After wearing down all my PSB albums from PLEASE up through NIGHTLIFE, I couldn't wait for their new one to finally hit stores. After hearing the bits of new songs online, though, I wasn't sure if I would be so enthusiastic about the album.

I was happily surprised. This probably isn't the best album to buy if you're a fairly new fan of the Pet Shop Boys....if you want a sense of what they're most popular for, pick up the DISCOGRAPHY cd, along with VERY, BILINGUAL, and the stunning NIGHTLIFE. But for the hardcore, long-time fan, RELEASE is a refreshing and interesting departure from "typical" PSB music, with the usual thoughtful lyrics, lovely melodies, Chris's experimention with sound, and Neil's smooth, sad voice.

Songs like "Home and Dry" and "Birthday Boy" are worth the purchase alone, but each track is an interesting listen, and it's easy for each one to get stuck in your head. Sadly, the U.S. is still far too saturated with useless teen pop idols and mediocre rock bands to give Pet Shop Boys and RELEASE the attention they deserve.

This is definitely a Fall Season type of album, but what does it matter what time of year you choose to listen to this...it's beautiful and as usual, completely DIFFERENT from every album that was previously released. I'm not as fond of the guitar dominated songs as I am with their lyrics in them; Neil's voice in "Birthday Boy" is quite angelic despite it all, and every song seems to have more meaning than the last. I applaud them for having the guts to write about something as shallow as "Email", but the music is what's important in this album. They have their usual electronic style, and their experimental guitar style which is, thank heaven, subtle. It's not wild playing, but just chords underlying the words.
I feel that they could have done better with most of the songs on here, only because Pet Shop Boy fans are familiar with the music and are aware of what amazing pieces they can do. But for a beginning Pet Shop Boy person who gets dizzy when they hear a song of theirs...this is a good album to listen to and get that beginning understanding of the diversity of their music. Some very passionate songs, some very simple ones...but good songs all the same.
One comment: If you decide to buy the CD, get the one with the EXTRA CD on it, the 2-disc set. I believe it's only a few bucks more. The second CD is true, hardcore Pet Shop Boys. I knew they wouldn't let us down.

There is something about the Pet Shop Boys which I can not explain; something in their music, their lyrics, their overall sound, which satisfies me nearly every time. The latest album by the British duo is no different. In fact, "Release" surpasses my expectations. It is simply a very good, solid album.

Beginning with the quiet, plaintive opening song of 'Home and Dry', we know we are in for something a little different from the synth/pop band. The familiar Pet Shop Boys sound is there, but we also hear guitars, and more percussion than is normal on a standard PSB album. Though not the strongest song in the group's canon, it starts "Release" out on the right track.

With "Release", the Boys have brought a sincerely 'earthy' sound to their music, and the result is superb. I must confess that not every song grabbed me at first, but most did. And with further listening, the album only grows in its depth and richness. These are some of the most intricate songs that the duo has ever compiled for one offering.

There are a few tracks that I'm still getting into, discerning their full meaning. While others are rather more straightforward. 'E-mail' is a funny little song about love. 'Here' is a deeper song about the same subject. It gave me chills. Even the synthy, bouncy 'The Samurai In Autumn' fits-in well amongst the other, slower pieces.

Aside from one song, "Release" is produced solely by the Pet Shop Boys, and it shows. The coherence which some of their other works have lacked is readily apparent here. The album flows along beautifully. The conclusion is an easy one:

The Pet Shop Boys make really good music.

Isn't it great to hear the boys again? The long awaited album 'Release' is here and it is a lot different to the previous album 'Nightlife'.

The album starts with the gorgeous 'Home and Dry' which is quite different to some of the work they have produced more recently but is a song with which you fall in love almost immediately. It is indeed quite beautiful. Although guitars are used on this album, and quite a lot has been made of this in the reviews I have read, it is instantly recognisable as a Pet Shop Boys album. Tennant and the "eternal boy" Lowe have produced another gem and have reinvented themselves once again. They are still the coolest duo in pop and so easily upstage the manufactured rubbish that seems to fill the charts these days. Thank God we can still rely on them to produce such quality material Indeed, track two on the album is an absolute "stormer", "I Get Along" (hopefully their next single). Another masterpiece of lyrical genius from Neil along with Chris's unbeatable keyboard and backing work and the guitars from the ex-Smith Johnny Marr. Sometimes it can be too easy to not concentrate on the lyrics of the boys' songs and to just hear the keyboards and the fabulous beat but it will be your loss in not doing so, as is the case with every song they have ever written which makes them the best band ever - in my humble opinion! Moving on through the album you have the excellent "Birthday Boy" which has Neil singing in the lowest voice he has ever sung and starts with a beautiful guitar introduction. "London" is also a truly fabulous song and I do not intend to do their songs justice in these few lines(as it is not possible)but it finds the boys experimenting successfully (unlike Cher) with an auto-tune. The whole album is totally great and although it may take a few listens to appreciate some of the songs on the album, especially when you may have become used to the more hi-nrg "Nightlife" and "Very", you will find that it just gets better and better with time like a fine wine and is unmissable - it is up there with "Behaviour" as one of their best albums. My favourite tracks are, well, the whole album really! But you can't miss "The Samurai in Autumn" - pump the volume up nice and loud and also "The Night I fell in Love" where a gay Eminem invites a school boy backstage for a "private performance" and for all of us who struggle in love "the bleakly personal" (to quote Lord Tennant of Chelsea)"Love is a Catastrophe" and "You Choose" and "Here" and "E-Mail" (as I said earlier, the entire album!). This is intelligent pop at its best. I apologise for such a poorly written review in light of such an excellent album. I don't have the words. Buy this now!!!! The boys tour again from May to July this year - be there and support them. Visit [URL]!

This is a shocker. PSB's RELEASE is basic pop-rock. But not quite, if one removed the dance-grooves from most of their songs from previous albums, you will get this sound.

Almost Beatles; almost Dylan. RELEASE is an album with "the emphasis on the song rather than production".

Of course the guitarist Johnny Marr(former Smiths) fills in the strums on most tracks, with Neil playing occasional tracks. Therefore, making this an almost guitar-rock-band album.

With Home and Dry, the first track and first single of the album, the strumming guitar-work introduces us to the pared-down pop-rock sounds that is to be this album.

I Get Along and E-mail will be the most hummable tunes here. The former sounds like great Beatles/Oasis stuff! With lyric like "looking for hardwork/or credit card fraud/what do you expect from us/we come from abroad", London continues the dark theme of escaping to the "free" West....

My favourite track - Birthday Boy tells of a modern day martyr..with an interesting but haunting ending, a sample of The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge performing "in the Bleak Midwinter".

Samurai in Autumn is the "one track that has some dance elements", says Lowe. And it would be "side 2, Cut 1 if Release were on vinyl". It is almost dance-instrumental if not for the three-lines lyric. (NB - there is a limited edition vinyl available in the UK)

We then get back to the bleak Love Is A Catastrophe, written on "a very windy day in November..and everything seemed so desolate", says Neil.

The rather-talked-about track here must be The Night I Fell In Love. The song, about a fan meeting and falling for his pop idol, sleeping with him....is a wry, sly reference to Eminem. Trust Neil Tennant to narrate a story!!!

The album ends with You Choose. A poignant view at love and other choices we make....

All together, this album is more raw; less on production. The same tongue-in-cheek, wry, ironic, clever lyrics by Neil Tennant; and good pop melodies by Chris Lowe make up this Pet Shop Boys RELEASE.

Granted that the PSB dance sounds are largely missing from RELEASE, it is a good strumming, pop-rock PSB release.....