Hotspot
by Pet Shop Boys
  • Record Label: X2
  • Release Date: Jan 24, 2020
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 34
  3. Negative: 2 out of 34
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  1. PeteF
    Feb 7, 2020
    4
    Well, sounds like them, but as a record, nothing new.
    I would say that a bad one, really, they could do better.

    After 30 years I would expect more of a "lets do it, but better", this sounded like "I have to make something to make money".

    All in all, sounds like from 90´s, but the songs are mainly re-do´s from old ones...

    Just a bit of 90´s, nothing more.
  2. NonLPtrack
    Jan 28, 2020
    8
    A vast improvement over the previous album, 'Super'. My faith is restored. Highlights: Will-O-The-Wisp, You Are the One, Happy People, Only the Dark, Burning the Heather. Also, check out the terrific B-sides: An Open Mind, No Boundaries.
  3. sparkynolan
    May 12, 2020
    4
    I was disappointed by Hotspot by contrast to the previous two albums produced by Stuart Price, which marked a wonderful renaissance for Pet Shop Boys with 2013’s ‘Electric’ and then 2016’s ‘Super.’ Many people whinge about Super but it’s a pop dance album, through and through. It’s more consistent than Electric, although it doesn’t reach the dizzy heights of Electric. However ‘Hotspot’I was disappointed by Hotspot by contrast to the previous two albums produced by Stuart Price, which marked a wonderful renaissance for Pet Shop Boys with 2013’s ‘Electric’ and then 2016’s ‘Super.’ Many people whinge about Super but it’s a pop dance album, through and through. It’s more consistent than Electric, although it doesn’t reach the dizzy heights of Electric. However ‘Hotspot’ just feels thrown together. ‘ Will-o- the Wisp’ gets things off to a good start and “Hoping for. Miracle” is probably the best ballad in ten years but “Wedding in Berlin” is just insulting.… Expand
  4. Menios
    Jan 24, 2020
    7
    I was expecting this album to be more like their last year's EP "Agenda", expressing more political views. However, this is the magic of Pet Shop Boys. They can have a serious project on one day and a fun, dance-like one the next day. "Hotspot" is exactly this piece of work providing exciting tracks, such as "Happy People", "Dreamland" and "I Don't Wanna". Not their best but surely aI was expecting this album to be more like their last year's EP "Agenda", expressing more political views. However, this is the magic of Pet Shop Boys. They can have a serious project on one day and a fun, dance-like one the next day. "Hotspot" is exactly this piece of work providing exciting tracks, such as "Happy People", "Dreamland" and "I Don't Wanna". Not their best but surely a record that will leave you dancing.… Expand
  5. sicrano
    Feb 12, 2020
    10
    Good very good...................................................................................................................................................................
  6. antpaca
    Jan 28, 2020
    10
    After 2016's Super and two thirds of the single choices (Burning The Heather is a solid album track and that's about it, and Monkey Business is as silly and over the top as it is admittedly catchy), I was not hopeful for this album. After a few listens I am in awe of what PSB has created. How can something sound so retro and so modern at the same time? Sonically this album fits perfectlyAfter 2016's Super and two thirds of the single choices (Burning The Heather is a solid album track and that's about it, and Monkey Business is as silly and over the top as it is admittedly catchy), I was not hopeful for this album. After a few listens I am in awe of what PSB has created. How can something sound so retro and so modern at the same time? Sonically this album fits perfectly in with any of their 80's and 90's albums, yet somehow manages to sound 2020 through and through. Where Super was superficial, artificial, and lackluster, Hotspot is bright, dynamic, dense, and lyrically brilliant. It might top Electric, which to me was their finest album since the 90's. Great stuff!… Expand
  7. mitokio
    Jan 24, 2020
    10
    Was hoping this wouldn't be a politically charged album. I go to music for other things than politics. Nope. We're back to the sure footing topics of love and aging and life in general. This is the PSB's most unusual sounding album to me. It feels absolutely PSB, but definitely new sounds. Really worth a listen. The boys still have whatever it is that makes them unique, smart, catchy,Was hoping this wouldn't be a politically charged album. I go to music for other things than politics. Nope. We're back to the sure footing topics of love and aging and life in general. This is the PSB's most unusual sounding album to me. It feels absolutely PSB, but definitely new sounds. Really worth a listen. The boys still have whatever it is that makes them unique, smart, catchy, likable. I hope we've got much more to come.… Expand
  8. curiouspaul
    Jan 26, 2020
    8
    More like of old Pet Shop Boy style. Very enjoyable and surprise to go back in time
  9. Lajaleaa
    Mar 22, 2020
    8
    ( 81/100 )

    Pet Shop Boys regresa después de cuatro años presentando una nueva visión con el mismo estilo que los identifica. "Hotspot" es un viaje entre romántico, amigable y algo cariñoso con pequeños toques de conciencia social en sus letras y una gran expresión Electronica entre Club, Dance y de repente Trance. Hay tracks que se podrán apreciar enormemente como "Happy People" o    ( 81/100 )

    Pet Shop Boys regresa después de cuatro años presentando una nueva visión con el mismo estilo que los identifica. "Hotspot" es un viaje entre romántico, amigable y algo cariñoso con pequeños toques de conciencia social en sus letras y una gran expresión Electronica entre Club, Dance y de repente Trance. Hay tracks que se podrán apreciar enormemente como "Happy People" o "Monkey Business" y otros como "Wedding In Berlin" que aunque sean algo mediocres, no le quitarán la esencia al álbum.
    -
    Pet Shop Boys comes back after four years presenting a new vision with their same old style. "Hotspot" is a trip kind of romantic, friendly and tender with small sparkles of social consciousness in their lyrics and a great Electronic expression, sometimes Club and Dance, sometimes Ambiental and Trance. There are tracks that can be greatly appreciated like "Happy People" or "Monkey Business" and there are some others like "Wedding In Berlin" that even though they are kind os mediocre, they don't affect the essence of the album.    … Expand
  10. Carter2019
    Jan 24, 2020
    8
    The Boys have done it again. Three fantastic albums in a row after the dismal Elysium. 10 Tracks so shorter than Super but the quality is consistent throughout. Standout tracks for me are Will-O-The-Wisp I Don't Wanna
    Happy People
    Burning The Heather
    Wedding In Berlin
    As with the previous album there's dance songs and slow songs.
  11. Anthemis
    Feb 21, 2020
    10
    When you thought they can't bring anything new, here comes Hotspot! Thanks for all the amazing music over nearly all the years of my life - couldn't wish for a better soundtrack!
  12. DanteSGames
    Apr 10, 2021
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Its an amazing album, super for me was an good album but the expectative that got for super was huge, and "super" it was a disappointing album, but this, hostpot, 10 songs, all the songs are amazing, some songs are... repetitive and for fill the album, to get the 10 songs to finish the album, will o'the wisp are an increidible start for the album, the next, youre the one its a experimental song, its interesting the mixing of styles in the drums loops, the voice is really amazing, well, in every song its the same thing, happy people was an intent to go back to the old style of pet shop boys, but fails for a little, and its a bit dessesperating song for me, good but fails a bit to get a new direction to the old style, Dreamland its a motherf*cking masterpiece, the piano and the strings in the beginning its so amazing, the voice of olly and the pet shop boys chorus with the amazing vocalist chris are so beautifull to listen closely to them, a bit the best part of the songs are the voices parts, give to the song an air of emotion and you shudder at all your skin when you hear it next to the rest of the song, from the best pet shop boys songs in the last 30 years, hopping for a miracle is an another attempt for replicate the old style of pet shop boys, but in this one, they made it, its a **** and awsome song, the vocoder (well that voice it may be an talk box) but that song has an air to daft punk in some ways. i dont wanna its a great song but a bit innecesary for the album, monkey bussiness is an amazing song, the felling of the song transport to you to the year of 1980, dancing in the raves of that time, only the dark its a bit repetitive and innecesary but that dont quit that this song is really enjoyable, but reppetitive, burning the heater is innecesary and a bit reppetitive but like the last one, this is very enjoyable, like to put this song while you are in a travel in a car, wedding in berlin its a great close to the album, the sample of the typical song of wedding are so amazing, this is a better version of the weddings songs, its an strange but cool song.

    The final puntuation: Will o'the Wisp (8.7), You're The One (7), Happy People (5), Dreamland (9.6), Hopping For a Miracle (9.3), I Don't Wanna (6.6), Monkey Bussiness (8.5), Only The Dark (8.2) Burning The Heater (7.2), Wedding In Berlin (7.7). = 7.78 = (8.0)

    An Open Mind its an side b song for dreamland and curiously is better than some songs of the album lol.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. American Songwriter
    Mar 16, 2020
    80
    Good stuff all around from a band that makes it look easy by keeping true to what got it here in the first place.
    Read full review
  2. No Ripcord
    Feb 18, 2020
    60
    Their latest, the duo remain steadfast to that commitment with creamy, dancefloor-ready techno (Happy People, Will-o-the-wisp)—joyously documenting the anticipation before a night out.
    Read full review
  3. Rolling Stone
    Feb 3, 2020
    60
    There are moments of pop bliss on the Petties' latest to rival their Eighties hits. [Feb 2020, p.85]
See all critic reviews »