Pet Shop Boys were one of the first bands that I got interested in during my high school years, somewhere in the space between Very and Bilingual. I liked them because they had a keyboard player, because they had clever lyrics and an innate sense of melody, and most of all, because everyone else was listening to Bush and Stone Temple Pilots, and for the small group of friends and I who liked the Boys, being on the side of arch, literate British pop instead of diluted, washed-out post-grunge seemed the final proof of our superiority in musical taste — and indeed, in overall intelligence.
Although I like all of their work (except Nightlife. I only half-like that one), Behavior has always been my favorite of the Boys’ albums. I think it’s because unlike on many of the others, there aren’t any moments where they threaten to turn into The Village People. Despite the fact that the hit in the US was the stomping disco number “So Hard,” it’s the least dance-oriented of their albums. Instead, we get to hear Neil Tennant wrap his fragile, Al Stewart-esque voice around a series of ballads, like the other big UK single, “Jealousy.” It’s much more affecting than a lot of the similar songs that got recorded in the late ’80s and early ’90s, partly because Tennant refuses to drape his lyrics in billowy cliches, and partly because he’s simply not a muscular enough vocalist to oversing this material, which would be the surest way to ruin it.
There’s a lot of interest in the arrangements too, as well as the songs. I remember being absolutely floored by “My October Symphony,” which not only features a guest spot from the great Johnny Marr on guitar, but also features a brilliant string arrangement that demonstrated the possibilities of a string quartet in synth-based pop music long before anyone in Bond was old enough to vote.
Behavior holds up remarkably well after more than a decade and a half. Although it’s obviously a product of its time, it doesn’t sound particularly dated, largely because Chris Lowe doesn’t drown the music in video game drums, and has the good sense to stay away from the more gimmicky synth patches. And as long as Bono still walks the earth and is allowed to make speeches at awards shows, “How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?” will sound as fresh as the day that it was written.
I don’t hang out regularly with my fellow Pet Shop Boys fans from high school anymore, and the rest of humanity has moved on from post-grunge to mallpunk and crunk, and other genres that end in -unk. *insert joke here* But even now, when I listen to Behavior, I still feel smart, and maybe that’s the highest compliment that I can pay to it.
Release date: Oct. 1990
Label: EMI America
Rating: 10/10
10 Comments »
I wish I’d gone to your university ^_^
See, my issue with Bono isn’t at all with what he’s trying to do, the innate goodness of which is hardly open to debate. It’s that his pretension actually sabotages his ability to do it. I think if he didn’t come across as so full of himself — I have no idea whether he actually is or not, but that’s the way he comes across — he’d actually be a better spokesperson for his issues. To take the example of another random celebrity musician who’s very outspoken about issues, you can like Coldplay or not, but in every interview I’ve ever seen with Chris Martin, I’ve always been convinced that he was more interested in free trade than he was in himself. I wish Bono came across more like that, and that’s where my frustration comes in.
*is also done now*
dude, i am so going to have to fight you on this one. chris martin is COMPLETELY full of himself. or at least that is the impression he gives me (in all fairness maybe my view is tinged by the fact that his band sucks). and i don’t care, as long as he puts his money where his mouth is, so to speak. and that’s my thing with bono too - he can come across any way he wants as long as he’s walking the walk, not just talking the talk. bono’s atempts at altruism seem to be having good results so i’m not going to dump on the kid. so there.
ha ha. once again we discuss a musician that has nothing to do with the review. on that note, let me just say that i immediately broke out my pet shop boys after i read this review and have been dancing around singing along when not defending bono.
behaviour over please??? whaaaa?
anyway, that being said, i fucking LOVE PSB and any discussion of any of the albums makes me extremely happy.
also, on the bono thing, i read the other day that there is now a church of u2…as in people worshipping the christian god by way of u2’s music and “philosophy.” anyway, i tried searching for this online, and while i didn’t find the exact link i’m looking for, check this out.
Im going to agree with joiezabel by disagreeing with her. If Chris Martin weren’t completely full of himself, his music wouldn’t be so derivative and uninspired. No really.
And yes, the Pet Shop boys are great, and maybe they will become timeless
Amber–the Episcopalians incorporate EVERYTHING. I actually think it’s kinda fun. Although, saying “Daddy’s Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car” is about forgiveness is kind of a stretch, particularly the “when you see daddy coming you’re licking your lips” bit. Then again, there are those who say that Song of Songs/Solomon, the dirtiest book in the Bible, is about God’s relationship to the church, so uh… yeah.
Amber — just out of curiosity, why is Please your favorite? I think it’s a great album, of course, but I’ve never heard anyone else claim it’s PSB’s best. I’d figure it ranks somewhere in the middle; for the record, I have Release solidly as my second favorite, and Actually is probably my third.
i also adore actually, actually. i think i like please the best because it was the first PSB I heard, you know how that goes…also, there is this weird, youthful, decadent ridiculousness on that album that is never really captured on any of the other albums.
PLUS it used to soundtrack all my dance parties. : )
please is PSB’s speak and spell.
behavior is PSB’s black celebration.
i don’t know if that makes sense to anyone but me…
I love comparing career arcs for different bands ^_^
Would Very be Violator then?
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Comment by joiezabel — December 9, 2006 @ 6:30 pm
hey, thanks for reminding me of this, sam - i too really liked this album when i was a hip young thing. i put “my october symphony” on TONS of mixtapes back in the day and even wrote a paper on it for a class in university.
also, not to be all didactic and annoying, but i have to mention this with the bono hate that has been going around - the man may be pretentious and what have you, but i do not understand how folks can be so down on someone who seems to genuinely be attempting to improve the world. there are not that many billionaires around who give a shit about the poor folks on this planet and i like to see a celebrity actually trying to have an effect on poverty and aids instead of just talking about it. (not to mention u2 put out some seriously good albums in the 80’s.) i just had to throw my 2 cents onto the tracks to derail the lets-make-fun-of-bono coaster that everyone’s riding these days.
ok, i’m done. carry on.