Fundamental news - 22 December '05
The current running order of "Fundamental", Pet Shop Boys' forthcoming album, looks like this at the moment (but they are still experimenting with it):

1. God willing
2. Minimal
3. The Sodom and Gomorrah Show
4. I'm with Stupid
5. Psychological
6. I made my excuses and left
7. Integral
8. Numb
9. Luna Park
10. Casanova in Hell
11. Twentieth Century
12. Indefinite leave to remain

Fundamental reactions - 26 January '06
There have been a few advance press reactions to the “Fundamental” album in the last few days:

“The forthcoming Pet Shop Boys album is on the headphones, and it's a cracker. 'The Sodom and Gomorrah' show in particular, a great Friday night song if ever there was one.” Caspar Llewellyn Smith, The Observer

“The electro godfathers diss ID cards, the war on terror and dim celebrity boyfriends over thunderous Trevor Horn production on their best album for over a decade.” NME

“Already a candidate for song title of the year (‘The Sodom and Gomorrah Show’), this sees Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe return to the magnificently OTT disco pop of their heyday.” Q magazine



New album - 17 November '05
Pet Shop Boys have just completed their new album in a West London studio.

The album has been produced by Trevor Horn and features 10 new Tennant/Lowe songs, a short introduction (also written by Tennant/Lowe) and "Numb", a song by Diane Warren, originally recorded for the "PopArt" compilation in 2003.

Neil and Chris started writing songs for the album in January and commenced recording with Trevor Horn in May. Chris Lowe commented: "We've really enjoyed making this album with Trevor and his team and are very happy indeed with the finished result." Neil Tennant added: "We think it's a great Pet Shop Boys album and also a great Trevor Horn record."

The album is expected to be released worldwide in April 2006.

The first Pet Shop Boys Single in 2006 Minimal will be released on March 10th!

Woo hoo! Trevor Horn, eh? Sounds interesting.

NME... a rave review... for a Pet Shop Boys album... ?? ... can't wait.

There's been a couple of tracks leaked but they are not supposed to be legit.

I haven't liked anything since Very, so not very hopeful, but we'll see.

any news of another US tour - I missed them the last time they came through - they even came to DC - a rare event indeed.

I'm the exact opposite. I was pretty lukewarm on them when they first came out (I still don't really like 'West End Girls'), but 'Bilingual', 'Nightlife' and 'Disco 3' were spectacular and HEAVILY played by me. I think 'Very/Relentless' is when they got their momentum up and running. Even their videos got better!

If this thing's even half as good as the 'Battleship Potemkin' sdck, I'll be doing a happy dance.

It got delayed, but it's leaked now and I like it on first listen.

I love the track Numb.

has there beey any mention of the US version will have the second bonus disc?

Disc: 2
1. Fugitive (Richard X extended mix)
2. Sodom (Trentmoller remix)
3. Psychological (Alter Ego remix)
4. Flamboyant (Michael Mayer remix)
5. I'm with Stupid (Melnyk mix)
6. In private (Stuart Crichton club mix)
7. Minimal (Lobe remix)
8. Gomorrah (Dettinger remix)

I haven't seen anything but that's a nice look list, in private is a great song, that's the dusty springfield track.

I'm initially disappointed. Their last album sounded to me like it was made on the cheap and I get the same feeling with this new recording. I'll listen again and hope I was just in a stinky mood.

Definitely agree with this. Very kicks all kinds of ass, and I doubt they'll ever top it. I'll give Fundamental a spin soon.

the first single from the forthcoming album came out yesterday in the UK

"I'm with Stupid"

7" vinyl includes the B-side: "Girls Don't Cry"

CD single: w/ b-side: "The Resurrectionist"

DVD single:
The Resurrectionist [Goetz B. Extended Mix]
Girls Don't Cry
I'm With Stupid [Video]

the video for 'I'm With Stupid' is actually quite a hoot, it features Matt and David of 'Little Britain' fame

goddamn it, CDwow is no longer listing the double disc version.

Correction, for some reason it's not listed on the 'US' version of the CD site.

Should be out June 27th in the US on Rhino (according to petshopboys.co.uk). We will get both versions, with Fundamental listing for $18.99 and the Fundamentalism double disc for $24.99. Hope I can get the 2cd for closer to $20 somewhere. Heard the leak and its a great album, their best since "Very" (although not quite as good). Can't get "Minimal" or "Integral" out of my head. At least it saves me going crazy for a month waiting for the US release.

Someone emailed me alink to a site from argentina with the double disc for about $12. I'll see if I can find it when I get home.

I agree with fallfan, its the strongest release they have had in an age..

Dissapointed that I'm With Stupid is not yet up on US Itunes.

Sodom and Gomorrah is a real grower.
Minimal is reminiscent of early PSB, they seem to be reaching back into Chris's synth bag to pull some tunes out .
Numb is still my favourite track, and I see it was written by Diane Warren.
Followed v.closely by I made my excuses and left, which reminds me of left to my own devices crossed with it's a sin during the intro. Again the horn's in this are early PSB.

Have it on CD now (through work) and have listened a couple of times in my car. It's growing on me, but I don't know why I still feel like they have traded in their normal keyboards for something that sounds cheaper. Some of my all-time fave discs grew on me, so I'm hoping the same happens here.

You guys should buy the special edition with the second disc "fundamentalism". There's a way better stomper than Sodom and Gomorrah Show. Richard X produced Fugitive for them, amazing track. I think it's a song from the terrorists' point of view or something. Anyways, investigate more from this producer at blackmelody.com

All should remember Adina Howard's Freak Like Me right? Remember a short time ago a group called the Sugababes had a song called Hole In The Head? They mashed Adina's song with Are Friends Electric? by Gary Numan for their second album. That's what brought this guy into the masses in the UK.

The album is definately a grower - I was initially disappointed that it wasn't as dance as 'I'm with Stupid', 'Minimal', and 'Integral' suggested it would be, but once I got over that I found a very very enjoyable album. As of now, I'd rank it somewhere in the middle of their albums. Not quite another "Behaviour", "Actually", or "Very"; light years above "Nightlife", "Bilingual", or "Release" [all of which I like parts of, but all of which are very, very patchy]; about on par with "Introspective" and "Please". Very happy with it .

The bonus disc is also fantastic - 'Fugitive' is possibly my favorite track from the whole album, but all of the mixes are wonderful. Kinda wish they had used the Max Tundra mix of 'I'm with Stupid' instead, but oh well.

There was a pretty good doc on Channel 4 in the UK last night, I quite enjoyed it. Detailing the boys rise from newcastle and brighton, to the 4th best sellers on the US Dance Charts, after Madonna, Janet Jackson and Donna Summer.

I've got the bonus disc now and I really like the remixes, I think even all of them, no duds on this. Yes E-Smoove Liberation Mix I'm talking to yuo!

I've only listened to the first 9 tracks (so far): and I really like the album notably the song: 'Luna Park'

Grrrr, not available at any Best Buy near me, but it is available online. I'll wait until next week when they are gonna have free online shipping. I did obtain a "temporary" copy, and have listened to it a couple of times. As a longtime PSB fan, it's funny how listening to it you kind of have this sixth-sense of where each song is about to go in terms of melody and Neil's vocals. It's good to hear.

The bonus tracks which aren't available here are interesting.

the diane warren demo of numb is a pretty cool look at how songs progress.