Jump to content

Featured Replies

10 West End Girls

05 Love Comes Quickly

07 Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

10 Suburbia

11 It's a Sin

07 What Have I Done To Deserve This?

10 Rent

10 Always On My Mind

09 Heart

08 Domino Dancing

09 Left To My Own Devices

06 It's Alright

10 So Hard

06 Being Boring

07 Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)

06 Jealousy

05 DJ Culture

03 Was It Worth It?

06 Can You Forgive Her?

07 Go West

08 I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing

07 Liberation

01 Absolutely Fabulous

?? Yesterday When I Was Mad

01 Paninaro

?? Before

01 Se a Vida é (That's The Way Life Is)

04 Single Bilingual

03 A Red Letter Day

01 Somewhere

?? I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More

06 New York City Boy

06 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk

?? Home And Dry

?? I Get Along

?? London

?? Miracles

?? Flamboyant

?? I'm With Stupid

?? Minimal

?? Numb

?? Integral

-1 Love Etc

?? Did You See Me Coming?

04 Christmas EP (It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas)

?? Together

?? Winner

?? Leaving

?? Memory Of The Future

?? Axis

?? Vocal

?? Love Is A Bourgeois Construct

?? Thursday

06 The Pop Kids

?? Twenty Something

?? Inner Sanctum

?? Say It To Me

?? Undertow

  • 1 month later...
  • Replies 44
  • Views 4.1k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

10 West End Girls

09 Love Comes Quickly

08 Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

10 Suburbia

10 It's a Sin

10 What Have I Done To Deserve This?

10 Rent

10 Always On My Mind

11 Heart

09 Domino Dancing

08 Left To My Own Devices

07 It's Alright

08 So Hard

10 Being Boring

09 Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)

07 Jealousy

05 DJ Culture

08 Was It Worth It?

08 Can You Forgive Her?

10 Go West

06 I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing

06 Liberation

04 Absolutely Fabulous

05 Yesterday When I Was Mad

03 Paninaro

07 Before

07 Se a Vida é (That's The Way Life Is)

01 Single Bilingual

08 A Red Letter Day

06 Somewhere

05 I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More

09 New York City Boy

08 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk

05 Home And Dry

07 I Get Along

xx London

06 Miracles

08 Flamboyant

04 I'm With Stupid

03 Minimal

05 Numb

05 Integral

02 Love Etc

08 Did You See Me Coming?

07 Christmas EP (It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas)

05 Together

05 Winner

04 Leaving

xx Memory Of The Future

xx Axis

xx Vocal

xx Love Is A Bourgeois Construct

07 Thursday

xx The Pop Kids

xx Twenty Something

xx Inner Sanctum

xx Say It To Me

xx Undertow

Edited by SamJudd

  • Author

Oh I never did the results for this! Shame on me!

 

I think I would still like to - although it may take some time to count them down... happy for any more votes for now if someone wants to...

06 West End Girls

07 Love Comes Quickly

07 Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

09 Suburbia

10 It's a Sin

10 What Have I Done To Deserve This?

08 Rent

11 Always On My Mind

09 Heart

08 Domino Dancing

10 Left To My Own Devices

07 It's Alright

07 So Hard

07 Being Boring

10 Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)

06 Jealousy

03 DJ Culture

07 Was It Worth It?

08 Can You Forgive Her?

10 Go West

05 I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing

04 Liberation

06 Absolutely Fabulous

05 Yesterday When I Was Mad

03 Paninaro

07 Before

09 Se a Vida é (That's The Way Life Is)

06 Single Bilingual

09 A Red Letter Day

05 Somewhere

04 I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More

09 New York City Boy

06 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk

07 Home And Dry

08 I Get Along

05 London

06 Miracles

06 Flamboyant

06 I'm With Stupid

04 Minimal

04 Numb

05 Integral

04 Love Etc

06 Did You See Me Coming?

06 Christmas EP (It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas)

05 Together

05 Winner

05 Leaving

04 Memory Of The Future

08 Axis

06 Vocal

07 Love Is A Bourgeois Construct

07 Thursday

07 The Pop Kids

06 Twenty Something

06 Inner Sanctum

05 Say It To Me

04 Undertow

 

Oh I never did the results for this! Shame on me!

 

I think I would still like to - although it may take some time to count them down... happy for any more votes for now if someone wants to...

 

goodo, been looking forward to it :)

  • Author

Well I've added them all up... too many ties though, I need another set of votes!

 

(will aim to begin results tomorrow so a set before then would be fab... if not, I'll be breaking ties by 11s, 10s, 9s etc)

 

Edited by dandy*

  • Author

Time for...

 

51Fj81WwrTL.jpg

 

Which oh so co-incidentally included her collaboration with the PSBs

 

 

 

 

Edited by dandy*

  • Author

FIFTY EIGHT

 

http://petshopboys.co.uk/media/article-images/600/e424c1ec0527e73d8470ec291b12a399.jpg

 

4.80 Winner

 

You're a winner, I'm a winner, let's enjoy it all while it lasts

 

Positively Synthtastic Banger: darkstar79 (10)

Pass Sick Bucket: dandy* (00)

 

So this one was rather unfortunately titled then.

 

Coming in last place is the PSBs attempt at a single for the 2012 London Olympics. I have to say I'm delighted it finished last as I think it is the biggest misstep of their entire career, an utter borefest of a song that in no way at all encapsulates what is great about them or indeed the sporting event it was aimed at. It really is just so incredibly bland, lacking in musicality but also without any trace of Neil's knack for a quirky couplet. Good taste Buzzjackers.

 

Winner isn't one of their greatest moments, but it was pleasantly forgettable. Peaked at 4 in my charts - having said that they had 6 number ones in my 2012 charts: all bonus tracks/B sides from Format or the singles released in 2012 - including B sides A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi and I Started A Joke (Bee Gees cover) and third Winner B side (quite generous amount of tracks) was also better, The Way Through The Woods hit 7 in my charts without the benefit of radio 2 plays and chart success. Neil & Chris still stand by the single, fans prefer A Certain Je Ne sais Quoi (quite rightly, a much better A side that would have made)
  • Author

FIFTY SEVEN

 

http://petshopboys.co.uk/media/article-images/600/e038ca401d313ed03f800a2d6213b08b.jpg

 

5.33 Together

 

Everything's easy in this state of mind, the world starts to fade as we leave it behind

 

Pleasing Slick Belter: darkstar79 (08)

Pointless Standard Bonus: Gezza (02)

 

So firstly, I am totally going to run out of PSB words for the high and low scores after about the first five so don't judge me too harshly, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Secondly, we find ourselves losing Together next, the token new single that adorned their 'Ultimate' compilation back in 2010. I don't actually think this one is too bad and it probably doesn't deserve to be out this early, it's not up to the standards of the many high points on that compilation but it is a passable enough addition to their discography nonetheless. The downside for me is that it is a touch generic in its production, moving away from the interesting PSB synths to the more standard interpretation that they inspired in other lesser acts.

Edited by dandy*

  • Author
Winner isn't one of their greatest moments, but it was pleasantly forgettable. Peaked at 4 in my charts - having said that they had 6 number ones in my 2012 charts: all bonus tracks/B sides from Format or the singles released in 2012 - including B sides A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi and I Started A Joke (Bee Gees cover) and third Winner B side (quite generous amount of tracks) was also better, The Way Through The Woods hit 7 in my charts without the benefit of radio 2 plays and chart success. Neil & Chris still stand by the single, fans prefer A Certain Je Ne sais Quoi (quite rightly, a much better A side that would have made)

I've never listened to A Certain "Je Ne sais Quoi" until now and I'm definitely preferring it, madness to go with Winner over that!

  • Author

FIFTY SIX

 

http://petshopboys.co.uk/media/article-images/600/ebe149016e2420e9b2079f4b96050db0.jpg

 

5.38 Was It Worth It?

 

If I'd had my way this would have happened much sooner, but until that day it was only a rumour

 

Particularly Strong Bookend: darkstar79, SamJudd (08)

Particularly Standard Bookend: AH Gold (-1)

 

Following the new track from Ultimate is one of the new tracks from their first compilation 'Discography'. Was It Worth It? is one of two new tracks to appear on the end of the album and offered a very different style to the other, DJ Culture. I guess this one could be classed as a bit of a stormer with the underlying Italo house piano line and the OTT female vox and general campness that would later appear again in the forms of Go West and New York City Boy. Whilst this one isn't exactly bad, I do find it to be the weakest link on the compilation so I'm not too disappointed to see it exit so soon - nor I suspect would the public as this became the first PSB single to miss the top 20 in the UK when it peaked at a comparatively lowly #24. darkstar79 on the other hand must be none too plussed at the results so far as he's the highest voter for all three so far, albeit it joined this time by SamJudd. I think possibly my favourite thing about this one is the single cover, showing little model versions of the PSBs with their roses.

 

  • Author

FIFTY FIVEFOUR

 

abfabts.jpg

 

5.71 Absolutely Fabulous

 

Chanel, Dior, Lagerfeld, Givenchy, Gaultier, darling. Names, names, names! Harper's, Tatler, English Vogue, American Vogue, French Vogue, bloody Aby-bloody-ssinian bloody Vogue, darling! Lacroix, Sweetie, Lacroix. Lacroix, Sweetie, Lacroix. Sweetie! Sweetie! Sweetie! Sweetie!

 

Patsy Slurping Bolly: fgi090505 (10)

Primark Style Bargain: Hide&Seek, Richie (01)

 

Next up to get the Prada leather boot is the Comic Relief single from 1993, it's Absolutely Fabulous darling! For what it is, I must confess to having a real soft spot for this track - it's fun and actually is generally rather fabulous with the plethora of quotes lifted from the first ever episode of Ab Fab. My personal favourites being "Ride on time, ride on time. Techno, techno, bloody techno, darling!" and of course "It's the bloody Pet Shop Boys, Sweetie"! The track itself did moderately well, peaking at #6, but it was probably a disappointing result given the charity element and the #1 trend that Comic Relief singles were making in the early 90s... anyway, enough dull soulless dance music, let's move onwards and get ourselves some smoked salmon and nibbly things.

Edited by dandy*

  • Author

FIFTY FIVE

 

http://petshopboys.co.uk/media/article-images/600/acf8cb1d3630990441c15cc2580dcb6c.jpg

 

5.71 DJ Culture

 

Attitudes are materialistic, positive or frankly realistic. Which is terribly old-fashioned, isn't it? Or isn't it?

 

Post Stylish Brief: Tawdry Hepburn, fgi0905050 (09)

Prefer Silence Boys: Hide&Seek (02)

 

So I may have made a mistake already, this was actually tied with Ab Fab and I haven't split them correctly, hence this actually being #55. Edina & Patsy are reportedly thrilled.

This one is underrated in my opinion, I really rather like it. I have a soft spot for any of their singles where Neil talks his way through a series of lyrics that you simply wouldn't expect to find in a pop track. This one is about the sampling culture that was really beginning to take off in the later 80s and early 90s - something that we're more than used to these days. Neil of course doesn't limit his commentary to the music scene, he is stated (I read this on Wikipedia once) as also referencing George Bush and his war speech being very similar to that of Winston Churchill, thus noting that sampling occurs in many different ways. Is it all just an easy way to achieve self gain or is actually something that recognises the effectiveness of an earlier song/moment and just acknowledges its brilliance? Aside from the lyrics, I also really enjoy the production on this with the little piano lines and the typical early 90s beats that were very similar in style to those employed by the likes of Massive Attack on their Blue Lines album to great effect.

Edited by dandy*

DJ Culture is better than Ab Fab, though I havent heard it in years and years, oddly. It's better than I recalled, but a bit low-key and lacking a zinger hook....
  • Author

FIFTY THREE

 

4cvn2yp.jpg

 

5.72 Twenty Something

 

Thirty’s calling round the bend, will your ideas ever trend?

 

Probs Snapchatting Boys: darkstar79 (10)

Probs Spirographing Badly: Tawdry Hepburn (-1)

 

One of the things I noticed about the scoring on buzzjack is that there are some really polar reactions to some of the songs, this is typical with both a 10 and a -1. I think I gave this a 6 but upon listening to it now I must admit I'm leaning more towards Tawdry's opinion as it's pretty basic to say the least. I like the concept of writing about the 20 something culture these days and the continual rise of social media and expectations of having a lot more earlier on in life... but there's just something rather awkward about the track, it feels like a commentary from someone who doesn't really understand it and have filled the lyrics full of lazy phrases that they may have heard a young person say at some point or maybe a supposedly with it Radio 1 DJ may reference - it doesn't achieve that feat of delving any further than a somewhat vacuous surface. Couple that with the annoying synth chorus thing (which I'm hoping is intended as a comment on those passing for a chorus these days) and you're left with not a lot to really grab on to here.

 

  • Author

FIFTY TWO

 

FgiLMIN.jpg

 

5.80 Undertow

 

Nothing has been spoken of this, neither of us has said anything to anyone but nonetheless I’ve felt danger when you cross my path

 

Pushing Someone's Buttons: PeteFromLeeds, darkstar79, DalekTurret32 (08)

Passing Someone By: Gezza (03)

 

Another single from Super falls out next, the final single 'Undertow'. This is a bit of a backhanded compliment but I quite like the instrumental break on this one - it's definitely my favourite part of the track. I've personally never taken to the Super album as I was disappointed after the initial promise of The Pop Kids, so this isn't a track I've revisited very often at all but I can see why the pulsing techno stylings of the track would appeal to some of you.

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.