Reviews (page 5 of 8)
not a bad little electro dance pop, blue eyed soul album. liked it more than I thought I would. 3 stars
Sad synths and bittersweet beats. Its glossy and polished, but full of pathos. The comedown after the after-party, a self indulgent apocalyptic disco. Perfect for when you want to cry but are being forced to dance. Favorites: the end of the world, being boring
I like the PSBs. I mean it all sounds the same to me, but its dreamy with casual beat and feels familiar and warm. On the other hand, I could see that some would find it repetitive and boring, I guess?
Very good!
I didn’t think there was anything particularly amazing in it, but it was good pleasant, light music for the background
Nice enough sounding semi-electronic music, if a little formulaic. This sounds like a Pet Shop Boys take on New Order/Depeche Mode, with the integration of guitars throughout. Being Boring is by far the best track, though the remainder doesn't really offer too much else. Best Tracks: - Being Boring Worst Tracks: - My October Symphony - The End of the World Rating: 4.5/10
This was a really fun album to listen through. Great beats throughout and the song had a cohesive feeling that made the whole album great as something to listen through in order. I can definitely see myself putting this on while reading when its dark or stormy outside.
This was a pretty little synth pop gem. I prefer the other Pet Shop Boys album that I have listened to so far, it was a little sassier and groovier than this one.
How have I never listened to this album it it is absolutely enchanting.
They sound like a proto-Postal Service, which is a mixed bag. I can't help but compare them and find the Pet Shop Boys inferior, but this also came out a dozen years earlier. I can clearly hear the influence of 80's pop/new wave which is almost always a turn-off for me, but I didn't hate this. I can't tell if this one should gain or lose points for the album cover. It looks real dumb, but if that was intentional then I love it. If this was an honest attempt at "art" or something serious then I hate it. Anyway, I'll never listen to it again, but I thank these guys for their service. 3.2
Are there way too many Pet Shop Boys albums on this list? Absolutely. Did I dislike this one as much as the others? Also yes.
I'm feeling pretty indifferent about this album. It's easy listening for sure. Some smooth melodramatic pop beats in there. The vocals don't do much for me. Not that the singing is bad, it just doesn't stand out in any way. Overall I think this album is pretty forgettable.
Would give 3.5 stars if possible
Ok...but gets boring after a while
okay but not their best!
Competent and doesn't engage me. Seems like an album out of place in the 90s. Had it come out years earlier, it may have been more significant. I suspect had I been a PSB fan, I would be moved by this more mature and serious turn in their style. But I'm not.
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Just not...into it.
so lala
Eigentlich hatte ich mich auf dieses Synthpop-Album gefreut. Ich hatte vielseitige, interessante Songs erwartet, Depeche Mode mit rosaroter Brille. Das Album hatte einen sehr sphärischen Klang und oft coole Synthesizer, vor allem die Pads waren schön. Jedoch die Songs, in denen sie gespielt wurden, meistens ziemlich langweilig. Und für die nächsten Tage möchte ich bitte keinen Orchester Hit mehr hören, das haben die wirklich zu oft eingebaut. Mein Favorit aus dem Album war vielleicht So Hard.
not bad, too chill for me
This was pretty funny to me, kind of felt like Muzak and/or lounge music. Just pretty cheesy. Enjoyable enough but I will not be revisiting.
Not what I expected tbh. Really solid album with some chill vibes, enjoyed it more than I thought. I don’t know a whole lot about the Pet Shop Boys and this wasn’t what I’d associate with them!
This one kind of surprised me. Kind of boring but at the same time pretty pleasant, and had enough interesting parts for me to not lose interest. Did kind of feel like they were holding onto the 80s too much, but that might just be because they helped define the sound of the 80s themselves.
Buenísimo. El mejor que les he escuchado hasta ahora. Más intenso, menos juguetón, clavado padre para deprimirse.
Subdued, a little boring
To me, this is electronic lounge music done right. All the songs are engaging, but Jealousy in particular is the perfect blend of pathos and urgency.
the Pet Shop Boys put together a grey record for "Behavior" (or "Behaviour" if you feel imperially inclined), and it makes sense. the record was post-everything -- post-AIDS, post-Communism, post-Reagan, post-Thatcherite economic boom. as a result, the record sounds less filled with zeal and more weariness, like waking up at noon on accident. it isn't pessimistic or optimistic; rather, the songs feel like they come from the source of bitter acceptance. even the throb of "So Hard"'s Hi-NRG bass and orchestra hits are tinged with drifting pads and lyrics concerning giving up you and your partner's respective affairs. it's fessing up, growing up, moving on. sometimes that isn't triumphant, it just happens. leaves fall sooner or later. grey can be beautiful.
Tried listening a couple times and kind of struggled to get through it. Not bad but pretty meh.
Some not-overly-serious, fun synthpop, whose 49 minutes flew by. There’s a general air of late-80s British gloom, even if this was released at the turn of the decade. The Pet Shop Boys seem to skirt the line that I despise crossing, that between tremendous British music, and seriously grating British music. You know who you are, Liam Gallagher, Alex Turner, Damon Albarn, et cetera. Maybe it’s because my mother’s a big fan. Maybe it’s because Neil Tennant’s subdued, slightly operatic vocals are so easy on the ears, maybe it’s none of that at all. All I know for sure is that Behaviour is enjoyable, perhaps surprisingly so.
Overall: 6/10 There's some good songs on this one, but I didn't really love it. The atmosphere is great, probably the best thing about it. I think it's the vocals that keep me from liking it more, he's kind of whiney. Not a terrible album but not great either. Fav Song: Being Boring Least Fav Song: Nervously
Sophisticated and chill.
Synth pop, nostalgic dreamy vibes - Instrumentals are great, have a classic feel but also aged pretty well - Melodies and vocals are pretty good
I have to admit that I thought that I had a form of understanding of what Pet Shop Boys sounded like, but this album didn't sound like that at all. I actually enjoyed that and found the difference interesting but I probably won't remember to return to this, so in that sense the album didn't leave a big impression Standouts How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously? Nervously 3/5
I was surprised by this one. I liked it a lot more than I expected. I assumed they were another britpop band, but it's got a brightness and bounce that UK groups seemed to be abandoning at the time.
Ugh. I can't listen to anymore of this 80s British popsynth nonsense.
I remember their giant debut album much more than I do this one. I lost interest in them by 1990 so this was all new to me even though I remember the album coming out. "Being Boring" has 14M listens & "So Hard" has 8M but neither was a mainstream radio hit from what I remember and I was deejaying at the time. "To Face The Truth" turned out to be my favorite track. I enjoyed "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously" & "The End Of The World" as well. On the flip side there were a few complete throw away tracks. It was what I would expect and I liked the sound and their groove, more modern and leaning towards techno leaning sound than their post-new wave sound on the first few albums. Not sure this was worthy of the Top 1001 even though I did enjoy it. It has no hits, not sure of what influence it had on down tempo electronic pop music, no longevity and only modest listening since it's release in 1990. I give it 3 solid stars though.
Just a solid, chill pop album with a lot of care behind it. If cars still had CD players built into them, I feel like every rental should come pre equipped with this in the player.
"Being Boring" is good, but I'm not sure if PSB are that much of an album band really. I'm always trying to listen out for their biggest (and best) songs, but I never hear them.
Melancholia reigns supreme on this Harold Faltermeyer produced album. This feeling of decay can be found in almost every track, and it's bitter-sweet and beautiful. It starts with Being Boring and continues on through the likes of Only the Wind and My October Symphony, all the way through to Jealousy. This is how electronic pop music was meant to be. 4/5
Was listening to it, then I forgot I was, must have been real interesting.
I don’t mind the pet shop boys but I think this album was lacking an “hook” by way of a hit.
not my jam
A tricky one. On the whole I like the Pet Shop Boys. If there was a three and a half stars I think it would get that. Being Boring is a hit, was really taken by To Face The Truth, The End Of The World and Jealousy. Understand it's a darker and introspective album and I think if I had a more complete knowledge of their entire catalogue I can see it being one of those records that stands out because it's different. But without that it feels like something I can't get fully. Who knows with time. Very clever lyrics
Very chill synth pop, I really like it. It's easy to listen to and catchy, even the less popular songs. Not sure if I have ever heard this album the whole way through but it is definitely worth it. Something about the singing that is robotic but melodic at the same time, it's hard to describe but its a great vibe that works really well. I'm sure I will be listening to this again.
Cool dark handsome synth pop.
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
The singer’s voice only seems capable of being either saccharine or insipid. The music is completely dated and sounds at best like neutered Depeche Mode. The album starts with a very long, very boring song about not being boring and gets worse from there. If you told me this was the soundtrack to Early 90s: The Musical, you’d be believed. So lame.
I was looking forward to the Pet Shop Boys thinking it would be some nice Sunday morning bleepy bloops but it was actually Really Boring
Pet Shop Boys synth-pop British queer rave music that never had enough of an edge for me. Although some of the lyrics have that poetic queer yearning to be exciting, sophisticated, bored by the banality of everything around you, and perpetually young. This Must Be The Place I Waited Years to Leave has a Depeche Mode quality. This is only an essential album in Great Britain, Robert Christgau's critical discourse evasively calls" Behaviour" "likable" for "consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision." "To Face The Truth" may have inspired Yo La Tengo's "Season of the Shark" (I wonder if that is intentional?) It does seem to be a song that responds to the 1980s synth pop lounge of Everything But the Girl and influences Massive Attack, while simultaneously evoking classic jazz and pop ballads. "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?" is incredible, an incisive critique of a popular female singer courting media controversy and celebrity while attempting to seem an "intellectual giant" with cultural credibility. The album has subtle charms, wry intelligence, and camp sensibility.
Why? What’s the point of a Pet Shop Boys album without West Side Boys? Really, what’s the point of one with it, but even more so without. Never cared for these guys in the eighties, apparently time has not softened that.
PSB is the best British synth-pop duo of all time. That's a specific category, but - props.
Nothing new here. Typical low effort talk-singing
Every song sounds the same? Feels like the type of music that you have to be on ecstasy at a rave to really enjoy. Hard to believe we're considering these guys and Paul McCartney on the same list. "This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave" kind of sums it up for me because I feel like I waited years for this album to be over. This is not for me.
I think I’ve been the biggest Pet Shop Boys apologist so far in this list but we do not need this much of them. This was close to indistinguishable from the other British synth pop we’ve had. Fine but not adding anything new. So Hard was good.
Better than most of the synth pop that came out during this era. Reminds me a little of Style Council.
This was pretty vibey compared to other albums I’ve heard by them. It felt more like background music too.
Decent.
I like the Pet Shop Boys but, a few of their singles apart, I don't love them. Just about a 4 for me.
The Pet Shop Boys reached this pinnacle of sound and depth with this record. They continued to make good music, but never made anything close to this again.
There is nothing really wrong with this collection, but then there is little to get you out of your seat. But then maybe this is the point and there were a decade ahead of when their audience would slow down. These are a shuffle, ideal for a slumber. A long way from their bouncy disco pure pop.
This album was really nice to listen to, I am already a Pet Shop Boys fan though.
Behaviour is my 2nd Pet Shop Boys album. First was Very (1993), when it was warm out, and also I had a different job and lived in a different house. What I'm trying to say is that it's been a while :0 I didn't hear much PSB growing up, although I really adore their over-the-top version of the ballad "Always on My Mind" It can't be a coincidence that I started thinking about Angelo Badalamenti's score of Mullholland Drive today, only to find he worked on two tracks on this album. Some really nice tracks, and much like its successor Very, takes some dramatic and emotional turns. There’s a kind of soporific, 80s romanticism that covers almost every track, yet there’s also plenty of odd synth noises that keep the production from being too smooth. Not saying it’s better or worse than Very, but I will say the slower nature made it harder to warm to. Perhaps revisiting it later on, say on a rainy summer evening, will glean even better results. January 22, 2025 HL: “Being Boring”, "To Face the Truth", "So Hard", “The End of the World”
4/10 Non nelle mie corde, anche se musicalmente è indiscutibile la qualità.
I cannot place my finger on what it is with this album, but I reallllyyy like this. The singer's voice is kind of perfect for the genre/style. The music has some of the early 90s to it, which I generally don't like, but it doesn't ruin it and is honestly confined to mostly percussion and some synth bits. The songs where the singer stretches his range, have so far, about halfway through, been some of my favorite songs. In total, I don't really think this is extraordinary. It is very good, and it surpassed my expectations, by quite a bit. Favorite Song(s): To Face the Truth, Nervously
Still charming, innit?
Boring. And his voice bothered me.
• I like Pet Shop Boys, but I’m by no means a mega fan or anything. • This isn’t one I’ve heard. The main one I’ve listened to is Please (1986), and that one I’ve listened to quite a bit recently because I found a mint copy of it for cheap. • Right at the first track, I feel like I’m going to like this. • It’s like Pet Shop Boy’s version of New Order’s Technique (1989) – keeps the core elements of the earlier output while changing the timbre and instruments, and it helps bring out what makes them a unique act. • This is a smooth album for sure, and it might get up there for me with Roxy Music’s Avalon and Prefab Sprout’s Steve McQueen. • The songs blend together, but that’s fine. • I feel a million indie rock fellas have recorded a two-minute long song that sounds like “To Face The Truth” on a four-track within the last ten years or so. • It is extremely 1990, but it feels to me like Pet Shop Boys managed to work with that pretty well… rephrase • Most of the album is cold, wistful, and stiff, and I dig. A 5/5 feels like a bit much, but this was good!
I have always liked these guys-I have a soft spot for this band and era.
Favourite songs: How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?, So Hard, The End of the World, Being Boring Least favourite songs: Only the Wind 3/5
The Pet Shop Boys were the first British pop band I knew that did things differently. A remix album. An album of 12 inch cuts. Art house videos. ‘British’ rapping. And, with this album, choosing to go back to analogue synths because digital synths weren’t cutting the mustard. (Note: audiophile tendencies do not translate that well into cassette tape. Still, a nice touch.) If they’d kept ‘Miserabilism’ on the original pressing, this would have made it a six star album (for me). But then, truely, the album would have been very gloomy… It’s so hard to believe this is 35 years ago soon. My! October! Symphony celebrations are in order, I suspect. I was in a different place then, this was the place I waited years to leave. I did, eventually; there was a bit of jealousy involved, I suppose, but that’s what happens when people are being boring. I did say that to them. They were both lawyers like me (undergrads), and consequently found it a tad difficult to face the truth about themselves. One farted surreptitiously around us, claiming when caught that it’s only the wind. Barefaced lies like this, when it must be obvious that you’re telling porky lies: how can you expect to be taken seriously? Still, speaking frankly was something I did nervously… Did I ask say that PSB were the first (the only) group I stanned? I even had a BOY cap like Chris Lowe. Cost me a tenner from the BOY boutique in SOHO, which was a lot of money for a baseball cap in the late 1980s…
Doesn’t even have West End Girls on it. Not an album I can say I enjoyed. Jealousy is probably the one I’d rate highest
Dramatic synth pop Highlights: "Being Boring" (lush soundscape, long intro with wah wah, bass pops, and percussive hits, diva-ish vocals), "To Face the Truth" (reminds me of a George Michael ballad circa Faith with not-as-good vocals), "The End of the World" (pretty typical late 80s/early 90s dance music, but solidly done) Notable: "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously" (bitchy dis track), "So Hard" (more like "So Cheesy" with the overabundance of sound effects), "Nervously" (sounds like a showtune in vocals delivery and lyrics)
Like this band a lot but why do they have so many albums on this list??? Anyway great album
I've only been a casual PSB listener over the years, so very little familiarity with their albums as a whole. This was a great end-to-end album, with even the lesser-known tracks like "Only the Wind" really surprising me with their strong melodies and polish. There's a good amount of variety here and I feel it really showcases their range.
This is the sort of euro-trash bastardization of new wave that really turns me off. It’s weak and bubbly and entirely unenjoyable to my ears. There’s no real unifying theme or sound here, it’s just every stereotypical late 80’s synth sound crammed into two hours of bullshit. I can’t believe I listened to the entire thing, including the remixes at the end. May I never listen to it again. 1*.
Blegh. This is so boring and has a quality that I can't describe that's just really off-putting. Their very limited vocal talent is evident on this album. I don't mind the music - with better vocalists singing more interesting lyrics, this could've been an album I enjoyed. But it is not. 4/10
I really like this synthetic album
Great! I listened to it twice.
Correcto
Pretty boring
Really good
I wouldn’t mind a world where I never have to hear the Pet Shop Boys’ music ever again. In fact, can we arrange that please? I’ve never understood it.
Pet Shop Boys’ Behaviour is a relaxing and nostalgic listening experience, with each track inviting the listener to immerse themselves in a world of subtle emotions and introspection. The exquisite production is a highlight, with meticulously crafted arrangements creating an immersive and dreamy atmosphere, while Neil Tennant’s mesmerizing vocals guide the journey with captivating smoothness. The perfect combination of evocative melodies and profound lyrics transforms every moment of Behaviour into a reverberation of the past, making it a truly unforgettable album.
2 out of 5. I liked how dreamy this albums gets at times but on the whole a bit slow for me.
I've heard a few albums from them now and they've all been exceptionally well done synth-pop, rarely a weak track to be seen.
4 Could see myself really getting into it
This was a cool album I will definitely be coming back too. Fits multiple vibes.
Synth city. I love this, so mellow, sad and introspective.
I'm not very familiar with the Pet Shop Boys and oddly enough, I've gotten two of their albums this week. I've gone out of order so that I could start with the earlier album, "Actually". In contract, "Behaviour" doesn't have of the handful of PSB songs I knew, but it does display a more mature sound that I was expecting. There's an intense calmness to it that I really hear in songs like "This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave", which is the best track in my opinion. There's more seriousness and orchestration in songs like "My October Symphony" and "Jealousy". If I'm honest though, it hasn't hit me in quite the same way as "Actually", at least so far. It may be one to revisit in the future, but on first exposure, it's a respectable 3 stars.
I was not moved by this album when it came out in 1990 and I remain unimpressed. It is boring compared to Depeche Mode's VIOLATOR, for which Neil Tennant has admitted was the inspiration for this album. I love Harold Faltermeyer, the producer of this album, but he is certainly no Mark "Flood" Ellis at the peak of his power. I am a huge fan of all electronic and synth pop music, particularly from this era of music history, but this album was such a dud. Pet Shop Boys' most important albums continue to be PLEASE and ACTUALLY. This list ignored both of those albums. Instead they put this lame DM ripoff on this list instead. Those albums had relevance in the United States electronic scenes, while this one did not. As you might imagine, I don't think this album belongs on this list. Other, much better albums got bumped to make room for this one.
Surely there are more essential Pet Shop Boys albums.
Really great atmospheric synth/instrumental work. The vocals sometimes take away from the music but I enjoyed a lot of it
I never could get into Pet Shop Boys growing up, and this didn't change that fact. I've never cared for Neil Tennant's vocals, and when they're combined with the music they make it all grates on my nerves. I forced myself to sit through it all, but spent most of the time wishing it was over so I could listen to something else. I can't even think of anything complimentary to say about any of it.
When I read “synth-pop duo,” I instinctively rolled my eyes at yet another group that would be repetitive slosh. But, on a grey Monday morning in the Pacific Northwest, this album was perfect for my drive to work. Moody, passive, and an ever-present beat.
super boring. super 80s/90s sound.
Big fan of PSB - this album marks the shift to more grown up adult pop from the Smash Hits tastic bangers of Please and Actually (which are peak PSB for me). Some classics on here like Being Boring and Jealousy but a few that IMHO are a bit meh so its a high 4.
++: To Face the Truth, My October Symphony +: Being Boring, How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?, Only the Wind, So Hard, Nervously, Jealously +-: This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave, The End of the World 6,4/10
Being Boring So Hard Jealousy
This was a fun album. Makes me want to time travel to 80s London
Album kept getting better
Honestly grew on me a lot. Meticulously crafted. Could use a bit more edge but hey not everyone has that in their arsenal… 3.7
Groovy, catchy and even sensual at times. Definitely a product of the time, but in the best way.
The 80s holding on for dear life at the brink of early 90s.
This was really cool and moody. Definitely a consistent album, but there aren’t any standouts.
I wish that I had not spent 49 minutes listening to this.
I enjoy the general vibe and the vocals of PSB, this album didn’t really have any songs that stuck out as particularly good though. The first song was long and meandering, after that the rest of the album was just alright. 4/10
I listened to this while doing menial, life organizing computer tasks. It did an excellent job of filling the silence. How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously was the only standout track, but I enjoyed having everything else wash over me too. Album cover: (B)
I'm enjoying the song "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously." The whole album so far has had some underlying Phil Collins / Genesis energy. The vocals on "Nervously" sound like Death Cab For Cutie. This album is nice but isn't really my jam. It's an enjoyable relaxing synthy album. The songs mostly blended together. 6/10
With the Pet Shop Boys I’ve had so far, I’ve always had a bit of a hesitancy. Whether it be that the songs were too long, or that the slickness of the music undercut the satire in the lyrics, something stopped me from throwing myself into loving them. I have no reservations about how much I love Behaviour. The melancholy laid back nature of the beats perfectly complements the more personal bent of the lyrics, a lot of which use my favourite songwriting trick of being about the opposite of what the title promises, The End Of The World being the best example. This is perfect music to walk around a city at night to, reflecting on your own personal troubles, staring wistfully into the middle distance. I will be going back to Actually and Very with new ears having listened to it, am I a Pet Shop Boys fan now?
More than expected
Just not dancey enough for the PSBs... I don't really listen to them for the sentimentality, I listen for the hooks and the grooves. 5/10
It was alright to me. Definitely better with headphones! Wonder how it sounded in the context of its release year almost 35 years ago now. Some musical tropes that were fresh for this may be "boring" or "played out" now.
# Album Name: Behaviour # Artist: PSB # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: A very mellow album from the pet shop boys. There were no stand out tracks for me. It was just an OK album. Didnt hate it, certainly didnt love it. # Top Tunes: None # Would I listen to it again? No.
Favorites were "Being Boring", "This Must Be The Place I Waited Years to Leave" and "My October Symphony". Nice album.
Very cool. Synthpop and synthwave inspired a multitude of genres I appreciate and love today. But you know the saying "don't meet your heros"? Thats kinda how I feel about this album. Wasn't worth it to me to find what inspired said music i like already in this genre. Worthy of 3 stars for its unique, inspirational and pop tonalities. But, the two extra stars gotta be reserved for music that is undeniably good. This isn't it, just unique.
Noice, heard better by them though
Boring. Didn't like it.
No. 296/1001 Being Boring 4/5 This Must Be the Place 4/5 To Face the Truth 3/5 How Can You Expect 4/5 Only the Wind 3/5 My October Symphony 4/5 So Hard 3/5 Nervously 3/5 The End of the World 3/5 Jealousy 3/5 Average: 3,4 I actually didn’t really like the Pet Shop Boys before listening to this record. But this was surprisingly good.
Magnificent
I’ve had one other PSB album on the project and didn’t care for it much; this one was better in my opinion, although still not my cup of tea. I tended to enjoy the music more than the vocals. Added ‘So Hard’ to my playlist, I also liked ‘Jealousy’. 3/5
Incredibly boring. 2/5
smooth and soothing, but at some point it just got repetitive and boring.
I like the PSB but wasn’t familiar with any of these songs. It’s ok if not a bit repetitive.
Garbage
If this album were a sandwich it would be a bread sandwich. A slice of bread between two other slices of bread. That's how this album made me feel
It's okay at best. I think every song sounds the same.
Just lame.
Worst of the 80s + worst of the 90s
Got boring quickly
3.5/5
In the business of triggering dopamine
It's a good job they put the big single up front because, apart from that, it sounds exactly like any of the other umpteen billion albums PSB have released.
Smooth Pet Shop Boys
not a great record. Just kind of 'nothing' from my perspective. The biggest takeaway for me from this record is how much I actually dislike that poppy keyboard-demo radio crap that seemed to be everywhere in the late 80s. As usual for PSB the vocals really turned me off more than the synth-wave/pop which had it's nice moments actually.
Es un muy buen disco. Tiene los típicos arreglos electrónicos de los 80s pero fino, sofisticado, calidad, no solamente vistoso. Me hace acordar mucho a Clics Modernos. Por ahí no es tanto de mi onda pero claramente se nota el buen nivel.
Listening to this album feels very sophisticated. But also really fun. I like it.
A bit samey but still enjoyed, definitely inspired a lot of pop music
Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 🌹😌🖼️ Production (2001 Remaster): 😲🙂👌 Music: 🎹💔🧼 Rating: 🧼🧼/5
More synthpop. Some tunes are great, some not so. There's nothing any different here from their other albums. Again, another group only needed one album on the list. Best Tracks: Being Boring; This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave; So Hard
Ok pop
There are far better releases from this band that I would play from start to finish.
It's not completely my thing but I must admit there are some great vibes on this. Not sure how much of this is an acquired taste and how much I just need to adapt to the vibes. Synths are very cool though. Best Track: Jealousy Worst Track: Only The Wind
Sometimes I listen to this album and it's great and sometimes it's genuinely the most boring thing I've ever heard. Best Song: So Hard Worst Song: Nervously
This sounds great overall, such a cohesive sound. Songs are long and blur into each other, but the overall vibe is preserved in each song. No stand out songs for me but I enjoyed it. 4
Sorry to say but for me the first and fourth tracks say it all.
Relaxing album. Very good
The title of track #1 sums it all up.
Deram um desacelerada nos anos 90 e criaram um clima que não chega a ser de trip hop. Abre com hit e segue no clima.
"synth pop",lots of rythym-ey stuff
This album steps away from the upbeat club tracks that the Pet Shop Boys are known for in their earlier releases. It’s still synthpop and groovy, but it dives into a deeper, more introspective direction with lush, atmospheric synths. There’s also a heavier use of keyboard orchestration and subtle guitars, which gives it a more sophisticated, art pop feel.
A pleasant enough album to listen to. Decent songs. Still not convinced Pet Shop Boys should have more than one recording on this list.
Too contrived, too camp, very difficult to take seriously.
I find them so bland and pompous
Never liked the PSBs much, or just thisbera of music generally! I tried, but wasn't converted
Didn't expect to enjoy this, it was good!
Yeah this album is just not for me. It is quite boring, dated, and the vocal style is awful. Dreadful music.
Like a more Twin Peaks-esque, more mellow Depeche Mode. I just got another Pet Shop Boys from this generator literally a week or two before this but it was a lot more kitschy than this. And this is plenty kitsch and camp too, because its still the Pet Shop Boys, but this takes itself somewhat more seriously and feels more "adult" in like an '80s corporate elevator music way. It's pretty cool but it gets monotonous.
Very chilled vibe and a good relaxing listen
quando ho letto che era musica elettronica sono un attimo rabbrividita, considerato quanto amo questo genere musicale, ma in verità è caruccio! sono piacevolmente sorpresa ma ciononostante non si superano le tre stelle
This was enjoyable enough. It’s not one I’ll probably return to but I don’t regret hearing it.
frekar gott og fágað rafpopp. hrifinn, aftur. 3,5.
Found this to be quiet boring, the droning vocals do not help. Hard to even consider one highlight. But not particularly offensive either though 2*
The synth is very reminiscent of Depeche Mode. This vibe just feels like ‘wealthy adolescents dancing languidly to shake off their angst and ennui’
So much meh.
OK that was boring as fuck
One tries one's best to open to this, but comes away mostly cold. It's lush and lavish and occasionally lovely, and there are some moments ("October Symphony" and "This Must Be the Place"), that put one in the mind of Paul Hardcastle at his best. Ultimately, however, the extra cheesy synths (see "So Hard"), the vocals sounding like too much Liberace and the sheer overdone schlockery/schmaltzery (some would say "camp" one realizes) of it all are more than can one bear or credit.
Some great tracks but didn't enjoy all of it 4 stars
After recently being assigned Pet Shop Boys' album Very for review, I revisited their earlier works but somehow overlooked Behaviour. I have to say, this might now be my favorite album of theirs. The use of classic analog synths, along with the TR808 and TR909, creates a much warmer sound compared to the digital synths of their first three albums. This shift to a more analog approach really resonates with me. While Pet Shop Boys have always embraced melancholy, Behaviour takes it to another level, steeped in heartbreak, and I love it. As with all their albums, Behaviour is impressively consistent, making it difficult to choose standout tracks. I’d rate this album a solid 4.5.
This shouldn't be on the list. It's great background music, but I honestly forgot it was playing for a bit. Just seems like a basic album. 1.
A down tempo, emotional PSB album for gazing out a rain-streaked window, perhaps, or for feeling the weight of the changing season's gloom when the accursed sun begins setting at five fucking thirty. Still electronic and clever, but pensive and less dancey.
Damn....Pet Shop Boys just have such a good combination of dance beats, synth layers and then Neal Tennant has such a unique voice. 'This Must Be the Place I Waited Years To Leave' is great one. 'Jealousy' is another melancholy anthem that I remember listening to as a teen. 'Being Boring' is another favorite. Other parts of the album don't flow as well as the other songs,.but altogether a decent album.
Perfect for driving with the top down, super early in the morning, after a long night out. This Must Be the Place I Waited to Leave and How Can You Expect to be Taken Seriously were highlights
Really not into the Pet Shop Boys [woof]. This one was tough to get through - I honestly do not know how music like this is still a thing. Help. I kind of want to go back and give Rufus more stars after having to deal with this lollll.
Quite enjoyed it 7/10
najo azért mindennek van határa. 🤣 az elején tetszett, de meguntam a közepére nagyon.
Meh. It didn’t have West End Girls so. . .
I don't like it, but cool if u do. Will I listen to again: 0%
What an album, the Pet Shop Boys rule. Its very 80s, but almost self reflective as the decade was rolling over. The production is clean, the singing is confident, and I just really enjoyed the synth instrumentation throughout. How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously? Was my early standout, but I also loved Being Boring, My October Symphony, and Nervously. Great album that had my attention the whole time.
Smooth 80s synth pop
I found this super boring and of its time.
3-
2,5
Fourth studio album of PSB on the list. Rated their first two as 5-star, gave their fifth one (Very) 2-star, and rate "Behaviour" as a 4-star album, but at the top end, as half of the songs are 5-star, while the other half is 3-4 star. PSB always released strong b-sides, but around this period these b-sides could have made their albums quite a bit stronger (here "Miserabilism" comes into mind - why make this a 1991 b-side?) vote in 1990: 8/10 vote in 2024: 8/10
The kind of synth-pop that I can appreciate.
Ok, this is the 3rd Pet Shop Boys album that has been generated and I’ve tried but it’s just not clicking for me. I like chill synth music and I did appreciate the sounds on Behaviour the most of their 3 albums that I’ve listened to, I just haven’t been able to get past the vocals. I was vibing pretty well to this album on the first track the vocals kick in at the 2min mark. There’s something flat and annoying about their voices and they can’t help that but I can’t help it either. Great dreamy synth sounds here though. 3 stars
According to vocalist Neil Tennant, this album was heavily inspired by Depeche Mode’s Violator, which you can definitely hear in the heavier tone of some songs. And while Behaviour isn’t quite a stone classic in the mode of the former, it’s still very charming and engaging.
Did I already make a joke about returning boys to the pet shop? Yes? Ok, well,
Huh, I swear I've heard 'Being Boring' somewhere before. Anyway, I like it. Synth can be hit or miss for me, but this was pleasant.
pretty good. Better than I thought it would be going in. First track is great, but So Hard is so hard.
Behaviour Growing up I really didn’t like the Pet Shop Boys, but fortunately now I have seen the error of my ways. Despite them occasionally sounding a bit ridiculous and being very very parodiable (particularly by Lonely Island), they are one of the great pop singles bands of the 80s and 90s. Aside from Being Boring, So Hard and Jealousy I’m not familiar with this album, and I’m not sure it quite works fully. There are some great tracks but what feels like an attempt to write sophisticated adult electronic music sounds quite dated in places. Even if the songs themselves are good, the sprinkling of ‘tasteful’ wah wah on Being Boring and My October Symphony, the Sade-lite rhythms of To Face The Truth (even though the vocal and melody are particularly melancholy and lovely on this), the ‘rock’ guitar on How Can You Expect to be Taken Seriously - it doesn’t seem to quite have the panache and playfulness of their big hits. Occasionally this more mature sounds does work well, Only the Wind is very nice When they move closer to a more immediate electronic sound, like This Must Be the Place I Waited to Leave, with its very nice Johnny Marr cameo, So Hard or The End of the World it's great. Nervously and Jealousy are also great tracks, Nervously in particular has a great synth line and slippery rhythm. Some great pop music on here, but due to its slight 90s dinner party background music atmosphere it doesn’t feel that satisfying, particularly compared to something like their first album. It feels a touch harsh but I’ll go 3. 🐶🏪🤼♂️ Playlist Submission: So Hard
Reminds me a lot of Depeche Mode
Fav: Jealousy Least Fav: Only The Wind One thing this list is making me realise is that I enjoy electronica a lot more than I thought I did. This album is very much a product of 80s-early 90s but does it so well.
2 Stars (5/15)
Always down for some Pet Shop Boys!
# Playlist Track - Jealousy # Notes - Good album, but a bit repetitive.
I enjoyed it more than I imagined. great melodies and sounds
a decent enough synth-pop album. this one did not really resonate with me a whole lot. like the production was fine, the instrumentation here is fine. the lyrics didn't really land with me and for my second foray into pet shop boys' music, i can't say i super love the style of the vocalist. that's not to say the sum of all this album's parts are bad, but just really unremarkable to me.
Sounds fairly similar to alternative songs coming out today. Similar vibes but with more tech drum machine sounds instead of modern production.
Being Boring is a great track. Rest ok 3/5
A handful of decent tracks, but a lot of dull fillers.
with their mysterious, soft and entrancing rhythms and futuristic instrumentation, the pet shop boys have a wonderful new wave pop sound that'll make you move your feet and get controlled by the beat. songs of overcoming societal norms, passionate love and moody relationship reflections... it's a happy and sad album at the same time. what a treat.
Pet Shop Boys were a British pair that made synth-pop in the 80s and the 90s. Behaviour is their fourth album, and more somber than their earlier work. The band makes danceable, melodic, synthesizer based pop songs, and they were one of the groups that help make this the defining sound of 80s pop. Some of the tracks, like "Being Boring" and "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously," are upbeat, danceable tracts. The ballads weigh the work - for example "To Face the Truth" - with a sappy melodrama that wanders towards "easy listening."
album gives the 80s ilayaraaja disco vibes. Favorite track: how can you expect to be taken seriously other picks: this must be the place, october symphony
depeche mode light mode
nice 80‘s vibe (though the album came out in 1990) in my area we would say nice „schnulzen“-music
Pretty much the same song played 10 times.
Highlight der 80er!
3.5
This was pretty innocuous, was hoping for some more 80s bangers but it was surprisingly chill
Meh
Very Pet Shop Boys but I wasn’t familiar with any of the songs. This site really needs half points or I need to stop reserving 5 for albums I can’t stop listening too… this would be 3.5.
It’s okay - but I didn’t think that there were real standout tracks. Perhaps My October Symphony is one of those. To me, there are better PSB albums out there
Nothing background music
This shit gas bro
The first song describes this album oerfectly
not my thing
Really? I recall PSB having a couple of hits, none belonging to this album... Snooze
Eh, another album with some nice songs but ultimately to dated sounding for me
I gave Actually a 5, this wasn't a hit for me ( hello, controversial artist). This was perhaps a more grown sound. Doesn't mean I have to love it.
Surprisingly pleasant, but nothing to rave over. Wouldn't buy it, but it's got to be worth a 3.
Ironically, I just found this boring
This two are excellent live, and they played one of my favourites, 'So Hard'. This was a good change in direction at the time for PSB, it seemed like they were trying to go a bit moodier and maybe dancier. It's pretty good and worth 3 stars at the very least.
Like most Pet Shop Boys albums, I like a handful of songs a lot but the rest is kind of meh. I think my favorite song off of this album is So Hard. It's a jam. Some of these were too slow and weepy for me though.
boring boring synth pop snoreeee 5/10
meh
Classic late 80s album. Unique sound and fun tracks.
3.75
3.3 1x catch up 10 /10
Not really my style and at times a bit repetitive and fading into the background. With that said, I enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would. Probably not something I'll come back to, but not bad music.
Un bon album de Pet Shop Boys. Je l'ai trouvé plus cohésif et mieux construit que Actually surprenament. J'attends toujours Please par contre. 7.5/10
Fun 80s sounds (even though this came out in 1990). Would like to hear an instrumental version of this.
Is there an instrumental version of this? I'd actually be raving about it if it wasn't for the naff vocals.
The first track in this album is called Being Boring. So you can’t say they don’t warn us! Okay that’s a bit harsh. Actually, ;) I don’t dislike the Pet Shop Boys and spent a fair amount of time in the late 80’s dancing to their hits. But much of this album is monotone in both sound and attitude. It lacks the energy I enjoyed in their earlier work. It’s broody. I don’t find that electronica and drum machines really lend themselves to broodiness. They deserve to have an album on this list. They have three. In my opinion this one could have been passed by. 2.5/5
A wonderful romp from 80s legends aging like a fine wine into the 90s.
ha un sound che mi metto l'ansia...
I like these guys. Some good synthy British pop
So many of these songs just went on and ON. Make it stop.
The singer’s sweet voice saved this album from being a complete failure.
All their stuff sounds the same to me. Decent background music, but nothing exciting. Not sure why they have more than one album on this list. 2.5
Good
A good well balanced moody record. Not totally memorable bit probably the most even Per Shop Boys record on this list so far.
This didn’t age well. Just Casio defaults with emo shit that all sounds the same.
I don't really like the 1980s sound of the Pet Shop Boys, but I'll make an exception for Behaviour. It does not contain that many hit singles, but overall the quality of the songs is quite good and I like the minimal production.
I was not expecting such a great album, nice discovery!
Like 80s MGMT?
C'est dommage, tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour que ça me plaise... Mais la mayo ne prend pas. La faute à quoi ? La voix du chanteur ne me séduit pas spécialement, les chansons se ressemblent trop à mon goût, avec souvent un côté balade électro-kitsch qui ne me touche pas. Certaines chansons sont plaisantes, j'aime la veine électro, mais ce n'est pas suffisant pour que j'ai envie d'y retourner.
Bit dull but plesent enough
..
Simply solid brit pop.
Maybe I’m just Being Boring, but this one was So Hard to listen to today. Was It Worth It? Idk.
Let’s come back to this one
Algjört feel-good dæmi.
meh
Best album this week for me.
Started off dull and stayed the same. No redeeming qualities at all. Why did they stop making that dramatic music? I hope they credited casio.
Tad boring to me. I like the writing here and there and wouldn’t complain would it be on but… to me a bit boring, wouldn’t come back as quick.
It's been a long time since I've listened to this album. It has held up pretty well and brought back some memories. I enjoyed more than I thought I would.
It's very unexpected for a Pet Shop Boys album. Altough honestly, I don't know if I know what I expected from Pet Shop Boys, even after 2 or 3 albums from them on the 1001 list. I can say that I liked it, even though it was not so remarkable.
Found it to be quite boring. Mix of slow electronic music and melancholy lyrics, just not for me. 2/5 Won’t listen again
Because of Pet Sounds I thought it was The Beach Boys. I'm so glad it wasn't I wish the first song never ended, it was so good~ Such a shame, it only went downhill from there. Some nice chill songs but mostly snoozers
They were as a matter of fact being REALLY boring
Probably more like 2.5 stars. Has a fun blend of 80s and 90s sounds.
Didn’t love it
Mixed up The Pet Shop Boys with The Beach Boys, so when I hit play on Behaviour it was a bit of a shock - but not necessarily an unwelcome one. The beach rock vibes I was expecting when I hit play, turned into some neat synth pop, something that was welcome. A little slow in places, but feels like it would've been a hit in some of the club scene. Best: So Hard Worst: To Face The Truth
I love the use of synths in this album. Really gives it a unique identity making it weird but interesting to listen to. Definitely need to take a closer listen to as there is so much going on. Another point to highlight was the introspective nature of the album having a lot of lyrics which I could relate to.
Another one I really wanted to like but just couldn't get into. The Wikipedia article quotes one of the band members as saying they tried to make this album have fewer of the 'annoying' qualities their music usually had (his words, not mine) — but I don't think they succeeded. Pet Shop Boys are one of those bands that tends to take new wave and other 80s sounds to the logical absurd to the point where it's all just too much. It's at times too cheesy and twee, at times too boring, and at times too overloaded with the popular electronic trends of the day. Vox did a video about the history of the orchestra hit and how it became a musical stereotype, and the accompanying playlist they made to showcase songs with egregious use of the sound has a Pet Shop Boys track on it. As egregious as that song is (unfortunately I can't remember the name at the moment), there's actually a WORSE one on this album — So Hard. Indeed, it goes *so hard* on the orchestra hits. I can hear the obvious influence album this band had on one of my favorite bands of all time — Savage Garden — so I should like this. But I just can't quite get there. It's too musical theater/mashing buttons on the Casio presets for me. It's like if Depeche Mode and Soft Cell formed a super group, but not in a great way. 3.5/5 — it's not a terrible album, but it's not something I want to listen to very often, if at all.
Better than the other album of theirs that I've heard, but still not very good. The music feels so synthetic and the singer sounds like he's bored out his mind
Ærligt. Har aldrig brudt mig om det som radioen har spillet med Pet Shop Boys.. Men det er tog alligevel fusen på mig. Det groover, og vugger på en super fin måde. Der er noget frastødende over den måde Niel Tennant synger på, men i en album helhed fungere det. Sjovt med et album hvor der ikke er et eneste kæmpe hit på. Jeg er positivt overrasket.
Pet Shop Boys plejer at svinge en større pisk. Her bliver de ofte apatiske i udtrykket. Man må sige de varedeklarerer på første nummer: Being Boring. Måske er det et album der vokser ved flere genbesøg. Det var der ikke tid til i dag. Men den har ikke de catchy hooks der er på West End Girls, It’s A Sin, Always On My Mind og andre af deres ikoniske elektro-mesterværker
I was taken in by the very mellow vibe of this, though I didn't walk away humming it. I do love the production.
I didn't mind this. A rather twinkly, frictionless pop-electronica that rather floated out of the speakers. Neil Tennant's voice is one I've often considered on the 'small' side, but it fits the sound perfectly here. Quite atmospheric despite the fact I've made it sound a little powder puff. Just about scrapes four stars for me.
Boring
Didn't wow me, found it a bit same-ey. 2 stars.
I was not familiar with their work past the 80s but this was a very good album and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The sad album
Favourite song - Only the wind
Nope. Bands like this is why I took up listening to Metal in the 80s. Not terrible just boring
Oh dear. That's terrible.
meh
Sequencearnir eru oft ágætir og stundum bætast við önnur hljóðfæri sem eru fín líka. En þetta er svo meinlaust og ég er svo innilega ekki hrifinn af þessari rödd. Næstum of fagmannlega gert fyrir tvist, en bara ekki nógu skemmtilegt fyrir þrist.
Smart, bittersweet, packed with tunes and sharp lyrics, often with the feeling that Neil Tennant has one eyebrow raised.
Starts out promising enough, but soon blends together becoming monotonous and dated.
Here we have Pet Shop Boys, two days before CHVRCHΞS. Both are synth pop, but they’re more than two decades apart, and even further apart stylistically. Pet Shop Boys is maybe closer to dream pop, but it’s dream pop that is still way too 80s with vocals so annoying that they crush any decent atmosphere created by the synths. They claim they were never “Being Boring,” but that’s exactly how I would describe much of “Behavior.” Don’t bother going down to the pet shop, regardless of the boys’ behaviour. Instead, Be Your Own Pet. Their self-titled garage punk album in 2006 is a hidden gem. Check out “Adventure.”
Best part of this album is the strings on October Symphony...which are immediately ruined by the super 80s laser sounds at the beginning of So Hard.
Being Boring lives up to the name. Not a good start. Things pick up with To Face The Truth and How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously. The album turns downward from there with The End Of The World a welcome respite.
Doesn't reach the euphoric heights of their other albums quite so often. This is noteworthy for its excellent use of more somber tones. Feels burdened by the weight of crisis even as many portions of the rave scene were dancing to forget the pain. Alas, a couple songs here are so incredibly dated it's hard to pin this anywhere else than slightly below their 80's peak but it's still pretty solid.
Like a lot more than not, but don't love.
3/5 - ehhhhhhhhhhhh
All this 80s (esp. if it's 90s) throwing me off a good bit. Don't really abide that synth pop sound. Good for the dance club (I've been to one accidentally in my life), not so much for my graceful attentiveness.
I’m a definite fan of the Pet Shop Boys but this is my least favourite of their first few albums. They’re still intelligent and witty and catchy but Please or Disco were more charged for me. At their worst though they still produce fantastic songs. Their vibe is sublime. I recently watched a documentary about their latest album and tour… they have such an enviable dynamic and know how to deliver!
For the life of me, I don't understand what it is about this band that makes anyone get the slightest bit excited. It's fine if you dig mid-tempo whispery blokes singing over nondescript synths and programmed drums. But I vote meh.
This may be the blandest album I've ever heard. It's so tame it makes that other Pet Shop Boys album we heard sound like Slayer. I kept expecting someone to start cleaning my teeth.
I just love these boys and find such comfort in their vibe. Their combined voices are balm for what ails me. I'm glad they are still making and performing music for young and old.
I was kind of messing with some of the production. But early pop can’t help from being boring to me. No hate. All love.
Just another album, nothing spectacular but not terrible. I liked "To Face The Truth"
I continue to be reminded that I apparently love British New Wave from the 80's and early 90's. 4/5
Very samey and didn’t think that was a good thing.
"Behaviour" is the fourth studio album by the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. This album is lauded as the Pet Shop Boys' best work - very easy listening.
Joyous pop.