Album of the Day

On the heels of FUNDAMENTAL, Pet Shop Boys released their first live album, CONCRETE, in 2006. Recorded at London’s Mermaid Theatre with the BBC Orchestra, it’s hardly the usual concert collection – with the exception of “Rent,” “It’s A Sin” and “West End Girls,” this isn’t a run-through of greatest hits. Instead the Boys take advantage of their classically trained accompanists (and such guest vocalists as Rufus Wainwright and Robbie Williams) to dive deeper into their catalog, including their Battleship Potemkin soundtrack, Closer to Heaven musical and collaboration with Liza Minnelli. Peppered with Neil Tennant’s running commentary, CONCRETE shows the orchestral side of the duo at its best, and we’ll give it another spin to wish fellow PSB member Chris Lowe a happy birthday.