I thought this could be a fun one!

Which band do you think is better overall, The Smiths or Pet Shop Boys?

Both bands had tales of sorrow, lonely nightlife & clubbing life. Stories of falling in love & the tragedy of it all, stories of political/social meaning.

And there songs had a lot of gloom/doom feel but with a light at the end of the tunnel, also Niel & Morrisey also would occasionally bring there strange sense of humor into the songs to.

So 2 great bands, but which do you think is overall the best?

Back in the days of my youth I would have said The Smiths hands down, but as I matured I started to realize that the constant angst of Moz and crew wore thin. One can only take so much of the self reflective unloveable world against me and fragile soft soul which is full of love if only given a chance by the cold hard world.

PSB was the almost the exact opposite. Never cared for the first disc, though it has grown on me in recent years. I didnt much care for the cold electronic sound almost monotone vocals though I did like the wit. As I matured I discovered Introspective's Left To My Own Devices and the orchestrations just surprised me and intrigued me. Once Behaviour was released I was a fan. With each release the boys have shown more depth and maturity that no other pop group that Im aware of has so easily achieved.

Even today PSB just amazes me that they really have yet to repeat themselves and lyrically Neil has become a powerhouse. When I'm getting a crash course in the politics of WW1 or the state of immigration in GB to the anti Iraq war sentiment all surrounded by pop music that has become warm and embracing and almost organic.

Honestly they are properly the only artist out there today that each release I eargerly look forward to. Their new release this fall cant come soon enough.

Plus they do some great Marching Style songs.

lazycrockett said:

Back in the days of my youth I would have said The Smiths hands down, but as I matured I started to realize that the constant angst of Moz and crew wore thin. One can only take so much of the self reflective unloveable world against me and fragile soft soul which is full of love if only given a chance by the cold hard world.

PSB was the almost the exact opposite. Never cared for the first disc, though it has grown on me in recent years. I didnt much care for the cold electronic sound almost monotone vocals though I did like the wit. As I matured I discovered Introspective's Left To My Own Devices and the orchestrations just surprised me and intrigued me. Once Behaviour was released I was a fan. With each release the boys have shown more depth and maturity that no other pop group that Im aware of has so easily achieved.

Even today PSB just amazes me that they really have yet to repeat themselves and lyrically Neil has become a powerhouse. When I'm getting a crash course in the politics of WW1 or the state of immigration in GB to the anti Iraq war sentiment all surrounded by pop music that has become warm and embracing and almost organic.

Honestly they are properly the only artist out there today that each release I eargerly look forward to. Their new release this fall cant come soon enough.

Plus they do some great Marching Style songs.

have to agree... and i mean REALLY agree. The Smiths rock but Morriseys solo stuff becomes so fucking whiny... he sounds like a little kid about everything. But in The Smiths he was backed up by Johnny & Andy.

But with PSB i love almost every album, Neil is a poet & even with old age can still write fantastic stories.

That is why i loved groups like the PSB, OMD & others they had songs about history to.

I also want to add, and this may piss of some Smith fans.. and i do love em.. but with that said.

I don't think The Smiths ever made a song as meaningful or haunting as Being Boring, You Know Where You Went Wrong, it's Alright, Numb or Kings Cross.

I'm a bigger fan of The Smiths so I'll go with them. All I've got by the Pet Shop Boys is the Discography best of disc, which is fantastic. I was all set to start buying their proper albums but I was put off by the fact that the two disc reissues were out of print and going for astronomical prices. What happened there? It seems kind of silly not to keep them in print. I know that I could buy single disc versions but I want the b-sides and twelve inch mixes! EMI, I want to give you my money but you don't seem to want it.

Regarding The Smiths, while I am a fan I can not believe how overrated they are by some folks. I'm not sure who it was (probably the NME) but someone compiled a list of the greatest bands ever and The Smiths were number one. Really, that is fucked up. Probably nine out of ten people you ask on the street couldn't name a single song by them but they are greater than The Beatles?

Gunsnhalen said:

Which band do you think is better overall, The Smiths or Pet Shop Boys?

Easy!

The one with the gay frontman

I only have one album by The Smiths (2 disc comp) but that's probably as far as it'll go for me.

I love Marr's input but as for Morrissey... well, probably better I say nothing more.

I've got pretty much everything by the PSB. Nightlife is the only album I don't get on with, and even that contains a couple of gems.

rialb said:

I'm a bigger fan of The Smiths so I'll go with them. All I've got by the Pet Shop Boys is the Discography best of disc, which is fantastic. I was all set to start buying their proper albums but I was put off by the fact that the two disc reissues were out of print and going for astronomical prices. What happened there? It seems kind of silly not to keep them in print. I know that I could buy single disc versions but I want the b-sides and twelve inch mixes! EMI, I want to give you my money but you don't seem to want it.

Regarding The Smiths, while I am a fan I can not believe how overrated they are by some folks. I'm not sure who it was (probably the NME) but someone compiled a list of the greatest bands ever and The Smiths were number one. Really, that is fucked up. Probably nine out of ten people you ask on the street couldn't name a single song by them but they are greater than The Beatles?

Smiths/Morrissey fans are probably the most hardcore I've ever met.

Tell them that their heroes are somewhat overrated and you'll be lucky not to have your throat slit.

As for the NME, I haven't taken that publication seriously for well over 20 years.

A tiresome "only indie music is good" load of bollocks.

rialb said:

Regarding The Smiths, while I am a fan I can not believe how overrated they are by some folks. I'm not sure who it was (probably the NME) but someone compiled a list of the greatest bands ever and The Smiths were number one. Really, that is fucked up. Probably nine out of ten people you ask on the street couldn't name a single song by them but they are greater than The Beatles?

That's nothing out of the ordinary for NME. I think they did one of those lists (or maybe it was for albums) and the Arctic Monkeys topped the list about 6 months after its release - or less.

The British music press is notoriously fickle and a prime source of hipster douchery.

rialb said:

I know that I could buy single disc versions but I want the b-sides and twelve inch mixes! EMI, I want to give you my money but you don't seem to want it.

There are a couple of 2-disc B sides compilations Alternative and Format. Both currently in print.

Cloudbuster said:

rialb said:

I know that I could buy single disc versions but I want the b-sides and twelve inch mixes! EMI, I want to give you my money but you don't seem to want it.

There are a couple of 2-disc B sides compilations Alternative and Format. Both currently in print.

Thanks for the tip. I did find reasonably priced used copies of the two disc versions of Very and Bilingual and Alternative was also fairly cheap so I scooped up all three. I'm guessing that most of the "missing" tracks on Alternative and Format are just remixes?

rialb said:

Cloudbuster said:

There are a couple of 2-disc B sides compilations Alternative and Format. Both currently in print.

Thanks for the tip. I did find reasonably priced used copies of the two disc versions of Very and Bilingual and Alternative was also fairly cheap so I scooped up all three. I'm guessing that most of the "missing" tracks on Alternative and Format are just remixes?

There's a few tracks missing. The B side Fugitive (which was also on the special edition of their Fundamental album) is absent and also the Christmas EP tracks, but I think that's it.

Hopefully someone else can confirm that though 'cos I'm not certain.

Just checked and Format is missing the recent B sides Glad All Over, I Cried For Us and A Powerful Friend too.

rialb said:

I'm a bigger fan of The Smiths so I'll go with them. All I've got by the Pet Shop Boys is the Discography best of disc, which is fantastic. I was all set to start buying their proper albums but I was put off by the fact that the two disc reissues were out of print and going for astronomical prices. What happened there? It seems kind of silly not to keep them in print. I know that I could buy single disc versions but I want the b-sides and twelve inch mixes! EMI, I want to give you my money but you don't seem to want it.

Regarding The Smiths, while I am a fan I can not believe how overrated they are by some folks. I'm not sure who it was (probably the NME) but someone compiled a list of the greatest bands ever and The Smiths were number one. Really, that is fucked up. Probably nine out of ten people you ask on the street couldn't name a single song by them but they are greater than The Beatles?

If you can ever find the, it is way worth it to get there discs. They got better & better with each album, the only album by them i am mixed on Nightlife but even that has VERY strong moments.

As a youngin i LOVED The Smiith from ages 16-19, but now being 21 i still love them.. but i agree on the overratedness. They where a GREAT band... but people act as if they where the 2nd comng of alternative music.

rialb said:

Cloudbuster said:

There are a couple of 2-disc B sides compilations Alternative and Format. Both currently in print.

Thanks for the tip. I did find reasonably priced used copies of the two disc versions of Very and Bilingual and Alternative was also fairly cheap so I scooped up all three. I'm guessing that most of the "missing" tracks on Alternative and Format are just remixes?

Good!

Also i migth add if you ever do find the 2 disc editions of the albums there way worth it.

The booklet has Niel & Chris commenting on every song of each album... and They even say which they thing are good and bad. It's pretty cool to hear there input! imagine if Sign ''O'' The Times got that treatment

no contest

The Smiths.

who the hell likes the PSB? they are shit.

A better comparison should be 'The Cure' vs 'The Smiths'

mancabdriver said:

no contest

The Smiths.

who the hell likes the PSB? they are shit.

A better comparison should be 'The Cure' vs 'The Smiths'

The PSB are shit yet most people in the thread preferred them...

[Edited 5/6/12 16:51pm]

Cloudbuster said:

rialb said:

I'm a bigger fan of The Smiths so I'll go with them. All I've got by the Pet Shop Boys is the Discography best of disc, which is fantastic. I was all set to start buying their proper albums but I was put off by the fact that the two disc reissues were out of print and going for astronomical prices. What happened there? It seems kind of silly not to keep them in print. I know that I could buy single disc versions but I want the b-sides and twelve inch mixes! EMI, I want to give you my money but you don't seem to want it.

Regarding The Smiths, while I am a fan I can not believe how overrated they are by some folks. I'm not sure who it was (probably the NME) but someone compiled a list of the greatest bands ever and The Smiths were number one. Really, that is fucked up. Probably nine out of ten people you ask on the street couldn't name a single song by them but they are greater than The Beatles?

Smiths/Morrissey fans are probably the most hardcore I've ever met.

Tell them that their heroes are somewhat overrated and you'll be lucky not to have your throat slit.

As for the NME, I haven't taken that publication seriously for well over 20 years.

A tiresome "only indie music is good" load of bollocks.

that is so true!

You know who is even worse? i mean i LOVE me some Joy Division, but don't u dare diss them in fornt of fans. They will release the plague of 1,000 years on your ass

Gunsnhalen said:

mancabdriver said:

no contest

The Smiths.

who the hell likes the PSB? they are shit.

A better comparison should be 'The Cure' vs 'The Smiths'

The PSB are shit yet most people in the thread preferred them...

We're a bunch of coprophiliacs

The Smiths were incredibly influential and had some iconic albums, but I really don't think any other pop group can match the PSB for both quantity and quality over the last 25 years. They have had a remarkable string of albums, numerous killer singles, b-sides... just amazing.

Gunsnhalen said:

Cloudbuster said:

Smiths/Morrissey fans are probably the most hardcore I've ever met.

Tell them that their heroes are somewhat overrated and you'll be lucky not to have your throat slit.

As for the NME, I haven't taken that publication seriously for well over 20 years.

A tiresome "only indie music is good" load of bollocks.

that is so true!

You know who is even worse? i mean i LOVE me some Joy Division, but don't u dare diss them in fornt of fans. They will release the plague of 1,000 years on your ass

No shit.

I didn't want to open a new thread and figured this is as good a place to ask as any. Is there a version of PopArt that includes the dvd but also includes cd's that are not copy protected? As near as I can tell only the European versions come with the dvd but the cd's are copy protected. The U.S. version is not copy protected but there is no dvd. So if I want the dvd and cd's that are not copy protected do I have to buy both the U.S. and European version?

The Smiths of course.
Although PSB has some good and very good songs