Yes (Pet Shop Boys album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by GreenC bot (talk | contribs) at 17:34, 16 November 2016 (1 {{webarchive}} template date format change per {{use dmy}})). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[3]
Drowned in Sound5/10[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[5]
The Guardian[6]
The Independent[7]
NME8/10[8]
PopMatters7/10[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
Spin8/10[11]

Yes is the tenth studio album by English synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 18 March 2009 by Parlophone. The album was recorded throughout 2008 and is produced by Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania.[12] Xenomania also co-wrote three of the tracks. Guitarist Johnny Marr and string arranger Owen Pallett appear as well.[13] "Love Etc." was released on 16 March 2009 as the album's lead single.[12]

Background and release

Yes debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart on sales of 27,639 copies, the duo's highest-placing album since Bilingual (1996).[14] Early sales figures predicted that the album would enter at number one,[15] but its release was beset by distribution problems and Yes proved unable to hold onto its midweek position. The download version erroneously went on sale through iTunes three days before its official release date, rendering 2,500 sales ineligible for the chart, while, the following week, a number of suppliers of the physical album reported stock level problems.[16] The album was hit by a minor manufacturing error as well: some booklets included with initial copies of the Yes etc. double CD set were stapled in the wrong order. EMI set up a website for anyone affected by this to claim a new booklet.[17]

The album was released in multiple formats, including a digital version that included a 48-minute track-by-track commentary on the album, and an 11-disc vinyl version limited to 300 copies, with each disc containing a different album track on the first side and a corresponding instrumental version on the second.[18] The double CD edition of the album incorporated a bonus disc titled Etc., which featured mostly instrumental dub mixes of six album tracks, as well as a new song called "This Used to Be the Future", to which Philip Oakey of The Human League contributed some vocals. A standard, single-disc vinyl LP was also issued, but did not coincide with the international CD and download release.

Yes spawned three further singles. On 1 June 2009, "Did You See Me Coming?" was released worldwide on a number of physical and digital formats, backed with three new B-sides.[12] A limited German-only "Beautiful People" CD and download followed in October. The five-track Christmas, Pet Shop Boys' first EP release,[19] was released on 14 December 2009, with "All Over the World" acting as the principal radio promo and gaining a music video.

The album was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 2010 Grammy Awards.

Yes was supported by a comprehensive world tour that stretched across 2009–2012. A recording of the tour made in London in December 2009 was released in a CD/DVD package on 15 February 2010 as Pandemonium.

Album cover

The album sleeve was designed by Mark Farrow and Pet Shop Boys. The tick on the cover is made up of eleven coloured squares.[20] It was inspired by German artist Gerhard Richter (who is referenced in the album's opening track, "Love Etc."), specifically his 4900 exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery and the stained glass window in Cologne Cathedral.[21]

The album's cover was nominated in the 2010 Brit Insurance Design Awards shortlist in the Graphics category.[22]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Love Etc."3:32
2."All Over the World" 3:51
3."Beautiful People" 3:42
4."Did You See Me Coming?" 3:41
5."Vulnerable" 4:47
6."More Than a Dream"
  • Tennant
  • Lowe
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Jason Resch
  • Kieran Jones
4:57
7."Building a Wall" 3:50
8."King of Rome" 5:31
9."Pandemonium" 3:43
10."The Way It Used to Be"
  • Tennant
  • Lowe
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Nick Coler
4:44
11."Legacy" 6:21
Japanese edition bonus track[23]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Love Etc." (Pet Shop Boys Sex Mix)
  • Tennant
  • Lowe
  • Higgins
  • Cooper
  • Powell
  • Parker
6:18
iTunes Store bonus tracks[24]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Love Etc." (Pet Shop Boys Dub)
  • Tennant
  • Lowe
  • Higgins
  • Cooper
  • Powell
  • Parker
6:18
13."Yes" (Track by Track Commentary by Neil & Chris) 48:40
14."Brit Awards Medley" 9:32
Limited edition bonus disc: Etc.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."This Used to Be the Future" (featuring Philip Oakey) 5:14
2."More Than a Dream" (Magical Dub)
  • Tennant
  • Lowe
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Jason Resch
  • Kieran Jones
6:10
3."Pandemonium" (The Stars and the Sun Dub) 5:50
4."The Way It Used to Be" (Left of Love Dub) 5:16
5."All Over the World" (This Is a Dub) 5:21
6."Vulnerable" (Public Eye Dub) 5:17
7."Love Etc." (Beautiful Dub)
  • Tennant
  • Lowe
  • Higgins
  • Cooper
  • Powell
  • Parker
6:24
10.Untitled
  • Tennant
  • Lowe
  • Cooper
  • Higgins
  • Coler
 
Total length:39:32

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Yes.[25]

Pet Shop Boys
  • Pet Shop Boys – art direction, design
  • Neil Tennant – lead vocals (all tracks); keyboards, programming (tracks 3–5, 7–11, "This Used to Be the Future")
  • Chris Lowe – keyboards, programming (all tracks); additional vocals (tracks 7, "This Used to Be the Future")
Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[54] Gold 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Japan[23] 18 March 2009 EMI
Australia[56] 20 March 2009
  • CD
  • digital download
Germany[57]
  • CD
  • 2-CD
  • digital download
Italy[58]
France[59] 23 March 2009
  • CD
  • digital download
United Kingdom[12]
  • CD
  • 2-CD
  • digital download
Parlophone
United States[60] 21 April 2009 Astralwerks
Germany[61] 24 April 2009 LP EMI
United Kingdom[62] 11 May 2009 Parlophone

References

  1. ^ "Yes – Pet Shop Boys". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  2. ^ Allmusic review
  3. ^ Robert Christgau review
  4. ^ Drowned in Sound review
  5. ^ Entertainment Weekly
  6. ^ The Guardian review
  7. ^ The Independent review
  8. ^ NME review
  9. ^ PopMatters review
  10. ^ Rolling Stone review at the Wayback Machine (archived 15 April 2009)
  11. ^ Spin review
  12. ^ a b c d ""Yes" is released". petshopboys.co.uk. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  13. ^ "Pet Shop Boys announce Johnny Marr-featuring album". NME. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  14. ^ Jones, Alan (30 March 2012). "Yes men lose out on the top spot". Music Week. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  15. ^ Williams, Paul (24 March 2009). "Pet Shop Boys eye first chart topper since 1993". Music Week. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  16. ^ "Album sales aren't right, Pet". The Sun. News Group Newspapers. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
  17. ^ "Please fill out your details to receive your corrected Yes, Special Edition album booklet". Google Docs. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
  18. ^ "nice package". The Rewind. Direct Holdings Americas. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
  19. ^ http://www.petshopboys.co.uk/product/singles/christmas
  20. ^ "Yes, Pet Shop Boys by Mark Farrow". Design Indaba. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  21. ^ Ash (13 April 2009). "Pet Shop Boys: Yes". Sleevage. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  22. ^ "Pet Shop Boys and Bjork album covers nominated in 2010 Design Awards". NME. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  23. ^ a b イエス (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. Retrieved 19 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Yes by Pet Shop Boys". iTunes Store (GB). Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  25. ^ Yes (CD liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 2009. 6953472.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  27. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  28. ^ "Ultratop.be – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  30. ^ "Top Kombiniranih [Top Combined]" (in Croatian). Top Combined Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  31. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  32. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  33. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  34. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. 121 (14): 46. 11 April 2009. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  35. ^ "Pet Shop Boys: Yes" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  36. ^ "Lescharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  37. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  38. ^ "Top 50 Ξένων Aλμπουμ – Εβδομάδα 16/2009" [Top 50 Foreign Albums – Week 16/2009] (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  39. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2009. 13. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  40. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 13, 2009". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  41. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  42. ^ イエス | ペット・ショップ・ボーイズ [Yes | Pet Shop Boys] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  43. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Yes". mexicancharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  44. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  45. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  46. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  47. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  48. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  49. ^ "Pet Shop Boys | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  50. ^ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  51. ^ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  52. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2009" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  53. ^ "Year End Charts – Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  54. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Pet Shop Boys; 'Yes')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  55. ^ "British album certifications – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". British Phonographic Industry. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2016. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Yes in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  56. ^ "YES – Pet Shop Boys". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  57. ^ "Pet Shop Boys // Yes" (in German). EMI Music Germany. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  58. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in Italian). Internet Bookshop Italia. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  59. ^ "Yes : Pet Shop Boys" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  60. ^ "Yes: Pet Shop Boys". Amazon.com. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  61. ^ "PET SHOP BOYS // Yes (LP-Vinyl)" (in German). EMI Music Germany. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  62. ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Yes". esounds. EMI Music UK and Ireland. Retrieved 26 July 2009.

External links