... Shortly after the release of Very and the singles from that album, Alternative was released. This was the one that I had been waiting for.
Alternative is a two-CD set, produced originally as a special edition with a holographic front, and later press runs having a more conventional covering. ... Read review
Alternative - CD
Disc 1 In The Night A Man Could Get Arrested That's My Impression Was That What It Was? ... more
Paninaro Jack The Lad You Know Where You Went Wrong A New Life I Want A Dog Do I Have To? I Get Excited Don Juan The Sound Of The Atom Splitting One Of The Crowd Yo...
A review by frkurt on Alternative - Pet Shop Boys March 12th, 2004
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Advantages:
Unique, great songs
Disadvantages:
- -
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
At one point shortly after the release of Discography, my friend Monty and I were discussing the problem that we had, living in midwestern America, of being able to find the latest offerings of the Pet Shop Boys. While I had never experienced a problem of getting the latest albums, CDs, and videos in London, New York, or on the West Coast, living in middle America put me at a distinct disadvantage. While the albums were always available, the singles most often were not available. This was important because so many good items came only on the singles -- often the b-side and extra tracks contained on the singles were better than additional album tracks. And, of course, these songs were not available on albums. For any avid collector, this was a problem (these were the days before on-line shopping, when Amazon.com and other on-line vendors where not even in the planning stages). I speculated that it would be wonderful if the Pet Shop Boys would put together an album that contained all of these wonderful extra tracks. I was certain it would be popular, at least among the die-hard fans.
Not long after this conversation, it was rumoured that just such an album was in the planning stages. Shortly after the release of Very and the singles from that album, Alternative was released. This was the one that I had been waiting for.
Alternative is a two-CD set, produced originally as a special edition with a holographic front, and later press runs having a more conventional covering. All press runs, however, have contained the special book which includes an extensive interview with the Pet Shop Boys in which they talk about each of the 30 songs on these CDs in turn, discussing meaning as well as production issues around these tracks.
'This is the record that we fans have been waiting for: the collection that finally pulls together all those great songs tucked away on b-sides, double-packs, obscure formats. Whereas an a-side will require strict commercial and production standards, and the courage to act them out in front of millions, here you'll find the real Pet Shop Boys: dropping their guard, finding themselves free to experiment, to explore their obsessions and their own lives.'
Given the long-term nature of this collection, these songs represent an historical record of the Pet Shop Boys; as a companion piece to Discography, the official 'greatest hits' collection of the Pet Shop Boys, Alternative serves to show another side, side-by-side, with the more popular front of the Pet Shop Boys. These are the songs that were released with the hits. These songs also show the development of musical tone and complexity, technical as well as lyrical, over the course of the first decade of the Pet Shop Boys' career.
'You could say that these 30 songs embody the changing nature of music software, as the seven-inch and 12-inch vinyl formats move to CD, then to remixes, then to double-packs, and son on. A variety of formats demands a variety of aesthetic responses, if you're not just going to hand everything over to a remixer.'
In these songs, one will find a lot of the personal experiences of the Pet Shop Boys. In songs like 'A man could get arrested', 'Hey, Headmaster', and 'Your funny uncle', glimpses of experiences from the lives of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, and some of their friends, are highlighted. Particularly, 'Your funny uncle' shows a scene from life, from when Tennant had to organise the funeral for a friend, and met the relatives of his friend, who came from another social world. Sometimes humourous, sometimes poignant, the lyrics in these are reminiscent of Betjeman and Coward.
Speaking of Coward, there are several songs in this collection which are remakes from other composers -- 'If love were all', by Noel Coward and 'Losing my mind' by Sondheim are examples, the latter of which was done for Liza Minnelli, but here remade by the Pet Shop Boys themselves.
Many of these are strong songs -- 'A new life' and 'I get excited' could be standard disco releases on their own. Others have a certain quirkiness about them. 'In the night' highlights the possible experience of a Zazou, a French opter-out during the German occupation in World War II; 'Don Juan' is an allegorical song with a great deal of history woven into the lyrics (try to decipher them without the liner notes!). Experimental music in songs such as 'The sound of the atom splitting' reminds one of the experimental cinematic direction of Derek Jarman, a friend of the Pet Shop Boys. Philosophy and politics are highlighted in songs such as 'Miserablism' and 'What keeps mankind alive'.
Through all of the songs, the electronic, sample-filled instrumentation, the rhythms and (for most) the dance aspect of the tunes comes through as classic Europop and Pet Shop Boys all the way.
This is an unconventional album, and perhaps cannot be called an album in the true sense, for how many albums have had every track released as a single, yet none of them as the primary single for any release? This is a must-have for any fan of the Pet Shop Boys.
Advantages: Cracking Tracks,innovative Disadvantages: A couple of tracks could / should have been culled
Alternative is a collection of B sides and other tracks that were not included in the Boys main albums. For a normal band this would be the sound of brains snoring and half hearted efforts. But, this in fact reminds us that the Boys are, of course, one of the best things British pop has ever given us. Many of the tracks here are worthy of A side status for the Boys themselves and other artists will sit back in sheer envy for the quality and inventiveness ... ...have ever done, We All Feel Better In The Dark, lavishly cinematic.
There are a couple of weaknesses though, some sacrificies should have been made too keep the quality up - The Sound Of The Atom Splitting is one in particular.
But overall, Alternative really is absolutely fabulous. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
How does it compare to ...
Value for Money
very helpful
21.10.2001
Flipside Review ofAlternative - Pet Shop Boysby
SkyscraperFanClub
Advantages: Pet Shop Boys at their most raw. Disadvantages: Pet Shop Boys at their most raw.
This album is very much 'one for the fans,' not something I would recommend as the best introduction to the Pet Shop Boys. That said, there are some gems on here that everyone can enjoy. 'Alternative' is a collection of B-Sides from Pet Shop Boys' singles from the first release of 'Opportunities,' up to the 1993/4 singles from the album 'Very.' Across these 2CDs (30 tracks) are a couple of songs of particular interest. 'Paninaro,' which was released ... ...released over here in 1995), is a brilliant mid-eighties dance song. 'In The Night' is better known as the old music from 'The Clothes Show.' 'We All Feel Better In The Dark' is an absolute masterpiece, and, along with I want a dog, is one of a very small number (about 2 or 3) of Pet Shop Boys' songs to feature keyboardist Chris Lowe on vocals. As most of these songs are about 15 years old there is a strongly eighties feel to this album, though not ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Solid PSB music Disadvantages: A bit average at times
...Again the PetShopBoys played their little trick on their fans. The album 'Very' was released in 1994, and didn't do very well commercially or critically, and while the PetShopBoys shortly thereafter toured, it had the feeling (partly due to the rumour mill) that this was in fact a farewell series of performances. The next year, when the dual-disc set 'Alternative' was released, the question was largely, 'Alternative to what?' -- a real album, a continuation ('Alternative' was made up of all the non-album b-sides that had been released during the PetShopBoys career, once again fueling speculation that this was a tying-up-of-loose-ends at the end of a career).
Then, in 1996, the album 'Bilingual' was released, again following the by-then-well-established pattern of releasing a single, then follow-up with the album. This was...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Every Pet Shop Boys' A-Side, 1983-91... Disadvantages: ...except for two.
...Things'). The album sorely misses this brilliant song.
It would be a little picky of me to make a case for the inclusion of 'Paninaro', which was released as a single, but only in one country - Italy.
By every other measure, however, 'Discography' is excellent as it brings together the PetShopBoys as they present themselves to the world. It is the perfect contrast to 'Alternative', which compiles their hidden b-sides and 'other tracks'. Here each track is annotated with thought from Neil Tennant providing insight into the meaning of and work behind each track.
For those naive enough to use number ones as a measure of success, 'Discography' boasts four: The hugely famous 'West End Girls'; 'It's A Sin', lamenting the judgemental nature of Catholicism; reinvented and reinvigorated Elvis track 'Always On My Mind; and the inspired...
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Advantages: A good idea particularly worthwhile for the dance-orientated Pet Shop Boys. Disadvantages: Poor tracks choice and pointless mixing.
...process, particularly ‘So Hard (D. Morales Red Zone Mix)’ and ‘Yesterday, When I Was Mad (Coconut 1 12” Mix)’.
‘Disco 2’ would have been far better if it had kept the format of the original ‘Disco’ and been more selective about which tracks were used. It presents the PetShopBoys in an alternative light, one which many may not enjoy, as it focuses more on the dance edge of their songs rather than their lyrical and musical qualities. I would advise you listen to this before buying it.
Mix list:
Absolutely Fabulous (Rollo Our Tribe Tongue-In-Cheek Mix) (Intro)
I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (Beatmasters Extended Nude Mix)
I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (DJ Pierre Wild Pitch Mix)
Go West (Farley & Heller Mix)
Liberation (E Smoove 12...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Album Notes: Pet Shop Boys: Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe. Additional personnel: Richard Niles (conductor); Stephen Lipson, J.J. Belle, Johnny Marr (guitar); Gerard Prescencer (trumpet); Gary Maughan, Richard Coles (keyboards); Blue Weaver (organ, programming); Frank Ricotti (vibraphone, percussion); Adrien Cook, Dominic Clarke, Chris Newman, Scott Davidson, Harold Faltermeyer, Pete Gleadall (programming); Carol Kenyan, Katie Kissoon, Tessa Niles, Helena Springs, Shirley Lewis, Dee Lewis, Juliet Roberts, Bruce Woolley, Sylvia Mason-James, Tony Walthers, Daniel Gaha, Lance Ellington (background vocals). Producers: Pet Shop Boys, Phil Harding (disc 1, track 1); Pet Shop Boys, Bobby "O" (disc 1, track 2); Pet Shop Boys (disc 1, tracks 3-6, 9-12, 14-15, disc 2, tracks 1-5, 7, 9-12, 14-15); Pet Shop Boys, Shep Pettibone (disc 1, track 7); Pet Shop Boys, David Jacob (disc 1, track 8); Trevor Horn, Stephen Lipson (disc 1, track 13); Pet Shop Boys, Harold Faltermeyer (disc 2, track 6); Pet Shop Boys, Jonathan Ruffle (disc 2, track 8); Richard Niles, Pet Shop Boys (disc 2, track 13). Engineers: Phil Harding (disc 1, track 1); John Etchells (disc 1, track 3); David Jacob (disc 1, tracks 5-6, 8-9, 12, disc 2, track 2); Dave Meegan (disc 1, track 7); David Jacob, Mike Nielson (disc 1, track 9); Bob Kraushaar (disc 1, track 10, disc 2, tracks 11, 14-15); Mark Stent (disc 1, track 11); Stephen Lipson (disc 1, track 13); Paul Wright, Pete Schwier (disc 1, track 14); Danton Supple (disc 1, track 15); Pete Schwier (disc 2, tracks 1, 12); Pete Schwier, Bob Kraushaar (disc 2, track 3); Roy Spong (disc 2, track 4); Ren Swan (disc 2, track 5); Brian Reeves, Bob Kraushaar (disc 2, track 6); Bob Kraushaar, Pete Gleadall (disc 2, tracks 7, 9-10); Mike Bigwood (disc 2, track 13). Recorded between 1983 and 1994. Includes liner notes by Jon Savage. All songs written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe.
Album Reviews: Q (9/95, p.129) - 5 Stars - Indispensable - "...the Pet Shop Boys are, of course, one of the best things British pop has ever given us. At well over two hours, ALTERNATIVE is getting on for the length of an Oliver Stone movie and is much more entertainingly informative about the beast that is pop culture..." Melody Maker (8/12/95, p.33) - "...The duo have always understood the importance of what, in pre-CD days, we used to call B-sides. And they gather 30 of them here to show the wit and the finesse that they bring to what so many of their peers are content to treat as throwaway....plenty of songs here...could have been hits in their own right..." NME (8/5/95, p.44) - 6 (out of 10) - "...Be prepared for outbreaks of esoterica that could test the patience of a saint....in the midst of it all there is the odd outbreak of gleaming majesty..."
Titles on disc 1
1.: In The Night
2.: Man Could Get Arrested
3.: That's My Impression
4.: Was That What It Was
5.: Paninaro
6.: Jack The Lad
7.: You Know Where You Went Wrong
8.: New Life
9.: I Want A Dog
10.: Do I Have To
11.: I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)
12.: Don Juan
13.: Sound Of The Atom Splitting
14.: One Of The Crowd
15.: Your Funny Uncle
Titles on disc 2
1.: It Must Be Obvious
2.: We All Feel Better In The Dark
3.: Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend
4.: Losing My Mind
5.: Music For Boys
6.: Miserabilsm
7.: Hey Headmaster
8.: What Keeps Mankind Alive
9.: Shameless
10.: Too Many People
11.: Violence
12.: Decadence
13.: If Love Were All
14.: Euroboy
15.: Some Speculation
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Listed on Ciao since : 14/11/2000
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