From psbfan at geowayne.com Thu May 5 20:45:42 2016 From: psbfan at geowayne.com (Wayne Studer) Date: Thu, 5 May 2016 20:45:42 -0700 Subject: [Introspective] Poll ends soon on Price producing one more PSB album Message-ID: <572C1366.5080304@geowayne.com> Hey there! Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last full day of my current poll, which asks whether you would like for Stuart Price to produce the next Pet Shop Boys studio album following "Super," thereby completing their long-discussed "Price trilogy." If you haven't voted yet, please take a moment to visit my "Commentary" site at http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and make your choice from the options provided right there on my home page. On Sunday I will end this poll, post the final results, and launch a new survey for the week ahead. Thanks to everyone who has already voted! And I hope you all have a most excellent weekend! Wayne http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm From the.ackermans at juno.com Sat May 7 09:59:00 2016 From: the.ackermans at juno.com (Don Ackerman) Date: Sat, 7 May 2016 16:59:00 GMT Subject: [Introspective] Be A Pet Shop Boy! Message-ID: <20160507.115900.11595.0@webmail11.vgs.untd.com> Not exactly, but thought this was fun to share: http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/lab/5569047409.html PSB forever, Don ____________________________________________________________ Forbes The Most Amazing Colleges In The Country http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/572e1ed6a1d611ed617a8st04vuc From the.ackermans at juno.com Sat May 7 10:07:28 2016 From: the.ackermans at juno.com (Don Ackerman) Date: Sat, 7 May 2016 17:07:28 GMT Subject: [Introspective] Pet Shop Boys - Interviews & Album Reviews Message-ID: <20160507.120728.11595.1@webmail11.vgs.untd.com> Found another review: CD review: With danceable effort, Pet Shop Boys turns back clock (05/03) By Pablo Gorondi The Associated Press ? Tuesday May 3, 2016 5:45 AM http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2016/05/03/1-cd-review-pet-shop-boys.html The duo known as Pet Shop Boys takes another drink from the fountain of youth on ?Super,? offering more dance than pop ? 13 studio albums and more than 30 years after ?West End Girls.? For the second installment of a probable trilogy with Grammy-winning producer Stuart Price, the British group delves into the nightclub scene with its usual aplomb. Neil Tennant, a keen observer with sharp storytelling skills, shapes tunes such as ?The Pop Kids,? the first single ? about 1990s club-goers for whom a look back 15 years represents a lifetime. ?Twenty-something? shows how traditional careers have become more elusive in the past decade and a half: ?Thirty?s calling round the bend / Will your ideas ever trend??. Chris Lowe has an uncanny ability to keep even the most familiar keyboard riffs from reaching the far side of cheesy, with enough variety to ensure that none overstays its welcome. ---------- Original Message ---------- From: "Don Ackerman" To: introspective at lists.jameslick.com Subject: [Introspective] Pet Shop Boys - Interviews & Album Reviews Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2016 06:12:25 GMT I'm digging the album (it's actually a bit schizophrenic) and found some interviews and album reviews. I tried to grab the review or best snippets. I hope you love this compilation. 10 minute interview: https://audioboom.com/boos/4415389-the-breeze-pet-shop-boys-special-neil-tennant-and-chris-lowe-talk-about-new-album-super 9:12 minute interview: https://audioboom.com/boos/4428329-the-pet-shop-boys-reveal-all-about-their-new-release-super-including-the-strange-omission-from-the-album-cover 14:05 highlights from "The Breeze" http://www.thebreeze.com/bristol/features/the-breeze-pet-shop-boys-special-listen-again/ The Telegraph (3/5) ...At 61, he still sounds like a man in a raincoat, lurking outside the club ? Humphrey Bogart from North Shields, whispering sad truths about the scene...Too many tracks sound like they?ve been spun out of ringtones...Both boys are at their best on The Dictator Decides... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/time-for-the-pet-shop-boys-to-leave-the-party/ Music Times ?Super? Reviewed: Pet Shop Boys Recall Energy of ?Very? on 13th Studio Album Super finds Lowe and Tennant deftly navigating not only nostalgic throwback tracks but also forward-thinking, genre-bending dance floor-ready synth-heavy music in general. The duo smoothly transition between various electronic sub-genres throughout the album. http://www.musictimes.com/articles/69158/20160405/super-reviewed-pet-shop-boys-recall-energy-very-13th-studio.htm Scunthorpe Telegraph SUPER? - PET SHOP BOYS (Kobalt): Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have for 30 years consistently produced and performed catchy, melodic, synth-based pop songs. Their 12-track latest album written in London and Berlin and produced in Los Angeles is no exception. The Pets are forever the masters of the pop song and the possessors of impeccable dance sensibilities. NC 9/10. http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/CD-REVIEWS/story-29110950-detail/story.html blouinartinfo.com 4. The Pet Shop Boys: ?Super? (X2 records) The opening single ?The Pop Kids? sounds pretty much like the Pet Shop Boys did in the 1990s. Well, that?s how it?s supposed to sound. Neil Tennant starts off by recalling the 1990s with students going out every night and quoting the best bits of lyrics. This collection is full of the same pulsating keyboards, gentle vocals and doubtless Tennant?s knowingly raised eyebrow just off frame. Arguably, if it ain?t broke, don?t fix it. If you like the PSB you will probably like this, though it?s unlikely to win any new converts. http://ca.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1378159/6-must-hear-new-albums-sixxam-pj-harvey-pet-shop-boys-more The Messenger Pet Shop Boys, " Super" (x2 Records)- Most of their contemporaries may have fallen by the wayside since the Pet Shop Boys made their vinyl debut in 1984 with "West End Girls" but Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe still soldier on regardless, and the duo's second album with producer Stuart Price captures their distinctive brand of synthpop at its timeless and elegant best. "Burn" and "The Pop Kids" capture PSB at their most commercial, but Tennant also finds time for a little intellectual reflection with the haunting "Sad Robot World" and "The Dictator Decides," which explores the troubled psyche of a world weary 21st century despot. http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/leisure/music_reviews/14421493.CD_reviews___Diana_Jones__Pet_Shop_Boys__Pete_Lashley__Red_Jasper/ Is Pet Shop Boys? new Super album, well, super? ...Thankfully, for the rest of us, decorum is recovered by The Pop Kids,...The first half is as reliable as political promises...Sadly, too many Opportunities here are missed ones...That said, Super is a grower...but any album judged against such a magnificent back catalogue as the Pet Shop Boys? has much to live up to. https://tomhocknell.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/is-pet-shop-boys-new-super-album-well-super/ Washington Blade The Boys are back ...?SUPER? is caught in a vice between the sometimes harsh realities of life and the freedom and release that losing yourself on the dance floor can provide. It?s a terrific collection of immaculately produced songcraft by wily veterans who deliver yet another gem in their already amazing catalog of work. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/04/07/the-boys-are-back/ The Press Pet Shop Boys make a Super album in Berlin and London that's even more electric than Electric PET Shop Boys have come up with a Super title for their new studio album, matched by the brilliance of its first single The Pop Kids. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/music/14416248.Pet_Shop_Boys_make_a_Super_album_in_Berlin_and_London_that_s_even_more_electric_than_Electric/ MixMag (9/10) Following 2013?s ?Electric?, Britain?s three-decade-old electro-pop institution once again combine their talents with maverick producer Stuart Price. Where that album was more dance, this one is more pop, harking back to the group?s literate, melancholic best. It still pumps, of course, from country-tinged opener ?Happiness? to the penultimate ?Burn? (?We?re gonna burn this disco down before the morning comes!?), but there?s always room for witty, lyrical songwriting. ?The Dictator Decides? and nostalgic single ?The Pop Kids? are cracking examples of the latter. With everything lathered in exquisite, 90s-sounding euphoria, the duo prove to be irresistible, once again. http://www.mixmag.net/read/pet-shop-boys-reviews ABC News Pet Shop Boys? ?Super? ***1/2 ...?Super? at times feels like a sarcastic and funny, tongue-in-cheek record...?Super? is an unapologetic club record that revels both in a celebratory energy and its own inherent cheesiness. Again, there is something almost cartoon-like about the way Tennant and Lowe are tackling these often dense electronic numbers, but it is all in good fun. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/weezer-andrew-bird-pet-shop-boys-music-reviews/story?id=38175959#3 LGBT Weekly Pet Shop Boys drop their latest brilliant electronic pop masterpiece: ?Super? ...drop their latest brilliant electronic pop masterpiece Super that beats as an ode to their house music roots with a nod to today?s youth generation...On the first listening of Super it would have seemed mostly unmemorable. But as is frequently the case with the Pet Shop Boys, the collection of songs grows with each listening until it sonically explodes into its own masterpiece which is exactly what the duo is creating with their planned super electric trilogy. http://lgbtweekly.com/2016/04/03/pet-shop-boys-drop-their-latest-brilliant-electronic-pop-masterpiece-super/ AXS Super is the electronic duo?s 13th album and virtually every track is filled with intricate layers of beauty. Neil Tennant?s voice is so mesmerizing I found myself bobbing my head and getting lost in the melodies...All in all, Super is a pretty solid album from a seasoned duo, and with the first single "The Pop Kids" already getting the remix treatment, you can be sure that you will be hearing this album at clubs for years to come. http://www.axs.com/news/pet-shop-boys-release-their-13th-studio-album-super-80418 Sydney Morning Herald ★★★★ Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant have built up a head of steam over the past two albums that has reinforced but also belied their elder-statesmen-of-pop status. Super is the aptly named switch brain off/switch body on culmination of that. This is the most banger-filled thing they have done, from '70s disco and the chrome-filled '80s to glo-stick fields and sunset-to-dawn clubs "on the continent". The lyrics mostly turn to remembering youth, celebrating its freedom or, with light wistfulness, that period in your 20s or 30s when you think you have to make a choice between living and growing up. Buoyant synths light up Say It To Me; temple-throbbing keyboard bass presages vamping chords in Burn; Groovy matches pure New York underground disco with touches of Yello, then explodes; Happiness cheekily puts a country music melodic hook over a club-for-cruisers groove and squelchy keys; Pop Kids is the duo reviving their own early years; and Inner Sanctum goes northern grey sky propulsive. Dance, now. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/spectrum-reviews-pet-shop-boys-violent-soho-and-stravinsky-20160329-gnq0qn.html MetroWeekly Pet Shop Boys are aiming for the dancefloor rather than the charts, but Super is still pretty superb (5 stars) Without resorting to any startling transformations, Pet Shop Boys have tended to absorb trends, rather than break a sweat reacting to or chasing after them. Their arched, sardonic observations and striking production have always proven that their sure shot instincts for blending articulate introspection and contemporary dance resulted in moody classic after moody classic. Bright and enthusiastic in its imagery, Super (starstarstarstar) is arguably the equal of their very best, in turns subdued, synthesized, usurping and, well, super really. https://www.metroweekly.com/2016/04/pet-shop-boys-super/ The Red and Black Pet Shop Boys's 'Super' delivers catchy hooks, danceable beats Pet Shop Boys emerged from the '80s English club scene and never looked back (or more accurately, forward). The group's new album ?Super? was released on April 1 and is a shamelessly dated compilation of synthpop. The album opens with two catchy tracks...Conceptually, ?Super? blends fantasy and reality... http://www.redandblack.com/culture/pet-shop-boys-s-super-delivers-catchy-hooks-danceable-beats/article_6348a21c-fc1b-11e5-9d18-b3b203f0c17e.html Now Toronto 3 Ns (of 5) The new term "poptimism" describes the surprisingly positive reception for a kind of mainstream pop once considered d?class? by critics inclined to suppress their latent femininity and/or homosexuality by listening only to, say, music the CIA might use to torture suspected terrorists...Few pop acts write about the joys of pop as effectively as Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe...It's a timeless theme but a familiar one that plays out in songs that are sometimes brilliant (The Dictator Decides), sometimes primal (Inner Sanctum) and occasionally predictable (Sad Robot World) and rote (Burn). https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/pet-shop-boys-super/ The Guardian (3/5) hands-in-the-air gems and the rest Nostalgia is a powerful tool in today?s music market, selling things back to their original markets in repackaged form, pulling in later adopters along the way. Into this fray of reformations and homages drops a new album from the doggedly evergreen Pet Shop Boys...Super?s first half euphorically lives up to the title...The second half loses momentum slightly...A 21st-century approach is useful here ? park the nostalgia and just download the best bits. http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/03/super-pet-shop-boys-review PSB forever, Don ____________________________________________________________ Wall Street Daily Peter Schiff: China Just Armed its Financial Missile http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/571329a03aad3299e7386st02vuc _______________________________________________ introspective at lists.jameslick.com delivery to the.ackermans at juno.com http://lists.jameslick.com/mailman/options/introspective/the.ackermans%40juno.com http://lists.jameslick.com/mailman/listinfo/introspective From psbfan at geowayne.com Sat May 7 22:15:24 2016 From: psbfan at geowayne.com (Wayne Studer) Date: Sat, 7 May 2016 22:15:24 -0700 Subject: [Introspective] Final results of poll on PSB completing their "Price trilogy" Message-ID: <572ECB6C.6020508@geowayne.com> The final results are in for my poll this past week, in which I asked my site visitors whether they feel the Pet Shop Boys should, in the wake of "Super," complete their long-discussed idea of completing a trilogy of studio albums produced by Stuart Price. And the response that received the most votes was: * "Yes, absolutely!" picked by 45.0% of the voters. To see the complete results, please visit my "Commentary" site at http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and select one of the "Past Survey Results" options in the top navigation bar or click the appropriate link on my "What's New?" page. This week's poll has been triggered by the announcement a few days ago on the official PSB website that a new issue of their fan publication (formerly fan club publication) "Literally" will be available for purchase this week. I'm simply wondering whether you're planning to buy a copy. So please take a moment to make your choice from the options provided (more than a simple Yes/No) right there on my home page. Thanks to everyone who voted in last week's survey! And I hope you all have an outstanding week! Wayne http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm From psbfan at geowayne.com Thu May 12 20:44:52 2016 From: psbfan at geowayne.com (Wayne Studer) Date: Thu, 12 May 2016 20:44:52 -0700 Subject: [Introspective] Poll ends soon on buying a copy of the new "Literally" Message-ID: <57354DB4.2020107@geowayne.com> Hey there! Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last full day of my current poll, which asks whether you're planning to buy or have already ordered a copy of the new issue of the Pet Shop Boys' fan publication "Literally." If you haven't voted yet, please take a moment to visit my "Commentary" site at http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and make your choice from the options provided right there on my home page. (It's more than just a Yes/No choice!) On Sunday I will end this poll, post the final results, and kick off a new survey for the week ahead. Thanks to everyone who has already voted! And I hope you all have a top-notch weekend! Wayne http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm From psbfan at geowayne.com Sat May 14 21:54:02 2016 From: psbfan at geowayne.com (Wayne Studer) Date: Sat, 14 May 2016 21:54:02 -0700 Subject: [Introspective] Final results of poll on buying the new issue of "Literally" Message-ID: <573800EA.8050505@geowayne.com> The final results are in for my poll this past week, in which I asked my site visitors whether they were planning to buy (or had already placed an order for) a copy of Issue #42 of the Pet Shop Boys fan publication "Literally." And the response (more than just a yes/no choice) that received the largest number of votes was: * "No, I'm definitely NOT buying a copy!" chosen by 29.0% of the voters. To see the complete results, please visit my "Commentary" site at http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and select one of the "Past Survey Results" options in the top navigation bar or click the appropriate link on my "What's New?" page. I was torn between two different questions for my new survey for the week ahead, but I've decided to ask you to rate the Pet Shop Boys' new music video for "Twenty-something" on my video scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning one of the Boys' all-time worst music videos, 3 meaning an average PSB video, and 5 meaning one of their all-time best. (Please keep in mind that I'm asking you to rate how it compares to other Pet Shop Boys videos -- not to other music videos in general by any and all artists.) So please take a moment to make your choice right there on my home page. And although there's an "abstain" option among the choices, you can readily see the video on YouTube if you haven't already done so. Thanks to everyone who voted in last week's survey! And I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead! Wayne http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm From psbfan at geowayne.com Thu May 19 21:35:49 2016 From: psbfan at geowayne.com (Wayne Studer) Date: Thu, 19 May 2016 21:35:49 -0700 Subject: [Introspective] Poll ends soon on rating the "Twenty-something" video Message-ID: <573E9425.1030107@geowayne.com> Hey there! Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last full day of my current poll, which asks you to rate the Pet Shop Boys' new music video for "Twenty-something" on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning "one of their all-time worst videos," 3 meaning "an average PSB video," and 5 meaning "one of the all-time best PSB music videos." If you haven't voted yet, please take a moment to visit my "Commentary" site at http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and make your choice right there on my home page. On Sunday I will end this poll, post the final results, and start a new survey for the week ahead. Thanks to everyone who has already voted! And I hope you all have a terrific weekend! Wayne http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm From zazou173 at hotmail.com Sat May 21 19:25:42 2016 From: zazou173 at hotmail.com (zazou1 .) Date: Sat, 21 May 2016 21:25:42 -0500 Subject: [Introspective] Pet Shop Boys forum Message-ID: Has petshopboys-forum.com become an exclusive club? I am primarily a lurker on the forum scene, but occasionally I?d like to contribute. I attempted to join a couple of weeks ago and have not been approved. I?m a 43-year-old journalist; what does it take to get in? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From psbfan at geowayne.com Sat May 21 22:07:44 2016 From: psbfan at geowayne.com (Wayne Studer) Date: Sat, 21 May 2016 22:07:44 -0700 Subject: [Introspective] Final results of poll on rating the "Twenty-something" video Message-ID: <57413EA0.3070509@geowayne.com> The final results are in for my poll this past week, in which I asked my site visitors to rate the music video for the Pet Shop Boys' next single, "Twenty-something," on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being one of their all-time worst videos and 5 being one of their all-time best). And the rating chosen by the largest number of voters was: * "4 - Not one of their best, but above average for them," picked by 29.3% of the voters. The average of the voters' ratings, however, turned out to be 3.189 out of 5, which comes closest to the 3 "average" video rating. To see the complete results, please visit my "Commentary" site at http:///www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and select one of the "Past Survey Results" options in the top navigation bar, or click the appropriate link on my "What's New?" page. My new survey for the week ahead actually combines two questions regarding "Brick England," the Pet Shop Boys' recent collaboration with Jean-Michel Jarre. I'm asking you to indicate (1) whether you've purchased the track (or plan to) and (2) your general opinion of it. So please take a moment to make your selections right there on my home page. Thanks to everyone who voted in last week's survey! And I hope you all have a superb week ahead! Wayne http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm From psbfan at geowayne.com Thu May 26 22:14:52 2016 From: psbfan at geowayne.com (Wayne Studer) Date: Thu, 26 May 2016 22:14:52 -0700 Subject: [Introspective] Poll on "Brick England" ends soon Message-ID: <5425f578-3a09-24a5-dbe4-7b29cf151dd1@geowayne.com> Hey there! Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last full day of my current poll, which asks two questions about "Brick England," the recent Pet Shop Boys collaboration with Jean-Michel Jarre: (1) Have you purchased (or plan on purchasing) the track in any of various ways? and (2) What is your general opinion of it? If you haven't voted yet, please take a moment to visit my "Commentary" site at http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and make your selections from the options provided there on my home page. On Sunday I will end this poll, post the final results, and launch a new survey for the week ahead. Thanks to everyone who has already voted! And I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Wayne http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm From thegardner at psb-catalogue.com Fri May 27 14:06:36 2016 From: thegardner at psb-catalogue.com (TheGardner) Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 23:06:36 +0200 Subject: [Introspective] [mfcs98A8] RE: Pet Shop Boys forum In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, just saw your mail about the forum and just can say, the mods closed the new registrations around the end of March, because much of the newly registered users only were registering to ask, where they can download the new album!Why it's not open again, makes me wonder! And so I would ask, which user you've choosen, so I can pick it up from the newly registered users queue to set it free! Cheers Steffen --------------------------------------------------web: www.psb-catalogue.commail: thegardner at psb-catalogue.comphone: +49 171 8761344post: Muellerring 67, 04158 Leipzig, Germany From: zazou173 at hotmail.com To: introspective at lists.jameslick.com Date: Sat, 21 May 2016 21:25:42 -0500 Subject: [Introspective] Pet Shop Boys forum Has petshopboys-forum.com become an exclusive club? I am primarily a lurker on the forum scene, but occasionally I’d like to contribute. I attempted to join a couple of weeks ago and have not been approved. I’m a 43-year-old journalist; what does it take to get in? _______________________________________________ introspective at lists.jameslick.com delivery to thegardner at psb-catalogue.com http://lists.jameslick.com/mailman/options/introspective/thegardner%40psb-catalogue.com http://lists.jameslick.com/mailman/listinfo/introspective -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From psbfan at geowayne.com Sat May 28 22:16:56 2016 From: psbfan at geowayne.com (Wayne Studer) Date: Sat, 28 May 2016 22:16:56 -0700 Subject: [Introspective] Final results of poll on "Brick England" Message-ID: <627a714e-5791-3da8-8f3a-bdf5fe2d7bfb@geowayne.com> The final results are in for my poll this past week, in which I asked my site visitors what they think of the new Pet Shop Boys collaboration with Jean-Michel Jarre, "Brick England," and whether they had bought or were planning to buy it. And the responses that received the most votes were: * "I think it's a good track -- not truly great, but definitely good," chosen by 40.7%, and * "I'm not planning on buying the album," picked by 35.5% of the voters. (27.9% said that they had bought "Brick England" as a digital download (or were planning on it).) To see the complete results, please visit my "Commentary" site at http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm and select one of the "Past Survey Results" options in the top navigation bar or click the appropriate link on my "What's New?" page. My new poll for the week ahead asks whether you think the Pet Shop Boys might have been even more popular and/or more successful in their commercial career overall if they had chosen a different name for their duo. And what about right now as opposed to throughout most of their career? Please take a few moments to check out the options (more than just "Yes" and "No") on my home page and chosen the one that comes closest to expressing your views on this matter. And thanks so much to Rashomon for suggesting this question! Thanks as well to everyone who voted in last week's survey! And I hope you all have a marvelous week ahead! And I wish a safe and happy Memorial Day to my fellow U.S. fans and to anyone else who observes this holiday! Wayne http://www.geowayne.com/psbhtml.htm