Search - Pet Shop Boys :: Miracles Pt.1

Pet Shop Boys Prove That "Miracles" Do Happen.

The Groove | Boston, MA | 11/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe celebrate their recording history on the two disc compilation "PopArt," which features the 2003 single "Miracles." After alienating some of their listeners with the not-so-electronic "Release," Pet Shop Boys return to their roots with this warm, electronic love song that oozes with effortless elegance. The lyrics are touchingly sincere with lines like: "thunder is silent before you/ roses bloom more to adore you" and "the sunset is deeper and longer/ the scent of jasmine is stronger." The b-side is another electronic number, the catchy "We're the Pet Shop Boys," which was originally recorded by the artist My Robot Fiend as an affectionate nod to the duo. As it name-drops the titles of various PSB songs, it's a fitting tribute to Neil and Chris. To date, Pet Shop Boys have seen 33 of their singles crack the Top 20 in the UK. Songs like "Miracles" make it easy to see why they're so successful."

Miracles Happen When You're Around

Matthew Gladney | Champaign-Urbana, IL USA | 11/24/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In coordination with their 2nd greatest hits anthology, "PopArt", the Pet Shop Boys have released a new single titled "Miracles". It is one of their most solid offerings in quite some time.Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe released their first hit single as the Pet Shop Boys in 1985. After the success of "West End Girls", the synth-pop duo have gone on to release a string of diverse and well-received singles and albums. Even the Boys' lesser work is still some of the best of the pop music genre. Though I've questioned some of their more recent single choices, "Miracles" firmly re-entrenches them into the pop music landscape. In fact, the single just became their first Top 10 hit in the UK in over 3 years.The song starts off slowly, with Tennant's voice reverberating softly throughout a sparse aural landscape, little sounds clanking in the background. Soon, the electronic beat kicks in, and the vocals release into a joyous exclamation of being in love with someone whose presence is so full of meaning, that the singer professes that miracles happen when they're around."Miracles" is one of the best new Pet Shop Boy singles in quite some time. It is supposed to be followed-up by the other new song on the "PopArt" compilation, the less catchy and melodic "Flamboyant". The b-side is a cover of another group's song titled "We're the Pet Shop Boys". All in all, it's hard to go wrong here. They're the Pet Shop Boys, after all."

Gorgeous Dance Music

Westley | Stuck in my head | 12/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"MIRACLES is the first single from the Pet Shop Boys' new career-spanning greatest hits set (PopArt). While the lyrics are as gorgeous and sophisticated as the music from their recent Release CD, MIRACLES is much more danceable and fun. A beautiful love song, MIRACLES starts with a gentle harp-like sound and soft lyrics before the beat kicks into high gear. The main refrain is "miracles happen when you're around," with a chorus that is equally romantic: "you always bring/ a bluer sky/ a brighter day." As other reviewers have noted, MIRACLES fittingly returned PSB to the UK top 10 for the first time in over 3 years, attesting to its excellence. The other song on this CD is WE'RE THE PET SHOP BOYS, which is a cover of a song by My Robot Friend. The song is spectacular and sure to please fans of PSB, as it includes the titles of numerous PSB songs in its lyrics, starting with the brilliant opening, "suburbia's a slipstream." The song also cleverly acknowledges that PSB peaked in popularity (but not creativity) in the mid-80s with the brilliant lyric: "I close my eyes and see you/ better than before/ then I feel you touch me/ and it's 1984." Fans of PSB may feel like it's 1984 as well.Although having only two songs on this CD is a bit of a let-down, the songs are of such high quality that it's well worth the price. Most highly recommended."