Love, Etc. [Single, Import]

Pet Shop Boys | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 28, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single, Import
• Label: Parlophone
• ASIN: B001R4MEVG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,401 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Love etc. (album version)

2. Gin And Jag (non-album track)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Don't have to be beautiful but it helps.", March 24, 2009

By 

Westley (Stuck in my head) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Love etc. (MP3 Download)

Pet Shop Boy's new single is the upbeat "Love Etc." The song is about the hollowness of living the material life without love; certainly a well-worn topic, but the boys manage to craft a solid single. The song has a catchy if repetitive chorus - You need more/ you need more/ you need more/ you need loooooove. I prefer the verses, with background singers chanting phrases like "don't have to have" leading into Neil enumerating various trappings of money, such as "a house in Beverly Hills." In terms of style, "Love Etc." would have sounded very much at home on their last CD, "Fundamental," and reminds me more than a little of a cross between "Minimal" and "Psychological." I have to admit that I don't find "Love Etc." to be the most original PSB single, but I still like it.

"We're All Criminals Now" is a companion piece of sorts to "Integral" from their 2006 CD, "Fundamental." Both songs decry the decreasing privacy and increasing surveillance in Britain in the name of ending terrorism. The lyrics are cynical - Videoed on the subway/ reading the news and then/ walking along the High Street/ videod once again/ waiting for a bus in Stockwell/ cameras on my back. In this world, we're all presumed to be potential criminal and terrorists. However, the song sounds rather cheerful and danceable - a classic example of PSBs setting despairing lyrics to a "disco beat" (or at least a pretty danceable beat here). It's arguably their strongest b-side since 2006's "The Resurrectionist," and this song alone is worth the price of this download, raising a 4-star rating to a 5-star rating for me.

The second b-side is "Gin and Jag." Apparently, "gin and jag" is a British term for someone rather wealthy and jaded; someone who might drink gin and drive a Jaguar. The song is dark and somewhat discordant. I'm not crazy about "Gin and Jag," but it's hard to argue with the ability of PSBs to crank out songs with such clever and sophisticated lyrics paired with layered music. I'm sure many PSB fans will love this song.

In the U.K., the boys continue to have solid success. "Love Etc." debuted at #14 on the singles charts, continuing their trend of top 20 hits (only two of their singles have ever peaked lower - Was It Worth It in 1991 and Numb in 2006). "Love Etc." is a very good single that is likely to be a huge hit on the U.S. dance charts, although it's unlikely to garner much attention on the main U.S. charts unless it sells well in downloads.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice mix for the dedicated PSB fan, April 6, 2009

By 

Vincent Sellers "LongLiveC64" (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Love etc. (remixes) (MP3 Download)

I'm a long-time Pet Shop Boys fan, and I can say that they are truly my favorite band of all time. They have a very loyal fan base who will buy just about anything, and I'm in that crowd. So be warned...

The mixes on this CD all offer something unique. Clever dance grooves abound; this makes a great addition to my collection. I will say that none of the mixes compare to the album (single) version, but if you are a PSB addict, you should pick up this CD. For the rest of the world, you should probably pass and just pick up the new album "Yes" instead.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "You need more!", March 24, 2009

By 

Westley (Stuck in my head) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Love etc. (remixes) (MP3 Download)

Pet Shop Boy's new single is the upbeat "Love Etc." The song is about the hollowness of living the material life without love; certainly a well-worn topic, but the boys manage to craft a solid single. The song has a catchy if repetitive chorus - You need more/ you need more/ you need more/ you need loooooove. I prefer the verses, with background singers chanting phrases like "don't have to have" leading into Neil enumerating various trappings of money, such as "a house in Beverly Hills." In terms of style, "Love Etc." would have sounded very much at home on their last CD, "Fundamental," and reminds me more than a little of a cross between "Minimal" and "Psychological." I have to admit that I don't find "Love Etc." to be the most original PSB single, but I still like it.

This single features 5 remixes of "Love Etc." The first mix is the best one and was done by PSBs themselves. They really elevate the song, and I think it's one of their best remixes in years. Whereas the original single is bubbly pop, their remix is pure throbbing electronica. The background vocals are different from the original; they either rerecorded them or pared them down. The song also changes midway through, becoming darker and fuzzier. The second mix is by Gui Borrato, a talented Brazilian remixer who has worked with the likes of Goldfrapp. He chops up the beats resulting in a sexy syncopated sound. It's arguably the most cutting-edge of the remixes. The Kurd Maverick mix is the quirkiest. Most of Neil's vocals are stripped from the song, with the background singers repeating "don't have to" almost chant-like. It's totally unlike the original single, with a decidedly 90s feel - lots of swirling synths and a Spanish-style guitar. The Kurd Maverick dub is pretty much the same but without any of Neil's vocals - it's a bit unnecessary. The Frankmusik Star & Garter dub focuses on lots of blippy-sounding synth lines. This one is the weakest mix and doesn't really stand out even after repeated listens.

In the U.K., the boys continue to have solid success. "Love Etc." debuted at #14 on the singles charts, continuing their trend of top 20 hits (only two of their singles have ever peaked lower - Was It Worth It in 1991 and Numb in 2006). "Love Etc." is a very good single that is likely to be a huge hit on the U.S. dance charts, due largely to these terrific remixes.