Untitled Document

This was the first PSB album I bought. It was a used LP and cost about 1,5 euros. And thanks for that, I found this English pop group. Pet Shop Boys is Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. Soft pop is maybe best term describe their music. I don`t usually listen to pop music very much, but PSB is an exception. Their music is not "empty" pop songs like usually. Especially I like Neil Tennant's personal voice, it someway relaxed me every time I hear it. And there is a melancholy/sad element also, which I enjoy. The sound of aFinnish band called "Neljä Ruusua" reminds me of some parts of Pet Shop Boys. At least their great "Haloo" album.

Behaviour is better album that I expect. 80`s sounding music. 1st track "Being Boring" released as single too and it`s fine, I like even more 2nd track "This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave". And "My October Symphony" is one my album favourites....

"So much confusion
when autumn comes around
What to do about October?
How to smile behind a frown?
It's hard to settle down"

Flamboyant "Jealousy" is the last track and it suits well to end this album. Behaviour is overall a fine pop album.

It`s little shame that people usually know only "Go West" and "It`s A Sin" about Pet Shop Boys. They have so many other quality tracks too in all their albums. After I heard Behaviour it was obvious that I must get some more Pet Shop Boys. And I did so too...

Konde / July 2003

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This orange album was my brother first cd ever that he bought. Now he`s selling it, I buy that album again myself after I heard Behaviour.

"Go West" and "Can You Forgive Her?" was tracks that I remember brother played them. These are still great tracks. And many people can maybe remember "Yesterday When I Was Mad" or "I Wouldn`t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing" too...

But album includes slow, touching "Dreaming Of The Queen", which is one my all time PSB favourite. I`ve read somewhere that this song is Neil's own favourite too. And I wonder why they not released this as single... Other favourite is "The Theatre". On this track Neil's voice is a pleasure to listen to.

This album is very many-sided. There is fast happy songs (A Different Point Of View, Yeasterday When I Was Mad, I Wouldn`t...) and then slow sad songs (Dreaming Of The Queen, To Speak Is A Sin). Great exapmle for that is "Dreaming For The Queen" and after that totally different "Yesterday When I Was Mad".

There is now re-releases of all 6 first PSB albums with a bonus cd. Further listening versions contains single tracks and unreleased songs. Very further listening includes great "Shameless", "Too Many People" and Blur cover "Girls And Boys".

Very album orange layout has someway always attracted me. And I was very happy, when I found the rare Very Relentless version with the soft orange package and a bonus cd.

It`s hard to find not so good PSB tracks. I've really grown to like them more and more. And their albums are all top quality music with great lyrics. Sure there is few "idle" lyrics, but then there is lyrics that make you really think.

"The husband or the hedonist
The businessman or the communist
The artist or the showbiz creep
The lover or the nervous geek
The question of identity
is one that's always haunted me
Whoever I decide to be
depends on who is with me"

Konde / July 2003

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In 1999 PSB released Nightlife album with 12 new songs. This is very electronic sounding album and there is female voclas too in some tracks. There is some quite weak stuff, but still some very good stuff too.

Album highlights are "I Don`t Know What You Want But I Can`t Give It Anymore", "In Denial" (Neil duets with Kylie Minogue), "Vampires", "Boy Strange" and "Happiness Is An Option"....

"It is not easy
the war within us
but it gets easier
the more we learn
I don't need to win
You don't have to lose
We can choose
happiness is an option"

I have PSB Montage Nightlife tour DVD and here is great live versions some of the Nightlife songs. For example "Footsteps" (Nightlife slow last track).

"For Your Own Good", "Closer To Heaven" & "Radiophonic" are maybe too mechanized stuff for my taste. That reason I must drop my review points.

Then there is of course Village People "New York City Boy" cover, which released as a single. I have NYCB singles and there is one good non album track "The Ghost Of Myself". That would be great put in official album too...And other great non album track is "Screaming" from "I Don`t Know..." single.

Konde / July 2003

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I bought this after hearing "I Get Along" and "Home And Dry". When I played album first times I didn't like it too much. It sounded then too faceless. On this album PSB take acoustic guitars & real drums in their music. And some fans didn't like that at all. And one fan asked:"Where is the normal PSB"? and Neil answer that:"We don`t have never been normal", or someting like that.

Now I love Release. First I want mentioned the very nice piano intro at "I Get Along" song. I have always enjoyed hearing some piano solos in pop/rock music. Album contains a "jewel" track too, and that is "Love Is A Catastrophe". Such a sad song, that I`m almost in tears when I heard this with the right mood. Neil's lyrics are again good...

"No concentration
just rerunning conversation
Trying to understand
how I fell into this quicksand
What happens next?
With life I’m unimpressed
Pain like a cutter’s knife
Never been lonelier in my life"

Actually here is a very strong 3 track line...instrumental "Samurai In Autumn", then "Love Is A Catastrophe" and after that "Here". Look at "Here" lyrics...

"We all have a dream
of a place we belong
The fire is burning
and the radio’s on
Somebody smiles
and it means 'I love you'
but sometimes we don’t notice
when the dream has come true"

I lived hard times when I bought Release -album, and because of that reason these lyrics touch me deeply. Gladly PSB released "Here" (new extended PSB mix) in their recent "Disco 3" release. I like that mix even more than original.

Album's weakest moment are track number 4."London" and 5."E-Mail". Both tracks are just average.
Album 2nd track "Birthday Boy" is something so beautiful. Now when I have listened album more "Birthday Boy" has become one of my album favourites. And the last track "You Choose" Neil wrote again lyrics, that I want to be mentioned here:

"It’s a decision
made over time
Should you take a risk
and start to climb
the steepest hill
only to find
halfway there
you’ve been left behind?
Choosing to love
is risking a lot
and trying to change
and to give all you’ve got
But don’t pretend
it comes out of the blue
You take a chance
and see it through
and if it’s refused
what can you do?
Continue hopefully?
Start anew?
Lick your wounds
Buy your booze
You won’t get drunk by accident
You’ll choose
Don’t blame him
for refusing your bid
He didn’t decide to love
You did "

There are fans who don't like this album, but I`m not one of them.

Konde / July 2003

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