Disco 4 and MORE!

I have waited a couple of weeks to post this in case this was just a rumour. But it seems to be more than a rumour according to HMV. There has been a confirmed release date for the fourth installment of Disco releases by the boys. Disco 4 has not yet been mentioned on Pet Shop Boys official website. So does this mean that it's non-existent or does it just mean they are holding out for the right time to post it?

It would seem to me this would be a good time to mention it. We know the North American release of Cubism is due on July 24. We also know that the Minimal Japanese EP is due to be released on August 13 on EMI-Toshiba with some of the promo remixes of both Minimal and I'm with stupid for the price tag of $20. I've already preordered my copies.

It hasn't been brought up in quite a while, but Nightlife Further Listening was to be released this fall. It's been rumoured that it may make an appearance in November. I can only hope. It's also to be noted that Release Further Listening can't be far behind. It's been 5 years since the release of Release and it was only 5 years from the release of Bilingual when they released that Further Listening set. So the second half of 2007 maybe a busy time for the boys.

As far as Disco 4, I hope they do a totally new listing of remixes and unreleased tunes. Although what I hear is it will include a remix of Integral, intended to be released as a single.But I cannot imagine releasing a single (and there would have to be remixes or b-sides) taken from a remix CD.

Of all the Disco CDs, I still like Disco- The Remix Album the best. Disco 2 was actually the only Disco album. It was a continuous remix CD which most fans never liked. I liked the format but the remixes weren't the ones I would have chosen. Then Disco 3 came around. It was the one I was least anxious about. I enjoyed the previously unreleased tracks more than the remixes. So i am hoping there's some bonus tracks and maybe if they'd go back to the idea they had with Disco 2 of having a continuous mix but please no dubs. After all, when you're at a disco, the music is continuous.

And that's what a Disco's 4

Cubism or Dupism?

When I heard there was to be a DVD release of the Fundamental tour I was excited. Then when I heard the DVD was to be the video of the concert in Mexico City, I was disappointed. I was hoping Pet Shop Boys would have filmed one of the 18 US tours. Why they chose Mexico City is a mystery to me. According to the documentary on the DVD extras Neil said "I think the reason we wanted to film the show there is because you get this real warmth from the audience excitement."

I wasn't at all 18 US venues last year. But I managed to make it to three of the shows. St. Louis, Detroit and Chicago. And from what I witnessed, I felt both warmth and excitement. Granted, the venues were smaller than the one in Mexico City. Maybe Neil and Chris believe we in the US don't have the same enthusiasm about seeing them before and after the shows because their security staff tries to keep the fans away from them. For example in Chicago, the theatre security staff kept insisting that both Neil and Chris had both exited the theatre and they said we would be wasting our time to wait outside the stage door exit. After 3 times of telling the waiting fans they were gone, Neil stepped out the door. So maybe the reason we in the US can't express our excitement is due to the fact that their security staff does their best to keep the fans distanced from them. Also, I know for a fact that if I knew which gate they were coming through at the airport and when they were landing, my butt would definitely would have been there to welcome them. Enough of my commentary on the commentary. LOL

I had preordered the DVD as soon as the date was announced. They released the DVD in two limited edition slipcovers. One is a blurry picture of the backside of Chris. The other limited edition slipcover is a blurry picture of Neil. So being the fan I am, I ordered one of each (at different times so I would be sure not to get two identical sleeves). On Monday morning June 11, I log onto the official Pet Shop Boys site and what do I see? It's announced that there will be a US release of Cubism on July 24. Will there be another surprise in July? I can only hope.

I truly believe if both the UK and US DVD's and CD's were released closer together that they would show more sales in the US. We the fans buy a DVD or CD when it's released in the UK rather than to wait anywhere from 2 months to 3 years to get the releases. By the time they release a US version, it's not a new release to us. We contribute to the UK sales and US sales suffer.
I found the performance on Cubism to be fantastic. The quality of the video was superb. The sound quality was excellent! Yet I didn't feel the volume of warmth and excitement of the audience. But I'm only comparing the enthusiasm that I express at their shows. I don't consider waving arms in unison to be excitement.

And since I am comparing things. Neil and Chris have decided to change their website, one cannot even ask questions like we were once able to do on their old website. Oh sure I can write my question and snail mail it across the pond and wait until the next edition of Literally comes out next year in hopes to get a response.

Back in the 90's the official Pet Shop Boys website was unique to most bands websites. They would answer questions from the first 4 or 5 days of the month that were submitted by fans. It was fun, although I recall when they would get rude questions. But most questions were cool because they were the kinds of questions they would never be asked by the media. I know I am not alone when I say I miss those Q & A sessions. I realize it would be difficult to answer questions while touring.

Okay, so that's about it for now.