The Pet Shop Boys fourth album and the follow-up to the heavily dance-orientated 'Introspective', 'Behaviour' is the Pet Shop Boys employing a more subtle twist, a delicate palette of sounds infinitely pleasing to the ear.
The whole album is an immaculate unsion of Neil Tennant's exquisitie ... Read review
Behaviour marks a bit of a departure--or, more appropriately, an evolution--in style for ... more
the Pet Shop Boys, whose previous albums are largely comprised of hungry and often slightly seedy songs with a high emphasis production-wise on the band's beloved club roots. Those dance elements are still on display here, but there's a much more mature feel to Harold Faltermeyer's production. The songs themselves have moved on from neediness and seediness to far more adult themes; opening tracks "Being Boring" and "This Must Be the Place I Waited Years To Leave", with their lyrics of reminiscence, fond and otherwise, set the tone for the next 50 minutes. There are gently melodic songs of betrayal-"To Face The Truth", "Only The Wind"--and more upbeat variations on the same theme in "So Hard" and the string-laden "Jealousy" and a touching tale of first attraction in "Nervously". The album's only real downer comes in the pompous shape of "My October Symphony", a wincingly pretentious thing which suggests the band have fallen prey to the kind of po-faced muso nonsense they poke fun at in "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously". Behaviour is possibly the best album for fans of Neil and Chris' more circumspect outpourings; what it lacks in upbeat anthems and disco production it more than makes up for in intelligent, introspective song writing. And with a bonus CD of 12 remixes and B-sides, it's a must-have for anyone who likes their pop meticulously crafted and shrewdly lyrical. --Rikki Price
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Behaviourmarks a bit of a departure--or, more appropriately, an evolution--in style for ... more
the Pet Shop Boys, whose previous albums are largely comprised of hungry and often slightly seedy songs with a high emphasis production-wise on the band's beloved club roots. Those dance elements are still on display here, but there's a much more mature feel to Harold Faltermeyer's production.The songs themselves have moved on from neediness and seediness to far more adult themes; opening tracks "Being Boring" and "This Must Be the Place I Waited Years To Leave", with their lyrics of reminiscence, fond and otherwise, set the tone for the next 50 minutes. There are gently melodic songs of betrayal-"To Face The Truth", "Only The Wind"--and more upbeat variations on the same theme in "So Hard" and the string-laden "Jealousy" and a touching tale of first attraction in "Nervously". The album's only real downer comes in the pompous shape of "My October Symphony", a wincingly pretentious thing which suggests the band have fallen prey to the kind of po-faced muso nonsense they poke fun at in "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously".Behaviouris possibly the best album for fans of Neil and Chris' more circumspect outpourings; what it lacks in upbeat anthems and disco production it more than makes up for in intelligent, introspective song writing. And with a bonus CD of 12 remixes and B-sides, it's a must-have for anyone who likes their pop meticulously crafted and shrewdly lyrical. --Rikki Price
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Advantages: Subtle, intelligent and musically exceptional Disadvantages: N/A
...albums - the tone of Behaviour is notably calm, subtle and smooth. Though 'Being Boring' has the typically depressive Pet Shop Boys undertones, other tracks are a little more positive, notably "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?" and "The End Of The World."
Both the subtlety of the music, and the intelligence of the content of 'Behaviour' is pervasive. No track is out of place, no element is superfluous. ... ...in the hands of other artists is instead presented flawlessly by the Pet Shop Boys. They manage the album's low-key approach often by tempering the delicacy of the music with bitter, saddening lyrics. As with 'Jealousy':
"I never knew.
Time passed so slow.
I wish I'd never met you
Or that I could bear to let you go."
In the case of 'So Hard' the music temporarily swells to a pounding ... more
The Pet Shop Boys fourth album and the follow-up to the heavily dance-orientated 'Introspective', 'Behaviour' is the Pet Shop Boys employing a more subtle twist, a delicate palette of sounds infinitely pleasing to the ear.
The whole album is an immaculate unsion of Neil Tennant's exquisitie lyrics to the unique dance styles of the Pet Shop Boys. But - as with no other of their albums - the tone of Behaviour is notably calm, subtle and smooth. Though 'Being Boring' has the typically depressive Pet Shop Boys undertones, other tracks are a little more positive, notably "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?" and "The End Of The World."
Both the subtlety of the music, and the intelligence of the content of 'Behaviour' is pervasive. No track is out of place, no element is superfluous. What would almost certainly come off as cheesy and predictable in the hands of other artists is instead presented flawlessly by the Pet Shop Boys. They manage the album's low-key approach often by tempering the delicacy of the music with bitter, saddening lyrics. As with 'Jealousy':
"I never knew. Time passed so slow. I wish I'd never met you Or that I could bear to let you go."
In the case of 'So Hard' the music temporarily swells to a pounding dance throb to accompany the particularly harsh lines:
"I'm always hoping you'll be faithful But you're not, I suppose."
This is the exquisite beauty of 'Behaviour.' The music is as expressive - and often depressive - as the music. We are attracted by the pleasant sounds and repelled by the often distraught lyrics. 'To Face The Truth' is so saddening it almost hurts.
So it's a bitter beauty, the sort of beauty that only the Pet Shop Boys can express.
Advantages: As usual a couple of real cracking good songs Disadvantages: quite a downbeat album
The question is what do we expect of The Pet Shop Boys? We expect wry observation, deadpan humour; a studied, wry English, cool, ground breaking dance mixes, and maybe a change to that moodier atmosphere to balance it out nicely. While this combination has served them well In the past and has maintained them as virtually the perfect pop group, It seems on the evidence of ‘Behaviour’ that they have taken a different turning. The last album, ... ...Neil and Chris are now seriously contemplating their navels.
If it wasn’t for that effortless, classic chorus in ‘Being Boring’, one could be forgiven thinking this was a leftover from the Dusty Springfield album sessions, We’re talking downbeat, smooth as a bar of dark Belgian chocolate. And just In case you this was just a quiet moment before the disco rollercoaster began its exhilarating journey, ‘This Must Be The ...
ultras67 26.10.2001
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Product Information for "Behaviour [Remastered] - Pet Shop Boys" »
Product details
Title
Behaviour [Remastered]
Performer
Pet Shop Boys
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Synth Pop
Release Date
04/06/2001
Recomended Retail Price
14.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1990
Label / Distributor
Parlophone / EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics
Pieces in Set
2
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
724353051327
Catalogue Number
5305132
Additional notes
Album Reviews
Q (12/99, p.68) - Included in Q Magazine's "90 Best Albums Of The 1990s." Musician (1/91, p.92) - "...[Pet Shop Boys] understand that life isn't about wrestling with the zeitgeist, but managing a laugh or two as you muddle through. And that's the real difference between teen fare and grown-up pop...." Stereo Review (4/91) - Best Recording Of The Month - "A bold, ambitious album...the Pet Shop Boy's crowning achievement..it works it magic through compositional subtlety, lyrical eloquence, and thematic reach.." New York Times (11/4/90) - "Not since the Carpenters has a group so effectively juxtaposed a dispassionate voice with such upbeat, vacuum packed pop...it's best moments...are wistful reveries with a hypnotic pulse." Entertainment Weekly (11/9/90) - "...Heartfelt expressions of romantic distress, plus their best tunes yet..." - Rating: A+ Q (11/90) - 4 Stars - Excellent - Included in Q's 50 best albums of 1990 - "Some of their dance fans may be a trifle disappointed...but the best ballads here are as wry and touching as vintage Broadway. Frank Sinatra should be calling shortly." Q (10/95, p.144) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...By 1990's BEHAVIOUR, they were wiser, looser, and more natural. The sound is lusher and warmer, with syncopated guitars and orchestras in the mix..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Being Boring
2.
This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave
3.
To Face The Truth
4.
How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously
5.
Only The Wind
6.
My October Symphony
7.
So Hard
8.
Nervously
9.
End Of The World
10.
Jealousy
Titles on disc 2
1.
It Must Be Obvious
2.
So Hard (extended dance mix)
3.
Miserablism
4.
Being Boring (extended mix)
5.
Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend
6.
We All Feel Better In The Dark (extended mix)
7.
Where The Streets Have No Name (extended mix)
8.
Jealousy (extended version)
9.
Generic Jingle (previously unavailable on CD)
10.
DJ Culture (extended mix)
11.
Was It Worth It (12" mix)
12.
Music For Boys (ambient mix/previously unavailable on CD)
13.
DJ Culture (7" mix)
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13/11/2000
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