Super by Pet Shop Boys

Dear Poptastic Readers,

Our contributor Nick has reviewed the Pet Shop Boys new album Super! Here is Nick ...

To start myself off on a note that will piss off Pet Shop Boys fans worldwide... the last PSB album I really connected with was Introspective... *ducks the rotten fruit*, so when I discovered that tune I really liked on BBC Radio 6 was "Inner Sanctum" by them my ears pricked up and I paid attention. 

"Inner Sanctum" sounded to me like an epic pop act taking Energy 52's Cafe Del Mar and made it their own.... 'I LIKE! I wonder what else they're doing'... Then I found out that their 13th studio album Super was being released on white vinyl, I called to get it on the way home.... The shallow being that I am. 

So the music ... it's witty pop music over a modern sounding take on 90s dance music. The single "The Pop Kids" is a beautiful tribute to loving pop music in the same vein as Saint Ettienne's "Words and Music" (a compliment), which sweeps you up in its joy and then devastates you with a deadpan 'I loved you'.... LOVED? I was happy and now I don't know what I think.... #popskillz 
"Happiness" and "Burn" are my other personal highlights with the latter sounding a bit like Spagna's "Call Me" (a compliment). 

The only thing that really makes me cringe is the use of the word 'groovy' in the track "Groovy".... It's a shit word which shouldn't be encouraged. 
The happy and witty pop vibe continues throughout, reaching a pantomime apex (a compliment) with "The Dictator Decides", and what I interpret as them singing about a dictator losing faith in their existence... (I could be wrong though, it could be about tv talent shows, not a compliment).

Should you buy this? Do you like pop music? Yes? Then yes. 

I'm not awarding a mark out of something, but I will say that this album completes a holy trinity for producer, Stuart Price... Confessions On A Dancefloor>Aphrodite>Super.... And one day I wish to listen to them all as a continuous mix.... On coloured vinyl.

Now excuse my whilst I add their vinyl back catalogue to my eBay wish list (donations accepted).

— Nick
Follow him on Instagram at @nickkblamo

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And now for a second opinion from me, Davearama. I absolutely loved their last album Electric and if you click on the title, you can read my review there. And I have loved various albums over the years.

My favourite tracks on Super are "The Pop Kids", "Happiness", "Groovy", "Undertow", "Say It To Me" and the melancholy "Sad Robot World."

It's a wonderful album. It's Super! Don't delay! Go buy it today!

Cheers then,
—Davearama