Yes (Pet Shop Boys album)
Yes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 18 March 2009 | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Studio | Abbey Road (London) | |||
Genre | Synth-pop | |||
Length | 48:39 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Producer | ||||
Pet Shop Boys chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Yes | ||||
|
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.5/10[1] |
Metacritic | 71/100[2] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[5] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
musicOMH | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 8/10[9] |
PopMatters | 7/10[10] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Yes is the tenth studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 18 March 2009 by Parlophone. The album was recorded throughout 2008 and was produced by Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania.[13] Xenomania also co-wrote three of the tracks. Guitarist Johnny Marr and string arranger Owen Pallett appear as well.[14] "Love Etc." was released on 16 March 2009 as the album's lead single.[13]
Background and release[edit]
Yes debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 27,639 copies, the duo's highest-placing album since Bilingual (1996).[15] Early sales figures predicted that the album would enter at number one,[16] but its release was beset by distribution problems and Yes proved unable to hold onto its midweek position. The download version erroneously went on sale through the iTunes Store three days before its official release date, rendering 2,500 sales ineligible for the chart, while, the following week, a number of suppliers of the physical album reported stock level problems.[17]
The closing track "Legacy" was subject to censorship in China for political sensitivity reasons, as it contains the lyric "governments fall". The song was changed to an instrumental.[18]
The album was released in multiple formats, including a digital version that included a 48-minute track-by-track commentary on the album, and an 11-disc vinyl version limited to 300 copies, with each disc containing a different album track on the first side and a corresponding instrumental version on the second.[19] The double CD edition of the album incorporated a bonus disc titled Etc., which featured mostly instrumental dub mixes of six album tracks, as well as a new song called "This Used to Be the Future", which features guest vocals by Philip Oakey of the Human League. A standard, single-disc vinyl LP was also issued, but did not coincide with the international CD and download release.
Yes spawned three further singles. On 1 June 2009, "Did You See Me Coming?" was released worldwide on a number of physical and digital formats, backed with three new B-sides.[13] A limited German-only "Beautiful People" CD and download followed in October. The five-track Christmas, Pet Shop Boys' first EP release,[20] was released on 14 December 2009, with "All Over the World" acting as the principal radio promo and gaining a music video.
The album was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 2010 Grammy Awards.
Yes was supported by a comprehensive world tour that stretched across 2009–2012. A recording of the tour made in London in December 2009 was released in a CD/DVD package on 15 February 2010 as Pandemonium.
Yes was re-released on 20 October 2017 (along with Elysium) as Yes/Further Listening 2008-2010. This reissue was digitally remastered and contained two bonus discs of B-sides, demos, remixes and rarities from the era.
Artwork[edit]
The album sleeve was designed by Mark Farrow and Pet Shop Boys. The tick on the cover consists of 11 coloured squares, each one representing a track.[21] It was inspired by German artist Gerhard Richter (who is referenced in the album's opening track, "Love Etc."), specifically his 4900 exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery and the stained glass window in Cologne Cathedral.[22]
The album's cover was nominated in the 2010 Brit Insurance Design Awards shortlist in the Graphics category.[23]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Love Etc." |
| 3:32 |
2. | "All Over the World" | 3:51 | |
3. | "Beautiful People" | 3:42 | |
4. | "Did You See Me Coming?" | 3:41 | |
5. | "Vulnerable" | 4:47 | |
6. | "More Than a Dream" |
| 4:57 |
7. | "Building a Wall" | 3:50 | |
8. | "King of Rome" | 5:31 | |
9. | "Pandemonium" | 3:43 | |
10. | "The Way It Used to Be" |
| 4:44 |
11. | "Legacy" | 6:21 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Love Etc." (Pet Shop Boys Sex Mix) |
| 6:18 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Love Etc." (Pet Shop Boys Dub) |
| 6:18 |
13. | "Yes" (track by track commentary by Neil & Chris) | 48:40 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "This Used to Be the Future" (featuring Philip Oakey) | 5:14 | |
2. | "More Than a Dream" (Magical Dub) |
| 6:10 |
3. | "Pandemonium" (The Stars and the Sun Dub) | 5:50 | |
4. | "The Way It Used to Be" (Left of Love Dub) |
| 5:16 |
5. | "All Over the World" (This Is a Dub) | 5:21 | |
6. | "Vulnerable" (Public Eye Dub) | 5:17 | |
7. | "Love Etc." (Beautiful Dub) |
| 6:24 |
Total length: | 39:32 |
Personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Yes.[27]
Pet Shop Boys
- Neil Tennant – lead vocals (all tracks); keyboards, programming (tracks 3–5, 7–11)
- Chris Lowe – keyboards, programming (all tracks)
Additional musicians
- Tim Powell – keyboards, programming (all tracks); backing vocals (tracks 3, 6)
- Fred Falke – keyboards, programming (tracks 1, 5)
- Matt Gray – keyboards, programming (tracks 1–3, 6–8, 10, 11)
- Brian Higgins – keyboards, programming (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5); backing vocals (track 6)
- Owen Parker – keyboards, programming (tracks 1–3, 9, 10); guitar (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9); backing vocals (track 3)
- Sacha Collisson – keyboards, programming (tracks 1, 6); guitar (tracks 6, 10)
- Xenomania – backing vocals (tracks 1, 9)
- Andy Brown – brass arrangement, brass conducting (track 2); London Metropolitan Orchestra conducting (tracks 3, 11)
- London Metropolitan Orchestra – brass (track 2)
- Pete Gleadall – keyboards, programming (tracks 3–5, 7–9, 11)
- Kieran Jones – keyboards, programming (tracks 3, 6–8, 10, 11); guitar (tracks 3, 6)
- Nick Coler – keyboards, programming (tracks 3–5, 7, 9–11); guitar (tracks 3, 4, 10)
- Jason Resch – keyboards, programming (tracks 3, 6–8, 10, 11); guitar (tracks 3, 6–10)
- Johnny Marr – guitar (tracks 3, 4, 7, 9); harmonica (tracks 3, 9)
- Carla Marie Williams – backing vocals (track 3); guest vocals (track 10)
- Jessie Malakouti – backing vocals (track 3)
- Alex Gardner – backing vocals (tracks 3, 6)
- Owen Pallett – orchestral arrangement (tracks 3, 11)
- Cathy Thompson – London Metropolitan Orchestra leader (tracks 3, 11)
- Miranda Cooper – backing vocals (track 6)
- Mike Kearsey – brass (tracks 8, 9)
- Steve Hamilton – brass (tracks 8, 9)
- Mark Parnell – drums (track 9)
- Toby Scott – keyboards, programming (track 10)
Technical
- Brian Higgins – production
- Xenomania – production
- Jeremy Wheatley – mixing
- Andy Dudman – London Metropolitan Orchestra recording (tracks 2, 3, 11)
- Dick Beetham – mastering
Artwork
- Farrow – design, art direction
- Pet Shop Boys – design, art direction
- Alasdair McLellan – photography
Etc. bonus disc[edit]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the special edition of Yes.[28]
Pet Shop Boys
- Neil Tennant – lead vocals (all tracks); keyboards, programming (track 1)
- Chris Lowe – keyboards, programming (track 1)
Additional musicians
- Philip Oakey – guest vocals (track 1)
- Pete Gleadall – keyboards, programming (track 1)
- Tim Powell – keyboards, programming (track 1)
Technical
- Brian Higgins – production (track 1)
- Xenomania – production (track 1)
- Jeremy Wheatley – mixing (track 1)
- Pet Shop Boys – remix (tracks 2–5)
- Xenomania – remix (tracks 2–7)
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications and sales[edit]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Germany (BVMI)[57] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States | — | 49,000[59] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history[edit]
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | 18 March 2009 | EMI | [24] | |
Australia | 20 March 2009 |
|
[60] | |
Germany |
|
[61] | ||
Italy | [62] | |||
France | 23 March 2009 |
|
[63] | |
United Kingdom |
|
Parlophone | [13] | |
United States | 21 April 2009 | Astralwerks | [64] | |
Germany | 24 April 2009 | LP | EMI | [65] |
United Kingdom | 11 May 2009 | Parlophone | [66] |
References[edit]
- ^ "Yes by Pet Shop Boys reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ "Yes by Pet Shop Boys Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ Jeffries, David. "Yes – Pet Shop Boys". AllMusic.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Pet Shop Boys". RobertChristgau.com.
- ^ Maerz, Melissa (15 April 2009). "Yes (2009)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011.
- ^ Hann, Michael (20 March 2009). "Pet Shop Boys: Yes". The Guardian.
- ^ Gill, Andy (20 March 2009). "Album: Pet Shop Boys, Yes (EMI)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009.
- ^ Harvey, Darren. "Pet Shop Boys – Yes". musicOMH.
- ^ Martin, Dan (27 March 2009). "Album Review: Pet Shop Boys – Yes". NME. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014.
- ^ Bergstrom, John (21 April 2009). "Pet Shop Boys: Yes". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009.
- ^ Rosen, Jody (1 April 2009). "Yes : Pet Shop Boys". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
- ^ Walters, Barry (5 April 2009). "Pet Shop Boys, 'Yes' (Astralwerks)". Spin. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d ""Yes" is released". PetShopBoys.co.uk. 24 March 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys announce Johnny Marr-featuring album". NME. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
- ^ Jones, Alan (30 March 2009). "Yes men lose out on the top spot". Music Week. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ Williams, Paul (24 March 2009). "Pet Shop Boys eye first chart topper since 1993". Music Week. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
- ^ Balls, David (26 March 2009). "Label blamed for Pet Shop Boys LP blunder". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ Garratt, Sheryl (17 February 2011). "The Most Incredible Thing: Pet Shop Boys interview for the ballet". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ "nice package". The Rewind. 31 March 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
- ^ Christmas – Pet Shop Boys – Product
- ^ "Yes, Pet Shop Boys by Mark Farrow". Design Indaba. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ Ash (13 April 2009). "Pet Shop Boys: Yes". Sleevage. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys and Bjork album covers nominated in 2010 Design Awards". NME. 18 January 2010. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ a b イエス [Yes] (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Yes by Pet Shop Boys". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
- ^ "Yes [Bonus Track] – Pet Shop Boys". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
- ^ Yes (liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 2009. 6953472.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Yes (special edition liner notes). Pet Shop Boys. Parlophone. 2009. 695 3452.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Australiancharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ "Top Kombiniranih – Tjedan 14. 2009" [Top Combined – Week 14, 2009] (in Croatian). Top of the Shops. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 200913 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 14. 11 April 2009. p. 46. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys: Yes" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pet Shop Boys – Yes" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Top 50 Ξένων Aλμπουμ – Εβδομάδα 16/2009" [Top 50 Foreign Albums – Week 16/2009] (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2009. 13. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Pet Shop Boys". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ イエス | ペット・ショップ・ボーイズ [Yes | Pet Shop Boys] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Mexicancharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2009" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Year End Charts – Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. 2009. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Pet Shop Boys; 'Yes')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
- ^ "British album certifications – Pet Shop Boys – Yes". British Phonographic Industry. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ "Upcoming Releases 2013". Hits Daily Double. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ "Yes – Pet Shop Boys". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys // Yes" (in German). EMI Music Germany. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Yes". IBS.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ "Yes : Pet Shop Boys" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ "Yes: Pet Shop Boys". Amazon. United States. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys // Yes (LP-Vinyl)" (in German). EMI Music Germany. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys – Yes". esounds. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2009.