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Pet Shop Boys

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mediasaurusrex
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Post  kumarhk Thu May 07, 2009 4:36 am

For the longest time, the Pet Shop Boys were a huge hurdle for me. I just didn't get it; I didn't see the appeal at all. Then, last year, while flipping channels, I caught one of their music videos on TV (I forget which one) and I suddenly realized its brilliance. A few days later, while looking for some CD at the library, I stumbled upon Actually by the Pet Shop Boys, and I checked it out. It was phenomenal - I think I still consider it my favourite Pet Shop Boys album (so far). I got a few other albums as well, but for some reason I moved on to other things.

A few months ago, I had something of a Pet Shop Boys renaissance. I now have Actually, Introspective (which came with Further Listening 1988-1989), Alternative (I must admit that I haven't really listened to this one ... maybe the fact that it has thirty songs daunts me), Bilingual and Release. I didn't have any particular reason for picking these; they were just the ones the library had. As I sit here now in the library, I am about to check out Concrete.

My question is, where do I go next?

Also, is/were the Pet Shop Boys a hurdle for any of you?
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Post  Jakob Thu May 07, 2009 9:15 am

Well, Kumar, we seem to be in agreement an awful lot these days. Since PSB are my all time favourite group (since 1985 at least), I feel I can impart some wisdom for you here. You've already hurdled their weakest album, Release, so it should be smooth sailing from here on in. Though you've covered the two best (Bilingual and Introspective) already. I would suggest exploring the rest of their cataolgue in this order.

Yes (the brand new album, really quite excellent)
Nightlife (Not my favourite when it came out, but it's grown on me since.)
Please (All the classic hits and a runner-up for best of career, perhaps a touch stronger than Actually)
Fundamental (pretty strong, working with producer Trevor Horn again, a tad heavy handed on the political side)
Behaviour (Some of their most dated productions, but some clasic singles)

In recent years, some of their best tracks have been b-sides though. See if you can find "Miracles", "Blue on Blue" and "Flamboyant" on iTunes.

Also Disco 3 is a companion album to Release. Normally their "Disco" series are recent remixes, but Vol 3 contains both more dance oriented versions of the Release songs plus some better b-sides from that era like "Possitive Role Model".
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Post  kumarhk Fri May 08, 2009 6:51 am

Jakob wrote:Well, Kumar, we seem to be in agreement an awful lot these days.
This is true. And it scares me.

Jakob wrote:Since PSB are my all time favourite group (since 1985 at least), I feel I can impart some wisdom for you here. You've already hurdled their weakest album, Release, so it should be smooth sailing from here on in.
I actually don't mind Release. Sure, it's not as good as the rest, but I'd listen to Home and Dry or Here anyday over most of the stuff in my music collection.

Yes and Nightlife are on their way right now. I'm excited Very Happy
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Post  kumarhk Fri May 08, 2009 7:06 am

Okay, I couldn't wait for the library. I'm listening to Yes right now. This is brilliant.

Thank you Jakob cheers
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Post  Wilco Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:51 pm

I happened to see the pet shop boys about 2 weeks ago at the latitude festival (if you get a chance to go to latitude then you should, it is really good and also only in its 4th year so it hasn't been ruined yet) and i have to say, i just don't get it. i don't think its a generational thing cause i was growing up when they were still releasing music, and i like a lot of bands from that era and genre. Its just something that I don't quite get. They are a big hurdle for me. their dancers and stage presence was really good though. if it's online try to find it.
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Post  Jakob Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:10 pm

I'm always shocked as many people like PSB as they do. What I like about them seems so personal, I can't imagine hundreds of thousands of others sharing the same enthusiasm. But we seem to. Still, I'm never surprised when people say "I don't get it." That makes more sense to me.
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Post  mediasaurusrex Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:17 pm

This thread has inspired me to dig deeper into the PSB.

I really dug their stuff back in the mid-80s. But for some reason, I never followed through with them. My poor, poor GF is about to take some serious PSB upside her head for the next few weeks.
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Post  kumarhk Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:42 pm

The Pet Shop Boys are the only artist above Simply Syndicated on my iTunes play count.
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Post  Mandi Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:50 pm

Whoa, how long has there been a whole PSB thread? Alright... 'Kob, it's your mission to educate me in the ways of the PSB on our trip. Do it.
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Post  Bucho Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:45 am

Mandi wrote:Whoa, how long has there been a whole PSB thread? Alright... 'Kob, it's your mission to educate me in the ways of the PSB on our trip. Do it.

Oh oh oh oh oh oh ... shit yes!

The sequel to Project Potter ladies and gentlemen ...

... Project Pet Shop!!!
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Post  kumarhk Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:19 am

Why not Project Boys? No alliteration, but I like the sound of it.
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Post  Bucho Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:05 pm

Hey, whatever you say Kumar, you're probably right. After all, you got the brains, I got the ... ok, you got the brains anyway. Let's make lots of money.
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Post  mediasaurusrex Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:32 am

Picked up the essential singles today.

Iys going down as I type this.
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Post  ori-STUDFARM Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:33 pm

I thought them okay back in the 80's, but somewhere I lost interest. I think it was when I couldn't get away from that god awful Go West song!

***judders at the thought of it****

I hated that one more than Brian Adams' "Everthing I do (I do it for you)" song!!


***dithers again***
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Post  Jakob Sun Aug 02, 2009 2:46 pm

It took me a while to warm up to "Go West". Doing it with a Soviet men's chorus was clever but there's no excuse for covering Villiage People. In the end I came to love it. More or less. It took years though. Over here though, you never got deluged with PSB. In North America most people think they stopped recording after "West End Girls". I understand they've always been top ten in the UK. Hearing "Go West" constantly would have been horrible.
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Post  ori-STUDFARM Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:10 pm

I don't know how it works in the rest of the world, but the gullible masses here in the UK fall for everybit of radio media hype about a song and before you know it, some piece of audio crap that the music exec tells us is good has made it to number one and it sits there for the whole Summer........and half of the Autumn/Fall too!! Thats why I've turned my back on radio broadcasts unless my iPod is broken.

To be honest, the radio isn't too bad if you've not listened to it for a couple of months. It sounds fresh and new and almost original. But 3 days later, you've had enough again. It shouldn't be like this with the BBC!! All original shows that "showcase" new talent and fresh releases are on in the evening.....I mean, who listens to the radio when there is a TV available....

What were we talking about again? Embarassed
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Post  Jakob Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:17 pm

That's how radio works here. But old men like PSB don't get played. Only young women like Britney and Beyonce. Or guys like Rob Thomas and John Mayer. I guess the only 80's icon that's gotten airplay over here consistantly is probably Madonna.
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Post  ori-STUDFARM Sun Aug 02, 2009 3:22 pm

I think media-wise, both the UK and Canada are very similar.
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Post  JayMasterOfNone Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:14 am

I met Neil & Craig back in the radio days. I didn't know they were coming to the studio and all of a sudden I hear them on the air from my office. Knowing my wife is a huge fan (since she's 'always on my mind'), I print out a crappy picture of them from the web to get signed only to be in the record store later that day and see a huge tour poster I could've gotten signed for her instead. Oh well.
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Post  Jakob Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:31 pm

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