The Pet Shop Boys is one of those names that seems to crop up time and again down through the ages as they insist on bringing out new stuff with alarming regularity. They must like doing it or something.
In this album release they are going for something slightly different, being a live recording with the BBC Concert Orchestra at The Mermaid Theatre, originally done for Radio 2. They are still doing good old classic Pet Shop Boys distinctive style, but they have a ruddy great orchestra for their backing which works amazingly well to say the least. Also making guest spots are Robbie Williams singing ‘Jealousy’, as well as Rufus Wainwright and Frances Barber doing that thing that they do. Incidentally, Robbies new album ‘Rudebox’’ or whatever it is called, features two collaborations by the Pet Shop gentlemen, which just goes to show that even Robbie can do something right occasionally.
The singing spreads across two CDs worth of musicality, some of which work and some of which only survive because the Pet Shop Boys are doing it, opinions as to which are which may vary depending on the listener. These guys, if they keep coming out with albums like this are likely to still be going in another 20 odd years time because people can and should buy them. To coincide with this release are some random single, book and DVD, which may be milking things slightly, but if it makes the Pet Shop Boys popular all over again…well it presumably is worth the effort. Its hard to tell as they are somewhat a Marmite of a band and have always been, but the scales may tip in favour of people liking them for there’s a good chance they outnumber people who prefer panpipe easy listening or something. Besides nearly everyone should be able to hum at least one tune included in the show, least of all ‘West End Girls’ or ‘It’s a Sin’.
Fun!
In this album release they are going for something slightly different, being a live recording with the BBC Concert Orchestra at The Mermaid Theatre, originally done for Radio 2. They are still doing good old classic Pet Shop Boys distinctive style, but they have a ruddy great orchestra for their backing which works amazingly well to say the least. Also making guest spots are Robbie Williams singing ‘Jealousy’, as well as Rufus Wainwright and Frances Barber doing that thing that they do. Incidentally, Robbies new album ‘Rudebox’’ or whatever it is called, features two collaborations by the Pet Shop gentlemen, which just goes to show that even Robbie can do something right occasionally.
The singing spreads across two CDs worth of musicality, some of which work and some of which only survive because the Pet Shop Boys are doing it, opinions as to which are which may vary depending on the listener. These guys, if they keep coming out with albums like this are likely to still be going in another 20 odd years time because people can and should buy them. To coincide with this release are some random single, book and DVD, which may be milking things slightly, but if it makes the Pet Shop Boys popular all over again…well it presumably is worth the effort. Its hard to tell as they are somewhat a Marmite of a band and have always been, but the scales may tip in favour of people liking them for there’s a good chance they outnumber people who prefer panpipe easy listening or something. Besides nearly everyone should be able to hum at least one tune included in the show, least of all ‘West End Girls’ or ‘It’s a Sin’.
Fun!
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