All You Need Is Love, Plus Some Other Things, Say the Pet Shop Boys

On their new single, “Love, etc.,” which will appear on their tenth studio record, yes, the Pet Shop Boys have good news for everyone in these tough economic times: “You don’t have to live a life of power and wealth” to be happy — “you need love”! Tennant and Lowe make it sound like it matters, with their usual tapestry of smooth synths and urbane vocals. But before you think they’ve completely shed the more immediate pleasures of club culture by singing “you don’t have to be beautiful,” they playfully hedge their bets by adding “… but it helps.” Indeed, a little “etc.” never hurts.