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Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 7:27 am
by Patrick Bateman
NotInvisible wrote: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 5:12 am
You guys will complain about anything, it's amazing.
We got a total of one CD during the whole run of Literally. The last 'era' had two EPs worth of additional tracks between Furthermore and the Nonetheless deluxe, along with four singles with multiple B-sides. Maybe they need a beat. It's okay for Annually to have the occasional CD, I'm not sure when that became an entitlement.
Is is expensive? Yes. Is it overpriced? Well... no. Not based on the cost of manufacturing a hardcover book in full color, with what must be an incredibly limited print run, and paying Chris Heath to compile the text and someone else to design the book and prep it for print. Those things cost money, and the fewer units produced, the more printing costs.
We're lucky Pet Shop Boys still care about print engagement - no other band I know does anything remotely like this.
Well, yes, I'm not averse to criticising them just because I'm a fan of their music. That would be a bit weird, even creepy, but each to their own.
If one compares it with the original Annually, which was packed with details about their first three albums, singles, videos, reviews, even Chris's staircase, then this is disappointing fare. Now that may be an unfair comparison, but if they're going to put out something with so much obvious filler, then they should at least offer a CD with it, like the earlier ones. Personally, I don't see why they need to put one out every year anyway - this feels like the last Beatles Christmas record when they all hated each other and it was just John and Yoko chatting crap while on heroin.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 8:35 am
by tottenhammattspurs
Patrick Bateman wrote: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 1:00 am
Yes, this does look very underwhelming. When they had the CDs, there was a point to continuing with Annually but now it's just some random crap. This year's Shoot! annual was £3.49 in Lidl. Annually is significantly overpriced.
Yes but Shoot doesn’t have any Pet Shop Boys articles in it
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 11:40 am
by g_m
Patrick Bateman wrote: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 1:00 am
Yes, this does look very underwhelming. When they had the CDs, there was a point to continuing with Annually but now it's just some random crap. This year's Shoot! annual was £3.49 in Lidl. Annually is significantly overpriced.
It certainly is overpriced but they know we'll keep buying it so fair play to them and more fool us.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 12:13 pm
by y3potential
Patrick Bateman wrote: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 7:27 am
NotInvisible wrote: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 5:12 am
You guys will complain about anything, it's amazing.
We got a total of one CD during the whole run of Literally. The last 'era' had two EPs worth of additional tracks between Furthermore and the Nonetheless deluxe, along with four singles with multiple B-sides. Maybe they need a beat. It's okay for Annually to have the occasional CD, I'm not sure when that became an entitlement.
Is is expensive? Yes. Is it overpriced? Well... no. Not based on the cost of manufacturing a hardcover book in full color, with what must be an incredibly limited print run, and paying Chris Heath to compile the text and someone else to design the book and prep it for print. Those things cost money, and the fewer units produced, the more printing costs.
We're lucky Pet Shop Boys still care about print engagement - no other band I know does anything remotely like this.
Well, yes, I'm not averse to criticising them just because I'm a fan of their music. That would be a bit weird, even creepy, but each to their own.
If one compares it with the original Annually, which was packed with details about their first three albums, singles, videos, reviews, even Chris's staircase, then this is disappointing fare. Now that may be an unfair comparison, but if they're going to put out something with so much obvious filler, then they should at least offer a CD with it, like the earlier ones. Personally, I don't see why they need to put one out every year anyway - this feels like the last Beatles Christmas record when they all hated each other and it was just John and Yoko chatting crap while on heroin.
I think I'd need heroin to hear Yoko "singing", but I digress..
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 12:57 pm
by Danimal
Patrick Bateman wrote: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 7:27 am
this feels like the last Beatles Christmas record when they all hated each other and it was just John and Yoko chatting crap while on heroin.
I would pay 20 quid for an issue of “Annually” that’s nothing but Chris and Neil chatting crap while on heroin.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 4:59 pm
by newlondonb0y
I look forward to Annually. I can’t lie though, last year’s was a bit underwhelming because it was everything we’d already seen. I want exclusives! Who knows, maybe this year will give us a bit more. Hoping to see more letters included too.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 5:30 pm
by ELPAYOBUENO
Don´t you think we are pretty close to the end of the Boys? I mean, they have never been a nostalgic band, and suddently we have a neverending greatest hits tour, Volume actualized up to this year, Obscure, clearly a thank you letter to their fans, and now Actually with a 20 objects historic review, an article about something that happens in the 80s, and a 80s picture in the cover as weel. Sounds like a goodbye to me.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 5:45 pm
by andmaste
ELPAYOBUENO wrote: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 5:30 pm
Don´t you think we are pretty close to the end of the Boys? I mean, they have never been a nostalgic band, and suddently we have a neverending greatest hits tour, Volume actualized up to this year, Obscure, clearly a thank you letter to their fans, and now Actually with a 20 objects historic review, an article about something that happens in the 80s, and a 80s picture in the cover as weel. Sounds like a goodbye to me.
Before the definitive "goodbye" they will surely do some great live "goodbye shows".
After that we will have dozen of reissues, compilations, and so on.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 6:32 pm
by Drico One
ELPAYOBUENO wrote: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 5:30 pm
Don´t you think we are pretty close to the end of the Boys? I mean, they have never been a nostalgic band, and suddently we have a neverending greatest hits tour, Volume actualized up to this year, Obscure, clearly a thank you letter to their fans, and now Actually with a 20 objects historic review, an article about something that happens in the 80s, and a 80s picture in the cover as weel. Sounds like a goodbye to me.
We're just in a fallow year. What else are they going to pad this out with?
That said, they are hitting their 70s now, so the end is probably a lot closer than we'd like to think. I've always said they will go on until one of them is carried out in a Farrow-designed coffin. Sooner or later, this happens to everyone... (Well, maybe not the Farrow bit).
Drico.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 7:25 pm
by markus
Saint Etienne are quitting with the possibilty of a comeback ten years later. PSB are hotter than 25 years ago and their inspiration is flowing, so no way they pull a stunt like that. Neil seems more confident onstage than ever, they both make it look good being ageing pop stars - against all odds.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 7:35 pm
by babi7808
They won't say goodbye. They won't say it's over. They'll just disappear. They've talked about this before.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Fri 12 Dec 2025, 8:52 pm
by Disco.
Chris is “Only” 66
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Sat 13 Dec 2025, 12:31 pm
by Danimal
I think we’ll get “Naked” and probably another album, but it does feel like they’re wrapping-up loose ends with first “Dreamworld”, the return to Parlophone to ensure their legacy is in good hands, properly recording “A man from the future”, the release of “Volume”, and the “Obscure” shows. “Naked” and “A man from the future” alone will ensure some new product for the next few years, though neither is of mainstream interest. I wouldn’t be surprised if they release a compilation of b-sides later this year also entitled “Volume” or “Obscure.” Even if they don’t drop one more studio album there’s still plenty of new product. While “Nonetheless” wouldn’t at all be a bad statement to go out on, Chris did recently say “only a few more to go” however he defines that.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Sat 13 Dec 2025, 1:12 pm
by Vintage Youth
As a very simple, easily pleased person, I'm quite looking forward to this and am satisfied by the price point. If I'm not interested in or don't want to buy something I just....don't.
Re: Annually 2026
Posted: Sat 13 Dec 2025, 1:24 pm
by tottenhammattspurs
We still get an annual "round-up" of activities, releases etc. I can't think of any other band that still engages with its fans like PSB do. Try being a Depeche fan. Deafening silence unless they have an album to hawk. No fan engagement etc.
