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Pet Shop Boys |
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#1 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Manchester
Posts: 288
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Pet Shop Boys
Can anyone recommend a good starting point? I'm ashamed that I haven't delved into their music that much. I've heard that Nightlife, Very and Please are excellent.
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#2 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,636
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Get hold of 'Actually' to start with as it contains all of their big early hits.
Then move onto Nightlife. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Wolf359
Posts: 96,804
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Quote:
Can anyone recommend a good starting point? I'm ashamed that I haven't delved into their music that much. I've heard that Nightlife, Very and Please are excellent.
It's their first album and the best. After that, either listen to the albums in chronological order or their greatest hits album 'Discography' if you want to hear how they evolved after 'Please'. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,036
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i'd go with the straight albums in chrono order, although an alternate start is to start with the first "disco" remix album and then the standard albums, as that's a good one. the other disco releases i'd leave till the end as they aren't as good. introspective is listed on wiki as a standard album although i saw it as more like a follow up to disco, but i'd include that when listening back in chrono order
if you include introspective and exclude disco in the chrono list, the first 4 albums are great and then personally i think they decline a lot. the last album wasn't bad, it sounded 80s dance retro but they lack decent writing these days the special editions are pretty good in that they include most of the great remixes, and the early remixes were pretty good before they started churning them out to other people to do dance remixes that often ripped the charm out of the track. a common thing with remixes from the 90s onwards. the earlier remixes were more like extended/alternate versions that were longer but keep the same vibe as the original |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Utopia
Posts: 10,192
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Actually, Introspective & Behaviour, I would also recommend Alternative as well.
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 443
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They released a couple of compilation albums, 'Popart' in 2003 contains almost all of their hits up to that point but they've released a fair few albums since then.
Everyone has their own favourites, but my general opinion of the main albums in order of release - Please / Actually / Introspective - Their first three albums, all late 1980s and featuring most of their biggest hits. All, head to toe, brilliant. Must-hears. Behaviour - Downbeat, personal, many people's favourite but a very different listen. Don't expect many high-energy numbers here... Very - ...expect them here, a mad early-1990s bit of heaven and featuring the classic Go West cover. Their last really massive seller. Bilingual - Another surprising sound change to latino rhythms and guitars. I adore this one but it's not everyone's favourite, but there's some fantastic tracks on here. Nightlife - This is when it goes a bit wrong, tries to go for a late-90s dance sound (which normally I adore) but, for me, it doesn't quite work as an album, despite some great tracks inc. the awesome You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk. Some love this album though so it's a matter of opinion. Release - Acoustic. I can't listen to this one, it's a major misfire and it's probably their lowest selling album out the main releases. But, again, some like it. Fundamental - Back to synths and energy, very political and referencing issues of the time (2006). Not my fave but some huge classics are contained within. Yes - Xenomania-produced late-2000s pop and their best album since Bilingual. A lot of great tracks here. Elysium - Back to downbeat. Doesn't work for me. Electric - Out of nowhere one of their best albums!! Amazing songs here inc. Vocal, Axis, Love is a Borgeous Construct and Thursday, but sadly by now they've completely lost chart relevance so no singles charted. Album still sold well though. Out of the rest, definitely definitely pick up Alternative (B-sides album released in 1995), and maybe Format (second B-sides album released about 15 years later), along with the first Disco album. As you've probably gathered, they're my favourite group of all time Happy listening!
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#7 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,636
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Close the thread, you won't get a better answer than Billy Hicks's
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Utopia
Posts: 10,192
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Forgot about Bilingual.
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 618
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Quote:
They released a couple of compilation albums, 'Popart' in 2003 contains almost all of their hits up to that point but they've released a fair few albums since then.
Everyone has their own favourites, but my general opinion of the main albums in order of release - Please / Actually / Introspective - Their first three albums, all late 1980s and featuring most of their biggest hits. All, head to toe, brilliant. Must-hears. Behaviour - Downbeat, personal, many people's favourite but a very different listen. Don't expect many high-energy numbers here... Very - ...expect them here, a mad early-1990s bit of heaven and featuring the classic Go West cover. Their last really massive seller. Bilingual - Another surprising sound change to latino rhythms and guitars. I adore this one but it's not everyone's favourite, but there's some fantastic tracks on here. Nightlife - This is when it goes a bit wrong, tries to go for a late-90s dance sound (which normally I adore) but, for me, it doesn't quite work as an album, despite some great tracks inc. the awesome You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk. Some love this album though so it's a matter of opinion. Release - Acoustic. I can't listen to this one, it's a major misfire and it's probably their lowest selling album out the main releases. But, again, some like it. Fundamental - Back to synths and energy, very political and referencing issues of the time (2006). Not my fave but some huge classics are contained within. Yes - Xenomania-produced late-2000s pop and their best album since Bilingual. A lot of great tracks here. Elysium - Back to downbeat. Doesn't work for me. Electric - Out of nowhere one of their best albums!! Amazing songs here inc. Vocal, Axis, Love is a Borgeous Construct and Thursday, but sadly by now they've completely lost chart relevance so no singles charted. Album still sold well though. Out of the rest, definitely definitely pick up Alternative (B-sides album released in 1995), and maybe Format (second B-sides album released about 15 years later), along with the first Disco album. As you've probably gathered, they're my favourite group of all time Happy listening!the only comment i'd disagree with is the Nightlife review, which for me is one of my favourite PSB albums. |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 56,123
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Quote:
Close the thread, you won't get a better answer than Billy Hicks's
![]() Yes, got to agree. Such an informative post..I'm a huge PSBs fan too. Informative....that could be a future PSB album title! |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: In the future....
Posts: 11,259
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Billy Hicks hits the nail on the head. For me Behaviour is my personal favourite. They went back to using analogue synthesises and Harold Faltermeyer production gives a lush relaxing sound scape. Amazingly it doesn't sound dated unlike Very (which is still a good album) but hasn't aged that well.
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#12 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Manchester
Posts: 288
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Thank you for all the replies. I have ordered Please, Actually, Introspective, Very, Nightlife and Disco. I will give those a listen and will probably order their other albums soon. I have also bought a copy of Results by Liza Minnelli. It was only a few pounds
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Utopia
Posts: 10,192
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Quote:
Thank you for all the replies. I have ordered Please, Actually, Introspective, Very, Nightlife and Disco. I will give those a listen and will probably order their other albums soon. I have also bought a copy of Results by Liza Minnelli. It was only a few pounds
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Herr Flick's dungeon
Posts: 5,939
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Quote:
They released a couple of compilation albums, 'Popart' in 2003 contains almost all of their hits up to that point but they've released a fair few albums since then.
Everyone has their own favourites, but my general opinion of the main albums in order of release - Please / Actually / Introspective - Their first three albums, all late 1980s and featuring most of their biggest hits. All, head to toe, brilliant. Must-hears. Behaviour - Downbeat, personal, many people's favourite but a very different listen. Don't expect many high-energy numbers here... Very - ...expect them here, a mad early-1990s bit of heaven and featuring the classic Go West cover. Their last really massive seller. Bilingual - Another surprising sound change to latino rhythms and guitars. I adore this one but it's not everyone's favourite, but there's some fantastic tracks on here. Nightlife - This is when it goes a bit wrong, tries to go for a late-90s dance sound (which normally I adore) but, for me, it doesn't quite work as an album, despite some great tracks inc. the awesome You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk. Some love this album though so it's a matter of opinion. Release - Acoustic. I can't listen to this one, it's a major misfire and it's probably their lowest selling album out the main releases. But, again, some like it. Fundamental - Back to synths and energy, very political and referencing issues of the time (2006). Not my fave but some huge classics are contained within. Yes - Xenomania-produced late-2000s pop and their best album since Bilingual. A lot of great tracks here. Elysium - Back to downbeat. Doesn't work for me. Electric - Out of nowhere one of their best albums!! Amazing songs here inc. Vocal, Axis, Love is a Borgeous Construct and Thursday, but sadly by now they've completely lost chart relevance so no singles charted. Album still sold well though. Out of the rest, definitely definitely pick up Alternative (B-sides album released in 1995), and maybe Format (second B-sides album released about 15 years later), along with the first Disco album. As you've probably gathered, they're my favourite group of all time Happy listening!PSB are one of my faves too although I would describe them as a duo rather than a group. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Green Hills of Earth
Posts: 80,454
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Quote:
Spot on!
PSB are one of my faves too although I would describe them as a duo rather than a group. |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 48
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Personally delve into Popart its still the best compilation of the singles, and everyone's a winner, they really are a superb band and a guaranteed national treasure, but then work to Please (all the early more electro pop, almost lo fi stuff), Actually (the bigger hits, and a lot more sweeping in scope, plus its got Hit Music and I want to wake up on it two of their greatest album tracks ever) Introspection (a remix album but more of a concept album id like to think) Behavior (its introspective in all but name and is one of their best albums ever) Very (distills everything that's mega about them, and all of the songs still stand up even today) after that it kind of dribs and drabs for me, bits of Bilingual some of thats great Before is a brilliant single as is Si Veda Eh, Nightlife, id kind of edged off from, and i never really got back to them til Electric , which is think it equal to anything they ve done before its so verypetshopboys.
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,522
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Quote:
the awesome You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk.
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,462
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Quote:
Thank you for all the replies. I have ordered Please, Actually, Introspective, Very, Nightlife and Disco. I will give those a listen and will probably order their other albums soon. I have also bought a copy of Results by Liza Minnelli. It was only a few pounds
![]() I also fell off the PSB wagon around the Nightlife era, & only just got back on for the Electric album & boy - its bloody brilliant! Behaviour, Actually, Introspective & Bilingual/Very are the jewels in my PSB crown! So good! And SO BRITISH!
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,522
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Saw them tonight at the Royal Opera House.
Spectacular! |
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lytham St Annes
Posts: 2,366
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They released a new album in April this year called Super. What do their fans on here think of it?
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Posts: 7,759
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Quote:
Saw them tonight at the Royal Opera House.
Spectacular! Quote:
They released a new album in April this year called Super. What do their fans on here think of it?
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 32
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Quote:
Saw them tonight at the Royal Opera House.
Spectacular! they were brilliant and it seems the press agree.5 stars everywhere |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,598
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Their song Domino is their only good song.
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,522
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In The Night was on my wishlist too, but I didn't realise it had never been played live before!
Extraordinary. |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,818
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Quote:
Their song Domino is their only good song.
Next! |
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Happy listening!

