Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Masterpiece!
love them. Such a huge part of anything that happened in the 80s. Essential 80s.
Actually really good. It sounds fantastic and is wonderfully layered. So 80s and I love it. Very catchy with moments of pure awe
01) One More Chance - 8,0 02) What Have I Done to Deserve This? - 10,0 03) Shopping - 8,5 04) Rent - 10,0 05) Hit Music - 8,0 06) It Couldn't Happen Here - 8,0 07) It's a Sin - 10,0 08) I Want to Wake Up - 8,0 09) Heart - 10,0 10) King's Cross - 9,0 TOTAL: 8,95 (90/100) Current ranking: 75/731
Amazing album
really fun!!!!
PSB; allways good!!!
Takes me back to when I was a teen. I love it
Si tuviera que elegir un álbum del que posiblemente sea el mejor duo de la historia, sería este. Es más representativo que Behaviour (otro imprescindible) o su excelente debut. Aquí, obviamente hay éxitos como It's a Sin (no exenta de polémica por el vídeo, la temática o injustas acusaciones de plagio de Cat Stevens!!), Heart (con voces de Tennant, Pavarotti y Wendy Smith de Prefab Sprout! y vídeo con el vampiro/Nosferatu Ian McKellen). y por supuesto esa gema que fue What Have I Done To Deserve This? (con Dusty Springfield, a quien les dio tiempo a regalar todo un disco de resurreción como fue Reputation). El 87 fue el año en que los PSB derrotaron a Michael Jackson y este disco fue su arma. Joyas como It Couldn't Happen Here, coescrtia con Ennio Morricone, I Want To Wake Up o King's Cross que son dos de mis favoritas. No incluye Always on My Mind, una de las mejores versiones de la historia y que fue otro éxito. Si alguien quiere más, siempre puede meterse de lleno en Further listening o Disco. Cualquier disco de los PSB contiene algún tema de justifica una trayectoria, pero Actually es el más redondo.
A classic
Heart is so recognizable it's not funny, this album has immaculate and unique instrumentals for all ten songs and the backing vocals are a nice compliment
gatchi pioneers
This album is like wearing a perfectly tailored tuxedo to an emotional breakdown—and somehow making it fashion. It’s icy, theatrical, and immaculately produced, like a robot’s idea of what heartbreak feels like in a luxury hotel. Neil Tennant delivers lines like he’s too bored to cry and too clever to care, while the synths shimmer with that distinctly ‘80s cocktail of irony and ecstasy. Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: Disco for people who overthink everything and still look good on the dance floor. Favorite Track: “It’s a Sin” — the anthem for anyone raised Catholic, dramatic, or both. Consistency With Me: 9.3/10 Why: My circuits understand yearning. Especially when it’s polished, dramatized, and set to a dance beat. This album is full of repressed feelings—my native tongue.
Day604 - the best pet shop boys album and a great new wave album
Hello, are you selling any budgies?
So obviously 5 stars. You're all idiots. Almost everything is 80s clever pop gold. My first 5 star I'd not heard before.
Still charming, in an angsty '80s BritPop way. :)
An excellent follow up to Please where the boys showed more depth to their sound and more maturity in their songwriting. It’s a sin is, and forever will be, an absolute banger.
Great. Mainly bangers, would be 4.5 but I'm rounding up today
Great pop tunes
Actually it is a very nostalgic album for me. My grandpa would always play some 80s radio stations and they would always put Pet Shop Boys songs. So almost each song from this album is a hit for me and brings some good memories and nostalgic vibes
PSB can do no wrong.
This is their best album, certainly their most 'complete'. It's not an exaggeration to say that all 10 songs on this could be singles, indeed 5 of them were, such is the quality control and the PSBs' knack for writing catchy and memorable songs. It also has my all time favourite song of there's on it 'King's Cross'.
Voinko antaa viisi tähteä, jos muutama biisi on vähän toistensa kopio ja filleriä? Voin, koska vain vähän. Niin hyvä synanpimputus, tanssimeininki, pikku tarinat.
80s synth masterpiece with surprises (Morricone!) and monster hits.
Actually, the Pet Shop Boys' second album, is a brilliant showcase of the duo at the height of their creative powers. With this release, they perfected the distinctive sound and style that would define their music for the next three decades. This is pop/dance music at its finest. Tracks like “One More Chance” and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” exemplify the group’s talent for crafting flawless melodies, infectious rhythms, and lyrics that are both powerful and meaningful. Favourite Song: “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” is a standout. The collaboration with Dusty Springfield adds emotional depth and a timeless quality. That said, it’s hard to choose—“Shopping,” “It’s a Sin,” “Heart,” and “Rent” are all 5/5 tracks in their own right. Least Favourite Song: There truly isn’t a weak track on the album—every song earns its place. Album Artwork: A brilliant, minimalist cover that perfectly complements the sleek, sophisticated sound within.
Пам'ятаю як ще на відеокасетах почув їхню музику, досі вона мені подобається
Really had fun with this one. Why haven't I listened to Pet Shop Boys before? Love the drum machines, love the synth tones, love the vocal melodies. Feels like an alternate reality version of New Order-- less goth (although there's still a hint, if you know where to look for it), more pop. This album is very self-aware, and for me it just by a hair makes that into a virtue rather than a vice. Especially with the song Shopping-- if you turn up the ironic detachment at all it would get obnoxious. But in fact, it's charming. The biggest highlights were Rent and King's Cross, but every song was enjoyable. "To fall in love is so uncool."
Pet Shop Boys kick ass. I would've never admitted that back then. But I suspect I've always know it since I first heard West End Girls. Catchy pop music that isn't pretending to be anything that it's not.
Great album. Really enjoyed it. 80's synth pop at its finest
Actually the best pop album of all time 5/5
Rent
Excellent! I really enjoyed this one. Something about the overall composition just worked for it. Great instrumentals and vocal work. 'It's a Sin' was my fave from this album.
Bloody brilliant.
Excellent Album. Pet Shop Boys always had a great sound.
Классная музыка 80-ых. Кайфец
I love it. Of it's time and yet not dated, somehow.
Years ago I had a close friend who got me hooked on "Heart". It's been a while since I listened to it, but it holds up and I still love it. There are some other great songs on here but none of them quite measure up to that one for me. If you told me to imagine "80s pop" this is the sound I would think of. I love that it's a bit political too! Probably a 4.5 but just like Muddy Waters I am going to round up.
Did some counting, this is the 319th album and the 15th I actually own. Not a big fan of dance music but am a fan of the Pet Shop Boys. A large part of that are the lyrics. Don't listen to this album as an album very often but listen to several of the tracks on it very regularly. Listening to the whole album convinced me that I should do that more often. I don't give 5 stars easily but this is definitely worth it.
Fun
So glad Neil Tennant took the bet. I know this was the period he was playing with the idea of being a popstar, but this album is an icon of my childhood.
This was delicious. I loved it.
Brilliant album. Great vibe, no skips, and some obvious brilliant highlights.
Wry and danceable social satire from the Reagan 80s. Perfect.
Very cute and fun 80's!
Absolutely loved!
There is not one bad song on this album.
This album was awesome. All synth, but not nearly as cheesy as some other synth pop from the era. The music is interesting with some pretty unique structures. Rent is an easy standout on this album for me, but What Have I Done to Deserve This? and It's a Sin are really cool too. I thoroughly enjoyed this listen.
Still very impressive
The best album of my favourite pop band. Wish i could give it 10 out of 5
What da fåk... Det her album fungere virkelig godt! Igen... Jeg har aldrig brudt mig om Pet Shop Boys... Indtil nu... Det blev gennemlyttet med gode in ears så jeg kunne faktisk nyde den måde tingene er produceret på. Det står klart frem, i modsætning til mine tidligere oplevelser i høreværn, eller et gammelt sterio anlæg. Kæmpe potentiale til at vokse sig endnu større for mig.
Fantastic 80's sound and vibe!!
I know before starting that this is going to be a chore for me. I know this because I was once given a burnt DVD of EVERY PSB track. A sides. B sides. Unreleased bootlegs. TV show performances. Like an idiot I loaded these tracks into my collection, and suddenly about one in five tracks was PSB. They got old very quickly after that. Having listened to it, it wasn't terrible, and wasn't even the chore I was expecting. PSB are pioneering, and have their place in the 80s pantheon.
Många fina låtar. Rent kan vara det bästa de gjort.
Really, really not a fan of the first track, but the rest of the album more than makes up for it. Very 80s. For some reason Pet Shop Boys just hit my personal sweetspot for the mix of upbeat synthpop and undertones of sadness. I love this.
Perfect slice of 80e pop
Loved it!
They're so good. Love all the well-known, popular tracks, of course, but also really liked the beat in the song "Heart".
🖤🖤🖤
The Imperial Phase of the Pet Shop Boys was short, but glorious while it was going on.
Not Actually too bad! No way, it’s FANTASTIC! Standouts: It’s a Sin, What Have I Done To Deserve This, Shopping, Rent, Hit Music, Heart, It Could Only Happen Here, I Want to Wake Up, Kings Cross. 4.5
I’ve been patiently waiting for this album and it didn’t disappoint. I ended up listening to it three times today!!!
Absolutely superb. What an album! Conceptually brilliant, music, brilliant. Love love love .
I loved this! I was already a reasonably big fan of theirs (I have ‘Behaviour’ and ‘Discography’ on CD) but these songs are amazing. Cryptic lyrics about Thatcherism throughout. The ‘80s synths, so often associated with joyous dancing, betray great scope in emotion here, demonstrating the PSBs’ mastery over their craft. The five ‘hidden’ gay songs (Rent, Hit Music, It Couldn’t Happen Here, It’s a Sin and I Want to Wake Up) are also excellent ;) 10/10 Heard before: Rent, It’s a Sin
Iconic album
Para variar la reseña, voy a hacerla más desde lo vivido en noviembre del 2023. Pude verlos en Buenos Aires en el Primavera Sound y todavía tengo el recuerdo fresco de esa noche. En la poca más de una hora en que tocaron, no paré de bailar y de sentir fascinación por ellos: su performance, sus cambios de vestuario, la presencia de otros músicos y el cambio de la escenografía por obreros estilizados en la misma línea que Pet Shop Boys. El sentimiento general fue de estar en presencia de dos "mostras" de la electrónica, de un dúo icónico e hipnotizante, del que sentía que no podía dejar de admirar. Este disco es una muestra pequeña de todo eso.
Absolute classic. What Have I Done to Deserve This? is still perfect. Probably my favourite of theirs outside Left to My Own Devices (specifically the 7" mix). Bonus points for including Dusty. I've actually grown fonder of the Pet Shop Boys with each passing decade, I think for much of the 80s and 90s I found them a bit much. But since then, looking back upon those two very silly decades, this pair's wry side eyes at the madness surrounding them shines through. And obviously, they pop hard. A couple of the album tracks are a bit pap, Shopping and Hit Music spring to mind, but all the others are very good. Heart is amazing. You can say it's dated, but you can also fuck off, lol. I stuck Introspective on straight after this, fully in the mood. I might prefer that actually (in fact) to Actually, given all the songs are really good and I'm a sucker for a 12" mix, especially of 80s stuff. But the single version of Devices is king.
10/10
I gave the other 2 psb albums a 4 This is better This gets a 5
I'm not the biggest fan of Pet Shop Boys, but I guess everyone has to admit that this album is an absolute excellent piece of music in the highest quality available. Amazing album, great songs, will recommend to anyone!
What Have I Done to Deserve This? (with Dusty Springfield), Rent, It's a Sin, Heart. Se merecen un 5.
I’m not a big Pet Shop Boys listener. But this was a great listen all the way through. Lyrically interesting, sonically interesting. Great record.
Pleasantly surprised how amazing this album is. Looking forward to digging into their discography further. Synth pop perfection
I love this album. It's one of the great examples of a techno pop album that functions beautifully as a whole. Every song is perfectly placed and there's not much in the way of filler. It's really a total package of an album, one of the greats of its genre. Several of the Pet Shop Boys' best songs appear on here, including "What Have I Done to Deserve This?," "It's a Sin," and "Rent," but there are some really compelling deep tracks as well. The whole album is a sly political statement about the emptiness of the age in which it was made, much of it still resonating today. I promise you, there were not a lot of pop artists occupying this particular space in music in 1987. Musically, the arrangements are top notch, with a smart, textured use of sequencing and some really lovely melodies. Neil Tennant's approach to vocals suits the tone of the songs beautifully. He comes off as jaded and detached, but then he has these lovely, surprising moments of vulnerability that add well-placed emotional depth to the sound. These are songs that speak evocatively of decadence, ennui, longing and regret, in ways that few artists can do. And all of that with a perfect pop sensibility. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): It's a Sin, Rent, What Have I Done to Deserve This?, It Couldn't Happen Here, I Want to Wake Up, Heart, King's Cross, One More Chance, Shopping, Hit Music
Nostalgia and power pop just great.
Excellent pop album with some great songs throughout. Of it’s type rarely beaten.
Slay
Classic 80’s pet shop boys. No west end girls but fun tracks
This is a good one
Bangers, all the way down.
Pure proud pop.
please
Mitäää???????? Tämäkö ACHYALLY?? ACHUALTTY GOOD? HUOKOTTELIJA POIKA KUVASSA... EI PALJOA HUOKOTELLA BIISEISSÄ... USKOMATONTA.. RAKASTAN LEMMIKKIELÄIN KAUPPA POIKIA!! synth pop toimiii meediumina hieman.. heh.. mietytymmälle musiikille
It's a Sin and One More Chance are such banger songs. Even besides that, the album is pretty dang good.
Such a rich mix of politics and electro-pop, total joy to listen too.
This album is that famous "let's dance our troubles away" album. Great, until today!
What Have I Done to Deserve This? (with Dusty Springfield), Rent, It's a Sin, Heart. Se merecen un 5.
An all-time favorite album. I have to admit, I didn’t quite understand PSB until this album, and then I heard how tongue-in-cheek and smart their lyrics were. A 5-star classic.
Track Ranking: 1. It's A Sin - 9 2. One More Chance - 8 3. It Couldn't Happen Here - 8 4. What Have I Done To Deserve This? - 8 5. Hit Music - 7 6. Heartbeat - 7 7. Shopping - 7 8. Rent - 7 9. King's Cross - 7 10. I Want To Wake Up - 7
New for me and great
Very much a product of its time, but a damn good one.
Okay I've never heard these folks before but I actually really enjoyed this.
Actually ages and I still love it. This is my first listen of this remaster, which brings out the datedness of many of the instruments. Yet I can't find anything bad at a song level and looked excitedly forward through the end of the record. The laconic delivery pairs perfectly with the ironic tone, but the songs keep you dancing as well. The rare record you can enjoy earnestly while annoying your friends with.
Awesome album and not me most favorite album of theirs.
I realize that I should have more Pet Shop Boys in my life.
Loved it. Pure bliss.
Espectacular. Masterpiece
Rent это sin
I don’t need to do this one because… ok I will. I don’t need an excuse for listening to one of my all time favourite albums, (Later) Gosh. ‘Kings Cross’ is a masterpiece of observational melancholy. It shouldn’t work in the same album as ‘Heart’. Or the plaintive complaint of ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This’. That’s the thing about this album. The whole is a lot greater than its parts. Not so many artistes really think about putting together a complementary suite of songs nowadays, rather focusing on bangers and necessary fillers. This is the package. THE package.
Great electro pop sound
Very very very good. actually.
fuckin awesome I mean, I’m not surprised, it’s easy for this genre to impress me 10/10
Flawless. By far their most consistent album, passing the acid test that listening to the album tracks without the singles shows no drop in quality.
Yay, more Pet Shop Boys! And this one has my two favorite songs by them (Heart and It's A Sin; Rent is really good too though). I gave this one two spins and enjoyed the first couple of tracks a lot more on the second go than the first. To be honest, this might be more of a 4 star album than a 5 star album... but Heart!
I’m a big fan of Pet Shop Boys so this one was really fun. A great album with a lot to choose from!
Knocking off a star because of Morrissey
Прекрасно
A nice 80s pop-rock album, very atmospheric.
El pop fet art. Un altre dels grans discos que van fer bons els vuitanta, amb una sensibilitat artística (i lletrística) que molt pocs artistes han demostrat, tota ella al servei d’unes cançons inoblidables, tan fossin grans èxits del moment (‘It’s a Sin’, ‘What Have I Done…’, ‘Rent’, ‘Heart’…) com temes més amagats però igualment portentosos (‘It Couldn’Happen Here’, ‘I Want to Wake Up’, ‘One More Chance’)
What Have I Done to Deserve This? (with Dusty Springfield), Rent, It's a Sin, Heart. Se merecen un 5.
Eat the rich! For all the damage that privatisation has done to the U.K. – and continues to do; how lucky am I to have been directly engaging with a deep historical legacy every time I lost three hours to getting back to Brighton from London? – the upside is that in 1986/87 there was plenty of subject matter for socially-conscious pop to contend with. “It’s a sin” is the standout track – and with thanks to the Russel T Davies drama, contains lyrical ideas that still feel as vital and pressing as they must have in the 80s – but bops like “What have I done to deserve this?” (featuring Dusty, of course) and “I want to wake up” are brilliant deeper cuts. The former of which puts me in mind of Jermaine Stewart’s “We don’t have to take our clothes off…”, a hit from the year previous – though “WHIDTDT” was maybe composed even earlier; Dusty took a while to reply apparently. (Side note: I wonder how many influential one-hit wonders are forgotten in a list like this? Feels unlikely that we’ll see Jermaine Stewart, King, etc.) So deeply of its time while so completely timeless, “Actually” is sophisticated pop made by brilliant people. Simple as that.
80'er for fuld skrue. Alle de rigtige lyde, Juno's, Gated Snare, det HELE!
Loved it
Niceee
— В Pet Shop Boys музыкальная сила и мудрость... — Вы любите Pet Shop Boys? — (подергивая плечами) Да-а — А какие альбомы предпочитаете? — (Протягивая руку) Да обычны... ну вот, пожалуйста, Actually. Нормальный альбом. Пацанский, хули. Слушать можно. — Похвалите ещё Pet Shop Boys. — (С заминкой) Ну как его похвалить... ну заебись альбом. Пиздатый альбом! Как его ещё похвалить бля... (небольшая усмешка, перерастающая в полноценный смешок) — А ещё пара красивых слов? — (Показывает большой палец) Не-въе-бен-ный альбом! — Спасибо. — (безразлично) Да на здоровье. (Ставит альбом на повтор) Вот оно — музыкальное золото!
Nice
Fuck it, I enjoyed it quite a bit
Fun album, only subpar song is the first one
Great album - banger after banger. Favourite track: It’s a Sin
It took me far too long to realise how special Pet Shop Boys are. Severely underrated synth pop.
Wasn’t a huge fan at the time, but this is a quality album - almost a 5
This is the type of pop music from this era that I can get behind. There is darkness lurking underneath those danceable beats. Neil Tennant sings about his experiences as a gay man in Thatcher's Britain. On "Shopping", he shows off the group's self awareness as they attack the privatisation of Britain under the guise of a pop song that sounds like a celebration of capitalism. Dumping on Catholicism has never sounded as good as it does on earworm "It's A Sin". The synth-driven music found on here is digestible for the masses, but the messages delivered throughout the record are intelligent without ever coming off as pretentious. I can't wait to see what these two are capable of with the other two records they have on the list.
Some of the best dance beats I've heard out of the 80s
Pet Shop Boys early stuff is great. Really good electronic sophisto-pop is how to best describe it. Hooky, poppy melodys with a much deeper musical sophistication on closer inspection. 4.2
Pet shop boys albums to me seem pretty consistent. This is another enjoyable listen. Except Shopping. It's a clanger.
Wasn't super familiar with the band outside of West End Girls and I very much enjoyed exploring more here. The 80's synth is very clean and danceable with a good amount of variety in tone and lyrics. More hits than misses here but the misses ended up pulling this down 1 star. Still going to be listening more to the artist going forward.
Spot on. Some classic tunes.
Unabashed 80s synth pop
Grew on me after 2nd listen 4/5
7.5/10
Really fun I enjoyed it
Solid album, might be a 5 star. Really enjoyed the vast majority, it’s so catchy.
Dope
Ah, interesting, blah blah, the foundation of punk, blah blah, provenance, blah blah meh meh.
I love the 80s
Much more of a fan in retrospect
S H O P 0 I N G
5/20/26. Well-crafted synth pop, I've always appreciated Pet Shop Boys and their approach to songwriting & production. They delay melodies well so you can enjoy the groove before hearing the complete song.
It's this close to greatness. "It's a sin", "Shopping", "Hit Music" all scratch some itch, and they'd be some of the 80s best, if it weren't for Duran Duran, or Aha, or Wham, or ABBA or Depeche Mode or.........
Some world cass singles on hete. Very good album.
Even though none of these songs are actually in Grand Theft Auto Vice City, all of these songs are in Grand Theft Auto Vice City.
Some fodder in here. But enjoyed quite a few of these tunes. Serious industry season 4 vibes.
Immersive and phenomenal. Can't help but bust a move. For sure a guilty pleasure record.
80s
To my surprise, I absolutely loved this album! The electronic beats of British dance music of the 80's is fantastic.
i really wanted this to be a 5/5... but not quite. those ballads just drag. the uptempo ones rule, though. It's a Sin and Rent... whew. perfect 👌
everybody say thank you gay people!!!!!!!!
Alltid toppen sound och det här har ett par av deras absoluta bangers!
Toppenbra och eget sound! Flera feta bangers
Typ allt låter bra. + It's A Sin.
Another great example of 80s synthpop from the Boys. This is more of an 8/10 to me than Behaviour's 9/10, but it still has some all-time bangers like It's a Sin on it!
There were some extremely silly and repetitive songs on here, but those were overshadowed by the fantastic tracks that filled out the rest of the album. Sort of spread out, with the back half being better (imo), this was some excellent synth pop. I had a moment of realization that a good amount of the music I listen to was inspired by stuff like Pet Shop Boys, specifically this album.
Great 80s album with one or two issues that prevents it from being perfect for me. One, most of the songs on here are slightly too long for my liking. I think if you trimmed about three and a half minutes it would be perfect. Secondly, while the social satire is absolutely on point, I think the vocal is unsuited for something as sincere as It Couldn't Happen Here which makes it come off schmaltzy- and that song is long as HELL.
18/04/2026 I surprised myself by liking this. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Spotify listeners: 10.3 million
8/10… synth pop / new romantic / *1987
What an album. This is the kind of albums I like from the 80s. The combination between deep voice, good lyrics and great melodies, not boring and repeating beats. Great album
good
Actually, this is epic. And I love Pet Shop Boys
these guys are sooooo fun i love them!
3.75
Vocals were a bit off but this was a lot of fun!
HELL YES SYNTHPOP LET'S GO Excellent soundscapes and equally excellent catchy melodies across the entire thing. Will easily return here many times over. The synthesizers are loud but never corny and really mesh without sounding like a blur thanks to some keen production from Shep Pettibone. Also that Ennio Morricone collab halfway through?!!! Had no idea about that, gah damn.
They are who they are. Very of their time, but what an iconic sound. Interesting to hear another song so focused on money, “rent”. What have I done to deserve this is just pure bubble pop jam. And “it’s a sin” is an incredible alchemy of sexiness and poignancy. I can’t think of another song that does that at all, let alone as well.
I wasn't super impressed with the other Pet Shop Boys albums I've gotten through my journey here. Perhaps their earlier stuff is better? I will agree that this is the most cohesive and maybe consistent Pet Shop Boys album I've heard (among the three on this list). Surprising amount of emotional depth and commentary for a dance-pop album too. ("Shopping" isn't actually about shopping, if you can believe that...) It's all mostly smooth and quite melodic. I want to hate this for some reason, but I actually don't have too many complaints after listening. I'll show a little love.
coming into this blind, im relatively surprised to learn that it's a sin is the hit single off this album. sarcastic, introspective, danceable. whats not to like?
Consigo entender a importância desse album, é algo culturalmente impactante. Não diria que pet shop boys foram aqueles que definiram o som da década de 80, mas eles conseguem MUITO BEM definir o som dessa época mais "eletro-pop-disco". Gostei, voltaria pra ouvir algumas, mas não sei se o album inteiro novamente. HIGHLIGHTS: ITS A SIN, HIT MUSIC, Heart, One more Chance 8.5/10
Liked it quite a bit, very 80s.
bops, nostalgic and didn't thought i still bangs that hard.
way better then anticipated
Another one I put off because I didn't think I would like it. I actually did. I like punchy synth pop and this hit that dot. Honestly I was pretty impressed and found myself enjoying it.
This is nowhere near as strong of an album as "Behaviour" or "Introspective"; whilst it houses several of the group's set-list mainstays, such as "It's A Sin", "What Have I Done To Deserve This" and "Heart", I can't help but feel that several of the deeper cuts occupy that status for a reason, failing to leave as significant of an impression without being poor as such. Nonetheless, I'm more forgiving of Pet Shop Boys than others seem to be, and I will return to this for the hits. Objectively it's probably a strong 3 stars, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt as I am a fan, and my overall average score has taken a serious beating of late, between being dealt some utter dross and feeling that a re-appraisal was necessary for other previous albums that I was a touch too lenient to.
Well produced 80’s album that actually holds up. Solid listen.
This is exactly what I expected a Pet Shop Boys album to sound like, heavy on that 80s synth-pop vibe. It’s a fun listen, but not one I’m likely to come back to very often.
No bad songs, singles are bangin' 7/10
It’s a Sin to not like this record.
Lite 4, cool vibe
Surprised I have never came across this. Pretty good, classic 80s vibe and will definitely be coming back to songs on this. 4/5
Americans are idiots, actually.
My dad loved this album, and I too loved introspective by the Petshop Boys. I love the range on this release, where it can go from humorous to dark back to humorous again effortlessly.
Seems like a fun record to make, peak gratuitous 80s
A darker take than their first album, satirically attacking British culture. It is quieter, more contemplative, but more thinking. I don't know if I like their move away from dance music, but it is still a solid album. 3.5/5
It was fine
I mean sure. I like the Pet Shop Boys. They're interesting they're weird they're cool they're gay. I like it. What have I done to deserve this? Shopping? At the pet shop perhaps, boys? Lol Nevermind. This is good. It's very 80s alt kinda. I don't really know I'm just saying anything. Oh funky beat. I like this. One could say it's a hit, musically speaking. God I'm hilarious. What if I don't wanna dance forever. Did you even think of that lead pet shop boy. This is album 67 for me. That's beautiful. Sometimes it can't happen. Especially not here. That's just life baby. Whattaya gonna do. Me this morning fr. I can definitely see the electronic and dance genre being very influenced by these guys. Favourite: It Couldn't Happen Here Least favourite: Rent
Yes, good stuff
The 80's called; they want their synthesizer back. Listened to this one out of order for giggles and curiosity. It's a Sin is synth-pop on steroids but I love the message. Reading others reviews has me now curious about the rest of the album. Indeed, this is disco-pop at best/worst, but the lyrics on several tracks are thoughtful, beyond the backbeat. And a duet with Dusty Springfield to boot. My 4 stars is a gut feel only, nothing specific about the actual quality or content of this entry. I simply like/loved it.
Never really listened to this band, other than It's a Sin, and that's only because of Ghost. I did enjoy this and would likely listen to more.
Best track Shopping. Perfect encapsulation of the whole album being about far more than it seems at first glance.
A lovely album, though I like the one dude's music quite a bit more than the other dude's singing
A bit lighter and poppier than the first album, a nice progression and set the scene for their eventual direction into pure pop. Album is littered with ‘singles’ and no real filler.
Damn, never really listened to Pet Shop Boys, but this album surprised me a lot. I love 80s music for dancing, but then again, not every album hits. It's usually selective songs, but this album is just great. Almost every song is a dance hit, and I love it. Also, it sounds very 80s landmark, and I appreciate that too. Very fun album for 80s lovers.
A lot of songs that sound nice but don't do enough to justify their full length, I appreciate the Pet Shop Boys at the peak of their potential and that's not necessarily abundant here but I still like the album
They have such a unique sound! I really enjoyed this album.
Not usually the biggest fan of 80s synths but the PSB always do it well.
Fantastic. The hits on this LP are, obviously, some of the best pop singles of the ‘80s but some of the deep cuts (Kings Cross in particular) are among the most memorable songs they ever wrote. Excellent lyrics. Music is politics. A perfect snapshot of being a queer person during Thatcher. May she rest in piss. Best: I Want to Wake Up, Heart Worst: One More Chance
Just great. Proper national treasure stuff.
Fun shit. This band takes some getting used to IMO. They were listed as the most successful duo in UK music history in the 1999 edition of The Guinness Book of Records.
This is a fun album. Fantastic sound, great 80s vibes. Can't listen to this one and not move a little bit. Yes please.
I’m a sucker for dancey 80s music.
The type of 80s pop I actually really enjoy.
Enjoyed that
weird vibe, and i usually like a weird vibe like gorillaz , but you need to be saying something important for it to work for me. like i cant tell if this is music to dance, code, or vibe to. not bad tho
This one surprised me. It started like a pretty typical synth pop album, but delved deeper as the album continued.
More good fonts. "Actually" is an adverb, so, I like that. I remember being moderately disappointed by their previous album, but I thought this one was pretty good/what I was expecting, even though I didn't know any of the songs. Apparently, this is the genre "hi-NRG", which is a ridiculous name. But I do like songs to be.....hi-NRG...... behold, my current top three genres: 1) chamber pop 2) space rock 3) hi-NRG & bottom: 1) prog 2) shoegaze 3) blues rock
This is #day528 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… actually, this is my third and final PSB album represented on the list (not really sure why you must hear that many of their records before you die, though). I would've preferred to see the band's debut, Please, instead, as it feels more essential from a synthpop-history perspective. Still, Actually is packed with mid-'80s classics: "It's a Sin" (which I’ve never been a huge fan of, honestly), "Rent" (probably one of my favorites of theirs), "Hit Music," and others. It's a great synthpop record nonetheless (pun un/intended). This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day529.
Very enjoyable 80s pop
Two British albums from 1987 in a row, but which is gayer? The out, hi-NRG disco pop here or the more allusive work of the Smiths. I knew about half the songs on here and though some of the studio effects sound naff, there's no denying singles like It's A Sin and Heart.
Synthpop is so silly. Whilst our boy Neil Tennant pours his heart out about internalised homophobia and whatnot, Chris Lowe finds the silliest fart-sounding keyboard setting possible and inserts it wherever he can. It's amazing it works, and yet it undoubtedly does
I really like the Pet Shop Boys. I love the story behind their formation, their sound and image is so distinctive, and they have written some fantastic songs. This is a really strong album which has some standouts (it’s a sin, in particular). It is a bit dated but their sound kind of exists out of time anyway.
For me this album brings back strong nostalgia, a remembering of a specific time long forgotten. So please forgive me. Let me take you back briefly. The Thatcher government. Late teenage awkwardness, still haven't found love yet. Privilege with mild despair and a broken family; goodness knows we can't possibly talk about that because it's the 1980s and we must tough it out. Here I am 38 years later with all this flooding back; this album was on continuous repeat for me, for an extended time that may have been as much as a whole year. Since then I am 3x older and have learned a few things about life and about music. "Shopping" and "Rent" and a few other references are obvious references to the dystopian economic situation we were living through at the time. Much of the album, especially "Hit Music", reminds me strongly of the work the Art of Noise was doing not long before. "I Want to Wake Up" could be about the government nightmare (very prescient) until they add "with you" so it could work for your teen crush too. The fake ending on "Heart" got me. Still. "King's Cross" - I would like to remind you of the fatal fire at the station that happened just 2 months after the album release. The ominous second verse had teenage-me hatching all sorts of conspiracy thoughts about it of course. In reality the song is about the grim life in that part of London at the time, and the lyrics are a coincidence. Or that's what they want you to think. All in all, teenage me would of course have rated this 5 stars. It's aged reasonably well. If you weren't there, you probably hate it.
Wasn't familiar with any of these songs before today but dig the PSB generally. I like the sounds and the lyrics I could catch are more interesting than I expected. For example, in my bigotry I assumed Shopping would be celebrating superficial materialism but it appears to maybe be about political corruption? I sense a deep dive approaching...
i love high quality 80s synthpop!!!
Very unique I liked it
The Pet Shop Boys always remind me of my dad. We went to see them live together once. No way I couldn't give this a high rating Songs added to playlist: - What Have I Done to Deserve This? - It's a Sin
Calm album, something to listen to while blowing smoke
Almost every track is a great tune. I can't listen to them every day but once in a while it is good fun to put it on
Like a lot of the ‘80s synth-pop albums on this list, there is an initial wave of “Whoa now this is cheesy,” but if you get on board with it, it’s chock-full of really great songs with good melodies and chord progressions. I love “Rent” and “It’s a Sin” and “Shopping.” Very enjoyable album. Must-listen #271.
Some great bangers on this album but I would put Please above this. This album introduced an entire generation to Dusty - which is a cool thing. Even though Neil’s vocals are somewhat…..flat(?), they somehow fit perfectly to their music. While some may write this off as an 80’s album, it stands up really well in 2025.
Pet Shop Boys sind immer gut für gute laune, melancholie und jugenderinnerugen. man merkt den songs an, dass die band noch am anfang steht, spätere werke sind vielschichtiger.
I was very happy when the album Very came up about a month ago, so I was even more so when this was today's. I'd never listened to the former previously and really liked it a lot, and I knew the hits from Actually so I assumed it'd be another enjoyable listen. And indeed it was. What Have I Done to Deserve This is one of the great hit songs from the 80's with a perfect pairing of PSB and Dusty Springfield. It's a Sin was great then and great now. But I also totally got into the rest of the album as well, with the very cool political and sexuality subtexts throughout. One more thing. This is such an iconic album cover. I've always thought this was perfect, and even more so after reading about how it came about from the Wikipedia article.
Listened Before? Y Classic PSB. These guys have never looked back since the 80s. This is one of their best early albums. Not much else to say. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: What Have I Done To Deserve This?
I've never been a massive Pet Shop Boys fan. Decent group, like some songs, not seeking them out. This album proved to be very good, not amazing. It's a Sin is a great song, and I do like What Have I Done to Deserve This. There were a few others on here which were very good as well, such as Kings Cross which I really enjoyed. Still, there were others like Shopping which were not close to the level of some of the others. A good listen, fun to go back to, not incredible.
Great tunes on here.
increible synthpop el album va progresivamente a mejor, el run de It's a Sin - I Want To Wakeup - Heart es una locura. Nunca me había escuchado más de 3 temas de estos pero el album me sorprendió, un 4,5 for me
West End Girls, their 1981 debut single, gave Pet Shop Boys something of a reputation as a band popular with the yuppie crowd as something to play in the background on cd at their dinner parties. Fast forward through six more years of Thatcherism and it’s clear that Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe had had enough. This album deals with the effects of capitalism, the loneliness of city life and most heart breaking of all, the human tragedy of the AIDS crisis on the song ‘Couldn’t Happen Here’. There are plenty of bangers on here, but my highlights are ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This?’ featuring the legendary Dusty Springfield, ‘Rent’ and ‘It’s a Sin’ which is possibly their finest hour. The only downsides for me are with that brittle 80s production sound, but the remastered version goes some way to giving it a bit more oomph.
I just got two 80’s ass albums back to back. I thought all of them sounded the same but these were actually very different. This one feels lighter and popier and the synths are lighter too. I was skeptical after the first song but they really landed the damn plane on this album. It only got better as it went along, though the production was pretty consistent. Another 80’s album added to the rotation! Update: I did my research, the other album is considered Darkwave and this one is Synth Pop. I can hear the difference and both appeal to my ear drums. Shoutout to this project for helping me learn the different categories of the 80s Sound.
I'll be honest, my heart sank a little when I saw it was the Pet Shop Boys today - mainstream chart acts are not really my thing But . . . I'm all-in on the process, so here goes It was actually quite fun to listen to, and I'm going to be humming Its A Sin for the rest of the day Putting aside the really boring and dated drum patterns, the production was great Just 10 tracks, but at least half of them are Winners! So far the 1001 Album challenge has provided few surprises, but very happy to have finally listened to this collection!
So dynamic, it sounds so good, each song tells a story and it all feels well crafted. It pulls you in with hypnotic music from the beginning, there's catchy and then legendary. Cannot get enough from this album.
Not much to say. Really solid synth-pop. It's pretty sick that they got Dusty Springfield and Ennio Morricone to contribute to this. It Couldn't Happen Here is sleepy and cloying, the only track I'd likely skip upon re-listens.
Liked it more than expected. Good melodies, and surprisingly good lyrics for electronic music, but it was the 80s after all.
Honestly one of the best synthpop albums I've ever had the pleasure of listening to, actually
4/5
All they drop are bangers.
Pretty good.
I really enjoyed this album listen! I already loved the Pet Shop Boys so I had a great time listening to this album. Their songs aren’t very deep or life altering but they have a very 80’s pop and new wave sound which I love. Overall, I liked this album and would listen to it again!
It gets better as it goes on. I went through their first album before listening and think that one’s a little better. Pet Shop Boys are quickly rising up my favorite synthpop bands, granted I don’t have many. The cover art is great too. Rating: 4.3
Almost 5 stars, great production!
Discovering that I like 80s music… the synth (if that’s what it is idek) is poppin. 80s music sounds so specific. I added like 4-5 songs to my library from this album.
Fun listen, every track is a banger
Another band where I know the hits but not much else, and really liked this. Pioneers of electronic dance music for sure, some club-ready disco flavored tunes, and also some slower moments that I really enjoyed (It Couldn't Happen Here is pretty stunning). It's a Sin is probably the highlight of the album but a lot to like here for me.
“I love you, you pay my rent” is the karaoke song from Saltburn! “It’s a sin” is the original that Elton John sampled for the AIDS TV show. “Shopping” is about privatization and Margret Thatcher. “One More Chance” “King’s Cross” “Heart”
4 - cool súper 80s album
I really loved the vibes this album brings and I just generally like this type of music. Most of the songs here I can just jam out to I like "What have I done to deserve this"
Plug the 80s straight into my veins! The first track had instrumentation that weirdly reminded me of Jai Paul, the rest was more straightforwardly 80s but just extremely well executed. Then realised that a lot of what i think of as iconically 80s is from this. Detached electro-dance-pop, geat melodic sensitivity, real sense of irony detachment and boredom. Self-aware album. Good!!
Favorite Track: King’s Cross
Back in 1986/1987 The Pet Shop Boys were a bit of joke to me. “ it’s not real music, anyone can hit a key on a computer, it just plays itself” As I have got older and looked back upon my life I have come to appreciate the genius of the two of them. I now have a new found appreciation of them and their music and good on em for still going in 2025.
It's a Sin One More Chance
Prime imperial phase PSB
Even though it is not really my type of music i can really appriciate well written and catchy music. Didn't expect to hear a catchy song about shopping.
The undisputed kinds of British gay synthpop, and this album is one of the proofs of that. Also, having a track co-authored by Ennio Morricone (and arranged by Angelo Badalamenti) on your album is cool as hell.
Kinda fun synthy new wave style music
Pretty dang good 80s thing
I always appreciated the Pet Shop Boys. I think I heard this album in its entirety when it came out. It's pretty good. I'd happily listen to it again. Not quite a 5 but definitely a solid 4.
Been hearing West End Girls all week, it was a sign! Such a wonderful album. The singles aloe make this a solid 4 out of 5. But going to listen again to see if we can make it a 5.
the eighties energy, but good
Tres canciones salvan a este álbum, me sentí triste pero con ganas de bailar. Yeehaw. Necesito volver a escucharlo.
Love me some Pet Shop Boys. They were ahead of their time and our time too. So danceable and fun, so melancholy and smart and politically astute. “King’s Cross” is a stunner I don’t remember hearing before.
Had more hits than I remembered. Manages to sound almost like all the songs are covers but yet they wrote them.
Det va gøy nok, i og for sæ, men æ huske ikke lenger nokka av det sånn dagen derpå, så varig inntrykk gjorde det neppe.
the dusty springfield feature is so sick. i fw really cheesy 80s pop so it appeals to me. if you don't fw this at all you're soulless to me.
Jesus Christ lads, there is such a thing as TOO much reverb you know. Without reading the streaming data or Wikipedia, I am going to safely assume that One More Chance was the lead single from this record. Outside of all the hits on this album, of which there's plenty, I really found the deep cuts rather uninteresting. Who knew a purely pop band was only good in their most popular hits. Anyways, great listen. Would listen again (and have).
An album that that blends dance music and political commentary without ruining either element. A lot of the songs on here could really have just been album filler to support the two massive hits on here but it's certainly much more than that. Not every track is a hit though, the opening track goes on for a bit too long and some of the other tracks have some pretty hammy lyrics, but I suppose that's part of the charm. Unfortunately there are no bonus points for music videos but if there were, this would have gotten a 5 from me. Am I mainly giving this a 4 because I can't stop singing What Have I Done to Deserve This? Yes, and I don't think I need to justify that decision. Highlights: What Have I Done to Deserve This?, It's a Sin, King's Cross
Great band, great era of music, great style... Just love it all the way through.
Classic 80's pop.
Totally 80’s I was actually into a couple of the songs though. I’m not normally an 80’s guy but this album had me groovin
Pretty good and pretty unique. Album is interesting throughout, vocal and instruments just mash so well. Favourite Song: Heart Honourable Mention: One More Chance
I love 80s synth pop, and this is great 80s synth pop.
Great stuff! Aside from the obvious hit songs, ‘Shopping’ is a gem for me
Góð, I want to wake up best
I have liked synthpop, but honestly the nasality of the Pet Shop Boys has always grated on me a bit. Ultimately, the songs still shine through. There's a lot of pretty cool stuff here; I have always liked "What Have I Done To Desreve This?". "Hit Music" seems like it's a bit tongue in cheek, but with that song title there isn't any other way to put it, you know? "It Couldn't Happen Here" is so cinematic, which makes sense. "Shopping" is a bit of a head bopper to me. The last two tracks kinda fell flat. Still, I can understand why this album is regarded as one of their most well known albums. The more I think about it the more I liked it. But the nasal singing, yikes.
Am I the only one who thinks that "ehh ehh" sound throughout One More Chance sounds like Cartman from South Park? Not that I found it annoying, just observing. I don't know if this album is quite a 4, but it is definitely the best of their 3 entries on the 1,001 list, and maybe the only worthy one. Buzzy beats, clever lyrics (that sound deep but Neil Tennant claims weren't intended to be), and - then - very original and trendsetting. I really enjoyed One More Chance, What Have I Done to Deserve This? (big tune), Shopping, Rent, Hit Music, It's a Sin (big, big tune), and I Want to Wake Up. I think their other big single Heart is ok. Given that I just named 7 songs as really enjoyable, it's a 4. Almost had me thinking about a 5.
I'm generally not into dance music, but this album really won me over. At first I was a little resistant to giving it a chance, but the words "catchy" and "cool" kept coming to mind over and over, and the album grew on me with each listen. By the time I was writing this review, I was seriously impressed. I even came to appreciate What Have I Done to Deserve This, which I thought of as a cheesy 80s hit until I listened closely. I don't think I can go with the 5 for the album - still not my thing - but lots of respect for making me like an album in a genre that I'm not really into. Favorites tracks: One More Chance, What Have I Done to Deserve This, Shopping, Hit Music, I Want to Wake Up, King's Cross (powerful ending track).
Somehow, perhaps via time travel, the Pet Shop Boys somehow managed to get a sample of Cartman from South Park on the first song. That's all I can hear. It's a good job the rest of the album is good.
More fun than I remember
New wave, synth pop orchestral magic.
not normally into dance-pop, but this one cooks. highlights: “one more chance” “what have i done to deserve this?” “it’s a sin”
Great album.
Kitsch at first, and then really enjoyable with a second listen.
Honestly...this shit bussin. It reminds me a lot of New Order, one of my favorite bands, but more gay (not that there's anything wrong with that.) I have little to no complaints about this album. It's so good I listened to it twice before I wrote this and I see myself listening to it more. Also I find it funny that one of the members hate this album cover to this day, but I really love it.
Me gustó el sonido y la producción del álbum. Varios temas contienen una gran energía. Además son interesantes las letras que critican la cultura consumista del capitalismo y el Tatcherismo de la época en Inglaterra. Se hace un poco largo porque algunos temas se extienden en repetición. Además el primer tema fue una elección bastante pobre para iniciar e incluso poner en el álbum. En lo personal no soy muy fan del estilo y de la voz. Pero aún así disfruté del álbum.
Let’s just vibe, man. Let’s do that. (7/10, 4/5 on this scale)
I usually think of PSB as a singes band, but this album is great.
Tons of hits on here. Not perfect but very close.
It's a sin is such a banger, rest of it was decent (probably closer to 3.6)
This is fun. Yay!
Pet Shop Boys have an uncanny ability to fill the dancefloor with both motion and emotion through their ever-fresh synth-pop.
Classics
Very good album. Classic British synth pop - the sound of the ‘80s. Holds up well after almost 40 years. Not a bad song on it.
Not my favorite Pet Shop Boys album but as always they have some really good songs and the feeling throughout the album are great.
very very 80s esc. i feel the duo find their sound very well on this album and they execute it very well, i enjoy the synth sounds and the early electronic vibes on it, with some great tracks on it like “What Have I Done to Deserve This” and “Rent” 4/5
adri: 8, muy chill y buen ritmo. Que más pedir? mar: 8, muy guay y muy importante para el house. Me encanta.
Good stuff from the lads
I was just fighting with my girlfriend about how irritating synths were in the 80s, and then I get this album. Doesn't totally redeem the aesthetic, but it feels less manipulative and melodramatic. Nothing here sticks out, exactly, but each track has something interesting going on, and it was enough to get me to explore more of their stuff.
3.5/5
fun
Enjoyable but very 80s synth pop. I liked the mix of simple and hooky songs with grand and orchestral or emotional ballads. Also, It's a Sin is an absolute banger
Mon préféré de Pet Shop Boys. Il n'y a pas de gros hits mais chaque chansons est interessante.
Catchy and fun music. Superficially derived and shameless
This was certainly a bopper
Some 80’s gems in this one to be sure.
I really enjoyed this - it was fine and dynamic with some really interesting sounds - the first song in particular One More Chance had some really interesting sounds in it. Rent was a pretty funny song too. An enjoyable album when you're in the mood for some 80s synth pop. 4/5 stars.