Pet Shop Boys

It's odd because I really adore most of their stuff (I loved _Release_, for example, and think "Home And Dry" is genius) but there are certain things that really, really aggravate me, like "Domino Dancing", "Always On My Mind", "Can You Forgive Her?", and "Go West", but those things are greatly overshadowed by the fact that most of their tracks are as great as "Se A Vida E (Deep Dish Mix)" or "The Boy Who Couldn't Keep His Clothes On" or every version of "I Want A Dog" that doesn't appear on _Introspective_.

(xpost RAISE YOUR STANDARDS, PSB FANS)

(xpost HONOR THE FEY! Er.)

other favourites-
"Love Comes Quickly"
"So Hard"
"West End Girls" (obviously)
"Kings Cross"

I could go on, and on. best band ever.

WHAAAATTT??? This is madness. Holy shit, that track is so utterly great.

I also know that part of my issue with _Introspective_ is the super-heavy hand of Shep Pettibone.

(xpost HONOR THE FEY! Er.)

I have to hurt you now.

i smell heavy handed ILX racism at work

Six if you count me. Play With Me is a superb metapop album.

Is anyone else happy like I am that they've released the DVD of their Behaviour tour? Especially since I missed it. When they played LA. In 1991. When I was out of town that week. And couldn't catch them. WHEN THEY PLAYED WHAT WAS APPARENTLY ONE OF THEIR BEST SHOWS ON THE TOUR ACCORDING TO PET SHOP BOYS VERSUS AMERICA. But I digress.

But Marcello, we close our eyes.

Taking Sides:Go West vs. Wang Chung

So come on Pinefox, what *do* you see in Go West?

Don't try it!

It's still my favorite. Though the older I grow, Behavior is starting to sorta creep into my psyche and wedge itself in at a close #1.5

this is pure insanity. There's a desperation in neil's voice that is particularly sad. The only quibble I *may* be able to come up with is the sax solo.

whoa. xposts out the wazoo.

Fine fine, go ahead and nitpick. ;-)

I am deliriously happy about this, as it was recorded at the very same Birmingham NEC concert that I attended in 1991.

they still wouldn't let them use 'cant take my eyes off you' though it says it's on the disc on the box, it actually isnt on the disc. if u get me.

Oh dear. "Love etc" is on the internet.

It's a stinker.

"A stinker's" a bit too much. I'd say it's good some good bits and some parts that really don't work. Like the first verse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7879322.stm

it's great. it wipes the floor with BEFORE or I'M WITH STUPID as a first single off an album to name two. lovely artwork too.

it's good I think, not a stinker by any means. agree with daavid that the start/first verse doesn't quite work but after that I think it's pretty great

"I remember on Pop Idol, Pete Waterman told someone, very sympathetically, 'The thing is, you're more of a Depeche Mode kind of artist.' In other words, 'What are you doing here, pet?'

He's so right. I wish they'd kick Simon Cowell's ass.

the Weller one is fantastic.

Was always a bit let down that their supposed 'guitar' album Release wasn't rockist enough

Their version of "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" was a surprising failure. On paper it sounds like it should work brilliantly, but the actual results were as flat as a pancake.

PSB are excited to announce “Obscure Pet Shop Boys”, a special run of five intimate shows in April 
2026 at London’s Electric Ballroom. The concerts will feature a setlist of non-single album tracks, b-sides and fan favourites. Full details to be revealed here this Wednesday, 12th November.

sounds fun!

That would be so fun rather than a typical hit-leaning show.

yeah I would love that, when I saw Sparks it was that kind of setlist - not that they really have that many 'hits', but it was stuffed with deep cuts and so many tracks I'd never even consider they'd whip out, made it so much fun

That sounds amazing.

"Play 'Your Funny Uncle'!", the audience cried. "Searching for the Face of Jesus!", a small faction demanded.

Fingers crossed this becomes a small venues tour. Might live to regret not making the trip to London though.

Chris doing One of the Crowd would surely raise the roof.

I was just listening to Alternative this weekend and wondering why they didn’t do a tour like this so I of course take full credit for this happening

I get excited (ILM gets excited too)!

perhaps my favorite PSB chorus - "Miserablism...is is...and isn't isn't"

they really oughta repress the Alternative 3xLP, the people are clamoring for it, also as I recall the later B-sides collection called Format was pretty good as well?

There's been some speculation in this thread, I see

There were a couple deep cuts when I saw them on the Fundamental tour, "Shopping" a particularly fun one. This tour is a phenomenal idea

I would love to see Shopping, it’s been one of my faves since 1987! Occasionally used as background music on telly, over a montage of rampant 1980s consumerism.

Yeah, terrific version on the 2006 tour. They played "Two Divided By Zero" in 2009!

Nice, would have loved to see that! They played "Dreaming of the Queen" on the 2006 tour as well, which was the biggest surprise for me, but I don't think it fully worked live

Lost my shit when they played 'Two Divided By Zero' at Primavera 2010 (also for 'Why Don't We Live Together?')

The latter is my favorite PSB song.

Raisin' the literal negroni in my hand rn to you

idk why this is but every time I visit Mexico I hear multiple Pet Shop Boys songs out in the wild...while downtown or in restaurants or whatever...they really love 'em there

yes Format was also great, and not just because it opened with their best B-side ever

When I saw them in 1991, the deep cuts included "My October Symphony", "I'm Not Scared", "We All Feel Better in the Dark", "So Sorry, I Said" and yes, "Your Funny Uncle".

Also, the encore began with Neil arriving alone onstage with an acoustic guitar to perform the first verse of "Always on My Mind".

^^ released on VHS and laserdisc, remastered and expanded on DVD with a commentary track from Chris, Neil and Chris Heath

I get a zillion times more mileage out of Format than one might have predicted during the era covered, given that my attentiveness to even their A-sides had really dropped away through the post-imperial period. I was a fool around the turn of the century, basically.

Just tried to pre-order the announced book Volume as a means of getting priority for the gig but it's rejecting my payment details ugh.

there’s a no-purchase-necessary link here

https://npn.wmx.co/petshopboysobscurepresale

TY!

My favorite was when they played "Do I have To" on the Yes tour.