Pet Shop Boys have released their 2023 edition of "Annually," a 64-page hardback book accompanied by an exclusive CD EP titled "Lost," featuring four tracks recorded in 2015. The tracks - "The Lost Room," "I Will Fall," "Skeletons in the Closet," and "Kaputnik" - were initially intended for inclusion on their album "Super" but ultimately were not used. Neil Tennant explains that they are releasing the tracks now because they complement each other well and are relevant to the current world situation. The EP is produced by Pet Shop Boys and mixed/engineered by Pete Gleadall, with cover artwork by Farrow/PSB. The digital EP also includes a new mix of the previously released track "Living in the Past." "Annually 2023" is available exclusively from Pet Shop Boys' official online store and features exclusive content, such as behind-the-scenes photos from their Dreamworld tour and discussions about their co-headline Unity tour with New Order. The band is working on their next studio album and has announced new tour dates for late spring/summer.
What Worked
The Pet Shop Boys electro-pop bonafides are firmly in place, so releasing an EP of leftovers can only feed the diehard fans until the full helping of a new record is released. Luckily, even the cast-offs are strong material for the band, but now listeners are able to hear the influence of the band on artists like Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, Placebo, and others. Thanks to the ageless voice of Neil Tennant, four-on-the-floor dance anthems like "I will fall" and pulsing midtempo tracks such as "The Lost Room" balance musical precision with emotional lyrical content.
What Didn't Work
Of the four new tracks, only "Kaputnik" sticks out, featuring a chittering rhythm and lackluster chorus.
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