ARTIST: Pet Shop Boys
TITLE: “Love etc.”
WEB DEBUT: Feb. 6, 2009
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT:Sure, the Pet Shop Boys appeared on the most recent Girls Aloud album, but it’s still a little difficult to get my head around the idea of the duo collaborating on their new album with Xenomania, the production team behind the girl group. In fact, “Love etc.” has Xenomania listed as cowriters with Tennant and Lowe. There were rumors that the group were going to go for a radically different sound for this album, but “Love etc.” makes it apparent that Xenomania were drawn to the Pet Shop Boys because they love the group’s classic material; the track sounds like a cross between “Love Comes Quickly” and “Left To My Own Devices” and employs the band’s more observational lyrical style. Somehow I doubt this particular song is going to smash on to the British singles chart or introduce the group to a new fanbase, but it’s an enjoyable listen.
WHERE TO HEAR IT: Pretty Much Amazing (for now).
Pet Shop Boys [official site]
They’ve worked with Diane Warren once before, so anything is a step up, really.
@Ned Raggett: Wow, when?! My respect for these guys just fell a little.
“Numb” on “Fundamental” was the Diane Warren track. It’s not terrible, actually, and was a highlight of that tour.
I interviewed Neil Tennant prior to that tour, actually, and asked him about the song. He had a great story about how she also offered them another song called something like “Kisses in the Wind” and how it was hilarious that she thought PSB would record a song with that title.
To be clear, though, she didn’t work with the guys. She turned the song in. If I remember correctly, she had offered Numb to Aerosmith first.
As for the new single, well, I’m pretty non-plussed. I’m holding out hope for the rest of the album, though.