One of my all-time favorites.
VertigoXpress | USA | 04/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is one of the cornerstones of my collection and my history as a lover of dance pop in general. The debut from the Pet Shop Boys is actually what I consider their best. Compared to contemporary times, the technology was too elaborate in this era of their music, and the limitations they worked within gave the music a certain quality that was never equaled in their later albums.
Specifically, there is something dark about "Please". It has a cold longing to it that worked, especially considering the image of the band at the time--unsmiling, detached, seemingly far removed from the creation of their own album.
Their subject matter wasn't too pretentious. The melodies were very strong and sounded great played on such cold instruments. "West End Girls" will always be remembered as their biggest moment, which is ironic considering the longevity of their career and the devotion of their fanbase, but it truly is a wonder. They've done more elaborate and intelligent things since, but the simplicity of it is enduring.
Songs like "I Want A Lover" and "Opportunities" sounded absolutely icy in the midst of the 80s, when pop radio seemed to have a lot of crazy and, in retrospect, tasteless style. "Please" is a case of the right thing at the right time. It's just my opinion, but there is something here that the following albums never quite recaptured."
Excellent debut
Derrick Jenkins | Hampton VA USA | 10/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had a better review typed up and sent to amazon. But for some reason that system didnt take it. I will make this one short and sweet by saying that "Please" is an excellent debut from PSB. Especially "West End Girls", "Tonight Is Forver" and "I Want A Lover" (they have an awesome message) being that they are looking someone just like other people a guy but still someone to be with and love as well.
It is great to see a band being able to stay in the music business for so long and is a testament to how great they are and how they make music not only for us but for themselves as well and they had loads of fun doing it. An all around excellent debut disc from Pet Shop Boys and is just one of many in a long and encompassing career that continues til this very day.
I will be buying more from the guys in the future, no doubt about it. They represent a time when pop music was just getting started and are an excellent example of what it means to stay true what you do and enjoy it while you can.
Love Please and anything that they have to offer as well."
Caution-Defective MP3 Download
John Taylor | San Diego | 02/17/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Referring to the MP3 downloaded version of this. I didn't download this whole thing, but I did get Opportunities-Original 12" Mix... and it skips! About 1:42-1:43 into it. It's like listening to a defective record (for all you youngsters out there who don't know what that is, records were the form of media that we old folks had to put up with before CD's came along (and for you even younger kids, CD's were what we had to put up with before MP3's came along)). Anyway, Amazon very kindly refunded the purchase amount. But I would have preferred a non-defective version."