"Must haves" for a new fan-please tell me!

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singysingysingy · #1 Post by **singysingysingy** » Tue 29 May 2007, 5:42 pm

Although I followed the music and videos of the Pet Shop Boys over many years the fan-fever cought me 10 days ago when I watched them live in Stuttgart. It wasn't the 1st time for me but since this day I'm totally in love with them, esp. "NUMB" caught me completely. So I bought the "Fundamental" CD, "Pop art", "Concrete" and "The complete singles collection" ! So what else are the fundamentals, which CD's are a MUST? I plan to get the "Very" and "Behaviour" remastered edtions. What else do you recommend? THANX!!!

Twoism · #2 Post by **Twoism** » Tue 29 May 2007, 5:48 pm

Everything really...

Please, Actually, Introspective, Nightlife, Bilingual, Release etc...

All their albums are excellent, especially the Alternative compilation of b-sides.

singysingysingy · #3 Post by **singysingysingy** » Tue 29 May 2007, 5:56 pm

I was hesitating with "Release", "Bilingual" or "Nightlife" cause the reviews are mixed on these and I don't want to ruin my bank account...

I'm also a HUGE MADONNA fan and that's expensive enough, so I wanted to concentrate and the most important PSB stuff first!

Danger · #4 Post by **Danger** » Tue 29 May 2007, 6:02 pm

Very above all, the best PSB work for sure. Then Nightlife and Bilingual. I hope that your fever is not terrible like mine: since I'm become a fans in 2004 I'm lookin' for everything about PSB in every corner of the world. I hope that you will not become like me

dVTB · #5 Post by **dVTB** » Tue 29 May 2007, 6:05 pm

Behaviour and Very are indeed the first albums you should buy. Since you like Numb so much with all its strings, Nightlife might a good 3rd buy.

After that, I would focus on getting the special editions of Bilingual, Actually and Please. When you have all those, the Alternative album is pretty useless, since approximately all b-sides are on the special edition albums.

After that, I would focus on buying Release and Disco 3.

singysingysingy · #6 Post by **singysingysingy** » Tue 29 May 2007, 6:14 pm

Danger wrote:Very above all, the best PSB work for sure. Then Nightlife and Bilingual. I hope that your fever is not terrible like mine: since I'm become a fans in 2004 I'm lookin' for everything about PSB in every corner of the world. I hope that you will not become like me

It could very easy end like this! I know myself...

singysingysingy · #7 Post by **singysingysingy** » Tue 29 May 2007, 6:16 pm

dVTB wrote:Behaviour and Very are indeed the first albums you should buy. Since you like Numb so much with all its strings, Nightlife might a good 3rd buy.

After that, I would focus on getting the special editions of Bilingual, Actually and Please. When you have all those, the Alternative album is pretty useless, since approximately all b-sides are on the special edition albums.

After that, I would focus on buying Release and Disco 3.

This strategy sounds good, thanx! "Numb" is such an incredible gem, so if "Nightlife" is anything like it, I'm fine with this album for sure.

Riikka · #8 Post by **Riikka** » Tue 29 May 2007, 8:26 pm

I recommend the PopArt DVD! It's great to watch the videos and listen to Neil and Chris commenting on them! And the DVD lasts for three hours, so it's very much worth the money.

Eldritch · #9 Post by **Eldritch** » Tue 29 May 2007, 8:50 pm

Why not go chronologic and go with the remastered 2-cd editions in the order they came out starting with Please and then Actually, Introspective, Behaviour... The early stuff is all brilliant and you can follow their development album-by-album.

Undertaker · #10 Post by **Undertaker** » Tue 29 May 2007, 8:53 pm

You should start at the beginning like Eldritch said but don't forget Disco. Actually is still their finest moment but new fans tend to start with Very.

Dave

VeryMary · #11 Post by **VeryMary** » Tue 29 May 2007, 8:56 pm

Well, to piggy-back on my request elsewhere for the Closer to Heaven demos, be sure you don't overlook the demos for PSB songs written for other artists, that the boys sometimes put on b-sides or that you can find on bootlegs. I'm thinking esp. of the Closer to Heaven demos and the demo for Confidential (on Tina Turner's CD). Nobody does Neil's songs better than Neil....

PopArt · #12 Post by **PopArt** » Tue 29 May 2007, 9:02 pm

I honestly think you should buy each of their studio albums. They are all of a consistently high standard, even the less well received ones (Release and Bilingual). For instance, if you like Numb you will probably like 'Love is a catastrophe' on Release or the more reflective moments on Bilingual (To step aside, It always comes as a surprise and The survivors)

Then there's all of the b-sides and rare tracks some of which are truly amazing. Songs such as Your funny uncle, The truck driver and his mate, In the night etc.

Then some of their other side projects have yielded some impressive songs. My current fave is Battleship Potemkin which I think is actually musically one of the best things that they have ever done. Also, check out the Dusty record (Reputation, from 1990) and Liza's Results record which has a really fab track called So sorry, I said. In fact, one of 2001 reissues (Introspective, I think) has a version of this song sung by Neil which is great.

There is very little of their output that I personally would say to avoid. Maybe the Closer to Heaven soundtrack though songs such as For all of us, Friendly fire and My night are certainly worth having. Basically, PSB are so great I would say that you really should own everything. They are the only band where I think that

So, welcome to the wonderful world of PSB! You have hours of electronic entertainment ahead of you

transforce · #13 Post by **transforce** » Tue 29 May 2007, 9:53 pm

Get 'Very' and 'Behaviour' above all else.

LoveComesQuickly · Tue 29 May 2007, 11:25 pm

I agree with PopArt that all the studio albums are essential, with the possible exception IMO of Nightlife. I'd also suggest getting/borrowing the DVD "A Life in Pop" as the interviews and background material help to give you a much deeper insight into the two remarkable personalities that make up PSB. Really, Nick and Chris are creative artists of the highest calibre and long may they share their talents with us.

Radiophonic · #15 Post by **Radiophonic** » Wed 30 May 2007, 2:16 am

I remember getting into Bowie when I was 19 (via Gary Numan) and asking the same thing. I just bought everything from The Man Who Sold The World onwards. It was like a wonderful journey. And then in 1980 Scary Monsters became my first new Bowie record. I felt I'd arrived.

Chronologically is always best...