I love The Pop Kids, but it manages to be Being Boring-lite and Vocal-lite at the same d. t.
― Steppin' RZA (sic), Tuesday, 21 July 2020 20:12 (three years ago) link
Tiga mixes of Minimal are good iirc.
― Steppin' RZA (sic), Tuesday, 21 July 2020 20:13 (three years ago) link
These are 20 from the 21st century that I'd be happy to have on a playlist.
The Samurai In Autumn Try It (In Love With A Married Man) Flamboyant The Sodom & Gomorrah Show Minimal Casanova In Hell Fugitive Love Etc. More Than A Dream The Way It Used To Be Leaving Love Is A Bourgeois Construct Inside A Dream Thursday Vocal Happiness The Pop KidsBurn Willow The Wisp Hoping For A Miracle
― kitchen person, Tuesday, 21 July 2020 20:24 (three years ago) link
Thanks! In truth, the original 2020 question was intended to find a full career CD-R80, partly because I was making a compilation for a friend. However, it has ended up at a more interesting place.
Modern era track I really like that hasn't been mentioned: "E-mail".
― djh, Tuesday, 21 July 2020 20:28 (three years ago) link
Other recommendations for your Spotify list: Psychological (also the Ewan Pearson remix), Flamboyant, She's Madonna (by Robbie Williams), Sorry (PSB Maxi-Mix, by Madonna), This Used To Be The Future, Axis, I Don't Wanna, My Girl, the Genuine Piano version of London (not released outside Germany until 2003), Girls Don't Cry
Their cover of We're The Pet Shop Boys is not as good as My Robot Friend's original, but is very fun, and their cover of Viva La Vida is 1000x better than Coldplay. They also did a cover of the song In Private that they wrote for Dusty Springfield in 1990, now as a duet with Elton John, that goes much harder than the original.
― Steppin' RZA (sic), Tuesday, 21 July 2020 21:08 (three years ago) link
djh see also POX Pet Shop Boys B-sides
― nashwan, Tuesday, 21 July 2020 22:52 (three years ago) link
Cool. Ta.
― djh, Wednesday, 22 July 2020 10:50 (three years ago) link
Their cover of We're The Pet Shop Boys is not as good as My Robot Friend's original
I think they did it better! Great track.
― LeRooLeRoo, Wednesday, 22 July 2020 13:30 (three years ago) link
"I Don't Like Much Really, do I? But What I Do Like, I Love Passionately - A PSB compilation"
Alternative title: "Drunk"
PaninaroSexy NorthernerThe Truck Driver and His MateIt Must Be Obvious.I Don't Know What You WantYou Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk.Violence (Hacienda)Euro BoyHome & DryWhy Don't We Live TogetherBetrayalYou ChooseEmail.
There's room for a few more perfectly poised tracks.
― djh, Wednesday, 22 July 2020 22:00 (three years ago) link
There's some great stuff in your suggestions - thanks.
― djh, Monday, 27 July 2020 15:36 (three years ago) link
:D
― Steppin' RZA (sic), Monday, 27 July 2020 20:40 (three years ago) link
"You Choose" is a minor masterpiece.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 27 July 2020 20:50 (three years ago) link
It's great, isn't it?
It's a track I'd missed but I'm quite bad (good?) for just getting engrossed in a group for a bit ... and I love it.
― djh, Monday, 27 July 2020 21:27 (three years ago) link
Link to the (slightly mutating) playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/205aTQBpnwJEwUZzQMMS6W
― djh, Monday, 27 July 2020 21:29 (three years ago) link
You Choose meant a great deal during a period when I felt the stirrings of love for a guy who three years earlier hadn't returned it.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 27 July 2020 21:53 (three years ago) link
Makes sense.
― djh, Monday, 27 July 2020 21:58 (three years ago) link
Compilation artwork, obvs.
First time I’ve been on a train since March! Hope you’re all keeping well. Neil xx#PetText pic.twitter.com/ASouFg5OaY— Pet Shop Boys (@petshopboys) August 1, 2020
― djh, Saturday, 1 August 2020 18:46 (three years ago) link
Might be of interest:
https://thequietus.com/articles/29906-pet-shop-boys-best-of-b-sides-album-tracks-beyond-the-hits
Contains Mr Raggett.
― djh, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 13:27 (three years ago) link
They praised the wrong version of "I Want A Dog"
― 80's hair metal , and good praise music ! (DJP), Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:20 (three years ago) link
The great wars begin. Mr. Soto is also in there.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:32 (three years ago) link
Excellent selection !
― LeRooLeRoo, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:37 (three years ago) link
It’s a dialogue between robots well before Daft Punk. Camp and terrifying, electronic exultation achieved at the expense of everyone and everything else — perhaps that’s the real European canon in the end
A terrific insight, Ned. Also, "Euroboy" and "Some Speculation" made my shortlist too. In the '00s my online dating profile name was SomeSpeculation. Only one dude got it.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:41 (three years ago) link
Credit to that dude. And thanks!
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:44 (three years ago) link
re Mr Soto - oddly, I've only heard that Timmy Thomas song this year ... on a mix by ISAN.
― djh, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 17:13 (three years ago) link
Anyway, spent a happy hour or so compiling this into a playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5CH0dsOUoBVJ6kE9A1Rmp4
― djh, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 17:17 (three years ago) link
oooh thanks
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 April 2021 17:18 (three years ago) link
Genuinely, that was a gorgeous read - full of love and affection (and, remarkably, some tracks I've missed and/or didn't know).
― djh, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 17:38 (three years ago) link
POX from the Quietus list:
DiscotecaDo I Have To?Dreaming of the QueenIt Always Comes As A SurpriseI Want A DogA Red Letter DaySome SpeculationThis Must Be The Place I've Waited Years To LeaveThe TheatreViolence
― LeRooLeRoo, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 21:34 (three years ago) link
"In the Night" really is a banger of the first order.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 April 2021 21:36 (three years ago) link
I like the Quietus List
Personally, I would have added these:
Was That What It Was?I'm Not ScaredHit And MissAlwaysWe're The Pet Shop BoysFugitive
― daavid, Thursday, 29 April 2021 03:56 (three years ago) link
On a second thought, perhaps not Hit and Miss. It hasn't aged that well.
― daavid, Thursday, 29 April 2021 04:02 (three years ago) link
I love "Hit and Miss" and a few other b-sides on Format, but I imagine my POX would still be ten songs from Alternative
― Vinnie, Thursday, 29 April 2021 04:13 (three years ago) link
My b-side POX, that is
― Vinnie, Thursday, 29 April 2021 04:19 (three years ago) link
it seemed they skipped covers? so that would rule out We're The Pet Shop Boys and, kinda, I'm Not Scared
both megabangers ofc, as is Fugitive
― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), Thursday, 29 April 2021 04:44 (three years ago) link
I never understood the issue with the Instrospective version of "I Want a Dog". Possibly my favourite thing on it since I was a child. The b-side rendition feels like a less perfect iteration along the journey to the bitchin' housey endpoint. The Quietus OTM.
Perticularly good to see the likes of King's Cross, You Choose, The Theatre, Flourescent and Your Funny Uncle there too.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Thursday, 29 April 2021 05:05 (three years ago) link
pArticularly, obv.
Devastating lack of "A Man Could Get Arrested" though!
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Thursday, 29 April 2021 06:19 (three years ago) link
― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), T
Ned wrote about the Springteen cover.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 29 April 2021 09:34 (three years ago) link
Ah yeah! I even approved of his non-Boss-belief.
― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), Thursday, 29 April 2021 09:55 (three years ago) link
The issue with the Introspective version of I Want A Dog is that they took a wistful, delicate song and removed all of the personality from it with a boring beat
― 80's hair metal , and good praise music ! (DJP), Thursday, 29 April 2021 11:29 (three years ago) link
One could and should quibble with bits and pieces of that list, but it's at the very least a great reminder of the wealth of good stuff this group has released or, more shockingly, sometimes barely released.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:42 (three years ago) link
xp It was entirely Knuckles's work according to the Introspective sleevenotes.
Neil: "We got back to London and played it to Trevor Horn and Steve Lipson and Trevor said 'See? Cheap gear sounds better.'"
― piscesx, Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:43 (three years ago) link
The Communards keyboardist plays the piano, I think.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:52 (three years ago) link
He plays the piano on What Keeps Mankind Alive? but as far as i know that was it.
Confusingly, I did once play with the Pet Shop Boys #pointlesstrivia— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) October 4, 2012
― piscesx, Thursday, 29 April 2021 13:07 (three years ago) link
ah! That's it.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 29 April 2021 13:45 (three years ago) link
Vicar!
Listening again, the second half being dominated by the piano solo rather than (something resembling) dog bark samples has likely been a factor for me. Actual aural representation of dogginess threatens to undermine the wistfulness!
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:15 (three years ago) link
The dog barking is the most distinctive, singular component of the song. Removing it removes the song's identity.
This is the only remix of "I Want A Dog" that works and it's largely because it interpolates a good amount of "Atomic Dog" into itself while holding onto the dog barks, plus the beat doesn't sound like an extremely square preset:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB7mOdWk9hc
― 80's hair metal , and good praise music ! (DJP), Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:27 (three years ago) link
x-posts: Yeah, what Josh in Chicago said (though I realise there is joy to be had in arguing the detail).
― djh, Thursday, 29 April 2021 18:50 (three years ago) link
Had we posted this Tweet on here? (I can't see it but might be being an idiot).
Classic question from a taxi-driver in London today! “So are you still making music and is the other one still a vicar?” Neil x
― djh, Thursday, 29 April 2021 18:52 (three years ago) link
Fun to hear them do "Mr. Vain" on this '94 Rio show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl-nPbUSihQ
― too cool for zen talk (Eazy), Sunday, 2 May 2021 21:20 (three years ago) link
I’m three songs in and I can definitely say it’s a new Pet Shop Boys album
― Cemetry Gaetz (DJP), Friday, 26 April 2024 15:22 (one month ago) link
Neil's voice is getting a bit thin and "Loneliness" is a terrible album opener. But it's... alright! I have a feeling I'll be listening to "Why am I dancing?" and "New London Boy" quite a bit.
They released an EP of jokey songs before the pandemic that was just abysmal, and so I'll be basically glad whenever it's better than that.
― Chuck_Tatum, Friday, 26 April 2024 15:36 (one month ago) link
I feel like I haven't heard "1980s rapping Neil" (as on New London Boy) for a while
― Chuck_Tatum, Friday, 26 April 2024 15:40 (one month ago) link
This is much better than Hotspot, which I found listless and actively embarrassing in several spots. Best for me since Electric.
― Davey D, Friday, 26 April 2024 16:15 (one month ago) link
I quite enjoyed that the bonus disc for "Nonetheless" was "Furthermore".
Saw them play some tracks on a Vernon Kay presented thing a few weeks back and found it a bit cringey.
― djh, Friday, 26 April 2024 18:10 (one month ago) link
The new album sounds like one of those drugstore-dollar-bin "greatest hits" albums where a Sixties act re-records their old songs, and you buy it by mistake and get those uncanny-valley "this is the song I like...but it's not quite right somehow" shivers.
― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Friday, 26 April 2024 18:58 (one month ago) link
This happened to me precisely with a George Jones comp.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 26 April 2024 19:05 (one month ago) link
I think the re-records are just the arrangements for the new tour with vocals added
― PaulTMA, Saturday, 27 April 2024 09:36 (one month ago) link
'I’d love to be in the House of Lords, because it’s a job, isn’t it?'The most successful British pop duo in music history on tantrums, touring when you turn 70, and why it feels unreal to hang out with Liza Minnelli — over Lunch with the FT: https://t.co/ujKxMKGSJW— FT Weekend (@ftweekend) April 26, 2024
― paisley got boring (Eazy), Saturday, 27 April 2024 12:40 (one month ago) link
A producer for an earlier album, Stuart Price, worked with them in Berlin and made them go out for dinner in week two to the same places they’d been to in week one, in the same order. He also made them record all the tracks in alphabetical order. “And we did, didn’t we?” Tennant marvels. “And then we put them on the album in alphabetical order. It’s actually quite a good logic. It worked out quite well.”
― paisley got boring (Eazy), Saturday, 27 April 2024 12:51 (one month ago) link
They must have cheated a little bit but so close:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_(Pet_Shop_Boys_album)
― PaulTMA, Saturday, 27 April 2024 15:48 (one month ago) link
Maybe “Bourgeois Construct” was the working title for track 3…
― paisley got boring (Eazy), Saturday, 27 April 2024 17:54 (one month ago) link
The first few songs are the weakest for me. Once it gets to New London Boy it gets really good and stays as such. I have a lot of time for the freestyle getup on Dancing Star.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Sunday, 28 April 2024 12:29 (one month ago) link
yeah I feel like it's missing a really great single up front, something like that would do wonders for this album. it's still quite good I think, especially given the point in their career that they're at. Neil's voice still sounds pretty good to me!
― frogbs, Monday, 29 April 2024 18:03 (one month ago) link
Hilarious interview.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 4 May 2024 17:18 (four weeks ago) link
Aw, teasing the idea that we could have a George Michael cover of "End of the World" is really too much. I agree it's a hidden gem though - that segue at the end of "Nervously" gets me every time.
― Chuck_Tatum, Saturday, 4 May 2024 17:41 (four weeks ago) link
He may dislike it because that's Tennant playing the twang guitar.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 4 May 2024 17:42 (four weeks ago) link