Pet Shop Boys, Electric

The synth-pop duo is back, but this time with producer Stuart Price. Best known for his work on Madonna’s Confessions on a Dance Floor, Price drives Pet Shop Boys’ 12^th studio album, Electric, into modern times without forgetting their “West End” roots. Electric will be the band’s first album since their split with Parlophone Records, with whom they were signed for three decades. Scathing reviews of the band’s 11^th studio album, Elysium, served as the motivation for this recent revamp.

The album starts slow with songs like “Axis”, using minimal amounts of vocals. As you progress through the songs, Electric launches into classic Pet Shop Boys style with deadpan voice overs and 80s synthetic beats. Their song “Love Is A Bourgeois Construct” is bound to be one of the bigger hits on the album, with its classical composition, 80’s flare and modern touches. Producer Stuart Price’s influence is evident in Pet Shop Boys’ electric songs, adding a 21^stcentury twist to the 80s influenced album. Pet Shop Boys stand their ground in Electric, refusing to conform to the musical styles of today’s synth-pop artists. Their album shows that the band who wrote and performed “West End Girls” and “Always On My Mind” is on their own again and better than ever.

Electric is destined to be a success for Pet Shop Boys. Its songs are versatile and could be enjoyed on the way to work, and just as easily in a nightclub.  That’s what PSB is all about. The band shows that the electric blues are alive and well.

Rating: Bad-ass