Jared Braden » Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys Stop By KCRW For Interview & Performance

Jared Braden — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 22:26:22 +0000

A few weeks ago, the iconic Pet Shop Boys – signer Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe – stopped by California radio station KCRW for an interview and performance on the daily music program Morning Becomes Eclectic. While the live performance was mostly made-up of songs from their latest studio album, Electric, the duo did perform a couple of songs from their vast back catalog: “Opportunities” and “It’s a Sin.” I do love their old stuff, but I think my favorite song they performed on Morning Becomes Eclectic was a fantastic dark and moody cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Last to Die,” which can be found on their new LP.

Pet Shop Boys will release their new single, “Thursday” featuring Example, will be released in America on November 4th. The single will be released on CD and digital formats, featuring a remix by German producer and DJ Tensnake as well as two brand new tracks.

Boy George Teams Up With Kobalt Label Services For New LP

Jared Braden — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 21:10:39 +0000

Boy George will release his new studio album, This Is What I Do, on his own record label (Very Me Records) in partnership with Kobalt Label Services (KLS). Kobalt allows artists and rights owners to retain ownership of their masters, and KLS provides label services in return for a share of revenues. The service already has an impressive line-up of talent: Pet Shop Boys, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Prince and New Kids on the Block.

“This is the first record I have ever made and owned myself,” Boy George explained to Complete Music Update. “It’s very exciting to be a bit more in control of my work and to be doing this independently feels very liberating. Working with Kobalt adds to the excitement. I feel that I’m going to get more personal involvement from them, and have been very impressed with their work with Pet Shop Boys recently.”

This Is What I Do, which happens to be his first new album of original material in 18 years, was written by George and longtime writing partners John Themis, Kevan Frost and Richie Stevens. The LP will also feature guest spots from DJ Yoda, Kitty Durham of Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Scottish guitarist Ally McErlaine of Texas, Dreadzone’s MC Spee and Nizar Al Issa.

The first single from This Is What I Do is “King Of Everything”. The single, which is out now on iTunes, is about a wife-beating boxer trying to make amends with his victim. It’s an absolutely beautiful song. I am not a fan of Boy George as a person, but his new music sounds fantastic!

Video Premiere: Pet Shop Boys – “Thursday”

Jared Braden — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 17:53:22 +0000

Pet Shop Boys have released a music video to accompany their new single “Thursday,” which features British rapper Example. The song is lifted from the synth pop duo’s twelfth studio album, Electric. If I am being totally honest, Electric was the most disappointing Pet Shop Boys album ever, but “Thursday” is a decent enough track. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Pet Shop Boys, but they lost me for a while with this LP.