Customer Reviews

PET SHOP BOYS - POP ART

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The reason for the four star rating is that The Pet Shop Boys were not a great video band. I have been a fan since "West End Girls" first hit the radio in 1986. I have collected every single album from them and continue to think they are one of the best electronic bands in pop history. But, they were not that great at making videos! There are many to choose from too. 41 in fact. 2 hours and 45 minutes to be exact--a little overwhelming to be honest. Yet, everything is here from "West End Girls" to "London". There are some well made videos such as "Being Boring" (which Neil and Chris even comment is one of their best videos), "Can You Forgive Her?", "Go West", "Se A Vida E", "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk", "London" and others.

This is a one disc dvd, digitally remastered audio 2.0 and video. It's a regionless, NTSC dvd. It comes with a thick booklet of pictures that do not represent anything in particular and seemed like a waste to me. The unique thing about this compilation is that Neil and Chris give their commentary on all 41 videos and it's insightful as well as humorous. All in all, well worth the high price since it's the most comprehensive video compilation on one disc that you can buy on The Pet Shop Boys.

The track listing is as follows:

1. Opportunities (Original Version)
2. West End Girls
3. Love Comes Quickly
4. Opportunities (Second Version)
5. Suburbia
6. Paninaro
7. It's A Sin
8. What Have I Done To Deserve This?
9. Rent
10. Always On My Mind
11. Heart
12. Domino Dancing
13. Left To My Own Devices
14. It's Alright
15. So Hard
16. Being Boring
17. How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?
18. Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)
19. Jealousy
20. DJ Culture
21. Was It Worth It?
22. Can You Forgive Her?
23. Go West
24. I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing
25. Liberation
26. Yesterday, When I Was Mad
27. Paninaro '95
28. Before
29. Se A Vida E
30. Single-Bilingual
31. A Red Letter Day
32. Somewhere
33. I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More
34. New York City Boy
35. You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
36. Home And Dry
37. I Get Along/E-mail
38. London
39. Domino Dancing (Extended Version)
40. So Hard (Extended Version)
41. Go West (Extended Version)

"PopArt" is the video anthology of Pet Shop Boys. It compiles all 38 of their videos (as well as extended versions of 3 videos) on a single DVD. When viewed from start to finish, the DVD runs for nearly three hours. While most pop acts release great singles but inferior videos, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have crafted music clips that are just as elegant as the albums they release. "PopArt" the DVD runs the gamut of moods and flavors, from the tasteful (Bruce Weber's black-and-white "Being Boring"), the homoerotic ("Domino Dancing" and "Paninaro 95") to high-tech ("Can You Forgive Her?" and "Liberation"), to the violent ("Jealousy") and the silly ("Heart," which has an appearance by Sir Ian McKellan). Even better, the videos are remastered, featuring picture quality ranging from good to striking. The music is also presented in a full-bodied 2.0 channel surround sound. Sure, I would have liked to have seen these videos in 5.1 audio, but the 2.0 sound quality is so superior that I didn't care. You can also watch these videos individually, in random order, or in a continuous sequence. There isn't much to boast in the way of extras, although there is a running commentary by Neil, Chris, and journalist Chris Heath. These guys are very laid back and have a real ball poking fun at each other and at the videos they made. The DVD also comes with a booklet that contains production credits and various pictures of the music videos. For American listeners who can't catch all these clips on MTV, this DVD is a real treat and a must-own. One final note: "PopArt" doesn't have videos for either 2003's "Miracles" or "Flamboyant," but other than that, this covers the groups entire visual history.

Sure to replace the outdated VHS video collections like "Television" and the previous greatest hits companion, "Videography," "PopArt" is the ultimate collection for diehard PSB fans. Digitally remastered in both sound and picture, this represents the Pet Shop Boys at their best, leaving no visual representation of their work out of the picture (save for the new singles, "Flamboyant" and "Miracles").
The commentary from the duo is excellent; the two offer witty insights into the rather dated, yet well-crafted, videos. Tracks are presented chronological via the "play all" function or can be randomized (there is nothing quite like seeing "West End girls" followed by "Se a vida e" or "New York City boy"), a feature that is both fitting and appreciated.

As I said, a few of the videos are dated, such as those representing the "Very" album, but to see the visuals that accompany the singles is a great experience. Highlights include the duet with Dusty Springfield on "What have I done to deserve this," "Paninaro '95," "Single-Bilingual," "London," "Always on my mind," and, of course, "Can you forgive her." (Though it is fair to say that every video is indeed a "highlight," and it is tough to pick out a few favorites). Indeed, some may balk at the included extended versions of "Domino dancing," "So hard," and "Go West," but these are significant works in and of themselves.

This DVD is a necessary and requisite companion for the "PopArt" CD as much as it is a requirement for any true Pet Shop Boys fan. So far, the only available version is an import from Canada (playable on all regions) but it is well worth the wait to receive this stunning work. Also included with the DVD is a companion book full of photographs representing the videos themselves, little screen shots of whatever struck their fancy.

The videos are as eclectic as the Pet Shop Boys themselves and their music, and it is truly great to have such a collection available on DVD with crystal-clear visuals and superb sound.

Excellent and complete collection of videos. I have the UK edition, but I believe they are the same. There is a running commentary on the secondary audio that is pretty entertaining (what was that you were wearing? Armani?).
38 videos, plus 3 extended versions (so hard, new york city boy, domino dancing). Videos are arranged chronologically, but there is a 'random play' selection on the menu so you don't get a flashback overdose of any time period.

In writing this review I could rave on about each video since each has its own unique imagery and style

Instead though I think it helps to view the video as a kind of journey. The Pet Shop Boys have definitely matured from commercial electro pop (admittedly very good mind) to serious musical and audiovisual artists. The way they communicate the message of their songs is nothing short of amazing. Especially notable are the reworked Go West and Paninarro where the PSBs make use of high tech digital morphing imagery. Highly effective. Another video which stands is Being Boring, a nostalgic trip back to happy times with friends, some present some absent with inferences to the sexual promiscuity pre-AIDS generation

All in all this aptly named Pop Art is a must for any PSB fan or indeed anyone serious about their music video collection

Well done guys. You never cease to amaze me with your subtle brilliance

To the readers, buy this DVD, you won't regret it I assure you:-)

PS>The DVD also represents excellent value for money with all their hits included

This U.S.A.-compatable NTSC edition from EMI/Canada has become the defacto U.S.A. edition,due to complex contractual problems which will likely block Capitol from releasing a U.S.A. pressing.The set contains every Pet Shop Boys video clip,excepting "Absolutely Fabulous".As for the problems which are likely to preclude a U.S.A. release for the "Pop Art" DVD or CD sets,it can be explained quite simply:the group have owned their recordings from 1990 onwards(EMI owns the 1982-89 recordings),but while the group continues to license their recordings to EMI outside the U.S.A.,the group has licensed their 1996-2003 recordings to non-EMI labels(Atlantic,Sire,Sanctuary) in the U.S.A.,so as a result,Capitol must now seek permission from those 3 labels(they ARE trying) or there can be no U.S.A. release for the "Pop Art" CD or DVD sets.But the lack of a U.S.A. pressing on the DVD may not matter,since the Canadian import sells for less than what Capitol would have charged for the proposed U.S.A. pressing.Thanks EMI/Canada!!!

After I bought the 3 disc set of the PopArtMix album I thought it couldn't get much better. I was wrong. The DVD version of the album is brilliant. I have no idea what the Amazon description is referring to but mine has 41 videos (3 being extended versions of songs), audio commentary for each video (which is hillarious at times), shuffle feature (which, in my opinion, all music DVD's should offer) and a booklet with photos from each video and tracklisting. I must say these guys treat their fans like royalty. Aside from Release, they have never disappointed me. I must say hearing the singles from Release on the Album and DVD have shed new light on them. Anyhow, this is a real jem of a DVD. I think a lot of other artists should follow in their footsteps when creating "hits" collections.

This DVD follows the video career of the Pet Shop Boys, paired with the release of their dual-CD of the same name.

With regard to the CD, the first of the discs of this 'Greatest Hits' for the Pet Shop Boys contains 17 tracks (Pop), and the second 18 tracks (Art). For those who are die-hard fans of the Pet Shop Boys, this is a must have, but, for the most part, those fans will find it is in many ways an already-have. The tracks are remastered, but given the high production qualities of most PSB discs generally, there isn't a great deal to be gained from this. There are two new songs, Miracles and Flamboyant (one on each disc), which are both wonderful (and, interestingly, the addition of two songs to the 'greatest hits' compilation matches their performance with Discography, which also had a 'best of' with two new tracks added). These songs, unfortunately, are not reflected in the video collection on this DVD.

Unlike the CD collection, the DVD is arranged chronologically, beginning the song 'Opportunities' (which had two versions, one released prior to the song 'West End Girls' becoming a worldwide hit), and ending with songs from their latest album, Release. It also includes a few pieces that are extended single versions. Some of these pieces are quite remarkable - directors such as Bruce Weber and Derek Jarman collaborated with the Pet Shop Boys to make very sleek, very stylish videos that stand the test of time well, and still include innovative features that many other videographers have subsequently taken on as standard practices.

There are the major songs and single releases from all previous albums, so this serves both as a retrospective but also as a handy all-in-one collection spanning the history of the Pet Shop Boys; from that perspective, if you were to have just one CD/DVD from them, this would the one. This includes all the number one hits, all the top ten, with an additional collection of tracks from the later album releases that reached the UK top 20. The division between 'Pop' and 'Art' is subtle, and any lifelong fan will have his or her own impressions as to which songs should fit into which category. On the CD, the 'Pop' side is more disco/dance music, whereas the 'Art' side is a little more sombre, and the lyrics a little more complex. On the other hand, some songs, such as 'Love comes quickly' would easily qualify for either designation. There is no such designation here, but for those who have both, it is interesting to see if the videos match with the music in the categorisation.

This collection represents more than 20 years work on the part of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. For the first several years of that career, they were famous world-wide, and quite a staple in the dance clubs and video programming in America and elsewhere. The first singles collection 'Discography' (with the companion video release, 'Videography' at the same time) represented the beginning of the decline of 80s style dance music in America, but the music descended from this type remained strongly popular throughout the rest of the world, as the sold-out concert tours of the Pet Shop Boys everywhere except North America attests to. Many of the songs on this 'Pop-Art' collection will therefore be new to audiences whose interest in the Pet Shop Boys ended the hits from the 'Behaviour' era.

A must-have for anyone who likes dance music, disco, electronic music, 80s music, the Pet Shop Boys, or who wants to have a complete music collection of some of the 'founding fathers' of Music Television.

If you like the group just buy this DVD. My compliments to the people involved in producing this DVD.

Unlike in many other cases here we are not left with missing important videos, lousy layout or poor quality sound & picture.

Recommended AAA+++!

The 41 musical videos put together here are FAR more then mere clips designed to sell an audio product.They all define the different periods of time in whitch the Pet Shop Boys were recording and are works of art in their own right.The earlier ones such as "Opportunities","Suberbia" and of course "West End Girls" reflect the various British 'slice of life' that the songs themselfs portrayed.And the other videos range from the topical "It's Going To Be Alright" and "It's A Sin" to the lever "What Have I Done To Deserve This" and "Left To My Own Devices.My favorites are the colorful early CG videography used for the video's from the 1993 'Very' album era,especially the cone hats worn in the fancifull "Can You Forgive Her?" video.The last 15 or so video's on this set are from albums released long after I lost interest in the Pet Shop Boys music but by the sound and look of things I should reevaluate that notion.So the facts are for any PSB fans who either need to replace or have never seen these video's then this is an obvious must have-it covers every era of their music and is highly comprehensive.And for newcomers this DVD will take you back before music video's became basically just lots of T&A and actually had some genuine thought and theatrical content to them-an era that could really use a comeback in this day and age.