Madonna - Lower East Side Girl (from Confessions II)

[MikeyC]

I saw Marc Almond live this past Friday (along with Alison Moyet and headliners The Human League). He was fine, entertaining, chatty but I was surprised how he barely took advantage of the high tech lighting which the other two acts used extensively and just relied on a simple video screen for the visuals. And not surprisingly the only huge cheers happened at the end for Tainted Love.

[Gabby]

Gotta feel for Marc Almond. It's not even a year since Dave Ball died and he's touring what will be their last album. That's got to be tough.

Anyway, back to Madonna, I kind of feel we'd know by now if Neil and/or Chris were a part of this, so my money is it being a bit of a nothing burger. A remix from them of one of the tracks seems possible, but as back scratching exercises go I don't really think it's something either Madonna or PSB would necessarily entertain right now.

[DopeFiend]

I've listened to the whole album. LES Girls is nothing to do with Pet Shop Boys and I think we should stop making threads whenever an artist uses a title similar to West End Girls. (We did it with Lily Allen which also turned out to be unrelated to PSB)

Overall a nice listen. Some tracks stood out but overall it's sort of familiar 2000's dance music.
There are moments you can hear similarities to Super, with Stuart Price's production showing itself.
I'll have to give it another listen another time, but in my opinion Confessions II is a bit blasé.

[DopeFiend]

I saw Marc Almond live this past Friday (along with Alison Moyet and headliners The Human League). He was fine, entertaining, chatty but I was surprised how he barely took advantage of the high tech lighting which the other two acts used extensively and just relied on a simple video screen for the visuals. And not surprisingly the only huge cheers happened at the end for Tainted Love.

That's an amazing set of 3 artists to see live. I saw Marc Almond (penned as Soft Cell), where they did the full Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret album and a handful of extras. Really enjoyed it. It was a standalone show, so everyone attending was a fan. Hearing the album tracks, everyone singing along, so good. And of course the PSB part where Marc tells the story of how Purple Zone came about, then hearing the isolated NT vocals during the song was such a highlight for me.
They did Tainted Love twice, which I was so happy about. Once as the opener then again near the end of the set. Technically the 2nd time was Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go.
Honestly so many songs stood out. I enjoyed the whole thing and would recommend to any Pet Head to see Marc Almond/Soft Cell live if possible.

Gotta feel for Marc Almond. It's not even a year since Dave Ball died and he's touring what will be their last album. That's got to be tough.

Anyway, back to Madonna, I kind of feel we'd know by now if Neil and/or Chris were a part of this, so my money is it being a bit of a nothing burger. A remix from them of one of the tracks seems possible, but as back scratching exercises go I don't really think it's something either Madonna or PSB would necessarily entertain right now.

In my opinion it's probably a great way of mourning the loss, paying tribute to his bandmate by carrying the torch. The pure love from the audience to Marc would have to be uplifting. I follow his socials, he posts travel pictures, it's all very wholesome and lovey.
The new album drops in November, I wouldn't say he's touring it just yet. Also FYI he was touring without Dave Ball prior to the passing, so it's not that different.

Reminds me a bit of Depeche Mode, I saw the concert film titled M. That one I felt really had a pathos and weight to it, the fact that Andy Fletcher had passed away. Seeing the aged Dave Gahan and Martin Gore performing their hearts out, these massive powerful songs often with darker themes, and the intermission bits with philosophical ramblings about life and death. It's pretty special.

Curious what other fans will think of the Madonna album. I have a feeling it's been created for Gen Alpha who didn't grow up listening to 2000s dance music. For me it's so familiar sounding that it becomes unsubstantial. I'm thankful Pet Shop Boys tend to stick to their own sound and originality.

[Gabby]

I saw Marc Almond live this past Friday (along with Alison Moyet and headliners The Human League). He was fine, entertaining, chatty but I was surprised how he barely took advantage of the high tech lighting which the other two acts used extensively and just relied on a simple video screen for the visuals. And not surprisingly the only huge cheers happened at the end for Tainted Love.

That's an amazing set of 3 artists to see live. I saw Marc Almond (penned as Soft Cell), where they did the full Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret album and a handful of extras. Really enjoyed it. It was a standalone show, so everyone attending was a fan. Hearing the album tracks, everyone singing along, so good. And of course the PSB part where Marc tells the story of how Purple Zone came about, then hearing the isolated NT vocals during the song was such a highlight for me.
They did Tainted Love twice, which I was so happy about. Once as the opener then again near the end of the set. Technically the 2nd time was Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go.
Honestly so many songs stood out. I enjoyed the whole thing and would recommend to any Pet Head to see Marc Almond/Soft Cell live if possible.

Gotta feel for Marc Almond. It's not even a year since Dave Ball died and he's touring what will be their last album. That's got to be tough.

Anyway, back to Madonna, I kind of feel we'd know by now if Neil and/or Chris were a part of this, so my money is it being a bit of a nothing burger. A remix from them of one of the tracks seems possible, but as back scratching exercises go I don't really think it's something either Madonna or PSB would necessarily entertain right now.

In my opinion it's probably a great way of mourning the loss, paying tribute to his bandmate by carrying the torch. The pure love from the audience to Marc would have to be uplifting. I follow his socials, he posts travel pictures, it's all very wholesome and lovey.
The new album drops in November, I wouldn't say he's touring it just yet. Also FYI he was touring without Dave Ball prior to the passing, so it's not that different.

Reminds me a bit of Depeche Mode, I saw the concert film titled M. That one I felt really had a pathos and weight to it, the fact that Andy Fletcher had passed away. Seeing the aged Dave Gahan and Martin Gore performing their hearts out, these massive powerful songs often with darker themes, and the intermission bits with philosophical ramblings about life and death. It's pretty special.

Curious what other fans will think of the Madonna album. I have a feeling it's been created for Gen Alpha who didn't grow up listening to 2000s dance music. For me it's so familiar sounding that it becomes unsubstantial. I'm thankful Pet Shop Boys tend to stick to their own sound and originality.

My bad, I thought the SC album was already out. I saw so many adverts for it on socials!

[rathound]

The Peggy Gou Energy Mix of Madonna's 'I Feel So Free' has an introduction that sounds very similar to a hybrid of 'It's not a crime' and 'I've got plans (involving you)'.

will give it a listen. Thought I've got Plans itself sounded very Peggy Gou so kind of fits

edit: gave it a listen, thats a cool remix. Very PSB start then full on Bobby O (and therefore early PSB)

[Lleonard Pler]

Sorry for opening a pointless thread.

There's only a moment in Confessions II where I thought of PSB. Some production choices in Everything made my think of Electric and Super. Specially tracks like Axis, Shouting in the evening or Pazzo.

[DopeFiend]

Sorry for opening a pointless thread.

There's only a moment in Confessions II where I thought of PSB. Some production choices in Everything made my think of Electric and Super. Specially tracks like Axis, Shouting in the evening or Pazzo.

Maybe we can all use the Off-Topic section a bit more.

[tottenhammattspurs]

She samples/ heavily uses The Army Of Lovers! Yes!!

[DopeFiend]

Confessions II has reached number 1 on album charts.
Pretty impressive.

[tottenhammattspurs]

With its fifteen different formats variants I’m not surprised.

[Future Lover]

A win is a win, maybe PSB could take a leaf out of her book. Dumping on it is simply... cruel.

[Markpro]

Been listening to it practically non-stop since it teleased on Spotify, i absolutely love it, especially the first 6 tracks, how i wish Stuart Price had made ine if the boys trilogy a 16 track non-stop mix (like Disco 2 was), there are little anippets and easter eggs here and there from Electric and Super.

I think it’s a great pop album

[Spittingcat]

Betrayal is the one track that makes me think Price might have done something similar with PSB… based on a modern classical piece with added sad trumpet.

[Patrick Bateman]

Stuart Price just 'DJ-ed' at the World Cup Final with Fat Ronaldo and the Muppets.