New album Nonetheless

[Disco.]

I paid the extra for nonetheless and furthermore and already wishing I'd just bought the standard CD. I don't think the reworked tracks on furthermore are anything special with the originals being simply better.

As for nonetheless, I'm on around my 3rd playthrough and so far, nothing is standing out for me. I know there are a lot of hardcode PSB fans on here who will jump in to criticise my view, but as a fan from the early days, the output of the last few albums has left me disappointed. I still regularly play the older albums but Electric onward just hasn't done anything for me.

I'm always hoping and expecting that the next album will rekindle my love for PSB new music, but each album just leaves me with disappointment. I guess it is time for me to accept that the PSBs will not be putting anything out that will ever get me excited again.

Maybe its time to mave on.

[dylanww73]

I still regularly play the older albums but Electric onward just hasn't done anything for me.

I'm always hoping and expecting that the next album will rekindle my love for PSB new music, but each album just leaves me with disappointment. I guess it is time for me to accept that the PSBs will not be putting anything out that will ever get me excited again.

I felt similar about the last 3 albums which were a bit 'meh' for me overall, however I adore nonetheless and personally thinks it's a major return and I have 'my' PSB back.

Agree 100% about furthermore though.

[Disco.]

I'm surprised Erasure have had so many fewer top ten albums. I know they had four number one albums to PSB's one, but their sales have really have dropped off the last couple of decades, haven't they? I blame pughie.

I consider myself a pretty big erasure fan, not PSB big, but a fan nonetheless (see what I did there?)

Erasure's biggest issue is just lack of quality/consistency and some missteps along the way. To my ears, they were very good all the way up through and including Cowboy.

Loveboat (2000) - major misstep
Other People's Songs (2003) - felt desperate, mostly a miss
Nightbird (2005) - nice solid album
Union Street (2006) - absolute garbage
Light at the End of the World (2007) - not a fan favorite but really good to my ears, some great tracks
Tomorrow's World (2011) - very meh
Snow Globe (2013) - A mostly holiday album but some non-holiday stuff ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Violet Flame (2014) - a little uneven but some decent tracks
World Be Gone (2017) - just terrible
The Neon (2020) - probably the most Erasure sounding album in a while but nothing overly memorable
Day-Glo (Based on a True Story) (2022) - Vince was bored

Ultimately, Erasure just haven't been able to keep the consistent quality that PSB has AND I've always felt that PSB has done enough varying stuff to feel different but still distinctly PSB. Erasure, well, just always sounds like Erasure.

Well, not all agree with you...
(from allmusic)


I also don't agree with you regarding their later work. Loveboat, Other People's Song and Union Street are misses indeed and for Snow Globe, well I consider it a novelty album. However, their regular album output from Light at the End of the World is very consistent imo. These albums also got excellent reviews (at least in Europe). And Day-Glo is one of their best, even though it's based on The Neon.

(at allmusic they're also PSB fans btw. Interesting to compare their reviews from artist like PSB, Erasure and Kylie to those of 'serious' artists like Eurythmics or Pink Floyd)

Thats Pughie doing all the reviews

[Disco.]

Amazon UK have a list of their best selling cds and vinyl of this year (so far) Nonetheless (2 cd edition) is #12 cd single of Loneliness #87 and the 3 cd edition of Smash is #97.

[Gabby]

Just received the packages from Japan. Here are the bonus gifts from various stores.

The message card from HMV or Tower Records.

The other side of the message card.

The key ring from Rakuten Books.

The mega jacket from Amazon Japan.

CD, Mega Jacket and 12" comparison.

So what exactly is a mega jacket and what does it do?

Curiouser and curiouser.

I think my order should be the one with the art card but I have no clue. It'll be a surprise I guess!

[jagdmirage]

So what exactly is a mega jacket and what does it do?

"Mega Jacket" just means "Large cover art print". CD buyers will have a larger cover art, but not as big as the 12" vinyls.
It's not "MEGA" at all. The lithograph from the official store is the real deal.

[vincenzosz]

I still regularly play the older albums but Electric onward just hasn't done anything for me.

I'm always hoping and expecting that the next album will rekindle my love for PSB new music, but each album just leaves me with disappointment. I guess it is time for me to accept that the PSBs will not be putting anything out that will ever get me excited again.

I felt similar about the last 3 albums which were a bit 'meh' for me overall, however I adore nonetheless and personally thinks it's a major return and I have 'my' PSB back.

Agree 100% about furthermore though.

I feel for you. That would be disappointing. I loved the Stuart Price era, a lot of fun, well produced material from this long era.

I rarely like a PSB album on its own, I usually like half or more of the album and then enjoy about half of the b sides. I have about 200 songs by PSB that I listen to here and there, which is a lot more than most artists I enjoy but compared to the Pets output it’s not that much.

I became aware of the boys when Fundamental came out and then slowly absorbed their discography. Very has always been one I didn’t understand. I don’t enjoy the songwriting and the production is so loud and dated. I like urban Pet Shop Boys.

Anyways, so after the ups and downs of Yes and Elysium I found the Stuart Price era fresh! Though not without its flaws, my version of these albums are very different than the originals. But each era usually has an album worth of solid songs, even if they aren’t all on the album.

Nonetheless is like Very to me. The production is just terrible, compared to most any mainstream artist. And compared to any song produced by Stuart Price. I was hoping Neil and Chris would have gotten him to produce one of their slower albums. Sad Robot World and Burning the Heather are more sonically interesting and beautiful than anything on Nonetheless.

I’m really hoping we get a third and fourth single, which means some more b sides and remixes.

[Disco.]

it’s immaculately produced . Seriously don’t you see that ? Very and Introspective have both sold in excess of 5 million copies

[The Pop Kid]

I really dont ever understand the general distaste for Yes. I think it's so brilliant.
Love Etc
Minimal
King Of Rome
The Way It Used To Be
Pandemonium
Did You See Me Coming
All Over The World
More Than A Dream
Legacy
This Used To Be The Future

I'm not keen on Building A Wall, Vulnerable or Beautiful People but tyre decent enough.
I think the album is their most consistent since Very and since.
It's pure quality.

[MikeyC]

I want that Japanese edition key ring!!

[vincenzosz]

it’s immaculately produced . Seriously don’t you see that ? Very and Introspective have both sold in excess of 5 million copies

Let me clarify that when I mean produced im referring to the synth sounds used, the layering and integration with Neil’s vocals and the orchestra.

I find the tracks sparse and flat, lacking richness. Most of the synths on this album sound the same quality as some of the boys demos. It’s as though James Ford was too lazy to upgrade their demos and additionally stripped their usually sonically interesting layers.

This sounds like an album of demos with string backing.

Compared to the boy’s previous material and other artist’s material the quality of the production is disappointingly low, and I don’t know how everyone isn’t hearing it.

[Kiran]

I really dont ever understand the general distaste for Yes. I think it's so brilliant.
Love Etc
Minimal
King Of Rome
The Way It Used To Be
Pandemonium
Did You See Me Coming
All Over The World
More Than A Dream
Legacy
This Used To Be The Future

I'm not keen on Building A Wall, Vulnerable or Beautiful People but tyre decent enough.
I think the album is their most consistent since Very and since.
It's pure quality.

I definitely rate Yes above all of the albums that came since, mainly because The Way It Used to be is sooooo good!. Minimal is not from Yes though!

[dylanww73]

it’s immaculately produced . Seriously don’t you see that ? Very and Introspective have both sold in excess of 5 million copies

It’s as though James Ford was too lazy to upgrade their demos and additionally stripped their usually sonically interesting layers.

This sounds like an album of demos with string backing.

Compared to the boy’s previous material and other artist’s material the quality of the production is disappointingly low, and I don’t know how everyone isn’t hearing it.

Or, heaven forbid, that's the exact landscape of sound and feeling they were going for?

[tottenhammattspurs]

You have heard James Fords other work haven’t you? Depeche’s latest has that minimal feel too and it works well. In fact, DMs album could do with some orchestration in it.

[jamie1978]

I still regularly play the older albums but Electric onward just hasn't done anything for me.

I'm always hoping and expecting that the next album will rekindle my love for PSB new music, but each album just leaves me with disappointment. I guess it is time for me to accept that the PSBs will not be putting anything out that will ever get me excited again.

I felt similar about the last 3 albums which were a bit 'meh' for me overall, however I adore nonetheless and personally thinks it's a major return and I have 'my' PSB back.

Agree 100% about furthermore though.

I feel for you. That would be disappointing. I loved the Stuart Price era, a lot of fun, well produced material from this long era.

I rarely like a PSB album on its own, I usually like half or more of the album and then enjoy about half of the b sides. I have about 200 songs by PSB that I listen to here and there, which is a lot more than most artists I enjoy but compared to the Pets output it’s not that much.

I became aware of the boys when Fundamental came out and then slowly absorbed their discography. Very has always been one I didn’t understand. I don’t enjoy the songwriting and the production is so loud and dated. I like urban Pet Shop Boys.

Anyways, so after the ups and downs of Yes and Elysium I found the Stuart Price era fresh! Though not without its flaws, my version of these albums are very different than the originals. But each era usually has an album worth of solid songs, even if they aren’t all on the album.

Nonetheless is like Very to me. The production is just terrible, compared to most any mainstream artist. And compared to any song produced by Stuart Price. I was hoping Neil and Chris would have gotten him to produce one of their slower albums. Sad Robot World and Burning the Heather are more sonically interesting and beautiful than anything on Nonetheless.

I’m really hoping we get a third and fourth single, which means some more b sides and remixes.

"the production is terrible"

I stopped reading there. You are delusional - James Ford is recognised as one of the leading producers in the world today (this is a simple statement of fact).

Anyone with the slightest bit of music production knowledge would listen to Nonetheless and conclude that it's exceptionally well produced - in alignment with the sonic vision for the album they have already articulated (warm, analogue electronics with space to breathe + strings).

What you really mean is "I don't like it". That is NOT the same as "It's badly produced".

While everyone is entitled to an opinion, the force with which some people express utter nonsense continues to surprise me. Absolutely zero self-awareness.