I've been listening to the new Pet Shop Boys album 'Elysium' for the past few days. I'd read a couple of reviews that said it wasn't their best work, with only a handful of standout tracks, but I bought it anyway being a fan. So far, the reviews appear to be spot on. It's not bad, but a lot of it is quite forgettable by their usual (IMO) lofty standards. Their most recent odds n ends collection 'Format' is, surprisingly, much more entertaining and varied.
John, I'd argue that the best bits on 'Elysium' sound like 'Behaviour', which is, in my opinion, the strongest PSB studio album (though 'Actually' runs it close). Having said that, some of the other bits on there are pretty dreadful. A mixed bag, but not their worst album.
Having a Kraftwerk day today - lots of their albums back to back. Now on to "Computer World". "When I press a special key, it plays a little melody" etc etc











