Pet Shop Boys – Yes (2009) [Astrelwerks] // Grade: B-

If you’ve read the Bloglin regularly I’m sure you may have noticed I’m a pretty huge fan of Synth-Pop. And while I have been feverishly awaiting the release of Depeche Mode’s Sounds of the Universe (out next week), I was pretty lukewarm to the prospects of a The Pet Shop Soy’s new album. I’m glad that curiosity finally got the better of me.

The first 5 tracks of Yes are simply vintage Pet Shop Boys at their best, and quite possibly the best grouping of Pet Shop Boys tracks since 1993s Very. Yes is Overindulgent, sugary sweet, Eurodisco meets Synth-Pop that completely forgoes any and all trappings of a modern electronic scene.  Be it openly, or in secret if you’re a fan of The Pet Shop Boys it’d be next to impossible not to enjoy tracks like “Love Etc.”, “All Over the World” or “Did You See Me Coming”.

Things do however get a little hairy towards the middle, where The Pet Shop Boys flair for the sentimental and theatrical goes way overboard before stumbling somewhat back to form on “Pandemonium” & “The Way It Used To Be”. Color me impressed, I honestly didn’t think The Pet Shop Boys had just this much still left in the tank.

- My Pal the Crook