SUPER
The Pet Shop Boys album "Super" is their thirteenth studio album, released on April 1, 2016, on their own label, x2, through Kobalt Label Services. It was recorded in 2015–2016, primarily in Los Angeles, with production by Stuart Price, continuing the collaboration that began with their previous album Electric (2013). The duo wrote 25 songs during the creative period, mainly in London and Berlin, ultimately selecting 11 for the album, with a strong emphasis on upbeat electronic dance tracks. The album is described by Neil Tennant as their "most 'up' record" and aims to be an evolution of the energetic dance vibe of Electric – essentially “even more electric.”
Recording and Production
Produced entirely by Stuart Price, Super features purely electronic instrumentation with no traditional instruments, embracing a contemporary synth-pop and dance music style that incorporates modern electronic textures and house influences. Recording took place in Price's Los Angeles studio, with mixing and additional programming handled by him as well. This album forms the middle part of a trilogy alongside Electric and Hotspot (2020). The artwork, designed by Mark Farrow, uses vibrant color variations on the circle motif for different formats and streaming platforms, projecting a fresh and bold visual identity.
Happiness
An upbeat, optimistic opener featuring robust synths, house-influenced beats, and a catchy melody reflecting the album’s theme of pursuit of joy.
The Pop Kids
Inspired by 1990s club culture and nostalgia, narrating stories of youth, community, and transformation set over driving synths and euphoric production.
Twenty-Something
Incorporates reggaeton influences inspired by experiences in Bogota, blending Latin rhythms with synth-pop production, thematically portraying the anxieties and uncertainties of young professionals.
Groovy
A catchy, dancefloor-friendly track with funky electronic rhythms and a playful, flirtatious vibe.
The Dictator Decides
Features sharp, punchy synths and politically tinged lyrics reflecting contemporary events; the production is aggressive and dynamic.
Pazzo!
An experimental interlude created from repurposed sounds and samples, offering a brief but intense sonic excursion (“Pazzo” means “crazy” in Italian).
Inner Sanctum
Imagines the atmosphere of Berlin’s Berghain club, characterized by deep, hypnotic beats and hypnotic synth layers, evoking a sense of exclusive nightlife spirituality.
Undertow
Smooth and sensual with atmospheric electronics, enriched by additional vocals from Jessica Freedman.
Sad Robot World
Inspired by a visit to a Volkswagen plant, the track explores themes of mechanization and alienation over a mechanical, rhythmic bed of synths and electronic beats.
Say It to Me
A straightforward, dance-oriented song that combines slick synths with a compelling groove and direct lyrics.
Burn
A dramatic, synth-heavy closer with emotional weight, layered production, and themes of destruction and renewal.
Into Thin Air
Pet Shop Boys seem to imbue this exceedingly romantic notion with something more. It's this escapist fantasy elevated to near-mystical levels, expressing a desire to get away from a too often ugly reality, even if that escape is to nirvanic oblivion.
Interesting Information
· The album was teased through an innovative campaign including anonymous posters, street ads, and social media that asked “What is Super?”
· The Pet Shop Boys also performed a residency at the Royal Opera House to showcase the album live.
· Super includes songs that are inspired by travel experiences, social commentary, and nocturnal club culture, blending Pet Shop Boys’ sharp lyrical wit with invigorating dance music.
· The album debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart and reached number one on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums, with the lead single “The Pop Kids” topping the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
Summary
Super is considered one of the duo’s most upbeat and electronically concentrated albums, continuing their successful collaboration with Stuart Price. It blends euphoric dancefloor energy with smart, often nostalgic lyrics, articulating a sophisticated celebration of youth, club culture, and modern life while retaining classic Pet Shop Boys melodic and lyrical craftsmanship.
Final thoughts….
As with the album “Electric” this album was produced by Stuart Price and the results are pretty much the same, several unlistenable tracks on this album “Happiness”, “The Pop Kids” (the track itself is alright but the production on Neil’s vocals is horrendous), “Groovy” and “Pazzo”, on the plus side “The Dictator Decides” is an outstanding track and wouldn’t have been out of place on the album “Introspective”, definitely should have been a single. Whether another producer would have made this a better album I’m not sure.
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.
Happiness 0
The Pop Kids 0
Twenty-Something 2
Groovy 0
The Dictator Decides 3
Pazzo 0
Inner Sanctum 2
Undertow 2
Sad Robot World 1
Say It To Me 1
Burn 2
Into Thin Air 1
Score 14
FINAL ALBUM RATING 39
Current Album Chart
1. Actually - 80 (6 Tracks Rated As 3)
2. Please - 80 (5 Tracks Rated As 3)
3. Introspective - 78
4. Fundamental - 77
5. Yes - 76
6. Behaviour - 73
7. Very - 69
8. Release - 57
9. Elysium - 50
10. Bilingual - 47
11. Nightlife - 42
12. Super - 39
13. Electric - 30
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