VERY
The Pet Shop Boys album "Very" is
their fifth studio album, released on September 27, 1993, nearly three years
after their previous album "Behaviour." After the more subdued and
introspective tone of "Behaviour," the duo sought to create a
"mega dance-pop album" that was more upbeat, poppy, and energetic.
They aimed for an album where every song could be a single, emphasizing
fantastic, well-crafted pop songs with strong dance beats. The album was
primarily recorded at Lowe's home studio in Hertfordshire, with basic tracks
laid down there alongside programmer Pete Gleadall, before moving to Sarm West
Studios in London for final recording. Additional production and mixing were
handled by Stephen Hague, marking the first Pet Shop Boys album they mainly
produced themselves, experimenting with creative arrangements and
computer-generated sounds, including distinctive "computer game"
noises throughout the album.
"Very" is noted for its change in
presentation, embracing a more theatrical, colorful, and artificial image as a
reaction against the grunge movement prominent at the time. The duo adopted
surreal costumes and embraced computer-generated visuals in music videos, increasing their
artistic creativity around the album’s promotion. The packaging was innovative,
featuring a tactile orange box with raised dots, designed by Pentagram,
symbolizing a fresh and unique approach to album artwork and presentation.
The album contains diverse tracks with a variety of
styles, including uplifting dance-pop, romantic ballads, and witty
storytelling. Some of the highlights include:
"Very" became the Pet Shop Boys' first UK
number one album and produced several hit singles all reaching the UK top 20.
It is often regarded as their "coming-out" album, coinciding with
Neil Tennant openly discussing his sexuality. The album was accompanied by a
limited-edition bonus CD titled "Very Relentless," featuring more
experimental, instrumental tracks that showed their inclination towards club
culture and dance music evolution.
Overall, "Very" marked a distinct creative
leap for Pet Shop Boys, blending 1990s dance-pop energy with their signature
lyrical wit, narrative storytelling, and innovative visual presentation,
marking it as one of their most commercially successful and artistically rich
albums.
Can You Forgive Her?
The album’s lead track is a catchy, energetic
dance-pop song that explores complex relationship dynamics with irony and wit.
Its production features bright synth hooks, playful electronic effects, and a
narrative style in the lyrics about a closeted man facing judgment for his
nonconformity.
I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing
This track continues the upbeat dance vibe with a
vibrant, house-influenced rhythm and shimmering synth layers. The lyrics
express surprise and delight at impulsively engaging in romantic and joyful
behavior, marking a celebratory tone in the album.
Liberation
A slower, more atmospheric song with cinematic synth
textures and orchestral elements. It contrasts with the more immediate dance
tracks and reflects themes of emotional freedom and release.
A Different Point Of View
The song features a light, funky groove with an upbeat
tempo. Its lyrics touch on alternate perspectives and the idea of seeing things
differently, supported by playful synth melodies and rhythmic percussion
enhancing its quirky vibe.
Dreaming Of The Queen
A theatrical and somewhat melancholic track, its
production blends synth-pop with an air of grandeur. Lyrically, it discusses
themes of royalty, loss, and perhaps disillusionment, framed in a reflective
narrative.
Yesterday, When I Was Mad
This song injects humor and sharp social commentary,
critiquing celebrity culture and the music industry. The arrangement includes
intricate synth patterns and a driving beat that keeps the energy high while
delivering biting lyrics.
The Theatre
With layered synths and orchestral breakbeats, it
offers a dramatic and cinematic soundscape. The mood is contemplative,
addressing the performance aspects of social roles and human behavior.
One And One Make Five
Funky and experimental, this track blends dance
rhythms with playful, almost whimsical synth sounds. The lyrics suggest a
metaphysical or surreal take on relationships or mathematics, aligning with the
album’s inquisitive spirit.
To Speak Is A Sin
Lush and melancholic, this track pairs poignant lyrics
about communication difficulties and emotional restraint with rich synth
orchestration, including string-like arrangements and gentle beats.
Young Offender
This track carries a more aggressive electronic pop
sound with youthful energy and themes of rebellion, identity, and societal
rules. Its production is punchy and propulsive, fitting the confrontational
lyric content.
One In A Million
An upbeat track that stands out with its simplicity
and emotional depth. It reflects on individuality and feeling unique in a
crowded world, supported by soft synthesizers and Tennant’s emotive vocal
delivery.
Go West
The album’s closing track is a grand, anthemic cover
of the Village People’s disco classic. Featuring lush synth arrangements and a
choir-style chorus, it transforms the song into an uplifting, almost
transcendent statement on hope, unity, and liberation.
"Very" marked a vibrant, theatrical
resurgence for the Pet Shop Boys with its rich production featuring a wide
array of electronic textures, playful experiments with sound effects, and a
confident embrace of pop and dance music. The album captured both joyous and
reflective moods, blending witty, personal, and social themes within
sophisticated synth-pop production. It was their first UK number one album,
notable for its artistic boldness and fresh, colorful presentation.
Final thoughts….
This is a consistent album with a good cross section
of songs; I much prefer the album version of “I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind
Of Thing” over the single version released and I would have chosen “One In A
Million” as a single rather than “Liberation”.
TRACK RATINGS
Each track on
the album is scored on the following basis, an excellent tracks scores 3
points, a good track scores 2 points, an ok track scores 1 point and an awful
track, scores no points, the total is added up and divided by the maximum
number of points that would be available and then times that by 100 to get your
overall score. For example if an album
scores 20 points and there are 10 tracks on the album, that means it can
achieve a maximum score of 30, so divide 20 by 30 and times it by 100, it gives
you a figure of 66.66, which is the final score rating for the album, in this
case you would round it up to 67, if it was 66.33, you would round it down to
66. In the event there is a tie, the album with the most tracks rated at 3
ranks as higher.
Can You Forgive Her? 2
I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing 2
Liberation 2
A Different Point Of View 2
Dreaming Of The Queen 2
Yesterday When I Was Mad 2
The Theatre 2
One And One Makes Five 2
To Speak Is A Sin 2
Young Offender 1
One In A Million 3
Go West 3
Score 25
FINAL ALBUM RATING 69
Current Album
Chart
1. Actually - 80
(6 Tracks Rated As 3)
2. Please - 80
(5 Tracks Rated As 3)
3. Introspective
- 78
4. Behaviour - 73
5. Very - 69
