The Pet Shop Boys are one of the most beloved and earliest known electro-pop artists out there. The duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have sold over 30 million albums, largely off the back of massive hits like “West End Girls” and “It’s a Sin.” While people like Thomas Dolby, Gary Numan, Human League, and a host of new wave acts faded slowly over the span of a decade (many of them resurfacing in the new millennium), The Pet Shop Boys have continuously gotten better, nearly perfecting their unique brand of catchy anthems. Yes, their latest album and first for Astralwerks, is the best evidence to date that the Pet Shop Boys deserve their status as legends.
Yes is perhaps the perfect title for this album. The immediately striking thing (particularly when set against the dominantly negative musical landscape of today) about this album is how upbeat it is. Yes is insanely positive without ever drenching the listener in Hippie spit. For example, “Did You See Me Coming?” features a heavy dance beat, wonderful vocal harmonies and a light spirit while exploring a person’s place in today’s world. The near dark pop bounce of “Love Etc.” (written with Xenomania as were “More Than a Dream” and “The Way It Used to Be”) is another twist in the myth sounding all at once like a path forward, a throwback to eighties new wave, and an extremely introspective tune with plenty of anthemic qualities. “Beautiful People” is another highlight among highlights, taking a minor sound and making it sound uplifting and ready made for audience participation.
Overall, it’s been a few years since I have heard the Pet Shop Boys and Yes makes me regret that. Pet Shop Boys are certainly at the top of their game here, producing a number of single-ready songs, any one of which could be a megahit. Relevant and exciting, Yes is unquestionably a contender for album of the year. Good luck trying to beat it!
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
