Pet Shop Boys Community

Aaron wrote:I'm a fan of both bands, which Avalon has commented on before...

Here are some comparisons I'd like to make.

Erasure's newer music is their best, while I feel if I want to listen to the Pet Shop Boys best, I return to Please, Actually and Introspective.

Interesting, I feel quite differently about that. Do you really mean to say that you prefer, say, 'Loveboat' to 'The Innocents'

I think both bands have had more or less the same development: Big hits in the late 80's, artistic peak around 1990-1994 and more or less downhill from there.

I really like:

I Say I Say I Say
Erasure
Other People's Songs
Nightbird

Innocents is ok, but very dated. Don't like Wonderland. Definitely think Loveboat was a mistake. Cowboy had its ups and downs. I don't think I have all the albums so I may be missing some, but I guess it's the 90's and up that I like, but agree, Loveboat... yikes!

I dont think andys voice outshines neil at all. ok,well maybe he is better live but the problem I have with andys vocals on the studio CD's is if you heard his voice on one track you have heard it on all. he sounds like he just walks up to a microphone with a tad of reverb and sings.blahh.

listen to neils vocals. the vocal production differs from track to track.
sometimes its shiney and double tracked sometimes he is singing falsetto,sometimes he is singing very low. sometimes he has alot of proccessed effects on his vocals sometimes alot less.

you just dont get that with andy.

Neil isn't a singer per se. It's probably beyond the Eraserheads' understanding but Neil has always spoken as much as he has sung. That's one of the (many) reasons why PSB were always in a different league to Erasure.

PSB's first bloody hit was a 'rap'!!!!!

I dont think he was a great singer back when please came out.he was sort of rapping and doing a sort of hybrid of both on some songs.but today, its hard to listen to songs such as drunk or break 4 love and not tell he has become a singer with a nice warm voice.

Janet Street-Porter wrote:Neil isn't a singer per se. It's probably beyond the Eraserheads' understanding but Neil has always spoken as much as he has sung. That's one of the (many) reasons why PSB were always in a different league to Erasure.

PSB's first bloody hit was a 'rap'!!!!!

Yes, Neil is not a born singer but he manages to pull it off usually. Maybe Neil utilises more effects because he needs the help...Andy doesn't. But they both end up being great anyway, regardless. But I am reminded of this, re: Somewhere: Live 1997:

Chris "Somewhere... is a singer's song..."

uP

I have never heard an Erasure song in my life - not being funny, just being factual.

Joemoz wrote:

Aaron wrote:I'm a fan of both bands, which Avalon has commented on before...

Here are some comparisons I'd like to make.

Erasure's newer music is their best, while I feel if I want to listen to the Pet Shop Boys best, I return to Please, Actually and Introspective.

Interesting, I feel quite differently about that. Do you really mean to say that you prefer, say, 'Loveboat' to 'The Innocents'

I think both bands have had more or less the same development: Big hits in the late 80's, artistic peak around 1990-1994 and more or less downhill from there.

Not true. PSB had both their commercial and artistic peak from 1986 till 1989, breifly lost the plot from 1990 till 1992, had a commercial and artistic comeback in 1993-1994 and have been going downhill both artistically and commercially ever since, with a couple of brief returns to brilliance (Before, some of Nightlife, Miracles).

Erasure had their commercial and artistic peak during the same period and have been going downhill since Pop.

glennjridge wrote:I dont think andys voice outshines neil at all. ok,well maybe he is better live but the problem I have with andys vocals on the studio CD's is if you heard his voice on one track you have heard it on all. he sounds like he just walks up to a microphone with a tad of reverb and sings.blahh.

listen to neils vocals. the vocal production differs from track to track.
sometimes its shiney and double tracked sometimes he is singing falsetto,sometimes he is singing very low. sometimes he has alot of proccessed effects on his vocals sometimes alot less.

you just dont get that with andy.

You just proved my point. Neil's vocals are all covered up with heavy production. I like Neil's voice, don't get me wrong. But Andy can sing. He has an enormous range and lots of strength. Being in a singing group I appreciate a nice clear strong voice when I hear one. You cannot compare the two voices at all.

Zeus On The Loose wrote:

Joemoz wrote:

Aaron wrote:I'm a fan of both bands, which Avalon has commented on before...

Here are some comparisons I'd like to make.

Erasure's newer music is their best, while I feel if I want to listen to the Pet Shop Boys best, I return to Please, Actually and Introspective.

Interesting, I feel quite differently about that. Do you really mean to say that you prefer, say, 'Loveboat' to 'The Innocents'

I think both bands have had more or less the same development: Big hits in the late 80's, artistic peak around 1990-1994 and more or less downhill from there.

Not true. PSB had both their commercial and artistic peak from 1986 till 1989, breifly lost the plot from 1990 till 1992, had a commercial and artistic comeback in 1993-1994 and have been going downhill both artistically and commercially ever since, with a couple of brief returns to brilliance (Before, some of Nightlife, Miracles).

Erasure had their commercial and artistic peak during the same period and have been going downhill since Pop.

If Behaviour is losing the plot then they should do it more often as it is head and shoulders above any other album they have released.

Well, Release shipped 750,000 copies, and Nightlife 1,200,000

Do we have comparable figures for Loveboat and whatever their new album is called?

Erasure dont sell outside the UK, PSB's sell 95% of their albums outside the UK.

Aaron wrote:Being in a singing group I appreciate a nice clear strong voice when I hear one.

Are you barbershop?

Janet Street-Porter wrote:

Aaron wrote:Being in a singing group I appreciate a nice clear strong voice when I hear one.

Are you barbershop?

Nearly

5 part male a cappella harmony. Mostly doo-wop but we cover a lot of songs in different genres.

jamie1978 wrote:Well, Release shipped 750,000 copies, and Nightlife 1,200,000

anyone know the actual sales figures ?