Electric - Pet Shop Boys

As their 12^th studio album “Electric” hits US shelves today, it is hard to imagine the Pet Shop Boys not sounding current, since bands like the XX and Beach House sound suspiciously like Pet Shop Boy’s 1990 album “Behavior”.  The now 23 year old album has the wash of synthesizer pads, thick bass and staccato funk guitar riffs that one comes to associate with the (current) post new wave genre.  Even the choruses are doubled in the soaring falsetto that draws a comparison to bands like Passion Pit and Empire of the Sun.  So, why all the current comparisons?  Because Pet Shop Boy’s new album takes the band to a more current place where saw-tooth synths rip through the stratosphere and the noise oscillators are turned up to 11. The new hard-hitting production comes courtesy of Stuart Price (New Order, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Take That, Missy Elliott, Scissor Sisters, The Killers, Brandon Flowers, Gwen Stefani and his own solo projects) who shared the sonic reigns with Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.  Not to say that the new production style detracts from The Pet Shop Boys signature sound.  At the core of the album, they are still the same band that released “West End Girl” and “It’s a Sin”, but with a touch more edge. Employing a variety of new sounds ranging from the now infamous frequency modulated overdriven bass (thanks a lot for ruining it for everyone, Skrillex), and the radio favorite synth-swoops into big choruses.  The band is none the worse off with its new sonic palette, if anything it shows a willingness to experiment and compete amongst a new generation.

“Electric” really puts the new sonic structure to work for the band, with the builds lasting just long enough to keep you interested, and enough give and take to not get boring.   A pleasant mix of what we’ve come to expect from Pet Shop Boys, and experimentation on the part of the band and the producer, its is clear that they aren’t fighting to stay relevant, rather just reminding everyone that they can do new wave, and they can do it well.  “Who will be the last to die for our mistake?” asks Tennant right before the melodic hook in the aptly named “Last to Die”.   Its safe to say they won’t be dying out soon, after almost 3 decades of making music, they can still experiment, and there is no mistake in taking chances.

*for a limited time get a free Pet Shop Boys Lithograph with purchase of Electric*
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