Essential... Review

07/13/2005 6:20 AM, AMG


For casual fans, Essential Pet Shop Boys is hardly essential, since it contains alternate versions, remixes, seven-inch single versions and a pair of LP tracks, not the familiar hits. Of course, this collection of rarities makes it a treasure trove for the dedicated, since many of these songs haven't appeared on disc before, and a number of them are genuine finds, such as the alternate version of "Domino Dancing," the original seven-inch version of "Opportunities" and Steven Hague's dance mix of "Love Comes Quickly." These are just a couple of reasons why Essential Pet Shop Boys -- which was available as a limited-edition release in 1998 -- is essential for collectors. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide