Customer Rating: 
Summary: A front row seat to the show!
Comment: Great live cd's are rare birds indeed. Only a few bands have managed to capture the magic of their live performances. Well, Pet Shop Boys have made their "Live at Budokan" and it's an instant classic. At least for PSB fans.
The track listing is a kitchen sink mix of old and new and everything in-between. There are nice surprises too: a live band that includes a small orchestra, guest singers (Rufus and Robbie make the songs sound as if they were written for them to sing), and Neil speaking casually with the audience as if it's a get-together at his home. Very intimate.
The production is flawless (another success for Trevor Horn who, if there ever were a third member of the band, he is it) with every instrument and vocal coming through richly and warmly. I can close my eyes and suddenly find myself sitting in the front row and I've got the best seat in the house.
Listening to Concrete is, to put it simply, an experience. It's the next best thing to being there!
Customer Rating:
Summary: back to the basics for the pet shop boys
Comment: i have long given up on the pet shop boys,
'very' back in 93 was probably their last
good album..
however, something funny happened during the
next 15 years, they still kept at it, and in
doing so eclipsed their standard euro-pop image..
they actually learned how to become an 'artist'..
and so after attempts at musicals 'closer to heaven',
soundtracks like 'battleship potemkin', they decided
to try going fully orchestral and hybrid sound with
electronics, in their live concert for 'concrete'.
and surprise, it's actually very good, surprising in
its adaptations of old classics 'rent', 'jealousy',
'its a sin', etc...where even the originals were slow
and plodding, the new orchestral arrangements are exciting,
and new.....and the songs that had orchestral parts, like
'left to my own devices', and 'its alright' sound even BETTER,
if that's possible,
how is that an 'electronic band' like pet shop boys, had
to put out a live orchestral album, to really make a statement?
well, i'm very pleased with it, although it has its missteps
with bad guest vocalists, and songs that dont belong..'numb',
'casanova in hell', they should have cut out those, and made
it a single disc... the commentary between songs is a nice
touch..
highly recommend for pet shop boys fans..so where's the video?
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Boys are back in Town
Comment: This 2CD live album features Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe at their ultimate best. The most amazing thing about this album is the inclusion of the BBC Concert Orchestra, as well as the diverse selection of material - from PSB's early hits (e.g. West End Girls) to their recent successful Fudamental album (Luna Park, Casanova in hell and Indefinite leave to remain), and also including 'Friendly Fire' (from their efforts at writing a musical) and 'After All' from their soundtrack to Battleship Potemkin; this album is a must-have for fans old and new of the famous duo. The featured guest artists are Rufus Wainright, Frances Barber and Robbie Williams, who also add a touch of class to the evening. I hope that this concert will be released on DVD soon, it would make for great repeated viewing!
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Boys are back in Town
Comment: This 2CD live album features Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe at their ultimate best. The most amazing thing about this album is the inclusion of the BBC Concert Orchestra, as well as the diverse selection of material - from PSB's early hits (e.g. West End Girls) to their recent successful Fudamental album (Luna Park, Casanova in hell and Indefinite leave to remain), and also including 'Friendly Fire' (from their efforts at writing a musical) and 'After All' from their soundtrack to Battleship Potemkin; this album is a must-have for fans old and new of the famous duo. The featured guest artists are Rufus Wainright, Frances Barber and Robbie Williams, who also add a touch of class to the evening. I hope that this concert will be released on DVD soon, it would make for great repeated viewing!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Concrete is a solid performance
Comment: The only thing more enjoyable than a PSB record, is experiencing PSB live. This being Pet Shop Boys first commercial CD release of a live performance, I was very excited to get my hands on it. I saw them live for the first time in 2006 (the Fundamental Tour) in MPLS. They exceeded my expectations!
One of the best concerts I've ever been to.
Concrete, however, is one level higher. Recorded with a full orchestra these songs are lush and rich. This CD is equally balanced with PSB classic hits, and some new material fresh off Fundamental.
Guest vocals include Rufus Wainwright, Frances Barber, and Robbie WIlliams.
Williams performs their song "Jealousy" from the Behaviour album. Totally awesome. He sings it with great emotion, and his masculine voice gives the song a whole new feel.
This two disc LP is worth the price, especially for fans of PSB, but even for those who just love music. Pet Shop Boys are the only electronic group out there to make me believe that dance music is not dead.
Highlights include: Casanova In Hell (performed by Rufus Wainwright), Sodom and Gomorrah Show, Left to my own devices, It's a sin, It's alright, and Robbie's rendition of "Jealousy".
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