Policy of order of appearance of singles and albums

[Tomas]

The third single from Fundamental really needs to be something spectacular to draw the attention of a bigger audience... - Fugitive anyone?

What exactly is spectacular about Fugitive? The lyrics are good, but not their best, and the sound would be considered spectacular in late eighties IMO. Maybe you mean the story "between the lines", but then again how many casual buyers do care about any interpretation?

[Eldritch]

The fact is that Fundamental is dead in the water and EMI knows it. Third singles have a harder time getting airplay, unless they are from a really succesful album, so releasing further singles from the album will produce even more diminishing results. Fundamental had its chance already: the first single had enough promotion and publicity to become a big hit and the second single got enough airplay to be able to strengthen the sales of the mother album. Neither of these things happened with I'm with stupid and Minimal, so the chances of a third single bringing Fundamental back into top 100 are sadly minimal.

If EMI still believed in Fundamental, they wouldn't be rush-releasing a live album this autumn. If we get a third single, the point of that is to promote the live album more than Fundamental really.

[reality_check]

Excellent knowledgable responses Eldritch. Keep it up against the odd ignorant fanatical loons on here.

Basically what Eldritch is saying is that although pre-album 2 singles might work,a record company would much prefer the cheaper option of 1 (big) single + promo + hype(the last two being much cheaper than another single) to lauch the album (since most singles are just an extra expense as they are less likely to make proffit with lower sales than a decade ago) in a media promo blitz.

[BlueSwan]

Everything Eldritch has written in this thread is true.

[profile790]

Fugitive anyone?

It's be made quite clear that Fugitive won't be a single! If they really want to attract attention they need to release something different instead of boring typical PSB Integral. One of the slower songs should do the trick, Numb or ILTR. Then if there's a fourth single Integral though TSGAS is a better choice but alas that won't happen.

If Minimal had performed better, I would have agreed with your suggestion to release Indefinite Leave To Remain as a single. It's a beautiful song, my favourite on the album and one of the best tracks PSB ever made. Yet, I don't think it can be that big hit that they need now.

The third single from Fundamental really needs to be something spectacular to draw the attention of a bigger audience... - Fugitive anyone?

What exactly is spectacular about Fugitive? The lyrics are good, but not their best, and the sound would be considered spectacular in late eighties IMO. Maybe you mean the story "between the lines", but then again how many casual buyers do care about any interpretation?

Fugitive is the freshest sounding PSB track in years, thanks to brilliant production by Richard X. It sounds like a possible hit to me. The third single needs to draw people's attention to PSB. Can "Integral" do that trick? I doubt it... It's a typical, bombastic PSB track, like they did in the 80s. What else is there? The Sodom And Gomorrah Show... - a fan's favourite for sure, but a big hit? I doubt it...

We knew that PSB want to release a 7-inch edit of Fugitive on a forthcoming cd-single. It would fit well with Integral, but perhaps they should switch the tracks... Make it a double A-side single of Fugitive/Integral.

[stussyboy]

I think people (especially on Zeus' forum) are getting slightly carried away with the fact that Richard X produced Fugitive. He is not the hit machine some are making out. Fugitive is an ok track, but would've charted lower than Minimal in my opinion. There are 2 obvious singles on Fundametal, as many posters have said, Numb and Integral.

[profile790]

The fact is that Fundamental is dead in the water and EMI knows it. Third singles have a harder time getting airplay, unless they are from a really succesful album, so releasing further singles from the album will produce even more diminishing results. Fundamental had its chance already: the first single had enough promotion and publicity to become a big hit and the second single got enough airplay to be able to strengthen the sales of the mother album. Neither of these things happened with I'm with stupid and Minimal, so the chances of a third single bringing Fundamental back into top 100 are sadly minimal.

If EMI still believed in Fundamental, they wouldn't be rush-releasing a live album this autumn. If we get a third single, the point of that is to promote the live album more than Fundamental really.

The latter is true, but that 3rd single could also help to increase sales of Fundamental. I would agree with your comments if Fundamental wouldn't be as good as it is. It *is* Pet Shop Boys' return to form, their best album in 13 years and it *does* have potential. Release didn't really have good singles left, Fundamental does. That's a major difference. I think the best choice would be a double A-side of Integral/Fugitive, really. It would promote both Fundamental as well as Fundamentalism.

[!]

Fugitive anyone?

It's be made quite clear that Fugitive won't be a single! If they really want to attract attention they need to release something different instead of boring typical PSB Integral. One of the slower songs should do the trick, Numb or ILTR. Then if there's a fourth single Integral though TSGAS is a better choice but alas that won't happen.

If Minimal had performed better, I would have agreed with your suggestion to release Indefinite Leave To Remain as a single. It's a beautiful song, my favourite on the album and one of the best tracks PSB ever made. Yet, I don't think it can be that big hit that they need now.

To be honest, I think whatever they release won't be a big hit. At least if they release a slower song they would've released one of each (up/mid/down-tempo) and it'd be a bit different.
As for Fugitive, I genuinely do like it but I don't think it deserves all the hype it's been given. To say that it sounds like it's from the eighties, well that's the sound Richard X does and it's what's popular, you know with the whole electroclash, electro house and bands like The Killers etc.
I hope for the next album they do a reverse Fundamental, have an all out electro fest with songs like Fugitive, Psychological and The Resurrectionist but with a few orchestral/slower songs here and there. Where as Fundamental is the opposite, mostly slower songs with a few uptempo numbers hence "reverse Fundamental".

[Tomas]

I think the best choice would be a double A-side of Integral/Fugitive, really. It would promote both Fundamental as well as Fundamentalism.

OK, but that's obviously only a theoretical choice.

Fugitive is the freshest sounding PSB track in years

Well, to me it sounds kind of repetitive, all these rough beats, claps (after 5:00, they strongly remind me of Left to my own devices) etc. There's no real MELODY presented by instruments. Give me Minimal any time. Its production is amazing. Creates a real (rich) sonic landscape. I think this sounds very fresh (at least compared with some other recent PSB outputs).

[adampsb]

Excellent knowledgable responses Eldritch. Keep it up against the odd ignorant fanatical loons on here.

Basically what Eldritch is saying is that although pre-album 2 singles might work,a record company would much prefer the cheaper option of 1 (big) single + promo + hype(the last two being much cheaper than another single) to lauch the album (since most singles are just an extra expense as they are less likely to make proffit with lower sales than a decade ago) in a media promo blitz.

He is right. I think if Minimal had been released as a single before or alongside fundamental it would have been a smash rather than 2 months after it when we should have been looking forward to Integral, Numb or Psychological as a new single.

PS Check out U-Myx's 251 & 254 and rate please