Reviews (page 2 of 7)
It's like they took everything good from something like Depeche Mode and corrupted it, twisted and soiled it until it became a soulless shell of bubblegum synth pop that was all style and no substance. It is like an uncanny valley of musical nightmares, so close to good ideas but so debased.
No like
Very begins with a passable song then dives deep in the pop style that will be overly used a decade later by all the boys-bands. Every songs sound the same as the previous with the same musical backs and poor-written lyrics. It has no memorable aspect and even in background, while doing something else, Very is boring. Its presence in this list is incomprehensible and absolutely not deserved.
Ich vergesse es jedes Mal aufs Neue, aber die Pet Shop Boys machen einfach unglaublich geile, unglaublich vielschichtige Musik. Geiles Album, geile Musiker
# Playlist Track - Can You Forgive Her? # Notes - An absolute blast right from the start. The opening orchestra hits are brilliantly overdone on "Very" and the contrast between soft vocals, synthesizers and the maddening THUMP of the electronic drums is absolutely fantastic. - Closing with the amazing "Go West" is also amazing. - Actually: closing with a hidden track! - Bloody fun!
Very ist der Moment, in dem die Pet Shop Boys komplett aufblühen: maximaler Pop, maximaler Glanz, maximaler Ernst hinter der Oberfläche. Jeder Track sitzt wie ein perfekt gefalteter Origami‑Hit – verspielt, intelligent, emotional präzise. „Can You Forgive Her?“ und „Go West“ tragen das Album nach außen, aber die wahre Stärke liegt im durchgehend hohen Niveau 😊
I really like this album. It wasn't something that I paid attention to when it came out. I blew that call.
1995 in London gekauft. Da hängen viele gute Erinnerungen dran. Klasse!
The opener Can You Forgive Her is big and bold, triumphant orchestra hits punctuating the bouncy synths. It makes me want to play it again straight away, but there are more songs to listen to. Liberation is another high point, laidback and balearic with a solid backbone of bass and percussion. The synth riffs and strings are *chef's kiss*. This is just fun to listen to and scratches an itch in my brain. The relentlessly catchy acid-tinged synths and vocal hooks continue on A Different Point of View and I'm completely smitten. Yesterday When I Was Mad is as good as anything else, high tempo with the floaty vocals overtop of dance beats. It's the layers and energy of the synths that take this from potential bubblegum pop territory to something worth listening to with good headphones on. The Theatre is special too, built around a breakbeat and haunting melody. It's very cinematic. To Speak Is a Sin is along the same lines, but deeper still with touches of piano and jazzy sy nths. There's maybe a lull before Go West, but it's a fantastic closer. I'm a sucker for the 'Canon in D' chord progression. Automatic 5 star for me after one listen.
Perfect.
INPUT = {"artist": "Pet Shop Boys", "album": "Very"} LINEUP = {"men": 2, "women": 0} FEATURED_ARTISTS = {"men": 0, "women": 0} TOTAL_MEN = 2 TOTAL_WOMEN = 0 WOMEN_PERCENTAGE = 0 OUTPUT = "Maximum score awarded. 5/5"
Shit slaps
Not what I expected. Really liked it
Very everything!
abouslote hidden gem
trop bien
This is an album that has held up, erm, Very well. I got it shortly after it came out and it was fresh, and now it just sounds like a good friend. Almost timeless.
the boys
proprio bello. l’atmosfera è bella romantica/malinconica e allo stesso tempo molto pop ma non in maniera banale: non c’è il picco emotivo e basta, la sospensione rimane fino alla fine, a tratti alcuni pezzi sono quasi ipnotici. e poi mi piace che la voce non domini ma accompagni. bello bello
I got into the Pet Shop Boys later in my life. This could very well be my favorite Pet Shop Boys album. I do like Behavior as well and their new work isn't half-bad either. There isn't a bad song on here. I have never really considered Pet Shop Boys to be dance music. Sure, the remixes and all are danceable, as are the tracks as presented on the album. I think of them as more synth-pop, so I don't see them competing with the 259 electronica/dance albums on this list. I guess if you are looking for dance music then you will be disappointed. If you are looking for a happy medium between danceable music and synth-pop then I believe you will enjoy this one. One of my favorites on this list.
Holy shit!! I love the nostalgia this album brought back for me! What a time in my life. JoEllens boys. lol
All the classic feelings you want.
Maybe not their best but probably their most fun? Which is a weird thing for a Peg Shop Bous album to be.
This album is what happens when repression throws on an orange jumpsuit and starts voguing under strobe lights. It’s glossy, camp, melancholic—like heartbreak engineered by an architect who really loves geometry. The Pet Shop Boys perfected that strange, exquisite ache of feeling too much but only letting it leak out through perfect synth lines. Every track is a glittering contradiction: joy and despair holding hands in a laser-lit club. Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: Synthpop therapy for people who’d rather dance than talk about it. Favorite Track: “Can You Forgive Her?” — guilt turned into choreography.
Melodic pop
I know what the word means, but I couldn't give you the definition.
Now, although I don't think a third Pet Shop Boys album was needed, and this is definitely the weakest of the 3, it's STILL a total banger. Moving even more into dance but still having that Pet Shop Boy charm and great production value. Damn. Did I become a Pet Shop Boys fan because of this site?
A Milestone in Pop - very pleasant songs - I didn't expect that
Is there such a thing as bubblegum europop? That's what these guys are. If Rainbow Road needed a soundtrack it couldn't do better than to use some of these fantastic grooves.
Favourites: Can You Forgive Her?, Liberation, A Different Point of View, The Theatre, One and One Make Five, Young Offender, Go West
Neil Tennant was one of the first to discuss the idea of an 'imperial period' for any great artist, and this album unquestionably is the last of their run of the first five albums. Upbeat and heavily dance music based, it does lean heavily for its greatness on Go West, not so much covered as completed re-invented - joining It's A Sin and W End Boys as the PSB tracks that are actually overplayed.
loved it!
Pet Shop Boys, one of my beloved childhood bands.
pet shop boys’ first five albums are all masterpieces 🤷♀️
Kannte die Band schon, aber nie was gehört. Eurobeat vibes aber in normaler
No notes.
If my innie was working in the Macrodata Refinement department, I would hope that if they had a Music Experience, they would choose one of these songs. first time ever hearing of them and this was a breath of fresh air. 👍🏽
PSB - 80s/90s electro-pop at it's very finest; and this is probably one of their best.
I’ve heard some of Pet Shop Boys, but not much past the well known stuff. I’ll give a listen!
love
Very, very good.
Very
Brilliant album
Y'know, it's been a long since my group last got a Pet Shop Boys album. It was our 99th, actually, and we've had, like, over 330 since then. That's a lot! I mean, I can't even remember too well what I thought of that release. Best I can remember, I liked the synths and keys, but it otherwise wasn't able to hold my attention too terribly well. I'll admit, going into the I was worried I'd be in for more of the same. But, hey, this album actually comes from six years further into their discography. For all I knew, this could've been different. And, well, was it? Yes. Oh, **yes**. And, jus'... Oh, my goodness, this was the most incredible thing. Absolutely fabulous. Like, I'm actually sort of at a loss for words. I mean, you're telling me this was here the entire time, and I never knew about it until now? Goodness me. Like, let me just put in short the fundamental reason why I liked this so much: it's not just that it's really good British techno/house, no. It's that this sounds like the best soundtrack you've heard ever to an early CD video game that doesn't exist. Seriously, in some spots I'm almost getting some SONIC CD vibes from this? And in other parts it's just so huge... This music is relentless and completely electric, hitting the floor from the first moment and never letting up. And you'd think it'd get tiring over its 50-some minute runtime, but it's actually super good at keeping things interesting. I can completely hear why this was a smash. For anyone with a nightlife, songs from this album must've caused pandemonium in the disco. If this wasn't an essential party album for the 90's, I don't know what it was. (And of course I missed most of the lyrics, so I didn't catch a lot of the introspective moments I heard that this album has, but from what I did gleam... Honestly, it kind of reminds me of Sparks's turn to dance music on GRATUITOUS SAX & SENSELESS VIOLINS? And take it from a huge fan of Sparks, I already know I like this album far better. More of this, please.) But, yeah, give this... Jus', like, the biggest 5 you can muster. The last album we got from these guys completely underprepared me for this album. At best, it's alright, but nonetheless... I mean, seriously, this discovery has to be one of the absolute best I've come across doing this randomizer. I was completely floored by it. I jus' love the performance on here so much... Goodness me. I don't even have anything else I wanna say — and I don't wanna try and cram in any more Pet Shop Boys album titles and single names. So, I'unno. Go west and listen to it already if you haven't, I guess.
I just love the Pet Shop Boys, and this grand album is an absolute treat. Simple direct lyrics and melodies, super danceable, pop perfection. I don't care if it all sounds the same because it all sounds great.
Very nice. Exceptional album
I <3 SYNTHPOP
holy cow!! loud and bright and exciting and in-your-face and cinematic and fun. and then i would estimate that 75% of the songs were about love in various ways. they did this thing a lot here where they build up and then release on a sweet chord with a note being sung that works so so well over the top. i’ve liked the other Pet Shop Boys stuff on this list but this album absolutely blew away expectations
Another superb offering by the brilliant Pet Shop boys. Thought this one was a little more ballardy than some of their others and certainly more jazzy with the use of various upbeat string sounds in other tracks. Also thought the album was more heavily produced but this didn't detract from the quality. What a way to end with the camp Go West. A joy from beginning to end 👍
I had heard this one before but I had to listen again because I felt it was on the cusp of a 5. An excellent dance album with plenty of synths and fantastic songwriting — definitely not hard to tell why it was seen as a ‘coming out’ album given that I see little room for subtlety.
Dope
love it
I loved this album. From start to end it was full of so many interesting sounds and textures, and the music itself was so vibrant. Each song was destinct and creative. Honestly there were really no low spots for me, and I'm glad I discovered this through here. 5/5
Danm i love this album and spin it for over 30 years
love these boys
Damn what's with the fairly low rating on here, this thing is synth-pop bangers front to back. Always knew they had some killer singles in them but this is a full album of great material. That classic synth sound just works so well for pop music, every song on here made me want to groove.
Classic
Ein tolles, melodisches, top arrangiertes und produziertes Album. Es hat mich begeistert.
The very definition of cryin at the club Full of heart and history, I’m so glad I got this album today! As a fan of 90’s techno, dance, and house music, it’s a nice trip down memory lane to study what laid the foundation of so many genre developments to come. Almost instantly you can taste the historical context this album was created in, the sadness, weariness, the hope and perseverance. This will be added to my regular listening rotation for sure
I love this album, and I have absolutely no reason why this should be. I still remember buying the CD in it's orange case with the lego look and feel. I know this album is a big thing in the queer community, and I can see why, but my love of this album is really not affected by that. I guess I just grew up with this album, and heard it at the right time to have it leave a lasting mark on me. I absolutely hate the impact "go west" had on media for years, but at the same time I absolutely love the track. To me this the absolute picture of early european EDM. It is the sound of thousands and thousands of poor people dancing their issues away on any given weekend. The upbeat sadness propably didn't start with this album, but it provided a blueprint for how it would build for the next 20 years.
cool
Loved this album! It's so fun.
Great - supegreat piece of pop art.
I had never really listened to them before despite their popularity. Very much enjoyed it. A continuation of the 80s new wave and dance that rivals the best of New Order.
i put off listening to this because i thought it was the beastie boys lol but this is delicious
Prefer their older stuff, still banging
Awesome synth pop!! Maintains a consistent feel while changing tone and progression to make it engaging and interesting throughout.
"Very" is the fifth studio album by Pet Shop Boys. It was a shift from the subdued electronic pop of their previous album "Behaviour" to richly instrumented dance arrangements. Pet Shop Boys are Neil Tennant (vocals) and Chris Lowe (keyboards. Vocals). This is known as Tennant "coming out" album as he publicly discussed his homosexuality. The Pet Shop Boys produced the album and, commercially, it became their most successful album reaching #1 in the UK. A loud synth open begins "Can You Forgive Her?" Horn sounds, a pop beat, a synth catchy melody. Tennant with forceful lyrics. It's a about a young man's humiliation when a girlfriend accuses him of being in love with someone from his childhood. "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" has a piano and more of a dance beat. Another catchy melody. An event in a person's life opens him up. "Liberation" is lush with horn sounds. It's a dreamy dance ballad. A Carribean beat of sorts. This album is off to a great start..three for three with great songs. Piano keys and a spacey synth begin "Yesterday When I Was Mad." It then changes with a faster, busier pace and electronic beats. This is different. The stresses of touring and being away from loved ones. A nice job of the music capturing the lyrical theme. "The Theatre" starts out in a majestic way with string sounds. Just beautiful and lush. About snobdom. Maybe my favorite song on the album. The album closes with a Village People cover "Go West." Electronic beat. Smooth. Creative background vocals mimicking the Village People. This reinterpretation is like a theatrical production and a lot of fun. This is an excellent album. It's extremely well-constructed and crafted....great production and pop of the highest order. No bad songs or filler. There's a variety of beats with mutliple sounding instruments including horns, piano, strings and synths. Lush is a apt description. An album that apparently got lost in the US with all the grunge at the time. One worth going back for.
pet shop boys eh 5*
Oh yes, this is absolutely what I want out of a Pet Shop Boys album. Lyrically as serious as Behaviour, Very goes back to the Pet Shop Boys synth heavy sounds, but with a more dance-heavy sound. Each song here is a winner, bookended by the strong "Can You Forgive Her?" and the gentle "Go West." The Pet Shop Boys are masters of synth pop, and this album shows that they were far from being done with their musical ingenuity, even as the world of music changed at rapid fire pace around them. I absolutely loved listening to this, and I can't wait to the third and final Pet Shop Boys album on this list.
Neil Tennant explained that they chose title of this album because it's *very* Pet Shop Boys: "it's very up, it's very hi-energy, it's very romantic, it's very sad, it's very pop". That is the perfect summary of the record. It's everything that is great about the Pet Shop Boys, but bolder and more confident than on previous records. It is *very* excellent indeed. Rating: 4.5/5 Playlist track: Go West Date listened: 05/07/23
An entire album of hits. From the first to the last song. One of the best Pet Shop Boys albums. And it's also worth knowing the album Relentless that came out with Very in a special edition.
Can't hear too much of this high pitched early boy band songs. But I appreciated the influential elements throughout the entire album
I loved this album it feels like a predecessor to all of the 90s and early 2000s techno music that I grew up on and it has a lot of elements that very much lead me to believe that it influenced them heavily.
It's the perfect PSB album. Where the with and the music match up - if I Wouldn't Normally Do This Lind of Thing isn't the perfect evocation of that giddy feeling at the start of a relationship then love is a myth and we should all give up. Go West is iconic. It's all ace
I wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing Ask me when I’ll say it started when I met you
very cool album, mostly due to cutting edge for its time production.
Pop perfection
false
More like a 4.5.
Fun little dancey piece we love synths
I just love them
Did not expect this to be higher than three stars, but it was a very enjoyable listen.
Man, this band is really neat. It's like tasty, spiced tea for my soul. Something about "Different Point of View": very sad, but riveting.
Wow! Thought these guys were done in the 80s, but I was wrong. Great album.
Esta bueno, musica muy noventosa, tipica de boliches de la epoca. Parecido a NXCS, U2. no lo escucharia en mi dia a dia. Pero esta muy bueno para su genero. 8/10 puntos
It's enjoyable, unobtrusive background music for work. Kind of reminds me of a chill Kraftwerk.
Not something I would normally choose, but I really enjoyed this! Reminded me of a poppier Depeche Mode, or New Order. Will definitely relisten.
Having a major pop band come out with a techno-influenced album felt like a real trickle-up moment in music. The club was now on the radio. This record was accompanied by a whole slew of remix singles, as was the fashion at the time. Super graphic, innovative packaging. This was followed by their tribute to Absolutely Fabulous. It was a major moment, where celebrities slowly started to come out of the closet. Wigstock and Gay Pride parades and dance floors, were where all the cool kids hung out. This was the right record, by the right band, at the right time.
I! liked it kinda techno-y fun little jams!!
Digital insanity
i really like pet shop boys' vibe, it's futuristic, very 00's, the whole expirience is quite nostalgic
The entire time I listened to this album I could NOT get over the fact that the lead singer here sounds EERILY similar to Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie. Scarily similar voices. So I pretty much listened to this, imagining Death Cab was going retro and enjoyed it HUGELY baby.
this was fun. obviously the fact that the last song has been repurposed as One Nil to the Arsenal makes it even better
I really only know the song “west end girls” which is a good pop song, but I basically thought this was going to be an 80s pop album. Which wouldn’t have been a problem, but this is definitely a pleasant surprise. It’s super funky and electronic and honestly ahead of its time. Really enjoy just the whole vibe of this album. Super great for zoning out and getting work done and it’s nearly a no skip album. There’s alittle bit of filler, but I would recommend this album to anyone who like electronic music.
It started out different then expected, but the album really improved during the course of the record. In the end a very enjoyable listen. 4/5
I found this kinda fun. Several songs I’d probably listen to again, but probably not as a whole. 4/5
This was surprisingly enjoyable - not incredible but a very enjoyable dance-lite album.
Very much a pleasant surprise. Catchy tune and beats with a declarative performance by Neil Tennant.
Clásico y algún temazo
It's hard for me to be impartial about this record. I had never listened to it before, though I do like Pet Shop Boys. Is it just fine, or am I overreacting to the 1001 UK problem, where the author seemingly puts all sorts of UK records in here that don't really matter, and it's actually pretty great? Hard to say. The cover of "Go West" is excellent.
Sympa
You know what I love about Very? It's like having a chat with an old friend who's had a few too many drinks. It's honest, it's emotional, and it's full of surprises. The Pet Shop Boys have always been known for their electronic vibes, but this album feels different somehow. There's a richness here that goes beyond the beats, and I think it has something to do with the fact that they've clearly put their hearts into it. Each song feels like it has a story to tell, and even though some of them might not be as catchy as others, there's still something about them that makes you want to keep listening. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Can You Forgive Her? - Liberation - A Different Point of View - Yesterday, When I Was Mad
I enjoyed this
Something I've noticed that's kind of weird is that I don't like New Order that much, and I really do like Pet Shop Boys quite a bit, but any time I think of them it's kinda like "oh, those guys who are like New Order but not as good?" Anyway, all I knew about this one is that it's the one with the Lego brick jewel case that I can find in most thrift stores. But you know, I think it's my favorite album I've heard from them! It just sounds so stately, and even if it's not really going to be burning up my mind's pop chart with hits, it's still a delight to listen to. Maybe someday I'll finally give Pet Shop Boys the love they truly deserve!
I mean I loved it but I don't think I'll listen to anything other than "go west" but I had a good time!
Gay synth pop! I'm here for it.
I liked Behaviour. This is more of the same.
I have enjoyed the albums from them. Not quite 5 star worthy but very solid 4 stars
Gives me great 80s vibes, its great to listen to! (⌒∇⌒)ノ"
434/1089 - It's less sonically adventurous than Behaviour but more consistent overall. Normally this type of music is not my jam but when it's done really well I appreciate it.
SYNTH ME UP
This record is like an excitable labrador jumping up at you: a bit much at first but eventually you give in and stroke it and enjoy the interaction. The jury is out on whether I am going to continue my PSB journey but this one was fun. Bouncy, happy electro-pop
71/100. This is such a fun record from the Pet Shop Boys and it hits you with some excellent danceable synthpop right from the start. It is a solid win for anyone who likes their electronics with a bit of a theatrical edge.
First listen me sonaron fatal, cuando el oído se hace, me gustaron mucho. Para repetirlos!
Very fun. Such a tactile jewel case
Whether or not this has much merit being on the 1001 List, this is nonetheless a VERY good Pet Shop Boys album. Introspective is an all-round tastier dance feast with a more epic slew of bangers like Left To My Own Devices and Domino Dancing whereas this just has the one epic landmark single in Go West tucked away at the very end. A very noble and powerful song because the singer was just coming out as Russian even after the most massive Tetris pandemic. Other tracks are all very droll and fancy pantsy although the circusy When I Was Mad is maybe the only time where it spills over into being a bit much. Overall a VERY strong 4.
If the Haçienda reopens for camp pre-teens, this would be the playlist.
I want to go clubbing in the 90s
This album contains three of my favorite Pet Shop Boys songs. There’s a similarity to all the songs which makes the album more cohesive and enjoyable.
I find it really funny that this is my first full length Pet Shop Boys record. Feels like the boys' answer to New Order's Technique, which I think is not only that band's best record but is one of the few house-adjacent records I can really dig. Pretty fucking good introduction.
I like the Per Shop Boys and this is a really good album.
Tactile for the 90s.
This was actually pretty fun. I didn’t really even know these guys before this but I listened to the album 3 times in a row. Will be back.
This is a well produced album. I'm loving the 90s synth beats. The songwriting is also quite nice. I'm not the biggest fan of the singer's voice, but I can get over that.
i love my synthpop bombastic and dramatic 4/5
Reminds me of a genre my older bros would listen to when I was younger. Peepin' the release date of the album - it might be exactly what they were listening to. Gives me a little nostalgia feeling - I like it.
High quality dance-pop that seems lightweight upon first listen but gets better with repeated spins. A lot of variety given the genre constraints.
1/12 bekannt 8/10 Beste Songs: Go West, can you forgive her, different point of view
Very is definitely one of the more bizarre albums on this list. It does the 80s synth-pop thing that was very popular around that era but this time it's in 1993 so it does feel a bit dated even for the time. That's not to say that it's bad though, in fact it is very good. There are quite a bit of bangers on this album, especially a lot of the B-sides are some really great songs. I still think that this album would have done much better if it came out in the 80s though since it has the sound that would have thrived there, some of that electronic sound still works in the 90s but still feels rather dated. I still enjoyed this album quite a lot for it's many quirks. Best Song: Dreaming of the Queen Worst Song: To Speak Is a Sin Side note: What was i on when i was watching these music videos? They were absolutely trippy.
I was surprised by how much I liked it. The synths were so fun and I actually liked the vocals
I thought the album had some good songs.
Fun vibe!
Normalize not letting British dudes sing on their own songs Edit because I wrote that after 2 songs but the instrumentals are so well done that the vocals are growing on me fuck
Damn this was really fun
great, i’ve only ever been a casual fan of PSB but i loved this. can you forgive her is such a tune
some of the best synthpop creators ever. everything on here just feels so smooth and euphoric. i love the addition of popular 90s electronic scenes in this one while still having that pet shop boys touch. love love love them
I should have listened to this so long ago. It's like they married their wonderful ear for melody to the sounds of all the British dance music that was blossoming at this time. I read that they were specifically inspired by video game soundtracks here too which comes across well. The production is so dense and layered and beautiful that it makes me very sad to see it reduced to just being "dated" in the eyes of many reviewers ..... It's good when things sound like something you can put your finger on honestly (sometimes).
Not my genre but I guess I was just in the right mood for this today.
I found the pet shop boys in 2023 from the film all of us strangers where they needle drop always on my mind. I think that context allows me to realize how good this is. I love Brit pop and disco and it’s so so gay coded. I will be bumping this for a VERY long time
Heb dit album gisteren al even aan gehad, maar ik was zo verbaasd over hoe leuk ik het eigenlijk vond dat ik het nog een keer aan heb gezet. Dat is in elk geval al positief. Het is afwisselend, het is funky, het is disco, maar bovenal is dit album ook gewoon oprecht leuk! Meer albums die gewoon FUN zijn alsjeblieft. Heb ondertussen al 2 andere Pet Shop Boys albums gehad en mijn issue is eigenlijk telkens geweest dat ze ook veel ballads en tragere nummers doen. Dit album voelt als de Pet Shop Boys on Acid ofzoiets, ze gaan zoveel harder op vreemde synthjes en bleepjes en bloopjes. Ge-wel-dig. Dit is wat ik van ze wilde! Ok, er staan nog steeds wel ballads op zoals Dreaming of the Queen, maar ook daarbij gaan ze meer voor een trippy, spacey sound op de achtergrond. Geen idee of dit hun beste album is volgens 'kenners' maar ik weet wel dat dit album het meest voelt alsof ze echt iets nieuws proberen en vol op de elektronische hoek in duiken. Ja, dit is absoluut mijn favoriete Pet Shop Boys album, maar ik geloof het meteen als mensen hier niet van houden. Het is best een beetje gedateerd en je hoort dat dit wel vroege jaren 90 is. Ook kan ik me voorstellen dat de vocals niet voor iedereen even goed vallen, maar weet je wat? Het maakt me niets uit, ik vind dit precies fout en new wavey genoeg om hier van te genieten, album is ook lang genoeg met een lekkere uitsmijter in Go west. FAVO: Can you forgive her, Liberation, Yesterday when I was mad, One and one make five, To speak is a sin, Go West
I love how cheesy this is. I don't know what it is about the Pet Shop Boys but I really enjoy their brand of pop. Maybe its the grooves or wispy singing, but it feels right, and gives me deep 90s nostalgia for the types of sounds you'd hear everywhere in shows, games, etc. My favorite by far is Liberation, so good.
3,8 Highlights: Can You Forgive Her?, The Theatre
Another PSB hit. More dancey than previous albums and definitely with fewer commercial hits but another success nonetheless
This is incredibly high-energy compared to the other Pet Shop Boys album I heard from this list. I don't know if I like this sound more than the other one, but I certainly don't like it less. I like the contrast between the big sound of the album and the guy's really unenthusiastic singing, gives a very uniquely Pet Shop Boys sound to the album. I also love the way the singer says "here." It's like him saying "years" (or should I say, "yeeahs") in Behaviour, he just says words ending in -ere syllables in a funny way. Saxophone bonus points along with the funny sounds, of course.
It's really good. Love the groove on so many tracks and there's so many hooks. Not really my genre but when it's done this well it's hard to find fault.
I was impressed by this! Cool synth pop.
4.5
I find it quite hard to differentiate this types of bands from the 80s/90s to be honest. I guess this is one of the ok ones based on the fact I recognised a few songs.
Great album.
I'm going to surprise myself and rate this 80s pop album high - I thoroughly enjoyed it, it didn't sound like a casio keyboard demo and I liked it lots! :)
I didn't enjoy this as much as I did Actually when I listened to that – but I really enjoyed Actually. It's OK. Solid throughout. Go West is obviously the stand out tune, but it's generally pretty strong just about everywhere. Just not quite as good...
very nice. had fun listening
I know their first 3 albums very well, and always feel I'm in safe hands with Neil Tennant's soothing voice. I enjoyed this one. Hope their earlier stuff is on this list as well.
Ret fedt!! Aldrig hørt meget Pet shop boys
I have a real soft spot for synthpop and I liked this one.
Very good!
Besser als erwartet
liked this!
Strong 3,5
I enjoyed the first 4 songs the most. Last song was good but idk why there was such a long pause in the middle.
Unapologetically pop and brimming with hooks. A little dated I guess and it took a few songs for me to adjust to the vocals, but the runtime flew by and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Would revisit.
I enjoyed this a lot. Well constructed, powerfully personal and emotive pop songs.
KETCHUP BOYS ah wen erinneret mich d stimm? ich muss d salomé fröge öb sie immerno s littlest pet shop ds game het finds na es lustigs lied aber d synths findi chli HEAVY weiss nöd, er het iwie so e verletzlichi stimm? gfalltmer no recht different point of view het öppis verträumts yesterday when I was mad GAHT DE BEAT AB en coole kontrast zude stimm hahaha wiso fühl ichs so? es isch so beruhigend natüürlich hidden traaack HAHAHA bi go west denk ich IMMER nur ad version vom otto bim 7 zwerge film😭😭😭 ok bin nomal innelose und chegge scho wasd meinsch luca SBER YOUR LOVE IS LIBERATION💫💫🖤🖤🖤
Kinda sounds like the Undertale soundtrack with lyrics. I was bopping
This was just what I needed today. The past two days I had to endure Kanye and Eminem. Both decent albums, but not easy listens for obvious reasons. I joked with my girlfriend last night that today's album needed to be something like The Sound of Music soundtrack, and lo and behold it's the Pet Shop Boys! I've never listened to one of their albums before, but I have liked all of the songs I've heard. They're not a band I've sought out, but they're pretty enjoyable. As soon as the album started I was enjoying the synth-pop of it, as well as the lyrics. Can You Forgive Her? was a perfect opener. Liberation was the song that did it for me, and I was totally hooked. There are some very good songs about how difficult coming out back in the early 90's was, which was very interesting as well. Thank you to the generator for being very kind to me and giving me the record I wanted and needed today.
Pet Shop Boys are a band that I've always heard of, but never really actually listened to before this. But like, this shit is pretty good! I can see why people like them!
I think I like the Pet Shop Boys.
The album starts with great flow and a nostalgic feel back to the 90s but disappoints a bit towards the end except the last song. 4 stars
Quite
relentless
pet shop boys has always been one of those bands that i think is good and interesting musically, that i should by all means like, but i just can't get past Neil Tennant's voice. it's not even awful, like many other male vocalists that have darkened this list, it just gets on my nerves in a way I can't quite put my finger on (too nasally? production problem?). but everything else is solid, so a regretful "not for me" and a recommendation to anybody else
It was a fun listen.
Nice album
This was a very enjoyable album. It was pretty energetic and danceable. Very gay.
Okay this is an interesting one. Felt like a guilty pleasure. But the music was fun and dancey and reminded me of Lithuanian pop a little. But it dips into the scary territory of sounding like doctor office hold music and the lyrics say little to nothing sometimes. That’s all that I want sometimes though. Pairs well with CAD drafting
Fun album
While maintaining the elegance of Behavior, Pet Shop Boys bring back the house beats. The result is a combination of dancey and subdued songs that give the album a lot of depth. Songs like "A Different Point of View" and "The Theatre" have so much going on, but they never sound cluttered or overdone; the vocal flourishes on the latter are some of the best moments on the album. The lyrics are great too - Pet Shop Boys were always an introspective group (no pun intended), but songs like "To Speak is a Sin" demonstrate the way they can subtlety pack a lot of emotion into a song. The highlight is probably "Young Offender," a lyrically detailed song that's also one of the catchiest on the album, though in a more restrained way. And it ends on a triumphant Village People cover that's one of the few upbeat moments on the album not backed by cleverly dark lyrics.
The Pet Shop Boys are a band who despite being nowhere near in the same league as some of their contemporaries like Depeche Mode, their music is still really unique in it's own way, and is still always something that I know I will enjoy on some level.
This was a very different album than what I thought it would be, but it was still pretty good!
This surprised me. I like 80s Pet Shop Boys pretty well but had never heard them in the 90s. This was just a lot of fun.
I love PSB and recently saw their Dreamworld tour. They only played 1 song from this album (Can you forgive her) although apparently they normally play Go West also - which is joint least from the 9 PSB albums and kinda illustrates where this sits in the canon. Neil's voice is great and there are some great moments - but it does feel a little dated - and lacks enough real bangers. Go West remains very interesting tho - superficially very cheesy but at the same time very powerful.
This synth-pop album makes me feel like dancing at a gay bar, though I don’t particularly like synth-pop or dancing, and I’m not gay. There’s just a lot of delicious, catchy melodies and a steady rhythm that makes me wanna groove. The slower songs don’t quite do as much for me though.
this is a fun album, very on brand, i enjoyed the whole thing
Pure pop from our lovable Brits.
The Beatles then the Pet Shop Boys. A very Brit pop week.
Absolute banger, Pet Shop Boys are always fun to listen to. Brings up the mood for the day.
This is really great for what is. Good songwriting, melodies, variety, and beats. 4.0/5.0: Great
I think that this was the last Eurodance album by the Pet Shop Boys. Nevertheless, still a good album, catchy tunes and lyrics as always.
I was surprised at how much I liked it, but then I checked my review of Behaviour, and I guess I should give these guys a deeper look.
I've enjoyed both Pet Shop Boys albums I've heard on here more than I expected to. As much as I can take or leave the garish Eurotrance production (which admittedly is a large part of the PSB package), I think the actual tunes are great. They just seemed to have a real knack for churning out big, catchy pop hooks (with a bit of heart at the centre).
A fun blend of synth, pop, and house music. Wasn't as interested in the more bubblegum-y and super poppy songs, but there's a really solid fusion of genre and sound that is both engaging and entertaining. Solid to listen to or dance to. Top tracks: Liberation, Dreaming of the Queen, The Theatre
A lot of very great songs on this, some others are a bit boring but mostly a great album
As a big fan of the Pet Shop Boys, I was really looking forward to listening to Very—and it didn’t disappoint. This album is pure fun: upbeat, danceable, and packed with witty lyrics and catchy melodies. It leans into a campy charm that's completely intentional and totally effective. While it may not feature as many massive hits as some of their other albums, it stands out for its consistency—every track feels strong, making it one of their most cohesive and complete records. I think this might actually be my favourite PSB album. Favourite track: “Can You Forgive Her?” is fantastic. Least favourite track: Every song earns its place. Album artwork: Simple, but very cool—bold and iconic.
Enjoyable pop album, full of pleasant surprises.
Surprisingly fun and vibey. Very nice.
There's a few albums I love and think are great that I wasn't sure if they'd make it into this list. This is one of them, and honestly I'm glad it's here. Pet Shop Boys were so far ahead of their time and laid the groundwork for electronic music in pop, and this album is just a continuation of that legacy. Having said that, Very is very short of bangers.
Better than I expected
I like the 90s Pet Shop Boys better than the 80s Boys. There’s a richness and lushness to these songs. I like the layers that build on each other, and the emotion in the lyrics. The dancier electronic vibes suit them well!
Liked the album I feel like there’s several number of bands that have tried imitating the sound that they produced
Love a bit of PSB 9/10
3.8 - Better than I thought it would be, better after more listens
3.8.
Was this the birth of that drag queen song sound? Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
This kind of music is so much fun if you don’t take it seriously.
I enjoyed this way to much....
kinda poppy, nice to listen to
Incredibly fun album. Love the "Go West" cover. And also some of these reviews are insane. How have you never heard of the Pet Shop Boys? Even if you don't know this album, c'mon.
this album indicates the shift for Pet Shop Boys from subdued electronic pop to multiple-layered dance music with strong disco influences. Also coincided with the lead singer discussing his long rumored homosexuality, so this album is sort of treated as a coming out album. It's definitely got a lot of bright and positive instrumentation that makes for an enjoyable listen.
Camp, 90s electro pop. What's not to like?
Always loved Neil’s crisply bored/haughty elocution. Somehow that aristocratic accent brings in real emotion. It works by never sounding wedded to electronica, but pushing it into a romanticized form that, it turns out, is INSANELY catchy. PSB’s sound ages very well.
bringing back some memories!
Fun album
Fire tbf
It’s hard for an album to make you feel so many different things all at the same time: nostalgia, joy, sadness. It’s a really solid pop/dance album that still feels fresh today.
Lovely electro pop.
Very nice
I think Yesterday When I Was Mad is the only Pet Shop Boys song I've heard that I don't like very much. I like their style
Super fun!
This was the moment that Pet Shop Boys went from being purveyors of cerebral, arty music into producing huge, gay, disco stomps and cemented their place in their British pop star firmament. There’s a lot to enjoy here, but the references to Lady Di on ‘Dreaming of the Queen’ now feel very poignant. Stay for the hidden track after Go West at the end!
Good
I get why they were so popular. Solid album
3.5 stars rounded up.
Just very fun! Will definitely be listening (and dancing) to some of these songs many more times! Favourite: Can You Forgive Her Least: Dreaming of the Queen
I love the Pet Shop Boys. I've been indoctrinated from a young age. Amazingly I realise this is the first time I've listened to a non greatest hits PSB album in full. It's mixed but still a bop around the songs I already knew.
This was unexpectedly cool.
VERY strong 4
i really like synth pop! the electronics mixed with the simple bass lines is such a fun thing to listen to
LOVED it. It’s so melodically fun and just about every chorus was great! The ending had me in awe, it’s just about the peak phaser/abba pop! The second half will need to grow on me a bit more than the first, but I wanna relisten to it already
You say 90s, I think: Pet Shop Boys
Very lives up to its title—richly textured and sonically exuberant, Pet Shop Boys very successfully bridge emotion and motion, filling both hearts and dancefloors through their polished pop craftsmanship.
Go Weessstttt! I always enjoy a Pet Shop Boys Album, but that’s about all I have to say.
Perfect title - this album is indeed very everything. Poppy and dancey to the max with massive production! There's also plenty of feeling and emotional depth here, balanced out by some top notch piss-taking and intelligently upbeat compositions. Favourite tracks: I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing, Dreaming of the Queen, Yesterday When I Was Mad, To Speak Is A Sin, Young Offender, Go West (massive upgrade to the original)
80s Disco meets 90s synthie Pop. Whats not to like?
hermoso disco, con temazos. full electro ochentero
I like the Pet Shop Boys. Well the couple of songs I already knew anyway. This didn’t disappoint. Simpsons: No
Pretty damn good synthpop. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
4/5
Yesss very good very good
Great album!!
Nostalgi från dåtidens dansgolv! Fyra.
This album is a vibe, just feel-good queer bops Highlights: liberation, go west
Gay synth pop, can’t complain.
I'm not much of a fan of the style but I do like their melodies and am pretty impressed.
It’s 1993 and Pet Shop Boys are still holding on the the 80s, and it’s all really good. I don’t remember them but I wish I did. Looks like they are still making albums all the way up to 2024. Definitely checking more out.
Damn I kinda enjoyed this album. But I understand if the enjoyment is more personal than universal. I think it was 70% surprisingly good production, 30% occasional good vocal hook. “Liberation” has that super pretty 90’s two-step beat with some beachy keyboards and synths behind it. “Yesterday When I Was Mad” is what I like to call a SEGA Sound Team Sonic Riders type beat, which furthers my point that the production here is very forward-thinking! “The Theatre” had a really dramatic pre-chorus/chorus. Then “Go West” had to be my highlight. The 90’s version of Canon In D, but also with those distinctly Eastern European backing vocals? Really cool touch. As I’m writing this review, I’m realizing how much this one snuck up on me. There are still some painfully 90’s sounds on here, “One and One Make Five” had an intro that soured the rest of the track for me. But overall, I’m impressed. Tight, thumping drum programming, non-offensive synth/keys choices, memorable enough top lines. Soft 4/5 stars, who would’ve thought!
Great synth pop wow. Love his voice
Some real electro-pop. It’s 90s, it’s gay, it’s beautiful. “A Different Point Of View” is the kind of song that makes me want to stand in the center of the dance floor and sway around with my eyes closed and arms above my head.
a real delight
always a fun listen. light and ethereal. i put pet shop boys in the same category as abba… it is impossible to be in a bad mood when you listen to them.
Very good
oh my god why am i sort of like... obsessed...
I found the last Pet Shop Boys album I did on this project very difficult. It was so single paced pop that it started to slightly drive me mad. This is a different prospect. The pop is uplifting, there's more variation - though of course they have a sound and it's not instrumentally going to break any boundaries. Some good songs, generally a lot of fun.
You can draw a clear line from this to Daft Punk, which I'll always support.
This album was an interesting mix of 90’s pop and synthwave sounds that caught my attention and kinda had me grooving. Lots of the songs were about lady troubles but my favorite was about English royalty LOL
WOW! Banging. Did not expect this to be from the 90s, reminds me of depeche mode. Love the combination of the aggressive synths with whatever else is going on. Fav Songs: Can You Forgive Her?, Go West
Good music
Hyvä tanssilevy! 4/5
They have a huge lush sound, pop vocals backed with dance music. Every song had a hook that draws you in, enjoyed the album a lot
Definitely the sound of the 80s fun to listen to but starts to drone on after a while
Lush musically and compelling lyrically, my big complaint is that the songs are all just a bit too long, most hovering about the 4-5 minute mark, even the shorter songs feel like they could have been cut down. But that’s a minor complaint, and one that I have about most albums from this genre and era. This is really good
Actually pretty good
Si hablamos de electropop, los Pet Shop Boys destacan no solo por su creatividad y colorida paleta de sonidos, si no por la tremenda influencia que tuvieron sobre la escena y la comunidad LGBT musical. Este disco no es la excepción. Lleno de canciones tristes, pero a la vez bailables, "Very" es fácil de escuchar, sin dejar de tener tintes nostálgicos. Recomendable, y me arriesgaría a decir, imprescindible y una buena entrada para esta lista. Escúchelo.
Why do I enjoy this so much??
Listened to this one a couple of times, and it really grew on me. Plus, the kids didn't yell to turn it off immediately because it sounds like... I dunno... music? Definitely listen again.
3.75
It's not "Behaviour", but still somehow brilliantly captures the era. Post "second summer of love", grunge is about to go mainstream but Neil & Chris continue with their synth based rueful observations of life.
Great shit, not their best album but still rocks
Majestic
Third album I've gotten of theirs. Def one of my favorite 80s synth pop kinda bands
Can You Forgive Her? //
Hadn't realised how much this was still peak PSB. Nice!
Oye, digan lo que digan, este es muy buen pop de los 90
Great Songs Nice album
I always liked their singles, but never listened to their albums. A pleasant surprise
Only familiar with the earlier career hits, I liked listening to this album. Usually can tell it’s the Pet Shop Boys by Tennant’s Voice. Always liked the band name.
This is the Pet Shop Boys at their most disco and danceable. It's also, apparently, their coming out album. This. Their fifth record. If you hadn't figured it out by then, you probably just wouldn't care at all.
Pet Shop Boys at their most danceable. It’s simply a thrill. They could have probably cut a song or two to make it more streamlined and tight - but I don’t really care that much.
One of the earliest songs that left a deep mark on me was "West End Girls" by The Pet Shop Boys. I was just nine years old when I first encountered it, and the profound emotional reaction it elicited from me was nothing short of transformative. To this day, the lush synth pads that open the track hit me with the same intensity, striking a chord in my gut. The blend of Chris Lowe's evolving dance production and Neil Tennant’s distinct vocals creates a synergy that seems almost magical. They are, without a doubt, a perfect duo. Their music feels like a celebration of melancholy, almost as if they pioneered the genre of epic cry dancing. This particular album embodies the essence of ‘90s house music. It might take me a couple of tracks to fully immerse myself in its vibe, but once I do, I'm invariably hooked. The Pet Shop Boys' unique blend of melancholy and dance beats remains a testament to their unparalleled artistry.
The Pet Shop Boys were pushing electronic music in the 80's at a time when the genre was relatively new and the technology pretty limited to sequencers. The tech has since come a long way, and it's refreshing to hear how Pet Shop Boys have adapted. Opening with James Bond theme music orchestral hits, "Can You Forgive Her?" packs the initial punch while the remainder of the album features lush synth strings more often, all over a continual 16th-note beat, and light-hearted melodies. Vocals are as clean and airy as Ben Gibbard with an occasional pronounced accent. I hear glimpses of the great "West End Girls" at times in some of the synth horn sounds and rhythmic talking. "Dreaming of the Queen" feels very similar to the laid back bubbly beat of Duran Duran's "Come Undone." Is that a Phil Collins sample on "The Theatre"? I can't say for sure, but it's fun to throw in some of these samples to change things up halfway through the album. "One and One Make Five" shares a pre-chorus with Madonna's "Borderline." (Why can't musicians add to five? Pet Shop Boys say "One and One Make Five" but it makes two, Ben Folds 5 is made up of 3 musicians, Radiohead sings "2+2=5" but that's 4, and Lou Bega sings "Mambo No. 5" having never written mambos 1-4.) So many good melodies, but "One in a Million" is my favorite, with it's spacey falsetto lines and wide atmospheric synths. It feels pure as childhood and can easily fit on the Neverending Story soundtrack. Happy to see they continued chasing their muse beyond the 80's.
One day, when my daughter was probably 5 years old, she declared the Pet Shop Boys her favorite musical performers. Cue a single tear shed by me. She's quite a lady-ist, always expressing a strong inclination toward anything feminine, and she said, "I'm really surprised that the Pet Shop Boys is my favorite band because I usually like girl singers!" Now I have certainly been a fan of Pet Shop Boys since I was a little kid in the '80s. Their music caught me in its web and, I never outgrew it. But I never explored it as much as when my daughter began liking them. When she and I were out alone together she would always request listening to it in the car, and through her I explored a lot more from them than I'd ever heard before. I think what she found appealing was its danceability paired with its emotionality. But whereas some of their earlier stuff is emotional songs with a hint of danciness, this is dance music first and foremost, but emotional dance music, for those times when you might need to shed a tear it two on the dancefloor. This album really embraces the whole '90s club vibe, but they bring their own twist to it. I love these guys. Neil's unique boyish, expressive, yet wry voice is used effectively. And I love Chris's production; they complement each other well. I'm glad they have stayed together for decades, and I hope there are other albums from them on this list. P.S. Last year, ahead of me seeing the Cure live, I was playing some music from them, and my daughter proclaimed that the Pet Shop Boys' number one position in her heart had been usurped by the Cure! Cue another single tear shed by me. Faves are Liberation and Go West.
Well....the site deleted my notes on this one before I was done and I don't feel like rewriting it. Great vocals, Neal Tennant has a distinct voice. I first listened to this one in my teens. Good electronic sounds, nice orchestral strings throughout and some killer rhythms. Hopefully my favorite Pet Shop Boys album makes it on here.
OOOOOHHH YEAHHH
What an interesting album and sound on this album. It's not what I really would've expected from Pet Shop Boys but it was 1993 so maybe that's on brand. The last "hidden" track reminded me so much of a Scatman John song progression - I think it was the vocals but still. Very enjoyable overall
Didn't think I liked the Pet Shop Boys but turns out this is lit
I have to admit that this is very catchy. Not something I'm usually into, but I admire the songwriting and approach.
I really enjoyed this. I don't really like Go West but I thought the first half of this album was great
Jeg hyggede mig overraskende meget med den her... Jeg er åbenbart en Pet shop fan.. Ærligt, så er det ikke hitsne som jeg bedst kan lide, men jeg kan godt lide hele stemningen. Den er bare "Very" alt muligt på samme tid. Jeg ender nok med at skulle høre alt Petshop boys igen...
There is something extremely british in the way Neil Tennant expresses feelings in a subdued nuanced way, instead of belching them out like a white man version of Mary J Blige. God forbid. Somehow this resonates in my cold Scandinavian heart, and makes Pet Shop Boys a sort of camp, guilty, left wing pleasure to me.
Another one? Actually this one’s better
Everyone knows West End Girls. But this album did not seem to have the same popularity it had in the UK in the US. I could only vaguely recall hearing some of these or maybe they sounded like other PSB songs. But I did enjoy this album. Heavy subjects laid out in lyrics alongside some of the most danceable music. It just didn't have the same connection some of their more globally popular songs had. Maybe hearing them a second time will solidify them for me.
synth-disco-pop fabulousness
Agradable. No es mi favorito, pero le doy un 4 por Go West. Estos chicos se lo merecen.
4 stars
Strong start with "Can You Forgive Her?" It sounds like "In the Dark of the Night" from the Anastasia movie, which is a strong compliment in my world. Generally like it, got a little repetitive after the full thing. But worth listening to other stuff by them. Reminiscent of Depeche Mode. And Death Cab for Cutie. Also the soundtrack for the Neverending Story.
Pet Shop Boys are awesome. Not my favourite album though.
Guilty pleasure synth-pop. I kind of love it.
Flaming Lips meets electronic disco pop. It slapped
PSBs, a guilty pleasure 🤷🏻♂️
Very by Pet Shop Boys is a joyous and sunny album that has grown on me even more after witnessing them live. From the infectious beats of Can You Forgive Her? to the introspective melodies of Yesterday, When I Was Mad, the album blends pop hooks with thoughtful lyrics. Tracks like I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing and Go West exude a celebratory vibe, encapsulating the Pet Shop Boys' signature style of catchy synth-pop. Neil Tennant's vocals are as distinctive and emotive as ever, while Chris Lowe's production adds layers of depth and texture. Overall, Very is a testament to the duo's enduring creativity and ability to craft timeless pop anthems that resonate long after the concert lights fade. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 4 STAND OUT TRACK - One and One Make Five