is there any pop artist that has done so much public analysis of its own music?
― skip, Friday, 1 July 2011 02:59 (twelve years ago) link
I've always wished there was a collection of Neil Tennant's writing for Smash Hits! How does Pet Shop Boys vs America compare with Literally?
"I stood at the kitchen-sink, my radio playedSongs like "Tainted Love" and "Love Is Strange""
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj6zSmayyeQ
― etc, Friday, 1 July 2011 03:20 (twelve years ago) link
I Want To Wake Up should win this poll. Why it was never a single i'll never know.
― I'm A Genius, Too! (Jamie_ATP), Friday, 1 July 2011 08:05 (twelve years ago) link
Bump for the Friday update.
Now had 18 ballots in and 117 different tracks voted for. 43 points will make the top 50. There's a clear leader but nothing which can't be caught with one or two high scores.
You've got the weekend to get your votes in. I got the date wrong in the opening blurb. So if you haven't voted get your ballot in by 2359 BST on Sunday 3rd July i.e 52 hours from now.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Friday, 1 July 2011 18:58 (twelve years ago) link
I hope this clear leader is "The Truckdriver and His Mate."
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 1 July 2011 19:01 (twelve years ago) link
I just made a list of my 12 automatic favourites--I'd have to start re-listening to expand the list. Can I send that in? I read the rules and I'm not sure.
― clemenza, Friday, 1 July 2011 19:14 (twelve years ago) link
if any of the songs I've been babbling about aren't on your list, I strongly recommend listening to them and considering them
also, "Love Inc" is great
― DJP, Friday, 1 July 2011 19:16 (twelve years ago) link
xpost
If you can only manage 12 that's ok, they'll get the same points as the top 12 from someone's top 20. I hope that makes sense.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Friday, 1 July 2011 19:27 (twelve years ago) link
Fill it out with 8 from the Battleship Potemkin soundtrack. I'm not kidding, it will mildly enrich your life.
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 1 July 2011 19:29 (twelve years ago) link
Incidentally for UK Ilxors BBC 4 are showing at this moment 'The Most Incredible Thing', which of course features a score by the Boys. If you miss it I guess it'll be on iplayer.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Friday, 1 July 2011 19:29 (twelve years ago) link
For those who may not be all that aware of post-Alternative B-sides, consider this one:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obLQksYWjQg
― daavid, Friday, 1 July 2011 19:41 (twelve years ago) link
^Prob. my favourite track of the "Release" era.
― daavid, Friday, 1 July 2011 19:46 (twelve years ago) link
I only have a few of their singles so don't know all of their later B-sides, I would love them to do Alternative volume 2.
― Kitchen Person, Friday, 1 July 2011 19:58 (twelve years ago) link
― Kitchen Person, Friday, July 1, 2011 7:58 PM (24 minutes ago) Bookmark
http://www.discogs.com/Pet-Shop-Boys-Beside-Pet-Shop-Boys/release/1179576
Unofficial fans edition of the so-called Alternative Pet Shop Boys second installment, compiling singles b-sides / extra tracks from "Before" (1996) to "Numb" (2006) as well as the fan-club exclusive "It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas".
― etc, Friday, 1 July 2011 20:25 (twelve years ago) link
"I Didn't Get Where I Am Today" is a helluva B-side -- one of their few rockers.
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 1 July 2011 20:31 (twelve years ago) link
A latter-day b-side that samples Father's Name Is Dad by Fire:
I’ve been called repressedA poet, a pestI didn’t get where I am todayQithout getting in someone’s wayI live my life on a stagePut it down on the pageI didn’t get where I am todayWithout writing a resume
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6R7Ym4w4oQ
XPOST DAMMIT
― etc, Friday, 1 July 2011 20:43 (twelve years ago) link
Listening to "Lies" - are there any other tracks where Chris sings rather than sing-speaks/raps?
― etc, Friday, 1 July 2011 20:46 (twelve years ago) link
He's got that bit in the coda to "Go West" ("I believe in ecstasy...").
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 1 July 2011 20:46 (twelve years ago) link
Probably not eligible (not a PSB track), but there's also this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuRNSB8CYp4
― daavid, Friday, 1 July 2011 21:05 (twelve years ago) link
Also, something on "Yes," iirc?
― daavid, Friday, 1 July 2011 21:07 (twelve years ago) link
Hey, I like that "I Didn't Get Where I Am Today"...but then I love "Father's Name Is Dad," so maybe that doesn't count for much.
― clemenza, Friday, 1 July 2011 21:08 (twelve years ago) link
That's a seperate song, not a coda (generally called "Postscript")
― undeɹrated ærosm?th b∞tlegs I have pwned (sic), Saturday, 2 July 2011 00:22 (twelve years ago) link
Bump, another 3 in today. No doubt I'll get 50 ballots tomorrow.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Saturday, 2 July 2011 17:23 (twelve years ago) link
Can I just take a moment to boost the 50s poll as well, which only has a week to go. You can vote for songs like 'Tainted Love'* and 'Love Is Strange'.
* well almost, it's just a few years out
― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 2 July 2011 17:44 (twelve years ago) link
Ballot submitted but it's still basically impossible. Hope some of my stragglers got picked up in other people's ballots.
― Strictly vote-splitting (DL), Saturday, 2 July 2011 19:23 (twelve years ago) link
Oh wow, why have I only just heard the Original New York Mix of Why Don't We Live Together post-ballot? It's the first of their Latin Rascals-related tracks that's lived up to the shimmery "One Way Love"/"Tears Will Fall" (or even the LR rmx of "Notorious") promise I'd hoped for:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-i1lHMMX_c
& ta for that Stop Modernists track, Daavid - wow, Chris Lowe might be the first person to out-everyman-voice Barney on a New Order cover!
― etc, Saturday, 2 July 2011 21:06 (twelve years ago) link
"Why Don't We Live Together" will score very high on my ballot (coming shortly).
Also: guys, please listen to "Decadence."
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 2 July 2011 21:21 (twelve years ago) link
starting to feel like Album Trax are going to get shunned in this poll. Just B-sides and Singles.
― Gukbe, Saturday, 2 July 2011 21:30 (twelve years ago) link
rong
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 2 July 2011 21:30 (twelve years ago) link
Love that original NY mix--another new one to me. This thread is a great mix in itself.
― you've got great robot conflict (Eazy), Saturday, 2 July 2011 21:33 (twelve years ago) link
Luckily I found twenty other songs better than "West End Girls."
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 2 July 2011 21:35 (twelve years ago) link
ballot submitted!
― I'm A Genius, Too! (Jamie_ATP), Saturday, 2 July 2011 22:06 (twelve years ago) link
wasn't even considering voting for "west end girls" but then it came up on my playlist and...it's really pretty great, isn't it?
― Gukbe, Saturday, 2 July 2011 22:19 (twelve years ago) link
it's perfection. don't front on the hits people.
― I'm A Genius, Too! (Jamie_ATP), Saturday, 2 July 2011 23:23 (twelve years ago) link
I haven't been pumping up the singles because I assume people know and will vote for them. WEG's Disco Mastermix, Dance Mix and 10" Version are all worth having.
― skip, Saturday, 2 July 2011 23:44 (twelve years ago) link
Morning bump, just over 14 hours to go. Only 12 points seperates the top two, so every vote counts.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Sunday, 3 July 2011 08:44 (twelve years ago) link
I'm going to send in my flimsy ballot before the deadline. That's the plan, anyway.
― Alpaca Lips (Johnny Fever), Sunday, 3 July 2011 09:38 (twelve years ago) link
Okay, sent.
― Alpaca Lips (Johnny Fever), Sunday, 3 July 2011 10:01 (twelve years ago) link
Sent!
― mike t-diva, Sunday, 3 July 2011 17:22 (twelve years ago) link
23.59 BST = British Summer Time no? Just checking :-)
― Frogbs Day Afternoon (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, 3 July 2011 18:18 (twelve years ago) link
Over a week listening and listening. I couldn't come up with anything, so I just sat down and bashed out a ballot in less than ten minutes. It ain't perfect, but no going back. Are the results going to be this week?
― Gukbe, Sunday, 3 July 2011 18:43 (twelve years ago) link
Yes, but as I'll be tucked up in bed then I'm not going to be too much of a hard ass if it comes in after the deadline.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Sunday, 3 July 2011 19:02 (twelve years ago) link
All being well, I'll start the countdown tomorrow night.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Sunday, 3 July 2011 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
good excuse to miss the fireworks!
― Gukbe, Sunday, 3 July 2011 19:08 (twelve years ago) link
Voted!
― Frogbs Day Afternoon (Le Bateau Ivre), Sunday, 3 July 2011 22:06 (twelve years ago) link
Teared up a bit to "Dreaming Of The Queen" - I think if it'd been a "Being Boring"-style single, I wouldn't lose track of it in the middle of Very as much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjjMP53khro
Looking forward to whenever the countdown works out to be at GMT+12
― etc, Sunday, 3 July 2011 22:31 (twelve years ago) link
I was just listening to all the b-sides collected in "Beside," and damned if the PSB's output is not simply overwhelming in quality, even when the Boys are not operating at top level. I mean, "I Didn't Get Where I Am Today" .. is that their only rocker?
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 3 July 2011 22:35 (twelve years ago) link
"Dreaming Of The Queen" is great. I don't recall nearly enough expressions of love for it (though I seem to recall Stephen Merritt chose it to represent 1993 in his 100-recordings-of-20th century thing). Sadly excised from my own ballot at the last moment though.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Monday, 4 July 2011 00:24 (twelve years ago) link
"Dreaming Of The Queen" is great. I don't recall nearly enough expressions of love for it (though I seem to recall Stephen Merritt chose it to represent 1993 in his 100-recordings-of-20th century thing).
I'd always wished old-ILM had done a Taking Sides: Pet Shop Boys vs the Magnetic Fields - two bands I love to bits but never think to compare; both literate, queer, tagged as ironists, fluent in non-rock pop history and in a way both reviving earlier 80s synthpop while still in the selfsame decade.I guess "I Thought You Were My Boyfriend" is the most PSBs-like MFs song, though "Rats In The Garbage Of The Western World" has the same sort of Soft Cell bedsit seediness found in Neil's delivery in Bobby 'O'-era PSBs (and possibly "We All Feel Better In The Dark").Speaking of that Merritt list, I wonder what the Pet Shop Boys made of White Town's "Your Woman"?
― etc, Monday, 4 July 2011 05:37 (twelve years ago) link
Poll is now officially closed. If you haven't voted you've missed the boat.
I'll check and double check the results today and hopefully will start the roll out this evening.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Monday, 4 July 2011 05:50 (twelve years ago) link