Nightlife - time for reappraisal?

[Dreamland]

As we approach the 24th anniversary of Nightlife (October 1999), I was wondering if options about it have changed in the years since its release?

At the time, Q magazine hailed it as their best album. However, most other critics were less kind. Amongst fans, it’s rare to see Nightlife top - or come anywhere close to topping - polls that attempt to rank the boys studio albums. Indeed, it’s usually somewhere close to the bottom.

Yet for me, Nightlife has always been something of a favourite. I think the 3 singles are great (interestingly, all 3 were played in the original Dreamword tour set) and there were several strong candidates for a strong 4th single (Radiophonic, Closer To Heaven…). For me, the opening song, For Your Own Good, ranks amongst the best openers on any Pet Shop Boys album. I also think you’d be pushed to find a better first-three songs on any Pet Shop Boys album.

Yes, there are flaws. For example, I think there’s one too many ballads and I’d happily see Boy Strange dropped to leave an 11-track album. However, for me, these don’t detract too much from what I think is, overall, a really strong body of work. Many of my other favourite albums by other artists have flaws too.

What do others think?

[daveid]

It's consistently dull throughout, with only three or four tracks that rise ever so slightly above the others. They did choose the right singles though - the three least boring tracks with the exception of FYOG.

[Nicholas]

I quickly got into the habit of skipping the first two tracks tbh. I didn’t think everything that followed was outstanding, but for the most part they felt less generic to 18 year-old me.

I remember adoring In denial, but I was just delighted that Kylie still had something to do and we hadn’t completely given up on her then. (She was pretty down the dumper by that point, but 12 months later she’d had reversed this completely, and 24 months later she was a bigger star than she’d ever been.)

I listen to it now and what strikes me the most is that Drunk is enormously the best song on there by a colossal stretch. It really does feel like an immediate classic. Possibly due to sounding a lot like the offspring of I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing and Rent.

The photography and the display typeface are lavish as f*** though. Always adored that sleeve and that colour palette. Though the edges of the thick, glossy CD booklet got mangled by the CD jewel case after five minutes.

[Towa]

While I loved "I don't know what you want but I can't give it any more" and "You only tell me you love me when you're drunk" (one of their best songs ever, imho), I found the album a bit disappointing. Nightlife was IMHO the first PSB album with filler tracks, and I still think it is a bit incoherent – something that can be said about some of their later albums as well, but to me Nightlife was the first PSB album that wasn't 100% great and since then I have not expected new PSB albums to be perfect.

I do love the graphic design of the album and the first two singles though, very good! However, as usual they didn't follow the same style on the last single, hehe.

[StevePSB]

It's about 50/50 for me. Half great, half mediocre. Love the first two tracks dearly.


StevePSB

[Disco.]

It’s a good album, but it’s not great.

[Nicholas]

I remember thinking ‘Happiness is an option’ was an absolutely perfect PSB title and when the bizarrely gushing Q review picked out that and Drunk as career highlights I was so excited to hear it… and when it came on I just a bit ‘hmmmm’. I like it better now but I still think it could have been so much more.

And I know everyone hates Boy Strange but I loved it, especially the final third where it all builds up before the last chorus… and then In denial sweeps in. I was thoroughly charmed by that passage of the album.

[jasonjohn]

There isn't a single PSB album I don't enjoy and NL is no exception

It has a unique vibe in their catalogue.

However FYOG is a track that today I find too lumbering and kinda blocks the start if the album for me. It's more a dated Rollo production than a PSB track in some ways.

CTH is fantastic. It's the ultimate mixed emotions BANGER. However, again, the production is too much maybe? Too much sonic cleverness going on.

But having said that - it's the production that defines this album. It's very gritty in places. And so I still appreciate it.

This gave us Drunk and New York city boy, two very strong tracks in their catalogue. And the ballads TOO, BS and Footsteps are just lovely to me.

I do wonder if the demo of Radiophonic could of hinted at elements of a brighter, chirpier sound that could of benefited the production in places.

[domino]

Nightlife suffers from being half a bin for their musical demos and half a full nightlife club electro banger thing. The order of tracks are also questionable, imo.

I would have prefered a full electronic/dance club album with FYOG, Closer to Heaven, I don't know what you want but I can't give it any more, Radiophonic, NYC Boy – maybe Drunk as the obligatory ballad (one of their finest songs, like Towa said). Somebody Else's Business could have suited such dance album as well.

And I know everyone hates Boy Strange but I loved it, especially the final third where it all builds up before the last chorus…

I am with you, my dear Nicholas, you are not alone.
Especially the piano/guitar fade out should have get more love. But it is not a essential track for the album and feels more b-side-y to me.

I also love Footsteps (live > studio version). After all, it has some highlights but Nightlife is not the best album of their career. And all opinions aside, it nearly splitted them apart with the horrible tour drama.

[ChrisLove]

Amazing album definitely a grower on me especially You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk the track i not listened much at first but it turn out to be the best song on this album first i thought it was too sweet for my taste but it's lovely magic melancholy and the words:

"But how your mood changes
You're a devil, now an angel
Suddenly subtle and solemn and silent as a monk"

always makes me smile

[psbfannyc]

I loved the tour when they opened up with "For your own good"

[ludwig_iv]

It's definitely in my bottom 3, but that doesn't mean that it's a terrible album. I think the singles are all great, and I like the first two songs. Those five tracks keep it afloat. But beyond, that I never really listen to the others.

I also found the collab with Kylie to be disappointing. When you think of Kylie Minogue and the Pet Shop Boys, you imagine a pop banger (I do anyway). Fair play for going against expectations with a ballad, but it's all a bit meh.

[ahafan02]

I have to agree with many of the comments. It's not their greatest album by any stretch. It was the beginning of their "wilderness" years which continued with "Release". "I Don't Know What You Want" is a brilliant song and one of my all time favorite PSB tracks. The first two songs are quite nice but I never understood the praise for "In Denial" and "Drunk" as I find them dull. "Vampires" is a great song as well. "The Only One", "Footsteps" and "Boy Strange" rank among their worst IMO.

[srpsb]

And all opinions aside, it nearly splitted them apart with the horrible tour drama.

Hello

Could you explain please.
I don’t know this story.

[daveid]

And all opinions aside, it nearly splitted them apart with the horrible tour drama.

Hello

Could you explain please.
I don’t know this story.

They nearly decided to end things. The album wasn't a major success and they lost a fortune on the tour. Neil asked Chris if they should stop and Chris didn't answer so he didn't ask again!