3 posts tagged “pet shop boys”

Breaking news: John Hughes is dead from a heart attack.

If you were a teen during the 80s, it was hard to not fall in love with some of his movies, including Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink. When I was talking about (500) Days of Summer, I almost reference Hughes' undeniable influences on the movie and soundtrack, but I did not want to make that assumption since I haven't seen the movie.

Not really much to add to the news, but apparently he was visiting families in Manhattan and suffered a heart attack during a morning walk.

As you know, I am a huge fan of popular culture, and I did grow up and fondly remember these movies. Some of them, in particular the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, introduced me to a world of alternative music.

Pet Shop Boys (official / myspace) has announced their epic return to the US, just in time for their 25^th anniversary of their first release of One More Chance and West End Girls in 1984. Their official 10^th studio album, Yes, will also be making its debut on one of my favorite record label, Astralwerks.

8/29 Montreal, Metropolis
8/30 Toronto, V Fest
9/1-2 New York NY, Hammerstein
9/3 Washington DC, Constitution Hall
9/5 Boston MA, HOB
9/6 Atlantic City NJ, House of Blues
9/9 Miami FL, Fillmore
9/10 Tampa FL, Tampa Bay PAC
9/11 Orlando FL, HOB
9/12 Atlanta GA, Chastain
9/14 Chicago IL, Chicago Theater
9/15 Milwaukee WI, Pabst Ballroom
9/16 Minneapolis MN, State Theater
9/19 Vancouver, Vancouver Centre of the Perf Arts
9/20 Seattle WA, Moore
9/22-23 San Francisco CA, Warfield
9/24 Los Angeles CA, Greek
9/26 Las Vegas NV, Joint

Understand that their live shows are extravagant with loads of dancers, costume changes, and set pieces... so their ticket prices are also astronomical (I'm talking over $100). So I will probably not be seeing them (to be fair, Morrissey's out of my price range...), but speaking of things in my price range:

Free downloads: DJ & mixer, Pretty Lights (official / myspace) has all of his albums as a free download on his official website. They include Taking up Your Precious Time and discs 1 & 2 of Filling up the City Skies!

Getting people to check out your music is pretty sweet, and the other 110,000 people seems to think so too! Oh, also just in time as he's just announced his word tour:

08.29.09 – The National – Richmond, VA
09.02.09 – Lyric Theatre – Oxford, MS *
09.03.09 – The Sky Bar – Auburn, AL *
09.04.09 – Athens Arena – Bogart, GA *
09.05.09 – Belly Up – Aspen, CO @
09.12.09 – Trinumeral Festival – Horseshoe, NC
09.18.09 – Symbiosis Gathering – Groveland, CA
09.21.09 – Bama Theatre – Tuscaloosa, AL
09.23.09 – Rhythm & Brews – Chattanooga, TN
09.26.09 – Diesel – Wilmington, NC
10.02.09 – Aggie Theatre – Ft. Collins, CO
10.03.09 – Odgen Theatre – Denver, CO +
10.12.09 – Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA R
10.14.09 – Key Club – West Hollywood, CA R
10.15.09 – The Independent – San Francisco – CA R
10.16.09 – Nocturnum – Eureka, CA #R
10.17.09 – Nectar Lounge – Seattle, WA #R
10.18.09 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR #R
10.21.09 – The Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN X
10.22.09 – Miramar Theatre – Milwaukee, WI X
10.23.09 – Park West – Chicago, IL D
10.24.09 – Majestic Theatre – Madison, WI D
10.25.09 – Bluebird Nightclub – Bloomington, IN D
10.27.09 – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY D
10.28.09 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN D
10.29.09 – The Valarium – Knoxville, TN D
10.30.09 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC D
10.31.09 – Ann Street Shed – Charleston, SC
11.03.09 – Crowbar – Tampa, FL A
11.04.09 – The White Room – Miami, FL A
11.05.09 – Engine Room – Tallahassee, FL A
11.07.09 – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA A
11.10.09 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX A
11.11.09 – La Zona Rosa – Austin, TX A GA
11.12.09 – George’s Majestic Lounge – Fayetteville, AR G
11.13.09 – Newby’s – Memphis, TN G
11.14.09 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA G
11.17.09 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC G
11.18.09 – 9:30 Club – Washington DC G
11.19.09 – Fillmore NY @ Irving Plaza – New York, NY G
11.20.09 – The Note – West Chester, PA G
11.21.09 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA G

* w/ Emancipator
@ w/ Savoy
+ w/ Lifesavas
R w/ DJ Rootz
# w/ Chicharones
X w/ Prepschool
D w/ Dark Party
A w/ Alex B
G w/ Gramatik

Other freebies includes over 1,000 songs from Microsoft Windows Sponsored Songs . Not just developing artists, but well-established artists such as The Lemonheads and The Church! Thanks to Leerone (official / myspace / twitter), who pointed out that she's one of those artists. Also, per the request of many of her fans, she now sells MP3s on her store, however there's always something nice about getting a hand made package.

That's all for this week, for an unfiltered look at the latest music news, check out news.weheartmusic.com. Interested in seeing what albums we're reviewing next?  Go under "albums" and you're all set.

Electronic was the all-star super team-up of Bernard Sumner (New Order) and Johnny Marr (the Smiths) [and sometimes Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys].

I have all their LP releases, Electronic (1991), Raise the Pressure (1996), and Twisted Tenderness (1999). My favorite album is Raise the Pressure, partly because I only paid $2.95 for it used (what a deal!).

The band first released "Getting Away With It", which ended up being their most famous single. I think in the US of A, however, "Disappointed" might have been the more popular... only because it's Neil that's singing and everybody probably thought it was the latest Pet Shop Boys song.

So, the track I have picked out is "Idiot Country", which is probably the closest thing you're going to hear Bernard Sumner doing rap. You have to give him props for trying at least.

Trivia: Belle & Sebastian mentioned them in "Seymour Stein": "I heard dinner went well. You liked Chris's jacket, he reminded you of Johnny, before he went Electronic". That's Johnny, as in Johnny Marr.

Bonus: I have included a photoshopped Bernard Sumner as a rapper.

By the way, this is Vu. I do not have split personalities!