So I forgot to post a review on this one back when I bought it a month or so ago. I get way too excited when my favorite artists come out with a new album. It is so satisfying when it is a really good album. Lately other of my favorite artists have put out albums that are ok, but "Yes", the new album from the Pet Shop Boys, is fun, happy and a beautiful example of lyrical and electronic architecture.
Every once and a while I dig around for some good new synth pop and find some artists that are really good at making their machines make some great ear candy, but pretty much all of them fail when it comes to lyrics and a good tune that you can enjoy even when the music turns off.
Hats off to the Pet Shop Boys, this may be my favorite album after Behaviour.
Track Listing:
01 Love Etc. - Some good synth sounds, a fun bouncy beat, creative lyrics
02 All Over the World - A good fusion of classical motifs and modern electronic sounds. It has a unique rhythm that is very catchy.
03 Beautiful People - Reminds me of some of their B-side songs, apparently made for a TV show called Beautiful People in Europe somewhere. . . with that background, it sounds very much like a TV opening/closing song.
04 Did you See Me Coming? - By far my favorite song on the album. All the classic dancy beat of old pet shop boys with great new electronic ear candy and great melody & lyrics.
05 Vunerable - It is interesting lyrically, the synth is fairly basic, but the bridges give the whole piece the feel of one of those screen savers that you keep watching even though there isn't much to it.
06 More Than A Dream - Good ear candy. Would be cool to disco skate to. Very dynamic and well orchestrated.
07 Building A Wall - Good blending of lower notes & electrical sounds during chorus.
08 The King of Rome - Ok. . .so maybe I have two favorite songs on this one. This one is just so full of feeling. It reminds me of something far away that I can't reach. It takes me back to the days of listening to "Jealousy" in the underground hut Jared built and takes me far ahead to speculate what the future has in store. . . . listening to it right now. . . I'll enjoy this one for the long term much more than track 04.
09 Pandemonium - This one would be good to skate to . . too. This one is just fun, upbeat and very Pet Shop Boys as only Pet Shop Boys can do.
10 The Way It Used To Be - Really good new synth sounds/blends. Would be good for driving across the desert of Nevada, through Canyonlands or Arch's. .
11 Legacy - This one is probably trying a bit to hard to be interesting. Some complex key
changes with a political march feel to the beat. The least interesting of all the tracks.
12 Love Etc. (Pet Shop Boys Dub) - This one was a fun extra track for the album because it gave me one of those fun extra mixes that I used to get only by buying the related single. Might make a good launch ramp song or a speed skate song. . . . maybe a blackout skate with a really good light show with some programmed track light patterns and occasional bursts of strobes. . . and really loud bass.
13 (Yes Track by Track Commentary by Neil and Chris) - It is nice to hear artists talking about their own music. It is nice to hear how normal their personalities are and the little things they find funny about the whole album-making process.
Good Album.
If you like the Pet Shop Boys, this is one to add.
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