 24 April 2006 19:06 (twenty years ago)

"Luna Park" is a bit of a grower, although probably a minute too long (i.e., too self-consciously trying to be an epic ballad).

Aside from its slight but already much-noted resemblance to "Beds Are Burning," "Integral" makes me want to sing that old disco song that goes "nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody," and it's DRIVING ME INSANE TRYING TO THINK WHAT IT'S CALLED.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 25 April 2006 07:32 (twenty years ago)

BL, can you hit my gmail?

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 25 April 2006 08:14 (twenty years ago)

Hitting as we speak.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 25 April 2006 09:07 (twenty years ago)

"Integral" is _fantastic_. "Luna Park", not really.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 25 April 2006 11:17 (twenty years ago)

Anyone wanna post a link to "Luna Park"?

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 25 April 2006 12:10 (twenty years ago)

Brittle, are you thinking about "Let's All Chant" by Michael Zager Band?

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Tuesday, 25 April 2006 12:29 (twenty years ago)

BL or Ed O - could one of you send me "integral"? thank youuuu.

― william, it was really nothing (superpopelectro), Tuesday, 25 April 2006 13:12 (twenty years ago)

LeRoo, thank you. That's it, exactly. If people don't know "Let's All Chant," I urge them not to seek it out, because when you do, you will not be able to not sing "nobody, etc" to the string part in "Integral."

Various people might want to check gmail.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 25 April 2006 14:59 (twenty years ago)

By god, Integral is good.

― davidsim (davidsim), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 09:29 (twenty years ago)

i wonder if luna park has any relation to the bret easton ellis book of (nearly) the same name?

― yuengling participle (rotten03), Wednesday, 26 April 2006 20:07 (twenty years ago)

Minimal has leaked as well...i'm liking it alot, especially all the orchestral flourishes towards the end.

i don't really care for I'm With Stupid that much...they would have been better off releasing Minimal as the first single, like they were originally supposed to.

Integral, on the other hand, is effin' brilliant!

i've yet to hear Luna Park....would anyone be so kind to email this to me??? pretty please! =)

― echodex (echodex), Friday, 28 April 2006 01:30 (twenty years ago)

I haven't really been keeping up with this thread, but on a cursory scan through it didn't look like this had been posted yet, so here goes the tracklisting for the bonus disc:

1. Fugitive (Richard X extended mix)
2. Sodom (Trentmoller remix)
3. Psychological (Alter Ego remix)
4. Flamboyant (Michael Mayer remix)
5. I'm with Stupid (Melnyk mix)
6. In private (Stuart Crichton club mix)
7. Minimal (Lobe remix)
8. Gomorrah (Dettinger remix)

Trentemoller! M. Mayer! Richard X! Ooh, I like.

― Telephonething (Telephonething), Friday, 28 April 2006 01:50 (twenty years ago)

DETTINGER?!?

― etc, Friday, 28 April 2006 05:58 (twenty years ago)

evidently "sodom and gomorrah show" and "casanova in hell" have also leaked. anyone care to share? i can trade for "minimal" "integral" "luna park" or "stupid."

― william, it was really nothing (superpopelectro), Friday, 28 April 2006 21:17 (twenty years ago)

rumor has it the whole album has now leaked.

― william, it was really nothing (superpopelectro), Saturday, 29 April 2006 14:03 (twenty years ago)

most of the album has leaked now...Psychological, The Sodom & Gomorrah Show, Minimal, Numb, I'm With Stupid, Casanova In Hell, Integral, & Luna Park.

i haven't been able to find any of the other tracks yet...but you can find the ones i've listed on slsk.

so far, The Sodom & Gomorrah Show and Integral are the real stand-out tracks for me. also really liking Minimal as well.

― echodex (echodex), Saturday, 29 April 2006 22:35 (twenty years ago)

Hmm. No signs of either in DC++. I've more or less permanently changed into DC by now, but it seems Soulseek is still better for unreleased stuff.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 30 April 2006 00:14 (twenty years ago)

the full album has leaked now on slsk.

― echodex (echodex), Sunday, 30 April 2006 00:20 (twenty years ago)

Its pretty great on first listen. Maybe one or two tracks need some growing, but I haven't gotten round to it as Integral completely has me by the balls and won't let me listen to anything else. If the video doesn't feature Neil diving off an exploding rooftop and onto a jet piloted by Chris, I will be sorely disapointed.

― jason. (jason.), Sunday, 30 April 2006 07:16 (twenty years ago)

"I'm With Stupid" is possibly the second worst song; it's sort of the album's "How Can You Expect..." (i.e., the most sledgehammery).

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Sunday, 30 April 2006 09:23 (twenty years ago)

I was loving it until the showtune ballads.
No, no, no, Neil.
Chris, rein him in, will you?

― davidsim (davidsim), Sunday, 30 April 2006 10:29 (twenty years ago)

The pop songs are great, the ballads are pretty shit I agree, unless they're growers. On the old records things weren't so delineated, there were ballads that were witty and uptempo too. This is a problem.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 30 April 2006 19:19 (twenty years ago)

I'm a little bothered by the guitar sounds in some of the tracks, namely "Integral" and especially "Sodom". Is it just me or do they sound cheap? The highlight so far for me has been "Minimal".

― daavid (daavid), Sunday, 30 April 2006 19:57 (twenty years ago)

I like Psychological alot.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 30 April 2006 20:02 (twenty years ago)

I'm not loving the ballads either, but it's the bloody PSB, one must give them the benefit of the doubt, and perhaps not pass judgment until they have all been listened to over three-quarters of a bottle of red and a broken heart.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 30 April 2006 23:44 (twenty years ago)

I like the ballads, but then again I'm a big sap and perpetually filled withn 3/4 of a bottle of white. "I Made My Excuses" is a sketch of an emotional moment much like "So Sorry I Said," except with even less of a chorus, but it also has the Greatest Rhyme Evah (elephant/supplicant), or at least since pneumonia/leave ya. And "Casanova" has the funny de-erection sound.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Monday, 1 May 2006 02:22 (twenty years ago)

Okay, "Numb" has hit me, "I Made My Excuses" seems too slight, a charming sketch but no more. Still going to keep listening to it.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 1 May 2006 06:08 (twenty years ago)

I thought the tacky metal guitar sound on Integral was intentionally used to authenticate the Hans Zimmer-ness of the whole thing.

"Numb" and "Indefinite Leave to Remain" are good. "I Made My Excuses" and "Luna Park" are the ones i'm hoping are growers. I'm missing "Casanova in Hell." I was really hoping that one wasn't a ballad. Ah well.

― jason. (jason.), Monday, 1 May 2006 18:51 (twenty years ago)

i've heard half the album and its not reeeeally what I was hoping for - its not really Introspective 2 or anything. The only track I have played a fair bit - and only because I was in a bit of a down beat mood - is Luna Park - which is nicely blue - but the upbeat stuff is largley a let down thus far....

― garax, Monday, 1 May 2006 21:50 (twenty years ago)

i really like this record.

― pablo (Pablo A), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 03:48 (twenty years ago)

I'm missing "Casanova in Hell." I was really hoping that one wasn't a ballad. Ah well.

It is a very simple ballad. And quite moving, really, despite its seemingly joky subject matter. Given its focus on physical aging and (career) decline, it's a kind of elaboration on "The Samurai In Autumn."

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Tuesday, 2 May 2006 12:34 (twenty years ago)

Give Luna Park a chance. The lyrics paint quite beautiful images. Neil has said Luna Park is a metaphor for America which gives the song an even more haunting quality. I see it as a commentary on how our lives are lived in fear and how we distract ourselves from what is really going on. It is a grower and probably the most complex "ballad" on the album. Numb is amazing. Sodom, Integral, Numb, and Minimal could all make fantastic singles.

― Corey Alexander, Thursday, 4 May 2006 20:39 (twenty years ago)

I have to admit to being a sad enough sack that my opinion of this album will likely hinge on the quality of "Fugitive" (although "Integral" is more than entertaining enough for the moment).

― James.Cobo (jamescobo), Thursday, 4 May 2006 21:26 (twenty years ago)

I haven't heard this album yet but I just heard the entirety of Nightlife for the first time about an hour ago. These guys, when they're on, are FUCKING FANTASTIC.

― Dan (So So Good) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 5 May 2006 17:20 (twenty years ago)

"Nightlife" is great. But other than that, I feel like they sort of peaked around 1990-93, and judging from their record sales it seems the audiences agree. "Bilingual" contained the odd good song ("Red Letter Day" in particular) but also way too many annoying failed attempts at doing Latino (they did a lot better with "Domino Dancing" 7 years earlier). And I think most people agree that "Release" was less than satisfactory and possibly their worst album ever.

Hopefully, they will be back in good old shape on "Fundamental" though, and I think Electro may bring out the best in them.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 5 May 2006 21:05 (twenty years ago)

I haven't heard this album yet but I just heard the entirety of Nightlife for the first time about an hour ago

Lucky man, Dan. The first three songs rivals "Two Divided By Zero-West End Girls-Opportunties" as their greatest opening sequence ever. Suspicion, ecstasy/release, and heartbreak.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Friday, 5 May 2006 21:10 (twenty years ago)

But "Boy Strange" is still the best song, and indeed the best song Pet Shop Boys had released since "Can You Forgive Her".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 5 May 2006 21:13 (twenty years ago)

I kind of can't believe I'd never actually heard the album version of "In Denial" before today.

― Dan (Such A Great Band) Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 5 May 2006 22:19 (twenty years ago)

I thought Nightlife was uneven and I liked Bilingual much
better. "Red Letter Day" was the most Pet Shop Boys-sounding song on that album, which may explain why a lot of fans liked it (the single version was great). But it also
has "Discoteca", "The Survivors", "Before", "Up Against It", "It Always Comes As A Surprise" and so many other fantastic songs. The singles choice might be what killed it.

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Friday, 5 May 2006 22:21 (twenty years ago)

My opinion:

Excellent: "Numb", "Integral", "Indefinite Leave To Remain"
Good: "I'm With Stupid", "Casanova In Hell", "Minimal"
OK: "Psychological", "I Made My Excuses And Left"
Duff: "Twentieth Century", "Luna Park"
Well, it's a bit short innit: "God Willing"

It's not fantastic by any stretch of the means, but (Twentieth Century) aside, it does end very well. The "Indefinite"/"Integral" closing duo is very, very wonderful.

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 6 May 2006 10:54 (twenty years ago)

Oh, "Sodom & Gomorrah" is also in the "Excellent" pile.

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 6 May 2006 10:59 (twenty years ago)

Am I the only one who thinks "Love is a catastrophe" is one of their best?

Bit disappointed by Fundamental, love "Integral" though, it sounds like TaTu

― sotough, Saturday, 6 May 2006 21:00 (twenty years ago)

M.I.N.I.M.A.L !

― snowballing (snowballing), Sunday, 7 May 2006 07:01 (twenty years ago)

Edward will be disappointed by this, but the website has confirmed that "Minimal" will be the second single, and a remix by Tiga is already in the bag.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Sunday, 7 May 2006 07:03 (twenty years ago)

The production on "Fugitive," it turns out, isn't especially distinctive. But it has a nice Heart-esque vocoder moment in the middle.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 09:05 (twenty years ago)

i like PSYCHOLOGICAL from the first 5 tracks so far.

what is it with all the...weird inbetween song noises and such. also on the intros. the knife's album has lots of this.

― pisces (piscesx), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 11:50 (twenty years ago)

Brittle, people are saying "Fugitive" is like, the best track EVER. Is this true?

― daavid (daavid), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 16:48 (twenty years ago)

if anyone has "fugitive you share, i'd love you forever (i could also send you the new "west end girls" album).

― william, it was really nothing (superpopelectro), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 19:10 (twenty years ago)

that should be "fugitive" to share...

― william, it was really nothing (superpopelectro), Wednesday, 10 May 2006 19:10 (twenty years ago)

'they've done nothing good after very.'

they've just done nothing as good as very after very.

― Carlos Keith (Buck_Wilde), Thursday, 11 May 2006 00:33 (twenty years ago)

Flamboyant (Michael Mayer remix)

extremely disappointing.

― toby (tsg20), Thursday, 11 May 2006 01:26 (twenty years ago)

"Goes Petshopping" > "Fundamental"

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 11 May 2006 02:36 (twenty years ago)

2. Sodom (Trentmoeller remix)

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW THIS IS INCREDIBLY GOOD. Shit blows up like I kept wishing it would in Jacques Lu Cont's mix of "Talk".

That being said, nothing on God's earth is going to top those handclaps in "Fugitive".

― James.Cobo (jamescobo), Thursday, 11 May 2006 03:05 (twenty years ago)

Daavid, I don't like "Fugitive" that much. The production is somewhat pedestrain: the backing track isn't too far from the "Cool" remix (which was itself swiped from Heaven 17), and the whole thing isn't especially schaffel. However, you can sort of sing "Minimal" over the whole thing: the chords aren't that different.

The Trentmoller remix is great, though, and I quite like the "Flamboyant" as spooky ballad move.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Thursday, 11 May 2006 03:52 (twenty years ago)

I'm gonna have disagree with you on this one Brittle. I've listened to "Fugitive" and I think it is the best Pet Shop Boys "upbeat" track since, well, something from their late '80s period. Haven't listened to "Cool" though (is it another PSB track?) or the Heaven 17 song you are referring to. I liked the "Flamboyant" remix and "The Resurrectionist" too. Seems like Fundamentalism and the B-sides are turning up to be better then the album.

― daavid (daavid), Thursday, 11 May 2006 04:55 (twenty years ago)

I may come to like it better, but honestly, after multiple plays I can barely remember the tune of "Fugitive."

But "The Resurrectionist" is awesome, and basically PSB-does-The-Killers (especially as remixed by Jacques Lu Cont, as a friend pointed out).

"Cool" = the Richard X remix of Gwen Stefani's "Cool," which takes it bassline from Heaven 17's "Let Me Go."

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Thursday, 11 May 2006 08:39 (twenty years ago)

OK thanks.

― daavid (daavid), Thursday, 11 May 2006 19:46 (twenty years ago)

the first review i have seen so far:

reviewed at musicOMH.com: Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental
http://www.musicomh.com/albums5/pet-shop-boys-2_0506.htm

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 15 May 2006 21:55 (twenty years ago)

I just want to restate that even though "Minimal" is a good song, not releasing "Integral" or "Sodom And Gomorrah Show" as the second single is INCREDIBLY MENTAL.

People who actually go out and buy singles like big pop songs with massive choruses, not remixes by hipster-friendly people, even if they're good.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 15 May 2006 22:24 (twenty years ago)

Absolute perfect : Luna Park, Casanova in Hell, Made my excuses and left, 20Th Century,Indefinite leave to remain.
Good : Minimal, Sodom & Gomorrah show, Numb, Integral, God willing
could be better : I'm with stupid, Psycological

― MJan, Monday, 15 May 2006 22:50 (twenty years ago)

have heard this now! it makes me sad because i'm not really into it. some of the tunes are good, some great - i like 'integral' and 'minimal' the best - but what hurts me most are the DREADFUL LYRICS ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

i can take dreadful lyrics from madonna. but these are the PET SHOP BOYS! go ahead and STAB me why don't you.

(on the other hand i do love and agree with dan's 'domino dancing' hate BUT NOT his 'left to my own devices' hate. and i didn't know about the rmx album until now, and SQUEEEE etc etc)

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 17 May 2006 07:48 (twenty years ago)

that review actually makes me want to hear this... which is good. Really since Very there's just been something off on everything they've done for me.

Which would be fine if they hadn't nailed almost total pop perfection prior to that. I know it's often unfair to keep artists to the standards they achieve early on in careers, but somehow half-way great isn't much good at all with PSB :(

― fandango (fandango), Wednesday, 17 May 2006 07:55 (twenty years ago)

Finally got to hear it, and I like it, as you can see here:
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/GeirH/my_top_albums_of_2006__so_far_

Particularly the electro influenced tracks are great. A huge step in the right direction from the less than satisfactory "Release" album (which will hopefully remain their worst ever album for a long time)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 17 May 2006 10:36 (twenty years ago)

The Mayer mix is good, the Trentemoller is good but the vocal doesn't work too well, the Alter Ego and Richard X are pretty good too.

Maybe the Alter Ego is the best actually.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 17 May 2006 11:06 (twenty years ago)

know what the content of the "fundamentalism" bonus disc is?

― dh, Sunday, 21 May 2006 20:27 (twenty years ago)

As I haven't been able to find a proper stereo version of "Luna Park" on the net, I have decided I will not listen the album in full until it is released (that is, in a day or something.. :) ).

But what I've heard sounds promising.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 21 May 2006 23:06 (twenty years ago)

know what the content of the "fundamentalism" bonus disc is?

I believe it's the set of remixes posted upthread:

― D. Bachyrycz, Monday, 22 May 2006 00:46 (twenty years ago)

...CELLOPHANE

― Chinchilla Volapük (Captain Sleep), Saturday, 27 May 2006 07:34 (twenty years ago)

There are only two disappointing things about this album:

1. "Numb". I was so gratified to learn that they didn't write it, because I can't stand to listen to those lyrics.

2. The lack of talking. All Pet Shop Boys albums should have at least one track where Neil talks a lot.
Please - "West End Girls"
Actually - bits of "What have I done to Deserve This" and bits of "Rent"
Introspective - "Left to my Own Devices"
Behaviour - okay, I think the rule is broken here
Very - "Yesterday, When I was Mad"
Bilingual - "Metamorphosis" and "Electricity"
Nightlife - "Happiness is an Option"
Release - well, maybe this one doesn't count
Fundamental - ???
This lack didn't hit me right away, but when I got to "Integral" at the end and Neil intones "Sterile, Immaculate, Rational, Perfect" I said AHA! That's what's missing.

Apart from these shortcomings, it's great! Right?

― Chinchilla Volapük (Captain Sleep), Saturday, 27 May 2006 08:16 (twenty years ago)

MMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. It's not great, is it? The track order is perplexing, it's so stop-start-y. I actually preferred "Release".

― Chuck_Tatum (Chuck_Tatum), Sunday, 4 June 2006 11:30 (twenty years ago)

Toby said:

"Flamboyant (Michael Mayer remix)

extremely disappointing. "

.... but I think it's awesome! So comprehensively e-d up!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 4 June 2006 11:48 (twenty years ago)

OTM. I love it. Really warm bass, as always, from Mayer.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 5 June 2006 03:11 (twenty years ago)

Tho come on who doesn't want to see him remix something else now, like WEST END GIRLS, this must happen.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 5 June 2006 03:12 (twenty years ago)

OK. This is the most stylish, consistent PSB album since Very. They're reacquired their lusciousness, thanks to the likes of "Indefinite Leave to Remain,," "I'm with Stupid," and "Minimal" (the sexiest track they've created since "Young Offender," only cold and, er, minimalist). If Dianne Warren's name wasn't on the credits I wouldn't know that she'd written "Numb."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 01:21 (twenty years ago)

"Luna Park" is "Birthday Boy" done right.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 01:23 (twenty years ago)

They say it's the best thing they've done since "Very" and, frankly, they're right...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 07:53 (twenty years ago)

Nah it's not *even* a patch on BILINGUAL and i didn't like that very much, and *miles* away from even NIGHTLIFE.

― pisces (piscesx), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 10:34 (twenty years ago)

I love Bilingual, but "Happiness is an Option" and "Radiophonic" weigh down the middle stretch.

I've figured out why Neil Tennant does the Sneering Wimp Conformist pose ("Yesterday When I Was Mad" and now "Integral") so well: he sings like one, so the irony blurs.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 12:23 (twenty years ago)

i think Release is obviously a much better record than fundamental. i don't give a shit about what instruments they play their songs on, and i think home and dry, i get along, birthday boy, london and love is a catastophe are much much better tunes than anything on this album. home and dry is their best song ever, in my ears, perfectly circular. i like i made my mistakes and left, soddom and gomorrah show and psychological, but neither of them can really compare to the best tracks of release. the middle part of fundamental bores me to death

nightlife is good only for the (excellent) tracks before the dreadful vampire

and very is their best, everbody agrees

end of discussion, haha

― sotough (sotough), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 17:39 (twenty years ago)

haha, i made a mistake, excuse me

― sotough (sotough), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 17:42 (twenty years ago)

haha, i made a mistake, excuse me

You did – in preferring "Birthday Boy" and "Love is a Catastrophe" to "Minimal" and "Casanova in Hell."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 18:08 (twenty years ago)

"Bilingual" contains some good tracks, but those Latino experiments failed and dragged down the entire thing considerably. Their best Latino moment remains "Domino Dancing" (and that is despite the Latino bits rather than because of them)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 18:40 (twenty years ago)

The Latino experiments worked great on "Discoteca", "To Step Aside", and "It Always Comes As A Surprise". Bilingual is so underrated.

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 19:10 (twenty years ago)

Every record postVery is under/overrated.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 19:17 (twenty years ago)

and very is their best, everbody agrees
o rly?

i happen to think it's behaviour.

― scnnr drkly (scnnr drkly), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 20:09 (twenty years ago)

That synthy eurodance bit in "Integral" is one of the top 5 PSB moments ever.

― daavid (daavid), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 20:17 (twenty years ago)

"Behaviour" I think is the one liked best by the critics while "Actually" is liked best by the general public.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 20:19 (twenty years ago)

Music wise - Actually is #1.
Taking lyrics into consideration - Behaviour.

But i also like Disco 2, which everybody seems to hate.
I mean, "disco 2 is their worst, everbody agrees".

― scnnr drkly (scnnr drkly), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 20:27 (twenty years ago)

That synthy eurodance bit in "Integral" is one of the top 5 PSB moments ever.

Oh hell yes. I hear echoes of Duran's "Planet Earth," which is always good.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 20:30 (twenty years ago)

"Disco 2" is probably fun for a night on the dancefloor, but otherwise useless.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 8 June 2006 00:06 (twenty years ago)

i gave the mayer remix another go, and i guess it may grow on me, but it still sucks all the enrgy out of the original, which disappoints me.

― toby (tsg20), Thursday, 8 June 2006 12:33 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

Three weeks, and I'm convinced it is indeed Their Best Since Very.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 24 June 2006 12:57 (nineteen years ago)

The video for Minimal is on their NEW! IMPROVED? site.
http://www.petshopboys.co.uk

― davidsim (davidsim), Sunday, 25 June 2006 00:34 (nineteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

Great Guardian interview: http://arts.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329528310-110428,00.html

"When I see someone like Brandon Flowers who has the appetite, and possibly the talent and looks, to be a star, I find that enthralling," says Tennant. "I'm worried, though - and I hope he's reading this - that he's grown a beard. It means he's saying, 'I'm not pop. I mean more than that.'"

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

Lovely sentiment from Neil. Shame about the "artist" he's referring to.

― Mallory L . O'Donnell (That Bitch Camille), Saturday, 22 July 2006 19:37 (nineteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

hang on, hang on. this album is awesome. it's taken two months and several listens for that fact to hit me, but ... what a truly great piece of work. the eighties album they would (could?) never have made in the eighties. absolutely love it.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 09:18 (nineteen years ago)

Great album, obviously, but I still cannot see how some people like "Numb", a stupid American-AOR-songwriting-by-numbers track that shouldn't even have been on the album.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 16 August 2006 11:28 (nineteen years ago)

six months pass...

fugitive (RICHARD X EXTENDED) is amazing.

didn't notice at the time. AMAZING.

― pisces, Sunday, 4 March 2007 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

The Boys just remixed "Read Your Mind" for The Killers.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 4 March 2007 14:16 (nineteen years ago)

seven months pass...

new Perfect Immaculate mix of Integral is up there with their best

― blueski, Monday, 8 October 2007 23:38 (eighteen years ago)

This version?

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 8 October 2007 23:49 (eighteen years ago)

yeh, beefed up more electronic version of the album version. qr code thing in the video is pretty cool too.

― blueski, Tuesday, 9 October 2007 00:19 (eighteen years ago)

agreed.
good job its on the new Disco 4 album then aint it.
though tis a shame they had to include the dreadful Killers on the album.

― mark e, Tuesday, 9 October 2007 08:08 (eighteen years ago)

three years pass...

lol, I'm listening to this album at the moment and decided to look up this thread so I could talk about how nice it sounds (especially "Minimal") and noticed the restatement of my Introspective disdain

I have come around on "Left To My Own Devices"! I like that now!

I still hate "Domino Dancing" tho

― the tax avocado (DJP), Wednesday, 21 September 2011 15:46 (fourteen years ago)

I have come around on "Left To My Own Devices"! I like that now!

It only took you over two decades!

I still hate "Domino Dancing" tho

This may take two more decades.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 21 September 2011 15:48 (fourteen years ago)

I love the sound of Tennant's voice on "Minimal' – yearning but restrained. Minimal, you might say.

― Anakin Ska Walker (AKA Skarth Vader) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 21 September 2011 15:48 (fourteen years ago)

three years pass...

I absolutely fucking love this record. Over time this has grown into one of my favourite albums of theirs.

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 6 August 2015 00:39 (ten years ago)

I can still scarcely believe it, but I saw them on this tour. It was great.

― geoffreyess, Thursday, 6 August 2015 04:19 (ten years ago)

This thread went quiet late '06 when they were touring. Did anyone else happen to catch them live that year?

― geoffreyess, Thursday, 6 August 2015 04:22 (ten years ago)

yeah i saw the Liverpool date with Client(!) supporting. Dreaming Of The Queen was a highlight.

― piscesx, Thursday, 6 August 2015 08:27 (ten years ago)

I saw them on that tour too. I adore "Dreaming of the Queen" and it was a cool surprise, but I don't think it worked that well as a live song. I was really surprised how good "Shopping" was, though.

― Vinnie, Thursday, 6 August 2015 10:26 (ten years ago)

"Shopping" is a super underrated song

― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Thursday, 6 August 2015 12:37 (ten years ago)

It sounded excellent on that tour, which was the best I've seen.

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 August 2015 12:39 (ten years ago)

Pretty sure I saw this tour, but I liked the "Electric" tour a lot better. I think the sound was bad on the "Fundamental" local date. Too soft, too quiet. It had its moments, though.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 6 August 2015 13:22 (ten years ago)

Electric tour was great yeah. the Yes tour is the best i've ever seen them, went back to see it again i liked it so much.

― piscesx, Thursday, 6 August 2015 13:45 (ten years ago)

I most vividly remember "It's a Sin," with that giant cube contraption transforming into a stormy cityscape. That seemed too perfect at the time.

― geoffreyess, Thursday, 6 August 2015 21:07 (ten years ago)

Just found that my college paper writeup of the show is still online, believe it or not. I swear I was out to myself at the time but you wouldn't know it from some of the things I say.

― geoffreyess, Thursday, 6 August 2015 21:09 (ten years ago)

Link or it didn't happen

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 August 2015 21:15 (ten years ago)

I found my old review!

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-10-30/features/0610300141_1_sodom-and-gomorrah-show-tennant-and-lowe-west-end-girls

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 6 August 2015 22:02 (ten years ago)

"Shopping" is a super underrated song
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Thursday, August 6, 2015 12:37 PM (9 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Completely OTM!

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 6 August 2015 22:11 (ten years ago)

It's strange, Very is seen as the Pet Shop Boys peak, and I'd agree that pretty much everything the band did from Please to Very (including the B-sides) is excellent, yet I keep finding myself returning to Bilingual, Fundamental and Electric very regularly. Yes still gets quite a bit of play, too, although not as much as those three. Nightlife, Release and Elysium hardly ever get played.

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 6 August 2015 22:17 (ten years ago)

No explanation required: Release and Elysium are their worst.

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 6 August 2015 22:18 (ten years ago)

Yeah. I quite enjoy a couple of songs on both records - 'Leaving' and 'Home and Dry' in particular. But yeah, on the whole I find 'em to be quite boring/dull records really. Release probably being the more boring of the two, for me.

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 6 August 2015 22:25 (ten years ago)

No explanation required: Release and Elysium are their worst.

It's more dramatic than that, because they are possibly their *only* truly disappointing records, which is some achievement.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 6 August 2015 22:31 (ten years ago)

Link or it didn't happen

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, August 6, 2015 4:15 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

OK, is this the worst piece of music writing ever? http://themacweekly.com/2006/11/we-are-still-the-pet-shop-boys/

― geoffreyess, Thursday, 6 August 2015 22:50 (ten years ago)

I don't know why I felt the need to distance myself from my pleasure back then. I guess the show's become more significant in memory.

― geoffreyess, Thursday, 6 August 2015 22:53 (ten years ago)

It's more dramatic than that, because they are possibly their *only* truly disappointing records, which is some achievement.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, August 6, 2015 10:31 PM (30 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

My thoughts back in 2002 whenever I heard 'I Get Along' come on the radio at work: "Why are the Pet Shop Boys trying to write an Oasis song?"

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 6 August 2015 23:04 (ten years ago)

'Integral' may just be one of my favourite PSB songs of all time... seriously!

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Friday, 7 August 2015 01:34 (ten years ago)

Love "Minimal". "I'm with Stupid" is underrated single, albeit tainted by that dreadful David Walliams video. If you ignore the first three songs (Psychological/Sodom/Excuses), it's a pretty good record. But even though it's not their worst record - in general I find it a bit cold, calculating, unlikable, immodest.

I saw the Yes tour twice, in Montreal (sober) and London (less sober) -- both were amongst the best shows I've seen. I vaguely knew one of the dancers and she introduced me to Chris after the London show. Didn't do much more than feebly shake his hand and say thanks, but it was a sort-of thrilling bucket-list-check moment.

― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 10 August 2015 09:43 (ten years ago)

I've never seen the video for 'I'm With Stupid', thankfully... love the first three songs on the album as much as the rest, 'The Sodom and Gomorrah Show' is great!

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Monday, 10 August 2015 10:36 (ten years ago)

They're all probably fine songs but the sequencing is a bit off. "Psychological" seems a bit low-key for opening the record. "Fugitive" would have been great, though (it's on the extra CD).

― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 10 August 2015 11:01 (ten years ago)

when was the last time we ranked PSB albums?

― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Monday, 10 August 2015 13:37 (ten years ago)

I do it every four days.

― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 August 2015 13:37 (ten years ago)

When I saw the Electric tour in Boston (with sic!), they ended with Integral and I think I had an out-of-body experience

― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Monday, 10 August 2015 13:47 (ten years ago)

Here's the ranking for my current four-day cycle, from least good to most life-changing:

PopArt
Elysium
Format
Release
Nightlife
Fundamental
Yes
Relentless
Discos
Bilingual
Electric
Actually
Introspective
Very
Please
Alternative
Discography
Behaviour

― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 10 August 2015 20:13 (ten years ago)

I'm only including studio albums.

1. Behaviour
2. Very
3. Actually
4. Electric
5. Please
6. Introspective
7. Fundamental
8. Nightlife
9. Yes
10. Bilingual
11. Elysium
12. Release

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 10 August 2015 20:18 (ten years ago)

The positions could all change except for Behaviour - I could basically be buried with that record.

― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 10 August 2015 20:23 (ten years ago)

Why do you rate PopArt so low?

― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 10 August 2015 20:29 (ten years ago)

studio albums, best to worst:

Actually
Please
Behaviour/Electric (tie)
Very
Nightlife
Fundamental
Yes
Bilingual
Release
Introspective
Elysium

If I included Alternative, that would be #1 pretty easily

― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Monday, 10 August 2015 20:34 (ten years ago)

Xpost

Great songs but sequencing is daft. The album mix of Flamboyant is incredible, though

― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 10 August 2015 20:35 (ten years ago)

You don't like Intorspective, Curious?

― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 10 August 2015 20:37 (ten years ago)

oh man

No, I do not. I never have. To this day, I feel that "Domino Dancing" is one of the gravest missteps a band has ever taken and its total horseshittiness doomed subsequent, far superior material to relative obscurity in the US. I think the club mix of "I Want A Dog" removes the deep house pathos that made the original b-side something special and haunting. I think the extended mix of "It's Alright" is a plodding, overcooked mess. I've grown to appreciate "Left to My Own Devices" but on first impression, it was a lyrical failure that featured some of Neil's ugliest singing. "I'm Not Scared" and "Always On My Mind" were okay but not okay enough to compensate for the myriad musical failures and terrible mix decisions that marred the rest of the songs on the album. It's a career lowpoint PSB would flirt with but not quite reach again until they made Elysium, the single worst album of their career and a hideous embarrassment to recorded music.

― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Monday, 10 August 2015 20:44 (ten years ago)

*popcorn.gif*

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Monday, 10 August 2015 20:56 (ten years ago)

1. Please
2. Very
3. Fundamental
4. Electric
5. Bilingual
6. Introspective
7. Behaviour
8. Actually
9. Yes
10. Elysium
11. Nightlife
12. Release

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Monday, 10 August 2015 21:03 (ten years ago)

Not sure if I said this in 2006 but the first promos of Fundamental had a different running order which I much preferred.

1. God willing
2. Minimal
3. The Sodom and Gomorrah Show
4. I’m with Stupid
5. Psychological
6. I made my excuses and left
7. Integral
8. Numb
9. Luna Park
10. Casanova in Hell
11. Twentieth Century
12. Indefinite leave to remain

― A swarm of antipathy (Re-Make/Re-Model), Tuesday, 11 August 2015 11:10 (ten years ago)

That's so much better.

― Chuck_Tatum, Tuesday, 11 August 2015 14:22 (ten years ago)

Nah, I'm happy with the way things turned out: 'Integral' needs to be the closer, it's perfect in that position.

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Tuesday, 11 August 2015 19:18 (ten years ago)

four years pass...

M
I
N
I
M
A
L

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 October 2019 03:38 (six years ago)

O
T
M

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 25 October 2019 11:37 (six years ago)

btw I hate "Left To My Own Devices" again

― brigadier pudding (DJP), Friday, 25 October 2019 12:58 (six years ago)

Oh dear

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 October 2019 14:38 (six years ago)

Wow, of all the songs to hate.

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 25 October 2019 14:46 (six years ago)

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