Partying like it's 1986, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe still know how to stretch the expressive possibilities of conventional dance music. While those pounding disco beats and dramatic synthesizers don't allow a lot of flexibility, Tennant's wan, weary vocals capture the desperate longing for love the way few singers can. Chronicling the search for tenderness in a hard world, shimmering tracks like ÒFor Your Own Good,Ó ÒHappiness Is An Option,Ó and ÒCloser To HeavenÓ offer comfort to anyone--gay or straight--who's spent too many nights alone.
The Boys' music can't always sustain their vision. ÒVampires,Ó ÒThe Only One,Ó and ÒFootstepsÓ are mushy and bland, rather than wistful, leaving no lasting impression. Elsewhere, Tennant is eloquent. Recalling the Village People, the stomping ÒNew York City BoyÓ depicts the thrill of escape, celebrating the metropolis as a paradise for misfits; ÒIn Denial,Ó a duet co-starring Kylie Minogue, captures a poignant exchange between a father and daughter struggling to come to grips with their problems. Nightlife lacks consistency, but its best moments touch the heart.
Pet Shop Boys: All recordings courtesy of London Records. ÒNew York City BoyÓ written by N. Tennant, Lowe and Morales, courtesy of EMI Virgin Music, Inc./Def Mix Music, administered by EMI Virgin Music, Inc. (ASCAP). ÒI Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any MoreÓ and ÒYou Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're DrunkÓ written by N. Tennant and Lowe, courtesy of EMI Virgin Music, Inc. (ASCAP).
