btw "Two Divided By Zero" remains my favorite PSB album opener.
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:21 (twelve years ago) link
"Nervously" is a beautiful album track that gets way too little love.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:23 (twelve years ago) link
OTM, although "One More Chance" is a very strong rival
― chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:39 (twelve years ago) link
this may be the only poll where i'll be happy with whatever lands at no. 1.
― strongo hulkington's ghost dad, Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:42 (twelve years ago) link
X-Post: Strongly dislike both openers on their first two albums, although the original unused re-recording of "One More Chance" was great (as was also the original Bobby O single)
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:44 (twelve years ago) link
I've really enjoyed reading the previous polls, but even with Pavement (who I love), I'm not familiar with half their catalog. This is one of the few bands where I know pretty much everything - yay! Narrowing it down to 20 is gonna be brutal.
I love "One More Chance" but I don't know how you top "Can You Forgive Her?" as an opener.
― Vinnie, Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:45 (twelve years ago) link
10 days -- I might have time to play enough catch-up to vote.
― Mr. Patrick Batman (WmC), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:46 (twelve years ago) link
Wow very exciting! Except choosing only 20 tracks will be difficult.
― LeRooLeRoo, Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:48 (twelve years ago) link
lol going by my initial ballot I should just copy the tracklist to Alternative and call it a day
xp: tbh I've never really been convinced by "Can You Forgive Her?"; I think it's brilliant until the last verse
― chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:49 (twelve years ago) link
You can't. Although "Love etc. " was the best attempt in a long time.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:52 (twelve years ago) link
lol that's right, I'm the only person on ILX who liked "Home and Dry"
― chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:52 (twelve years ago) link
I don't think I'll include that many b-sides. Surely "Miserabilism" and maybe a couple more. But even though they were largely good, few were among their 20 best ever.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:58 (twelve years ago) link
Same. I'm really familiar with the first three (proper) albums. I've heard everything else, but not enough for total recall.
― Alpaca Lips (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 23 June 2011 13:59 (twelve years ago) link
I could easily put all of these on my ballot:
We All Feel Better in the DarkI Want A DogSome SpeculationJack the LadDon JuanIn the NightPaninaroYou Know Where You Went WrongIt Must Be ObviousDo I Have ToI Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)Bet She's Not Your GirlfriendA Man Could Get ArrestedToo Many PeopleMiserablismShameless
― chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:00 (twelve years ago) link
Really looking forward to breaking my brain over this one at the weekend!
― ...wow! (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:05 (twelve years ago) link
"The Truck Driver and his mate", the only song inspired by a Yorkie ad?
(OK, ignoring Cirrus and "Moving On", the only record issued in a brown oblong format)
― Mark G, Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:06 (twelve years ago) link
I'm the only person on ILX who liked "Home and Dry"
You are not alone. That's a dead cert for my 20.
― mike t-diva, Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:07 (twelve years ago) link
20 tracks is way way too few, Billy make it a top 50
― underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have pwned (sic), Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:07 (twelve years ago) link
hoping for high placings for My Funny Uncle and I Want To Wake Up
― I'm A Genius, Too! (Jamie_ATP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:49 (twelve years ago) link
"The Truck Driver and His Mate" is so awesome.
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:49 (twelve years ago) link
this is going to be fun, there are 4-5 locks but there are dozens that could fill up the rest of the ballot.
― skip, Thursday, 23 June 2011 17:24 (twelve years ago) link
First ballot in, so unless you want 'Absolutely Fabulous' number one you'd better get voting.
Disappointing lack of youtubes, I'm hoping these will get some love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZip7Y_IDqQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNdfweCLbws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mBS-9KP7_A&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgl6zuHBrHw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGWnCEy4leE&feature=related
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Thursday, 23 June 2011 18:33 (twelve years ago) link
Are all the Paninaros going to be considered as one track?
― skip, Thursday, 23 June 2011 18:39 (twelve years ago) link
"Young Offender" definitely going to be on my ballot. Probably "Your Funny Uncle" as well. I'm gonna have to spend all weekend listening to every Pet Shop Boys track.
― Gukbe, Thursday, 23 June 2011 18:39 (twelve years ago) link
Yes, but if people want to specify a version I'll bear that in mind when doing the reveal.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Thursday, 23 June 2011 18:47 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, time to drag out those Further Listening CDs that I paid so much damn money for and have barely opened since ripping them to digital.
― skip, Thursday, 23 June 2011 18:56 (twelve years ago) link
I also hope "Home and Dry" gets some love.
― Gukbe, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:00 (twelve years ago) link
How many are in the final countdown?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm6LLym2tE4
― Let me tell you something about that song. (Eazy), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:01 (twelve years ago) link
^^^underrated gem^^^
― Gukbe, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:04 (twelve years ago) link
will also be voting for "Home and Dry".
― skip, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:07 (twelve years ago) link
To be honest I don't know. It will depend how many tracks get votes, probably 50.
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:09 (twelve years ago) link
and this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-ga9jVZ8Tg
― skip, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
I like "I Get Along", but it's chorus is too close to Super Furry Animals.
― Gukbe, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
I'll be interested to see how many people vote for newer tracks. Miracles, Flamboyant, I'm With Stupid, Minimal, Integral, and Love etc. are all on my shortlist.
― skip, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:13 (twelve years ago) link
Could seriously do a really awesome ballot of non-singles and b-sides.
― Gukbe, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:25 (twelve years ago) link
I have a kneejerk ballot but need to go back through the newer albums before I send it
it is the ballot of someone inordinately in love with Alternative
― chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:31 (twelve years ago) link
Quick question: Should our ballots be numbered? If so, should the format be
1 - "Track 1"2 - "Track 2"...20 - "Track 20"
?
― daavid, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:31 (twelve years ago) link
also, soooo psyched abt this!!
― daavid, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:32 (twelve years ago) link
"Young Offender" is one of the few songs about which I can, "OK, this is my life."
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:33 (twelve years ago) link
also, remember before they ruined it on Introspective "I Want A Dog" was a fucking great song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0yIJ7TLZeg&feature=related
― chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
It'll be close to impossible narrowing this to 20 tracks.
― daavid, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:36 (twelve years ago) link
I could list twenty great songs and not even mention "West End Girls."
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:37 (twelve years ago) link
"West End Girls" didn't make my initial ballot
Neither did "Opportunities", "What Have I Done To Deserve This?", "It's a Sin", "Being Boring", "So Hard" or "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?"
― chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:39 (twelve years ago) link
also if you don't love this song you may be dead inside:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDteRvSWkjc
― chupacabra - a delicious burrito (DJP), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:40 (twelve years ago) link
The mystery of the worldFor every boy and every girlWho don't understandWhat's going on anymore
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:41 (twelve years ago) link
Helena Springs and Tennant harmonizing is one of the best sounds in the world.
Should our ballots be numbered?
Yes, absolutely.
In format:
1. Track 12. Track 2..10. Track 10 (Dusty Minelli)..20. Track 20
― The multi-talented F.R. David (Billy Dods), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:41 (twelve years ago) link
DON'T FORGET THIS ONE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETMqQTMDgiE
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:45 (twelve years ago) link
Neil Tennant seems to write about my life all the time. "Nervously", "Boy Strange", "Sexy Northerner", "Liberation", "So Hard", "It must be obvious", "The Way It Used To Be", "A Red Letter Day", and so many more.
I agree we should get 50 votes!
― LeRooLeRoo, Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:47 (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
Righto, Official ILX Ballot number two will be around shortly.
― Mark G, Monday, 4 July 2011 08:46 (twelve years ago) link
"I Thought You Were My Boyfriend" vs "Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend"
― The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 4 July 2011 12:04 (twelve years ago) link
I'd always wished old-ILM had done a Taking Sides: Pet Shop Boys vs the Magnetic Fields
It's a close one. It's hard to beat Stephin Merritt as a lyricist, and he can certainly write good melodies. But Pet Shop Boys are infinitely better in the production/ arrangements dept. ... so them.
― daavid, Monday, 4 July 2011 18:26 (twelve years ago) link
Results Happening Now
― Gukbe, Monday, 4 July 2011 20:38 (twelve years ago) link
FACT: "Why Don't We Live Together" is a top five tune.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 17 December 2016 02:36 (seven years ago) link
Every track on Please apart from 'Violence' has been "best song ever" for me at some point or another. A ridiculously strong debut. Everyone talks about Very or Behaviour, but Please ranks as one of my favourite ever synthpop albums.
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Sunday, 18 December 2016 23:20 (seven years ago) link
for my money, they never bettered Please or Actually
― ¶ (DJP), Monday, 19 December 2016 02:18 (seven years ago) link
I like thinking about this phenomenon sometimes, where an act comprehensively establishes itself so clearly early on that what follows is ultimately finesse, but where all kinds of varying fates happen after that. Pet Shop Boys had full imperial phase recognition and then settled into being a cult/oldies act (the former in the view of the fanbase, the latter in the view of the wider world) but with albums and singles that people can point to in terms of variety and experiment; an act like the Ramones establishes only a subcultural preeminence and never varies from it, and their later albums simply become curios.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 19 December 2016 15:31 (seven years ago) link
in an interview with sw00ds from 2013 I asked him and Chris Mol@nphy how the North American perceived the PSB on the eve of Actually's release. There had been so many fluke English synth pop duos that I wondered if anyone thought this duo's second album would matter.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 19 December 2016 15:34 (seven years ago) link
But we talk about the stellar career of Naked Eyes to this day
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 19 December 2016 15:45 (seven years ago) link
Three weeks ago a 20-year-old girl at the station was blasting their comp. I was like, the Bacharach-David one, 'Promises, Promises,' and, uh..."
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 19 December 2016 15:49 (seven years ago) link
There really is no shame in a 2 track CD release, if that's all that's needed.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 19 December 2016 16:41 (seven years ago) link
for my money, they never bettered Please or Actually― ¶ (DJP), Monday, 19 December 2016 02:18 (yesterday) Permalink
― ¶ (DJP), Monday, 19 December 2016 02:18 (yesterday) Permalink
^this!
― daavid, Tuesday, 20 December 2016 03:53 (seven years ago) link
amazingly the first 2 albums were pretty much all from the early demos so not only did they arguably never better the first few years of recorded output they arguably never bettered the run of songs from before they were even signed.
― piscesx, Tuesday, 20 December 2016 10:59 (seven years ago) link
nah. the first two albums ARE the best, but they have approx. 900 songs better than most of the songs on those albums.
(and Electric is their third-best album!)
― sad, hombres (sic), Tuesday, 20 December 2016 12:44 (seven years ago) link
'Jealousy' and 'Nervously' were both fairly old songs by the time they recorded. If I remember correctly, 'Nervously' was a Neil song that predated PSB, and 'Jealousy' was one of the earliest Tennant/Lowe things.
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Tuesday, 20 December 2016 13:30 (seven years ago) link
"What Have I Done to Deserve This?" wasn't an old demo.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 20 December 2016 13:41 (seven years ago) link
no but they had it by the Please sessions so i mean.. early demos and early sessions covered a massive chunk of albums 1 and 2 and attendant B sides. so if one were to make the point that the very very early stuff was The Best then the point stands IMO.
i mean they're aware of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLBN6CAs8oY
― piscesx, Tuesday, 20 December 2016 14:57 (seven years ago) link
You've got your whole life to release your first album, and 6 months to release your second.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 20 December 2016 15:16 (seven years ago) link
Proud history of bands like Cheap Trick, Pixies and Van Halen burning through their backlog.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 20 December 2016 15:17 (seven years ago) link
The thing is, though, I really really dislike the idea of the Pet Shop Boys discography ending with Actually. At one point I would have said Bilingual would have been a great place to leave it, but I'd hate to be without Fundamental or Electric, so...
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Tuesday, 20 December 2016 22:58 (seven years ago) link
Saying their first two albums are the best is not the same as saying that they shouldn't have recorded their subsequent albums, many of which are great.
― ¶ (DJP), Tuesday, 20 December 2016 23:09 (seven years ago) link
Of course not, but as much as Please is one of my favourite PSB LP's, and one of my favourite synthpop albums of all time, I don't really rate Actually as high. I'd reach for Very or Introspective (*hears the faint sound of DJP combusting*) over it.
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Tuesday, 20 December 2016 23:25 (seven years ago) link
Actually also contains 'Hit Music', which is probably one of the only "imperial phase" PSB tracks that I actively loathe.
― hey look, I can copy and paste - next week I'm learning bowel control (Turrican), Tuesday, 20 December 2016 23:41 (seven years ago) link
It's the only song from this period that's HEY WE'RE THE PET SHOP BOYS LET'S WRITE TO CHARACTER
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 21 December 2016 05:52 (seven years ago) link
Hit Music is great, wtf
― ¶ (DJP), Wednesday, 21 December 2016 14:05 (seven years ago) link
another excuse to post the 7" mix of this B-side:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS7-j4Wnw4k
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 21 December 2016 14:11 (seven years ago) link
^^^ one of their best full stop
that said I think Behavior/Very >> Please/Actually
― frogbs, Wednesday, 21 December 2016 14:40 (seven years ago) link
xp - Yeah, also the Please/Actually-era B-sides is yet more proof of how on fire they were during this period.
I like plenty of later era PSB songs, but had they stopped at Actually (OK, let's say Introspective), their status of legends would stay intact in my book.
― daavid, Wednesday, 21 December 2016 15:48 (seven years ago) link
1986 to 1994 is a good run imo
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 21 December 2016 15:49 (seven years ago) link
xp -I am aware that, for me, part of the appeal of these to albums is the mid-80s sound, which I've always been partial to, above any other era.
― daavid, Wednesday, 21 December 2016 15:53 (seven years ago) link
'Hit Music' feels like more of a B-side than the B-sides of the period.
― Working night & day, I tried to stay awake... (Turrican), Wednesday, 21 December 2016 19:21 (seven years ago) link