Concrete: In Concert at the Mermaid Theatre

The only thing that I would like to see different about Concrete is MORE OF THE SAME! Fantastic, superb, layers of juxtaposed musical dreams gliding by on silvery clouds against a royal purple backdrop of a perfect symbiosis of ecstasy sixteen years ago is an Earthly Akashic Records where it could only be happening NOW! It might feel in the future or the past but even I, who have listened to West End Girls so many times that I used to skip over it, now almost look forward to the encore where it sounds brand new, or almost so, because I already know the words! Every single song was chosen for a special reason and for my discerning ears, I appreciate each and every single one of them! So glad I was able to sneak in, order it, pay for it, wait for it and on that predestined day it arrived in my new mailbox all the way out here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean without harm, in fact, in perfect condition, just like Tower Records had landed as a space craft outside my new apartment and delivered it to me as a present of my out of body experience I will surely visit that single night where every single star in our multiverse lined up in a constellation that could have only been improved if it were a DVD with a virtual reality game of being the conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra!!! Neil, Chris, anybody out there reading my plea?!? Aloha nui loa!

i have long given up on the pet shop boys,'very' back in 93 was probably their lastgood album..however, something funny happened during thenext 15 years, they still kept at it, and indoing so eclipsed their standard euro-pop image..they actually learned how to become an 'artist'..and so after attempts at musicals 'closer to heaven',soundtracks like 'battleship potemkin', they decidedto try going fully orchestral and hybrid sound withelectronics, in their live concert for 'concrete'.and surprise, it's actually very good, surprising inits adaptations of old classics 'rent', 'jealousy','its a sin', etc...where even the originals were slowand plodding, the new orchestral arrangements are exciting,and new.....and the songs that had orchestral parts, like'left to my own devices', and 'its alright' sound even BETTER,if that's possible,how is that an 'electronic band' like pet shop boys, hadto put out a live orchestral album, to really make a statement?well, i'm very pleased with it, although it has its misstepswith bad guest vocalists, and songs that dont belong..'numb','casanova in hell', they should have cut out those, and madeit a single disc... the commentary between songs is a nicetouch..highly recommend for pet shop boys fans..so where's the video?

The only thing more enjoyable than a PSB record, is experiencing PSB live. This being Pet Shop Boys first commercial CD release of a live performance, I was very excited to get my hands on it. I saw them live for the first time in 2006 (the Fundamental Tour) in MPLS. They exceeded my expectations!One of the best concerts I've ever been to.Concrete, however, is one level higher. Recorded with a full orchestra these songs are lush and rich. This CD is equally balanced with PSB classic hits, and some new material fresh off Fundamental.Guest vocals include Rufus Wainwright, Frances Barber, and Robbie WIlliams.Williams performs their song "Jealousy" from the Behaviour album. Totally awesome. He sings it with great emotion, and his masculine voice gives the song a whole new feel.This two disc LP is worth the price, especially for fans of PSB, but even for those who just love music. Pet Shop Boys are the only electronic group out there to make me believe that dance music is not dead.Highlights include: Casanova In Hell (performed by Rufus Wainwright), Sodom and Gomorrah Show, Left to my own devices, It's a sin, It's alright, and Robbie's rendition of "Jealousy".

I knew the the PSB were glam since I saw them live during their Nightlife Tour in 2001. And since their album Please (1986), they have always veered between wry and fey. Then there is the grown-up side, which is harder to place; somewhere between Don Juan (released in 1988, and found again on Alternative, their arguably best album) - according to the liner notes, a historical song "about the political situation in the Balkans before World War II" - and the recent Battleship Potemkin (2005).Since we won't get the 80's back, and Alternative can't be outdone by any band, living or dead (ok, that's "just slightly over the top", as Tennant says on this album), we may as well settle for this oddity, which wraps the many sides of the PSB in layers of symphonic sound. Unwrap as many layers as you like. As David Toop said in his review of Please in The Face in 1986, "Turn this one up loud."And if you do, you may also like their movie, It Couldn't Happen Here, which we must lobby to have released on DVD.  Pet Shop Boys- It Couldn't Happen Here

Great live cd's are rare birds indeed. Only a few bands have managed to capture the magic of their live performances. Well, Pet Shop Boys have made their "Live at Budokan" and it's an instant classic. At least for PSB fans.The track listing is a kitchen sink mix of old and new and everything in-between. There are nice surprises too: a live band that includes a small orchestra, guest singers (Rufus and Robbie make the songs sound as if they were written for them to sing), and Neil speaking casually with the audience as if it's a get-together at his home. Very intimate.The production is flawless (another success for Trevor Horn who, if there ever were a third member of the band, he is it) with every instrument and vocal coming through richly and warmly. I can close my eyes and suddenly find myself sitting in the front row and I've got the best seat in the house.Listening to Concrete is, to put it simply, an experience. It's the next best thing to being there!

Pet Shop Boys first live album dates from 2006 and was initially transmitted (with four songs missing) as a special BBC Radio 2 In Concert performance to celebrate 25 years since their formation in 1981 in the business. Featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra throughout that choice informed much of the track selection, mainly revisiting orchestral tracks such as Left To My Own Devices, which kicks off proceedings or frames others like West End Girls and It's A Sin in an entirely new setting. This, together with the presence of guest vocalists including Rufus Wainwright and Robbie Williams breathes new life into the songs - although then new album Fundamental is heavily featured, giving chance for fans to hear these tracks in a live setting for the first time.It's a lush production, heavily focused towards one facet of Pet Shop Boys, but a fascinating experiment nonetheless. A rarely performed song from the 'Battleship Potemkin' soundtrack 'After All' is a standout moment for me, as is 'Nothing Has Been Proved', a track written for Dusty Springfield and last performed in their triumphant 'MCMLXXXIX' concert tour - still the gold standard amongst fans. There's a dip into their musical 'Closer To Heaven' with the track 'Friendly Fire' sung by Francis Barber from the show cast, and the arrangement of 'Rent' heard on Liza Minelli's PSB-produced album 'Results'.It's a satisfying track selection, and maybe not the most obvious, though this is maybe an album for the hardcore rather than the casual fan.

The Pet Shop Boys may no longer be the chart-conquerors they were in the 'Eighties, but they have continued to produce high-quality electro-pop (with a couple of minor bumps, most notably the ill-advised 'Release') and in my opinion remain the best lyricists in the business.This concert, performed with the BBC Orchestra and a smattering of special guests, perfectly illustrates their unique talent for straddling the divide between mainstream populism (is that a word?) and high art. The songs have been selected from across their whole career, including side projects such as the Dusty and Liza collaborations and 'Battleship Potemkin', but with an understandable focus on current album 'Fundamental'. Neil is in fine voice, and the orchestral arrangements perfectly compliment the material; in fact, it works so well, I wish they'd do a whole new studio album with a full orchestra. Guests Rufus Wainwright, Francis Barber and Robbie Williams all do admirable jobs with their respective tracks, but never overshadow the music. Personally I found the brief spoken introductions by Neil added to the atmosphere rather than detracting from it.So, another quality release which won't sell in the quantities it deserves to, but as long as the Pet Shop Boys keep on making music, we shouldn't complain.

Excellent Live album.

Excellent ty

very good !