05/05/2006
Pet Shop Boys Fundamental: First Listen
I've had the opportunity to listen to the Pet Shop Boys' latest album Fundamental
"Psychological": Dark and spooky. Great rhythm. Atmospheric. Very goth. Ends with cackle.
"The Sodom and Gomorrah Show": Upbeat and faster, starts like a new wave vaudeville act but morphs into a melodic adventure. Lyrics get a bit buried in the arrangement. "You've got to love, to learn, to live where angels fear to tread....Even now I think of how you turned to me to say, sex and sin, death and destruction!"
"I Made My Excuses and Left": A quiet, sorrowful ballad about finding your lover with someone else.
"Minimal": A meditation on minimalism, with an arrangement that is anything but minimal. A rich, layer cake of synth pop. "An empty box, an open space, a single thought leaves a trace...M-I-N-I-M-A-L."
"Numb": Vocals bare on the surface. About having seen too much and feeling pain because of it. "I don't wanna think, I don't wanna feel. I just want to be numb." It's interesting because the halting vocal arrangement appears to be a direct reference to the "Theme from the Valley of the Dolls." Interesting...
"God Willing": A short interstitial minute-long track that appears to work simply as a transition.
"Luna Park": A lush ode to an amusement park experience, it seems to be referencing the famous Coney Island landmark.
"I'm With Stupid": You may have heard this rant on the relationship between Bush and Blair already. If not, it's an amusing trip back to the earlier sound of the PSB and nails the two leaders.
"Casanova in Hell": Secrets and lies — A fable about a male "Casanova" who can't get an erection with a girl because he's gay.
"Twentieth Century": Imho the weakest track on the album. An ethereal take on the lesson we learned from the last century: "Sometimes the solution is worse than the problem; let's stay together." Not quite sure what they're trying to say here. The message isn't quite as crisp on this track.
"Indefinite Leave to Remain": Starts off with a beautiful trumpet sounding, this ballad is about finding a place to belong. It's an ode to England. Triumphant and melodic track about the human soul realizing it knows where it needs to be.
"Integral": Another track that returns to the PSB classic hooks. This one's a bit harder than the rest. The meaning's also a bit more opaque but seems to refer to a brave new world where we are simply information in a larger system.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 1:25 PM EST by Andy in Music, Pet Shop Boys | Permalink
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"Petheads" of the world...unite and take over!
Anyone have an idea when this is coming out stateside?
Posted by: Mike Perez | May 5, 2006 2:53:11 PM
Hurray!
/checked off the PSB box on my gay application.
Posted by: David | May 5, 2006 3:27:33 PM
No firm Details on a US release have been announced yet; there was some serious concern that there might not be one; rumors of emergency talks with Rhino Records, a small but quality label.
Oh and the "Collectors" version will have an extra disc called
"Fundamentalism", with commissioned remixes of the CD.
Looking forward to that one.
Posted by: Deschanel | May 5, 2006 3:41:06 PM
Have to check this out. The last PSB CD I really liked was "Nightlife".
Posted by: Lady Heather | May 5, 2006 4:41:01 PM
In the age of the internet, it's not really important to individuals whether or not the album is issued in America. (It is important for the Pet Shop boys, for more sales, I realize). The album is only a click away - order from amazon.co.uk where it is listed for May 22 release at 14.99 pounds (about $25) plus shipping. It includes the 2nd disc, of remixes. I have "one-clicked" my pre-order already.
Posted by: Victor | May 5, 2006 5:25:18 PM
The Pet Shop Boys are so over. I`m With Stupid is appalling. They should only work with singers. Neil Tennent`s voice makes me want to punch myself unconscious. And yes, I was a fan once.
Posted by: Peter Rivendell | May 5, 2006 7:41:14 PM
Jeez, somebody break those two up before they breed and spawn a litter of mini-fascists to fuck the next generation. Little redneck Hitlers with English accents. Scarey!!!!
Posted by: Zeke | May 5, 2006 9:14:17 PM
George Bush is so over.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 6, 2006 2:43:59 AM
Couple of Pet Shop Boys tracks are available at my blog inc a couple of remixes and a new B-side.
Posted by: Homoeclectic | May 6, 2006 7:25:24 AM
Fans of Little Britain check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q32JAfaEPbk&search=I%27m%20with%20stupid
Posted by: Chad Hanging | May 7, 2006 3:53:46 AM
I find it very bland and syruppy. Couple of good, not great songs. Kraftwerk should sue for track 1.
Posted by: protogenes | May 7, 2006 5:45:37 PM
first listen: unimpressed. of course, it was streaming low-quality snippets from Arjanwrites.com.
i've found that although i don't enjoy them as much as i used to (nor are they as relevant) there's always some bit of gloriousness to behold. "HOME AND DRY" off the last album was just stunning.
i do fear we'll never again have a VERY or BEHAVIOUR again from the Boys
Posted by: Dr. Theopolis | May 9, 2006 7:43:32 PM
If you wants to have more info of psb and see the last news,interviews,perfoms etc.. join my forum:
www.tennant-lowe.com
The biggest of PSB in the net :)
Posted by: Lydiapsb | May 28, 2006 9:11:20 AM