Very

I liked Behaviour. This is more of the same.

I could not get into this.

I have enjoyed the albums from them. Not quite 5 star worthy but very solid 4 stars

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.

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.

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

A textbook example of polished, high-fidelity digital pop that ultimately suffers from a total lack of character. While the mixing is undeniably clean and professional, the reliance on standard 90s synth textures and a monotonous vocal delivery results in a tedious listening experience. It’s technically "correct" but artistically hollow, failing to provide the sonic "bite" or innovation found in true masterpieces.

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.

Some of these backing tracks might have almost been passible club songs but the singing over it ruins it for me and the backing tracks aren't so good that it doesn't matter.

SYNTH ME UP

Not the best pet shop boys record, but still cute

Ugh. Monotone nasal-y voices. Terrible, tacky electronica. Eurovision songs pretending they’re artistically profound. It’s Very Pet Shop Boys. “Go West” is the only saviour of this album. I absolutely loved it as a kid. And as an adult, I still do. It’s a weird, Soviet-sounding anthem with a very anti-Soviet message. And it’s catchy as hell. It's also the tune used for a football chant that Irish football supporters sing at international matches, subbing in the words “Stand up for the boys in green” for the chorus. It's fitting that this came up now because Ireland are playing Czechia tomorrow evening in a last chance playoff to see if we qualify for the World Cup or not. The melody of “Go West” will be roared by 6,000 Irish fans in the Fortuna Arena in Prague tomorrow night. COYBIG. But, I just learned today that “Go West” isn't originally a Pet Shop Boys song. It's actually a cover of a Village People song. So, it turns out that the only Pet Shop Boys song I’ve ever even remotely liked… isn’t even theirs.

I was tired when I came round to put this on and frankly, I wasn’t in the mood for it. I don’t really like Neil Tennnant’s voice and it’s a brand of synth pop I could live without so suffice to say, I didn’t need to hear this. I ended up listening to other music in between to get me through…I was almost prepared to 1 star this, in fact, I will because I had a terrible time.

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 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

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

I found this a little too busy compared to the earlier PSB albums I’ve heard but, as usual, the elegance dialled me into its intentions. Another lovely PSB album.

Was very excited to buy this when it came out - did not disappoint, ribbed plastic box, secret bonus track and all! Still sounds fabulous today, all killer no filler. Great to hear it again [EDIT: My first 5* album, after 34 attempts! I once proposed a RadMac "Chain" link from "The Theater" to Phil Collins's "Another Day In Paradise", both supercilious attempts by 80's pop stars to care about the homeless; it was not greenlit, cowards]

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

I was into the PSBs through the 80s and as my musical tastes changes appeciated their maturing sound on Behaviour, so ended up buying this one back in the day - never really got into it, and still the case. Although as it very much reminds me of moving to Stevenage and starting work, there may be some PTSD attached to this rating as well...

Poptastic yet overly twee. Not one to revisit.

Shit slaps

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

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.

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.

Aint listening this not my type

Reminds me too much of the kind of music a drunken wedding ceremony DJ would play while people are throwing up, 'dancing', desperately trying to snog a chair or throwing punches at the groom while he tries to catch the bride's bouquet by rugby tackling the priest who is now wearing the bridesmaid's frock. Great for those occasions but otherwise, meh.

1/1

First listen me sonaron fatal, cuando el oído se hace, me gustaron mucho. Para repetirlos!

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

It's dance? This is a dance album? Not good, it's a dance album

Didn't really enjoy it enough to finish it

Go West

Very fun. Such a tactile jewel case

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.

I genuinely don't get why this is on the list. As far as I know, the Pet Shop Boys had fallen out of relevance by the time this came out. It doesn't have any of their hits on it, either. Despite coming out in 1993, it's a very 80s sounding synthpop album. Lyrics are mostly standard love lyrics, albeit with a queer bent to them. The vocals are OK, but difficult to make out over the loud synth sounds that were dated even when the album was new. It's also too long for what it is, as it all kind of sounds the same. By 1993, the music world was past this kind of album. It bored me to tears and showed nothing of musical merit to keep me invested. I think it might legitimately be a 1, as much as I hate to say it.

Not bad eh. Of a time

1.5

I didn't hate this one, but it's kinda boring for the most part. Without the big 80s beat, I find I really struggle with their melodies as a whole. Probably the biggest reason is his vocal patterns don't vary that much, very maudlin. Best song was a Village People cover, probably because it's the most melodic piece on the album. But honestly they hadn't lost all their charm, but for the most part, felt like easy listening filtered through synthpop. Let's just say this album wasn't very... well, very. (5.33) ★★½

Very artificial sounding, and I don't like it. 1 star

This isn't my jam. I think they do have a knack for writing some catchy melodies, but I really hate the execution of it. Musically, it just sounds very artificial in a way that I have a difficult time believing humans were involved in any of the instrumentation here, and it's over-the-top in an almost comical way. I didn't hate "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing", but the rest tested my patience. 1 star.

3.5

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.

Y'all are reaching

Synth-pop des années 90, les bruitages m'insupportent...

Dancy

Not what I expected. Really liked it

Out West is a classic

This album made me angry, for some reason. Probably Neil Tennant's voice. No songs added to my faves. Really annoyed. 1/5

If the Haçienda reopens for camp pre-teens, this would be the playlist.

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.

I want to go clubbing in the 90s

I'm a pretty relaxed guy. If we're in the car and you put on something I don't care for, whatever, that's fine. It doesn't hurt me to listen to music I dislike. I will make no comment. Usually. I think if someone put this one on, I'd politely ask them to change it to anything else. Maybe the Village People version of "Go West." That song slaps.

Very everything!

A pleasing sound

sweet

I remember when the Pet Shop Boys tried to be relevant in the 90s. To be fair, Go West was massive, but that aside this is not their masterpiece.

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.

Not for me.

Fun

Yeah, I didn’t get it

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.

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.

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.

Can you forgive her? - 3 I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing - 1 Liberation - 2 A different point of view - 1 Dreaming of the queen - 2 Yesterday when I was mad - 2 The theatre - 2 One and one make five - 1 To speak is a sin - 2 Young offender - 1 One in a million - 1 Go west - 3

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.

Tactile for the 90s.

Made me feel gay

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

++: One and One Make Five, To Speak Is a Sin, Young Offender, One in a Million +: Liberation, Yesterday, When I Was Mad, The Theatre +-: Can You Forgive Her?, I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing, Dreaming of the Queen -: A Different Point of View, Go West / (Postscript) I Believe in Ecstasy 5,5/10

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.

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

This was very okay.

Pet Shop Boys, like Queen, are one of the bands I really liked when I was younger but then got incredibly tired of for reasons I can't quite explain. No, not the campiness, which seems a common denominator between the two. (Hmmmm - Freddie/Pet Shop Boys collaboration... might turn out to be a beast like Freddie/Bowie, or an absolute and utter dud.) To set the scene: I'd enjoyed some of the earlier Pet Shop Boys, then along came Behaviour, which I found to be quite the snoozefest. Very was a welcome return to slightly higher BPM numbers for me. I owned this album and it was probably the most haptically cool music packaging I've ever owned. Some tracks from this album were all over MTV and Viva at the time, alongside various eurodance tracks, plus The Sparks' When Do I Get To Sing "My Way" (which I didn't mind) and Erasure's Always (which I hated). OK, maybe not all of them at exactly the same time, but this was all withing roughly a year or two. It was a surprisingly camp time in retrospect, except we had no idea what camp was a the time. Well, Neil Tennant came out as gay during the promo interviews for this album, so there was that. While I liked Can you forgive her? and The Theatre, this was probably the album that started turning me away from Pet Shop Boys for good. Nothing that came after this really interested me any more. So coming back to this over 30 years later, how does it stack up? Can you forgive her? is still a great song and a great opener. But right after that comes... a lot of poppy mediocrity. And a surprising amount of sounds and programming that really haven't aged terribly well at all and that come across as quite simplistic and clunky today. You could argue this is the curse of relying quite heavily on electronics/technology for your sound - but Kraftwerk were even more pioneering in their work, and always spend the time to refine their songs and sounds enough to ensure their albums don't sound dated. And so it goes for most of the album - some good ideas badly executed (Dreaming of the Queen with its obnoxious "yes it's true, look it's happened to me and you", One and One Make Five with its equally obnoxious "Here we go" background loop etc etc). Or maybe I'm being unkind... executed in a way I really don't connect with. There is one exception, the second great song here: The Theatre. This actually gets the balance between melancholy, anger, and optimism right most of the time. In summary - two great songs and a lot of filler.

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

High quality dance-pop that seems lightweight upon first listen but gets better with repeated spins. A lot of variety given the genre constraints.

Better than coldplay

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.

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

mega to było średnie – bardzo nie w mój gust

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.

I was surprised by how much I liked it. The synths were so fun and I actually liked the vocals

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

I thought the album had some good songs.

Fine, but got repetitive and annoying like halfway through

Fun vibe!

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

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

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

Not for me but wasn't as bad as other 1s on here

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).

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.

abouslote hidden gem

Pleasant enough background music which had rave reviews in the British broadsheets at the time, but it's really just early 90s coffee table music which means nothing to me.

Not my genre but I guess I was just in the right mood for this today.

Wel oké, maar niet perse m’n ding

going into this one totally blind. I’ve never heard a single song by this bad before (knowingly) Definitely out of my wheelhouse musically, as I tend to lean toward darker production and lyrics- but this was surprisingly fun for a dance album. This sounds super super 90’s. Is that good or bad? I’m not sure- For the most part, this feels like recycled ideas from the 80’s with OVER the top 90’s production slapped on top. BUT I still like the overall vibes from the album. It’s bouncy, it’s upbeat, and it gets me out of my comfort zone sonically. I feel like this could definitely be a band I like more the further back I dig into their discography- I like the vocals, and a lot of the production, but just too 90’s. Favorite tracks: different point of view, liberation, young offender, to speak is a sin

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

Where’s the part where Paul McCartney starts munching on celery or whatever. That’s all I know about pet shop boys is that Paul McCartney play a mean celery solo. Yeah as for the album not my cup of tea!

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

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.

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

3,8 Highlights: Can You Forgive Her?, The Theatre

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

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.

4/10… synthpop / new romantic / *1993

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

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 had never listened to the Pet Shop Boys before and I wish that were still true.

The only song I’ve ever heard from pet shop boys before this was West End Boys and I really wish it had stayed that way. This album was a rough listen for me, way too much “talk” singing while some small beat goes on in the background. Not my jam, I’ll buy my pets from some other boys…

Honestly pretty bad, this is some weak electronic music. It feels like an inferior evolution of 80s electronic.

I liked the Pet Shop Boys gay little single, West End Girls. Among the nearly gay techno pop of the 80's, West End Girls is a refresher because it's so obviously gay. What a thrill to let it all out in age of advancing liberal values! This album, however, is much too gay and features none of the subdued qualities that made the band's prior hit a success. Of course there's nothing wrong with music that's very gay, but I prefer subtlety to the opposite. To the band's credit, the title of the album describes these qualities to the listener before they've even heard the first track.

I'm not a fan of this sludge either. Man, for all the great music that comes out of Scotland, we've gotten pretty wrecked on the last 2 days. I mean.. this is fine. I get it. Its like a 90s dance pop thing. Go West kind of rocks. Like an ironic rocks, but also kind of fun. Like I would put this song on a snowboard video.

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

I think maybe If I had heard this first before the other two Pet Shop Boys albums I have listened to over the last few weeks, I would be less critical. Getting through this album felt like a chore. I was running on a tight schedule to find the time to listen to this before the end of the day, trying to unwind and listen to this felt like I was being mocked by the generator. I fully recognize my bias, that I was not in the right head space to listen to this, but not did I not enjoy it...

How are there three Pet Shop Boys albums on this list? I have liked each album I’ve heard less than the last and this is no exception. I can’t stand this.

Honestly I did not enjoy this at all. The cheesy 80s beats, the affectation of the singer, the bad lyrics. No thanks.

I was impressed by this! Cool synth pop.

ok album

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.

I swear to god if I have to listen to that orchestral hit one more time, I go completely insane.

Weird poppy disco. Still kinda cool.

the pop form is neutral tending towards evil, some things shouldn’t be normalized

It’s very ok

Good.

No.

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

4.5

flojo flojo, romanticon, calmado, trompetas medio jazz tranquilo comercial, un rollo

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

What are … what are we doing here? No east end boys? No west end girls? Isn’t that their only song? Why are we being told we need to listen to an album that came out almost ten years after their only hit? A song I don’t even like?

This is a very very specific kind of dive bar album

Apparently the idea of the Pet Shop Boys has been better than the actuality of the Pet Shop Boys. It's not even that this is bad as much as this type of pop does nothing for me.

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.

Kinda just feels like a letter to gays.

I could have noticed at first glance that this wasn't my cup of tea. It looks like a bucket, says “trash” in bold letters, and inside is a steaming pile of shit. My cup of tea, on the other hand, is characterized by the fact that it is a cup with actual tea in it that says “Regulation Hottie.”

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⭐️

Catchy songs. Still don’t like it.

Great singles band. This album is a slog.

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.

What style is this, exactly? It feels 80s but made in 1993. Disco pop, perhaps, with electronic elements. I know it's important in its own right but I don't particularly like the vocals and found the overall sound boring.

102/1001 First listen. Thirty years ago I would have just said this is gay. Today this sounds like it could have been made on my phone. There’s something about it I don’t like and I don’t want to hear any more of it. 3/10

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! :)

The music videos are creative I'll give them that

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...

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.

Every single song sounds the same.

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.

2/5

I don't mind the Pet Shop Boys 1980s output, they had some genuinely great singles in the latter half of the decade - West End Girls, Suburbia, Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money), It's A Sin are all tremendous, and Rent and Heart pretty strong too. They also smashed a surprisingly good Elvis cover and notched up a great duet with Dusty Springfield. Neil Tennant wrote disco classics with lyrics both honest and sardonic, bit of social commentary here, bit of introspective heartfelt stuff about being gay here and there. They had a good deal of success in the US with that initial run of belters. Fast forward a few years and a bit surprised to get 1993's 'Very' and a little dismayed to find that nothing here gets close to their big hits, nor do I see it as massively innovative or anything like that. In fact, aside from a perfectly serviceable cover of Village People's 'Go West' there's not much here to recommend. If you're into the gay stuff, stick with Erasure - they were still putting out solid material in the early to mid 90s.

It has some bops kind of but also is a little grocery store core Will I listen to again: 5%

I really couldn’t take this seriously. It’s just so dated and cheesy.

very nice. had fun listening

16/01/2026 I don't really have a problem with Pet Shop Boys. But this, this was boring. Spotify listeners: 9.9 million

meh

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.

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

Some of the best lyrics that this group have ever produced. Not nearly as good an album as their 80s output. Sorry!

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.

I only knew all their hits but never listened to an entire album. And I probably won't do again. Surely there are some radio-friendly pop hits but as an album I was quite disappointed, and I feel the overall sound hasn't aged very well. Songs are a bit samey (and not great).

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.

Wasn't a big fan of this. I know Pet shop Boys and New Order have toured together, and I am a big New Order fan. But this to me sounds like New Order crossed with Bros, the 80s boy band and presumably not in 1001 albums. Worst parts of pop and dance combined but with none of the class or style of New Order.2 out of 5

Better than expected, but obtaining just average.

trop bien

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

Only time I’m remotely interested in the Pet Shop Boys is when one of their many hits is played at a wedding evening do. That’s when their music really shines. Always a crowd pleaser and dance floor filler. Trouble with this album is that I can only remember one of these and that’s Go West. The rest just dissolved into nothingness. 2/5 4/1/26

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

Ret fedt!! Aldrig hørt meget Pet shop boys

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

Jeg kommer aldrig til at bryde mig om stemmen.

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.

I have a real soft spot for synthpop and I liked this one.

This does not deserve to be on the list. Home cooking again.

"Go West" might actually be the first video I vividly remember watching on MTV. I like the song too, and it's been one of those things that's constantly in the back of my head nearly all the time. It's weird, unintrusive but always there. Maybe it was my first earworm of a song too. In any case, none of the other tracks are as memorable as Go West, and that's a cover, so I can't really say that this lives up to the "hype". It is classic euro proto-dance pop, but that isn't really a style I'm super in to. Like most of their stuff it's well produced but it does suffer from a very limited sample/sound kit. The same presets seem to be used all over and not to really great effect. It's listenable enough and lyrically it's a bit more challenging than a lot of other pop music but it didn't grab me at all.

Very good!

***An ok album, easy listening

First time hearing this album. Wow. This is Very much a 90s time capsule. Every song is basically “Pump up the jam” with mostly motivational lyrics about togetherness and moving on. I can’t help but wonder what the record would sound like without the dated 90s drum loops. 2.1/5.0

Just play this entire album over that video of those two black guys dancing on roller skates. This album has not aged well. Yet, of the three albums by this group I have been subjected to it is somehow my favorite. Being more positive and poppy still couldn’t save this from being boring. Favorite song was Yesterday When I Was Mad.

This album was released in 1993 and it sounds like it was made a decade earlier. In this case, that's not a compliment. It's also insane that Pet Shop Boys have 3 different albums on this list.

A Very bland, very run of the mill yet very odd, very silly beat choices, very diverse, very two star worthy album in my humble opinion.

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

Besser als erwartet

liked this!

Strong 3,5

I liked it but many songs felt forgettable still?

Another pretty mediocre electronic album but at least the lyrics weren’t that bad

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.

Go West. Neil Tennants comming out album.

3/5 - couple of cool songs, I didn't outright dislike any but consistently alright

Album review 026 Very by Pet Shop Boys (1993) Rating 3/5 Pet Shop Boys made some of the finest pop songs of the 1980’s and Very sees them evolve towards the euro-pop sound of the early-90’s whilst keeping it instantly recognisable as Pet Shop Boys. Very is a fairly good and consistent album but doesn’t come near to matching their earlier work. One high point of note is their cover of the Village People’s Go West, which still sounds great more than 30-years later.

Quite boring pop form the 90s

the boys

Why do some of these backing tracks sound like the bonus levels from a Sonic game type shit. Frenetic and way too sugary for my liking.

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

Few

God do I resent those guys with their cheap synths. New Order wannabes

Very?

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.

can you forgive her : SO good. I really liked west end girls so I was excited for this album. It feels like a really full song and feels very 80s despite being '93 lol. A different point of view : I like the repeating of the title at the end-ish Yesterday when I was mad : i like the talking but im kind of tired of ALL the synth. maybe like 3/5

Fru-Fru fluff pop music. 'nuf said. You 'll either love it or hate it. Guess my choice

To say I was disappointed by this album would be to imply that I expected more. Frankly, I did not. So, while I wasn't "disappointed," I did not enjoy this listen at all. I don't plan to waste too many words on this 50+ minutes that I will never get back. All I can say is that I hope this is the last time PSB and I meet. This album was a Very underwhelming 2 / 5.

I don't understand the PSB hate. Sure it's not the most evocative album, but it's cheesy and a decent listen. Not saying it's a masterpiece or anything, but there are way worse albums on this list. fuck you guys, I'm giving them another 3. Last song was pretty laughable though.

As Brandon said it best on our last PSB album "Meep merp morp". I hate when I open up the website in the morning to see the album and am instantly pissed that it comes up with a third album from a band that I already don't like from starting this project. This album never got above slightly enjoyable at any point. Cheesiest of cheese. One and One Make Five really annoyed me. Far from the worst album that we have heard so I can't quite give it a 1 but this is the absolute lowest of 2s *****I finished writing this review before finishing the album. Now that I have listened to the last song with that horrible background singing it absolutely gets a 1.

3 Pet Shop Boys albums on here is a travesty. It's just the worst sounds of the 80's and 90's clashing and I hate it. I think I've found my least favorite band from doing this project so at least there's that.

Never been a fan of the Pet Shop Boys. A few good hits, but not the type of music one can listen to track after on an album.

Ok 90s pop

I enjoyed the first 4 songs the most. Last song was good but idk why there was such a long pause in the middle.

I like west end girls. I didn’t really like any of this album that much. Pretty forgettable

Sounds like a worse version of the smiths

Re-listen

Not their best album but a few absolute crackers on here.

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.

Was kind of interesting at the beginning but then felt like a slog to get through.

OK. 2/5

Know a few on here. Very danceable. Can you forgive her is a great song but largely an inoffensive middlenof the road mix of boomp chi boomp chi damcey dance. Nothing earth shattering here.

Not very good is it? I wasn’t a huge Pet Shop Boys fan at all. Didn’t hate them. Just wasn’t that interesting to me. Kind of like 90s easy listening music. This album was actually boring as fuck. Not a bad thing if you like your music to operate on a level where you can nod off for a bit and when you wake up you haven’t missed anything. Muzak of a particular generation. I bet the boomers still bounce to this. 1/5.

I had this misfortune of listening to the bonus track “Go West” and that changed a middling album to an outright unpleasant one.

First couple of songs - not a style I'm really in to, but this isn't bad. Middle batch of tunes - still not bad, but I've heard enough now. Last few songs - still can't say they're bad, but I'm just hoping each one is the last at this point. Final verdict - certainly not a bad album, just not for me.

Eh ... I would have rather had some 80s Pet Shop Boys ... I lost interest after a few songs.

It was good an general, very dancer and somehow eletronical. I dont know what gender this is, but that are my impressions. That said, i didnt make my type, and some songs was just boring. After all, it was mediocre.

Mostly I remember this for the lego-like jewel case it came in, back when groups would still try different approaches to CD releases (U2, Pearl Jam...others...). I might’ve enjoyed this at the time a bit, as the sound is situated in the eurodance aesthetic that I had and have some fondness for. Today, it’s a bit opaque - I don’t connect with any of the traces of melancholy, such as there are. Coming off electronic, I was all in favour of Neil Tennant and would remain a fan into the late 90s, but it’s just all a little too pleasant maybe?

This was never going to go well. I don't like synth pop and can't stand Neil Tennant's delivery. I have a good friend who loves the Pet Shop Boys. We're still friends and I wish him well.

Holy shit!! I love the nostalgia this album brought back for me! What a time in my life. JoEllens boys. lol

Funny 90s sound, a bit repetitive but still fun.

Not so keen on this one. Hi-nrg synth camp beats not quite floating my boat today

I enjoyed this a lot. Well constructed, powerfully personal and emotive pop songs.

3 out of 5. Very melodic album with music videos that are a 90's animated fever dream.

Probably one of the best albums of the genre...but I just don't care for the genre.

i could not have disliked this more

My heart could only take so many key changes, and their increasing dissonance with Neil's voice.

Not really vibin' with it. Some catchy pop hooks. Dreamy synth sounds. It's alright, but largely "not for me". "Dreaming of the Queen" is the stand out so far. "One and One Makes Five" is also alright. I can hear how this album was influential.

bin nöd sooo en pet shop boys fan etz. ich check dass de sound mega populär gsi isch. can you forgive her isch no en guete song. find sini stimm scho eehner nervig. ich checks glaub aber find de sound halt huuere dünn und. my soo cool. the theatre zum bispil isch soo unglaublich cheesy produziert. vlt wenni demit ufgwachse wär hetti saaufreud. aso. guet gschriebne song, aber mit de production chani nüüüt afange. oke go west isch gaaaaaaail HAHA ich ha d blöser nüm im chopf gha die gönd jo blööööödomat. numescho weg dem es 3. FUCKING HIDDEN TRACK MANN. figged eu aber go west banger ok 3.

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💫💫🖤🖤🖤

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.

Not a fan

I mean this in the best possible way. This sounds like Deerbrook Mall, circa 1991. THREE STARS

God s

I don't know what to say, I see that "gay" is one of the most used tag and that sadden me, as we're still playing the clichés game. I mean, this is music. But I can understand it, at least to a certain point. For me this is fun, danceable and at the same time introspective. I didn't know how this band sounded and I have enjoyed it.

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!

A good album, rather than a great one. Some great songs (I love hearing phrygian/locrian type stuff outside of metal, like in Can you Forgive Her, plus a couple of others), some beautifully arch lyrics, and a smattering of rave samples and signifiers. Theres bits of acid house, Moby and early breakbeat in there too. On the downside, it lacks the power of actual rave stuff, the mix feels cluttered conpared to some of their drier, more austere early stuff, and I find myself wanting the instrumentation out of the way quite a bit. Still, interesting to hear as a piece of 80s into 90s pop. A strong 3.

Blind album, know the artist. Was never a huge fan of them to begin with but they make decent music in my opinion. And that includes this album. Catchy, upbeat, unique.

Oh the nostalgic synth that makes me want to put on a cheesy smile and bob my head like Jim Carrey in that SNL sketch. Good for 15mins but becomes uniform after that.

I was excited to listen to something different for a change and in the beginning it was promising but then it went fully outside my comfort zone into the kitschy poppy sounds and I kind of drifted away. not really looking forward to giving it another try (and i like some of the earlier albums of theirs)

Hmm, všeč mi je naslovnica & ful mi je všeč njun starejši komad, "West End Girls". Nism pa zihr, če mi bo ta album ful všeč. Prvi je bil kinda kul ("Can You Forgive Her?"), pri tadrugmu me je koj začetni ritem odvrnil ("I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing"). Mmmm, ne, ni mi všeč. Ok, "Dreaming of the Queen" mi je kul. Mogoč zato, k je dejansko mal drugačn od vseh ostalih komadov? In spet uf... "The Theatre" je tud kr ok. Sam čakam, da bo konc zj, ampak je še 5 komadov. "To Speak Is a Sin" je mal bl chill in prou sede po vsem tem. Iiiin nazaj isti hitri ritmi. "Go West" poznam od prej, ampak zj po celem albumu - kinda sounds like any other song on the album. Ne vem sicer, če bom dejansko kdaj dala 1 zvezdico, ker sam zato, k men neki ni všeč, še ne pomeni, da je dejansko slaba muska.

I like the pet shop boys well enough this one was kind of hard for me at times and nothing really grabbed me.

Very obvious what this was going to sound like. Very predictable. So very British. Very much not my wheelhouse. Thats not to say it’s not a solid dance pop record.

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

Awful to be honest and I love their first 3 albums. 90's boys is cheesy and lame.

Dance pop album. It’s not necessarily my taste, but I think this is a good album for that genre. This is the sort of thing you’d hear in a DDR game. Notable songs include Can You Forgive Her, Liberation, The Theatre, One in a Million.

Quite

relentless

Not my thing

It's bad. Overall boring and too repetitive. The lyrics were strange when they weren't sucking.