[Introspective] Yes, Etc et al

Sun Mar 22 11:53:21 PDT 2009

If YES is not the best PSB album since VERY, then it's the best album since
BEHAVIOUR.

2009/3/22 various99 _ <actuali at hotmail.com>

>  I'd have to agree that Yes is not the best PSB album since Very, but I can
> see how, for many people, it might be the most fun PSB album since Very,
> because the sound of Yes is closer to Very than any PSB album since Very.
>
> Fundamental was pretty much the best PSB album since Very, but Yes doesn't
> suffer from some of the execution and pace failings of Fundamental.  And
> Fundamental didn't really have any serious execution and pace failings.
> However, beginning with Biligual, PSB began to make some pretty obvious
> execution, pace, and song-selection errors on their albums.  Don't get me
> wrong: I think the material on Bilingual is actually superior to the
> material on Very, overall, but it was uncohesive, poorly executed, and the
> song-selection needed a bit of tweaking.  It really would have been their
> best album (this is also my opinion of Release, more or less, but Release
> suffered less execution errors.  Release suffered from some key
> song-selection mistakes).  Nightlife remains their worst album.  All fluff
> and pumping production, but it failed in song quality and then suffered even
> more by the album's losing its steam and pace in the second half.  "For your
> own good" remains one of PSB's best-ever opening tracks, but the album sort
> of goes downhill from there.
>
> To me, Yes's main failing lies not with its song quality, pacing, or
> execution.  The main problem with Yes its track editing and glossy,
> throw-away production sound (so I guess that might count as exeution).  Many
> of the tracks are beautiful, instrumentally, but we never get to hear many
> instrumental portions.  And when a fun instrumental portion begins, the song
> ends immediately (Boy Strange did this, on Nightlife).  "Beautiful people"
> has this beautiful ending, but it should have lasted longer, and louder, and
> this bit should have come in the middle of the song.  Same for "King of
> Rome": my god, what a great and sad piece of music we get to hear at the
> end, but only as the song fades away!  "Vulnerable" would sound rally cool
> with longer instrumental portions, but the song is covered in lyrics, and
> when they're over, the song is over.  "Legacy" gets really beautiful, and
> then its over.  But this is Yes's failing: everything is edited so tightly
> and neatly, there's no time to let he songs breathe.
>
> I will admit, however, that Yes is pretty good.  I also think that,
> whatever it is as an album, it is exactly what Neil and Chris were going
> for: they wanted a tight, well-paced, Xenomania-type album (kind of like a
> modern Stock-Aiken-Waterman album).  In that respect, it actually works.
> And that is also kinds of fun, because it breaks up the pace of heavy PSB
> works.  It contains some really cools, and some moods that we often only
> hear on PSB's more interesting B-sides.  It's packaged with Nightlife's
> danceability, and with Very's pace.  To me, it's the right PSB album at the
> right time.
>
>
> -Ali
>
>
>
> > Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:01:20 -0700
> > To: introspective at lists.jameslick.com
> > From: the-magician at magick-land.com
> > Subject: [Introspective] Yes, Etc et al
>
> >
> > I'm a bit surprised I haven't seen any detailed track-by-track
> > reviews of the new album, that everyone seems so fond of doing...
> > maybe you are waiting for the proper release date out of respect?
> >
> > Well, I'm not. I got plenty of time, and plenty of good vibes for
> > this album, and I better get them on paper while the turntable's hot.
> > I won't make a stupid joke, like "I say YES to this album,
> > guffaw!"... but that's how I feel.
> >
> > So if you want to know how I REALLY feel, in a detailed
> > track-by-track review, read on...
> >
> > -------------
> >
> > Prologue: I've been a fan as long as they've been releasing records.
> > My love of the Pet Shop Boys is legendary among my friends. But I'm
> > not a fanatic. I've never mailed a letter signed in blood to Neil or
> > anything like that. I just enjoy their music.
> >
> > I drove around the beautiful countryside of western Oregon this
> > morning, with many of these tracks cranked up on the car stereo. My
> > favorite way to listen! (original) ratings were from a couple days
> > ago, when I began writing this. (current) ratings are in the now.
> >
> > Also... I care mostly about music and not much about lyrics (except
> > maybe to sing along).
> >
> >
> > 01 - Love etc
> > Not a bad song... fine for the lead off track... much better than
> > some clunkers that lie ahead... but 1st single? Pffft.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 6
> > (current) 6
> > (Gui Boratto Mix on the car stereo) 8
> >
> > 02 - All over the world
> > This one is sticking. Really good. I love singing along to the
> > chorus. It's like they revamped Se A Vida E and got it right this
> > time.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 7.5
> > (current) 8
> >
> > 03 - Beautiful people
> > No matter how many times I listen, I can never remember what it
> > sounds like. Forgettable.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 5
> > (current) forgotten
> >
> > 04 - Did you see me coming
> > A highlight of the album. Lovely.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 8
> > (current) 7.5
> >
> > 05 - Vulnerable
> > Yawn... I'm sure this will have its fans, but I am not among them.
> Filler.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 6
> > (current) 5
> >
> > 06 - More than a dream
> > As I write this (then and now), it's my favorite track. 3:00 is the
> > only part of the entire album where I feel the old magic making my
> > body tingly.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 9
> > (current) 8.5
> >
> > 07 - Building a wall
> > One of those songs that you won't immediately think of when thinking
> > of the PSB, but is quite good nonetheless, especially the chorus. My
> > 2nd favorite track. Reminds me of Too Many People (not musically,
> > but how I respond to it. I love Too Many People).
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 7
> > (current) 8
> >
> > 08 - King of Rome
> > Blech. Now we know why some tracks were leaked early and others
> > weren't. Let's hope the Italian soccer team doesn't win the world
> > cup and they rush this shit out as a single.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 2
> > (current) -2
> >
> > 09 - Pandemonium
> > Will likely be a single, none of the remixers will use the gary
> > glitter beat, and all the remixes will suck. But this album version
> > rocks.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 8
> > (current) 8
> >
> > 10 - The way it used to be
> > A solid track. It's growing on me. Should be superb live.
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 7
> > (current) 8
> >
> > 11 - Legacy
> > I hated this track at first, now I merely dislike it, and a few
> > minutes ago I figured out why. I think it could benefit from putting
> > the vocals way more up front in the mix, kinda like on Nervously.
> > And just when it gets going, it comes to an end! I was hoping for a
> >
> slam-bang-psb-and-xenomania-strut-their-production-stuff-and-make-the-end-of-Jealousy-sound-like-a-single-theramin-with-no-reverb
>
> > type ending!
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 2
> > (current) 3
> >
> >
> > Yes Etc dubs (all of them)
> > I like them.
> >
> >
> > This used to be the future
> > I like the part where it goes: BUM BUM... BA BUM!
> > kfb rating:
> > (original) 6
> > (current) 6
> >
> >
> > Gin and Jag
> > Interesting... but I may never listen to it again.
> > kfb rating:
> > who cares...
> >
> >
> > Wrong (Thin White Duke Mix)
> > pretty damn good...
> > oops! wrong band... :-)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Original overall summation:
> > This is a very good collection of music, but those who proclaim this
> > to be the best album since Very are out of their fucking minds.
> > Well, let me rephrase that: we have differing musical tastes, how's
> > that? :-) This disc is nowhere near Bilingual's greatness, and I
> > would put Release slightly ahead of it too. Time will tell how it
> > stacks up to Nightlife and Fundamental. I haven't heard all of Yes
> > Etc yet, and it might improve my overall opinion of the Yes Era.
> > Fingers crossed.
> >
> > Current overall summation:
> > Well, I've been playing Yes Etc et al over and over again, and for
> > the most part thoroughly enjoying it. It's a mighty fine piece of
> > musical production. Good job Neil, Chris and Xenomania! I might now
> > rate it neck and neck with Release, but still nowhere near
> > Bilingual's greatness, and everything before that is just in another
> > league entirely. Pop music is the realm of the young, and these boys
> > are old men. But these men remain masters of their craft.
> >
> > Here's the best way to describe Yes. It's like Bob Ross and the Joy
> > of Painting. For those non-Americans who may not know this legendary
> > tv personality, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ross
> >
> > Bob painted hundreds of pictures on tv. He cranked them out like it
> > was the easiest thing in the world. He could do them in his sleep.
> > It could be criticized every painting looked the same, and it was
> > almost paint-by-numbers. And yet, they are all lovely creations,
> > most pleasing to the eye. Bob Ross was Da Man!
> >
> > kfb
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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