[MUSIC] Pet Shop Boys, Introspective

[rfmcdonald]

I haven't had a chance to listen to the Pet Shop Boys' 1988 album Introspective in a while, unfortunately; CDs aren't very resilient where scratches are concerned. Listening to the album over the past week has reminded me of just how accurate the album's title is. Introspective may be a short release at only six tracks, but the total playback time of just a few seconds over fifty minutes makes up for any length. The orchestration is rich, and the emotions of desire and loss presented so laconically as almost to be alluded to in passing. The mix of the group's version of "Always on My Mind", the lover's cynicism and detachment revealed, with the repetitive simple "In my house," works well enough for me, but "Left to my own devices" and "I'm not scared" are my standout tracks, the first a drolly amused biographical recitation and the second probably the only song regarding May 1968 that was covered by Patsy Kensit's band and still managed to stand up well. Were I to compose a personal soundtrack album, or perhaps a soundtrack collection, I'd definitely have to rip Introspective in whole or in part.