Album cover shown is one of 4 possible covers (pink rose, red poppy, black tulip, blue daisy).
CD Reviews
Professional Pop Music
Disco | Twin Cities, MN | 04/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Today, 23 April 2002, we buried my grandfather, a veteran of WWII. While a chapter in my life has closed, hope for the future comes in the form of this collection of songs.It's 21 years on, and the Pet Shop Boys have cranked out album number eight in a series of deeply personal, charming, alarming and fascinating pop music. Their evolution over the years is complex, but one thing is clear: love is center stage in their lives now. On old albums like "Please" and "Actually," PSB would discuss politics, life in London, the Royal Family.But every song on "Release" is a love song. The emotions are a wild mix of longing ("Home & Dry," "E-Mail"), recovery ("I Get Along"), sadness, anger ("Love is a Catastrophe") and discovery ("The Night I Fell in Love"). Their love lyrics in the past have never been overly cryptic, but on "Release," they come right out and say exactly what they're thinking. On "Love is a Catastrophe:" "What happens next? / With life I'm unimpressed / Pain like a cutter's knife / Never been lonelier in my life." Certainly the hurting is present, but so is the happiness: "Well he just smiled / I guess it happens nightly / and so I fell in love." "The Night I Fell in Love" is the Pet Shop Boys at their most acutely gay. Teenage Neil Tennant teen worries over his newfound love's rumoured homophobia, but his lover "just shrugged."Perhaps the most captivating moment here is PSB's very clever take on 21st century communication: "E-Mail." Tennant and Lowe always write intelligent lyrics, but on this track they're dead on: "Now time and distance melt away / No digits or delay / And some things can be written down that we're too shy to say." Tennant sings about the insecurity of his lover being across the sea, dealing with that lover's possible temptations while away, and making himself feel better by "writing this e-mail to say I love you." "Release" doesn't get much happier than this high middle point of the album.Up next is the superb, danceable "Samurai in Autumn." The scant lyrics are plain and puzzling, but PSB show here, at 47 and 42 years of age, they can still churn out moody, infectious club killers. Back to business on the still dancey "Here," where Tennant exclaims his care, and offers of "you've got a home here." His understanding is pure: "And if you ever feel / the pain is far too big a deal / I say with pride / I'll be on your side."PSB are still growing, and they really stretch out with the wistful, gentle country sparkle of "You Choose." This is easily among PSB's best closers. Tennant's voice rings with the almost parental wisdom of a full life of love and loss: "He's gone / you've lost / Stay behind and count the cost / You try, you lose / You don't fall in love by chance / You choose." You might not agree with his cynical assessment of love, but keep listening. If his careful articulation and Northern British accent don't send chills straight down your spine right now, listen again. And again. Neil has experience with this, and maybe his lecture is for us all: "Play the sad songs / Sing the blues / You don't fall in love by chance / You choose." A lesson indeed. Listen again."Release" is a return to the relaxed, melancholy atmosphere of their classic "Behaviour." Perhaps this is where the Pet Shop Boys' groove is. The album's packaging is the dependable PSB-style professional design, with lyrics alternating stark drawings of various flowers in various stages of life. Sonically, the album is similar to "Very" (but the addition of Johnny Marr's guitar is indispensible here) and the content is more consistent that the erratic "Nightlife" and "Bilingual." Lyrically, there must be something in this album for anyone who's loved, and for anyone who's lost.Listeners around the world will find much to enjoy here. With age, Tennant and Lowe simply get better. "Release" is ten more reasons why I'm proud to be a Pet Shop Boys fan."
PSB Continues Their Streak Of Brilliance!
Kevinduran | Indianapolis, Indiana USA | 04/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Neil and Chris return with their eighth album (not counting single/remix/b-side collections) of sheer and utter brilliance, cleverly entitled "Release". I'm sure there will be dance fans that will be disappointed that "Release" really is not a dance album. Sure, there are songs that you can shake your tail feather to ("The Samurai In Autumn"), but this is really a lower key sort of PSB outing. It is a slight reinvention of the formula that has made PSB a household name ... across the planet, but the main foundation of their formula is still present: profound lyrics and brilliant storytelling. If you need another PSB album to compare this to, think "Behavior". Reinvention is one of the things that has made Madonna one of the biggest stars in the universe, and PSB are savvy enough to realize that. You may be disappointed that the grooves aren't as fast, but this cd will most definitely grow on you after subsequent plays. ...Do we really want them to turn into some sort of horrific,tragic version of the rotten and elderly Rolling Stones? No! Here's proof that there will never be ANY chance of that happening. There's also no point in putting the same album out time and time again- so if you have reservations about this not being a dance album- think about that. Anyone with an open mind will not be disappointed. Long time fans of PSB won't have any trouble loving this album.As always, the Boys have outdone themselves as far as the album packaging goes. .... Make sure you spring for this limited edition version (available in four different colors). It also comes with a 2nd disc of goodies!"
A must for any PSB fan! It rocks!
Oscar G. | Las Vegas, Nevada United States | 04/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It seems like with every Pet Shop Boys album, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe dabble with a new sound, anything from latin influences (Bilingual), to just pure camp (Very), and this new offering is no exception.While not a bona fide rock album, it does employ a lot of guitar (in comparison to their previous recordings). Synthesizers are also used to create ambience, but used to the point where they add an almost delicate sound to each track (as are strings). With the help of guitarist Johnny Marr, they created an album full of surprises. Here's a breakdown of each track."Home and Dry"- Their first single, probably because it showcases their new sound so well. It's a laid back, mellow track about longing for the one you love... ****'I Get Along"- My favorite track so far, one of the more upbeat songs. I've heard it compared to a Beatles song... *****"Birthday Boy"- I'm not sure what to say about this one. It has a haunting feel to it, but it sounds pretty good. ***1/2"London"- A song about soldiers gone crazy. Chris and Neil's take on war... ***"E-Mail" A really touching song about someone asking their significant other that timeless question: "Do you love me?" in a world where communcation is as easy as typing a few words and clicking "send". *****"The Samurai in Autumn"- Neil and Chris revert back to their techno/ambient roots with this track. A nice danceable track with a hint of far-east sounds. *****"Love is a Catastrophe"- Coping with the break up of a relationship, very emotional track all around. *****"Here"- I love the beat on this one! A really happy story about a guy ready to commit to serious relationship, friendship or otherwise. :-) *****"The Night I Fell In Love"- PSB's return to sarcasm! :-) About falling in love with a certain rapper whose name sounds like a brand of candy... ****"You Choose"- Ah, the risk in life known as love... *****Personally, I think this is one of their better albums (after "Actually" and "Introspective"). If you're fortunate enough to be able to buy the limited edition of "Release", it's well worth it, especially "Sexy Notherner", a foot-stomping club anthem!"
Good songs, badly "Marred" by dated rock production
Christopher Selth | Darlinghurst, NSW Australia | 08/13/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When considering any Pet Shop Boy release one always harks back to their three signature elements: 1. Superb power pop with witty ironic lyrics, best seen on one career highpoint, the album Very.
2. Hypnotic melancholia, with Sondheimesque lyrics, best seen on the other career highpoint, Behaviour.
3. Pumping dance tracks, found on a number of the single remixes, Introspective, and Disco 2, which benefits from the impact of dance genius Danny Tenaglia.Albums subsequent to Very are commonly seen to have struggled to reach those standards. Bilingual seemed to ape past successes without a strong sense of inspiration, regardless of how catchy Red Letter Day might be. Nightlife was more adventurous, and more successful. It had a theatricality, paralleling the Pet Shop Boys musical Closer to Heaven, yet never quite takes off.On Release, the Pet Shop Boys work again with Johnny Marr to produce a "rockier" piece. Sadly it is not a form that plays to their strengths. Whilst they still prove to be great song writers, the first half of the album is so badly scarred by misconceived production you almost abandon hope before the second half arrives. And there you find an album as good as any they have done, a sort of romantic, more optimistic version of Behaviour. The Boys needed to work with some of the newer talents on the scene, Deep Dish, Air, Kruder and Dorfmeister.The opening track, and first single Home and Dry is a subtle, yet ultimately catchy piece. It bodes well, but its strongest musical qualities lurk in some of the riffs you hear emerging at the conclusion of the song, and developed well in the trance remix. This would have been a far more fertile direction for the Boys to explore, and more in synch with where the cutting edge is today.The second track, and second single, I Get Along, is catchy but the musical arrangement can only be described as a disaster. Here the Pet Shop Boys sound like a poor copy of Oasis, doing a poor imitation of the Beatles. Not only is it derivative, worse still, it is dated. It does not play to the Pet Shop Boys talents, or to the commercial realities of the "now" sound. Listening to the album one begins to wonder if the Pet Shop Boys have lost the plot, or has working so closely with Johnny Marr, ex the Smiths and Electronic, proved a retrograde step.Then the rot really sets in. Birthday Boy is totally wrecked by the same stale pseudo rock production. If you cut through that it is a good song, harking back to Behaviour. It starts overproduced, and then you get the guitar solo. It reminded me of those appalling moments when the Carpenters would throw in guitar solos in their later songs, trying to make their sound harder, as in Goodbye to Love. I love great guitar based rock. This is not it. A good song is wrecked, and Release as an album hits an iceberg.Contrary to other reviewers, on London, works. Here the Marr guitar sound is reminiscent of his stronger moments working in Electronic. It has an innocence consistent with the Pet Shop Boys pop sound. The song is catchy, lyrics are intriguing, reminiscent of The Theatre on Very. Interestingly it is the only track not produced by the Boys themselves.And again contrary to other reviewers, E-Mail does not work. Whilst musically it is catchy it fails where Pet Shop Boys songs so rarely fail, in its lyrics. They are so cliché I sat cringing. It's the internet version of one of Stevie Wonders most compromised moments, I Just Called To Say, I Love You. And then the album finally takes off. What a shame about the early scarring. The Samurai in Autumn is a rare but effective harder moment on the album, with hypnotic PSB synthesiser riffs. Love is a Catastrophe is almost overwhelmed by heavy guitar work, but thank god, survives. Tennant is at his best, singing about being alone and depressed, in his signature bedsit voice. Here is very catchy pop with the understatement heard on Home and Dry. The Night I Fell In Love captures what is strongest on this album, the delicacy of Behaviour, with a more optimistic voice, and less grandiosity. It feels musically halfway between two of the Pet Shop Boys greatest songs, Liberation, and Being Boring. Wonderful. And then on You Choose we get a fitting poignant send off.It is sad to think how great this album would have been if only it had been handed over to the right external producer. I ache to hear such a remix."
Classic Pet Shop Boys
J. S. Valdes | Santiago, Region Metropolitana Chile | 04/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great CD, the kind of PSB music that i loved when i was a teenager. Many people had compared it to "Behaviour", and that's not a bad comparison after all. There are a lot of pop ballads, but not any pop ballad. These are Pet Shop Boys ballads, and that means that they are cool, classy, and witty. There are a lot of strings and guitars (good examples are "London" and "E-mail"), but the songs don't lack the classical electronic edge that Chris Lowe give to them ("Samurai in Autumn" and "Home" bring me memories of the songs in "Alternative"). Neil sings with his soothing british gentleman voice and it fits perfectly in every song (If you listen to "The Night i Fell in Love", you'll easily understand).Besides, this edition also includes a Bonus CD with 9 more songs (Nightlife, Break 4 Love, and Home and Dry remixes) that will put the crowd dancing for a while. And for the price asked, you won't repent for buying this CD (in a time when all that you hear on the radio are "pop" songs from Britney or a generic "boy band"). I wouldn't wait too long before getting this limited edition of "Release", since they are always hard to find."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1