Are you a Pet Head? Or are you an Erasurette? Whom do you prefer in the all out Ultimate Battle of the Gays Bands.

Is it the pretty melodic swoonings of Andy Bell?

Or the subtley sacastic yet wise Neil Tennant?

Is it the electrical wizzings of Vince Clarke?

Or the clever coputing of Chris Lowe?

You must decide the winner!


The Cynic and the Hottie

or


Techno Pop Wiz & Flamboyant Crooner?

I'm not really a fan of either, but...

I have one Pet Shop Boys CD (the 'Disco' EP) and one 12" single, "West End Girls".

I have a few Erasure 12" singles: "Oh Lamour", "Victim Of Love", "Chains Of Love" and the 'Crackers International' EP.

So I guess I choose Erasure. Plus Andy Bell and I have the same birthday.

I have to say when I was coming out...Erasure was a very enjoyable band to listen to. I LOVED WILD and CHORUS. I was going out to clubs and whatnot and they played those songs over and over. So, there is definitely a moment in my life I really cherished them. In concert (I have seen 3 times)...I have to say they have put on some amazing shows and performances.

However...over time, I have found myself to be a PSB fan moreso. As I can still listen to all of their albums without much trouble. I also find Neil's lyrics to more fit my personality now and overall. I have also had my PSB years and treasure some of theirs in the same way I do Erasure. Not the greatest in concert, although I did enjoy them when I saw them. And aside from their village people days, I enjoy all of their music...even the newer stuff.

The only straight guy there is not looking at the camera.
Interesting.

I love both bands so I couldn't choose one above the other.
Maybe PSB have never let me down whereas Erasure have had their ups and downs.
On the other side Andy is a better singer...



It's a tie!

I have to go with the Pet Shop Boys."Opportunity"and "West End Girls"are classic club records.

PANDURITO said:

:no2: you must choose!

I agree both have thier strengths..andy is the better singer. Neil is the better songwriter.

I wonder why the 2 have never collaborated.

Actually, has Erasure EVER collaborated with anyone?

PSB then

I have their whole discographies permanently in my iPod and of course I'm listening Nightbird these days...but waiting for Potemkin and the new PSB music.

SPARKS - Plagiarism
Track 13: Amateur Hour (Featuring Erasure)

Being a big fan of Yaz I liked Erasure a lot too back in the 80s. What was funny though is I thought the singer in Erasure was a woman until I saw the video for Chains of Love. He sounded so much like Alison Moyet to me in the early days. Circus/2 Ring Circus and The Innocents were great albums. I kind of fell out of that kind of music after that (when I became a full fledged hippie and became a major Deadhead)...but I still pull those albums out for nostalgia every once in awhile. I never gave a shit that they were gay (again I figured it out after seeing the Chains of Love video).

The only PSB songs I know are West End Girls and Its a Sin. They're alright...just never got into them.

So I am saying Erasure beats PSB for the echno-britpop award for me.

PANDURITO said:

I have Nightbird on my puter (someone I know gave that to me...I downloaded it somewhere...was it here? ) I hvae to say I have not heard it though.

Potemkin..movie soundtrack right? I did hear that they were recording new tracks, which is good to hear. I am not excited as I used to get when they'd have a release. I did "fal out" of them for a while..back in 95/96. It was the Bilingual CD. I thought by song 5...they have lost their touch. This was further proved with New York City Boy...which I hated...it was too gay. I litterally wrote them off. Never got Nightlife nor Release. It was when I picked up Pop Art, did I get to hear the songs I missed from them for almost a 7 year span.

And then I did a PSB freak out and like got almost everything they had put out. I actually ended up enjoying the last two releases from them. London, Home and Dry, Don't know what you want... are all great. I really recommend Pop Art and the Videos...all are great. My only bitch is that they still don't have the single versions of Seriously nor AbFab on any single comp.




I haven't really heard anything by erasure since Cowboy...oh a dibble and dabble here and there, but I haven't given them the time of day for a while. I liked their video hits from last year...but the GH CD (with Feeling) SUCKED ASS!

Pagey said:

s'alright. at least you chose and gave a reason.

Thing is I know folks that like one and not the other. But they can never give a reason yay or nay as to why.

sextonseven said:

If you're only juding the Pet Shop Boys on "Disco" and "West End Girls", you really don't got enough of their stuff. I have most of their CDs and I'm definately a Pet Head. I've been tempted to buy Erasure's hits CD but never did. I wouldn't say I dislike them but when I got into the Pet Shop Boys last year, I really got into them.

superspaceboy said:

I love the video mix of "Seriously" and it just sucks out loud that they've never put that song anywhere. It would have been perfect on the bonus disc of "Behavoir" remastered, which is filled with useless extended mixes!

VinnyM27 said:

I think it's a contract think. Brothers in Rhythm did it I think.I love how the video for that and Where the streets...go back to back.

Now the Behavoir remaster is a good release. Not useless remixes...but B-sides and rare cuts. Like the ext version of Was it worth it. Do you know how hard it is to get that? See my freakout above Yeah some of their singles and remixes are really hard to come by. Just try finding your Seriously single...remix.

i love them both. i'm a huge fan of both bands... so i couldn't really choose.

Although - if i must choose - then Pet Shop Boys. They are fucking amazing. ('scuse the language).

superspaceboy said:

"Was It Worth It" was a very nice extended mix...but where two mixes of "DJ Culture" necssary? Really? I think the best remaster bonus disc (the one I go back to the most, anyway) is "Bilingual", also a great album. I paid the most for that one but it was worth it. I love "The Truck Driver and His Mate" along with "Hit and Miss" and "Delusion of Granduer"...good stuff!

And where would you recommend finding the "Seriously" remix single? Is that the kind of song you could find as a download on a pay site (I'd buy it for a dollar). Any place on the net good for selling old singles cheap...let me guess...Ebay!
[Edited 2/28/05 18:54pm]

PSB by a heel...

Both have brilliant work... Listen to "I Say, I Say, I Say" by Erasure -- it's just creamy, and perfectly suits Andy Bell's voice.

PSB have proven to be a more prolific act, IMO.


kevin

PSB

i like eurasure, but the lyrics are very much just fluff dance songs. pet shop boys have a lot more going on in their lyrics.

plus the cover of go west is an absolute fave of mine

VinnyM27 said:

Are you talking about the version in the Where the Streets Have No Name CD single?

1 Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes off You)
2 How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously? [Extended Mix]
3 Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend
4 How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously? [Classical Reprise]

Cause I got that CD
No, seriously , if you want me to encode it at a high bitrate and send it to you, just tell me

I don't think you can compare them. They are completely different.

If I had to pick a favourite, it would be Erasure. More soul in there music.

Pet Shop Boys. No contest.

PSB's style is more

whereas Erasure is more


I mean:
PSB. I'm a man (or a woman) and I like music. I like PSB
Erasure. I'm gay and I like gay music.

PANDURITO said:

Shapeshifter said:

Pet shop boys gets my vote on there work from 83-90, but they I think they become thinner on the ground after that.

Apart from the covers album, Erasure have been more constant.

VinnyM27 said:

My decision was based on the fact that I have more Erasure records than Pet Shop Boys records. I've heard lots more than what I own. I remember when the Music Choice dance channel added "Paris City Boy" to its playlist. It was like watching an accident. Every time it was played, I couldn't help but listen and marvel at how horrible it was. The same station currently has Erasure's "Breathe" in heavy rotation.

Erasure

Pet Shop Boys

I don't know why but I've never taken to Erasure; I guess they're just too camp for me.

I've got this love/hate relationship with the PSBs; I still buy every album - got every one - but I want to like them as much as I used to. (Ever since they were 'rude' at a record signing a few years back I've had this 'They annoyed me but I still buy their records' thing going on. )(God, 'fammiest' post I've ever made ).

VinnyM27 said:

Looking at the Behaviour bonus disc again...you are right, it could have been better. There is much repitition between it and the B-Sides comp. They could have added Bet SHe's not your GF ext...and the ext of This must be the place...

My favorite Bonus is the Very Disk. Many of the B-Sides could have been singles etc. It was a very prolific period for them round then...with Relentless being one of my very favorites by them.

The remix of Seriously can be found on the CD single of where the streets have no name. There was also an exclusive vinyl they came out with that is THAT version...but it's vinyl. My friend at one point DJ'd and collected their stuff, so that's how I know. And yes..try e-bay.

BCorgman said:

The cover art...and imagry alone on all of their products...PSB win hands down. Most of their releases come with special packaging. They care a lot about thier fans.