Its a bit better than Fundamental. But thats about all. As a listen it doesnt shove its hands down your trousers like say, 'Actually'. Still too much emphasis on songwriting and not enough on structure, melody and instrumentation. The production sounds far to 21st century; no real punch just a watery, shouty sounding pop record. It neednt sound like the 80's, just something radical, but instead it just sounds like music for the school run.
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PSB's new album
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What about the album's amazing centrepiece: a glorious rebuttal of bigotry in the Islamic world which celebrates the liberation of Arab same-sex desire entitled, simply, "Allah Takes It Up the Arse"????
I'm listening to the whole album preview right now at Parlophone. Somehow I didn't like it from the first glance at it, because 1) the cover is simply amateurish and insulting for those who still buy CDs/records (really, is there any other reson to buy that shit nowadays apart from liner notes and cover art?), looks like something from 1983 ('Fundamental' cover was hideous, too) & 2) it was produced by Xenomania whcih sounds like an electro girl name, and I don't want a sweet girl to produce any music, especially PSB & 3) the title is the epitomy of being dull.
The album is not breathtaking and plainly dull, although one can tell PSB did make an effort to implement unusual singning nuances. It is similar to 'NightLife', i.e. on the edge of self-parody and . 'Release' was a fresh air. 'Fundamental', although lacking strong melodies, was saved by a concept mood and Trevor Horn's subtle sound gimmicks. Here Neil's vocal is dubbed with a synth one or somehow manipulated to create a synth-echoed voice which was a cri back in 1998.
|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3 wrote: I'm listening to the whole album preview right now at Parlophone. Somehow I didn't like it from the first glance at it, because 1) the cover is simply amateurish and insulting for those who still buy CDs/records (really, is there any other reson to buy that shit nowadays apart from liner notes and cover art?), looks like something from 1983 ('Fundamental' cover was hideous, too) & 2) it was produced by Xenomania whcih sounds like an electro girl name, and I don't want a sweet girl to produce any music, especially PSB & 3) the title is the epitomy of being dull.
The album is not breathtaking and plainly dull, although one can tell PSB did make an effort to implement unusual singning nuances. It is similar to 'NightLife', i.e. on the edge of self-parody and . 'Release' was a fresh air. 'Fundamental', although lacking strong melodies, was saved by a concept mood and Trevor Horn's subtle sound gimmicks. Here Neil's vocal is dubbed with a synth one or somehow manipulated to create a synth-echoed voice which was a cri back in 1998.
Xenomania are not an electro girl group---although Girls Aloud are female, aren't they?
I wouldn't call the album artwork amateurish---I think it's artistic in it's own way, although I did mentally recall a certain 1983 album regarding the colours, and a certain 2005 album regarding the fact that it's a white background (some editions have a black background) with a piece of artwork in the middle with the album title and artist name on the upper left part.
In the end, I liked the album, and while the title is not that complicated, PSB have been known for having album titles with one word, you know?
Funnily enough, I don't know what you're on about regarding the voice echo 1998 thing. His voice sounds just like it usually does. Nightlife wasn't a horrible album; I think it had it's good moments, but I'd say I like this album better than Nightlife.
I don't consider CD formats shit (despite my relatively young age) because I'd rather have a physical copy of the actual thing than merely a file on a computer.
Self-parody?
That's just PSB being PSB.
The 1st single is Ok (with a very good remix by Gui Boratto), but I enjoyed the Fundamental tracks more. Hopefully there will be stronger tracks on the album.
Actually bought the CD which is i think only the second one i've purchased in 4 years. Not that impressed so far after a day's listening. Weak and watery. Neil Tennant's vocals seemed unconfident and uninspired on a few tracks. Will give it time though. The Way It Used To Be is the only one i like so far. Guess the colour blocks tick spells out Pet Shop Boys if you decode it. Fundamental was a much better album.
Binocher wrote: Tut Tut !
we know Mike...you're waiting for the Cure to cover Blue Monday!!!
I'm just listening to it now. Purchased it today in Tesco, along with a £6 Tesco radio. Spent 80 mins sitting on the floor in my kitchen, trying to tune into to Talk Sport on it. There's a reason these things are £6 you know. Couldn't find Talk Sport anywhere - only 'Come On Eileen' on every frequency - Ian Wright had gone home by the time I finally gave up.
All I want is something to listen to in my new kitchen, nothing flash. I'm going to have to get something more expensive, I think. Going to go for the Tesco Boom box instead! 
Oh yeah, on first listen....liking a few tracks on the new PSB album.
Gonna get the limted editon with bonus CD. Love the single, All Over The World,and Did You See Me Coming so far.
MONTY wrote: Gonna get the limted editon with bonus CD. Love the single, All Over The World,and Did You See Me Coming so far.
I also liked the Sex remix (or whatever that title was) of Love Etc, which was included as a bonus track on the Japanese release of Yes.
More Than a Dream, The Way it Used to Be, Pandemonium, Building a Wall, Did You See Me Coming?, and Love Etc are my faves.
leather_girl wrote:
|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3 wrote: I'm listening to the whole album preview right now at Parlophone. Somehow I didn't like it from the first glance at it, because 1) the cover is simply amateurish and insulting for those who still buy CDs/records (really, is there any other reson to buy that shit nowadays apart from liner notes and cover art?), looks like something from 1983 ('Fundamental' cover was hideous, too) & 2) it was produced by Xenomania whcih sounds like an electro girl name, and I don't want a sweet girl to produce any music, especially PSB & 3) the title is the epitomy of being dull.
The album is not breathtaking and plainly dull, although one can tell PSB did make an effort to implement unusual singning nuances. It is similar to 'NightLife', i.e. on the edge of self-parody and . 'Release' was a fresh air. 'Fundamental', although lacking strong melodies, was saved by a concept mood and Trevor Horn's subtle sound gimmicks. Here Neil's vocal is dubbed with a synth one or somehow manipulated to create a synth-echoed voice which was a cri back in 1998.
although I did mentally recall a certain 1983 album regarding the colours, and a certain 2005 album regarding the fact that it's a white background (some editions have a black background) with a piece of artwork in the middle with the album title and artist name on the upper left part.
It would go even further taking in consideration that certain 2005 album typography clearly said "no" as opposed to "yes".
In the end, I liked the album, and while the title is not that complicated, PSB have been known for having album titles with one word, you know?
I know, but simply yes? I would accept "Bedroom", "Kitchen", whatever, but PSB have been known for theit smart titles (Release, PopArt, Actually..., they can't even call their hit collections "the best of", so wicked they are). Yes bears nothing, at least it doesn't trigger anything (I hope we will never see a PSB album called "Love"). Also, we all know a pompous art-rock band called "Yes". Nice connection, Neil & Chris!!!!! I guess, Neil is going back to his hippy & art-college days of the mid-70s.
Anyway here's my verdict, the album production lacks muscles (either Johnny Marr's guitar, or richer sequence programming).
Maybe it'll grow on, I hope, but it doesn't seem so. It took a live concert for me to eventually appreciate Fundamental.
