Pet Shop Boys, Literally
by Chris Heath

Our Price: $77.91
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $24.93 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Book Summary Information

Book Reviews of Pet Shop Boys, Literally

Book Review: They're Shameless
Summary: 4 Stars

First, the book is terribly funny. PSB act like spoiled rock stars at times and then seem like the most normal chaps you could hope to meet. This schism is appropriate for a group that writes and performs such complex music. We also learn a great deal about their creative process. For example, I had always assumed that Chris wrote the music and Neil wrote the lyrics, which apparently is not the case; instead, they seem to have equal say in developing songs. The boys also seem surprisingly principled and unwilling to bend their artistic choices for the sake of popularity and record company approval.

"Literally" covers their tour during for "Introspective" CD ("It's Alright" was released as a single in Britain during this time). The PSB were in their self-proclaimed "imperial period" - when everything they did went to #1 in the UK and top 10 in the US. However, times were clearly changing, especially with the proliferation of English boy bands during the 1990s. Neil and Chris riff on a number of British and American pop stars, and the fun is not diminished by the fact that many of these acts, such as Bros, are fairly unknown in the US. If anything, the fading of these untalented bands and the continuing (European) success of PSB documents that substance can win over style.

Although the book is a bit dated, it?s a terrific read. Most highly recommended for PSB fans.

Biographies & Memoirs Books

• Entertainment