Reviews (page 6 of 7)
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.
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.
I had this misfortune of listening to the bonus track “Go West” and that changed a middling album to an outright unpleasant one.
Eh ... I would have rather had some 80s Pet Shop Boys ... I lost interest after a few songs.
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?
Probably one of the best albums of the genre...but I just don't care for the genre.
Not a fan
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.
Not my thing
It was very... Okay. The big house rave adjacent arrangements were a little fun but overall sort of soft and forgettable.
Soulless, tedious. Somehow has so little energy for what supposedly is dance music. Just not good.
Definitely some Brit synthpop from the 90s. At first I didn’t really mind the album, but as it went on I just wanted them to stop singing and the album to just put me out of my misery. It just feels like it is never going to end.
To give this album some props, it doubles down on a very specific sound, even for a Pet Shop Boys album. Were I a mincing man of the early 90s rather than being in my first year on this planet I would be well acquainted with this music rather than only knowing a couple of songs. Unfortunately it’s not a good sound. There’s not enough gusto in the backing music (weak ass synth) to balance out the whimpering vocals. This is also lacking their main hits bar ‘Go West’ which I’ve never really liked anyway. A no thank you.
I dont get it
a bit too 90s for me
I was never a Pet Shop Boys fan, and this solidifies that I will never be one. Very dated dance music for the nightclubs, whose 80s and 90s pop production were nothing to write about, then and now.
Getting this so soon after Actually is a great insight into Pet Shop Boys' quality drop as they entered the 90's, because boy does this thing sound like shit. Nothing has changed in terms of overall songwriting or vocal quality, but fuck me the switch from 80's synth to 90's electronic slop was actually so grim to listen to. Not only is this thing an hour of generic drum machine loops, the complete lack of instruments made it sound like I was listening to Scatman's World by Scatman John for an hour. Just with less bass and more boring vocals. Wikipedia states 'Pet Shop Boys have been noted for keeping their fingers on the musical pulse to date, while "maintaining the mystique of performers from a different era".' - what an absolute load of shit. They definitely kept their fingers on the musical pulse, but the pulse must have been way below the average heart rate because this is lukewarm and milquetoast as fuck. I've no idea why this disaster is on here. It's really bad compared to their other work. It's still listenable, so it is fine with a 2 - but fuck I don't want to listen to anything except maybe 'Can You Forgive Her?' again.
Yea very boring
Better than the other one but I still don't like these guys's
they were awful forty years ago
just wasn't for me instrumentals were pretty good tho
Ick.
Not into this really. Go West is the first Pet Shop Boys song I ever heard and I still enjoy it, though I think it's more the Village People influence on the song (male choir parts specifically) that I really like. The rest of the album is just a little too schmaltzy synth pop for me. 2.4/5
Didn't care for it. It was fine but also not my genre at all. 2/5
Aufgenommen in den Londoner Studios Sarm West und Sarm East, erschien Very im Herbst 1993 als fünftes Studioalbum des britischen Duos Neil Tennant und Chris Lowe. Nach dem introspektiven Behaviour kehrten die Pet Shop Boys hier zu einem farbenfrohen, cluborientierten Sound zurück, der Dance-Pop, Synth-Pop und House-Elemente verbindet. Zu den bekanntesten Songs gehören „Can You Forgive Her?“, „I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing“ und das euphorische „Go West“, eine Coverversion des gleichnamigen Village-People-Hits, die in der britischen LGBTQ-Community Kultstatus erlangte. Auch Stücke wie „Yesterday, When I Was Mad“ oder „Liberation“ zeigen die typische Mischung aus Ironie, Melancholie und formvollendetem Pop-Handwerk. Musikalisch überzeugt das Album durch präzise Produktion, vielschichtige Arrangements und einen klaren, synthetischen Klang, der gleichzeitig verspielt und kontrolliert wirkt. Very gilt als eines der zugänglichsten und zugleich persönlichsten Werke der Band – ein Album, das Tanzbarkeit und emotionale Intelligenz verbindet. Bewertung: Ein lebendiger Höhepunkt im Werk der Pet Shop Boys und ein Paradebeispiel britischer Pop-Eleganz der frühen 1990er.
Trying to be too many things at once I think, couldn't really fit into the right vibe ever. I don't know it wants you to dance but not only does it not have the groove, but I kinda didn't want to. 4/10
5 stars for bringing the 90s gay realness. 1 star for actual music quality, I could not listen to this. Ok 2 stars for the epic anthem Goooo WEST!
Had a friend who liked them
Very not good.
There’s something about the hi energy style and fey disinterested vocals that just doesn’t do it for me. Boring
I didn’t mid it but after a while it was a bit repetitive
Taitaa olla enemmän sinkkuhittien bändi. 2/5.
Repetitive and samey. I don't like the singer's voice either. Got a 2 as I try to save a 1 for the really bad stuff.
Not their best electo pop
Polished pop but not for me, very bland and same-y. Not sure why we need more than one PSB album on this list.
I like Go West, but unsure why we need yet another Pet Shop Boys album on the 1001 list.
Could never get into the Pet Shop Boys and couldn’t get into this
Ok
The cover art looks like a watermarked stock photo, and I think that's a pretty accurate analogue to the album as a whole. The style gets really old, really quickly. It comes across as an 80s pastiche that's struggling to cling onto the dwindling audience that actually enjoys this genre/era heading into the golden age of grunge and alt-rock. For that reason, the first three songs are by far the most enjoyable, because you're still holding onto hope that they'll branch out stylistically once they've blasted through all the easy-listening synth pop tracks. (They don't.) Everything else after that is a bit of a drag – at least until the final track Go West, which has that glorious and instantly recognisable backing choir. It's such a relief, such an uplifting way to end the record, that it almost makes me want to bump my rating to 3 stars. Almost. The opener, Can You Forgive Her?, uses orchestra hits on every single melody note in the instrumental. Bold. But I've also never heard it before – not to this extent. It's pretty fun, except it's used again in A Different Point of View, and in Dreaming of the Queen... in enough others that it does get a little tiring. The harmonies (something I look for in most music) are hit-or-miss, with one of the "hits" being To Speak Is a Sin. It's more soundscape-y than most other tracks. Kind of reminds me of something from later-era ABBA. The synths are slow and cinematic, outlining some simple but effective chords. Liberation also gives off an ABBA-esque feel (the singing in particular), and its synths are less overdone. 2/5 Key tracks: Can You Forgive Her?, Liberation, Go West
I was really surprised to learn this was released in 1993. This sounds like an informercial from the 80s.
Not very good pop music. Mostly annoying. I’m guessing they’re British
eeeeehhhhh this got so old so fast lol
Did not like this!
A solidly okay album. Of the 3 albums on the list, I think this is their weakest effort. I feel like this is another album where the context is more important than the album itself. In other words, it's only part of the 1001 because it's their "coming-out" album.
pet shop boys never really hit for me- why did parts of 'i wouldn't normally do this kind of thing' sound like the music that tv channels use to play when they're telling you what's coming on tv later. all of this should be playing in one of those 90s international market cafés with a purple and yellow theme. i didn't like any songs, sorry lads.
Did not enjoy.
Maso
Bailable. No merece estar seleccionado.
not for me
Very much not my thing.
I have probably not heard Can You Forgive Her in 20 years before today, yet I still remembered all the words. Why is valuable space in my rapidly deteriorating middle-aged brain, still being filled with lyrics to a song that came out before I was even a teenager? Still, I do still love it. And Go West too (I enjoyed the Guardian quote that said it distinguished "itself by making the Village People original seem flagrantly heterosexual"). The Theatre has a synth on it that sounds almost exactly like I'm Going Slightly Mad by Queen, a song I have always loved. As for the rest, I mostly found it kinda dull, which was disappointing. There's now a few artists I would have said I liked before starting this project, but now I've listened to a full album it turns out I like the big singles and not much else. This is getting a 2 and that's made me a bit sad. 2/5
Okay 80s since brought kicking and screaming into the 90s. The song “I wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing” a perfect auditory example of this The soft camp style of the lead singer is definitely unique for the album. At times it felt a little confused album of trying to offer ballads while maintaining a dance techno vibe. I will say “different point of view” was a catchy chorus and could have been straight out of a K pop group in 2012. Which is testament and legacy both of the style and sound the band have created Wouldn’t listen as an album again - but the occasional song
Wasn't a fan and still not a fan. 2/5.
VERY 80s pop. Not for me.
It feels like they took something that could have been really cool, and sanitized the hell out of it. Disappointed.
Didn't care for it, skipped this one.
Ok 2/5
Too much techno-pop for me. Uninvolving.
Extremely dance-y synth-pop! I had never heard of the Pet Shop Boys before, and now that I've heard them, I don't need to do it again. It's not bad music, but the aggressive single-mindedness of the dance beats causes irritation over a listen.
3/10
This is pretty boring new wave mumbo pop synth garbage. I, personally, don't like most things in this genre and style, so for me to like an album like this, takes something really special. And this isn't it. It's so bland. Half of the songs have the same exact beat and rhythm. I doubt there's a real instrument used on the entire album. It's not so bad that it's awful. And there was one song that actually was enjoyable to listen to. But I still don't really want to ever listen to this again. Favorite Song(s): To Speak is a Sin
Meh.
Bit too cheesy
Unavailable.
Would be better if they didn't sing
Are these the best dance tracks of the 90s? No. Ok but is this the best pet shop boys album? Also no.
This made me want to hang out at The Blue Oyster bar! Pass
This sounds like 90s video game elevator music. It's upbeat, full of drum machine beats and light, airy vocals. I want to hate it but I don't. Not completely. Its full of catchy choruses and hooks, and I noticed that I enjoyed those parts quite a bit but didn't really like any other parts of the songs. The album just kind of wore me down by the end though. The cool electronic beats and synths got old and weren't enough to carry the whole album. Standouts were "Can You Forgive Her" and "A Different Point of View" I was pretty over this album by the end. Very has some interesting moments but equal amounts of repetitiveness. Some songs just annoyed me coughcoughGoWestcough. It's a 2/5 for me.
I dont mind the Pet Shop Boys but this is my worst nightmare of an album
Thoughts before listening: Electronica heavy 80s Europop I think? I feel like Pet Shop Boys are one of those bands I have heard a ton about but I don't really know much about them. Seems they were perhaps very influential to the types of music I don't really listen to. Review: One thing that I have learned through this project is that I'm just not all that into dancey 80s synth pop. I mean I can take some pop music, and have given 4 and 5 star reviews to some pop albums on this list, but this just doesn't do anything for me. I'm giving this 2-stars.
I definitely got the feeling of, "Is this album almost finished yet?". The songs started to blend together and honestly this music just isn't for me.
A fun pop-y, dance-y album! I did find the songs ot be repeitive and they were not my usual style, which is why the rating is what it is :(
I Feel Like Taking All My Clothes Off Dancing To The Rite Of Spring 1001 Albums Generator 54 (06/17/2025) What group is more appropriate to listen to during pride month than Pet Shop Boys? And more specifically their "coming out" album, 1993's Very, released during the time that co-founder Neil Tennant officially confirmed his oft rumored homosexuality. Pet Shop Boys were one of the premier synthpop bands of the 80's and 90's, and while Very falls after their critical peak in the late 80's, it still remains one of their most popular albums, featuring 5 singles that were all released to quite great success. The first of these singles, and the opening track, Can You Forgive Her? is a great 12/8 synthpop tune. There are lots of synth layers here that add a lot of atmosphere to the song. I especially love the repeated high note played throughout the chorus. It is a great touch. From here, we keep the energy up with I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing, with its bouncy beat and bloop-y synths throughout the verse. This song also has great vocal harmonies and a reference to The Rite Of Spring, which is just kind of cool for a 90's pop song. Later in the tracklist, One And One Make Five has surprisingly somber lyrics, pleading a lover to clear things up and tell the narrator that they are still in love. The last song that I really like is One In A Million, which is one of the danciest songs on the whole thing and should have been an easy choice as a single, probably instead of Liberation. Unfortunately, beyond these few songs, I just don't think this album is for me for the most part. Slower songs like Liberation and To Speak Is A Sin, while providing a nice change in pace compared with the other songs on the album, are just not very good. On the other hand, Dreaming Of The Queen is okay with its downtempo beat and very catchy chorus. Meanwhile, A Different Point Of View feels like a retreading of Eurythmics' iconic Here Comes The Rain Again. Honestly, I just don't have much to say about many of the songs here. It's another album where the difference between the best and worst songs is small. Overall, Very is a forgettable, bloated album. With a few diamonds throughout, it isn't the worst album on this list, but unfortunately, it is not great either. 2/5. Favs: Can You Forgive Her? I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing One In A Million Least Fav: Liberation
Upbeat dance music. Instantly forgettable.
Ok
wait, why this Pet Shop Boys album?
Likely the only straight man in North America to start his day with Pink Pony Club and an entire Pet Shop Boys album. Kinda weird they picked one from the 90s as they are such an 80s sounding band (and the songs that sounded more 90s were not good). I was in at the start but thought it got progressively worse as the album went on. I went back and listened to “West End Girls” afterward which really holds up but not a fan of this album.
2.2
I don’t mind some Pet Shop Boys but this I did not care for. Just another album you really don't need to hear before you die.
This album is offensively happy sounding. It's almost childishly upbeat. The major chord fiesta coupled with the timbre of those vocals is so saccharine sweet it's cringeworthy for me.
Pet Shop Boys have some great music, this particular album isn't one of them
Bland. I don't get the hype.
Very mediocre, very dated, very British
I'm not a synth-pop guy, and this album did nothing to change my mind.
Not even the best Pet Shop Boys album.
2.5/5
..
Weird dance pop
Very is very synthy and poppy. The Pet Shop Boys are one of those pop duos that I've heard the name and heard the music but never connected the two. Overall, fun album, but every songs sounds alike to me.
Meh this was okay. Not sure we need W Pet Shop Boys albums in this list
Dull and generic album that fails to leave a lasting impression.
Good pop gives it a 2. Go west is a banger and that gives it a 3 Upon further reflection, go west is not enough for a full ‘nother star. But great song.
No please and thank you
2+ Stars (6/15)
Don't like the vocals. Don't like the beats. Don't like the genre. Don't see a reason this album needed to be sooooo looking.
Just not my cup of tea. Synthpop gives me American Psycho vibes and that’s my cross to bear.
I like the song 'West End Girls' and some other 80's Pet Shop Boys songs, but was unprepared for how terrible this cheesy early 90's album is. Lame, uninspired production combined with limpid boring vocals... this was a tough one to get through.
I enjoy the Pet Shop boys in small doses, and an LP is much too large a dose for me. There are definitely some good, interesting songs on this album, but I really just can't get into it.
still not my style
helt ok 2/5
This was very shit. Really didn’t enjoy honestly. Just pissed me off to listen to it. Same whiny synth wave bollocks. Don’t like the main guys voice either. Maybe I’m being too harsh. Specific rating 1.9 Fav song - one and one make five Least fav- go west
Album is not doing it for me. There are some moments, but it feels like it is sacrificing the soul of other 90s brit bands for style.
Meh.
Sorry. It's Easter. I ain't listening to a PSB album.
A clusterfuck of sounds and not in a fun way
Very busy. Not terrible, but by the end I was fed up of it. Go west sounds like a parody and the conchords parodied them better.
This seemed like a “Very” generic 80’s dance album, only released in the 90’s.
Very very ordinary. And very very not needed in the listing here. Fine for what it is, but not as pivotal as Actually.
This album is not Very anything
The most “meh” of “mehs” that ever “mehed” 2.25
Totally fine, just not my cup of tea. Notching lower than Actually. I annoyed that one more. And that’s all I have to say about that. 2.5/5
Nothing wrong with their music, I just kinda hate Pet Shop Boys for no real reason
Ehh, this didn't really do it for me. I think PSB probably peaked at West End Girls. This felt pretty generic and forgettable to me.
Yeah I just don't like 80s music. The only good thing about this band is I learnt what Inner City Pressure is a parody of.
Was war das für ein Album, Go West natürlich geil, aber was waren das für abgefuckte Songs sonst?
This is so flat, with none of the dynamic energy that makes New Order or Depeche Mode (if those are indeed Pet Shop Boys' peers?) so great. The best I can say is that it is inoffensive. Every song sounds the same. Two steps away from Muzak.
Needed some oomph
Cringiley painful. Don't see how this album belongs here
Had a couple of decent spots but overall I didn’t enjoy it
I had never chosen to listen to the Pet Shop Boys up until a couple of days ago, after they were announced at a festival in Seville. What a coincidence that they have now popped up on here. After listening to this album, I can safely say that I will not be purchasing tickets.
After listening to all 3 albums on this list from Pet Shop Boys, all I know is I'm not a fan, and I'm relieved that it's over now!
It's shit, but it's well produced shit? Like I can't hate them for having terrible taste in music but I can hate the music. It's a weird place to be honestly. This is the musical equivilent of Michelangelo sculpting David out of shit.
aika äkkiä kypsyy tähän hommaan. mikälie tässä nyt on ideana niin ei kauaa kestä alkaa vähän kyllästymään alta aikayksikön, tuommosen kujeen voi kerrat loitsua ja sen jälkeen takasin miettimään pöydän ääreen mutta sensijaan jatkettu matkaa.. ja mikä ihmeen stock photo saatana vesimerkki ass albumin kansi. omg so iconic..shutterstock.. painu kartanolle siitä.. ja ota matkalla kuva vaikka lehmästä.. saa paremman kannen vaikka siitä vähän semmosia wiboja vaikkapa. And do I take you by the hand, and lead you through the land, and help me understand the best I can? can you forgiive her?
I think this album probably does a very good job of doing what it sets out to do -- it's just not something I'm very interested in
I am definitely not the target demographic for this one. I hated Go West when it came out, so needless to say I wasn't looking forward to listening to this album. This entire thing sounds mechanically soulless and repetitive to me. It's well done for what it is, but it's not something I would ever choose to listen to again.
I enjoyed the opportunity to listen, and I understand the queerness and coming out journey of this album, but giving us a pet shop boys album from nineteen ninety three is fucking crazy.
First song I liked, the rest of the stuff sounds like incomprehensible techno babble. not my thing. easy two.
Not my type of music….
I can’t see the importance of this. It’s good. Maybe top 5000. Not top 1000. I enjoyed 'Go West' at the time. (Tennant's lispy ‘this is what we want to do’ is a terrific hook). Haven’t heard it since. That says a lot I think. Otherwise … 1.5.
Definitely not up my alley. Nothing particularly wrong with it but just a style I don't enjoy.
It's the kind of music you would play if you wanted people to dance in 20 minutes, but didn't want people to get hyped up just yet.
Not what I was after
Not my favorite
Badly aged 90s shit
Sounds like a faux triumphant soundtrack to a shit 90’s video game. Having said that, Sonic the Hedgehog had its fair share of bangers, shame the Pet Shop Boys couldn’t follow suit, the bastards.
Nice and gay. Thank you.
Sounds like loads of gameshow music remixed into tracks with a bloke who is away with the fairies writing nonsense lyrics to it all. Quite shit. But was nice and soft sounding, so… 2 stars I guess
i love pet shop boys right up to this album, and there are a few good tracks here , but too many cheesy hi-nrg ones. 2
eh
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
The first song I heard from the Pet Shops was, "West End Girls", which is probably still the song I associate with the group. I never liked synth-pop and this reconfirmed my bias, so I never explored any of their music further. "Very" is a breezy-synth-pop record that brings energy and beats to the forefront, that are both infectious and repetitious. I can't say this album is swaying me towards this style of music, but it wasn't as painful and boring as I thought it might be. Listening now to, "West End Girls" brings a slight wave of nostalgia of music from the 80's I avoid and has a bit of a guilty pleasure vibe, but I can't say the same about Very. It's just okay, I'll listen once and continue to ignore synth-pop and the Pet Shop Boys.
Prior to this album, I was a regular listener and had purchased multiple albums. This album was a miss for me, I’ve revisited this album since then but it really doesn’t work.
Usual soft singing and romantic lyrics from the Pet Shop Boys, none of which interested me except for the fun Yesterday When I Was Mad and campy Go West.
I like a lot of Pet Shop Boys music, but not this album so much.
1. forgive - 1.5 2. thing - 1 3. liberation - 1.5 4. vieuu - 1 5. queen - 2 6. mad - 1 7. theater - 1.5 8. five - 1 9. zin - 1.5 10. offender - 1 11. million - 0 12. uuezt - 1
Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 🟧⚪❕ Production: 🎧😐🆗 Music: 🌈💻🕺🤑🫧🤷 Rating: 🟧🟧/5
Synth Pop past it's prime. Nothing I would choose to listen to on my own, but not terrible. 2/5
Didn't do much for me. Kinda all the same song
80s Brit Pop
Flat and boring - to me
An entire album of dance music will never resonate with me. Some things are just meant to be singles in a playlist
Not my fave. 2/5
Dear Mr 1001, Let’s be honest, homeopathic doses of the Pet Shop Boys are all anyone should be asked to take in. This is too much PSB; surely they only rank 1 in 1000 all time. And this isn’t even their best. Yours truly Synthed out
This reaffirmed that I am still not a pet shop boys fan. The vocals put me off (although their earlier song west end girls is awesome). Sorry pet shop boys. Not today.
I always think there is a good band there but hate that they make a deliberate attempt to be as poppy as they can. Some of the music is just Stock, Aiken & Waterhouse drivel. Good vocals and lyrics save it and hopefully other albums will be better. Top track: I wouldn’t normally…
I was intrigued to listen to this given that while 80s synth pop is not exactly my bag, I have a certain soft spot for the PSBs. This did rather disappoint though, the opening track and ‘the theatre’ aside it was far too bland camp pop for me, all just rather meh. I recall them as having more of an ‘edge’ to an extent. Maybe there are earlier albums on the list that will show that…..
Don't think I have ever listened to this, had a hint of New Order about it and made me think I never really appreciated their electric beats. -1 for going on forever playing the same stuff and wearing pointy hats.
Not a big fan. Generic 80s sounding pop with at times poor vocal performance. Maybe this was transformative at the time but for today, it's not great.
The Good: Non-abrasive music The Bad: makes me wonder what the point is of this album The Ugly: having to sit through an entire album of Neil Tennant singing… Yes, I understand that all people have their biases, and mine is that I like rock n roll related music more than pop or dance music. Which makes me wonder why I have to listen to this album, as even the wikipedia description does not give me enough reason to understand. Is it because Mr. Tennant finally came out of the closet? Is this the same reason why people should like Queen? What does admiting being gay, which everyone already believed, have anything to do with me having to listen to this album? Go West was okay to listen to, and all the “songs” that came before too, but they are all bland, and all pretty much sound the same to me, just like their previous musical endeavors… so, again, why do I have to listen to this? 2* because I didn’t hate it, but I refuse to give this the 3* it probably deserves… because I don’t understand why this album did make it on the list, but the album Magnolia by The Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies did not...
After being tortured by the Pet Shop Boys over the radio for years I can't like them. I tried. But their stuff just sounds very similar without any highlights. I really don't get why there are three albums (!) so far of this band on this list. Some tracks are ok, sure, but nothing that is a highlight.
forgot to rate this one when i listened — i remember liking it ok?
Very cheesy
Pet Shop Boys go very gay and also start wearing the weird outfits. Never heard this album before, but in context the seemingly massively random Village People cover finally makes sense. It's mostly lyrically interesting, as you'd expect, though musically? It's pretty forgettable. Strange for such a commercial sound. Exceptions being the outstanding The Theatre and Young Offender is pretty good. There's probably a fair bit of later Pet Shop Boys that's decent, (Se a Vida E is a slice of summery pop) but I basically sign off post 1990.
So dull, repetitive, annoying. I don’t get it.
It’s not the worst Pet Shop Boys album, but I still honestly don’t get why any of them are on this list. In the words of my teens, it’s “very mid.”
If someone was to tell me that this was the album that was a major influence on club music in the 90s/2000s then I could well believe that. Switches from really radio friendly pop numbers to club-ready dance anthems. Probably captured several early 90s zeitgeists (zeigeisten?): the aftermath of the Cold War, the rise of club music/culture, and the expanding visibility and empowerment of LGBTQ+ communities. I guess you had to be there at the time of its release to really have felt its impact and understand its significance.
I’ve never been able to get past Pet Shop Boys vocals.
If my Spotify was alive, I bet it would stop my music and ask “what the fuck is up with you”? That’s the feeling I get with the back and forth and side to side stepping with each album that is suggested to me. I know the Pet Shop Boys, which is good because I’m not sure I’d find one of their albums listenable if I didn’t. It’s very soft disco pop with songs that don’t drag on but seem to end a little earlier than they should. This is not one I’d suggest to someone if they were interested in listening to the Pet Shop Boys. It’s not a strong album, though Go West blows the whole album out of the water. Choice cut: Go West
So very 80's. Too 80's. It is off-putting.
Heard of the group before but don’t think I’d be able to name any of their songs.. I wanted to like this more, but something was just unsettling to me. No terrible but I would not seek this one out again.
Wasn't really my cup of tea
heavy on the synth. its aight 4/10
Meh. I hate to keep coming up with negative comments. It's too soft and effeminate for me. Just not my style of music.
Can You Forgive Her and Liberation are both great, but the rest just felt like I was listening to an abandoned Jazzercise mixtape
4/10. Nothing stood out as exciting for me.
Feels plastic, contrived and hollow. (That would’ve suited as a PSB album title, no?) Plus, too much, though one can admire their commitment to same. The sweet bits are made too cloying, the ironic bits too obvious, and the vocals consistently annoying. They wanted to be the Smiths, right, but they weren’t that clever or aristic lyrically, lacked Morrissey’s vocal chops and lacked any musical talent beyond picking producers to soup up the latest studio synthetics. One senses many people connect to this emotionally, without feeling anything like engagement oneself or even much sympathy (again down to an excess of gloss and froth in the packaging). But then this is really is quite narrowl targeted, isn't it?
One decent song and a bunch of snooze
I guess they're like a poppier Depeche Mode? This album isn't really doing it for me.
I definitely preferred the other Pet Shop Boys album I had on this list, but this one still wasn't bad. I don't imagine coming back to much here, but it was still fine.
Don't feel like this recording was truly special. Similar themes across songs and the synth pop started getting repetitive. I do recall the Pet Shop Boys being big in their day and I am just not sure this album represents them at their best.
Suuuuper boring
Oh my goodness, I haaaaaaate the Pet Shop Boys. There’s no feeling quite like not listening to them. Their voices, their arrangements, their beats? Quality production and I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world, but for me, it is unbearable. 2/5
Niet m'n vibe. Geen immense fan van 80s/90s popmuziek met een overdosis synthesizers. 2.3
Gay songs
One drum track to rule all.
Funky
Struggled with this. I've never really linked the Pet Shop Boys, find it all the same and the vocals annoy me. They've got some good hits but this album but a bit duff for me
As their wiki says, so consistent. Another way to say it is wow, this album is so monotonous and repetitive. Without any of the PSB hits that we love, this album seems lackluster and overall pretty boring. I like the sound of the vocals to be honest, so I can't go one star. But it's definitely no better than two. :(
I like the pet shop boys singles. But christ, the more I listened to this, the more it agitated me. The combination of Neil Tennant's vocals with the poppy electronic sound were an awful combination. Some of the songs at the start were OK (different point of view for example), but it really over welcomed it's stay. 'Go weest' was interesting purely because it sounds like it came from an advert? I'm torn between 3 and 2 stars. I'm going with 2 stars, screw it.
Not for me
Wasn't as bad as I'd expected.
You can shake your tuccus to this one. It's like if Empire of the Sun was hopped up on meth. Speaking of meth... when I was in my early 20's, I did many meths. We purchased our meth through a gentleman in the gay community in Atlanta. One night, we had to meet him at the famous 24 hour gay nightclub, Backstreet, in order to make the purchase. It was an interesting experience for a young, heterosexual male. Sweaty dudes with glitter on their shirtless bodies, dancing and making out. One guy even hit on me. I was flattered. My mom always said I was handsome, and this experience helped confirm that was true. I tell that story to say that I could definitely imagine hearing this album playing at that club. Yesterday When I Was Mad was my favorite.
This started out pretty decent, but then slid into unremarkable and repetitive dance junk
This is my third Pet Shop Boys album, and it gets the same rating as all the others. Why are three of their albums on this list (so far, for me)? Surely, there must be two other albums worthy of a spot? 2/5
Åbneren er Pet Shop Boys absolut bedste nummer. Tung, melodisk, dragende. Desværre fortsætter det ikke sådan. Og det ender i 8 minutters ulidelig 90er patiche på hvad der må være indbegrebet af alt det vi bør glemme fra et ellers fantastisk musik årti.
Tecno pop robusto, só não reconheci grandes sucessos.
Hard to have a strong opinion on this one either way. Nothing terribly unpleasant, but nothing I would go back to.
#254. Uninspiring British synth pop. Seemed pretty soulless and commercial to me. A bit of a force your way through it kind of album, honestly. 2/5: meh
The first descriptor that came to mind when this record came on was “orchestral pop.” This is not my cup of tea, but I can see why people would enjoy it. It’s bright, high-energy, and makes me feel like I should be in a spin class, working up a sweat. The vocals are too cheesy for my liking, but it’s poppy and dreamy. This is one I’m surprised made the list.
Couldn't get through it
It just does nothing for me.
Very fun.
Love their early music. This much less.
Liked their one (or 2?) big hits. Kajagoogoo wants their keytar back.
I'm more of a greatest hits fan
I like this band but this one couldn't hold my attention. Not in my top 1001
Why is the singers voice so annoying
I find the Pet Shop Boys so dull so this was a Hard listen. 1.5 but because Go west just about makes a 2 but only just!
A bit disappointing... I loved the 1980s version of the Pet Shop Boys but I found this pretty bland. Just a bit of a wash. 2/5
Really dragged by the end. Not really bad but definitely not for me
It’s got fun energy, but the songs all sound the same.
Musically kind of interesting, but the whiny vocals get pretty grating after a couple songs. Very polished sounding, but in an almost clinical way, despite having lots of spectrum coverage, sonically. Go West's chords almost perfectly matched Canon in D, which was interesting for a minute, but then became pretty monotonous (no pun intended) and boring. Overall not really my cup of tea. Two stars.
Not my thing, but I can see why it was on the list. Felt like a very progressive record for the time - both musically and lyrically.
couldn't really be bothered with this. not my jam at all. +1 for the lady Di reference
I was unconvinced by the album review. Solidly meh, pretty melodies but I felt bored while the music bopped away. Vocals left a lot to be desired for me.
Whole album felt a bit thin
Go West (cover of Village People 1979 song) uses Pachelbel Canon chord progression.
There’s something about the Pet Shop Boys that really bugs me but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s that they have such a distinctive style? Why not switch it up a bit lads?
If you like pet shops boy this will be good but it's just meh. The last song is actually good
Cool early elements of hyperpop, though I'm not sure they were conscious. The dramatic string synths sound bizarrely dated for 1993. The dance tracks don't take me there. Moby did a much better job at this. The song "Forever Young" came on right after this album and my ears pricked up excitedly, only to realise that I was no longer listening to the Pet Shop Boys.
No le puedo agarrar gusto a esa voz... Musicalmente está bien pero tampoco es un antes y un después en mi vida. 2,5/5 (mid)
Pour de la musique électronique qui se veut apparemment festive, ça me semble très désincarné, peu sensuel, comme intellectualisé. J'accroche peu. Je pense que j'ai trouvé une version anniversaire augmentée ; en tout cas, j'ai trouvé ça interminable pour le concept.
Boring. Don't like his voice.
Whatevs.
I didn't hate the experience, but this isn't for me. 2/5
not much of a fan 1.5
It was kind of boring
The backstreet boys if you dipped them in glue and dragged them through New Wave. Incredibly glossy production and dandelion light vibes. Ahead of it's time, but the bright lightness is a dark ominous sign of the boyband bubblegum tsunami that the pop factory would unleash a few short years later. A few welcome tastes of the signature pet shop boys speak-sing delivery (Yesterday When I Was Mad) and some nice rise and fall melodies with pretty distinctive phrasing, but for the most part they've moved on from the 80s synth pop sound for a fast Scandi techno pop thing that is really not my thing.
probably a 2.5 or so really. could i write poetry to this? n
I dug half this album. The other half though...
Not my thing. Far too euro-pop for my tastes.
Theyre clearly good but man did this drag for me
Actually not too bad but this album was a bit weak, in my opinion.
Fine background music. Not unlistenable but not really enjoyable
Not really my favorite style of music, but the lyrical content is pretty interesting and the music was fun. I can’t see myself revisiting this, but I enjoyed it well enough.
Considering I'm not a fan of electronica, it's less annoying than most recordings in this genre. The monotony of the lead singer's voice wears on one after about 6 songs.
Generic British synth pop, but not terrible enough for a one.
Juist. Ja sorry paps, maar dit vind ik dus echt heee-lee-maal niks. 2/5.
Not my type of music, good background music though
Frenetic. Well done but insistent back beat doesn't do much for me. Nervous hamster.
I just looked back and this is the third Pet Shop Boys album on this list. WTF? Seriously? How can that be possible? I have a strong dislike for Pet Shop Boys. The music is not horrible, but the vocals just make me cringe. So wimpy, soft and effeminate. Once you're done listening to this, I recommend putting on Who's Next by The Who to get your day back on track. It's almost a 1 star for me, but like I said, some of the music is okay, so I'll give it 2 stars.
don't think I like his voice, very 80's vibe, which isn't my fave... I sort of giggle listening to it, it's silly -feeling. I'm glad that's over.
90s dance music feels about as dated as it is. Groovy but kind of silly at the same time -- feels like the granddaddy to the upbeat newgrounds techno i was listening to as a kid.
Very forgettable. I can see that this album might speak to young gay men, which is fine, there's plenty of albums already with songs about straight young men/ women. However, it's not very interesting/ relevant to me. The songs were very similar and I was very glad to hear the one big hit I remembered, as this marked the very end of the album. 2 stars seems fair, this wasn't very bad, just very dull.
2 - Not for me. Don't like the lyrics and find it all a bit repetitive
I think I maybe hate this. The first two tracks are really cheesy. Liberation started better, Balearic house vibes. I’m really not a fan of Neil Tennant’s vocals. Yesterday When I Was Mad probably best track so far, but I still find the sound palette of it incredibly cheesy. The Theatre is similar, has some decent moments, but then the hideous dramatic strings and vocoder-y synth effects are so corny. One and One Make Five - jesus, this is bad. They turned in a whole song just for the contrived rhyme of “alive” with “five”. So “To Speak is a Sin” isn’t even “It’s a Sin”. Go West is one of the most annoying songs ever created. You can’t make me listen to the hidden track. This is another case where I don’t think this is the worst album out there, but it’s baffling to me as to why this was included in the list. I don’t hear what is essential or groundbreaking about this in anyway. 1.5/5
Just nothingy really, besides about 30 seconds of one track which was okay but I can't remember what it was and don't care enough to check
Quickly turned into background noise. Wasn't horrible just forgettable.
First off, love the album cover of just Orange. Beautiful. Not that I can recognize songs by name, but I think I can always tell a Pet Shop Boys song by the singers unique voice. There are a few songs I find very good by these guys, but unfortunately, none of those songs are off this album. Thought To Speak Is A Sin was one of those songs, but nope, different song, similar title. As for the album, I thought it was OK. There were times it drifted into too much disco/dance stuff, but I found it to be OK. I really appreciate the cover of Go West. It took me a long time to figure out where I heard it before and once it hit me, all I could do was smile. Even went back and played the original. Do it. It will make you/us older folks smile when you see the artist. Can't say this is my favorite kind of music, but thought it was a decent listen. I do like some of their songs and Go West made me think of my youth. Not off this album, but think their version of Always On My Mind is pretty good too. I'm going with a 2.5, bit scoreboard will read 2 2.5
2.5 This is much more accessible and catchy than our last Pet Shop Boys album, but really just to the point where I found it okay instead of annoying. There are a couple decent tracks here like Can You Forgive Her?, I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing, and To Speak is a Sin (not to be confused with their similarly titled It’s a Sin) that I feel are ALMOST good enough to put me in a dance-y mood, but they never quite get me there or even really impart a lasting impression for that matter. They admittedly do a good job of having a unique feel to each song, to the point that I almost immediately recognized them all upon re-listening, but even still, nothing about any one of them struck me in any particular way. Maybe Young Offender, but mostly just because that one was ick-inducing more than anything else. Yeah, I just don’t think Pet Shop Boys are my thing. I’ve seen a lot of people refer to them as dance pop sadbois, so it seems like they should be up my alley, but I’m just not picking up on any of that in the music - thematically, both albums of theirs I’ve heard seem more focused on nightlife and hooking up. Supposedly this is also littered with hints of vocalist Neil Tennant’s homosexuality prior to him coming out which are definitely noticeable in the lyrics once you’re looking for them, but I don’t think it really adds to the album in any meaningful way, and it definitely doesn’t make Young Offender any less creepy. I don’t think these guys are bad at writing dance pop by any means - I can definitely see the appeal if I was someone more into the genre - but I do feel like there are much better offerings out there from better artists. That being said, this album prompted me to go back and look at Actually again, and to my surprise, it features a collaboration with Dusty Springfield, an artist I didn’t know at the time of my initial review but am well familiar with now, and as a result, the track is probably now my favorite Pet Shop Boys song. So, I guess you could say some good came out of this after all.
Clean, but very dated and showing its age.
Arvostelu ”Actually” rakastajalta…Miksi ei enää toimi…. NOH.. Lyriikka tarinointi paskoo lahjahevosen suuhun.. Lahajana aina se mitä näille kavereille on antanut että ei PERKELE rupee popittamaan kun ollaan herkässä tilassa.. TÄSSÄ PUUKOTTAA SELKÄÄN.. pikkasen.. Ei ookkaan kontenttia samassa muodossa… Noh ei sähkösokki kahdesti toimi.. vanha sanonta.. Välillä hevonen juoksee liian nopeasti pysy perässä.. mitä vittua yritätte… Biisit upeita ja taas hralla ihanat ihmmissuhderakkaus maailma oma itsyys lyriikoina.. Mutta herra ei anna rauhaa… Jokainen biisi baller.. jokasella stadium huutaa.. Noh ei sähkösokki kahdesti toimi.. Ei pysty shokeeraaman uudesti samalla tvl.. ja virta pamauta uusia reittejä aivoissa.. R&B sampleillekkö pitäis tässä innostua.. Eikö mahtavan neuvostoliiton tuho olisi saannut artisti mieleenne vaikka torvet siellä 90 luvulla joita toitottaa niinkuin Kult bandissa.. btw halusin sen 3 antaa.. lopusss paskottiin semmosta litravauhtia suuhun että eipä tule..
I feel bad but this is really not for me. I was gonna do a 2.5 because it seems well liked and important for the outing element. But I can’t really round up to a 3 considering how many albums I liked more in the 3s. It’s a 2.4 for me. Seems pretty well put together, and I know it’s important for some people, but it’s so cheesy sounding and not my thing.
I listened to the Further version tracks 1-12
This is wildly different than anything else I have heard from this project so far. That doesn't mean its bad but definitely a welcome change of pace. It does feel a bit dated though and has moments of greatness followed by things that are not so great. 2 out of 5.
A bit whacky but pretty decent
Like depeche mode but corny. some good tracks but MAN i hate go west so much.
Meh.
This was...flamboyant. It's funny how when I was younger I confused "Pet Shop Boys" with "Beastie Boys." I may be the only person to ever do such a thing.
Blumig klingender Synth-Pop.
Synth pop is not my thing, couldn't finish this album. However, I feel that Pet Shop Boys deserve credit for the contributions to pop culture and 90s music. I may have more opinions when "Behaviour" comes around. Overall: 5/10
Not really a style of music that I frequently enjoy. Was an odd mix of upbeat dance type music and some really sad lyrics. 2/5 Won’t listen again
This is what I think when I hear 80s synth pop, the first song is great but then seems quite repetitive in rhythm and song structure in general.
I grew up when the Pet Shop Boys were on the radio pretty regularly. I’m glad I heard that stuff (Actually, Behavior) before this as I’d have the impression that they are not a good band. It pains me to say it about any of their work, but this is kinda crap.
# 96 : its not bad, its not good, another good background album I probably wont go back to. There's better things to listen to before you die. Favourite Track : Can You Forgive Her? Listened : 26/10/2023
Disco-ish. Sometimes cool and kind of catchy, Most often pretty boring.
The quintessential 90's 🌈 club music. I'll always consider Pet Shop Boys a one hit wonder, and this album doesn't even have the hit.
Meh
Nja, bättre plattor har de gjort.
I find this to be awful because it feels designed to be inoffensive and bland. I read the description and the context and that makes it even worse IMO. It’s techno and a coming out party at once and it’s less likely to make me dance than anything I’ve listened to in a while. And, it seems pretty generic and not super introspective from a sexuality standpoint. Really disappointing.
Poopsock
I'm not feeling this album. Sorry Boys!
I have always liked Pet Shop Boys' radio hits, like 'Go West' from this album, but a whole arecord full of simple, commercialised, now dated sounding songs is too much for me. I thought I would like this album more but I was clearly wrong.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Yesterday When I Was Mad (6) 2 - One in a Million (11) 3 - One and One Make Five (8)
There's 3 pet shop boys albums on the list. PSB definitely belong on the list, but not 3 albums and not this one. It's not bad, it's not great. Favorite song: Yesterday When I Was Mad. But really none of the songs are very memorable.
I'm starting to think that they just accidentally made a good album with "Actually".
I was tempted to give it a 3 - I’ve never liked Pet Shop Boys but I didn’t mind listening to this. But then realising that the “stand out single” is a cover? Knock it down to a 2, I’m just not a fan.
Did not age well - I got some Right Said Fred drum vibes.
I felt that this album had a familiar sound but I was unable to recognize who they sounded like. Heir style with the soft singing and electronic beats has a modern style yet also feels like it was dated at the same time. Very melancholy yet upbeat. It was like a more depressed lcd sound system. Overall it was okay but nothing worth revisiting. 4.6/10
The 80's meets late 90's boy bands. Pretty forgettable pop.
A total musical dumpster fire but at least it’s a silly one. +1 for making me chuckle multiple times at how over the top whimsical and goofy this thug managed to be while trying to be 100% serious.
I didn't like this one. Way too long for what it is. I saw that it was British synth pop but I still expected something else for some reason. This was not my jam.
A THIRD Pet Shop Boys album? Considering I gave the other two a 3/5, it’s safe to say I went into this not expecting a lot. Where the others had some standout tracks and strong ideas but suffered from a bit of inconsistency, this was just not very good from start to finish
Visual novel music vibes. I didn't like it
that last song was so bad 2/5
Not my style
One-note.
Go West är ju en hit trots arr, men annars är det mest som att föräta sig på finska pinnar.
Doesn't quite convince me
Ik geloof dat ik ooit eens een lans brak voor de PSB, terwijl ik nu niet meer weet waarom.
Wat een eenheidworst! Jammer, want verder was ik wel toe aan wat energieke muziek in deze lijst.
"Diana dried her eyes and was surprised, for I was in the NEWD" is definitely a statement. I think if I were British and not an infant in 1993 I would likely have a higher rating but alas, the Pet Shop Boys are corny in the unaware way that brits veer into so often. I mean they're always the guy in the big Pharell hat and not-Peter-Gabriel to me - and his voice is too nasal for my taste. It feels like what Mr. Bean listens to when he's in a funk. Nothing about the album is BAD necessarily, it just made me wish I was listening to more interesting synth pop, and it feels dated to my ear in a way that Duran Duran;s best stuff for example does not. My REAL hot take is that Future Islands is basically Pet Shop Boys 2.0. Objectively its closer to 3 but subjectively it was a bit of a chore for me, like eating boiled vegetables, so a 2 from me.
meh
I used to really like Pet Shop Boys. In fact, I still do, but this album is far from their best. They peaked early in their career and this album seems as though they're trying to replicate what had come before. I mean, it's still unmistakably Pet Shop Boys, but the spark isn't there anymore. Nothing on this album made an impression at all, it all just floated by, inoffensively enough, but with praactically zero engagement from me.
p714. 1993. 2 stars Well produced but instantly forgettable pop fluff. It speaks volumes that the biggest hit on this is a cover. Not essential listening.
Very gay