Actually

Not what I was expecting... is that category that this album fell into. Similar to other artists that are known for a few major hits that have a very distinct vibe, I was expending this album to sound ultra-80s. But it was more nuanced and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Eivät ole tyytyväisiä ennen kuin koukkumelodian nuotit osuvat JUURI oikein. Voimme olla tästä heille kiitollisia. Mahdollinen 5/5 kuulijoille, jotka nauttivat elektroniikasta.

Another album that I have and like- it was. Great listen on the way home today- the last day of the school year 3.5/5 #musicsky #albumsky #musicchallenge

everythin i love about 80's synth pop. fun, vibey, atmospheric. loved it.

AheAd of its time

This is a classic and defining album from the Pet Shop Boys. One thing I really appreciate about them is how they've cultivated such a distinct and instantly recognizable sound.

There was a time when all that I knew of them was there cover of Go West because the music video came on television. And I like that. I was curious to hear this. The production and mixing are really good. I don't find the songs to be overly complex, but they are pop and work. I'm not of fan of much synth of the 1980s but this worked for me the whole way through. Didn't repel me, a cohesive vibe, and didn't feel repetitive.

pet shop boys não tem erro

mais oitentista que isso explodia. não é uma crítica, a segunda metade eh um absurdo. sintetizador estourando janelas, show de bola demais

I really like this album. I need to remember to come back to it. PSB are good.

Didn't know what to expect from Pet Shop Boys but it wasn't a cynical criticism of society lol I liked it. Favorites are Hit Music and It's a Sin.

There are better music albums from them

I only knew the Pet Shop Boys from their notorious radio hits which I never liked. Not a fan of these synths and this particular 80s sound. I turn the radio off when this comes on. But to my surprise I could now really enjoy this sound and immerse myself in it. I liked the lyrics too. Although I’m still leaning towards saying that it’s not my cup of tea.

Better than I thought it would be

Never listened much to Pet Shop Boys but there are some cracking synth pop tunes here and some clever lyrics.

Some boring songs but some really fantastic ones as well! |Thumbs up from me

80s synthpop is my guilty pleasure, although I dislike using that term since it implies the music is low-quality, which this is not. It's a really fun, catchy, easy to digest pop album—what more could you ask for? Favourites: what have I done to deserve this?, it's a sin, shopping, king's cross 4 stars

Maybe not as good as Very, but has a few of their iconic tracks.

back to back Pet Shop Boys??? That’s VERY nice ACTUALLY 😏😎

Great vibes, beautiful vibes

7/10 Synthy goodness and "it's a sin" push this up to 4 for me. 4-28-2025

Great social comment 👏

Якщо в мене буде весілля, там має грати it’s a sin

Ah, my last Pet Shop Boys album to review. Before starting this project, I considered myself a casual fan of these guys, but I only knew a handful of their singles. I thought Behavior was really good, and gave it four stars, but I absolutely fell in love with Very, and gave it five stars. I've listened to Very a few times a month over the last couple of years, and I've gotten to know it like the back of my hand. I know a couple of songs from this album, but I'm excited for the chance to listen to the only eighties Pet Shop Boys album that's on the list. I didn’t love this album, but I still thought it was really good. I think I had this preconceived notion that the Pet Shop Boys’ music was all really dancey, and while a good portion of this album is dancey, there are some songs on here that are a bit more low-key. I still really enjoy the synth-pop sound of this album, but now that I’m done with the Pet Shop Boys albums on this list, Very is going to wind up being my favorite one (I never would have imagined that my favorite album from these gents would be from the mid-nineties). Before listening to this, I was already familiar with “What Have I Done To Deserve This” and “It’s a Sin.” “What Have I Done To Deserve This” is fantastic, and the guest vocals from Dusty Springfield are really great. However, “It’s a Sin” is far and away the best song on the album, and it might even be a top three Pet Shop Boys song for me. I really love the synthesizer arrangements, and the vocals are incredible as well. The lyrics on this album are pretty strong, and I love the critiques of Thatcher-era Britain, and the lyrics and theme of “It’s a Sin” might be the best on the album. In addition to those two singles, I also enjoyed “Rent” and “King’s Cross.” The whole album is good, but some some songs dragged on a little too long for my tastes. I wouldn’t be opposed to firing up this album again, and it’s definitely a high point for late eighties pop music.

What have I done to deserve this?

Really solid 80s electronica mixed with synth pop. I had another album of theirs (Very), and it was really solid as well. Not really a bad song on either album. Favorite songs: Heart, Hit Music, It's a Sin, Shopping, One More Chance, What Have I Done to Deserve This? Least favorite songs: It Couldn't Happen Here 4/5

I don't think this album is better than Behaviour, which I liked for its sombre, evocative mood. I also don't see how this is better than 'Please', which has a consistently better standard. But there clearly are some exemplar PSB songs - amd the Dusty duet and 'It's a Sin' are unimpeachable. Perfect synth-pop mixed with urban anxiety, which is what they do best. The track by track quality certainly is variable - but when it's good, it's perfect. Has to just tip a four.

first album from these guys that i’ve heard, absolute banger

I love this!!! I knew nothing about the Pet Shop Boys and I was pleasantly surprised by their eighties synth pop, futuristic no bullshit fun music. Rent is my favorite but they are all so good!

Great, emotional, story-telling, fun production. Cool ass palette of synth sounds.

A beautiful, very british portrait of 80's music and society. No one else puts this mix together like these boys do and make it a great listen.

I enjoyed this one

I love 80s synth pop, especially that which tends towards the more melancholy, like The Cure and Japan. I'd always been put off the Pet Shop Boys by Neil T's deadpan, disaffected delivery. I did realise that was the point; it lent an irony to songs like Shopping and Let's Make Lots of Money, and a poignancy to more emotional songs. But it annoyed me nonetheless. So I didn't expect to cope well with my first time listening to a full album. To my surprise, though, I enjoyed this a lot. I think it helped that I couldn't *see* the deadpan delivery in the grey overcoat. I was able to enjoy the lush synths more, and just fall into that 80s dancefloor vibe. And I enjoyed, afresh, their take on politics. Saying that, I hated It Couldn't Happen Here (musically, that is). But I'd forgotten Heart, which is really good. So. Perhaps my only 80s blind spot is now New Order (sorry. It's the basslines).

I loved every moment of this. The singles and the atmospheric album tracks. It was probably enhanced by my walking through a foggy Copenhagen while listening.

T-30 HL: “King’s Cross”, “It’s a Sin”, “What Have I Done To Deserve This?”, “Shopping”, “It Couldn’t Happen Here” Seeing as this is Pet Shop Boys #3, I’m probably not alone in saying it’s a peculiar Britishism to have that many. But it has been enjoyable to uncover these songs, however big they are in UK. Not sure why “It’s a Sin” wasn’t a hit here 🇨🇦 Definitely lighter fare than Behaviour and Very, but for 1987 pop that’s alright with me

Is it bad that my first introduction to this album was from Saltburn?

Me caen bien los Pet Shop Boys y este disco trae It´s a Sin, que me encanta. Así que lo disfruté bastante, aunque sea algo repetitivo.

Classic songs. Energetic rhythm and groovy. Not especially interesting/moving but cool.

Enjoy

This was my first Pet Shop Boys album. It made me fall in love their music. I still think it holds up as one of their better albums. Dusty Springfield's feature on "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" works surprisingly well, its one of the highlights from this album. I also really enjoy "Rent", "It's a Sin", and "Heart". A lot of the lyrics on this album are kinda corny but I think that adds to the charm of it. To me this is synth pop gold. Overall I prefer "Behavior" and maybe even their debut, but I'll always like this album and I think it deserves to be on this list. Favorite track: Rent

неидеальный, но вполне на угарном альбомчик. ретро которое слушали наши родители

3,5

What’s not to like about The Pet Shop Boys? They’re the perfect ratio of synth with that classic 80’s pop sound. Listening today, I noticed some parallels between It’s A Sin and Wild World by Cat Stevens. I wonder if it was intentional or not? Anyway, this is an album that makes you want to dance, and keeps your attention from front to back. It may not quite be a masterpiece, but it’s damn good at what it sets out to do: make people have fun!

Takes the popular sounds of the 80s and uses them to hold up a lens to just how fucked up the decade was. Worth multiple listens.

A bit over poppy in places but the good songs are undeniable good.

Very Zeit-geistys (Thatcher's London). At the time of this release I think the PSBs were my favs. Still holds up well with 3 or 4 absolute bangers.

One of the foundational albums for the synth pop dance genre. The only album of theirs that belongs on this list.

Pet Shop Boys Stop Writing Bangers Challenge: They just can't do it. What a collection of songs this is, that'd be a decent greatest hits for most artists, but actually doesn't quite match up to Very for me in this bands insane legacy. What Have I Done... and It's A Sin are the obvious highlights, but Rent, Shopping, Heart and King's Cross all run them close.

Melodic, cool, unique. Really good.

Not my fav pet shop boys album

ok

Pretty good stuff.

Lovely. Great album.

Yayyyy some petshop boys! oh hey It's a Sin is on this album!!! LOVE this song so much. 4 stars.

One More Chance was not my fav but I loved the rest

The only song I knew on this was "What Have I Done To Deserve This" but I really enjoyed the rest as well! Cheeky synth pop is very much in my wheelhouse.

I enjoyed this one an upbeat and pretty fun album with some deeper Lyrics

My first introduction to Pet Shop Boys, and I really got into them for about two or three albums after this. Still a great, great cover, too. The production seems a bit sterile on renewed listen, but nowhere near as bad as a lot of other stuff produced in the 80s. One More Chance is probably the song on this album that has aged the worst to my ears.

Stark fyra! Riktigt bra men ändå simpelt, bra synth.

Pretty sweet tunes and melodies

⭐ its a sin

Fun album. I didn't know much about the Pet Shop Boys. I liked the popular tracks: "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" and "It's a Sin". Also "Rent". It's interesting that Dusty Springfield does vocals on one of those tracks. She's such a different generation and her style is so different.

3-4 what have i done to deserve this? it's a sin (!)

Grade A dance pop

Really good.

Enjoyed more than expected :) :)

Pretty good one.

I think this record shows a lot of growth from their previous outing. It's a great listen with good hooks and interesting decisions. I would give it 4.5 if I could, but since I can't, I feel like it's more of a four, there is a coherent musical style which is pleasant but I'd like to see more variety. The best track from this timeframe is probably the cover of "Always On My Mind" which is frankly incredible and inspired a lot of out there cover remixes of classic tunes... and it's not on the record!

Loved this album, really like the voice and electronic poppy vibes. Had a good distribution of the best songs which made it easy to listen to. Favorite songs were: 3. Shopping 5. Hit Music 7. It's A Sin 8/10

The 80s personified

Lively eighties pop With synth driven dance background To make a statement

This was a fun album. I like the ethereal poppy sound and the funky beats. My favorite songs were "Shopping", "It's a Sin", "Rent", and "Heart". The album ran a little long for my taste, but was fun the whole time. The songs had a lot of variety, and the lyrics were interesting & funny (when they occasionally broke through to me). 7/10

Enjoyed their electronic synth sound.

That's a very good synth-pop album. I think "It's a sin" stands out, but all tracks keep close tempo and are a great altogether.

3.5 that I’ll round to 4 because the 80s vibe and the subtle commentary on British society worked for me.

The use of perfectly crafted Synth-Pop and Post-Disco to back lyrics that are this bleak is an inspired choice. Critiquing the emptiness and shallowness of Thatcherite Britain, and the culture of the 80’s in general, by creating beats that are good enough to dance to while off your skull on cocaine, almost encourages the listener to ignore the lyrics, and I’m sure a lot of the listening public did. It makes for a bit of a conundrum, an album that is clearly good both musically and lyrically, and as a meta-critique of itself, but which by the fact of it’s irony and the disconnect between the music and lyrics, creates a distancing effect when trying to listen critically. It makes it very difficult to love Actually, even if it’s easy to appreciate it’s brilliance

Yes!!!!

A very solid, enjoyable electronic album. Pet Shop Boys are one of those bands that I’m not typically seeking out but have always enjoyed when I’ve listened to them. Actually is probably their best work and the record of their’s that I’ve heard the most. For me the highlight is I Want To Wake Up.

Pet shop boys delivering with their unique style. This is not their best work from my point of view, but still paves the way to what’s going to be their seal.

Good Pet Shop Boys album. Probably at their peak here.

4/5. An excellent pop album, starting to like the Pet Shop Boys more and more with each album. Although the first half of the album is clearer the better half, it was a good listen throughout. It's not perfect because some songs on the second side were not comparable to the other tracks. Got no other notes, highly recommend and amazing production. Best Song: One More Chance, It's A Sin, What Have I Done To Deserve This

I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this, given that I absolutely hated their "Behaviour" album. The songwriting is much better on this one though, even if the singing is grating occasionally. Catchy dance pop with serious, thoughtful and/or political lyrics usually does the job for me. The only real misses on here for me were "It Couldn't Happen Here" and "I Want to Wake Up". "Rent" and "It's a Sin" are definitely two of the best pop tunes of the 80s.

Great pop.

Pop brilliance

Perfectly 80's style marriage of perky synth arrangements and deadbeat vocal delivery, make for a pop masterpiece that still sounds fresh. What have I done to deserve this? and It's a sin are the standouts Put a broad smile on my face as I was singing along

Fremragende. Jeg havde totalt glemt alt om Pet shop boys’ fantastiske lyd univers.

Enjoyed this one a lot. Lots of catchy songs and seemed to cross multiple eras of rock

Really solid 80's pop album

Some good Brit pop on this list for once

Another Pet Shop Boys album containing a fistful of brilliant singles ('It's a Sin', 'What Have I Done to Deserve This', 'Rent', and 'Heart'). The rest of the album was good, but didn't feel like it had a discernable concept or consistent emotional energy in the same way that 'Behaviour' and 'Very' do. 'Just' a collection of excellent disco pop songs. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: It's a Sin Date listened: 06/06/24

Pretty good electronic pop!

Wasn't super 'into it' at the start, but enjoyed the last few songs

Overall a pretty good album with Its a Sin and What’ve I Done to Deserve This being the best, IMO., although I’m not a huge fan of techno dance club style music. But I had to deduct a star for Shopping—a song that seemed to showcase the worst attributes of 80’s music.

Excellent

Over the top. Love it

I liked this. It’s 3.5 stars, but I think I’ll round up this time. The songs peaked my interest -more than background music. If they came on the radio I wouldn’t change the station.

idk what to say i liked it it felt very big. also for the record i meant to give the last album (marvin gaye) 4 stars not 3 oops.

I’m starting to get a feel for Pet Shop Boys’ style. They make high-energy dance music but there’s also a certain level of restraint that would seem to run counter to making club songs. The vocals are cool and detached. And even when the beats are danceable, there’s a feeling that every sound was carefully placed. The music can have a mechanical sort of perfection. And yet somehow it works! This album is a lot of fun. There are big hooks, interesting production choices and great beats. A lot of lyrics are about money. Buying things, paying rent, asking a lover to buy things, telling a lover I can buy my own things… Given the tone of the singing, I think a lot of this is meant to be ironic. I like that Pet Shop Boys are sneaking in some social commentary while they pump out the dance tracks.

I really like it, going to be somewhere in the middle of the 1001 albums

Quite good synthpop album, not on the same level as Depeche Mode or Tears for Fears, but very solid still. 4/5

Its fun as fuck. I love rent <- sentence no one has ever said before

Gawd, the keys and synths on this thing, man. The KEYS AND SYNTHS. That was my favorite part of this whole album, with a doubt. In fact, honestly, I kinda feel like this album could've been an instrumental and I would've enjoyed it just as much. I mean, certainly, whatever barbs it has against Thatcherism don't apply to me here and now, not being in the 1980's or the UK. But, jus', play me "Hit Music" or "It's A Sin" and I'm down **good**. If I gotta pick any one reason why I'm giving this thing a 4 and not a 5, I'll say it's "I Want To Wake Up". More like, "I Want To Fall Asleep. 'Cuz It's Kind Of Boring Compared To Everything Else On Here". Yeah, take **that**.

Feeling a 4 here. There’s no bad tracks here; as far as the soundscape goes, this is super cool for 1987, with some great synth work, cool percussion, and just some pretty captivating melodies. Sometimes, they don’t work or they’re a little repetitive, but when this album clicks, it clicks really well. I’ve never heard the Pet Shop Boys before this, but I get the feeling I’ve been missing out. I think my biggest nitpick with this album is that sometimes the outros are just too long in a way that doesn’t really enhance the song. Music just can’t overstay its welcome, because it runs the risk of growing boring. I say that with the irony of having listened to 2 hours of orchestral Metallica yesterday, but that album worked because it was live and the energy never quite dwindled for me. On this album… yeah, the energy dwindled a little on those outros. Regardless, this is a really good album, definitely worth the listen, and definitely worth a 4; maybe a 5 if a few songs hit differently.

Never listened to a whole album of them and was pleasantly surprised.

Bão

Mun on todettava että oon tykännyt tästä levystä tosi paljon aina! Tää toimii dj-keikoilla ja tää toimii kotisohvalla. Soundit täyttää kaikki hyvän synapopin piirteet jonka lisäksi biisimateriaali on hyvää. Toki noi kaikkein hiteimmät biisit alkaa useamman toiston jälkeen kuulostamaan aika renkutuksilta, mutta eikös hyvä sunthpop oo sellasta korvamatoisaa renkutusta? Melkein haluaisin antaa vitosen mutta laitetaan nyt karvan verran alle. 4/5

Nää on kyllä varsinaisia synapopin mestareita. Hyvä levy!

This album is on of the most 80s pop sounding things I've ever heard. They found every whacky sound in the keyboard and made it work. Lots of fun. Super heavy on the British synth pop sound

I liked this one -- good 1980s synth vibes, some interesting/political lyrics, and a cohesive sound across the album without being repetitive.

Retro rock reminds me of Tears for Fears. I like it although not for my playlist.

I liked it! Kind of hard to describe their style, but I dig it.

They have a nice sound, but the song writing failed to grab me

Cracking. Imperial phase PSB

Classic!

Really good, I'm guessing that maybe I like synth pop. I would definitely listen to this again.

Good

Great album, even after all these years.

Fun album. Rent and Wake Up are my favorites. Not something I’d listen to regularly. Reminds me of DEVO maybe?

I *actually* really liked this! I of course know this band, and yet probably couldn't name a single song title prior to sitting with this record. "What Have I Done to Deserve This?," "It Couldn't Happen Here," "It's a Sin" - I liked all three of those a real good bit and enjoyed the rest overall. I like the dude's voice. I like the album cover. I like the sound. I'm lukewarm on "Shopping" and also shopping. But you know what? You can't have Pet Shop Boys without pet shops. And I've shopped at plenty of pet shops. So what do I know? Four stars.

Not the best from the eighties but still quite good

Totally cool mid 80’s album that I had never listened to.

I like this album, although most of the songs sound similar. My most favourite song from Pet Shop Boys would still be Opportunities.

Fun album. I listened to this a lot when it came out. Clever lyrics over sublime electro pop, or is that sublime lyrics over clever electro pop?

80s power

Super listenable

I really enjoyed this album - I got right into the synth-pop, it was just what I needed! Fave track: It's a sin

What Have I Done To Deserve This, and It's a Sin. Absolute bangers. The other tracks are good, but nothing quite so memorable.

I love It's a Sin. I think I heard it when I was a kid at some point and it's awesome. Instant add to playlist. One More Chance is strange as hell, but I love it. Gives me Beck vibes but very, very 80s. What Have I Done to Deserve this is similarly strange, but oddly clean? Feels like this and One More Chance go together. Dusty does great on the vocals here. Love the social commentary of Shopping and Rent. Both strongly remind me of Supertramp's Crime of the Century album. Both are British, so I suppose that's expected xD Hit Music is strange but also I totally groove with it. Feels like prime 80s Men Without Hats I like the lyrics of It Couldn't Happen Here, but it's too slow and has too much reverb I Want to Wake Up is, unsurprisingly, strange. Feels like All for Leyna but 80s pop Heart: classic 80s dance pop love song. Like it I really like King's Cross. I again am reminded of Supertramp. Feels a LOT like Asylum or School lyrically Overall, I give it a 4/5 because: Album is stylistically consistent I'm a sucker for 80s pop Lyrics are great Misses a star because reverb is over the top at times & words are occasionally hard to hear. Otherwise great!

Gud.

Some friday afternoons you just need a thumping drumline and techno shit from the 80.s this will do.... with a clubby monotonous mindness feel, but the with coolness that is PSB. he has it.

I really enjoyed this album. You can hear the different instruments and other noises that they make in the music. I would 100% listen to them again

I thought this album was pretty good overall. It sounds a bit generic at times, but I think that's an artifact of the influence that his album had on electronic music. I think I enjoyed the other Pet Shop Boys albums more than this one, but this is still well worth the listen. Great late 80s synth pop 4/5

Couple of songs are growers but overall a very good album. The good songs are great and that's most of them, especially towards the back end.

Best tracks: shopping, rent, and heart

Superb pop music.

Fantastic. One week track I thought.

Good synthpop. I really like ‘It’s A Sin’. I don’t have anything to say.

Just a really unique sound. Wouldn't be able to miss this band from space. Some really big hits on this one.

Solid, consistent, enjoyable. Most of the tracks have their synth electronic poppy sound which does find some pretty catchy hooks. It's a Sin and What Have I Done to Deserve This stand out, though songs like Heart, Shopping and Hit Music are also good. The synth sound is pretty heavy, making this a bit dated, but still good.

One More Chance is a bop. I am actually really into this, and not just for the loose critique of Thatcherism. Kings Cross is a good song.

Very good

There is something about these boys. Like just seeing their name and evoking the memory of their songs is balm for my soul. This 1001 project has opened my eyes to how much 80s music touches me. It's beyond nostalgia (I think?) ... I feel a visceral calm and I'm dancing on an 80s dance floor with colored lights, beer in one hand, and fag in another. OK, yeah there is nostalgia going on. But when I hear the Pet Shop Boys my heart starts missing a beat....every time.

That’s a lot of PSB…

Great album, with amazing synths and catchy hooks. Definitely gonna listen to it again.

Of course I had heard of the Pet Shop Boys. I hadn't ever listened to them though. Missed out a bit.

Great! I enjoyed this a lot.

I was only familiar with their hits from the '80s. This was surprisingly good. Maybe some of the best synth pop from the '80s. It's a Sin and What Have I Done to Deserve This were standouts, but it was all good.

What can I say, I like most of this quote a lot. Solid 4. 👌

Not bad at all. I wasn't a fan when this first came out as this didn't fit with my tastes at the time. In retrospect, it sounds OK. A number of great tracks, Rent, and ..Sin and the rest fit in ok

This works for me. And it’s close to not working, I know. But it’s the thinness of the line upon which it works that most impresses me. I think the production work is pretty impressive for 1987. Its sound is very 80s but its spirit is more a precursor of some very 1990s irony. It’s content is pretty politically abrasive, like a punk band disguised as a synth-pop band with viable radio hits. The vocals remind me of Mercury Rev, an even-more-mystifying, tongue-in-cheek-sentimentalist band. On a track like “Rent,” there’s heart-on-sleeve crooning from someone who should not be crooning. Tie in the fact that the lyrics are from the perspective of a mistress put up in an apartment that her suitor pays for to keep her from his family and the public eye, and the comedy of this crooning is ratcheted even tighter. Maybe a track like “Hit Music,” is too obvious. But the idea of this playing on the radio in Margaret Thatcher’s England still makes me smile. And, in any event, its the music here that makes this and these tracks work. The coda for “Hit Music,” is a breathtakingly expansive moment, with beauty and patience that nothing else in the song could possibly have hinted at. And it’s a great way to end the album side. That knack for songwriting and arrangement buoys the Boys satire and songwriting. It lends it strength, purpose, and viability in delivering a message that might otherwise prove too radical to sell. I’m somewhere between a 3 and 4 on this just because I don’t know how long I can listen to it before its charm wears off. But I’ll round up to 4.

Not only did Charlie’s review say everything I had been thinking already— fully in agreement— it’s also masterfully written, and got me thinking about how covert political or radical music can sneak into songs that seem unserious or campy. Wild that I actually liked this a lot. I’m almost more impressed with an album like this, where it’s so easy to be off the mark and be bad, but manages not to be. 4/5, surprise hit for me.

Enjoyed that more than I expected, as I'm not really a fan.

I quite liked this album, but I am shocked that I'm not giving it a 5. I gave Very a 5, but I just didn't love this one enough to give it a 5. I wonder how Behaviour will fare. Still a lot of good stuff on here though. My favourite songs were It's a Sin, What Have I Done to Deserve This?, and Rent.

There are very few albums that just embody a vibe, but this is just gay clubs in the 90s in a nutshell. Brings a big smile to your face.

I really like the aesthetics of this album and there are more often good songs than stinkers on here. Feeling kind of generous on this one today.

Really enjoyed it. I thought pet shop boys were jazz but this was well produced, 80s pop

Big like. Very into it

Lyrics are still relevant.

Wow, i love 80s sound. There is always this energetic aura that so easily distinguishes itself as an era of music -- maybe it's the disco beat. Normally i am not a fan of pop music but i guess the nostalgic feeling behind my listening experience is why i like this album and feel like i am totally brought back to a time where i was not even born.

i had no idea what type of music i was going into here but there were some absolute bangers

Better than anticipated!

A mi me encanta! (ONB)

Good album, enjoyed the edm vibes and singing

Had no idea who these guys were before this album. Heard the name did not know the genre. Very 80s very fun. I dig this one a lot. I thought for so long I did not like 80s music and the older I get the more I get proved wrong. Faves : One More Chance Shopping Rent

v 80s

Nostalgia! Via sempre os clipes na Band de tarde. Belo disco. Penca de hits. Impressiona que nem soa datado!

The golden standard for dancey pop. I think this is of the best and I don't like dance music. These do bop. Gonna give a very safe 4.

Straight classics on here! I love It's A Sin especially. A little underwhelming compared to my memory of it, but still hits.

I think it's synth-pop genre, which is a new one for me. One More Chance was a probably my favorite song on there. Also found out these are the guys that made 'West End Girls' which is a banger. "It's a Sin" is the most popular song on here and I enjoyed its triumphant-sounding beat. Honestly really enjoyed this. A mostly fun, upbeat album.

80s paradebeispiel. adore it

Snilld! Mjög hresst popp og catchy lög. Elska PSB!

The start of this album sounds like cartman but overall it was fun. Very very 80s and just quirky all around. It's a sin was the top song.

Pet Shop Boys put the pop in synthpop. We've come a long way from Heaven 17 earlier in the decade. It's fun and danceable (yet often melancholic) with atmospheric future and industrial synths, and nonsensical lyrics with themes of insecurity and dependancy. Sounds incredibly well with its polished production, and nothing sounds out of place. It's all pretty coherent with hits well-dispersed. The deep cut highlights were the cinematic ambient songs in the middle, "Hit Music" and "It Couldn't Happen Here". Drags on slightly, but enjoyed every song.

I actually love Actually. This is the start of my Pet Shop Boys phase and I can’t believe it’s taken this long. What Have I Done To Deserve This? has absolutely no business slapping as hard as it does.

Good

More rhythmically interesting than I thought they’d be, great use of sound effects too.

Zeer dansbaar plaatje. Wat new-wave elektro met duidelijke 80s vibes

This album takes me back to the late 80s. Brought a guilty chuckle remembering the Sam Kinison joke regarding the PSB & hamsters. Anyway, A couple of the tracks were big hits on the FM, but even the ones I hadn’t heard before are decent. The 2018 remaster on Spotify has good low end extension. Shopping, Heart, Hit Music and Kings Cross are quality.

I thought I never heard this album before but at least some songs sound familiar, quite enjoy the fun vibe and overall feel

A better, shorter, more clever, more enjoyable version of Welcome to the Pleasuredome. I also way prefer Neil Tennant's vocals, unique but not distracting. The LGBT, anti-Thatcher and general synths position this as almost a soundtrack to films and series like Pride and obviously It's a Sin, so that's the kind of atmosphere I'm feeling. 15/11/22

Filthy 80s pop. Fuck yes

I hear they're good!

Really catchy and poppy, it’s so fun. 8/10

4.5 Lush, luxurious and flashy. This is the epitome of 80’s rich people pop. You can almost imagine fashion shows using this music. I’m a big fan of the song West End Girls since it was in GTA V and these guys always sold at Green Light so I’m not surprised I enjoyed most of this. By the end of the first song I found myself singing along. Aside from some boring bits in the middle, I think this is a super cool 80’s timepiece. Favorites: One More Chance, What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Rent, It’s a Sin, I Want to Wake Up, King’s Cross

I have a huge affection for Pet Shop Boys, and "Actually" is the boys at their most Pet Shoppy. There's room for power pop as well as sensitive, extravagant ballads. The obvious tracks to highlight are 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' (with a delightful feature from Dusty Springfield) and the smash hit 'It's a Sin' (whose melody is TOTALLY not a ripoff of 'Wild World'...). But for me the lesser known tracks 'Rent' and especially 'Heart' are just as noteworthy and work extremely well on the record as well as live. As always with the Boys: great melodies, a strong backbeat and an all around good time had by all.

It’s impossible not to have a good time when Pet Shop Boys are playing. Somewhat presented as a party and dance band, there’s actually (lol) only a few tracks that wouldn’t be a mood killer at any ordinary party. The production on hits such as “What Have I Done To Deserve This” and the extremely dramatic “It’s A Sin” is absolute perfection but there’s so many more excellent songs to be found scattered around this record. Especially the goosebump inducing Rent”, “I Want To Wake Up” and “Heart” is just as good as any Pet Shop classic.

Exactly how i expected it to go down. Great stuff

It's easy to write off a lot of 80s synth pop as having aged badly but I think this one has enough musical depth to keep it interesting

I ACTUALLY enjoyed this, and my infant son was enthralled too.

ackchyually

This sounded like good 80s dance-pop when it was released and it holds up as good dance pop today. This refined the Pet Shop Boys sound introduced on their debut and their detached cold manner. The wry, tongue in cheek lyrics adds appropriately to the equation. They continues to refine their dance-pop over the next decades, but all of the seeds are sown here.

Party boy sad dance music. I love it.

Liked this a lot better than I thought I would - the definitive 80s sound

Way better than I remember. Filled with bops.

This provided me a fun afternoon dance party today.

in the beginning it was 3-star worthy, but as the songs progressed it got better and better

Este disco fue una sorpresa. Para mí, es uno de los que más me ha gustado de los más de cien que ya llevo escuchados en este listado. Tiene éxitos que ya conocía, pero que no podría haber situado temporalmente, mucho menos discográficamente, pero hay otros que realmente suenan bien y para mis oídos acostumbrados al pop y al synth-pop, este disco de los PSB es un buen disco.

Probably one of the better Brit-pop Bands. They're synth wave sound is definitely one of the most influential and popular trends of the 80s. Best Songs: Rent, Hit Music, Worst Songs: It Couldn't Happen Here

Good, but a little dated in places.

Some incredibly solid synth pop tunes, outside of the first track. I've always enjoyed Tennant's unique vocals. Surprising depth for a pop album, a lot of political commentary, especially Thatcher and the conservatives who were in power for the entirety of the 80s. I think I actually prefer their first album Please, which incidentally isn't one of the 3 Pet Shop Boys albums on this 1001 list!

So inventive! I love the like it's electronic-pop-irreverence . It's not full of things I adore, but it's close and I really appreciated it. synth-pop has always been one of my go-to rock subgenres and it was so cool to be able to hear one of the first bands in the genre on the album where they really hit their stride.

Les Pet Shop Boys viennent nous offrir un superbe album de manualisme synthpop, qui vient encore un peu conforter ma position de plus grand fan de synthpop du générateur.

un clasico!!!!! los voy a ver el jueves en directo :) me flipa what have i done to deserve this"

Actually...this is a great album. Classic PSB. 4/5

adoro Pet Shop Boys, mas esse álbum não me cativou como eu gostaria. confesso: acho que no caso deles eu prefiro uma compilação mesmo

Actually great. Get it

Solid

Did I just take an 80’s nap?

Really nice Electronic pop

Kinda like this album, honestly... Big Zoolander vibes.

I've always enjoyed PSB but never really got into them I had a friend who was a big fan and that was enough for me. One More Chance is such a delightful opener it really capture my attention. Rent is such a great song. Overall quite enjoyable.

Cool album

This is my third Pet Shop Boys album through the project, and while I scored the other two of them three stars, I think I'm bumping this one to four. Partly their sound has grown on me, I suppose, and partly "It's A Sin" is an absolutely fantastic tune. My favourite PSB track from any of their albums....

Holy cow, this is TOO GOOD for a synthpop album! What a fun gem!

A Thatcherite critique you can dance to.

4.1 - Another solid "slice-of-life" British record done in the vein of dance-pop with strong political and social commentary. There are also plenty of nods to "the gay experience." "Shopping" describes British power brokering to the highest bidder, no matter the trade-offs. "What Have I Done..." and "Rent" describe sugar daddy romantic arrangements. "It's A Sin" describes homophobia and not adhering to social mores.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: One more chance, It’s a sin, I want to wake up

nice

It's tempting to label Pet Shop Boys as a singles band, and if you want to listen to them that way, it's fine, of course. "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", "Rent", and "It's a Sin" are among the best songs of the decade, but you'd be missing something of what the band offers if you stick just to the hits. They have an excellent knack for building a nocturnal, urban atmosphere across an album. Just gotta add: Dusty Springfield steals my heart every time.

Sounds very 70s early new wave. Enjoyed it... didn't love it.

Absolutely stellar 80's pop. Not every song deserves to be 5 minutes long, but other than that this is perfection. Favorite Tracks: "One More Chance", "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", "Shopping", "Hit Music", "It Couldn't Happen Here", "It's a Sin", "I Want to Wake Up"

Fun and poppy album. Feel good type music.

some tunes were a bit weak, but the better ones stay in your head for days 3.7

Really fun and catchy 80s synthpop. I need to get more Pet Shop Boys on wax.

stadium pop, laced with melancholy

Surprisingly excellent. High quality throughout and some absolute tunes

7/10. Solid songs, a bit samey as an album for how long it is. Nothing revolutionary.

"It's a sin" is a true banger :)

Very cool album! Fresh!

A 3-star album that gets a fourth star for the trip back to my senior year in high school. Just like the album, that year was hit or miss, but overall pretty damn good.

A nice album!

Did not realize It's a Sin was on there, their sound is pretty good.

fremragende album

Great album, lots of good memories

i love this album, always have, i love Neil's voice and almost spoken word style. I love how catchy the songs are. Always a pleasure to listen to the pet shop boys

The PetShop Boys, Actually is a quintessential 80s album. With songs including "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" and "Rent" have the iconic sound of pop synths and dramatic electro-drum beats. Best: What Have I Done to Deserve This?; Shopping Worst: It Couldn't Happen Here

Used to listen to my dads tapes of Pet Shop Boys as a youth. This was a fun album. It’s A Sin in particular is a BOP!

Banger banger vabegr vamber vanggr banger

Catchy electronic pop that still holds up

I bought this CD the week that Annie and I got married. I brought it with us when we stayed up north that weekend. We laughed at the song "Rent." It was at a time when I was first (re)opening my mind to this era of music. Listening back I love it more than ever. I'm impressed with the perfection of sound. And all the programming that takes. Vocals are good too.

One More Chance - lol reminds me of that Friends episode where Ross shows them his keyboard playing and he just has random sounds put together... This one is definitely "interesting..." Rent - this one was kind of weird - why is the lyrics "i love you, you pay my rent" lol The rest was okay

some bangers on here

Definitely an album from the 80s. I wasn't liking it at first, but then the album grew on me. 4.1/5 stars

Muy buenos sintetizadores. Una banda de culto, un muy buen disco

Nice one. Loved the sounds. Very nice easy pop. 4,5 stars

I guess I am really into English synth-pop. Who knew!!

the queer struggle told through catchy saccharine bops that you'd probably hear while at an outlet store. Wonderful stuff!

Great 80s synth-pop, and, yeah at some points the sound is cringingly 80s synth-pop.

Never taken the time to listen to this album until now. glad i did

Pretty much, but male vocals are not really my thing here, at least. "The Sin" was a nice piece though

yeah its good

Favorites: 1) Heart 2) It's a Sin 3) One More Chance

New Age Neo-Gay. Toit. 4 porque no hay 3.5

Iconic

Neat 80s synth pop album. "It's A Sin" is a bop.

Всегда путал этих бойзов, Бисти, Пэт Шоп, ещё там Бич какой-нить будет. Ну, без "The" в начале, и на том спасибо, собсна. И вообще из всех бойзов мой фаворит "Бойчик" в исполнении Френдзоны. Так, чё там по альбому. Крякалка во вступительном треке маленько отвратила от него вовсе. Но всё же на репите гонял и таки разглядел в нём годноту. В Rent, Hit Music, It's A Sin, Heart и разглядывать не надо, хорошо на ухо ложатся, можно напевать. Да и в целом более ничего одиозного не встречается. Да, инструментал порой слишком минималистичный. Но доминантой служат вокальные партии, которые вполне годные. В общем, по итогу пропёрся, мб даже возвращусь когда.

Favourite Song: Rent

Very 80s synth similar to New Order of the same era. Great pop. Always liked Kings Cross, shopping and the singles.

The first half sets out its postmodern aspirations particularly in shopping, rent and hit music, where the joke is on the listener. The second half moves into more sincere territory with the powerful 'it's a sin', the atmospheric 'it couldn't happen here' (Co written by ennio morricone), and perhaps my favourite track on first listen: 'I want to take up'. 'Kings cross' is a noice evocative finishing track. Brilliant album and one I will revisit.

Really enjoyed this. Only heard 'It's a sin' before which is bonafide hit record. The opening 2 tracks are great and set the tone for the rest of the album. Unfortunately, the quality could not be maintained and there are some simple lyrics. Lots of references to money which I didn't understand.

the other pet shop boys album has the better, well known songs!

Some great tunes. "It's a Sin" and "What have done to deserve this" which I had already heard were particularly good surprise track "I want to wake up" my fave.

Actually really good

Stone cold electo pop classic👌🙌

Pet Shop Boys - an easy four for me - smart pop - great lyrics, Chris Lowe is a legend and it contains four genuine classic tracks - Rent, Heart , It’s A Sin and What have I done to deserve this . Real snapshot of 80s Britain ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I feel like in 2010 + we have so many bands like that ! Obviously there is a huge gap in terms of production technology but some songs for me sounds so much like so many bands that got huge "recently". I do feel like they are an influence for the VST bands. Sounds upbeat but not just "happy", I like the sound choices and production a lot. I like the vibe and will give 4 stars !

Oh the memories! Love it

I had the album before this one, and loved it. By the time this one came around I was a little bit over the band. There are a couple of excellent tracks here, namely It's A Sin and Heart, but also a lot of filler. No matter the quality though, it's a surefire nostalgia machine transporting me straight back to 87.

There was some recent Spackers discussion as to whether any 1980s electro bands were more than singles bands. The answer is emphatically yes. The answer is Pet Shop Boys.

They don’t make pop music like this anymore. Top stuff. One More Chance is a great opener

Ennakkoasenne oli, että tämä olisi nyhjöttävää homorummutusta, mutta olikin paljon menevämpää ja mukaansa tempaavampaa, ainakin levyn eka puolisko. Ekat viisi biisiä sai jalan hytkymään rytmissä, mutta sitten tuli vähän sellainen suvantovaihe, loppua kohden vähän tasaantui. Alun perusteella mietin jo että pitääkö antaa vitonen, mutta loppuarvosanaksi ansaittu nelkkukelkku.

Been a Pet Shop Boys greatest hits guy for years, first time I can remember listening to an album in full. Great stuff which got us dancing post dinner, and It’s a Sin is a full on classique

Never really considered myself to be a huge fan of The Pet Shop Boys, but really enjoyed listening to this album.

Bra album med riktiga klassiker :)

Pop clásico fácil de consumir muy bien producido. Canciones cuidadas y muy bien manejadas. La sorpresa viene con las letras. Algunas son simples y sin mucha profundidad, otras son más reveladoras y cínicas, o de crítica como Shopping. Gran descubrimiento, lo disfruté montones. Songs: It's a sin, Rent, Heart

Fun 80's album, easy listen with a chill vibe

I was raised on Pet Shop Boys, so this album is nothing new to me. I used to hate being woken up with this blasting at 9am on a Sunday, but listening this willingly is much more enjoyable.

Great 80s Electronica

Este disco me pareció interesante porque yo hubiera pensado más en Depeche Mode como representante para este estilo de música (rock-pop electrónico ochentero), pero creo entender por qué propusieron este disco: por las letras. Es interesante cómo van de temas tan "vanales" como en Hit Music hasta temas tan filosóficos como "It's a Sin".

An album I wish I would have listened to more in the 80s.

I like this album a lot more than i expected to. A lot of fun. Would reccomend especially to anyone enjoying the 80s vibes of 2020 pop

i listen to half of this, I enjoyed it but it lost my attention mid way through, i dont think that was the albums fault though

James Murphy got it honest.

Great hooks!

It was okay!

8/10 FT: Rent

Actually waited until Wednesday to listen to this. Was only familiar with Pet Shop Boys through West Side Girls and Always on My Mind. This is a really good 80's pop record. Favorites include What Have I Done to Deserve This?, Shopping, It's a Sin, Heart and King's Cross.

mentally in a 80s club rn, definitely not bad, probably wont revisit though, saved 0/10

This was actually a pretty nice album. I think that the vibes that it had were pretty modern, as music like that became available a bit after this, possibly. Overall, it was nice having it in the background, not too bad.

I enjoyed this, but it fit in with all the other 80s pop.

This album for me was mostly enjoyable and was a lesson in the fact that the 80's; despite its style tropes and the hate it garners, can be good to sn extent. The wall of sound used to enhance all the little intricacies in the album is incredibly proficient. The melodies and vocal styling were at times really impressive and stand out. And of course its not a perfect 5 star album but working within what was popular and useful technologies at the time. This album is a bit of a stand out in that it isn't total chud.

A little slow for my liking.

Ausser ein paar Überhits (it's a sin) eher nicht so gut gealtertes Album, sehr typisch 80er.

I was only familiar with a couple Pet Shop Boys songs before this album and I like those songs, so I was expecting better from this one. Not bad, but just okay.

Eh, their later stuff was better.

517/1089 - Ehh... I liked a lot more songs on Behaviour and found them to be less repetitive and more interesting sonically.

The 80s are my least favorite decade for music and this is VERY 80s, but it has some charm and I can appreciate the effort. If I were to attend an 80s themed party, I would gladly don my skinny tie, get out the hairspray and the eyeliner, and hope this comes on the stereo.

Not bad, but I can’t help but think about Depeche Mode doing all of this better years before. Still some great songs in It’s a Sin and I Want to Wake Up.

Some of this has aged brilliantly, some less so.