Pet Shop Boys - Please

In many ways, Please brought Euro-techno into the unsuspecting homes of millions like no other album before. This time, the boys--in this case the Pet Shop Boys--were doin' it for themselves. "I Want a Lover" and "Tonight Is Forever" are songs by boys for boys about boys that snuck past so many because of the genderless (for the most part) objects of affection in the lyrics. Please announces with every synthesizer swell layered over electronic beats, that the boys came to dance and they could complain about their love lives while they were at it. There is also a snide swat or two at the socioeconomic state of things ("Opportunities"), but the Pet Shop Boys' debut will always be most remembered for Neil Tennant's Al Stewart-like vocals in "West End Girls." --Steve Gdula Amazon.com

Poorly

When I opened the package, there was NO CD in there. I had to mail and pay to send it back. After sending a rather threatening note inside, then and ONLY then did I recieve credit back. How many times does this happen??? July 20, 2008

Excellent debut

I had a better review typed up and sent to amazon. But for some reason that system didnt take it. I will make this one short and sweet by saying that "Please" is an excellent debut from PSB. Especially "West End Girls", "Tonight Is Forver" and "I Want A Lover" (they have an awesome message) being that they are looking someone just like other people a guy but still someone to be with and love as well.

It is great to see a band being able to stay in the music business for so long and is a testament to how great they are and how they make music not only for us but for themselves as well and they had loads of fun doing it. An all around excellent debut disc from Pet Shop Boys and is just one of many in a long and encompassing career that continues til this very day.

I will be buying more from the guys in the future, no doubt about it. They represent a time when pop music was just getting started and are an excellent example of what it means to stay true what you do and enjoy it while you can.

Love Please and anything that they have to offer as well. October 5, 2007

One of my all-time favorites.

This album is one of the cornerstones of my collection and my history as a lover of dance pop in general. The debut from the Pet Shop Boys is actually what I consider their best. Compared to contemporary times, the technology was too elaborate in this era of their music, and the limitations they worked within gave the music a certain quality that was never equaled in their later albums.

Specifically, there is something dark about "Please". It has a cold longing to it that worked, especially considering the image of the band at the time--unsmiling, detached, seemingly far removed from the creation of their own album.

Their subject matter wasn't too pretentious. The melodies were very strong and sounded great played on such cold instruments. "West End Girls" will always be remembered as their biggest moment, which is ironic considering the longevity of their career and the devotion of their fanbase, but it truly is a wonder. They've done more elaborate and intelligent things since, but the simplicity of it is enduring.

Songs like "I Want A Lover" and "Opportunities" sounded absolutely icy in the midst of the 80s, when pop radio seemed to have a lot of crazy and, in retrospect, tasteless style. "Please" is a case of the right thing at the right time. It's just my opinion, but there is something here that the following albums never quite recaptured. April 4, 2007

The Foundation for the Pet Shop Boys for the next two decades - and of the "Euro Dance" Sound

When one looks at the history of musical acts that can be categorized as "Dance Music" or "Disco", there are few acts that have achieved the success and longevity of the Pet Shop Boys. The Pet Shop Boys have been making music for over 20 years - releasing an album usually about every one or two years. In the UK, the Pet Shop Boys have consistently produced Top 10 albums. They haven't had quite the same amount of success on American shores, but nonetheless they have still maintained a solid following. It actually didn't start out like that for the Pet Shop Boys in the U.S. They actually burst on to the music scene in 1986 with a #1 song entitled "West End Girls". They would then follow "West End Girls" up with another hit - "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)". These two songs would be part of the debut - and most successful album by the Pet Shop Boys "Please".

Just because this album was the most successful album by the Pet Shop Boys doesn't mean that their career went downhill afterwards. In fact, I would subscribe to the theory that "Please" would lay their foundation for the next two decades following its 1986 release. It might be that many may judge the Pet Shop Boys' success in terms of the pop charts and not consider things from where their sweet spot is - the Dance charts. "West End Girls" and "Opportunities" were songs that not only got airplay on the Pop and Dance clubs, but were even songs that got some airplay on some Rock stations. Eventually the Pet Shop Boys would find their niche on the Dance charts - and would never look back. The Pet Shop Boys came along at the end of the Classic Disco album. While acts such as Madonna and Janet Jackson were emerging during this period, the Pet Shop Boys were bringing their own unique style - that being the "Euro Disco" style (i.e. a heavily electronic style in the mold of Giorgio Moroder). In a lot of ways, "Please" made the Pet Shop Boys innovators in what was a new subgenre on the music scene.

The way the songs are ordered - they follow a loose concept. The Pet Shop Boys apparently "escape" to London's West End. They explore the West End, look for ways to make money, explore the suburbs, deal with Violence, and consistently explore love and relationships, and eventually contemplate the future.

"Two Divided by Zero": This song didn't exactly ignite me on fire. I felt it was weak for an opening song. I didn't care for the computer sounding "divided by" repetitions. This song deals with looking for an "escape".

"West End Girls": This is one of those landmark songs. Neil Tennant's does most of the song as a "rap" - and it works perfectly. Tennant is fabulous with singing the chorus. The "rap" provides a narrative. While I'm not a rap, when it's used in an effective manner like in this song - it pays big. Combine this with Euro sounding synthesizers and even some horn and you have a masterpiece. One can make the argument that Madonna's "Jump" on her 2005 "Confessions on a Dance Floor" album samples part of this song.

"Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)": This song probably has a semi-autobiographic feel for Tennant and fellow Pet Shop Boy Chris Lowe. Tennant provides a very believable "pitch" to convince a partner to join him in a business venture. As per the lyrics, it appears that Tennant has had "enough of scheming and messing around with jerks" and is "looking for a partner; someone who gets things fixed". The song almost a nice quasi-orchestral start before segueing into a Euro sounding melody. I like the drum machine in this song.

"Love Comes Quickly": This has a classic "Euro" sound to it. This song took a while to grow on me, but it did. The line from this song "cause when you least expect it; waiting round the corner for you" combined with the song's title tells the whole story.

"Suburbia": This song at times at a bit more of a pop feel. The keyboards are terrific on this one - as well as the "suburban sound effects". Tennant delivers a great commentary on life in the suburbs.

"Opportunities (reprise)": This is a short reprise of "Opportunities". It is all instrumental. I wish this reprise was longer - because this song has you wanting more.

"Tonight is Forever": Not only does this song provide a classic "Euro" sound, but it also has a feel like Giorgio Moroder's music. Very good track - I'm surprised it didn't get more attention on the club scene.

"Violence": This is a nice change of pace song. For this song, the Pet Shop Boys employ a slight Funk influence. They pull off this song perfectly.

"I Want a Lover": This song has a slight classical start to it, then like "Opportunities" it segues into a "Euro Disco" sound. This is another underrated track.

"Later Tonight": This song is sung as slow ballad with some electronic instrumentation. Tennant's vocals are the story on this song as he pulls them off well.

"Why Don't We Live Together?": This song also has a "Euro" feel to it. Tennant uses the "rap" angle again flawlessly on this track. I'm also surprised this song didn't get more airplay in the dance clubs. This song was the perfect "wrap-up" to this album.

Whether one subscribes to the "concept" of what "Please" offers or not, you can also make the argument that each song stands solid on their own. I wish that the liner notes included the lyrics to each of the songs. Overall, I found this to be an outstanding album. If you especially like the "Euro Disco" sound, this would be an album I'd highly recommend. September 17, 2006

Let the show begin!!!

I don't know whether they have evolved a "more mature sound" during their 90 albums but PSB will always be the champion of pop music for me just for the sake of their brilliant first three albums, beautifully rounded by Discography: Please, Actually and Introspective are the results of a massive will to burst out for Neil & Chris, not in commercial sense, but in feelings and psychological terms. Being not-so-ggod looking, silent and always introspective personalities, the duo expressed what they felt about the outside world in their first three albums, and the consequences are mindboggling.

Please is the first suberp product of this chemistry bonded between two members. Starting from the brilliant "Two Divided by Zero", Neil, both vocally and lyrically, displays a somehow frightened and desperate personality while the music reflects so much confidentiality that the opposite reaction is wonderful.

"Two divided by zero" which would not be inappropriate in a James Bond soundtrack is followed by the ever-green and seminal West End girls, followed by clashing but epic Opportunities followed by a fan-love Love Comes Quickly and the ever-critical Suburbia ("where is the policeman when you need one?"). In good ol' casette days, this is where the Side A stops and you just raise your head in astonismment about the smooth flow of songs. Then you continue your dreamscaping journey: A reprise of Opportunities gives way to the brilliant Tonight is Forever ("I have no job but I can stay in bed all day), a simple version of Violence (a much improved version appeared as a later b-side but the skeleton remains the same), the flippy but burning I Want a Lover ("Just put your arms around me but it doesn't mean you love me"), the self-expressing slow piece Later Tonight (never the piano sounded so good in a poptrack before) and closure by Duran Duran-like Why Don't We Live Together?

Did you read the whole paragraph without a stop? Yes, this is how the album flows: Breathless, fantastic, topnotch music (and don't forget this is the "unexperienced" product of Boys) with some of the best lyrics in the entire cannon of pop music that Britney Spears or Kylie could not even dream of in their wildest dreams.

It's a pity that PSB remain a cult band in the United States but there is always a buyer group of good music and this is also true for them. They are now iconic figures around the globe and one of the best and most respected groups as pop music goes. They are up there with the Beatles and much above their peers when you look at the whole sum.

Please is a lucky piece of great music and the starting point of a amazing career for them and a dazzling journey for music lovers.

If you love pop music, buy this you won't regret.
If you don't like pop music, then try this...you may be surprised and awarded more than you think... January 3, 2006

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