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Elly Roberts reviews
Parlophone
- Cat.no: 3628602
- Released: May 2006
- Rating: 4/10
For their ninth studio albumPSB re-unite with Buggles writer/producerTrevor Horn. Never away from immaculate production: Horns grand influencescrawl all over it like a rash.
Twenty one years into a glittering career (the most successful duo in UKchart history) some commentators elevate it to their best offering for overa decade, which is open to question. Lead-off single Im With Stupid, theirbest in years, entered the singles chart at 8 (w/c May 15). Intro trackPsychological is a cryptic song (a la Kraftwerk) accompanied by some ratherlimp music: a poor opening by their outlandish standards.
Other dullnessensues on a snail-paced I Made My Excuses, Diane Warrens soppy Numb,(only saved by some glorious orchestration), and Luna Park. God Willing isall of 1 minute 17 seconds; surely a throwaway track of no significance.
Thankfully, Im With Stupid (a comment on the Blair/Bush relationship fromBlair’s angle) stops the rot with its catchy chorus and infectious beats. Inthe same mould we get the hedonistic rush of Sodom and Gomorrah: Tennantstake on the supposed life of debauchery via a cabaret “Sun, sex, sin,death and destruction / Are you gonna go / To the Sodom and Gomorrah show? /Its got everything you need for your complete entertainment ./ Is a once ina lifetime production.”
Minimal is clearly targeted at the club scene,complete with baffling lyrics. Casanova In Hell almost became the mostinteresting track, but fell flat on its face. A pulsating Frankie Goes ToHollywood styled Integral, full of hopping synths and bashes rounds-off adisappointing album. Fundamentally, its the blandness that lets it down,and the wearing drone of Tennants characterless singing.
Perhaps PSB should look over the pond at the Scissor Sisters; on how tomake a brilliant pop album.
Weblink:Pet Shop Boys.co.uk
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Psychological
2. The Sodom And Gomorrah Show
3. I Made My Excuses And Left
4. Minimal
5. Numb
6. God Willing
7. Luna Park
8. Im With Stupid
9. Casanova In Hell
10. Twentieth Century
11. Indefinite Leave To Remain
12. Integral
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.