These are 20 from the 21st century that I'd be happy to have on a playlist.
The Samurai In Autumn Try It (In Love With A Married Man) Flamboyant The Sodom & Gomorrah Show Minimal Casanova In Hell Fugitive Love Etc. More Than A Dream The Way It Used To Be Leaving Love Is A Bourgeois Construct Inside A Dream Thursday Vocal Happiness The Pop KidsBurn Willow The Wisp Hoping For A Miracle
― kitchen person, Tuesday, 21 July 2020 20:24 (three years ago) link
Thanks! In truth, the original 2020 question was intended to find a full career CD-R80, partly because I was making a compilation for a friend. However, it has ended up at a more interesting place.
Modern era track I really like that hasn't been mentioned: "E-mail".
― djh, Tuesday, 21 July 2020 20:28 (three years ago) link
Other recommendations for your Spotify list: Psychological (also the Ewan Pearson remix), Flamboyant, She's Madonna (by Robbie Williams), Sorry (PSB Maxi-Mix, by Madonna), This Used To Be The Future, Axis, I Don't Wanna, My Girl, the Genuine Piano version of London (not released outside Germany until 2003), Girls Don't Cry
Their cover of We're The Pet Shop Boys is not as good as My Robot Friend's original, but is very fun, and their cover of Viva La Vida is 1000x better than Coldplay. They also did a cover of the song In Private that they wrote for Dusty Springfield in 1990, now as a duet with Elton John, that goes much harder than the original.
― Steppin' RZA (sic), Tuesday, 21 July 2020 21:08 (three years ago) link
djh see also POX Pet Shop Boys B-sides
― nashwan, Tuesday, 21 July 2020 22:52 (three years ago) link
Cool. Ta.
― djh, Wednesday, 22 July 2020 10:50 (three years ago) link
Their cover of We're The Pet Shop Boys is not as good as My Robot Friend's original
I think they did it better! Great track.
― LeRooLeRoo, Wednesday, 22 July 2020 13:30 (three years ago) link
"I Don't Like Much Really, do I? But What I Do Like, I Love Passionately - A PSB compilation"
Alternative title: "Drunk"
PaninaroSexy NorthernerThe Truck Driver and His MateIt Must Be Obvious.I Don't Know What You WantYou Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk.Violence (Hacienda)Euro BoyHome & DryWhy Don't We Live TogetherBetrayalYou ChooseEmail.
There's room for a few more perfectly poised tracks.
― djh, Wednesday, 22 July 2020 22:00 (three years ago) link
There's some great stuff in your suggestions - thanks.
― djh, Monday, 27 July 2020 15:36 (three years ago) link
:D
― Steppin' RZA (sic), Monday, 27 July 2020 20:40 (three years ago) link
"You Choose" is a minor masterpiece.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 27 July 2020 20:50 (three years ago) link
It's great, isn't it?
It's a track I'd missed but I'm quite bad (good?) for just getting engrossed in a group for a bit ... and I love it.
― djh, Monday, 27 July 2020 21:27 (three years ago) link
Link to the (slightly mutating) playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/205aTQBpnwJEwUZzQMMS6W
― djh, Monday, 27 July 2020 21:29 (three years ago) link
You Choose meant a great deal during a period when I felt the stirrings of love for a guy who three years earlier hadn't returned it.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 27 July 2020 21:53 (three years ago) link
Makes sense.
― djh, Monday, 27 July 2020 21:58 (three years ago) link
Compilation artwork, obvs.
First time I’ve been on a train since March! Hope you’re all keeping well. Neil xx#PetText pic.twitter.com/ASouFg5OaY— Pet Shop Boys (@petshopboys) August 1, 2020
― djh, Saturday, 1 August 2020 18:46 (three years ago) link
Might be of interest:
https://thequietus.com/articles/29906-pet-shop-boys-best-of-b-sides-album-tracks-beyond-the-hits
Contains Mr Raggett.
― djh, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 13:27 (two years ago) link
They praised the wrong version of "I Want A Dog"
― 80's hair metal , and good praise music ! (DJP), Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:20 (two years ago) link
The great wars begin. Mr. Soto is also in there.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:32 (two years ago) link
Excellent selection !
― LeRooLeRoo, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:37 (two years ago) link
It’s a dialogue between robots well before Daft Punk. Camp and terrifying, electronic exultation achieved at the expense of everyone and everything else — perhaps that’s the real European canon in the end
A terrific insight, Ned. Also, "Euroboy" and "Some Speculation" made my shortlist too. In the '00s my online dating profile name was SomeSpeculation. Only one dude got it.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:41 (two years ago) link
Credit to that dude. And thanks!
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 14:44 (two years ago) link
re Mr Soto - oddly, I've only heard that Timmy Thomas song this year ... on a mix by ISAN.
― djh, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 17:13 (two years ago) link
Anyway, spent a happy hour or so compiling this into a playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5CH0dsOUoBVJ6kE9A1Rmp4
― djh, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 17:17 (two years ago) link
oooh thanks
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 April 2021 17:18 (two years ago) link
Genuinely, that was a gorgeous read - full of love and affection (and, remarkably, some tracks I've missed and/or didn't know).
― djh, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 17:38 (two years ago) link
POX from the Quietus list:
DiscotecaDo I Have To?Dreaming of the QueenIt Always Comes As A SurpriseI Want A DogA Red Letter DaySome SpeculationThis Must Be The Place I've Waited Years To LeaveThe TheatreViolence
― LeRooLeRoo, Wednesday, 28 April 2021 21:34 (two years ago) link
"In the Night" really is a banger of the first order.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 April 2021 21:36 (two years ago) link
I like the Quietus List
Personally, I would have added these:
Was That What It Was?I'm Not ScaredHit And MissAlwaysWe're The Pet Shop BoysFugitive
― daavid, Thursday, 29 April 2021 03:56 (two years ago) link
On a second thought, perhaps not Hit and Miss. It hasn't aged that well.
― daavid, Thursday, 29 April 2021 04:02 (two years ago) link
I love "Hit and Miss" and a few other b-sides on Format, but I imagine my POX would still be ten songs from Alternative
― Vinnie, Thursday, 29 April 2021 04:13 (two years ago) link
My b-side POX, that is
― Vinnie, Thursday, 29 April 2021 04:19 (two years ago) link
it seemed they skipped covers? so that would rule out We're The Pet Shop Boys and, kinda, I'm Not Scared
both megabangers ofc, as is Fugitive
― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), Thursday, 29 April 2021 04:44 (two years ago) link
I never understood the issue with the Instrospective version of "I Want a Dog". Possibly my favourite thing on it since I was a child. The b-side rendition feels like a less perfect iteration along the journey to the bitchin' housey endpoint. The Quietus OTM.
Perticularly good to see the likes of King's Cross, You Choose, The Theatre, Flourescent and Your Funny Uncle there too.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Thursday, 29 April 2021 05:05 (two years ago) link
pArticularly, obv.
Devastating lack of "A Man Could Get Arrested" though!
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Thursday, 29 April 2021 06:19 (two years ago) link
― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), T
Ned wrote about the Springteen cover.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 29 April 2021 09:34 (two years ago) link
Ah yeah! I even approved of his non-Boss-belief.
― bobo honkin' slobo babe (sic), Thursday, 29 April 2021 09:55 (two years ago) link
The issue with the Introspective version of I Want A Dog is that they took a wistful, delicate song and removed all of the personality from it with a boring beat
― 80's hair metal , and good praise music ! (DJP), Thursday, 29 April 2021 11:29 (two years ago) link
One could and should quibble with bits and pieces of that list, but it's at the very least a great reminder of the wealth of good stuff this group has released or, more shockingly, sometimes barely released.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:42 (two years ago) link
xp It was entirely Knuckles's work according to the Introspective sleevenotes.
Neil: "We got back to London and played it to Trevor Horn and Steve Lipson and Trevor said 'See? Cheap gear sounds better.'"
― piscesx, Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:43 (two years ago) link
The Communards keyboardist plays the piano, I think.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 29 April 2021 12:52 (two years ago) link
He plays the piano on What Keeps Mankind Alive? but as far as i know that was it.
Confusingly, I did once play with the Pet Shop Boys #pointlesstrivia— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) October 4, 2012
― piscesx, Thursday, 29 April 2021 13:07 (two years ago) link
ah! That's it.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 29 April 2021 13:45 (two years ago) link
Vicar!
Listening again, the second half being dominated by the piano solo rather than (something resembling) dog bark samples has likely been a factor for me. Actual aural representation of dogginess threatens to undermine the wistfulness!
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:15 (two years ago) link
The dog barking is the most distinctive, singular component of the song. Removing it removes the song's identity.
This is the only remix of "I Want A Dog" that works and it's largely because it interpolates a good amount of "Atomic Dog" into itself while holding onto the dog barks, plus the beat doesn't sound like an extremely square preset:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB7mOdWk9hc
― 80's hair metal , and good praise music ! (DJP), Thursday, 29 April 2021 14:27 (two years ago) link
x-posts: Yeah, what Josh in Chicago said (though I realise there is joy to be had in arguing the detail).
― djh, Thursday, 29 April 2021 18:50 (two years ago) link
Had we posted this Tweet on here? (I can't see it but might be being an idiot).
Classic question from a taxi-driver in London today! “So are you still making music and is the other one still a vicar?” Neil x
― djh, Thursday, 29 April 2021 18:52 (two years ago) link
Fun to hear them do "Mr. Vain" on this '94 Rio show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl-nPbUSihQ
― too cool for zen talk (Eazy), Sunday, 2 May 2021 21:20 (two years ago) link
The covers were fun on that tour; Girls and Boys, Rhythm Of The Night, Mr Vain and I Will Survive
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/pet-shop-boys/1994/auditorio-nacional-mexico-city-mexico-6bd2faf2.html
― piscesx, Sunday, 2 May 2021 21:46 (two years ago) link
I read years ago that when Brett Anderson joined them for "Rent" he and Neil had been tootin' the nose powder.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 2 May 2021 21:50 (two years ago) link
Their Springsteen cover.
Their Blaze cover.
Their Village People cover.
They rule.
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 31 January 2024 17:37 (two months ago) link
Their cover of Bobby O’s “I’m In Love With A Married Man” is astonishing compared to the original.
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Wednesday, 31 January 2024 17:44 (two months ago) link
Long Guardian interview
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Saturday, 3 February 2024 15:38 (two months ago) link
Laura knows what to get out of them:
“Weirdly, music ceased to be ageist,” says Tennant, as various chocolate cakes arrive and the pair produce an astonishing amount of crumbs. “Young people are listening to their parents’ records. It’s all up for grabs.” He credits YouTube. “You could have a fond memory of seeing the video for Strawberry Fields Forever on Top of the Pops in 1967, and then you never saw it again. But I could look at it now. Something happened then. It all existed at the same time.” They crashed into this last year when Drake released a song with an unlicensed quotation of West End Girls, which Tennant found out about through a young nephew: “He was quite impressed, actually.” It got sorted after a cross tweet. “They were very helpful and apologetic,” says Tennant. Did they get paid? “Oh we certainly did.”
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 3 February 2024 15:44 (two months ago) link
Hahah just highlighted that on my FB post.
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 3 February 2024 15:56 (two months ago) link
Tomorrow’s the last day to see Dreamworld (the concert film mentioned upthread) in theaters. Saw it Wednesday and loved it.
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Saturday, 3 February 2024 17:33 (two months ago) link
appreshed Tennant's IEM fucking up for much of the first half, in a clear nod to Lowe's sheet-music prompter breaking down for the second half of Cubism. the only piece of 2000-2010 nostalgia in the set! one for the real heads.
― bae (sic), Monday, 5 February 2024 03:06 (two months ago) link
Best cover by the Pet Shop Boys
Didn’t know they’d covered Springsteen, will check it.
― Dan Worsley, Monday, 5 February 2024 12:38 (two months ago) link
It’s a fantastic cover
― the new drip king (DJP), Monday, 5 February 2024 13:43 (two months ago) link
Really is.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 February 2024 13:47 (two months ago) link
^thirded! also, saw Dreamworld last week, was a great time, pretty much a longer version of the set they played on their tour with New Order. especially grateful to have seen "Love Comes Quickly" again. beautifully staged, and the way Tennant does "you can fly away..." in a lower register but still in haunting contrast with the rest of the vocal, maybe the highlight of the whole show for me. braced for it the first time, anticipated it this time.
― soup of magpies (geoffreyess), Friday, 9 February 2024 03:13 (two months ago) link
Not new so may have already been discussed but enjoyed this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0016gwh
(Neil Tennant's This Cultural Life).
― djh, Monday, 12 February 2024 20:33 (two months ago) link
Just started reading this: https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/product/bodie-a-ashton/the-pet-shop-boys-and-the-political-queerness-culture-identity-and-society
Will report back!
― djh, Sunday, 18 February 2024 11:46 (two months ago) link
The new album is available in a 2-CD version that includes an EP of "2024" versions of some of their hits, including "Being Boring".
On the one hand, yeah, I'm going to buy that version but, god, doesn't that feel a bit shit, somehow?
― djh, Tuesday, 20 February 2024 22:06 (one month ago) link
Volume 1 - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/205aTQBpnwJEwUZzQMMS6W
Volume 2 - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Vo5riagO7TOdB92H8fvuJ
The latter still a bit a work in progress but without any real criteria for it.
― djh, Sunday, 25 February 2024 22:42 (one month ago) link