but very introspective actually
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 21 November 2013 16:11 (ten years ago) link
yeah Relentless is amazing. it was especially so, getting it the day of release with VERY; EIGHTEEN new tracks in an amazing limited edition sleeve!
― piscesx, Thursday, 21 November 2013 17:39 (ten years ago) link
Why does this sound like a transmission from space? Not sure I can make it through this but the topic is fascinating to me.
― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 21 November 2013 17:52 (ten years ago) link
Pushing through despite the sound, enjoying the commentary. Always On My Mind was huge in the South before the PSB's version, both Elvis and Willie Nelson versions.
― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 21 November 2013 18:27 (ten years ago) link
if the sound is flawed, let me know so we can fix it. I thought it sounded fine to me this morning.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 21 November 2013 19:24 (ten years ago) link
The links to download MP3s are broken – they all point to part 1. (The inline player works correctly.) But this is nice!
― with hidden noise, Friday, 22 November 2013 05:38 (ten years ago) link
Links fixed!
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 November 2013 11:58 (ten years ago) link
thanks!
― with hidden noise, Friday, 22 November 2013 13:42 (ten years ago) link
Okay, my entry to the whole podcast project is up, thanks to Scott and Alfred again for the invite!
http://rockcritics.com/2013/12/02/pet-shop-boys-critically-5/
Here’s the third in our series of PSB podcasts. This time Alfred Soto and I are joined by Ned Raggett to discuss Pet Shop b-sides, which leads into a discussion of: PSB’s Alternative (their double-disc b-sides collection); Sonic Youth vs. Pet Shop Boys; Diane Warren; Mick Jagger; Simon Reynolds… and much, much more!
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 2 December 2013 17:35 (ten years ago) link
specifically, Mick Jagger covering "Opportunities."
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 December 2013 17:36 (ten years ago) link
Downloaded these for listening on my commute and currently on the Woods/Soto/Molanphy discussion. Great stuff!
― a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Monday, 2 December 2013 17:41 (ten years ago) link
Two parts in, this is a great discussion.
Any love for "We All Feel Better In the Dark"? For me it's a highlight of the catalogue and a great moment in the Performance film, like Depeche Mode's "Waiting for the Night" rewritten as a quietly seductive club track.
― jmm, Monday, 2 December 2013 19:10 (ten years ago) link
Nice catch! Tbe songs were recorded during the same era.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 December 2013 19:11 (ten years ago) link
it is my understanding that everyone loves "We All Feel Better in the Dark", although unless you're talking about the downtempo Disco 2 mix I don't see how you could associate it with being quiet
― deX! (DJP), Monday, 2 December 2013 19:12 (ten years ago) link
We all sound better in the dark
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 December 2013 19:18 (ten years ago) link
Speak up I can't see you
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 2 December 2013 19:19 (ten years ago) link
You don't think it has kind of a quiet and secretive feel, like something going on behind the scenes? It's no "Shameless" after all.
― jmm, Monday, 2 December 2013 19:24 (ten years ago) link
generally speaking sirens don't ever strike me as quiet and half of the song has sirens blaring over it, not to mention the screamed "GET DOWN!" sample or the heavily-filtered staccato off-beat synth line or the counterpoint syncopated sample on the verses
― deX! (DJP), Monday, 2 December 2013 19:28 (ten years ago) link
It splits the difference, in the end. Everything Dan notes is spot on, but it sounds like it's trying to be furtive/in the shadows (of course!) in the middle (or to the side?) of something chaotic.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 2 December 2013 19:34 (ten years ago) link
supposedly it was originally "We All Look Better In The Dark" but then i'm sure you all know that. a better title either way imo. it's worth it just for the way Chris says ".. and the beat is dead loud".
― piscesx, Monday, 2 December 2013 19:42 (ten years ago) link
so how's speaking of sounding better in the dark, how's the quality of these recordings?
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 December 2013 19:43 (ten years ago) link
All of the voices come through just fine, even on my less than stellar car speakers, but the parts where Scott (I'm assuming) mixes in songs with your discussions drown out your voices and are in general really hard to listen to. Not that there are a lot of these, and not that they last all that long anyway, but still.
― a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Monday, 2 December 2013 20:38 (ten years ago) link
Their musical about the life of Alan Turing premieres tomorrow night as part of their orchestral show for the BBC Proms. Hopefully on iPlayer to listen to afterwards.
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jul/20/pet-shop-boys-alan-turing-enigma-proms-tribute-interview
― boney tassel (sic), Tuesday, 22 July 2014 02:38 (ten years ago) link
I was there last night. The first half the concert - an orchestral medley of their 80s material, followed by four songs rearranged by Angelo Badlamenti and sung by Chrissie Hynde, was fantastic, especially when Tennant came on and duetted with Hynde during 'Rent'.
The Turing piece was mediocre really, most pop musicians just don't have the musical vocabulary to be able to write a 45min orchestral piece that stands up and they were no exception, the spoken word and choral bits were clunky, and the whole effect was a bit Murray Gold. The one genuinely emotionally resonant bit was the disembodied voice of Gordon Brown apologising for the government's treatment of Turing.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 24 July 2014 10:15 (ten years ago) link
Chrissie Hynde still looks cool as fuck on stage btw.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 24 July 2014 10:16 (ten years ago) link
the whole effect was a bit Murray Gold
Oh dear. (I wouldn't go that far, I admit! While the effect was more in-the-moment than lingering, I appreciated the attempt at interpretive biography.)
That said, yeah, those opening pieces with Hynde. "Vocal!"
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 24 July 2014 11:48 (ten years ago) link
Listening to this now. Would pay $$ to see an entire show of PSB orchestral duets with Chrissie Hynde.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 24 July 2014 15:47 (ten years ago) link
does anyone on here rep for Nightlife? I just can't get into that one (outside of "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk")
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Thursday, 24 July 2014 16:10 (ten years ago) link
Yep!
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 24 July 2014 16:16 (ten years ago) link
It's uneven but the first 3 tracks are really solid. The other good ones are "Drunk", "Radiophonic", "Boy Strange", and "In Denial".
― LeRooLeRoo, Thursday, 24 July 2014 20:23 (ten years ago) link
iPlayer link, good 'til mid-August.
― boney tassel (sic), Friday, 25 July 2014 06:11 (ten years ago) link
That ]Smash Hits "obituary"...
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/14193502729_27d2a922d6_b.jpg
― Turrican, Tuesday, 8 September 2015 16:57 (nine years ago) link
*Smash Hits, rather.
― Turrican, Tuesday, 8 September 2015 16:58 (nine years ago) link
haha that's great
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Tuesday, 8 September 2015 17:15 (nine years ago) link
I actually can't wait to see if the Smash Hits blog stretches on into 1986/1987... hoping that I'll be able to read some vintage Smash Hits reviews of PSB stuff, just to see how easy/harsh they are on their former co-worker. As for Tennant's own reviews for Smash Hits, naturally I agree with some and not others. I was particularly pleased to see that he "got" Soft Cell's This Last Night In Sodom.
― Turrican, Wednesday, 9 September 2015 15:34 (nine years ago) link
Tennant's slick hair is so charming.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 9 September 2015 15:40 (nine years ago) link
great image - also, The Untouchables were my first ever concert.
― Spencer Chow, Wednesday, 9 September 2015 16:39 (nine years ago) link
I imagine Chris looking at this photo and considering tweaking his image
― plops of jupiter (rip van wanko), Wednesday, 9 September 2015 17:00 (nine years ago) link
Ha, yeah... when I saw it, I was like "fuck, Chris looks unusually chipper!"
― Turrican, Wednesday, 9 September 2015 17:02 (nine years ago) link
A fine thing:
Pet Shop Boys recently announced plans to release on YouTube a collection of their @BBC TV performances from 1985 until 2012. The collection so far includes nineteen performances recorded on Top of the Pops, The Old Grey Whistle Test and Wogan. Link below.https://t.co/YRt3gO0nh5— Pet Shop Boys (@petshopboys) October 30, 2020
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 30 October 2020 16:28 (three years ago) link
I really like this new single "Desert Star". 1986 all over.
― completely suited to the horny decadence (Capitaine Jay Vee), Friday, 5 April 2024 10:29 (five months ago) link