Pet Shop Boys - New Album "Hotspot" Jan 24 2020

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by mhvbear, Sep 11, 2019.

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  1. JeffMo

    JeffMo Format Agnostic

    Location:
    New England
    Interesting - I feel Price is to PSB what Hillier was to DM (overstayed his welcome in producer chair). But we all have different subjective views.

    I also think PSB fans are split down the Pop and Art categories. :D
     
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  2. mr_spenalzo

    mr_spenalzo Forum Resident

    Yep from the website. Got a mail that it's been shipped but don't really expect it until next week.
     
  3. boyjohn

    boyjohn Senior Member

    Interesting, I pretty much stopped listening to DM because they seemed to stop writing good melodies. Whereas even though Price's production style really isn't quite to my taste, I can overlook that because in PSBs case the melodies are still great. I mean even more dance oriented stuff like Bolshy and Inside a Dream from Electric have great little earworm melodies in them. And on Super, I think Say It To Me, Into Thin Air, Undertow and Burn have wonderful tunes. I think having those 4 songs bunched at the end hurt them, because people may have given up on the album before then.
     
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  4. fumi

    fumi Forum Resident

    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Gave it two more full listenings. I find the running order would have been better with either 'Only The Dark' or 'Burning The Heather' (lovely lyrics)' as the last track. I don't like 'Wedding In Berlin' much at all. Really weak. It would have been a poor effort even for a b-side on one of the single releases. Definitely not an album closer. One of the best in recent years was 'Requiem in Denim and Leopardskin'.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2020
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  5. Scottb

    Scottb Senior Member

    Location:
    Nanuet, NY, USA
    Yes 'Requiem and Leopardskin' was a great album closer. It kind of reminded me of a few songs on 'Behaviour'.
     
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  6. fumi

    fumi Forum Resident

    Location:
    United Kingdom
    and the last Parlophone album too. :(
     
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  7. Mr Olsen

    Mr Olsen Granddanois

    Listening to Hotspot via Spotify Premium and my big speaker set-up, sound quality is not impressive. First impression is flat and loud, I hope the 2CD edition will sound better. Not a fan of the previous Stuart Price albums but this is not bad, some pretty good songs here.
     
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  8. anorak2

    anorak2 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Berlin, Germany
    The entire album can be listened to for free on youtube, it's on the official PSB account.

    Hotspot - YouTube

    I must say that I don't quite understand the naysayers. Hotspot is totally up there, and should please those who liked them from the start. I also like the Monkey Business single. My letdown was the "Release" phase, but that's long gone.

    Lots of Berlin references in the lyrics, thank you Pet Shop Boys.
     
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  9. ralphb

    ralphb "First they came for..."

    Location:
    Brooklyn, New York
    Okay, on one spotify listen I take back what I said, this is an excellent album, even the songs that I heard in advance and wasn't too keen on sound better taken in context. The pacing is excellent and most of all the songwriting is up to PSB standards, and I like how Tennant mines the older gay man torn between the realities of his age and the desire to still party angle. Great comeback from the last two albums, I must say. All my opinion of course.
     
  10. MoonPanda

    MoonPanda Forum Resident

    Location:
    Billerica MA
    Its release day. Anybody else who ordered from the PSB store still waiting for theirs to ship?
     
  11. boyjohn

    boyjohn Senior Member

    I know that no one buys digital albums anymore, but Hotspot is currently number one in 21 countries on iTunes. Maybe in 5 or 10 years, PSB fans will discover Spotify (at which they are pretty much invisible). Probably sell a lot of CDs this week though.
     
  12. JeffMo

    JeffMo Format Agnostic

    Location:
    New England
    The age demographic for PSB wants physical product, and especially for a group where design/style/packaging always meant something. Works of art!

    I was going to pop into Newbury comics on my lunch hour, but I noticed that Hotspot wasn't listed in new release email. Hmm, I guess I better call ahead...
     
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  13. Neonbeam

    Neonbeam All Art Was Once Contemporary

    Location:
    Planet Earth
    Since it looked good I bought the vinyl version today and have just played it!

    Nice, lightly textured gatefold with download code. It was a nice surprise to see Tim Youngs "timtom" signature in the run-out. Hell, I can't remember the last time I noticed this. Definitely on UK originals from Nick Cave's "From Her To Eternity" but.... as you are probably aware this is not exactly "recent". :angel:

    Next I dimmed the lights, turned up the volume and looked at the overcast sky, nicely illuminated by the city lights. While the music filled the room.

    Keep in mind my PSB knowledge has an eight album, 27 year gap so I'm listening to this without being able to make any connections, come to any conclusions. Other than: I liked what I've heard. The sound is a great melange of recognisable PSB elements and a very elegant, contemporary production. The feeling is slightly autumnal/ wintry. Nothing here sounds forced or trying to be "cool". I guess it pays that Tennant and Lowe always were actively immersed in club culture and didn't need a hotshot producer to make them "current". Or update them concerning developments in electronic dance music.

    The songs here are all very good, I also like the 70's induced "Monkey Business". And the nods to Berlin that are popping up all over "Hotspot". Love that they put that stream in Tiergarten on the inner and hearing the subway transmission for "Hallesches Tor" at home is bizarre and hilarious. Or as another artist put it: "Had to get the train from Potsdamer Platz. You never knew that I could do that!" But that is another line. And another.... station! :angel:

    The vinyl itself sounds great, super silent (as in "no surface noise") with deep clear sonics.

    As I said: I have no idea how this compares to its eight predecessors. But I can compare it to the first three albums. Or newer works from bands of their generation. And I have to say: Well done. Very nice album! :righton:

    PS: I also like the old school running time of 42 minutes. Just perfect!
     
  14. fumi

    fumi Forum Resident

    Location:
    United Kingdom
    I'm in the UK and didn't get my pre-order double disc from the PSB store. What was the point of pre-ordering this months back when they couldn't even get it shipped to coincide with launch day?
     
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  15. walrus

    walrus Staring into nothing

    Location:
    Nashville
    the problem is the mastering, not the source. CD is gonna sound the same.
     
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  16. jimod99

    jimod99 Daddy or chips?

    Location:
    Ottawa, ON
    The German Musik Express magazine has a free blue vinyl 7" this month Dreamland (feat. Years & Years) b/w Always On My Mind (live) The Pop Kids (live)
     
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  17. negative1

    negative1 80s retro fan

    Location:
    USA
    Here's a nice short interview with them about the album:


    later
    -1
     
  18. negative1

    negative1 80s retro fan

    Location:
    USA
    Mentioned back here:
    Pet Shop Boys - New Album "Hotspot" Jan 24 2020

    later
    -1
     
  19. Dave 81828384

    Dave 81828384 Unremarkable Member

    Location:
    Ottawa, Canada
    Just listened to the album. Started listening on Tidal and after the 2nd song decided to buy it from Qobuz.

    I was pleasantly surprised. Easily my favourite album since Yes (not including the Agenda ep).

    And, oh dear, I liked Monkey Business this time around. :hide: You were right @jeffmo789 :laugh:
     
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  20. MoonPanda

    MoonPanda Forum Resident

    Location:
    Billerica MA
    I'm in the same boat here in the USA. Its release day and they still haven't shipped my vinyl. Has yours at least shipped yet?
     
  21. JeffMo

    JeffMo Format Agnostic

    Location:
    New England
    It's not me you need to hide from, it is Mrs Bucki!! :laugh:
     
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  22. negative1

    negative1 80s retro fan

    Location:
    USA
    Listened to the instrumentals, many of which are better than the versions with vocals,
    at least to me.

    later
    -1
     
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  23. mooseman

    mooseman Forum Resident

    Same here, mine is not coming until next Tuesday.
     
  24. ukozcd

    ukozcd Jedi

    Location:
    Australia
    Tried to give it more listens.

    Monkey Business sounds more and more dreadful on each listen. I prefer the non single songs as I find the singles released all weak.
     
  25. bob_32_116

    bob_32_116 Forum Flaneur

    Location:
    Perth Australia
    Hmmm, I rather like Burning the Heather. Reminds me of some of the songs on Yes, the only PSB album I own.

    I'm not so fond of Dreamland - sounds like Pet Shop Boys by numbers. Also I'm not sure why the Pet Shop Boys need to use a male guest vocalist. If I had not been told, I would not have known there was an additional vocalist on Dreamland.
     
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