PET SHOP BOYS POPART COMPILATION DOUBLE ALBUM PARLOPHONE, CAPITOL RELEASE: NOVEMBER 26, 2003 REVIEW: DECEMBER 8, 2003

To rate this album is a bit difficult for me. Pet Shop Boys were my first musical obsession, and it all started when I bought the 12” maxi single of “Rent” back in 1987. This fantastic song got me hooked for good, and I started collecting their music.
Listening to “PopArt” is a trip down memory lane, because it has been a while now since I last really cared about Pet Shop Boys. I kind of lost my interest around “Bilingual”, even though I still got most of the different versions of singles and albums they have put out after that. This is why I’m so glad that the two new songs are strong. Admittedly, “Miracles” is a bit run-of-the-mill, but “Flamboyant” is one of the best tracks Neil and Chris have produced in several years.
Now, how to rate this compilation? The lads have already released a collection of singles called “Discography” but all of the songs that’s on there are available here too, with the addition of several newer tracks, everything spread over two CD:s. It’s a one-stop-shop for the aspiring Pet Shop Boys fan, and the two new songs adds value for the long time fans as well. And no doubt about it, this is absolutely fabulous electronic pop music, with intelligence, wit and integrity seldom seen nowadays. It really doesn’t get much better than this in my opinion. It’s much better value for money than “Discography” and if you get hold of the special edition 3-disc edition, you get some darn good classic remixes as well.

JOHAN CARLSSON