Pet Shop Boys: PopArt: The Hits 1985-2003 - Disc 3 of 3 (Mix) CD Track Listing

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Pet Shop Boys PopArt: The Hits 1985-2003 - Disc 3 of 3 (Mix) (2003)
PopArt: The Hits 1985-2003 - Disc 3 of 3 (Mix)\n2003 Parloohone Records UK\n\nOriginally Released November 25, 2003\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Looking back at the 20 years since Neil Tennant left England's Smash Hits magazine to form the Pet Shop Boys with Chris Lowe, the two-CD Popart opens itself up for arguments while surpassing 1991's Discography as the ready-to-wear selection. All the growing up and becoming more emotionally focused that the duo did post-Discography could have yielded a dour hits collection, but putting new tracks like the plaintive "I Get Along" between the slick chestnuts "West End Girls" and "So Hard" works to the listener's advantage. The tropical and wistful "Single-Bilingual" and the clever and melancholy "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk" add more latter-day treasures that Discography couldn't include, and the only thing left to do besides submit is argue about the details. There is one disc full of "Pop" moments and the other "Art," but just try to figure out the criteria. The two new songs (the austere electro of "Miracles" and the fair "Flamboyant") are nice enough, but they're not as fully formed as their surroundings, making them obvious late additions. A little bit of text and history in the liner notes would have helped, and fans should be aware that most of the tracks here appear in album versions rather than single mixes. Of course, compilers need to make decisions, and bookending the collection with the ultra-camp and semi-flippant covers of "Go West" and "Somewhere" could be seen as a comment on how listeners shouldn't worry so much and should just enjoy. Regardless of omissions and decisions, Popart is an excellent, hang-together listen and a better representation of the duo's career than Discography. -- David Jeffries \n \nAmazon.com Album Description\n45 remastered tracks, featuring all their singles to date & two new tracks, 'Flamboyant' & 'Miracles', recorded for this compilation. This limited edition also features a bonus disc of ten remixes & rarities which is available for the first pressing only. Bonus tracks, 'Can You Forgive Her' (Rollo Remix), 'So Hard' (David Morales Red Zone Mix), 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' (Shep Pettibone Disco Remix), 'West End Girls' (Sasha Remix), 'Miserablism' (Moby Electro Mix), 'Before' (Danny Tenaglia Classic Paradise Mix), 'I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More' (Peter Rauhofer Roxy Anthem), 'New York City Boy' (Lange Remix), 'Young Offender' (Jam & Spoon Trip-O-Matic Fairytale Mix), & 'Love Comes Quickly' (Blank & Jones Mix). Three paper sleeves housed in a clamshell box. EMI. 2003. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nAll the best, and then some, French style..., August 15, 2004 \nReviewer: Kurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) \nThe limited edition CD issue has three discs (the regular issue of Pop-Art has two discs); this French edition is even more rare, replacing the track 'New York City Boy' with 'Paris City Boy', a release only available on the French versions (2- and 3-disc editions). \n\nThe first two discs contain 17 tracks (Pop) and 18 tracks (Art); the bonus CD has remixes of ten more tracks. For those who are die-hard fans of the Pet Shop Boys, this is a must have, but, for the most part, those fans will find it is in many ways an already-have. The tracks are remastered, but given the high production qualities of most PSB discs generally, there isn't a great deal to be gained from this. There are two new songs, Miracles and Flamboyant, which are both wonderful (and, interestingly, the addition of two songs to the 'greatest hits' compilation matches their performance with Discography, which also had a 'best of' with two new tracks added). \n\nThere are the major songs and single releases from all previous albums, so this serves both as a retrospective but also as a handy all-in-one collection spanning the history of the Pet Shop Boys; from that perspective, if you were to have just one CD from them, this would the one. The songs are not in chronological release order (as Discography was), but rather seem almost randomly arranged; all songs but one from Discography are here, with an additional collection of tracks from the later album releases that reached the UK top 20. The division between 'Pop' and 'Art' is subtle, and any lifelong fan will have his or her own impressions as to which songs should fit into which category. The 'Pop' side is more disco/dance music, whereas the 'Art' side is a little more sombre, and the lyrics a little more complex. On the other hand, some songs, such as 'Love comes quickly' would easily qualify for either designation. \n\nThe special CD includes remixes of hits as well as mixes of B-sides ('Miserablism') and non-single album cuts ('Young offender') previously unreleased; these are good remixes, but aren't so different from other offerings as to make this of interest to anyone but the most devoted of fans. For those fans, however, this is a must-have. \n\nThis collection represents more than 20 years work on the part of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. For the first several years of that career, they were famous world-wide, and quite a staple in the dance clubs and video programming in America and elsewhere. The first singles collection 'Discography' represented the beginning of the decline of 80s style dance music in America, but the music descended from this type remained strongly popular throughout the rest of the world, as the sold-out concert tours of the Pet Shop Boys everywhere except North America attests to. Many of the songs on this 'Pop-Art' collection will therefore be new to audiences whose interest in the Pet Shop Boys ended the hits from the 'Behaviour' era. \n\nPop-Art is a must-have for anyone who likes dance music, disco, electronic music, 80s music, the Pet Shop Boys, or who wants to have a complete music collection. For those with 'New York City Boy' already on another album ('Nightlife'), this might be a good alternative, so as to get the extra, special track. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nSterling Greatest Hits Collection, January 5, 2004 \nReviewer: Westley (The South) \nPopArt covers the two decade career of the Pet Shop Boys. Included is every one of their glorious 33 top 20 UK hits, as well as two new songs. "Miracles" is the first single and became a top 10 UK hit in November. It's a bravura dance-pop song that commences slowly before kicking into high gear, with unusually sweet lyrics for the PSB. The other new song is "Flamboyant," which is a fun pop song that is scheduled to be released as a single also. These 35 songs are divided into two CDs, Pop and Art. One can quibble about whether they correctly divided the songs (I think "Home and Dry" should be on the Art CD, and "Opportunities" should be on the Pop CD), but the quality of their oeuvre is staggering.\n\nThis special edition of PopArt also includes a bonus disk with 10 of their best remixes. The songs seem to have been selected based only on the quality of the remix, so the songs seem to somewhat sporadically represent the different parts of their career. The Rollo remix of "Can You Forgive Her" is a highlight, with its repeated refrain, "dance to disco and you don't like rock." Most hardcore PSB fans probably already own the majority of these remixes, but they sound great together on one disk. One remix that I have not seen before is the Blank and Jones mix of "Love Comes Quickly." The remix is stunning, stripping the song of its dated 80s sound and adding a luscious new luster. The song sounds so great that it should be released as a single.\n\nThe packaging is adequate, with a cardboard box holding the three CDs, which are housed in separate lightweight cardboard sleeves. The liners notes, however, are disappointing, without any comments from Neil and Chris. Instead, the only bonus is the inclusion of the peak UK chart positions of each song. I'm also disappointed that they did not include the hit, "Absolutely Fabulous," which was a UK hit but technically not credited to them; it should be here. If you're a PSB completist, then you likely will be very satisfied with this CD collection, even though many of the songs are repeats from their prior greatest hits collection, "Discography." On the other hand, listeners unfamiliar with the PSB should probably start with "Discography," which includes their 1980s US hits without the more obscure material. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nPSB - 5 Stars....Copy Protection Zero!!!!!!, January 20, 2005 \nReviewer: BuckNaked2k (Connecticut) \nDO NOT BUY this or any other insidiously copy-protected CD. This is not the same digital audio disc you have been buying for 20 years, but rather, a non-conforming good. Phillips has forced manufacturers to remove the "CD-Audio" label from discs containing copy protection. This practice is in violation of the court-upheld doctrine of "Fair Use", i.e., making copies of the music you have purchased for YOUR OWN PERSONAL USE. This technology does NOTHING to stop the illegal copying and distribution of CDs, as it can be easily defeated by a determined individual, and thereafter distributed ad infinitum. This technology only serves to hinder the enjoyment of the LEGAL purchaser, by preventing the creation of back-up copies or digitized copies for a PC or portable player. Send a message to these greedy people by not buying copy-protected CDs. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nA work of PopArt, December 24, 2004 \nReviewer: K. O'Donnell \nI won't repeat what everyone has already said. But I find this collection to be absolutely fabulous. \n\nI like the way some of the tracks are the remixed versions. It makes the album seem fresher to me. I received my first PopArt on the UK release date and it had no copy protection on either the two disc or the limited three disc set. \n\nHowever the Japanese, Thailand, Argentina and French releases I later bought all had copy protection on them. \n\nIf you're into rare tracks, you might consider buying the French PopArt. As it has one track that is different from all the other releases. On the French Pop CD, 'New York City boy' is replaced by 'Paris city boy.' \n\nI too am disappointed in the US record companies. The US album was supposed to be released in early 2004 with slight changes/corrections in a couple of the remixed tracks. But the greed of two record labels prevented the reality of a US release. \nThank you EMI/America and Atlantic Records for your greed and not allowing Sanctuary Records to release this. And US record companies cry foul when people share files on the Internet? \n\nIt's too bad that Pet Shop Boys Partnership can't get full control of their US catalogue. But don't let US record companies prevent you from adding this gem to your collection. There are many other import sources to choose from. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nSave the music!, March 28, 2004\nReviewer: Star Sailor "Worldwide Traveler" (Whidbey Island, WA) \nPeople are ranting and raving about why PSB has not released this in the US. It's simple. Copy Control CD's! It's a new wave of CD production that is going to change the way you hear, listen and download music-for a price! Finally! I hate it when people copy someone elses music! It's stealing folks! Plain and simple and if I was the Pet Shop Boys I wouldn't market my hard toiled art to people who just want to buy the CD and shell it out to all their friends so they can copy a perfect sound quality CD! This is Art! Art costs money! Therefore, you gotta pay! \nWell, apparently American Record Companies don't wanna do that yet because American record companies think they won't sell records if they used Copy Control CD technology. In some instances they're right. Only time can really share the real answer there but in the meantime (for the Pet Shop Boys), you'll just have to take a plane to Europe, Asia or Australia and buy the CD yourself. What a great trip that would be AND you would help and support two really great artists who aren't in this for the money, they're in it for the art! Well worth the money I think-heheheh.\n\nSo what do you get for your hard earned dollar here? Well, let's do the math. First, Pet Shop Boys are NOT an "eighties group" as one earlier uneducated reviewer wrote here. No, these fellas are the creme dela creme of pop. The crown jewel (Neal being the queen of course and Chris being your royal heiness) of modern music as we know it. In fact, no artist today can even come close to their artistic creativity with such a witty sense of self in both lyrics and music. \n\nSo much of pop today is disposable. You've heard one song, you've heard them all and unfortunately it's sad to say that the real good music today that has been made already doesn't seem to evolve. Well, the Pet Shop Boys have evolved, sort of. In their 20+ year careers they have managed to move past eighties pop new wave to become real techno and house stylisms. No easy task as they are LITERALLY the only originated eighties "new wave" group that has made it out of the eighties and nineties continuing to sell over one million copies of every album they've released worldwide. So, what you get here is a barrage of really great music. Not Britney, not Christie Agga Gagga, not Madonna, not Erasure (although I love them too), NO, you get the Pet Shop Boys slam bam thank you maam with all the trimmings to go with it! \n\nMy favorite in this lovely collection is the "Mix" CD which you can only get in the first print box edition. You get 10 glorious singles remixed by some of the best in the business. I highly recommend spending the extra dough for the three disc set since it displays a great montage of some of their best works. You can't have ALL of their best works here because that's what the original albums are for, use your money, go out and BUY them. Artists today can learn a lot from these guys. Which is why Justin Timberlake is an artist I can respect because HE respects these guys a great deal based on what he said in his interview with Spin magazine. Now you know why Justin is as succesful as he is. It's all about respect baby! Respect copywritten music and respect artists like the Pet Shop Boys! Peace!\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nPerfect for casual and well informed fans...or anybody!, January 24, 2004\nReviewer: DeEmVe (Los Angeles, CA United States) \nGoodnes, well beware the misinformation strewn throughout highlighted reviews that discuss pros and cons and needlessly relist track titles appearing mere inches above. The disc set you are buying here is three discs, not two, it's a limited edition with the third disc being "Mix" which is a compilation of their favorite mixes. The tracks are not chronological, true, but I'm not sure how that's a deficit. Who listens to their cds in order all the time anyway? The discs ARE divided into "Pop" and "Art" as to the interpretation of Neil and Chris. Yes it has new recordings but the other HUGE reason to buy this is that all the tracks have been remastered and as long as you're not listening to it on a gramophone speaker, you'll notice the difference. Remember, PSB's first couple of discs came out back when you had to check cds to see if they were ADD, AAD, DDD etc. so this is a welcome improvement.\nStill others wail about why did they change songs for the hits collection like "Yesterday, When I was Mad" etc. These are called the SINGLE VERSIONS of those tracks that are not new and were available at their release time. \n\nAnd your favorite album track from whatever CD may not be here but as several people seem to not understand, the 33 tracks were chosen because THEY WERE ALL TOP 20 HITS IN THE UK. Pretty simple and straightforward, really.\n\nCategorize yourself however you wish. If you 'love' or 'like' the Pet Shop Boys, this is a sensible and rewarding purchase.\n\nThe only new advice I have is just to order the disc directly from Amazon.co.uk. You save a lot of money and probably get it more quickly.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nPop Genius, January 7, 2004\nReviewer: D. Loughry "Dan Loughry" (Northridge, CA USA) \nCompilations are an iffy proposition. Album artists are often badly served by "greatest hits" collections. (Listen to Pink Floyd's A Collection of Great Dance Songs lately?) Singles artists fare better (Madonna's The Immaculate Collection) or are exposed as the shams they usually are/were (calling Rick Astley). But what to do when you're a great singles band who put out formidable albums? If you're Pet Shop Boys - who already have one pitch perfect best-of in Discography - you do what you do best: you recontextualize (and add a few new cuts for bait). PopArt splits tracks from their 17-year history into a Pop disc and an Art disc, but that's just a marketing gimmick for the minimalist box graphics. It's all pop and it's all good. There are a few rearranged cuts - "Suburbia" is a standout. The new tracks rank with their best, especially their version of "Somewhere" from West Side Story. And there's the added bonus of Mix - a third disc of top-rank remixes (one of my least favorite musical forms). For Pet Shop Boys fans everywhere. For those who aren't - what's wrong with you?\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nMore, December 17, 2003\nReviewer: Frankie J. M.M. (Still in mex) \nI was at a night club in Cancun a while back and they played about an hours worth of the Boys. All the hits in a huge mega mix, and not a single tourist was in the club that night. We were just a bunch of gay Mexicans dancing about and enjoying the Boys the way only Latin men can. When it was over I left the club, nothing else would compare to that glorious hour or so where no one cared what you looked like, who you were, who you knew, what you wore. It was perfect. Even the typical trade boys sang along to some of the songs. I wonder if the Boys know how much they are loved in Mexico, heck...in Latin America?\n\nHalf.com Album Notes\n2003 digitally remastered compendium that features a whopping 33 Top 20 hits that Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have racked up in the UK since 1985. The tracks are split between one CD titled '`Pop" and another titled "Art", plus a third CD of Neil and Chris' favourite PSB remixes by the likes of Shep Pettibone, David Morales, Moby, Club 69 (Peter Rauhofer), Lange, Jam & Spoon, Blank & Jones, Rollo and Sasha. YEAR: 2003
This misc cd contains 10 tracks and runs 73min 11sec.
Freedb: 8911250a
Buy: from Amazon.com

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