Customer Reviews

Elysium

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I've been trying to think of which Pet Shop Boys albums are better than this one. Maybe Behaviour; Very, possibly; Actually, Yes (and now I'm confused...). The point is, these guys make it so difficult to choose. But for almost any other pop band around today, you could easily say that Elysium would be their masterpiece.

A group that's been around as longs as PSBs simply has to be winding down by now, trading on former glories - but Elysium sounds almost like a band that's just getting started. I say almost, because while a debut album might sound as fresh and original as this one, it could never have such a complex depth of character (and if that makes it sound like a fine wine, then, good).

I won't do a song-by-song breakdown, as I think one of the most remarkable things about this album is the way it flows together, both sonically and thematically. It's hard to say exactly how this happens, as there are no actual segues and all the songs sound very different from each other; the closest I can get to it is that many songs seem to `trigger' the next. A good example of this is `Your Early Stuff' (title speaks for itself) which kicks into `A Face Like That', a floor-shaking nod to their disco roots with a synth hook marginally smaller than The Shard. Within the songs too, the production is their smoothest ever, positively shimmering with ethereal sounds, and Neil Tennant's voice has never sounded better, or more expressive.

Even songs that I didn't like initially have won me over - `Winner' being the biggest case in point. At first hearing I assumed (as perhaps many have) it was a glib Olympics bandwagon number; but I couldn't have been more wrong. Sure, it can be about the Games if you want it to be; but suppose for a moment that it's about something else (a relationship, say) and suddenly it's far more convincingly a Pet Shop Boys song. I don't think it's about London 2012 any more than `Indefinite Leave To Remain' was about immigration... (but I will admit to getting Olympics montages in my head when I hear it). It's also telling how the song's euphoria carries more than a dash of melancholy, too.

My favourite song? It keeps changing, but the moment it's `Give It A Go'. An upbeat, lighthearted, almost humorous number, which for some strange reason makes me cry. That pretty much sums up what makes Elysium so special. Give it a go.

Most of the songs are classic PSB style, with wisftul, philosophical lyrics, nice melodies and a dreamy, rich, production. Breathing Space is my favourite song and a PSB classic, on a par with The Survivors from Bilingual, with a nice chorus and reflective lyrics about life. Everything Means Something and Ego Music are interesting but not tracks I would listen to very often. Likewise the track Your Early Stuff, which is funny and probably a response to some comment made to Neil Tennant by a member of the public or an unfavourable journalist, but not a musical masterpiece. The majority of the tracks are excellent and these easily outway the less good ones. Two thumbs up and five stars from me!

I'm not one of those people who thinks that the Pet Shop Boys' fantastic early output is all there is to them. I find that their career has been one of the most consistently rewarding in modern pop, with plenty of winsome moments in each phase. I say this because a lot of reviews here tend to give Elysium a hard time because it "can't hold a candle to *insert preferred Pet Shop Boys album here*", or something like that. While the Boys' latest offering isn't up there with what I consider to be their best work (Behaviour, Very, Fundamental), it is nevertheless a welcome addition to their catalogue, as accomplished and rewarding an album as any of the ones that preceded it, granted, of course, you're open to what it has to offer.

Neil Tennant has said that he considers Elysium "the Pet Shop Boys' most beautiful album", and indeed, there's a very luxurious, serene quality to a lot of the songs here. The arrangements are more sparse and roomy than, say, the ones on their previous record (the much more typically poppy Yes) and the songs here have much more, well, "Breathing space" so to speak. The leisurely tempo and relative absence of bright flashes of colour mean that a lot of the songs tend to lump together upon the first few listens. Indeed, the only one that stands out right off the bat is "A face like that", tense and busy not unlike their 80's work (those who like their PSB anthemic and dancey, be warned: this is the only song here paced to quicken your pulse). But, each repeated listen is rewarded as the pasty facade of the songs peels away, revealing the subtle production touches and an unexpected warmth that comes with the subdued production choices. Tennant is in fine voice throughout. His lyrics take a dip occasionally (the "Catch the bouquet/Let's tie the knot now" bit from "Give it a go" is kind of an eye-roller), but such moments are in the minority.

It's not perfect of course, not by any means. "Your early stuff" spends its' brief two-and-a-half minutes teasing the listener that it might just shape itself into something meaningful, or at least funny, but it just ends up sounding drab to these ears. Then there's "Hold on", the absolute nadir of the album as far as this reviewer is concerned, an overblown attempt at an uplifter that has all the conviction of those "Hang in there kitty" motivational posters. All is forgiven though, for these missteps are surrounded by the tranquil beauty of "Leaving" and "Invisible", the snarky, biting "Ego music" (a parody of self-obsessed celebrity that is home to some of the album's most hilarious lines), the wistful, vintage sounding "Give it a go" and the gorgeous "Memory of the future". "Requiem in denim and leopardskin" closes Elysium on a bittersweet, yet oddly celebratory note, a kind of breezy lounge/disco number that picks up its' storytelling cues from "Being boring" and takes it from there into album highlight territory.

What we have here, then, is a Pet Shop Boys album that sounds "different", not from their signature sound (assuming, of course, they have one; after all, each of their albums was "different" compared to the previous one) but rather from what's percieved (better yet, expected) as their signature sound. It's true that PSB are about the big, stomping, tongue-in-cheek pop hits. But they're also about the downtempo moments, the darker meditations on life and love, the elegant and spacey ballads (wasn't that the point with Behaviour and Release?). Elysium is a perfectly solid showcase of the softer side of one of the best contemporary pop acts, flaws and all. That it's not their "best" or "definitive" artistic statement is a moot point; it is what it is, and it's here to enjoy for anyone willing to give it a chance.

Great CD if you like the Pet Shop Boys. Some nice stuff on it. But yet again what always impresses me about a new Pet Shop CD is that they give great value for me. Not for the first time you not only get the studio CD, you always get a load of bonuses on an extra CD and this time it's an instrumental CD of the new album. Some of the tracks sound better as imstrumental. But that's only my opinion. So for fans, as per usul, this CD is a must.

I've been a PSB fan since day one and I have always found tracks on their albums which have been cool, funky and fun. Moreover, every now and again I have been taken back with the more reflective tracks which you know has been crafted with a lot of thought and love for the subject. However, Elysium just comes across as bland. I want to like it, but I get bored and go off and do something more interesting instead. Hence the title ' Come back home boys' if going to the USA produces this sort of work then come back and fortify your next album with more cool,funky and fun tracks.

I've been a Johnny come lately to Pet Shop Boys. I really only started buying their albums from 'Release' which came out in 2002 and completely changed my mind about them. I'd just thought of them as a great pop singles band. Since then I've been a big fan of all their subsequent albums and many of the earlier ones. I'm not a fan of dance music but I am a huge devotee of perfect pop and the last decade of perfect pop has been ruled by PSB in my opinion.

I was excited about the new album but I'm slightly disappointed now I have it. It's a real hit and miss affair and while it has one of their best ever tracks in 'Invisible' it also has one of their worst in 'Give It A Go' and really 'Winner' doesn't stand repeated listening. They seem a bit short of ideas sadly.

'Yes' is the best album in my opinion if perfect pop is your bag. This album has some lovely moments and a warm sound but it'd make a better E.P. I think.

I would listen to this a few times before making a judgement and listen to the lyrics. Wistful and smart. Very wry. Keep it up.

In which the Pet Shop Boys produce, if not the best album of their career, then one that is certainly amongst their top three.

Elysium finds PSB in their role of the elder statesmen of pop, viewing the world from the afterlife of mainstream chart success. It's by turns regretful, nostalgic hopeful, and cutting.

Initial reactions: it seems musically disjointed. Tracks seem to clash rather than flow. Subsequent listens reveal that, actually, it's superbly sequenced. The optimism of Memory of the Future turns to the frankly sinister Everything Means Something; the withering Ego Music gives way to the Broadway tinged positivity (or is it desperation?) of Hold On. It's an album of deliberate contrasts of mood.

Temporarily at least, they've abandoned the everything including the kitchen sink direction of old. This is music that's full of space, simultaneously stripped down and lush, and with a newly discovered sense of restraint. At least some of the credit for this must go to producer Andrew Dawson. He provides what the PSB have needed for a considerable time, namely a production style that sounds modern, without overwhelming the character of the music.

Some highlights: Breathing Space is almost overwhelmingly beautiful, and emotionally devastating. Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin conjures up the ghosts of Being Boring, being both elegy and celebration at the same time. Everything Means Something could almost be hewn from the textures of Bowie's "Heroes", with it's grinding, complex timestructures. Leaving (the next single) seems almost slight initially, but then burrows its way into your brain and manages to conjure a bittersweet mixture of fond memories and loss ("Our love is dead/but the dead are still alive".)

In short, this is the sound of PSB abandoning preconceptions of what they are expected to sound like, and doing exectly what they please. They've tried this before, with mixed results ("Bilingual", "Release"), but this is the grand slam. This will probably draw the ire of those who love the Boys' music to be uptempo and dance driven, and as such it's unlikely to match the commercial success of Yes. On an artistic level, however, this is one of their finest works, and deserves a wider audience than it will probably attract.

The Pet Shop Boys have always had a very distinctive poppy sound, which is good but can sometimes grate a bit.

1 . Leaving - I think I will have to give this song sometime to grow on me! - Its very poppy.

"The dead are still alive in memory and thought and the context that they provide."

2. Invisible - This was recently released as a single, and unfortunately given the state of the current pop market probably didn't reach anywhere. (But that's not the point and I don't think much of the video personally).
I do like Invisible because even those who achieve greatness do become invisible. (I much prefer it to, "Leaving.")

"After being the life and soul of the party for many years, its weird I'm invisible."

"Its queer how gradually I become invisible."

I quite like the keyboard / piano sounding solo and it comes back towards the end of the song.

"Its too late to find an excuse. The party's over and I'm not much use."

3. Winner - This is a very triumphant song with very triumphant lyrics!

"Its been a long time coming. We've been in the running for so long."
"You're a winner! - I'm a winner! This is all happening so fast!"
"- Let's enjoy it all while it lasts."

"I've been a loser. I've paid my dues. I've fought my way up from the ground."

I could see a lot of people hating this song - getting jealous of the lyrics. Yet for those that don't its a good song!

The last fifty seconds takes it up a level!! I'm wondering listening to this.. is this it? The last PSB's album? It seems very finalised.

4. Your Early Stuff -

"- And I still quite like some of your early stuff."
"Those old videos look pretty. - What's in it for you now?! - Need the money!"

This is a very ironic sounding number!

5. A Face Like That - Now this is a very upbeat number. - I'm just not sure how comfortably it sits with me!

"Why wouldn't I fall in love? - With a face like that!"

The more I think about it the more it seems that the PSBs have gone back to their roots!!

6. Breathing Space - Actually sounds like a guitar at the start of the song! - I didn't think that the PSBs liked guitars.

"When your heart is out of luck and you're felling left behind."

Early on this sounds very similar to the third track - Winner.

This is a bit of a boring number unfortunately.

7. Ego Music - Now this is a weird number, but the lyrics are great!!

"Ego Music its all about sense of entitlement."
"I see myself as a building.. there's a nightclub in the basement.. but in the penthouse that's where the music happens."
"There's a real purity to my work.. but I'm actually smart and sophisticated."

The synth sounds are absolutely fantastic!!

"My commitment is to my career.. and then giving something back!!"
"I am my own demographic.. what does that say about me??!"

8. Hold On - It sounds a little odd, but in an odd kind of way I sort of, kind of, like it!

"Hold On. There's got to be a future!"

9. Give It A Go - Neil Tennant's voice has always been great!

I'm sure if the PSBs are just totally taking the mick with this album..

10. Memory Of The Future - An interesting title.

The background keyboard playing early on is good.

"Its taken me all of my life to find you.." - Is Neil singing about himself I wonder..

11. Everything Means Something - These lyrics are incredibly are incredibly ironic even sarcastic. - To be honest I don't even see this number as a song.

"You said you're overreacting. You're reading too much into this."

12. Requiem In Denim And Leopardskin - And thankfully to the last song of the album.

Its amazing how high pitched Neil can get his voice.

Well the album finishes on a high.. but goodness knows what the lyrics are about!!

Personally, I much prefer their previous album the 2009, "Yes." This album is just so off the mark for me. I'm not sure Neil and Chris have even made this album for their fans.

When listening to new music, one of three things usually happens: Instant love, appreciating better after a second spin or after a break, finally liking or loathing it on the third try. Elysium ended up being the later. And as I realized that I liked it, it just took hold and kept on growing. Moody, surreal and outright brilliant, with Memory of the Future quite possibly being their BEST tune ever, Elysium's varied reviews are a testament to its power.