Nonetheless

Nonetheless was composed during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant were isolated at their respective homes. At Lowe's suggestion, Tennant learned to program with GarageBand, and the duo sent songs back and forth to each other.{{cite news |last=Snapes|first=Laura|date=3 February 2024 |title='Music has ceased to be ageist' Pet Shop Boys on 40 years of pop genius – and their hopeful new album

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/03/pet-shop-boys-nonetheless-interview|work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=7 November 2024}} They found it refreshing to write for pleasure rather than to meet a deadline; Lowe remarked that he didn't realise they were making an album until Tennant sent his proposed track listing.{{cite AV media |people=Munchetty, Naga and Stayt, Charlie (interviewers); Lowe, Chris and Tennant, Neil (interviewees) |date=27 April 2024 |title=BBC Breakfast |type=television production |publisher=BBC One}}{{cite news |last=Clarke|first=Naomi|date=27 April 2024 |title=Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant recalls 'worst moment' of his life at Glastonbury|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/pet-shop-boys-british-glastonbury-blur-arctic-monkeys-b1154206.html |work=Evening Standard |location=London |access-date=7 November 2024}} The album title makes reference to their circumstances: "Nonetheless! We've carried on and done this."

In a statement, Pet Shop Boys expressed that they wanted the album, both its dance tracks and ballads, "to be a celebration of the unique and diverse emotions that make us human", and called the 10 tracks "the strongest indicators of where we are today". They also said that producer James Ford had "dared" them to make their "sometimes quite complicated" demos more minimal in arrangement.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/pet-shop-boys-announce-forthcoming-james-ford-produced-album-nonetheless|title=Pet Shop Boys announce forthcoming James Ford-produced album, Nonetheless|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Kelly|first=Tyler Damara|date=31 January 2024|access-date=31 January 2024}} Ford replaced the soft-synths with analog synthesizers, and every track has an orchestra "filling out the sound and bringing out the emotions in songs," according to Tennant.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/pet-shop-boys/knocking-down-tables-with-pet-shop-boys|title=Knocking Down Tables With Pet Shop Boys|last=Mitchell|first=Matt|date=20 August 2024 |website=Paste |access-date=9 November 2024}}

The album was released on 26 April 2024 in a variety of formats, including digitally, and physically on Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos, CD and multiple variants of coloured vinyl. The 2-CD and double white vinyl editions include a four-track EP titled Furthermore, featuring new recordings of "Heart", "Being Boring", "Always on My Mind" and "It's a Sin".{{cite web|url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/pet-shop-boys-new-album-nonetheless/|title=Pet Shop Boys / New album Nonetheless|website=Super Deluxe Edition|last=Sinclair|first=Paul|date=31 January 2024|access-date=31 January 2024}}

On 22 November 2024, they released an expanded edition of Nonetheless with bonus tracks and demo versions of all the album tracks.

The album cover photo (pictured), taken by Tim Walker, shows Lowe and Tennant, dressed in vintage black suits and white gloves, with light coming from their mouths. To achieve the effect, they held bicycle lights in their mouths.Pet Shop Boys (2024). "Photo session", Annually. Tennant called the image simple and iconic, and suggested that it might say something about their music.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/espectaculos/pet-shop-boys-su-nuevo-disco-por-que-ven-a-la-escena-actual-poco-interesante-y-el-balance-que-buscan-nid02042024/|title=Pet Shop Boys: su nuevo disco, por qué ven a la escena actual 'poco interesante' y el balance que buscan para su música|last=Chaves|first=Sebastián|date=2 April 2024|website=La Nación|language=Spanish|access-date=24 November 2024}} The idea of using the lights came from Walker; Pet Shop Boys had proposed a basic concept of a formal portrait with blindfolds, and these were also taken during the photo session. A photo of the duo wearing red blindfolds, with their white-gloved hands in front of their faces, was used for the single "Loneliness".{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/product/single/loneliness|title=Loneliness|website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=31 January 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}}

"Loneliness" debuted on 31 January 2024 as a preview of the album. It was the last song written for Nonetheless, inspired by the lockdown. Tennant described it as "an up sounding song with a lyric that starts off sad, but it turns around at the end."{{Cite web |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/pet-shop-boys-announce-new-album-nonetheless/ |title=Pet Shop Boys announce new album 'Nonetheless' |last=Scanlon |first=Kelly |date=31 January 2024 |website=Far Out |access-date=8 November 2024}} Alasdair McLellan directed the video, following a closeted young man leading a double life in 1992 Sheffield.{{Cite web |url=https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2024/02/22/pet-shop-boys-loneliness-alasdair-mclellan/85369|title=Pet Shop Boys 'Loneliness' by Alasdair McLellan |last=Knight|first=David|date=22 February 2024 |website=Promonews |access-date=8 November 2024}} Bonus tracks: "Party in the Blitz" and "Through You (extended mix)".

"Dancing Star" was released on 3 April in the lead-up to the album's release. It tells the story of preeminent dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who defected from the Soviet Union in the 1960s and became a star with The Royal Ballet.{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2024-04-03/dancing-star?archive |title=Dancing Star|website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=3 April 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}} The video, directed by Luke Halls Studio, includes historic footage of Nureyev dancing.{{cite web |url=https://nureyev.org/dancing-star/ |title=Dancing Star, an ode to Rudolf Nureyev by the Pet Shop Boys|website=The Rudolf Nureyev Foundation|date=4 April 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}} The track has sounds of waves and seagulls from Lowe's original demo about the beach.{{cite AV media |people=Diament, Robert and Tovey, Russell (hosts)|date=25 April 2024|title=Talk Art, season 21, ep. 5: Pet Shop Boys|type=podcast|url=https://shows.acast.com/talkart/episodes/pet-shop-boys|time=57:40}} Bonus tracks: "Sense of Time", "If Jesus Had a Sister", "Dancing Star" remixes by Solomun, and "Party in the Blitz" remix by Superchumbo.

"A New Bohemia", released on 4 June, expresses nostalgia for being part of a creative scene. Lowe's demo was titled "Avant Garde", and Tennant's lyrics were inspired in part by an exhibit about Les Petites Bon-Bons, a group of gay conceptual artists in the 1970s.{{cite magazine|last=Turner|first=Luke|date=20 May 2024|title=Playful yet Professional, Nevertheless: a Pet Shop Boys Interview|url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/pet-shop-boys-interview-neil-tennant-chris-lowe-nonetheless/|magazine=The Quietus|access-date=9 November 2024}}{{cite magazine|last=Ryan|first=Gary|date=23 April 2024|title=Pet Shop Boys: "This is our queer album" |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/pet-shop-boys-nonetheless-3749287|magazine=NME|access-date=9 November 2024}} The video was filmed in Margate with cameos from Tracey Emin and Russell Tovey,{{cite web |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/pet-shop-boys-russell-tovey-margate-a-new-bohemia-video-466739/ |title=Russell Tovey cameos in new Pet Shop Boys video directed by All Of Us Strangers' Andrew Haigh

|last=Tabberer |first=Jamie |website=Attitude |date=5 June 2024|access-date=10 November 2024}} and it was directed by Andrew Haigh, who used the Pet Shop Boys' Christmas 1987 Top of the Pops performance of "Always on My Mind" in his film All of Us Strangers.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1j78F49pJ4Kzv4kXWpvb92p/eight-things-we-learned-from-pet-shop-boys |title=Eight things we learned from Pet Shop Boys |author= |date=25 April 2024 |website=BBC Radio 4 |publisher=BBC |access-date=9 November 2024}} Bonus tracks: "It's Not a Crime" and "I've Got Plans (Involving You)" (both written in 1982); "A New Bohemia" demo and remix by Alex Metric.{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2024-06-04/a-new-bohemia?archive |title=A new bohemia|website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=4 June 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}}

"Feel" came out on 20 August, with a video directed by Corbin Shaw and Rawtape featuring actors Sam Bottomley and Tareq Al-Jeddal.{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2024-08-20/feel-video?archive|title=Feel video|website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=20 August 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}} The song had been offered to Brandon Flowers for his 2010 debut album; the reworked version on Nonetheless is about visiting a loved one in prison, inspired by a biography on George Blake.{{cite magazine |last=Paphides|first=Pete|date=1 May 2024|title=Being Soaring

|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/record-collector/20240501/page/75 |url-access=limited |magazine=Record Collector |page=75|access-date=9 November 2024|via=PressReader}} Bonus tracks: "Everybody Will Dance", with a Superchumbo remix; a Floorplan remix of "Loneliness"; and a German version of "Schlager-Hitparade" sung by Lowe, accompanied by a self-made video.{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2024-08-20/feel?archive |title=Feel |website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=20 August 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}}{{cite AV media |people=Pet Shop Boys (performers)|date=27 August 2024|title=Schlager-Hitparade (Deutsches Demo) (Official Video)

|type=music video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCXdpqpJ-DI|publisher=Parlophone}}

"New London Boy" was released on 7 November as a double A-side with a cover version of "All the Young Dudes" by David Bowie. A separate remixes single was also issued. In keeping with the theme of "New London Boy", the cover photos are of Tennant and Lowe around the time they came to London, in 1972 and 1981 respectively. Slava Mogutin directed a video of "All the Young Dudes".{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2024-11-08/all-the-young-dudes|title=All the young dudes |website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=8 November 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}} The remix artists are Boy Harsher, Richard X, and I. Jordan. Additional bonus tracks: "Beauty Has Laid Siege to the City" and "Clean Air Hybrid Electric Bus".{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2024-10-15/new-london-boy-all-the-young-dudes?archive |title=New London boy / All the young dudes |website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=15 October 2024|access-date=9 November 2024}}

A supplementary single of "All the Young Dudes" in a medley with "West End Girls", recorded with the Manchester Camerata, was released on 11 November, including an orchestral remix by Stuart Price.{{cite web |url=https://www.petshopboys.co.uk/news/2024-11-11/all-the-young-dudes-west-end-girls-with-the-manchester-camerata |title=All the young dudes / West End girls (with the Manchester Camerata)|website=petshopboys.co.uk |date=11 November 2024|access-date=13 November 2024}} The medley had been performed with the Camerata at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards on 10 November.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2286977/pet-shop-boys-share-new-london-boy-close-mtv-emas-with-all-the-young-dudes-cover/news/ |title=Pet Shop Boys Share "New London Boy," Close MTV EMAs With "All The Young Dudes" Cover |last=Jones |first=Abby |date=11 November 2024 |website=Stereogum |access-date=13 November 2024 |quote=}}

Nonetheless debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, selling 22,419 units its first week. It is the Pet Shop Boys highest-charting album since the compilation album Alternative reached number two in 1995.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Alan |title=Charts analysis: Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department goes platinum in second week at summit |url=https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/charts-analysis-taylor-swift-s-the-tortured-poets-department-goes-platinum-in-second-week-at-summit/089725 |publisher=Music Week |access-date=18 May 2024 |date=3 May 2024}} In the U.S., Nonetheless was the first Pet Shop Boys studio album to fail to chart on the Billboard 200,{{original research inline|date=January 2025}} although it reached number 14 on the Top Album Sales chart and number three on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pet-shop-boys/chart-history/hsi/|title=Pet Shop Boys: Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2 November 2024}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.9/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/13937/Pet-Shop-Boys-nonetheless-.aspx|title=Nonetheless by Pet Shop Boys |website=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=8 May 2024}}

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/nonetheless/pet-shop-boys|title=Nonetheless by Pet Shop Boys Reviews and Tracks|website=Metacritic|access-date=27 April 2024}}

| rev1 = Clash

| rev1score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/pet-shop-boys-nonetheless/|title=Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless {{!}} Reviews|magazine=Clash|last=Smith|first=Mat|date=25 April 2024|access-date=27 April 2024}}

| rev2 = The Independent

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/pet-shop-boys-nonetheless-review-b2534023.html|title=Pet Shop Boys, Nonetheless review: The duo's canny cultural commentary is always right on the money|newspaper=The Independent|last=Brown|first=Helen|date=25 April 2024|access-date=27 April 2024}}

| rev3 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev3score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/pet-shop-boys-nonetheless-prowess-returns|title=Pet Shop Boys: Nonetheless Review – future facing|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Heavisides|first=Simon|date=25 April 2024|access-date=27 April 2024}}

| rev4 = Mojo

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/new-music/pet-shop-boys-nonetheless-review-arch-archbishops-carry-on-regardless/|title=Pet Shop Boys Nonetheless Review: Arch-archbishops carry on regardless|magazine=Mojo|last=Segal|first=Victoria|date=26 April 2024|access-date=27 April 2024}}

| rev5 = MusicOMH

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/pet-shop-boys-nonetheless|title=Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless {{!}} Album Reviews|website=MusicOMH|last=Murphy|first=John|date=25 April 2024|access-date=27 April 2024}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/pet-shop-boys-nonetheless-review-3749400|title=Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless review: still setting pop's benchmark|website=NME|last=Ryan|first=Gary|date=25 April 2024|access-date=27 April 2024}}

}}

Nonetheless received a score of 81 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on ten critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "universal acclaim". Victoria Segal of Mojo wrote that the album "shows the duo pulling themselves up to full songwriting height, not just forging on, but flourishing". Mat Smith of Clash called Nonetheless "an utterly brilliant, dependably polished listen" and one of "the best moments" by the duo. Reviewing the album for NME, Gary Ryan described it as "peppered with richly-drawn characters, and esoteric cultural references" and a "lush, impressive collection that upholds their status as pop greats".

The Independent{{'}}s Helen Brown felt that the album "maintains the band's strict quality control without any notable change in sonic style" but "proves that the Pets have still got the brains, still got the hooks". John Murphy of MusicOMH said that it "both sounds very like Pet Shop Boys while also managing to grow and evolve their sound" and observed "a huge streak of melancholy and reflection running through the record". Simon Heavisides of The Line of Best Fit concluded that Nonetheless "feels airy and welcoming" unlike the Pet Shop Boys' recent albums and "resonates emotionally in ways that befit elder statesmen who can look to the future while comfortably acknowledging the past".

{{Track listing

| headline = Nonetheless – Standard edition track listing

| all_writing = Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant.

| title1 = Loneliness

| length1 = 5:38

| title2 = Feel

| length2 = 5:02

| title3 = Why Am I Dancing?

| length3 = 3:32

| title4 = New London Boy

| length4 = 4:52

| title5 = Dancing Star

| length5 = 3:01

| title6 = A New Bohemia

| length6 = 4:00

| title7 = The Schlager Hit Parade

| length7 = 3:28

| title8 = The Secret of Happiness

| length8 = 5:25

| title9 = Bullet for Narcissus

| length9 = 3:50

| title10 = Love Is the Law

| length10 = 5:02

| total_length = 43:56

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Disc 2: Furthermore (CD deluxe edition)

| total_length = 18:47

| title1 = Heart (New Version)

| length1 = 3:57

| title2 = Being Boring (New Version)

| length2 = 5:52

| title3 = Always on My Mind (New Version)

| length3 = 4:20

| writer3 = Wayne Carson, Mark James, Johnny Christopher

| title4 = It's a Sin (New Version)

| length4 = 4:37

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Disc 2: Furthermore (CD deluxe edition Japanese Edition)

| total_length = 21:50

| title5 = Clean Air Hybrid Electric Bus

| length5 = 3:03

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Disc 2: Bonus & Demos (Nonetheless Expanded Edition)

| total_length = 56:11

| title1 = All the Young Dudes

| length1 = 3:17

| writer1 = David Bowie

| title2 = Adrenaline

| length2 = 3:41

| title3 = The Dark End of the Street

| length3 = 4:39

| writer3 = Dan Penn, Chips Moman

| title4 = Miserere

| length4 = 2:18

| writer4 = Gregorio Allegri

| title5 = Loneliness (Demo Version)

| length5 = 4:50

| title6 = Feel (Demo Version)

| length6 = 4:53

| title7 = Why Am I Dancing? (Demo Version)

| length7 = 3:30

| title8 = New London Boy (Demo Version)

| length8 = 5:08

| title9 = Dancing Star (Demo Version)

| length9 = 2:56

| title10 = A New Bohemia (Demo Version)

| length10 = 4:25

| title11 = The Schlager Hit Parade (Demo Version)

| length11 = 3:28

| title12 = The Secret of Happiness (Demo Version)

| length12 = 5:02

| title13 = Bullet for Narcissus (Demo Version)

| length13 = 3:50

| title14 = Love Is the Law (Demo Version)

| length14 = 4:12

}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Nonetheless{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nonetheless|author=Pet Shop Boys|type=liner notes|year=2024|publisher=Parlophone Records|id=5054197903649}} and Nonetheless Expanded Edition.{{Cite AV media notes |title=Nonetheless Expanded Edition|author=Pet Shop Boys|type=liner notes|year=2024|publisher=Parlophone Records|id=5021732400710}}

Pet Shop Boys

Vocals, programming, keyboards, guitar

• Chris Lowe
• Neil Tennant

Additional vocals

• Abimbola Amoako-Gyampah
• Senab Adekunle
• Nile Bailey
• Dawn Joseph (expanded edition tracks 1, 3)

Orchestra

Elysian Collective

{{div col}}

• Emma Smith – violin
• Flora Curzon – violin
• Freya Goldmark – violin
• Ronald Long – violin
• Anna de Bruin – violin
• Kotono Sato – violin
• Jennymay Logan – violin
• Lucy Wilkins – violin
• Hazel Correa – violin
• Ros Stephen – violin
• Patrick Dawkins – violin
• Preetha Narayanan – violin (tracks 1–5, 7–9)
• Simmy Singh – violin (tracks 6, 10)
• Morgan Goff – viola
• Alison De Souza – viola
• Zami Jalil – viola
• Amy May – viola
• Laura Moody – cello
• Sergio Serra – cello
• Daisy Vatalaro – cello
• Val Welbanks – cello
• Serafina Steer – harp
• Adam Chatterton – flugelhorn, trumpet
• Graeme Flowers – flugelhorn, trumpet
• David Hopkin – flugelhorn, trumpet
• Richard Ashton – French horn
• Carys Evans – French horn
• Joseph Ryan – French horn
• Jon Stokes – trombone
• Chris Augustine – trombone
• Samuel Freeman – bass trombone
• Barnaby Slade – tuba

{{div col end}}

Technical

• James Ford – production, mixing, engineering (all tracks); orchestral arrangement; brass arrangement; additional programming, keyboards, guitars, percussion, drums, flute
• Matt Colton – mastering (Nonetheless)
• Andy Baldwin - mastering (Furthermore)
• Pete Gleadall – additional engineering (Nonetheless); mixing (Furthermore)
• Jeremy Murphy – orchestral engineering
• Luke Pickering – orchestral engineering
• Animesh Raval - orchestral engineering (expanded edition tracks 1, 3)
• Ryan Jacob – brass arrangement, brass fixing, brass conductor
• Richard Jones – orchestral arrangement, strings conductor, piano (expanded edition track 4)
• Anne Dudley - orchestral arrangement and conducting (expanded edition tracks 1, 3)
• Laura Moody – strings fixing
• Jas Shaw – additional mixing

Artwork

• Tim Walker Studio – photography
• Kate Phelan – stylist
• Terry Barber – make-up
• Farrow/PSB – design

{{reflist}}

{{Pet Shop Boys}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2024 albums

Category:Albums produced by James Ford (musician)

Category:Parlophone albums

Category:Pet Shop Boys albums

Category:X2 (record label) albums