Fundamental (Pet Shop Boys album)

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Fundamental
Studio album by Pet Shop Boys
Released	May 22, 2006
Recorded	2003-2005
Genre	Pop
Length	48:39 50:26 (Fundamentalism)
Label	Parlophone
Producer(s)	Pet Shop Boys, Trevor Horn
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link The A.V. Club (C) link BBC (Favourable) link CANOE link CBC (Favourable) link musicOMH.com link Contactmusic.com link The Guardian link Hot Press link The Independent link The Observer link Pitchfork Media link Pixelsurgeon link PlayLouder link Q (#239, June 2006, p. 118) Release Magazine link Time Out (6/7) link Virgin.net link
Pet Shop Boys chronology
Battleship Potemkin (2005)	Fundamental (2006)	Concrete (2006)

Fundamental is the sixteenth album, the ninth of entirely new music, by the British band Pet Shop Boys. It was released in May 2006 in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and Canada, and was released in late June 2006 in the United States. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number five on 28 May 2006 (see 2006 in British music).

The album was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and Trevor Horn and it features eleven new Pet Shop Boys compositions, and "Numb," written by Diane Warren (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe originally planned to have "Numb" be one of two new tracks on PopArt, but opted instead for "Miracles" and "Flamboyant").

The liner notes shows that the album is dedicated to two executed Iranian teenagers, Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, who were hanged on July 19, 2005 for engaging in homosexual behavior.

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Subject matter 1.2 Music 1.3 Fundamentalism 2 Track listing 2.1 Fundamentalism 2.1.1 Limited edition bonus CD 2.1.2 Japan-exclusive tracks 2.1.3 iTunes Store-exclusive tracks 2.1.4 Fundamentalism Part 1 (12") 2.1.5 Fundamentalism Part 2 (12") 2.2 Fundamental (original track listing) 3 Credits 4 Singles 5 Release details 6 Chart information 7 Notes and references 8 External links

[edit] Overview

[edit] Subject matter

The album has been noted for being more political than any other of the duo's albums to date; even the title, in one sense, is a reference to religious fundamentalism — portrayed here in a light, critical manner, which singer Neil Tennant attributes to the relatively relaxed status of religious freedom in the United Kingdom.^[1]

Specific contemporary issues discussed in the lyrics include tensions and fears in the United States caused by the War on Terrorism, addressed in songs such as "Psychological" and "Luna Park".^[2] ("Luna Park" being the name of various amusement parks around the world; see Luna Park for a list of such places). Other songs refer to the politics of the band's home country; "Indefinite leave to remain" refers to an immigration status in the United Kingdom, while "Integral" criticizes the British national identity card plans. (A statement from a band spokesman cites the issue as the reason that Tennant ceased his well-publicized support of Tony Blair's Labour Party.) The lyrics are fully masked and converted to the homage to the Yevgeny Zamyatin's legendary distopian book "We", in which the inhabitants of the future One State try to build The Integral in order to solve the cosmic equation and resolve all the problems in their One State. "I'm with Stupid", meanwhile, touches upon both countries by satirizing Blair's alliance with George W. Bush. (See also special relationship.)^[3]

Other subject matters are dealt with as well. "Casanova in Hell" is about the 18th century historical figure Giacomo Casanova, and how he immortalized himself by writing memoirs about his history of sexual seduction of numerous women. Tennant refers to, specifically, the book Casanova's Homecoming by Arthur Schnitzler as his inspiration for the song.^[2] (It was sung by Rufus Wainwright at its very first live performance, at a private concert recorded for BBC Radio 2 at the Mermaid Theatre on May 8, 2006.)^[4] "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show" references two of the biblical cities of sin, Sodom and Gomorrah, in saying that to learn to 'go where angels fear to tread' (ie. to sin) is to learn to live freely.

[edit] Music

The album is Pet Shop Boys' first collaboration with Trevor Horn since the 1988 single "Left to My Own Devices". Its sound bears the producer's heavily orchestral style (also present on that song), most frequently associated with the 1982 ABC album The Lexicon of Love as well as the 1984 Frankie Goes to Hollywood single "Two Tribes" and subsequent album Welcome to the Pleasuredome. Horn was also musical director for the Radio 2 concert, which featured the BBC Concert Orchestra.^[4]

The album's personnel included many of Horn's frequent musical collaborators, including Anne Dudley, Tessa Niles, Jamie Muhoberac, Phil Palmer, Steve Lipson, Lalo Creme, Tim Pierce, Earl Harvin, Frank Ricotti, Luis Jardim, Lucinda Barry.^[5]

[edit] Fundamentalism

"In Private", here presented as a duet with Elton John, was originally a Dusty Springfield song written and produced by the Pet Shop Boys. First released as a single in 1989, it was later included on the 1991 album Reputation.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe except for "Numb" written by Diane Warren.

1. "Psychological" – 3:58
2. "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show" – 5:24
3. "I made my excuses and left" – 4:53
4. "Minimal" – 4:16
5. "Numb" – 4:42
6. "God willing" – 1:30
7. "Luna Park" – 5:29
8. "I'm with Stupid" – 3:28
9. "Casanova in Hell" – 3:15
10. "Twentieth Century" – 4:41
11. "Indefinite leave to remain" – 3:11
12. "Integral" – 3:52

[edit] Fundamentalism

[edit] Limited edition bonus CD

1. "Fugitive" (Richard X extended mix) – 6:02
2. "Sodom" (Trentemøller remix) – 7:26
3. "Psychological" (Alter Ego remix) – 7:13
4. "Flamboyant" (Michael Mayer Kompakt remix) – 7:55
5. "I'm with stupid" (Melnyk Heavy Petting mix) – 6:07
6. "In private" (Stuart Crichton club mix featuring Elton John) – 5:07
7. "Minimal" (Lobe remix) – 4:47
8. "Gomorrah" (Dettinger remix) – 5:39

[edit] Japan-exclusive tracks

9. "I'm with Stupid" (PSB Maxi-Mix) – 8:12
10. "Minimal" (Tiga's M-I-N-I-M-A-L remix) – 5:40

[edit] iTunes Store-exclusive tracks

9. "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show" (Demo version) – 5:02
10. "I'm with stupid" (Demo version) – 3:38

[edit] Fundamentalism Part 1 (12")

1. "Fugitive" (Richard X extended mix) – 6:02
2. "Sodom" (Trentemøller remix) – 7:26
3. "Psychological" (Alter Ego remix) – 7:13
4. "Flamboyant" (Michael Mayer Kompakt remix) – 7:55

[edit] Fundamentalism Part 2 (12")

1. "Minimal" (Tiga's M-I-N-I-M-A-L remix) - (Listen to the stream)
2. "I'm with stupid" (Melnyk Heavy Petting mix) – 6:07
3. "Gomorrah" (Dettinger remix) – 5:39
4. "In private" (Stuart Crichton club mix featuring Elton John) – 5:07

[edit] Fundamental (original track listing)

On December 22, 2005, the official Pet Shop Boys website announced an early track listing for the album and gave a release date of April 17, 2006 with new single "Minimal" arriving a few weeks beforehand. This was quickly followed up on December 23, when pop music fansite Popjustice gave the first review of the album [1]. The original proposed tracklisting was:

1. "God willing"
2. "Minimal"
3. "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show"
4. "I'm with Stupid"
5. "Psychological"
6. "I Made My Excuses And Left"
7. "Integral"
8. "Numb"
9. "Luna Park"
10. "Casanova In Hell"
11. "Twentieth Century"
12. "Indefinite Leave To Remain"

On February 13, 2006, it was announced that the release date of Fundamental had been pushed back to May 22, because EMI needed "more set-up time". At the same time "I'm with stupid" was announced to be the revised lead single. This was followed on April 4, 2006, with news that there would be a limited edition of the new album that would include a bonus CD called Fundamentalism.

[edit] Credits

[edit] Singles

• "Psychological" — In December 2005, a limited 12-inch white label of "Psychological" was released. This one-track promo single featured an instrumental mix of the track, clocking in at 4:05.
• "I'm with Stupid" — the first commercially available single from Fundamental released 8 May 2006 in the UK.
• "Minimal" — released 24 July 2006, "Minimal" was announced by the Pet Shop Boys on 6 May as the second commercially available single from Fundamental in the UK.
• "Numb" - released on 16 October 2006, announced on the official website on 4 September.

[edit] Release details

The album was released in various countries:

Country	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
Japan	17 May 2006	Toshiba-EMI	CD	TOCP-66524
			2CD (Fundamentalism)	TOCP-66581
United Kingdom	22 May 2006	Parlophone	LP	362 8591 / 0946 3 62859 1 7
			CD	362 8592 / 0946 3 62859 2 4
			2CD (Fundamentalism)	362 8602 / 0946 3 62860 2 0
Canada	23 May 2006	Parlophone	CD
Thailand	24 May 2006	Parlophone	CD	0 0946 3 62859 2 4
United States	27 June 2006	Rhino Entertainment	CD	R2 79525 / 0 8122 79525 2 5
			2CD (Fundamentalism)	R2 79532 / 0 8122 79532 2 5

[edit] Chart information

Chart (2006)	Peak Position
UK Albums chart	5
U.S. Billboard 200	150
U.S. Top Electronic Albums	4

[edit] Notes and references

1. ^ Skrufff, Jonty (June 1, 2006). Pet Shop Boys interview. News. Trust the DJ. Retrieved on June 2, 2006.
2. ^ ^{a b} Interview - Recording. Literally (Pet Shop Boys fanclub magazine) (November 2005). Retrieved on May 23, 2006.
3. ^ Teodorczuk, Tom (March 1, 2006). Pet Shop Boys' Labour snub. Evening Standard. Retrieved on May 23, 2006.
4. ^ ^{a b} PSB and BBC Concert Orchestra concert. Pet Shop Boys official website news (May 9, 2006). Retrieved on May 28, 2006.
5. ^ Potts, Henry (June 2, 2006). Fundamental. Yescography. Retrieved on September 6, 2006.

[edit] External links

• Pet Shop Boys Official Website

Pet Shop Boys

Neil Tennant | Chris Lowe

Discography

Albums: Please | Actually | Introspective | Behaviour | Very | Bilingual | Nightlife | Release | Fundamental

Soundtracks and scores: Closer to Heaven (Original Cast Recording) | Battleship Potemkin

Remix albums: Disco | Disco 2 | Disco 3

Compilations: Discography: The Complete Singles Collection | Alternative | PopArt: The Hits | Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys

Live: Concrete

Singles: "West End girls" | "Love comes quickly" | "Opportunities (Let's make lots of money)" | "Suburbia" | "It's a Sin" | "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" | "Rent" | "Always On My Mind" | "Heart" | "Domino dancing" | "Left to my own devices" | "It's alright" | "So Hard" | "Being Boring" | "Where the streets have no name (I can't take my eyes off you)" | "How can you expect to be taken seriously?" | "Jealousy" | "DJ Culture" | "Was it worth it?" | "Can you forgive her?" | "Go West" | "I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing" | "Liberation" | "Yesterday, when I was mad" | "Paninaro '95" | "Before" | "Se a vida é (That’s the way life is)" | "Single-Bilingual" | "Somewhere" | "I don't know what you want but I can't give it any more" | "New York City boy" | "You only tell me you love me when you're drunk" | "Home and dry" | "I get along" | "London" | "Miracles" | "Flamboyant" | "I'm with Stupid" | "Minimal" | "Numb" | "She's Madonna"

Related Articles

Other projects: It Couldn't Happen Here | Reputation | Results | Spaghetti Records | Closer to Heaven

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