NONETHELESS
The Pet Shop Boys album "Nonetheless" is their fifteenth studio release, launched on April 26, 2024. It was produced by James Ford, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, and Gorillaz, marking the duo’s first collaboration with him. The album represents a return to their long-time label Parlophone after an 11-year absence and is their first studio album in four years following Hotspot (2020), marking their longest gap between albums to date.
Recording and Production
"Nonetheless" was predominantly recorded during the COVID-19 lockdowns, a period of isolation where Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant worked separately from their homes—Lowe in London and Tennant in Newcastle. Tennant learned to use GarageBand to program songs, sending demos to Lowe, which fostered a more relaxed and enjoyable writing process without typical deadlines. Ford encouraged the duo to strip back their demos from soft synth layers to more minimal arrangements using analog synthesizers, to which orchestral arrangements were later added, recorded at The Church Studio in North London. The record features lush string sections and vocals, contributing to an emotionally rich sound that harmonizes electronic and orchestral textures.
The album’s title, Nonetheless, refers to the duo’s persistence in continuing to create music despite challenging circumstances. It features a vibrant mix of dance tracks and poignant ballads, designed to celebrate the spectrum of human emotions. The lyrics explore themes ranging from loneliness and modern urban life to reflections on happiness and nostalgia, emphasizing both vulnerability and resilience.
Loneliness
An uplifting yet poignant opener combining melancholy minor chords with dance beats. The track explores themes of isolation and the human need for love and connection, featuring an extended, emotive outro that invites repeated listening.
Feel
A bright and breezy synth-pop song with a skippy, house-influenced piano rhythm. The lyrics convey vulnerability and affection, with rich harmonies and lush keyboard layers creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Why Am I Dancing?
Featuring a fanfare intro, this track reflects the isolation felt during lockdown with existential questioning wrapped in catchy melodies and strings. Its melancholic yet melodic tone makes it a thematic centerpiece of the album.
New London Boy
Regarded as one of the standout tracks, it reminisces about early life in London with sprightly arpeggiated keyboards and a bouncy rhythm. Tennant’s falsetto and a "West End Girls"-style rap section create a nostalgic yet playful vibe.
Dancing Star
A dreamy mid-tempo synth-pop tune with orchestral flourishes, it blends wistful lyrics with sparkling production to evoke a sense of emotional openness and optimism.
A New Bohemia
Moody and atmospheric, this track explores cultural identity and change, supported by strings and analog synths with an evocative, cinematic quality.
The Schlager Hit Parade
An upbeat, catchy track inspired by European pop (“schlager”) traditions, with playful lyrics.
The Secret Of Happiness
A gentle ballad with lush strings, pondering elusive happiness.
Bullet For Narcissus
Featuring punctuated guitar figures and a somewhat harder edge, this song takes aim at vanity and mistrust with sharp lyrics. The production nods to the duo's Behaviour era, blending synths and strings effectively.
Love Is the Law
Additional Information
The album was released in multiple formats, including digital, CD, vinyl, and a deluxe double-CD edition featuring a bonus EP called Furthermore, with new recordings of classic Pet Shop Boys songs like “Heart,” “Being Boring,” and “It’s a Sin.” On November 22, 2024, an expanded edition surfaced containing demos, additional songs, and new covers. The album cover features a striking photograph by Tim Walker, showing Tennant and Lowe wearing vintage suits and glowing lights in their mouths, symbolizing creativity and expression during a dark period.
Nonetheless reached number two on the UK Albums Chart, becoming their highest-charting studio album since 1993’s Very. It received acclaim for its combination of classic synth-pop elements with contemporary production, reflecting the durability and evolution of the duo’s sound after nearly four decades. The album’s blend of introspective lyricism with lush, danceable, and cinematic music underscores the Pet Shop Boys continued artistic vitality.
In summary, nonetheless is a triumphant return that balances human emotion, technological innovation, and musical sophistication, celebrating the duo’s legacy while addressing the uniqueness of current times.
Final thoughts….
Quite possibly one of the most consistent albums the Pet Shop Boys have ever released, a solid album with some excellent tracks, I do think the choices for singles is questionable again, “Why Am I Dancing” and “The Schlager Hit Parade” should have been singles ahead of “New London Boy” and “A New Bohemia”. It goes to show that after all these years they can still make a fabulous album, it was needed after the previous 3 album releases.
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.
Loneliness 3
Feel 2
Why Am I Dancing 3
New London Boy 1
Dancing Star 2
A New Bohemia 2
The Schlager Hit Parade 3
The Secret Of Happiness 2
Bullet For Narcissus 1
Love Is The Law 3
Score 22
FINAL ALBUM RATING 73
The Final Pet Shop Boys Albums Rated 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. Nonetheless – 73 (4 Tracks Rated As 3)
7. Behaviour – 73 (3 Tracks Rated As 3)
8. Very - 69
9. Hotspot - 57 (2 Tracks Rated As 3)
10.Release - 57 (1 Track Rated As 3)
11.Elysium - 50
11.Bilingual - 47
13.Nightlife – 42
14.Super – 39
15.Electric – 30
Absolutely Fabulous - The Top Album Tracks By Pet Shop Boys (Tracks Rated At 3)
1. West End Girls
2. Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money)
3. Tonight Is Forever
4. Later Tonight
5. Why Don’t We Live Together?
6. What Have I Done To Deserve This?
7. Rent
8. It Couldn’t Happen Here
9. It’s A Sin
10.Heart
11.King’s Cross
12.Left To My Own Devices
13.Domino Dancing
14.I’m Not Scared
15.Always On My Mind/In My House
16.Being Boring
17.So Hard
18. Jealousy
19.One In A Million
20.Go West
21.Se A Vida E (That’s The Way Life Is)
22.You Only Tell Me You Love Me When I’m Drunk
23.You Choose
24. The Sodom And Gomorrah Show
25.Integral
26.Love Etc
27.Did You See Me Coming
28.Vulnerable
29.Building A Wall
30.King Of Rome
31.Pandemonium
32.Leaving
33.Breathing Space
34.Memory Of The Future
35. Love Is A Bourgeois Construct
36.The Dictator Decides
37.Only The Dark
38.Burning The Heather
39.Loneliness
40.Why Am I Dancing?
41.The Schlager Hit Parade
42.Love Is The Law
What Have We Done To Deserve This? – The Worst Rated Album Tracks By Pet Shop Boys (Tracks Rated At 0)
1. Electricity
2. Saturday Night Forever
3. Boy Strange
4. In Denial
5. Legacy
6. Winner
7. Ego Music
8. Hold On
9. Bolshy
10.Shouting In The Evening
11.Thursday
12.Vocal
13.Happiness
14.The Pop Kids
15.Groovy
16.Pazzo
17.Monkey Business
18.Wedding In Berlin
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