All the Pet Shop Boys Studio Albums Ranked
The Pet Shop Boys are a synth-pop duo that was formed in London in 1981, and it consists of lead vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe. They are one of the most successful British pop duos in music history. The duo has won multiple awards, including the 2009 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music and two other Brit Awards. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide throughout their career. Since they were founded in 1981, the Pet Shop Boys have released 14 studio albums, seven compilation albums, five live albums, three EPs, five soundtrack albums, and more than 70 singles. Here are all the Pet Shop Boys studio albums ranked.
14. Elysium (2012)
Although Elysium achieved reasonable chart success, some fans were disappointed with the album overall. They felt that the songs were mediocre with no real highlights. Despite these reviews, ‘Elysium’ was a top ten hit in the UK and Germany, and it peaked at number 44 on the Billboard 200. The Pet Shop Boys co-produced the album with Andrew Dawson.
13. Bilingual (1997)
‘Bilingual’ was the sixth studio album released by the Pet Shop Boys. It was a top ten hit in the UK, Australia, Germany, and Sweden. From this album, the duo released the singles ‘Before,’ Se a Vida e (That’s The Way Life Is),’ ‘Single-Bilingual,’ ‘A Red Letter Day,’ and ‘Somewhere.’ Some of the tracks on this album feature heavier instrumented arrangements and backing vocals than their previous work.
12. Release (2002)
‘Release’ peaked at number three in Finland and number seven in the UK. It was the eighth studio album released by the Pet Shop Boys. This album occurred almost by accident, as the Pet Shop Boys had originally wanted to release a greatest hits album that included the two new tracks ‘Somebody Else’s Business’ and ‘Positive Role Model.’ However, when they began working on the new material, the duo decided to record a new studio album.
11. Nightlife (1999)
The seventh studio album released by the Pet Shop Boys was ‘Nightlife.’ It was most successful in Germany, where it peaked at number two, and it was also a top ten hit in the UK, Sweden, and Switzerland.
10. Hotspot (2020)
The Pet Shop Boy’s fourteenth and most recent studio album is ‘Hotspot,’ which was released in 2020. It reached number three in the UK and Germany and was a top ten hit in Switzerland, Austria, and Australia. All the tracks were written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, and the singles released from the album were ‘Dreamland,’ ‘Burning the Heather,’ ‘Monkey Business,’ and ‘I Don’t Wanna.’
9. Super (2016)
The thirteenth studio album released by the Pet Shop Boys was ‘Super.’ In the UK and Germany, the album reached number three on the charts, and it was also a top ten hit in Austria, Finland, and Switzerland. The lead single from the album was ‘The Pop Kids,’ which topped the charts in the UK. Other singles from the album were ‘Twenty-something,’ ‘Inner Sanctum,’ ‘Say It to Me,’ and ‘Undertow.’
8. Yes (2009)
The Pet Shop Boys’ tenth studio album was ‘Yes,’ which was a top ten album in the UK, Austria, Germany, and Sweden. One of the tracks on the alum, ‘Legacy,’ was subject to censorship in China due to a politically sensitive lyric, so the track was recorded as an instrumental for the albums released in China. The singles from the album were ‘Love Etc.,’ ‘Beautiful People,’ and ‘Did You See Me Coming?’
7. Fundamental (2006)
‘Fundamental’ was the ninth studio album released by the Pet Shop Boys. The album was a top ten hit in the UK, Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. However, it was one of the band’s least successful albums in the United States, reaching only number 150 on the Billboard 200.
6. Electric (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2H8SJRuh5Q&list=PLqjTeH0-5trgVxTPMzt4_58NuNcBfmGBD
Although the Pet Shop Boys had never left the music scene, their popularity had waned in the 2000s. However, they made a comeback in the 2010s, and one of their best albums during this period was ‘Electric.’ The aim of the duo was to create an electric sound on every track to reflect the name of the album and their desired style. Singles from this album included ‘Axis,’ ‘Vocal,’ ‘Love is a Bourgeois Construct,’ ‘Thursday,’ and ‘Fluorescent.’
5. Please (1986)
The Pet Shop Boys’ debut studio album was ‘Please.’ When the band released this album in 1986, they became an instant success. It reached number three on the UK charts and number seven on the Billboard 200. The album was also a top ten hit in Australia, Canada, and Finland.
4. Behaviour (1990)
‘Behaviour’ was the Pet Shop Boys’ fourth studio album, and it was a top ten hit in the UK, Finland, Germany, and Sweden. In the United States, the album peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200. The Pet Shop Boys released five singles from this album, including ‘So Hard,’ ‘Being Boring,’ ‘Jealousy,’ and ‘How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?’
3. Introspective (1988)
Electrozombies lists ‘Introspective’ as the best Pet Shop Boys studio album. It was the Pet Shop Boys’ second consecutive album to top the album charts in Finland, and it peaked at number two in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. It was also a top ten hit in Austria and Germany, and it peaked at number 34 in the United States.
2. Actually (1987)
The Pet Shop Boys achieved their first number one hit in any country when ‘Actually’ topped the charts in Finland. It was the duo’s second studio album, and it reached number two in the UK, Germany, and Sweden and was a top ten hit in Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The album peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200.
1. Very (1933)
In terms of commercial success, the best Pet Shop Boys studio album is ‘Very.’ It topped the charts in the UK, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. It was also a top ten hit in Australia, Austria, and Canada. The duo was at the height of their fame when they released this album in 1993. They released five singles from this album, including ‘Yesterday, When I Was Mad,’ ’Go West,’ ‘I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind of Thing,’ ‘Liberation,’ and ‘Can You Forgive Her?’