Very

4 (+) Can you forgive her Go west

Nice but only nice. Nothing memorable.

I was a bit surprised by this album. I would not consider myself a person who "likes" the Pet Shop Boys. But this album is nice and I listened to a few times. Gets better every time.

"Very" by Pet Shop Boys, released in 1993, stands as a significant landmark in the duo’s career. Renowned for its vibrant production, intricate lyrics, and bold themes, the album captures the essence of 90s pop while addressing deep social and personal issues. This in-depth review will explore the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics **Pros:** The lyrical content of "Very" is multifaceted, reflecting a wide array of emotions and themes. Tennant’s lyrics are sharp, often infused with wit and a touch of irony. The opening track, “Can You Forgive Her?”, delves into themes of regret and confusion in relationships, showcasing Tennant’s narrative prowess. The song’s lyrics convey the story of a man grappling with his identity and the expectations placed upon him, a recurring motif throughout the album. “Liberation” offers a more hopeful outlook, celebrating freedom and the joy of being oneself. The lyrics here are uplifting and affirm the positive aspects of love and liberation. “Dreaming of the Queen” is a poignant reflection on loss and nostalgia, using metaphorical storytelling to depict the AIDS crisis and the resulting impact on the gay community. **Cons:** While the lyrics are generally strong, some tracks may come across as overly simplistic or repetitive. For example, “I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing” has a catchy refrain, but its lyrics are less substantial compared to the depth found in other songs. This occasional inconsistency might detract from the overall lyrical impact for some listeners. ### Music **Pros:** Musically, "Very" is a rich tapestry of electronic sounds, blending house, techno, and synth-pop. The production quality is impeccable, with layers of synthesizers, programmed beats, and orchestral elements creating a lush soundscape. Tracks like “Yesterday, When I Was Mad” and “Go West” exemplify the duo’s ability to craft infectious melodies and danceable rhythms. The orchestration in “The Theatre” adds a dramatic flair, complementing the song’s commentary on societal issues. “One and One Make Five” showcases a high-energy, techno-infused sound that pushes the boundaries of pop music. The diversity in musical styles keeps the album engaging from start to finish. **Cons:** Despite its strengths, some critics argue that the album's heavy reliance on electronic production makes it sound dated in parts. While the sound was cutting-edge in the early 90s, certain tracks may not resonate as strongly with modern listeners who prefer more organic instrumentation. ### Production **Pros:** The production on "Very" is one of its standout features. Produced by Stephen Hague, who previously worked with the Pet Shop Boys on their earlier albums, the production is polished and meticulously crafted. The album’s sound is dense yet clear, with each element carefully balanced to create a cohesive whole. The use of advanced studio techniques and digital instrumentation gives the album a futuristic feel. The production quality elevates tracks like “Go West”, with its anthemic chorus and lush arrangements. The attention to detail is evident in the seamless transitions and the intricate layering of sounds. **Cons:** The high level of production might be seen as a double-edged sword. While it contributes to the album's polished sound, it can also make some tracks feel overly synthetic. The emphasis on electronic elements may overshadow the raw emotional content of the lyrics for some listeners, creating a sense of detachment. ### Themes **Pros:** "Very" explores a range of themes, from personal liberation and love to social commentary and introspection. The album's exploration of LGBTQ+ issues is particularly noteworthy, reflecting Tennant's own experiences and the broader cultural context of the early 90s. “Go West” serves as a hopeful anthem for the gay community, while “Dreaming of the Queen” poignantly addresses the impact of AIDS. The themes of self-discovery and acceptance are prevalent throughout the album. “Liberation” and “To Speak Is a Sin” deal with the struggles and triumphs of coming out and embracing one's true identity. The album’s thematic diversity adds depth and resonance, making it more than just a collection of pop songs. **Cons:** Some critics might argue that the album’s thematic focus on LGBTQ+ issues, while groundbreaking and important, could limit its universal appeal. Additionally, the heavy thematic content might be perceived as preachy or overly didactic by listeners seeking straightforward pop entertainment. ### Influence **Pros:** "Very" has had a lasting impact on the pop and electronic music landscape. It solidified the Pet Shop Boys' status as pioneers of synth-pop and influenced subsequent artists in the genre. The album’s bold exploration of LGBTQ+ themes paved the way for more open discussions in mainstream music. The use of sophisticated production techniques and electronic instrumentation set a high standard for future pop and dance albums. The success of "Very" demonstrated that pop music could address serious issues while remaining commercially viable. **Cons:** While influential, the album’s impact might be seen as limited within certain musical circles. Its heavy reliance on the electronic soundscape of the early 90s means it may not have the same broad influence as albums with more timeless production styles. Some listeners might view "Very" as a product of its time, rather than a timeless classic. ### Overall Pros and Cons **Pros:** 1. **Lyrical Depth**: Thoughtful and poignant lyrics addressing a variety of themes, including personal liberation and social issues. 2. **Musical Diversity**: A rich blend of electronic styles, creating an engaging and dynamic listening experience. 3. **High Production Quality**: Polished and meticulously crafted sound, showcasing advanced studio techniques. 4. **Thematic Boldness**: Courageous exploration of LGBTQ+ themes, reflecting personal and cultural narratives. 5. **Influence**: Significant impact on pop and electronic music, influencing subsequent artists and paving the way for open discussions on LGBTQ+ issues in mainstream music. **Cons:** 1. **Inconsistent Lyrical Quality**: Some tracks feature less substantial lyrics, which may detract from the overall impact. 2. **Dated Sound**: Heavy reliance on early 90s electronic production can make some tracks sound dated. 3. **Overly Synthetic Production**: The high level of production can create a sense of detachment, overshadowing the emotional content of the lyrics. 4. **Limited Universal Appeal**: The focus on LGBTQ+ themes, while important, might limit the album’s appeal to a broader audience. 5. **Perceived Preachiness**: The heavy thematic content might be seen as overly didactic by listeners seeking straightforward pop entertainment. ### Conclusion "Very" by Pet Shop Boys is a landmark album that combines lyrical depth, musical diversity, and high production quality to explore bold themes with courage and conviction. Its impact on the pop and electronic music landscape is significant, influencing subsequent artists and paving the way for more open discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in mainstream music. While some tracks may exhibit inconsistent lyrical quality and a dated sound, the album's overall strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. "Very" remains a compelling and influential work that showcases the Pet Shop Boys at their creative best.

Upon first listen I wagered this was late 90s or early 00s, given the prevalence of Super Eurobeat at that time, but these folks broke through way earlier with this. Wide variety of moods, but all over a trancy-popy sound.

Oh shit. Old roommate used to insist on playing this cd before going to work. I’m getting flashbacks of his interpretive dancing. Haven’t heard this since 1994. The case was molded 3D plastic. All the dots were raised. It’s not my favorite PSB. It certainly has a lot of easy pop hits. This sounds like the most awesome Eurovision contestant ever. Feels like video game music, at times. The unapologetic campiness is hard to hate on. Liberation, Dreaming of the Queen, Yesterday When I Was Mad, One and One, To Speak is a Sin, are better now. 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.

Mukava eetos popn ja discon voimasta. Maailmaasyleilevä ja sateenkaarentäyteinen äänimaailma. Ei voi olla hymyilemättä sekä tarinoille että musiikille. Kokonaisuuskaan ei tylsistytä (joskus tekee tiukkaa kuunnella lähes tunti Pet shop boysia).

Pet Shop Boys have to be on this list, surely. But this is not their best album.

Een beetje gay, maar dat is juist geweldig! Leuk album, knalt er gelijk goed in!! ****

Jacob's wrong! I loved this! haha First listen through and I loved every song. Second listen through and I'm still loving it, even as its repetitive choices allow it to slide quite nicely into background music in the back half of the album—"Go West" excluded. You know what this reminds me so much of? Post-Transatlanticism Death Cab for Cutie. Like so much. Ben Gibbard I think took all his pop lessons from the likes of Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode. (On their current tour as Death Cab and Postal Service they regularly cover "Enjoy the Silence.") I don't disagree with Jacob's assessment of the cheese factor here. Historically I'd prefer to quarantine this kind of synth pop maximalism to the 1980s, but its undeniable influence on one of my all-time favorite bands makes this sound impossible to quarantine. And that's honestly a great feeling. I'm glad to fall in love with something today that yesterday might have made me cringe.

nice

3.75 Very good, wasn't known very well by me before this....

Like their earlier albums more but still 4/5

Pet Shop Boys so consistent

Their music instantly transports you to 1990's London, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Much more cohesive than other PSB albums. We enjoyed, would be good music to dance to. There are lots of very good songs on here: it starts off strong and keeps coming back.

Jaunty

Agradable. No es mi favorito, pero le doy un 4 por Go West. Estos chicos se lo merecen.

Pet Shop Boys are a group where I prefer a Greatest Hits to any single album, but "Very" is a good one all the way through. I thoroughly enjoyed the listen even though it didn't really have much of what I consider their best songs. Overall, though, I think it is a great representation of their overall sound, especially during the 80's.

Way more enjoyable then I thought when it came up.

Lovely Album

Yup, still into British New Wave. 4/5

prettty chilll

GO WESST

a pretty fun synthpop album. i liked the juxtaposition of the upbeat instrumentals with the more subdued and dour lyrics at points. the production is not my favorite but i found it still enjoyable!

Very vibrant, very elegant, very beautiful, very nice, very regal, very attractive, very lovely, very much, very contemporary, very straightforward, very intriguing, very revealing, very varying, very questioning, very sleek, very witty, very melodic, very melancholy, very strange, very right, very wrong, very telling, very helpless, very appropriate, very gay, very good, very Pet Shop Boys. Favorites: Can You Forgive Her?, I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing, A Different Point of View, Dreaming of the Queen, Yesterday When I Was Mad, The Theatre, To Speak is a Sin, Young Offender, Go West.

Ended up liking it more by the end of it. Had heard the band name before but didn’t know what genre of music it was gonna be. Easy harmless light music. Rating: 3.8

Unieke sound, deze Pet Shop Boys. Maar wel een toffe plaat

V I T A L.......

I prefer their first album

I do quite enjoy what I’ve heard from the Pet Shop Boys. I always think the singer sounds like he’s singing in the company of people he’s not that familiar with and so is subtly trying to sing quietly. Let’s listen. Songs I already knew: Go West Favourites: Go West, One In A Million Yesterday’s review spoke of Kate Bush sounding very 80s but with complex music. This is unapologetically 80 with much more simple music, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It makes it easier to boogie to. If you live in the UK and are of a certain age, you’ll find yourself singing “oo ar, it’s ambrosiarrrr” during Go West. Overall, this was simple, fun 80s dance music. I enjoyed it.

Flink gedateerd inmiddels met de begin jaren '90 elektronische, soms bijna rave-achtige geluiden. De combinatie met zang is wel aardig. Ze hebben een eigen geluid. Maar dat geluid duurt wel net iets te lang. 3.5 ster

Seria 5 se não: parecesse genérico em alguns pontos e não tivesse umas 2 músicas ruins

An album I hadn´t listned to in full in many years and I had forgotten how much I love it. There is not one bad track on this. It´s probably the most solid album Pet Shop Boys have made.

What an interesting juxtaposition of dance and deep lyrics. An amazing album.

Suave danceable psb

Did you ever listen to Underworld and wish it was gayer...

I always like the Pet Shop Boys more than I think I am going to on the way in.

01) Can You Forgive Her? (#1, 9 wks) - 10,0 02) I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (#7, 4 wks) - 8,0 03) Liberation (#6, 6 wks) - 8,5 04) A Different Point Of View - 8,0 05) Dreaming Of The Queen - 8,5 06) Yesterday, When I Was Mad (#32, 2 wks) - 8,5 07) The Theatre - 8,5 08) One And One Make Five - 8,5 09) To Speak Is A Sin - 8,0 10) Young Offender - 7,5 11) One In A Million - 7,5 12) Go West (#1, 7wks) - 10,0 TOTAL: 8,46 (85/100)

wayyy better than expected, super fun, liked it a lot

Pretty good, sharp and smooth

Perusvarma brittipoppi uniikilla soundilla. Meni yksi biisi myös lenkkilistalle eli toimii. Kokonaisuutena aina tasapaksua höttömöttöä.

positiv overraskelse

Sexet alien danse musik. Super lækker plade, blev meget glad af at høre på det!

Sparkly

This is a fun synth pop album. You won’t find anything deep and meaningful, but you’ll find a good time, and that’s all I’m looking for.

😎

This album feels like the soundtrack of a Pokemon movie, and that is a very high compliment. I can just picture the montages - Ash encountering some random trainer and having a battle, Brock cooking food and everyone eating together after the fight, now the best of friends. Great vibes!

Hvis det skal være synth pop, så er det er her ikke dårligt! Go West!

Very good

pretty good

Enjoyable Not as good as the other Pet Shop Boys album on the list, but it's still great. Low 4/5

There's a joyousness to this record that is infectious, even if some of the subject matter can be dark (man, I love that twist in "The Theater"). It sounds like the Pet Shop Boys trying to be the missing link between disco, house, and the Madchester scene, and I'm really here for it. Favorite tracks: "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing", "A Different Point of View", "The Theater"

con "Go West" passa da buono a ottimo

Very easy to listen to - sometimes it's a little bit like background music but most of the tracks are excellent.

There were some good songs in this album, and some i never want to hear again.

PSB are fast becoming one of my very favourite acts of all time, and this album blew me away. There simply isn't anyone else who can combine this level of music confidence with lyrical vulnerability, all packed up in the most listenable, danceable package. I didn't know many of the songs on this album, but it's now a firm favourite.

At the time I found PSB very dull but am growing to like them - maudlin lyrics over orchestrated disco beats is quite the mood. The Queen dream is suitably bizarre, Yesterday… is like modern Coward and Go West is surprisingly moving - the chorus singing is excellent. A success.

Great album Classic PSB from start to finish

Very is Pet Shop Boys formula at its best: the harmonies, synths, nostalgia, and rhythms that made this band popular. Listening to it is fun. You can feel how it boosts the vibe wherever you are. I am not sure how influential this album is musically speaking, maybe some Big Beat artists picked ideas from them, who knows? But what I’m sure is that Pet Shop Boys has a special place in the gay culture pantheon, so you can tell the weight of their music. Super recommended

I think it's cute that this album has been called the "coming out" record for Neil Tennant. It's not my preferred genre of music but I do understand the appeal of these boys of the pet shops.

HL: “A Different Point of View”, “The Theatre”, “To Speak is a Sin”, “Go West” August 13, 2023

Between this and Behavior, Pet Shop Boys absolutely eat their spot on this list. I wasn’t familiar with them at all but they’re great.

Very very distinctive Pet Shop Boys sound. Heavy rhythm combined with synth and soft vocals. None of their most popular hits, but really good.

A very approachable enjoyable electronically dancy pop album. Though songs like Can You Forgive Her and Go West really stand out, the rest of the album is strong, just not really catchy enough to be hits.

I definitely think the reason this is rated so low is because of the fact the pet shop boys already have too many albums on here, this album in my opinion though is honestly great, I think 4/5 because it would’ve made a better 10 song album than 12 but overall it’s great.

Good but not the best PSB album

A surprisingly catchy outing from everyone's favorite gay synthpop duo Favorite Tracks: I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing, Liberation, To Speak Is a Sin, Young Offender 4/5

Love their sound.

Much better than i was expecting. Flowed perfectly from start to finish

Fun to listen to

Given that this was the tail end of PSBs 'imperial phase', this album still stands up to scrutiny very well.

The only exposure I've had to Pet Shop Boys before today was their song "West End Girls", which was featured in the game Grand Theft Auto V. I enjoyed that song, so we will see how this full record of their stuff goes. Their style of music is like electronica meets disco and synth pop. It is very easy to dance to. The themes sung about seem almost melancholic, which is quite a contrast to the upbeat dance vibe. Overall, a great record today. There wasn't really a dud on the album. I will definately listen again! Favourite songs: Yesterday When I Was Mad, A Different Point of View, The Theatre, Go West, Young Offender, One and One Make Five, One in a Million, Liberation, I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing, Dreaming of the Queen Least favourite songs: Can You Forgive Her? 4/5

Mostly upbeat pop. Very listenable PSB album. I'm very fond of Actually, so am not sure if this is better, but it is very good with no filler.

Любители медленных триолей :-) Очень классный альбом. Звук на любителя (точнее продакшн) Такое без баса и бочки Но свое лицо есть Странно что не 80е

Love it! "Go West" is the first Pet Shop Boys song I recall knowing was a Pet Shop Boys song, though I'm sure I heard earlier ones and was unaware at the time. They are a band I seldom seek out and have nearly never owned anything by but am absolutely thrilled whenever they come on. It's hard to be in a bad mood listening to Pet Shop Boys! "Yesterday When I Was Mad" was a big highlight for me this listen.

mee

Surprisingly good

Like a big warm gay hug

So much better than the other one. Best track: To Speak is a Sin

3.5

The pet shop boys have better stuff than this but I would say this is their median work and it’s a good representation of them. I liked the album. Stuff between three and four stars because I did download some of the music but not all of it.

An incredibly catchy, but meaningful listen

Very close to giving this a 5, but just a bit top heavy and didn’t quite stick the landing. This is one of those bands I’ve heard of a bunch but never actually listened to. Great album overall. You can see the influence on bands like the magnetic fields. A Different Point of View was my fave.

One of the Pet Shop Boys best albums. More pop dance than the previous discs. In addition, the lyrics are actually moving (as opposed to the seemingly witty snippets that make up the prior albums). All that said, I think of Pet Shop Boys as more of a singles band. 3.5 stars if available, but I am grading up today (points for the actually good Village People cover).

This album sees the Pet Shop Boys embracing Neil Tennant’s homosexuality. The result is one of their most consistent and cohesive albums. The mix of synth pop and club music is driving, danceable, yet provides a fitting medium for Tennant’s vocals. Despite the running time, I found that this album didn’t drag on unlike some of their other work. The highlight for me was the final track, a fantastic cover of the Village People’s ‘Go West.’

Honnêtement surpris, bangers après bangers. Je m'attandais pas à autant aimer l'album considérant que je connaissais aucune pièce.

Fun and upbeat, cool album backstory as well. Would listen again

Melancholy synthpop meets exuberant old-school rave.

Solid synth pop album but no hits or songs that really get me going. Still, it's the Pet Shop Boys & they're a fantastic band. 3.5 stars.

This was indeed VERY Pet Shop Boys. Was a very pleasing listen as I've always enjoyed their music.

funky kind of dance hall pop. favorite tracks: liberation, dreaming of the queen

It’s sad electronic music and I like it.Usually I wouldn’t like the weird monotone delivery of the vocalist but here it’s good.I might revisit some songs.

Fast paced synthesized dance hits written for popularity put against some lush, spacious, and dreamy bops. Would be fun to dance to undoubtedly. Silly talking parts included. Vaguely familiar

ziemlich solid overall

challenging pop music, very good.

The sounds of gay panic

Joyous. No other words.

3.5 stars, definitely not in my top 3 Pet Shop Boys albums but I have a strange soft spot for them apparently

This was weirdly like top 5 most excited I was to listen to going in. Lost a star off the bat for there being no west end girls. I’m rounding up from 3.5 to offset others

Early '90s dance. I wasn't expecting much even though I've enjoyed their hits, including Go West. There is something quite beguiling about Tennant's vocals that elevates the repetitive backing well above most examples of the genre. Dreaming of The Queen and Yesterday When I Was Mad provide a 1-2 punch, both lyrically and musically.

Best Song: The Theatre. Unexpectedly grandiose dance music. Worst Song: To Speak is a Sin. The song that plays as you realize your Tinder date was being unexpectedly literal when they said you were looking like a snack. Patrick Bateman's ringtone. Overall: Consuming, expansive, complex dance music that comes at you as a wall of sound with absolutely no soul. But hey, I mean there are times when I don't feel like having a soul. Whenever that happens, I'll listen to this album.

Very nice production, consistently good throughout.

Enjoyed

Can You Forgive Her still hits so hard

The Pet Shop Boys really are very good - uplifting melodies, a lovely interplay between major and minor keys, Neil Tennant's ethereal voice. Good listen.

Fast paced synth pop and catchy songs, over 50 minutes the Pet Shop Boys never fail to entertain

A priori, no semblava que els '90 anessin a ser una bona década pels Pet Shop Boys. 'Behaviour', l'any 1990, semblava un comiat en ple estat de forma, més que una benvinguda a la nova década. El seu to nostàlgic i més pausat que els seus anteriors llargs no feia més que reforçar aquesta idea. Per això que 3 anys després sortissin amb 'Very', a l'alçada dels seus millors treballs, va sorprendre. 'Go West', el primer single i gran éxit a l'época, és el tema més anecdòtic. El material propi és excel.lent. Sempre el tindré vinculat a l'hivern de 1993, de tantes vegades que el vaig escoltar aquells mesos. Per això se'm fa fins i tot estrany posar-me'l a l'estiu. Estaven per venir més de deu anys de decadència artística per la banda, però amb 'Very' van tancar un quintet de discos amb nom propi a la història del pop

This is a good collection of dance/pop songs, but I much prefer the Pet Shop Boys' earlier albums. True: There are some heavy hitters like Can You Forgive Her, Liberation, I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing, and - of course - Go West. But some of the other songs dont't quite feel up to par here. Plus, the sound is heavily anchored in the early 90s. Still, a good effort, and probably the last album I would count as belonging to the classic PSB era. 4/5

6/8/2022 - ALBUM #132 Today's Album: "Very" by Pet Shop Boys - This generator has been slowly introducing me to the world of new-wave and synth-pop with a records like that Brian Eno project or parts of that Cafe Bleu record, but this feels like a true introduction to what makes this genre so likeable and fun. I think if I am to comment on anything first, it would be the production. There way these powerful, yet ethereal synth chords pair with the super melodic bass, a quiet guitar playing these really funky lines, and a straightforward piano make these really amazing soundscapes for the auxiliary percussion and leading synths to just have fun over. There are also a lot of random synths throughout the mix that add to this really funky robotic feeling throughout the project. The vocal performance at first seemed like it worked well for the vibe of the project but I didn't see it as very impressive. However, once I looked up the members of the band and found out the lead singer is a guy, it became obvious how impressive the chops on this vocalist were. I think overall, though, it's the songwriting that really get me to love this album. Each song has this really tight structure to it and although it makes it sound very commercial at some points, I think it overall leads to very memorable songs. It helps that the choruses are EXTREMELY catchy and that the lyricism is very unique (holding up very well today in my opinion). Yes it's cheesy at moments; yes it's pretty overtly queer, but it stay's in this sweet spot of feeling relatable and doesn't take itself very seriously in the best way. I think there are good handful of tracks here that don't hold up as well as others in terms of the song writing overall, but I still enjoy what's going on throughout those tracks musically and sonically. The flow of the album is also really good, making it feel less like an album purely for radio and more like something they made intentionally. Overall, this is an album with a fantastic vibe overall and a ton of great songs, just with a few songs that bog things down a fair bit. Give this one a listen if you like ear candy and love a good synth sound. Highlights: Can You Forgive Her?, I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing, Liberation, A Different Point of View, Dreaming Of The Queen, The Theatre, To Speak Is a Sin, Go West Score: 7.5/10 Very fun synth-pop record

Ein af uppáhalds PSB plötunum. Þeir eru bara sér deild út af fyrir sig.

1st June 2022 Listened on the way in and out of the office. Did a bit of cleaning and moving things into the front room then watched stranger things. Camp and bouncy, popping drums and lounging synths. Great fun.

4.5……always enjoyed their music

Agradable. No es mi favorito, pero le doy un 4 por Go West. Estos chicos se lo merecen.

I don't give Pet Shop Boys the credit they deserve. I think "West End Girls" just made me immediately disqualify them as something I'd like. The front four were good but it was "Dreaming of the Queen" that really pulled me in. "To Speak Is a Sin" was also a great track. "Go West" is a fun song to listen to waiting for the bonus track was not as fun. I'm surprised at how highly I am rating this album based on my preconceptions, but that really is the beauty of listening to all of these albums.

Enjoyed the album, interesting electronica, chill vibes

Really enjoyed this dance pop adventure 4/5

Lot of Casio keyboard sounds but honestly I had fun with this album. 7/10

Ahhh. Like a warm bath.

Passionate yet austere. Fantastically arranged and while it can sometimes fall into the same-iness factor that edm/electronica is prone too, each track has a firm separate identity.

Nice

Nice

Нормальный поп, не дать не взять.

That feeling you get when it's the first appearance of one of your all time favorite bands...but your fifth favorite album. I bought this CD with its weird orange case in 1993 and vividly remember wondering why it continued spinning in my crappy portable (but not movable-during-play) CD player after "Go West" ended. I don't remember how long it took me to discover the "hidden" track, but who didn't love the novelty at the time of hearing Chris Lowe singing? However, it quickly got to be an annoyance when I got to the point of having a CD shuffler, and later when I chose not to rip my favorite song from the album for my iPod, because of its ball and chain of 2 minutes of silence. (A ball and chain that still exists on the digital platform.) Perhaps because this album was lower on my list, I spent some time today rediscovering it and reconnecting to some favorite songs. The two songs that I did rip for my new iPod nano circa 2005 were "Can You Forgive Her?" and "A Different Point of View." Today I would keep the former, and swap the latter for "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing." I always liked "Dreaming of the Queen," but especially because of the way Neil Tennant sings "For I was in the nyude/ The old Queen disapproved." That one gets added too. Also maybe because it's already enough of a museum piece to be the plot of the upcoming season of "The Crown." "Go West," with its backing chorus, elevating the sound of the disco original to a majestic anthem, continues to be the one song that I love well above the rest. In any case, I really enjoyed my time with the Pet Shop Boys today. This is a good, solid album, but the connection wasn't as strong as with some of their others.

This was a very enjoyable listen. The disco beat and interesting lyrics provided a great soundtrack to my cold, wet, gloomy walk today. Top-notch exuberance!

Really solid and consistent from start to finish

I kind of like the beats a lot actually; not really paying too much attention to the lyrics specifically.

Although vocally, they never stray far, the melodies and lyrics are great. They're music has aged well, and their brand new 2021 album of new music in their usual style shows that.

Good

On par with behavior

Who wants to be in my band Tamagotchi Store Girls? Anybody? Anyone? I’m either square, in a weird mood, or both because I really quite liked this. My wife walked in and said one of the songs sounds like the melody of a Eurythmics tune. Surprised she pulled that out of thin air, but she was right. There’s probably a lot of familiar melodies on this record, but I like the dude’s voice and here we are.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Can you forgive her, Go west

some very catchy synth pop

I loved the upbeat quality, smooth vocals, decent lyrics, and all-around good balance. Wish there were more individual standout songs though

deze was leuk, zo wat vanalles.

Not really catchy 3.5/5 Last song is catchy

Lush, disco relaxation music

ну как сказать. пока что худший их альбом из того, что слышал. сам по себе неплохой, но ни хитовости и экспериментов Actually, ни душевности и продуманности Behavior не завезли. Go West мне вообще не сильно когда-то нравилась как песня (хотя хитовый потенциал сложно отрицать все-таки). все остальное - довольно середняковые ПШБ песни, особо для себя выделил только открывашку и Theater. но напряжения тоже не вызывает, лёгкий, немного бодрящий альбомчик с наивной лиричкой (рифма you-true уже подзаебала, постоянно в их творчестве встречается). имеет право быть, где-то 7/10

В своё время натыкался в рамках классического A-One на клипчанский Go West, фронтмен своим немного манерным поведением и вокалом спровоцировал ассоциации с ЛГБТ, посему немного оттолкнул. Но клипак в душу запал, так что годами опосля уже гуглил, не приснилась ли мне эта дичь. Трек то неплох. И альбом неплох. Снова, как и в случае с It’s a Sin потребовалось привыкание некоторое, но как снова въехал - прокачался. Треки крепкие, разве что Dreaming Of The Queen и Young Offender скучными показались. Но и того, ради чего в ближайшем будущем специально возвращаться захочется, вроде особо нет. Вроде бы даже на It’s a Sin с этим лучше было. Вот вроде бы могу поныть, что в рамках 1001 мне ничего не заходит, чтоб прям хорошечно, а средняя оценка у меня ведь 3,5 превышает. Ну да похуй, ещё завезут мадон на единицы. А Very - хороший альбом.

Pretty good dance album. It has slow chill tracks and quick drive songs. The track «Go West» the best.

Emotivos. Grandes canciones. Seguramente su mejor disco.

Liked all the songs, and it was just varied enough to keep my attention. Much better songwriting than The Human League. Good stuff!

Solid pop exceptionalism

Can You Forgive Her?" Released: 31 May 1993 "Go West" Released: 6 September 1993 "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing" Released: 29 November 1993 "Liberation" Released: 4 April 1994 "Yesterday, When I Was Mad" Released: 29 August 1994

Not bad!

Some fun tunes in this album. Never heard of these guys before but enjoyed the retro feel

It’s the PSB!!

Discão. Pra mim "Go West" deles é melhor que a original.

Só conhecia uma música ou outra do Pet Shop Boys, ouvir um álbum inteiro foi uma ótima experiência, e concretizar como uma ótima banda pra mim.

Yep. Enjoyed this one a lot, too. There's a specific kind of '80s pop I am into.

Very 90s video game music with decent pop accessibility and some solid drama.

Perfect example of a “3” album. Not offended either way on or off the list. Could be a 4 with a little less repetition.

turns out it's good synth pop might come back to this one? 💥can you forgive her? 💥i wouldn't normally do this kind of thing 💥yesterday when i was mad 💥go west

oli itelle vähä mitään sanomaton albumi, ei ollu hyvä mut ei huonokaa. lembibiisit oli: -can you forgive her -a different point of view -one and one make five -go west (oli ehkä ainoo biisi minkä levyltä oon aikasemmi kuullu) vaikka oliki suurimmaks osaks yamaha keyboardin ääniefektiläiskytystä nii ei meinaa etten ois saanu muutamasta biisistä hyvän fiiliksen :) -tave

very nice background music for gaming idk. chill album

Good songs but they felt same-y

Chatinho

Too much of a good thing.

Background dance. RYM: N Saved a song: N

I guess I just pretty much completely missed the success of the Pet Shop Boys. In the 80s, they just seemed to me like just about any other synth-pop British duo, easily dismiss-able. That they stayed at it so long and with such great success kind of blows my mind.

If you tell me the track was hidden, was it really hidden?

I like the pet shop boys, i like their ambition, their uniqueness and the quality that runs through everything they do. This is no different with strong lyrics, driving melodic beats and the usual deadpan delivery. It lacks a tentpole single to raise the whole thing up to their best level but i had a perfectly enjoyable time.

This is like the soundtrack from a JRPG. One like the Persona series. But not as good.

Pop from the 90s, good album

Por lo que leí, este disco marcó un cambio en la música que venía haciendo PSB, y creo que se nota. De no ser por la última canción, no conocía ninguna otra y tampoco me parecía reconocer al grupo con las canciones que conozco. No me parece si mejor álbum.

Generally speaking I do not prefer dance music, but PSB are very good at what they do. When I was listening in the morning, it was tracking towards a four but revisiting in the afternoon, I tired of it quickly b

Pop, 1993 -> 3

Dance meets new wave. If you ignore the vocals you could imagine a lot here on later dance tracks. It's all fine, but not a lot stands out. But it's almost all worth it for Go West, even if it is a cover. Best track (other than Go West) - Can You Forgive Her, One and One Make Five 3 stars

6/10 Very nostalgic for me,as Pet Shop Boys were my dad's favourite group back when this came out. But I wasn't keen then and I don't think it holds up now. The tunes are there, but it is so Casio that it is impossible to take seriously - the faux trumpet blasts are particularly naff

Interesting unique sound, liked some track but wasn’t too fond of the whole thing.

never ending so long omg

Meh

alright

Lots of great pop tunes on this record. Theatrical and at times bit camp, but i guess that's what PSB is about.

This one time in the 90s I was at a gay club. This album was heavily featured. It's not their best album but if you were wanting to get the vibe of what 80s/90s gays were like...listen to this

There’s something very bland about this

Just so so. Not my style but seemed like good production.

Bon, posons les bases et soyons d'une honnêteté intellectuelle totale, celle-là même qui me guidait quand je triais les nouveautés dans les bacs du magasin de disques indépendant à la fin des années quatre-vingt-dix, ou quand je balançais des scuds sonores sur les ondes d'une radio associative. Les Pet Shop Boys et moi, ça n'a jamais été le grand amour, c'est même une relation purement platonique, voire inexistante. C'est un fait établi : je ne me suis jamais réellement intéressé à leur discographie, et je n'ai jamais fait l'effort de creuser au-delà des évidences. Pour moi, les Pet Shop Boys, c'est avant tout une collection de singles impeccables qu'on croise au détour d'un set ou d'une playlist, mais rarement un disque qu'on pose religieusement sur la platine du salon pour s'envoyer une heure de contemplation. Pourtant, me voilà face à ce foutu boîtier orange à picots de 1993, une hérésie esthétique pour le fan de pochettes monochromes et sombres que je suis, mais une œuvre d'art pop incontestablement signée Pentagram. Et je dois bien l'avouer, même avec mon passif nourri au rock indé et aux textures abrasives, Very mérite qu'on s'y arrête, ne serait-ce que pour comprendre comment ces deux-là ont réussi à capturer l'essence d'une époque avec autant de cynisme et de paillettes. L'album mérite son 3 sur 5 car ce n'est ni un chef-d'œuvre absolu qui va révolutionner ma vision de la musique, ni une purge à jeter aux orties. C'est un excellent disque de pop de son temps, brillant, clinquant, un peu agaçant, mais d'une efficacité redoutable. Je reconnais l'immense qualité du groupe, leur sens inouï de la mélodie et cette science de la production qui fait passer les pires clichés eurodance pour des éclairs de génie technologique. C'est juste que, globalement, ce n'est pas mon truc. Ce qui sauve Very de la relégation immédiate dans mes écoutes personnelles, c'est cette noirceur rampante, cette mélancolie poisseuse qui colle aux basques de Neil Tennant. Le mec a beau chanter sur des rythmes calibrés pour faire remuer des fessiers en boîte de nuit, ses textes sont d'un cynisme et d'une tristesse qui parlent inévitablement à mon petit cœur post-punk. C'est de la pop de fin du monde, de la dance music pour naufragés. Il y a un contraste permanent entre la machine à stroboscopes de Chris Lowe et les chroniques de la solitude urbaine, de l'homosexualité placardisée ou des ravages du SIDA qui hantent le disque. C'est brillant sur le papier, c'est ultra-efficace en studio sous la houlette de Stephen Hague, mais sur la longueur, la profusion de synthétiseurs pouet-pouet et de boîtes à rythmes un peu rigides finit par me filer une légère allergie cutanée. concrètement, je sature. Mais alors, pourquoi 3 étoiles ? Parce qu'il y a les tubes. Et sur ce terrain-là, les Pet Shop Boys sont des monstres sacrés et je ne peux pas nier l'impact de ces morceaux qui ont squatté les ondes durant mes années radio. Prenons l'évidence, le morceau de bravoure qui ferme la marche et qui justifie à lui seul que cet album figure dans le pavé des 1001 disques à écouter : leur relecture du « Go West » des Village People. Là, on touche au sublime de l'outrance pop. C'est un tube incontestable, monumental, une cathédrale de kitch absolu avec ses chœurs de marins russes synthétiques et sa charge émotionnelle insensée. Quand ce truc résonne, toutes mes défenses de gardien du temple de l'underground s'effondrent. C'est de la pure magie stroboscopique, une utopie mélancolique qui me flanque des frissons malgré moi. Pareil pour les quelques autres brûlots single de l'album qui sauvent la mise à un ensemble parfois un peu trop répétitif à mon goût. Les Pet Shop Boys excellent dans le format court, dans l'impact immédiat, dans la formule magique de trois minutes trente. Sur format long, l'exercice me fatigue, mais pour ces quelques éclairs de génie pur et ce sens dramatique de la fête triste, je valide l'expérience sans pour autant crier au miracle.

Un poco menos de tres creo

g0ood

amigables como todos chicos del pet shop´!

GO WEST!!!!

Decent synthpop album. Some great songs but some that are pretty forgettable.

sometimes the pet shop boys make me think about the phrase "adopt don't shop". some of these are good jams but im like ughhh

Unique but I didn’t quite vibe with it

Feels like something that I should really enjoy and appreciate but for whatever reason it just didn't hit for me

I remember buying this when it came out, not because I particularly liked the Pet Shop Boys but because the packaging was quite cool. It had some songs on it I liked and had heard on the radio and they still stand up today. I have come to appreciate them more I have got older but I think the 4 albums that came before are better.

Very upbeat and gay. Written and performed by the gay for the gay community and everyone else as well. Lots of synth drums and sappy lyrics. Lead song Can You Forgive Her? Is the best song on the album. Final track Go West seemed like a clone of The Village People’s YMCA. Overall, a little too fluffy, but not a bad listen. (2.7*s) You can like this album and not be gay, ya know.

I have to admit that I was a bit let down by this album. One of the thing that drives me bonkers is repetition in music, and I felt like a lot of this album, both within songs and across them, felt a bit homogenous. There were some good songs on here, all the same. I thought Can You Forgive Her and Dreaming of the Queen were excellent tracks. Beyond that, there was just too much that just sat there and never really did a whole lot interesting. Pretty average to my ear. 3 stars.

Really(?) good. Need to relisten more.

3.5 Pet Shop Boys very good. Kinda weird to get this one, not one of their more famous works. Happier than their usual stuff. I prefer them a little darker! But this was fun and nice. No real complaints.

It's a fun listen, very catchy songs. Mostly made we want to listen to Duran Duran.

I liked the last two songs but found the rest kind of grating

This is… something different. Sad synth dance pop? Not quite my speed, but not bad.

I don't like synth pop and I hated what I'd heard from Pet Shop Boys. Shocked how much I liked this. Almost a 4

Pretty good synthpop - laying the foundation for people to do it better like Chvrches.

Started and ended excellently but sagged in the middle. Enjoyable though.

This was fine. It just makes me think of fashion designers and/or shows.

4/23 Like the album title says, it is indeed a very Pet Shop Boys album

Not my usual taste - but some bangers on this...

It was pretty good👍. My favorite song was probably Liberation, but it was all at least ok. Overall, I would give this album a 3.3/5!

5/10

Nothing wrong with this, I just don't resonate with them

# Album Name: Very # Artist: Pet Shop Boys # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: A distinctly average synth album. Shame, i was really looking forward to some PSB's. Its just not the stuff you know them for. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Maybe one last try.

3,5 plezierig

Rv

Pretty poppy and not what I expected. Not in a bad way but a little weird at the end

Fun pop record. Not really my thing, but I enjoyed the vocal performance and the lyrics. The synth instrumentation was pretty well done. Kind of starts to blend into background music after a bit. Would probably enjoy more in a night club in NYC as opposed to my work office on a Thursday morning. 3/5

Enjoyable, has some fun twists and turns. I liked pretty much all the songs but felt underneath all of them that something was missing, idk.

Decent synthpop stuff, liked a good half of the songs though the first half definitely overshadowed the second half

This album is someone’s favorite! To clarify, it is a good album, but I don’t know if we need another Pet Shop Boys on 1001. After their biggest hits on the album actually this album just seems like a progression of the band from its 80s heyday into the rediscovering itself in the 1990s. The album is a little poppier, a little more dance hall disco. Sadly, I don’t think it adds anything to the repertoire or to music as a whole. It’s definitely listenable, just not necessary here.

Random thoughts: * The first track sounded very much like Depeche Mode. Not sure why I never made that connection but they are from a similar cut. * There is no way we need three Pet Shop Boys albums on 1001. I'm guessing it was one of the author's favorite bands. * It was an alright album. "Can You Forgive Her" and "The Theatre" were 2 of the better liked tracks. * It definitely had a consistent vibe which made it fine to listen to. * Again, how can there be 3 Pet Shop Boys and none of those albums contain "West End Girls"?!??! * I get it, Pet Shop Boys were underrated.

Not the best pet shop boys record, but still cute

Incredibly gay album, and that's a good thing. I don't think there's another album that describes how it is like to move to a big city as a young gay man to escape smalltown conservatism. This may not be my favorite Pet Shop Boys' record, but it's a good one, and the last in the amazing first leg of their carreer. Key tracks: I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing Go West

This makes me feel like I’m in a video game. Really like “I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing,” though the rest was a bit samey

Cool but I prefer their album “Actually.” Go West rocks though!

This sounds cool, but imagining an actual dancefloor moving to this is hilarious. Honestly, it would be kinda fun, I can’t lie

Average Pet Shop Boys album. Have a soft spot for them but only a 3 for this one.

Poptastic yet overly twee. Not one to revisit.

Tongue in cheek electro pop. Some good beats, silly stories.

Overall Rating - 3.13/5 (6.25/10). Better than most synth pop that I've heard. Go West is incredible. The Canon in D chord progression, super catchy, fun, and well done. On top of that, releasing that song as a means of coming out, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, is a choice.

I mean I suppose it’s very good electronic music. Also, I feel like they had better, more influential albums. This is a perfectly good record, but in the end, it’s not really for me.

This one was a mixed bag for me. Started off really strong then my interest started to fade with The Theatre onwards. Fortunately it ended great with probably my two favourite tracks on the album. Overall there’s tracks I will definitely go back to but it’s pretty much a certainty that I won’t ever listen to the album as a whole after today. Top Track - Go West

Well, an album of nice enough synth-pop, but there's only so much of Neil Tennant's deadpan delivery I can take, and 53 minutes is pushing that limit.

Not bad eh. Of a time

3.5

Out West is a classic

Longtime fan but Pet Shop Boys don't deserve to be on here more than once, maybe twice at the absolute limit, and this list has got the wrong albums. Everybody knows their most influential and essential albums are PLEASE and ACTUALLY. None of the others belong on the list.

Didn't mind their singles but a whole album is a bit much. It's OK as a mild techno syth pop dance record, I guess. Just a bit too ?London? for my taste, hard to define, too explicitly implied-urbane? just a feeling it gives me. Surprised it was a supposed coming out record, always thought the singers sexuality was obvious, known and not an issue? Guess that was a tabloid thing? Wonder is that's why it makes the list as more hits are on earlier albums and obvious fans on here rate the earlier albums more. Found this, lacking said hits to be familiar with and just run of the mill, middling album for me with the pseudo urbane subject matter; tea with princess Diana and West end theatre life that i could care less about. It's an ok listen, won't be rushed to hear anytime soon, definitely a singles act.3 star.

sweet

3 Pet Shop Boys albums is a bit much, bit I get why this was included. This blends the Pet Shop Boys with all the contemporary 90's House and Pop sounds. This album sounds really goofy to me, in a fun way. The lyrics feel kind of nonsense and the album has this air of just wanting to make dumb fun goofy songs with synth's and samples. There is not that much substance to it though, Go West is the big song here but that's still a somewhat wacky cover of an already goofy goober song.

Alright, I'll go with a 3 on this album. Some catchy synth sounds and the vocals are really smooth but nothing too special here for me. Though Go West was pretty good, wacky and fun for sure.

This doesn't do much for me, but it's executed well. Nothing bothered me about it, so I'll give it 3 stars.

Fun

Although I'm giving this album a 3-3.5, it still surpassed my expectations. I was anticipating headache-inducing club beats, and what PSB delivered instead were beautiful loops of ethereal electronic ambience that remind me of some of my favorite indie pop groups of the early aughts, like The Radio Dept. and The Postal Service. The melodies were a tad grating to me at times, but the arrangements are definitely impressive.

Many songs I've heard before and didn't know the name of. When artists were doin synthpop and electro pop in recent years it feels like THIS is what they were emulating. This isn't OMD or Depeche Mode, it's lacking an edge. It's not as smart amd it's very clean pop, but it's well done.

I’m beginning to think that one of the Pet Shop Boys may be responsible for making this list.

This was very okay.

Very Pet Shop Boys but also very safe and simple pop, doesn’t reach the highs of their other work

Better than coldplay

can you forgive her caught me off guard, what an amazing intro track. sounds super massive with all the brass and disco like feel. Very easygoing and joyous, and funky. I got bored maybe halfway through, its pretty calming.

Not bad

This isnt as hokey as I thought it'd be

I like PSB, especially first too albums and Behaviour. Unfortunately, this one is kinda mid. Tho I found really funny the video for the song Go West when I was a little kid

Solid great pop music album, almost disco like. It feels like we went down the wrong trouser of time when this didn't become the model for all pop music to come. Similar sounding but still great.

This one definitely grew on me the more I listened to it.. it’s got that elite oonce oonce oonce oonce typa vibe. Maybe even better than KLF. Truly a 3.5 but not close enough to a 4 so 3 it is.

The highest 3 you can give it. I know the PSB can do better

Overall this album is fine and kinda fun but there is absolutely no reason Pet Shop Boys needs 3 albums on this list

go WEEEESSSTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!! Dude that took me OUT

The Pet Shop Boys' album “Very” is probably the pinnacle of late 20th century musical bankruptcy: 90s dance pop. Unlike other almost forgotten “greats” of this scene, such as Snap or Erasure, the Pet Shop Boys and this album were never really bad. It's just that, in my opinion, this whole style is totally boring. At least “Go West” had a permanent place in the repertoire of European stadium chants for many years.

Wel oké, maar niet perse m’n ding

Inoffensive synth pop. I hear the beach house influence on here, but it's just not as good as them unfortunately. 3 stars.

On the surface level this is a nice poppy synthwave album. The lyrics are a little more serious than the music sounds for much of the album though. I still don't really like this kind of thing. I mean it's fine, there's nothing to really hate or love about it. It's super commercial sounding though. Kind of like they tried to make it as friendly and accessible as possible. And damn, the 90s 'secret song' fad strikes again. I'm happy humanity chose to move on from that nonsense. 2.5/5

Tiene algunos temitas piola y es entretenido, pero no es lo mío esta onda taaan ochentosa. Es crema con chocolate todo el tiempo

Non-essential listening. Personally I liked the arrangements but disliked the vocals. Songs are average. Btw lol is that the USSR hymn?

Começou muito chato e massante, quase uma tortura. E terminou igual.

A good collection of songs here but just not too interseting to my ears ive never been a huge fan of synthpop. I do like the lyrics on this album and i love the people behind pet shop boys but i just cannot get into the music 6/10 Favourite: I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing Least Favourite:Young Offender

This was a new one for me. Not my favorite era of their music, but still enjoyable to listen to in the background.

This is music to listen to in 1993 the back of your parents 1991 Sierra Saphire, when clyde 1 is in the background and it’s this, simply red and stings solo output on rotation. Pretty non descript early 90’s dance pop. But to be fair it’s the best version of non descript, early 90’s dance pop because the Pet Shop Boys made it so it has some good choruses and flourishes The bit in the song Yesterday when I was mad where it devolves into a Base Generator - lite track with Neil Tennant rapping literally made me piss myself. 2.9

Veeery 80's synth pop but gets more out of it than it should.

I found it very experimental and, most of the time, really confusing. When I felt like I was starting to enjoy a song the crazy instrumentals would come in and ruin it for me.

Weird poppy disco. Still kinda cool.

It’s very ok

Good.

Two Pet Shop Boys albums in one week! Hard to imagine the list needs two. This one is better, more upbeat and fun. Couple of bangers. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: No 47/193 (24%) Will I get: I think so

Niet de beste Pet Shop Boys

3.5

Meh

1: Go West 2: To Speak is a Sin 3: The Theatre

Kanske 2.5 egentligen, men go west e en 5:a

I guess it was inevitable that the Pet Shop Boys were going to explore every 90s dance music trend eventually, but I didn't think they'd do 1) all of them at once 2) in addition to their usual theatrical synthpop they'd been doing their whole career. I honestly like those distinctly 90s dance tracks a bit more, like the piano house of "I Wouldn't Normally Do This" and the high-energy euro stomp of "A Different Point of View". What I like less is how jarring the transition from one song to the next can be. I suppose I sort of wish it flowed more like a DJ set, building up in energy across the album to the banger cover of "Go West" that closes the whole thing out, a neat summation of how the Pet Shop Boys could take camp and make it deeply pensive. I'll split the middle here.

Previously rated: #676 - Actually (3/5) #861 - Behaviour (3/5) ************************* Album #1,027 This is a GREAT Pet Shop Boys album. Slick production and danceable songs, but it doesn't make me a fan of theirs. Just makes for a decent morning commute. Best track: The Theatre.

Fun, camp pop. Extremely 1993. Ends with a strong run of songs. They definitely went super commercial here and I remember the string of hits from this era. Some fab singles and a few deep cuts that still sound great all these years later. Best: Liberation Worst: Dreaming of the Queen

This was a very nice, fun listen. I really like Neil Tennant's voice, and a lot of the songs are just a good time. I ended up leaving random Pet Shop Boys songs on for a good hour or so afterwards as it was such an easy listen.

A lot of fun to listen to. Upbeat dancey pop with a bit of camp and a dash of melancholy. Go West was played nonstop back in 1993-1994. 3.5⭐️

Pleasant

to be quite honest, i thought the album cover had a watermark lmao have not yet heard their other albums, but i can feel this is not their best one hahah. But overall, I do like it. Nice beats, repetitive or consistent??? Good question idk the answer to it BUT what i do know is that all the songs sound pretty much the same. So, if one is your vibe, all will be your vibe. I saw someone saying that this is great gay music and i feel that vibe as well. Is it commercial? Well, yes. Is it still kinda a vibe? Well, yes. Okay To Speak Is a Sin hit me hard tho damn

Nice record, but it’s missing one or two great songs. The songs on the record are all pretty similar.

What a different time

Inside every bisexual there are two wolves, and the gay one loves Pet Shop Boys. Solid album, though it gets a bit too much of the same after a while. Still they adapted well from synth pop to the club scene and losing none of the charm.

Light and breezy harmonies. Great cover of 'go west'

this is somebody’s shit. like when they hear it, they scream like ET and scamper to the dance floor. not my shit, but someone’s. probably a lot of folks. respect. go west was my fave. it’s funny sometimes. the song about the queen.

Sounded like the few pet shop boys I was familiar with. Fun electronic pop with a unique vocal

80s Pet Shop Boys > 90s Pet Shop Boys

I mean it's fine I guess. Wasn't that into it.

Too pop for me, the other pet shop boys albums on this list sounded better

Less enticing to me than other PSB material I've heard, including the album I already got on here. The backup vocals on Go West are really corny. Something about the military chant style of it bugs me. The songs are generally catchy but same-y.

Better than expected, but obtaining just average.

typische pet shop boys... niet slecht, maar een heel album na elkaar is van het goeie teveel...

Decent enough dance album. Very '90s sounding. Nothing much better than serviceable synth dance, but nothing less than either.

Stabilt, god production men ikke deres bedste og synes generelt ikke de har verdens mest spændende soniske univers

I have little familiarity with Pet Shop Boys outside of their singles, so I had no idea what to expect here. “Can You Forgive Her?” is a great opening track and probably the strongest on the album, but I also quite liked “I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing,” “Young Offender,” and “Go West,” which was the only song I was familiar with from this album before I listened. It definitely lost me in places, but overall this was pretty good, and some of the tracks will be on heavy rotation going forward.

Songs added to the playlist: I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing Liberation

Good. Just not my thing.

3.9

Iconic sound and I like all the singles but a whole long album gets repetitive for me.

***An ok album, easy listening

3.5

2.5. Still a few fun tracks but the least memorable of the three PSB

(3.0) Enjoyed the listen but will probably never listen to again. I wonder if this shit banged in uk clubs back in the day. Top 3 because I have no originality and like copying you guys: 1.) Dreaming of the queen 2.) To speak is a sin 3.) The theatre