Customer Reviews

Nightlife

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Melodic and relevant, the Pet Shop Boys have created a musical landscape of city living, including the greatest techno-country song ever, You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk. This cd has a definite night-time vibe to it: urban, lonely, and sometimes hopeless, and but with just the right comnbination of irony and hope to reassure us that it could all work out. Also included is a shockingly good duet with Kylie Minogue, which had me checking the liner notes to see who she was. It will never happen, but one hopes that this record will finally allow the Pet Shop Boys to be recognized for what they are: revolutionary, contemporary artsists who have been making masterful records for their subculture for almost fifteen years. But you know what, forget the recognition of the massess, we night walkers would rather keep them for ourselves...

The critics would never admit it, but this is hands-down one of the best CD experiences of the past year, a sublime journey through the night filled with intelligence, humor, sadness and beauty. Another masterpiece from possibly the most underrated pop outfit of the past twenty years. Bravo.

With the relase of Nightlife, a question came into mind. Could the Pet Shop Boys ever come close to again having such a superb collection of songs AND having commercial success in the bag (As was present with "Go West", and the album VERY)? The resounding yes dances its way into your ears with Nightlife. The quick-set, get up and dance bass-and partly synth driven opener "For Your Own Good" grabs the listener and yells "We're Here To Stay". Every track therein presents each side of the Pet Shop Boys' seemingly limitless musical spectrum. The disco-esque feel yet surprisingly updated beat of "I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore" shows that they still know how to keep beats from the past sounding fresh and perfectly listenable. And when it comes to haunting ballads, they again prove their excellence with "You only tell me you love me when you're drunk", "The Only One" and the daring, if perhaps a tad too centered around a specific subject "In denial" (too say more would spoil the surprise this song engendres within the listener. Surprise, because, until this album, such a subject has not been so specifically dealt with). "New York City Boy" is perhaps the ultimate party gem, even more explosively fast than "For your own good", this one deserves the recognition it has received (the worldwide success which the boys only had previously with "Go West"), if you can let yourself go enough, this song will transform you. And the heart-string-tugger "Footsteps" which brings to mind previous songs of the like (i.e. "It always comes as a surprise"), is a perfect closer for an album.....given how the album's context often mirros the title, this song feels like the silent aftermath of every party in every club in the world, when everyone retires to their homes, either with lovers hand in hand, or sorrowfully alone, yet somehow still hopeful. If you've never listened to the boys before, this would be a great place to start. If already a fan, get this album NOW! You won't be disappointed.

Pet Shop Boys, long forgotten by US radio, continue to create top-notch pop albums. Pop with melodies, harmonies, and something to say. NIGHTLIFE is no exception. Although they have managed some breakouts via clubs with "New York City Boy" and "I Don't Know What You Want..." and, rumor has it "Radiophonic" next in the US. You want a thrillingly danceable track? "NYC Boy" is there for you. My pick off the album is "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk." The title makes one cringe thinking how silly it could be but it is almost a perfect pop song. Melancholy and beautiful, lyric and moving. It has been remixed but it's best incarnation is the album original. I read another review online that described this song as horrible. If that's what you get out of it, then you don't get it. As choppy as the mix of tracks might sound they weave it together wonderfully in an album full of songs about just what it says, nightlife. If you know how to listen to lyrics and read between their lines you'll see what a great CD this is. No, it's not the best album they've ever done, but just about. And better than the vast majority of US pop radio material. Don't expect a rehash of their 80's music, it's not the 80's and Neil and Chris know it. Prepare to love this CD.

I don't know why the Pet Shop Boys are still considered an 80's band, since their best work has come in the 90's. "Night Life" emphasizes this point quite well. I am not really a big techno fan, but for some reason PSB have always worked for me. The opening song is simply stunning - an outstanding dance track, and the next two are also excellent. The more soulful "Happiness Is An Option" slows things down a bit, and the album sinks into some weaker material. Not that the songs are bad, but they just don't stand out as much as those at the beginning or end. Then along comes the duet with Kylie Minogue - "In Denial," which listeners seem to either love or hate (I am in the former camp). Then the album goes way over the top with "New York City Boy," their Village People soundalike disco song - it's fun listening. I was lucky enough to catch one of their shows in NYC a couple of months back, and it was an amazing show. The money I shelled out for "Nightlife" - album or concert - was well-spent. It may lack the consistency of "Very," but the good songs on "Nightlife" are awfully good - among the best work that PSB have done, which is really saying something.

The Pet Shop Boys have been my guilty pleasure since 1986, when I was still in middle school. There is just something about them that screams talent. Their lyrics speak to me, their melodies touch the heart. Their songs prove that pop music doesn't have to consist of only three chords and silly, redundant, repetitive lyrics. They have always had their very own, unique sound, and even though it may not be for for everyone, their striking originality and brilliant songwriting cannot be denied. Play me an N'Sync song and I wouldn't know which one of the multitude of boy bands it belonged to. Play me a Pet Shop Boys song, and I will know from the very first chords who the songwriter and the performer is.

Pet Shop Boys prove that dance/electronic music can actually be moving and intelligent. "Nightlife" only further proves that. After the disappointment of just abour every album that came out after "Very" I was not particularly thrilled about "Nightlife" coming out, fearing another disappointment and feeling that perhaps indeed, nothing lasts forever and the Boys' have lost their touch. I'm SO very glad to admit I was wrong.

"Nightlife" is the come-back-with-a-vengenace type album. There are few tracks that did nothing for me (for example, "New York City Boy" while being a fluffy and pleasant dance song is also a quite average dance song). But for the most part the album is a delight and there are some real gems rivaling the brilliance of Behavior and Very (my two other favorites).

It's a bit strange to me that so many people consider this their "coming out" album. To me, they've always been out, what with the frank confession of "It's A Sin" and all the subtext in so many other songs. Even though I preferred it when they were subtle about it, the sincerety of the songs soften the blatancy of the lyrics. "In Denial" actually made me choke up.

The album is a winner, no doubt about that. Even though the Boys are nearing 50 they show no sign of slowing down. I can't wait for their next album.

As a huge fan of the "boys", I was sure excited to learn that a new CD was being released! I have been listening in anticipation of each new CD since around 1989. It was well worth the wait!

Although I love the Pet Shop Boys, there are a few tracks on this album that just simply disappoint the listener. For one, the original version of "NYCB" sounds like a Village People throwback from 1977 - something I didn't like even back then. Also, "Footsteps" at the end of the CD just leaves a bad taste in your mouth, not a good closing song. It's just not an exciting track.

My favorites are "Radiophonic", "For Your Own Good", and "Closer to Heaven" (with a hint of circa 1987 Book of Love in the background). I also like "Don't Know What You Want....", but not as much as everyone else it seems. The words are great.

As for the bonus "Extra" CD, this is probably my favorite aspect of Nightlife. The beginning of "Je t'aime" could very well be the intro to a fabulous house groove, but then the music started and I dove for the "skip" button on my remote. "Silver Age" did nothing for me either.

So, yeah, I liked the CD's, but it's not their best work. Songs like "Being Boring", My October Symphony", "Before", "Up Against It", "Saturday Night Forever", "Discoteca", "I Want A Dog", and "Suburbia" are what made me love The Boys.

Waiting in anticipation for the next album.....

"Nightlife" rips open with "For Your Own Good" which takes you on a breathtaking journey of heart felt sorrow with pride and emotion peaking through in small doses. This CD is the Pet Shop Boys finest and highly recommended to anyone who loves to listen to great music!

Songs like "I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore", "Vampires" and "Radiophonic" can't help but make you think of personal experiences that can be related to these lyrics. Finally, the virtually unknown "New York City boy", in the United States, has to beone of the most upbeat and fun songs of the decade! Check this CD out, you won't be disappointed.

Don't assume this is just another collector's item, it's just a way to get you to buy two Nightlife's instead of one ;-) but well worth it, and not just for the bonus New York City Boy tracks! It may be difficult to find, I had to go to a couple places to find it, and I paid $19, which is more than here on Amazon.

I've never been a huge PSB fan, and Actually I own only their first and (now) most recent albums. It is interesting to compare the two, since much is being said about "Nightlife" being a throwback to their earlier sounds. I think "Nightlife" shows PSB's maturity in songwriting and orchestration. The album is a joy to listen to, beginning to end. The hooks are mostly infectious, and the orchestration and effects surrounding most of the melodies, is hypnotic and fun. The lyrics are wonderful as well. I even milled over the photos in the packaging.... seeing their "onstage" look, with wigs and makeup, juxtaposed with the final two photos of two nearly middle-aged men sans hair. Quite interesting. Overall this effort is PSB's best work.