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Editorial Reviews
Recorded in Los Angeles (the first time the duo have recorded an album in the US), the record was co-produced by Andrew Dawson, who has won three Grammy awards for his work with Kanye West.
Elysium features twelve new songs which display a warm, deep electronic sound, and includes orchestral arrangements by Joachim Horsley, Andrew Dawson and Ben Leathers. Backing vocals are provided on many of the tracks by veteran singers Oren, Maxine and Julie Waters (whose long career spans sessions with The Jackson Five to Adele), and singer/songwriter James Fauntleroy.
One of the most iconic, celebrated pop groups in the world, Pet Shop Boys have created some of the most beloved hits ever ('West End Girls', 'It's a Sin', 'What have I Done To Deserve This', 'New York City Boy', etc.), selling over 30 million records and playing shows all over the world. Their last album Yes spawned two #1 Billboard dance hits "Love Etc.' and 'Did You See Me Coming'. In a career spanning over 2 decades, the duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have worked with artists like Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, Liza Minnelli, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Electronic and Madonna.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's hard not to believe that this album would face immediate scrutiny like a firing squad. While Elysium does not have the pumping beats that were present on its predecessor, Yes, Neil and Chris (along with perennial programmer/engineer Pete Gleadall and producer/musician Andrew Dawson) escaped to Los Angeles to make their first US recording. It seems as though the location has infused the whole project with a sense of hope and reflection. These ideologies are not always listed at the top of Pet Shop fan agendas (think 'dancing' and 'despair' with a bit of sex & money thrown in with humor), and while it may be shorter on the hedonistic approach, there is plenty of humor to go around.
Please keep in mind Elysium can be hard to love on the first listen. It is an album that reveals its treasures upon repeated listens in beautiful ways. Opener "Leaving" and the following "Invisible" are perfect examples of a less-is-more approach, winding wistful melodies around aquatic synths and subtle beats. It shows you don't always need everything and the kitchen sink to make a great record.
Many complaints have been levelled against lead single "Winner", but rarely have PSB recorded a song so pure and direct in positive sentiment. One could also interpret this song as being about love overcoming political obstacles, a topic close to their hearts, and a way of transforming the song into something greater than it reads on a page. Other songs here like "Breathing Space", "Hold On" (a recessionary stage number--remember these are the guys who wrote a West End musical a few years back), and "Give It A Go" also have an uplifting and spacious charm--and the vocal tracks are amazingly warm sounding.
While "Ego Music" is influenced by the celebrity culture this recording was surrounded by, "Your Early Stuff" is also tongue-in-cheek, with direct quotes from cab drivers as spoken to Neil used as lyrics. This is followed by "A Face Like That", a song which represents their 'early stuff' more than anything else. The banging rhythms and dark electro textures layered with sounds of thunder and other effects is an inspired moment, and may serve as a portal to future projects.
The final quarter of Elysium is simply fantastic, beginning with "Memory of the Future", suffused with an incredible melodic hook, yearning lyrics, and darker synths--it's probably the closest thing to a late-period ABBA track here. (It may also be my favorite song from Elysium, and could work well as a single with the right radio mix.) "Everything Means Something" has been described in reviews here as 'plodding', but I think this song has incredible motion, with its shifting beats and analog-by-way-of-digital textures, as well as some of the deepest lyrics on the record. It seems to carry a sort-of weighty Depeche Mode feel, while the tempo and thick keyboards echo the structure of DM's deep album tracks (plus I can just hear Dave Gahan singing something like this). Things wrap up with the glorious "Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin", a disco song so un-disco you don't even realize it. It would have been very easy to fall into camp territory a la "New York City Boy" with a song like this, but the arrangement shows restraint, and adds to the touching sentiment of the lyrics. (Remember, again...these guys wrote a West End musical.)
My verdict: If you come to Elysium with expectations about how Pet Shop Boys should sound, you may be disappointed, but if you come with the sense that you may hear some of the most beautifully personal songs they've ever written, then you will likely leave satisfied.
Please keep in mind Elysium can be hard to love on the first listen. It is an album that reveals its treasures upon repeated listens in beautiful ways. Opener "Leaving" and the following "Invisible" are perfect examples of a less-is-more approach, winding wistful melodies around aquatic synths and subtle beats. It shows you don't always need everything and the kitchen sink to make a great record.
Many complaints have been levelled against lead single "Winner", but rarely have PSB recorded a song so pure and direct in positive sentiment. One could also interpret this song as being about love overcoming political obstacles, a topic close to their hearts, and a way of transforming the song into something greater than it reads on a page. Other songs here like "Breathing Space", "Hold On" (a recessionary stage number--remember these are the guys who wrote a West End musical a few years back), and "Give It A Go" also have an uplifting and spacious charm--and the vocal tracks are amazingly warm sounding.
While "Ego Music" is influenced by the celebrity culture this recording was surrounded by, "Your Early Stuff" is also tongue-in-cheek, with direct quotes from cab drivers as spoken to Neil used as lyrics. This is followed by "A Face Like That", a song which represents their 'early stuff' more than anything else. The banging rhythms and dark electro textures layered with sounds of thunder and other effects is an inspired moment, and may serve as a portal to future projects.
The final quarter of Elysium is simply fantastic, beginning with "Memory of the Future", suffused with an incredible melodic hook, yearning lyrics, and darker synths--it's probably the closest thing to a late-period ABBA track here. (It may also be my favorite song from Elysium, and could work well as a single with the right radio mix.) "Everything Means Something" has been described in reviews here as 'plodding', but I think this song has incredible motion, with its shifting beats and analog-by-way-of-digital textures, as well as some of the deepest lyrics on the record. It seems to carry a sort-of weighty Depeche Mode feel, while the tempo and thick keyboards echo the structure of DM's deep album tracks (plus I can just hear Dave Gahan singing something like this). Things wrap up with the glorious "Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin", a disco song so un-disco you don't even realize it. It would have been very easy to fall into camp territory a la "New York City Boy" with a song like this, but the arrangement shows restraint, and adds to the touching sentiment of the lyrics. (Remember, again...these guys wrote a West End musical.)
My verdict: If you come to Elysium with expectations about how Pet Shop Boys should sound, you may be disappointed, but if you come with the sense that you may hear some of the most beautifully personal songs they've ever written, then you will likely leave satisfied.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Vince
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As most of the other reviewers of this item, I am a "Very" long-time fan of the PSBs. They are without a doubt my all-time favorite group, without a close 2nd. I have every album they have made, and most singles (and B sides). After recently buying the "Winner" single (which I like "ok" but not crazy about), I found one of the B sides to be an amazingly fun, dancy, classic PSB track ("A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi"). Wow, if that is a B-side, I couldn't wait to hear the album songs!
Well, the wait is over, and after giving it is couple of listens, the jury is still out. The first listen was borderline terrible, to be perfectly honest. However, as many of you know how it goes, the 2nd and 3rd listens started showing a couple of promising tracks. But continued listens have left the majority of the tracks in the "skip" category ... I will be giving the steering wheel radio controls and thumbs a workout with this album (yes, us "old school" listeners who still prefer CDs to MP3s, ha!).
Anyway, the good:
Track 1 - Leaving - a nice introductory track with a catchy but not overwhelming beat. The only part I didn't like was the sampled "dog / keyboard voice" section, which definitely has the 80s sound but not really in a good way (I do get a smile at that part since it reminds me of Ferris Bueller playing his sampled keyboard with throwup sounds, but now I'm really digressing and showing my age!).
Track 2 - Invisible - this is your classic slower / complex / introspective style PSB track. Very "Behavior" reminiscent; it would have fit right in, and wouldn't surprise me if they had an old shelved demo that they brushed off and polished for the album.
Track 3 - Winner - an acceptable track that I have listened to enough to "learn" to like it.
Track 5 - A Face Like That - another excellent track, classic PSB stuff!
Track 12 - Requium - this one reminds me of some of their better B-side tracks (has similarities to "Between Two Islands"). I can't say it is my favorite, but for some reason it is the one that is stuck in my head before going to sleep; a nice inventive addition to the album.
OK - so that makes 5 of 12 tracks that I like. Which leaves the remaining 7 tracks as what I will call "the bad". Some may continue to grow on me, but others will just remain work that should have been left to a future B-side collection (in particlar, I like the meaning behind "Ego Music" but listening to the repetitive "yes yes yes" lyrics is, well, painful).
In comparison to past albums, I realize that this pattern of only liking a few songs is my typical reaction, and it takes time to "digest" the remaining ones. I loved the last two albums, so I would would put this one on-par with "Release" or perhaps "Bilingual" as being towards the bottom of the list. But of course those albums had some real gems, and quite frankly I am happy to keep buying PSB products as long as that keeps them coming up with new material, even if some of it is "Hit or Miss".
In summary, if you are a "true" PSB fan, I would recommend buying this album, but go into it without expecting to like most of the songs. And if you are on a budget, I would highly encourage you to pick and choose and just buy the individual songs that you like. Thank you for reading!
Well, the wait is over, and after giving it is couple of listens, the jury is still out. The first listen was borderline terrible, to be perfectly honest. However, as many of you know how it goes, the 2nd and 3rd listens started showing a couple of promising tracks. But continued listens have left the majority of the tracks in the "skip" category ... I will be giving the steering wheel radio controls and thumbs a workout with this album (yes, us "old school" listeners who still prefer CDs to MP3s, ha!).
Anyway, the good:
Track 1 - Leaving - a nice introductory track with a catchy but not overwhelming beat. The only part I didn't like was the sampled "dog / keyboard voice" section, which definitely has the 80s sound but not really in a good way (I do get a smile at that part since it reminds me of Ferris Bueller playing his sampled keyboard with throwup sounds, but now I'm really digressing and showing my age!).
Track 2 - Invisible - this is your classic slower / complex / introspective style PSB track. Very "Behavior" reminiscent; it would have fit right in, and wouldn't surprise me if they had an old shelved demo that they brushed off and polished for the album.
Track 3 - Winner - an acceptable track that I have listened to enough to "learn" to like it.
Track 5 - A Face Like That - another excellent track, classic PSB stuff!
Track 12 - Requium - this one reminds me of some of their better B-side tracks (has similarities to "Between Two Islands"). I can't say it is my favorite, but for some reason it is the one that is stuck in my head before going to sleep; a nice inventive addition to the album.
OK - so that makes 5 of 12 tracks that I like. Which leaves the remaining 7 tracks as what I will call "the bad". Some may continue to grow on me, but others will just remain work that should have been left to a future B-side collection (in particlar, I like the meaning behind "Ego Music" but listening to the repetitive "yes yes yes" lyrics is, well, painful).
In comparison to past albums, I realize that this pattern of only liking a few songs is my typical reaction, and it takes time to "digest" the remaining ones. I loved the last two albums, so I would would put this one on-par with "Release" or perhaps "Bilingual" as being towards the bottom of the list. But of course those albums had some real gems, and quite frankly I am happy to keep buying PSB products as long as that keeps them coming up with new material, even if some of it is "Hit or Miss".
In summary, if you are a "true" PSB fan, I would recommend buying this album, but go into it without expecting to like most of the songs. And if you are on a budget, I would highly encourage you to pick and choose and just buy the individual songs that you like. Thank you for reading!
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Die-hard fans will undoubetedly either love or dislike this 11th album released by one of music's greatest pop duos of all time - The Pet Shop Boys.
If you are hoping for a repeat of the catchy, uplifting and club ready tracks from their 2009 release "Yes", then listening to "Elysium" for the first time could leave you disappointed or perplexed as one reviewer noted. For those fans, however, who loved "Behaviour" with its moody mid-tempo tracks that all seemed to blend into a coherent concept album, then you are in for a treat as this is very much the direction "Elysium" takes. It is a slow burn that requires repeated listens to understand both the underlying themes / lyrics sung as well as to appreciate the minimalist approach to the instrumentation that at times strongly reminds youself of Kanye West cd "808s and Heartbreak." This is acredited to Neil and Chris having picked Kanye's producer Andrew Dawson for this project.
I was disappointed with the choice of "Winner" as the lead single (of couse the connection and timing to the Summer Olympics in London made sense) but it is one of the weaker tracks on this cd. "Leaving" which will be released in October as the second single is vintage Boys and deserves radio play and a Top 10 position. "Invisible," "A Face Like That" and "Requiem in Denim and the Leopardskin" demonstrate that even after 26 years they still have the ability to re-invent themselves and create timeless classics.
How many of today's musical artists can boast 11 studio albums, 3 greatest hits packages and 2 alternate b-side and remix albums! For this they deserve our continued love and support!
UPDATE: The Pet Shop Boys performed an exclusive live concert in Germany last week to promote the album. Watch it on youtube and then decide if this album is worth it! [...] These songs do rank among the best they've ever made.
If you are hoping for a repeat of the catchy, uplifting and club ready tracks from their 2009 release "Yes", then listening to "Elysium" for the first time could leave you disappointed or perplexed as one reviewer noted. For those fans, however, who loved "Behaviour" with its moody mid-tempo tracks that all seemed to blend into a coherent concept album, then you are in for a treat as this is very much the direction "Elysium" takes. It is a slow burn that requires repeated listens to understand both the underlying themes / lyrics sung as well as to appreciate the minimalist approach to the instrumentation that at times strongly reminds youself of Kanye West cd "808s and Heartbreak." This is acredited to Neil and Chris having picked Kanye's producer Andrew Dawson for this project.
I was disappointed with the choice of "Winner" as the lead single (of couse the connection and timing to the Summer Olympics in London made sense) but it is one of the weaker tracks on this cd. "Leaving" which will be released in October as the second single is vintage Boys and deserves radio play and a Top 10 position. "Invisible," "A Face Like That" and "Requiem in Denim and the Leopardskin" demonstrate that even after 26 years they still have the ability to re-invent themselves and create timeless classics.
How many of today's musical artists can boast 11 studio albums, 3 greatest hits packages and 2 alternate b-side and remix albums! For this they deserve our continued love and support!
UPDATE: The Pet Shop Boys performed an exclusive live concert in Germany last week to promote the album. Watch it on youtube and then decide if this album is worth it! [...] These songs do rank among the best they've ever made.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
An album for true fans.
A bit of a somber album. There are some stand out tracks. I'm always happy with a PSB release. For those complaining i's not a dance album, They have always had down tempo mid... Read more
Published 15 days ago by Leonardo D. Barnette
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad...
Good songs that won't make history... best days are behind for the Pet Shop Boys, Most decent song for me, Memory of the future.
Requiem in Denim... fun and clever!
Requiem in Denim... fun and clever!
Published 27 days ago by George Z
5.0 out of 5 stars
Neil at his best
This is not your typical PSB's CD, it is more mellow than most and Neil never sounded so good. I completely recommend this CD if you want to listen to Neils vocals if you are... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Eddie 1464
4.0 out of 5 stars
Transformer
I've got to put my two cents worth in here.
I'm not a Pethead by any means. Did like some of their stuff that I happened to hear. Read more
I'm not a Pethead by any means. Did like some of their stuff that I happened to hear. Read more
Published 1 month ago by PaddyJ
5.0 out of 5 stars
back to basics
gret music that feels more like eary PSB. This album has a lot of the same tones and feels of the early stuff....
Published 2 months ago by JZ
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have!
If your a fan of the PSB, you need this compilation or you are not a true fan the the pop duo.
Published 2 months ago by Bernard S. Aguiar
3.0 out of 5 stars
A mellower sound
If you're looking for the synth-pop beats that made you love the Pet Shop Boys, you may not care for Elysium so much. Read more
Published 2 months ago by T. Bosley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crisp and Classy
Elysium is a great album for a loungy night with friends, I find it goes well with expensive wine. Their lyrics continue to surprise. The fluency throughout is a plus. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Juanjocruz
3.0 out of 5 stars
disappointed
I've been a Pet Shop Boys fan for many years and didn't feel that this lived up to their usual level of quality. It was more mellow than I prefer.
Published 2 months ago by Carl B. Zimmerman
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Deluxe" version not so special
This is another solid collection of catchy songs by the Pet Shop Boys, an album that should please most longtime fans. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Donald E. Gilliland
