Pet Shop Boys Community

Patrick Bateman wrote:

DJ_Couture wrote:I had no idea there was such a strong sense of animosity between PSB and Erasure fans by the way. A bit of a shame to my mind.

Oh it's just a bit of fun, the synth-pop equivalent of the Beatles vs. Stones, Blur vs. Oasis and Simon Cowell vs. music. I love the original Pop! but Andy pissed me off when he called PSB 'middle class' as though him and Vince were NWA or something.

True, it's mostly harmless.

The whole "Middle-class backlash" has been one of the silliest trends in recent British popular culture.

Loins Of London wrote:

JSDOUVRES wrote: Erasure lazy? The have released more studio albums than the PSB you FOOL!

That's a matter of some debate. Erasure have released 11 studio albums of new, original songs. PSB have just recorded their 11th - that tally includes Battleship Potemkin, as it was also a set comprising of original newly recorded material.

Closer To Heaven and Results were also Pet Shop Boys albums in all but name, effectively bringing the number to 13.

PSB have also released more non-album singles/EPs - four versus Erasure's two.

Nice try though.

Sorry I forgot to add Vince and Andy's numerous solo projects which would bring it up to much more than PSB (If you bothered to consider them)

Nice try though.

JSDOUVRES wrote:

skyhigh wrote:
This is a pet shop boys thread. If it wasnt, it'd be in the off topic discussion. If i want to vent my anger at lazy bands like Erashur(hahaha) then i will do so whenever and wherever I like. I'd rather belittle them in off topic discussion but sadly they are trying to capitalise on the psb's success and again they are shown as lazy and devoid of ideas.

Neil and Chris are far too well educated to like the shallow sameness of erashur(hahaha)

Why does having a No.1 album automatically make you a wonderful band? It doesnt. All it says is that lots of people have bought it.

Erasure lazy? The have released more studio albums than the PSB you FOOL! And how are they capitalising on the PSB's success? Do you think people are going to see them get the Brit on tv and then go out and buy the new Erasure album? WTF? It really is as stupid as that.

Get a life and realise that there is more to life than the well educated(?!?!?!?) Neil and Chris.

I suppose you didn't think the apparently highly educated duo were lazy when they released disco 4, did you?

more petty name calling. tut tut.

Erasure could release a hundred studio albums to the psb's 14-15. I could still class them as lazy. Lazy songwriting, lazy arrangement, lazy publicity etc etc. The lazy point is justified when you consider how poor the stuff theyve released is. Instead of maturing and releasing better and better work like the psb, they just throw things together quickly and have never really evolved. Never really gone out their way to work with contemporaries.
Erasure have never worked with anyone of note(no-one wants to id imagine) so for them to be able to release an album like disco 4 is unthinkable. Mentioning Disco 4 was good of you as it shows the diverse range of people the boys have worked with.

I'd suggest it's foolish to think Erasure are not going to try and capitalise on the boys' success. They'd be foolish not to, stupid even.

Poor to you because you don't like them!!!!! I really like their last albums, Electronic and not overproduced like I feel a few PSB songs tend to be sometimes. A few Demos for Fundamental I actually much prefer than the Album versions because for me their songs sometimes tend to get overproduced and all sound too similar in the end unlike their demos. But that is just me and if you disagree then I don't care. And yes they are different to PSB, and I am happy with that! For somebody who hates them so much it is really strange that you have listened to their back catalogue so much, weird even. You like Barenaked Ladies don't you? I don't so I don't listen to them but I am also not juvenile enough to say they are crap because of whatever stupid reason. People like them and fine, I don't care but some of the things you say about Erasure is pretty pathetic. But hey let's not forget that Neil and Chris don't like them that much either so that must make you feel good!!!

JSDOUVRES wrote:
Sorry I forgot to add Vince and Andy's numerous solo projects which would bring it up to much more than PSB (If you bothered to consider them)

Why would anyone bother to consider them? Only a phone box full of people has actually heard them!

But as mathematics is clearly lacking in certain Gallic areas I feel it is my national duty to point you in the right direction and list the side projects, even though I'm not entirely sure you don't think this is an Erasure forum, so keen are you to big them up at the 'expense' of a superior and more prolific electronic duo:

Let's take 1986 as the starting point, as this is the year both acts released their debut albums.

In that time Vince Clarke has not released a solo album at all. The Erasure's Vince Clarke set dates from the pre-Erasure period. There were a pair of albums with Martin Ware though.

Vince also write a song for Freeform Five. The song for Girl Authority doesn't count as it dates from his Depeche Mode days.

Then there were 15 remixes for other acts, including Andy Bell, Alison Moyet and Rammstein, tellingly, the year after PSB did Mein Teil.

Andy Bell has released one solo album, and as far as I can make out, a remix for Yazoo last year.

Then there are three collaborations Erasure did with other acts: Cyndi Lauper, Lene Lovich and Sparks (a project PSB turned down btw). Hardly in the same league as your Bowies and your Madonnas but at least someone wanted to work with them.

So that's three non-Erasure albums.

16 mixes and four collaborations/compositions = 20 other songs.


So back to PSB, and as I already pointed out, with the completion of the new 'Extremely' Xenomania album, both acts have been responsible for 11 albums a piece under their own name.

Album-wise, PSB have also done Results, half of Reputation, The Crying Game, half of Future Boy and Closer To Heaven. That's a total of four albums, not including Back To Mine.

Then there's songs for Bowie (a re-recording), three for Sam Taylor-Wood, Kylie, Pete Burns, Girls Aloud, Billie Trix, Eighth Wonder, two for Robbie, two for Alcazar, one for Miu, an arrangement for Madness. = 15

Remixes of songs for Blur, Cicero, Fat Les, Bloodhound Gang, Atomizer, Rammstein, Ono, Madonna, Killers, MGMT = 13

Neil's on two songs of Robbie's, curated the 20th Century Blues album, DJ Fresh, Tom Stephan, Peter Rauhofer, four of Rufus Wainwright's and overseeeing it as a whole, one of Elton's, three of Electronic's = 9 songs and two albums.

Chris did a song with Ian Wright (we won't even mention the unreleased demos) and another two solo (Blockhead and Streets Of Paris) = 3 songs.

That's a total of six albums and 40 songs not released under the name Pet Shop Boys.

Compare that to Erasure's three albums and 20 songs and I'm afraid you've just been embarrassed yet again.

Have a great evening.

Loins Of London wrote:

JSDOUVRES wrote:
Sorry I forgot to add Vince and Andy's numerous solo projects which would bring it up to much more than PSB (If you bothered to consider them)

Why would anyone bother to consider them? Only a phone box full of people has actually heard them!

But as mathematics is clearly lacking in certain Gallic areas I feel it is my national duty to point you in the right direction and list the side projects, even though I'm not entirely sure you don't think this is an Erasure forum, so keen are you to big them up at the 'expense' of a superior and more prolific electronic duo:

Let's take 1986 as the starting point, as this is the year both acts released their debut albums.

In that time Vince Clarke has not released a solo album at all. The Erasure's Vince Clarke set dates from the pre-Erasure period. There were a pair of albums with Martin Ware though.

Vince also write a song for Freeform Five. The song for Girl Authority doesn't count as it dates from his Depeche Mode days.

Then there were 15 remixes for other acts, including Andy Bell, Alison Moyet and Rammstein, tellingly, the year after PSB did Mein Teil.

Andy Bell has released one solo album, and as far as I can make out, a remix for Yazoo last year.

Then there are three collaborations Erasure did with other acts: Cyndi Lauper, Lene Lovich and Sparks (a project PSB turned down btw). Hardly in the same league as your Bowies and your Madonnas but at least someone wanted to work with them.

So that's three non-Erasure albums.

16 mixes and four collaborations/compositions = 20 other songs.


So back to PSB, and as I already pointed out, with the completion of the new 'Extremely' Xenomania album, both acts have been responsible for 11 albums a piece under their own name.

Album-wise, PSB have also done Results, half of Reputation, The Crying Game, half of Future Boy and Closer To Heaven. That's a total of four albums, not including Back To Mine.

Then there's songs for Bowie (a re-recording), three for Sam Taylor-Wood, Kylie, Pete Burns, Girls Aloud, Billie Trix, Eighth Wonder, two for Robbie, two for Alcazar, one for Miu, an arrangement for Madness. = 15

Remixes of songs for Blur, Cicero, Fat Les, Bloodhound Gang, Atomizer, Rammstein, Ono, Madonna, Killers, MGMT = 13

Neil's on two songs of Robbie's, curated the 20th Century Blues album, DJ Fresh, Tom Stephan, Peter Rauhofer, four of Rufus Wainwright's and overseeeing it as a whole, one of Elton's, three of Electronic's = 9 songs and two albums.

Chris did a song with Ian Wright (we won't even mention the unreleased demos) and another two solo (Blockhead and Streets Of Paris) = 3 songs.

That's a total of six albums and 40 songs not released under the name Pet Shop Boys.

Compare that to Erasure's three albums and 20 songs and I'm afraid you've just been embarrassed yet again.

Have a great evening.

Your so right, Great research! They have had so many hit's with other artists haven't they? NO they have not and you know that very well.
Do some more research and you'll see that Erasure have actually done a lot more than you claim but who cares? You are saying they are releasing the albums next February to spoil the PSB's Day and it is just nonsense and you know it!
Sorry to say and it may upset you but there are more groups than just the PSB in this world you know, whether you like them or not.

JSDOUVRES wrote:

Loins Of London wrote:

JSDOUVRES wrote:
Sorry I forgot to add Vince and Andy's numerous solo projects which would bring it up to much more than PSB (If you bothered to consider them)

Why would anyone bother to consider them? Only a phone box full of people has actually heard them!

But as mathematics is clearly lacking in certain Gallic areas I feel it is my national duty to point you in the right direction and list the side projects, even though I'm not entirely sure you don't think this is an Erasure forum, so keen are you to big them up at the 'expense' of a superior and more prolific electronic duo:

Let's take 1986 as the starting point, as this is the year both acts released their debut albums.

In that time Vince Clarke has not released a solo album at all. The Erasure's Vince Clarke set dates from the pre-Erasure period. There were a pair of albums with Martin Ware though.

Vince also write a song for Freeform Five. The song for Girl Authority doesn't count as it dates from his Depeche Mode days.

Then there were 15 remixes for other acts, including Andy Bell, Alison Moyet and Rammstein, tellingly, the year after PSB did Mein Teil.

Andy Bell has released one solo album, and as far as I can make out, a remix for Yazoo last year.

Then there are three collaborations Erasure did with other acts: Cyndi Lauper, Lene Lovich and Sparks (a project PSB turned down btw). Hardly in the same league as your Bowies and your Madonnas but at least someone wanted to work with them.

So that's three non-Erasure albums.

16 mixes and four collaborations/compositions = 20 other songs.


So back to PSB, and as I already pointed out, with the completion of the new 'Extremely' Xenomania album, both acts have been responsible for 11 albums a piece under their own name.

Album-wise, PSB have also done Results, half of Reputation, The Crying Game, half of Future Boy and Closer To Heaven. That's a total of four albums, not including Back To Mine.

Then there's songs for Bowie (a re-recording), three for Sam Taylor-Wood, Kylie, Pete Burns, Girls Aloud, Billie Trix, Eighth Wonder, two for Robbie, two for Alcazar, one for Miu, an arrangement for Madness. = 15

Remixes of songs for Blur, Cicero, Fat Les, Bloodhound Gang, Atomizer, Rammstein, Ono, Madonna, Killers, MGMT = 13

Neil's on two songs of Robbie's, curated the 20th Century Blues album, DJ Fresh, Tom Stephan, Peter Rauhofer, four of Rufus Wainwright's and overseeeing it as a whole, one of Elton's, three of Electronic's = 9 songs and two albums.

Chris did a song with Ian Wright (we won't even mention the unreleased demos) and another two solo (Blockhead and Streets Of Paris) = 3 songs.

That's a total of six albums and 40 songs not released under the name Pet Shop Boys.

Compare that to Erasure's three albums and 20 songs and I'm afraid you've just been embarrassed yet again.

Have a great evening.

Your so right, Great research! They have had so many hit's with other artists haven't they? NO they have not and you know that very well.
Do some more research and you'll see that Erasure have actually done a lot more than you claim but who cares? You are saying they are releasing the albums next February to spoil the PSB's Day and it is just nonsense bollocks and you know it!
Sorry to say and it may upset you but there are more groups than just the PSB in this world you know, whether you like them or not.

you seem happy to make grand statements without any backing. mr loins went to some lengths to back up his p.o.v. and your response is hollow and lacks any thought, kinda like erasure songs.

I have better things to do like watch paint dry, you seem to have time to write so much about a group you hate so much so look it up for yourself!
Your right they don't deserve an award because skyhigh does not like their music, forget the 5 number 1 albums, they were all released in weeks when there was nothing else anyway most likely.
I'm off to listen to the fantastic Barenaked ladies, actually I will go back to the paint, but hey everybody to their own.

JSDOUVRES wrote:They have had so many hit's with other artists haven't they? NO they have not and you know that very well.
Do some more research and you'll see that Erasure have actually done a lot more than you claim but who cares?

PSB/Neil have featured on top 20 hits for Liza, Dusty (2), Bowie, Eighth Wonder, Blur (their mix was the A-side in some countries), Robbie (2), Cicero, Electronic (2)

Boy George's track was a big hit in the US, and on the US dance scene Break 4 Luv was a huge club hit, as was Ono's (a No.1 in fact) and Madonna's Sorry speaks for itself.

So I make that around 15 hits not under the PSB name. That'd be about 15 hits more than anything Vince or Andy have provided for others in the same period then.

No.16 from the biggest girl group around will be hitting the top five very soon. Stay with us, OK?

And if you want to loftily claim that Erasure have worked with others not mentioned, at least have the courage of your convictions and back up your claim.

For me, the most telling analogy was when Paul Newman was asked about his long marriage to Joanne Woodward and he replied 'why go out for a burger when you've got fillet steak at home? It's the same with PSB over Erasure.

Madonna didn't sanction an Erasure/Vince Clarke remix of one of her songs, even though they were signed her Maverick label for a while. That is until the duo provided the sinking ship of an album that was Loveboat, which was refused a US release, even after V&A re-recorded a lot of the material, and her people well and truly put the band on the rocks, scuttling them soon after.

Whereas the PSB mix of Sorry she preferred to her original version. She even used it on her tour, in fact. I bet Andy was ripping his green leotard to shreds from the cheap seats as soon as he heard Neil's dulcet tones that night.

Also, Bell-End has made no secret of his love for Blondie in the past, even covering the hilariously obvious Heart Of Glass, and on a joint tour of the US made overtones to Debbie Harry about a possible collaboration. But who was it she actually approached because she wanted to work with them? Yep, a far superior pop duo with a proven track record of popularity and respect among fellow artists. Stick to Lene Lovich, love!

One other intriguing point was that in 1987 PSB were sent some exclusive music by the celebrated composer Ennio Morricone that became It Couldn't Happen Here. If you want further evidence of how to separate your burgers from your fillets, the very same year Erasure had to make do with covering one of Morricone's old tracks The Good The Bad And The Ugly as a B-side.

Still, you like them.

Loins, not to detract from all the remixes PSB have made for other artists, but Erasure are actually less apt to do this. PSB are a lot more into club/dance music than Erasure are. Erasure are less interested in remixing other artist's music, whereas many artists have come to know that PSB are fond of doing this. It's not a negative or a positive on any group, just the way it is. Erasure fans would much rather get another B-side than a remix. Once again, laziness, in my opinion, is not on the menu for either PSB or E.

Also, Loins, the arrogant/gloating-tinged language you use ("stay with us, OK") tends to deter from your argument than add to it.

As for the latest Erasure album, I do actually think there was a lack of inspiration, just as I do for the last PSB album. I think both will come back with stellar albums next time.

And one last thing... anyone who likes Barenaked Ladies should lose the right to comment on *any* music. Yes, they should have their pop music punditry card revoked.

Loins Of London wrote:

JSDOUVRES wrote:They have had so many hit's with other artists haven't they? NO they have not and you know that very well.
Do some more research and you'll see that Erasure have actually done a lot more than you claim but who cares?

PSB/Neil have featured on top 20 hits for Liza, Dusty (2), Bowie, Eighth Wonder, Blur (their mix was the A-side in some countries), Robbie (2), Cicero, Electronic (2)

Boy George's track was a big hit in the US, and on the US dance scene Break 4 Luv was a huge club hit, as was Ono's (a No.1 in fact) and Madonna's Sorry speaks for itself.

So I make that around 15 hits not under the PSB name. That'd be about 15 hits more than anything Vince or Andy have provided for others in the same period then.

No.16 from the biggest girl group around will be hitting the top five very soon. Stay with us, OK?

And if you want to loftily claim that Erasure have worked with others not mentioned, at least have the courage of your convictions and back up your claim.

For me, the most telling analogy was when Paul Newman was asked about his long marriage to Joanne Woodward and he replied 'why go out for a burger when you've got fillet steak at home? It's the same with PSB over Erasure.

Madonna didn't sanction an Erasure/Vince Clarke remix of one of her songs, even though they were signed her Maverick label for a while. That is until the duo provided the sinking ship of an album that was Loveboat, which was refused a US release, even after V&A re-recorded a lot of the material, and her people well and truly put the band on the rocks, scuttling them soon after.

Whereas the PSB mix of Sorry she preferred to her original version. She even used it on her tour, in fact. I bet Andy was ripping his green leotard to shreds from the cheap seats as soon as he heard Neil's dulcet tones that night.

Also, Bell-End has made no secret of his love for Blondie in the past, even covering the hilariously obvious Heart Of Glass, and on a joint tour of the US made overtones to Debbie Harry about a possible collaboration. But who was it she actually approached because she wanted to work with them? Yep, a far superior pop duo with a proven track record of popularity and respect among fellow artists. Stick to Lene Lovich, love!

One other intriguing point was that in 1987 PSB were sent some exclusive music by the celebrated composer Ennio Morricone that became It Couldn't Happen Here. If you want further evidence of how to separate your burgers from your fillets, the very same year Erasure had to make do with covering one of Morricone's old tracks The Good The Bad And The Ugly as a B-side.

Still, you like them.

So Madonna is apparently a bigger PSB fan, So What?

5 NUMBER ONE ALBUMS, To the PSB's 1, sorry but you cannot doubt that fact no matter how many remixes they have done for other people and not many of them were hits either, lets be honest, however good they were! And I suppose PSB covering Go West and Always on my mind was a genius moment as opposed to the Erasure cover versions! Hilarious!

And What about Vince with Yazoo and DM? Does that not count towards something? He has also done quite a few remixes for other people, but no not for Madonna but they are just remixes at the end of the day.

Burgers, Fillets, All a question of taste isn't it? Or does everybody have to consult you and Skyhigh about things first?

5 Number one albums to 1, if it was a football match then it is a thrashing, plus it was at a time when chart positions actually meant something! Oh but I forgot they never remixed Madonna which is ever important apparently!

Just please explain why Erasure are spoiling the PSB's big day because I am just not getting it. Especially as you give the impression that nobody should like Erasure anyway. Doesn't really make sense. Are people going to see the PSB get the award and then go to the shops to buy their latest cd but see the new Erasure one and think, 'Well there is no new PSB cd but Erasure are the same aren't they so let's buy this one instead'? Ahh but don't worry because going by your logic once they realise Erasure never remixed Madonna they will lose interest quickly.

Well, Loins has provided a lot of info! Thanks for that..

never realised that (outside Yazoo and DM), Erasure havent worked with other artists :S

JSDOUVRES wrote:[5 Number one albums to 1, if it was a football match then it is a thrashing, plus it was at a time when chart positions actually meant something! Oh but I forgot they never remixed Madonna which is ever important apparently!

Just please explain why Erasure are spoiling the PSB's big day because I am just not getting it. Especially as you give the impression that nobody should like Erasure anyway. Doesn't really make sense. Are people going to see the PSB get the award and then go to the shops to buy their latest cd but see the new Erasure one and think, 'Well there is no new PSB cd but Erasure are the same aren't they so let's buy this one instead'? Ahh but don't worry because going by your logic once they realise Erasure never remixed Madonna they will lose interest quickly.

Agree with your viewpoint about spoiling PSB's big day. Can't understand how thats going to happen. PSB are still going to receive the biggest award in British music. An award few have been given. Just because a duo is releasing a GH package a week later, doesn't affect it at all. Mute are simply using the situation for some extra promotion.

Lets not go down the number one albums road, though. Albums are all about sales and Actually, Intospective, Behaviour and Very sold more than any Erasure album. Not that a number one album isn't a great achievement but sometimes albums don't get to number one because of whats released at the same time. Like NOW albums that use to count in the normal chart.

As for this greatest hits release. What exactly is being put out? Is it a 2 cd release? Or a 4 disc package? Or a 1 cd release? Keep hearing all sorts of different rumours and a price tag of £40 pounds. The 4 disc package might be a decent purchase, as long as they stick to stuff pre 1994.

jsdouvres just managed 6 paragraphs without saying anything other than the fact that erasure have had 5 top albums.

Undertaker wrote: The 4 disc package might be a decent purchase, as long as they stick to stuff pre 1994.

pre 1994. ie they have done nothin of note for 14 years.