What would you think a future PSB's album should sound like in order to reinvent themselves?

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I think we’ll get PSB’s “England” album... a counterpoint to Hotspot... More Bernard Butler, maybe co-producing alongside them; Tracey Thorn on a few tracks. Inspired by country walks and musings on identity. I’d be well up for that.

Yeah I’d be up for that too I think.

If they can keep up the quality of Burning The Heather for a whole album, then go for it.

Big "IF" though...

Retro.

[Nickname]

Greetings,

I think we’ll get PSB’s “England” album... a counterpoint to Hotspot... More Bernard Butler, maybe co-producing alongside them; Tracey Thorn on a few tracks. Inspired by country walks and musings on identity. I’d be well up for that.

Yeah I’d be up for that too I think.

If they can keep up the quality of Burning The Heather for a whole album, then go for it.

Big "IF" though...

Retro.

Well, I understand why some people love some songs like BTH but that's because it has an easy listening sound and reflective lyrics. Ok you love that. But for me, the song it's depressing and uninspired. Nothing related to the original PSB's sound is reflected on it. No intros, no electonic, no orchestral arregments, no backing vocals, no bridge, no filmic sounds and no changes in a song of 5 minutes and a half, except a lazy and uninspired sound of something similar to a trumpet.

Ok, you can say I'm expecting the same elements from the 80's sound that made PSB famous. Well, it they can make something new, go for it!. But with these kind of songs they are giving us a song you could listen in the 60's and 70's, almost an acoustic song (something they hate, me too) with some electronic bits, that's all!. There is no something new or relevant here. It sounds like a song from Release, the worst PSB's album to date.

[Drem]

I think it should sound like Pet Shop Boys, whatever form or fad it'll take.

[boyjohn]

Greetings,

Yeah I’d be up for that too I think.

If they can keep up the quality of Burning The Heather for a whole album, then go for it.

Big "IF" though...

Retro.

Well, I understand why some people love some songs like BTH but that's because it has an easy listening sound and reflective lyrics. Ok you love that. But for me, the song it's depressing and uninspired. Nothing related to the original PSB's sound is reflected on it. No intros, no electonic, no orchestral arregments, no backing vocals, no bridge, no filmic sounds and no changes in a song of 5 minutes and a half, except a lazy and uninspired sound of something similar to a trumpet.

Ok, you can say I'm expecting the same elements from the 80's sound that made PSB famous. Well, it they can make something new, go for it!. But with these kind of songs they are giving us a song you could listen in the 60's and 70's, almost an acoustic song (something they hate, me too) with some electronic bits, that's all!. There is no something new or relevant here. It sounds like a song from Release, the worst PSB's album to date.

I don't agree with most of what you said, but it's only your opinion so that's fine. But you can't say Burning the heather doesn't have a bridge. Maybe you should listen to the song a few times before casting judgement.

Where did I come from?
Where do I go?
Time is so heartless
You don’t want to know

[Nickname]

Greetings,


If they can keep up the quality of Burning The Heather for a whole album, then go for it.

Big "IF" though...

Retro.

Well, I understand why some people love some songs like BTH but that's because it has an easy listening sound and reflective lyrics. Ok you love that. But for me, the song it's depressing and uninspired. Nothing related to the original PSB's sound is reflected on it. No intros, no electonic, no orchestral arregments, no backing vocals, no bridge, no filmic sounds and no changes in a song of 5 minutes and a half, except a lazy and uninspired sound of something similar to a trumpet.

Ok, you can say I'm expecting the same elements from the 80's sound that made PSB famous. Well, it they can make something new, go for it!. But with these kind of songs they are giving us a song you could listen in the 60's and 70's, almost an acoustic song (something they hate, me too) with some electronic bits, that's all!. There is no something new or relevant here. It sounds like a song from Release, the worst PSB's album to date.

I don't agree with most of what you said, but it's only your opinion so that's fine. But you can't say Burning the heather doesn't have a bridge. Maybe you should listen to the song a few times before casting judgement.

Where did I come from?
Where do I go?
Time is so heartless
You don’t want to know

Ok, only a bridge. Nothinig else.

[Future Lover]

I rebuke this thread!
Sounding more like Kraftwerk would be right up my alley, but I don't want any particular direction for them. As long as the songs are good, you can dress them however you like.

[Patrick Bateman]

Well, I understand why some people love some songs like BTH but that's because it has an easy listening sound and reflective lyrics. Ok you love that. But for me, the song it's depressing and uninspired. Nothing related to the original PSB's sound is reflected on it. No intros, no electonic, no orchestral arregments, no backing vocals, no bridge, no filmic sounds and no changes in a song of 5 minutes and a half, except a lazy and uninspired sound of something similar to a trumpet.

Ok, you can say I'm expecting the same elements from the 80's sound that made PSB famous. Well, it they can make something new, go for it!. But with these kind of songs they are giving us a song you could listen in the 60's and 70's, almost an acoustic song (something they hate, me too) with some electronic bits, that's all!. There is no something new or relevant here. It sounds like a song from Release, the worst PSB's album to date.

So you want them to reinvent themselves by recreating their original sound (coincidentally the period that you are obsessed with to the point of monomania) which they have repeatedly recreated over the years (for example, Disco 3 following Release). You basically want the period from Please to Introspective, the big hits, Neil's Botticellian curls, Tom Watkins, PSB on Radio 1. It's gone, nickname. The statues are falling, Neil's hairline has retreated wistfully into the past, the charts are a foreign wasteland of unfeasible collaborations, It's a Sin balm for forty-something nostalgists.

[It can be two things]

personally, I hope it's not more Guardian political tropes

"Did anyone see that new Woodsy Allen movie?"
"You know, I like his films except for that nervous fellow that's always in them."

[NotInvisible]

Ok, only a bridge. Nothinig else.

If by "nothing else" you mean "gorgeous songwriting" then sure.

I'm here for Release 2 if it winds up the people who can't move on from 1987.

One of my favorite things about the Pet Shop Boys is their talent for evolving over time and expanding into new sounds. Discovering guitars is the best thing that ever happened to them after discovering keyboards.

[Disco.]

Yes, its not 1987-1988 anymore ! Move On !!

[y3potential]

Yes, its not 1987-1988 anymore ! Move On !!

I couldn't agree more. But for some it will forever be 1987 - 1988...

[tottenhammattspurs]

Team up with New Order after the US tour and make THE album of the 21st century.

[It can be two things]

Yes, its not 1987-1988 anymore ! Move On !!

I couldn't agree more. But for some it will forever be 1987 - 1988...

And yet BTH sounds like a dusty b-side - one that should have stayed there - from 1971.

[joe stalin]

Yes, its not 1987-1988 anymore ! Move On !!

I couldn't agree more. But for some it will forever be 1987 - 1988...

In a way I’m in that camp, as I believe the quality, scope, song writing and production have deteriorated since then. Not a surprise I hasten to add.

I often wonder why ?

One thought that nags me was during the imperial phase, the boys were surrounded / supplanted by a whole range of top notch engineers / musicians / producers.

To many people the list may seem like a list of just names. But when you look into the back record of some of the people involved in 1986-1989, it’s like a who’s who of musical expertise.

Since then their input has probably increased and that of outsiders probably decreased (except when Trevor is involved).

So imho, it’s unlikely the boys can reinvent themselves on their own. They need to be immersed into something like xenomania again or perhaps work with Max Martin. He’s done ok for himself and his artists.

[Nickname]

Some people don't want to understand that I mean.

I'd like PSB could reinvent themselves with new sounds. I said that on the first post of this thread.

But of course, if I had to choose between the big quality sound of PSB in the 80's and the low quality sound of songs like Burning the Heather. I prefer the first one. The elements of the sound of BTH are older than the ones from the 80's era. Come on!, it's only an accoustic theme with some subtle electronic elements. I want more from PSB. It's obvious there is nothing new, relevant or vanguardist on it. It's almost a song from the 70's and it sounds older than their 80's sounds.