Chilling With the Pet Shop Boys3 Out Of 5 Stars
With "Elysium," the Pet Shop Boys take a lighter approach to the grooves. This is a very tranquil album, comparable to "Release" from 2002. Maturity has crept into the oeuvre, letting the tempos slow down for the most part while the introspective lyrics take their precious time working their way into your consciousness. Songs like "Invisible" or "Requiem In Denim And Leopardskin" carefully dissect the duo's often ironic worldview.
The Boys don't completely stay in midtempo land. The short but biting "Your Early Stuff" is reminiscent of "Yesterday When I Was Mad," about a chance meeting with a casual fan who asks ridiculous questions and asks about the management that rips you off when you're a pop star. There's the danceable "A Face Like That" and the funny "Ego Music" where Neil Tennant declares "I am my own demographic" over a dance beat. There's also the Olympic anthem, "Winning," which is triumphant without being histrionic.
The lighter touch to most of the songs is something of a hindrance to the album overall, as "Elysium" takes several listens to take hold. Like the underrated "Bilingual" and again, "Release," the album seems like a holding pattern. Fans will be pleased, but casual listeners may find it too bland to take.
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