Pet Shop Boys Yes Review
New Dance Album Spreads Love Etc. All Over The World, Except US
Formed in London in the early 80’s the Pet Shop Boys quickly earned a place on the charts and dancefloors on both sides of the Atlantic with their fusion of cynicism and style.
Characterizing the 80’s sleek electronic dance pop sound, the Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe) fell off the radar in the US at the end of the decade.
They continued, however, their musical journey in most territories, racking up an impressive 40 top 40 hits in their native England.
Pet Shop Boys / Xenomania Pandemonium
The Pet Shop Boys have merged a variety of sounds into their discography since the 90’s, embracing House, Dance-Rock and Alternative. On their 10th album, Yes, they return to the classic dance pop sound that first got them attention.
Songwriter/ producer Brian Higgins produced Yes. Best known under the pseudonym Xenomania, Higgins has helped bring back a Stock Aitken Waterman feel to the UK Charts, producing danceable pop for Kylie Minogue and Girls Aloud, among others.
“Pandemonium”, the best example of the Xenomania / Pet Shop Boys collaboration, sounds as light and bubbly as any of the dance pop Higgins has created for Girls Aloud, without sacrificing the Pet Shop Boys’ unique personality.
Yes, More Than A Dream
Drenched in positivism and hope in these tough economic times, Yes comes loaded with pleasurable dance tracks that stick closely to the Pet Shop Boys formula without feeling redundant. Such tracks as “All Over The World”, “Vulnerable” and “More Than a Dream”, could easily squeeze on any previous PSB album without missing a beat.
Stand out cut, “The Way It Used To Be”, deals with longing for a lost lover and the end of a high period in a relationship, over a wave of minimalist synths that allow Neil’s brilliant vocals and poignant lyrics to take centre stage.
“Beautiful People” recalls the The Mamas & the Papas’ 1965 hit “California Dreamin’, lead single “Love Etc.” echos the male chorus on “Go West” from Very, while on light-natured “Did You See Me Coming?”, Neil muses on falling in love again. One of the best tracks on the album, “Did You See Me Coming?” would have sounded better as the album closer instead of the dreadful “Legacy”.
Despite a few flaws, such as “Building a Wall”, “King of Rome” and the aforementioned “Legacy”, Yes ranks as one of the best Pet Shop Boys albums.
Yes is available now in all territories except the United States where it will be released on April 21, 2009, the same day fellow 1980’s synth pop act Depeche Mode drop their latest Sounds of the Universe.
Pet Shop Boys - Yes
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