Spring Break
'Yes,' the Pet Shop Boys are still relevant
3 out of 5 stars
Fernando Dutra
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Focus
The story so far: an aging band that put British pop on the map haven't made a collectively agreed upon excellent album since 1993's "Very." After being awarded an award for "Outstanding Contribution to Music" at the 2009 BRIT Awards, the band realized it had to do something to reclaim the glory years. Usually, when bands receive awards that acknowledge their careers, it's normally a sign that they are in the twilight of their productive years. The same happened to Peter O'Toole. Not to be dissuaded, the Pet Shop Boys put their heads together to reinvent themselves and work toward modern relevance.
The first step towards doing so was to involve Xenomania, the team behind the recent British pop sensation Girls Aloud. The Pet Shop Boys have always been known for their pop, and this step into commercialism is simply a survival technique.
To prove that they are still able to produce radio-ready songs, they collaborated with one of the most in demand producers. This doesn't affect the songwriting. With the exception of lead single, "Love, Etc." and two other songs, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe penned all of their own songs.
The result is inoffensive, glossy electronic pop. "Love, Etc.," the first song on the album, pulses with a steady feel-good charm, with gang vocals in the chorus encouragingly saying that they "(Don't have to be) A big bucks Hollywood star / (Don't have to drive) A super car to get far / (Don't have to live) A life of power and wealth." According to them, the song is meant to be a "post-lifestyle anthem." Despite the positive attitude that runs through the entire album, the Pet Shop Boys manage to sneak in snarky comments like "(Don't have to be) Beautiful but it helps." This is uncomplicated, straightforward pop, something far removed from the dark, moody music found in their previous release, "Fundamental."
The album is not without its misstep. There are songs that are hit-or-miss, and the album has a treacly inclination for ballads that don't really lead anywhere. "Legacy," the album's closer, leaves the album with a whimper. The Pet Shop Boys alternate between syrupy pop and halting introspection, a dichotomy that becomes more apparent as listeners notice the aural atmosphere shift from the good "Did You See Me Coming?" to the mediocre and repetitive "Vulnerable." This album is a victim of this schizophrenic approach - the Pet Shop Boys want their listeners to feel good, but they can't rectify that with awareness-savvy comments made about politics in "Legacy." "Building A Wall," however, is probably the biggest misfire on the album, a story song that has nothing going for it.
While the Pet Shop Boys have started out the year on a positive note, they are still finding their footing in terms of making a triumphant comeback. This shows that they are on their way, but they are fumbling to keep it complete. The fact that the best tracks on the album were the ones co-written with Xenomania suggests that the Pet Shop Boys made a wise decision in their collaboration choice.
The first step towards doing so was to involve Xenomania, the team behind the recent British pop sensation Girls Aloud. The Pet Shop Boys have always been known for their pop, and this step into commercialism is simply a survival technique.
To prove that they are still able to produce radio-ready songs, they collaborated with one of the most in demand producers. This doesn't affect the songwriting. With the exception of lead single, "Love, Etc." and two other songs, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe penned all of their own songs.
The result is inoffensive, glossy electronic pop. "Love, Etc.," the first song on the album, pulses with a steady feel-good charm, with gang vocals in the chorus encouragingly saying that they "(Don't have to be) A big bucks Hollywood star / (Don't have to drive) A super car to get far / (Don't have to live) A life of power and wealth." According to them, the song is meant to be a "post-lifestyle anthem." Despite the positive attitude that runs through the entire album, the Pet Shop Boys manage to sneak in snarky comments like "(Don't have to be) Beautiful but it helps." This is uncomplicated, straightforward pop, something far removed from the dark, moody music found in their previous release, "Fundamental."
The album is not without its misstep. There are songs that are hit-or-miss, and the album has a treacly inclination for ballads that don't really lead anywhere. "Legacy," the album's closer, leaves the album with a whimper. The Pet Shop Boys alternate between syrupy pop and halting introspection, a dichotomy that becomes more apparent as listeners notice the aural atmosphere shift from the good "Did You See Me Coming?" to the mediocre and repetitive "Vulnerable." This album is a victim of this schizophrenic approach - the Pet Shop Boys want their listeners to feel good, but they can't rectify that with awareness-savvy comments made about politics in "Legacy." "Building A Wall," however, is probably the biggest misfire on the album, a story song that has nothing going for it.
While the Pet Shop Boys have started out the year on a positive note, they are still finding their footing in terms of making a triumphant comeback. This shows that they are on their way, but they are fumbling to keep it complete. The fact that the best tracks on the album were the ones co-written with Xenomania suggests that the Pet Shop Boys made a wise decision in their collaboration choice.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Hartej
posted 4/23/09 @ 8:01 PM EST
Fernando, it is interesting you don't even mention the best songs in your review but you declare the Pet Shop Boys "still relevant". I never thought they were ever irrelevant (considering they single-handedly invented House and Eelctro; two major genres of modern music). (Continued…)
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