This compilation came twelve years after their first singles collection "Discography", but rather than continue with the winning formula the boys decided to adopt a more scattergun approach this time around.
For this record all their singles were classified as either "Pop" or "Art" and allocated to a disc with a corresponding title. Personally I think this was a mistake as when a casual music fan turned over the CD they would be presented with a jumble of song titles, half of which they didn't recognise. Let's face it, all the average punter wanted of an updated PSB compilation was "Discography" with "Go West" tacked on the end.
There are other issues with this album that seem to be a result of both genuine mistakes and strange choices. Much like "Discography", the single version of "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?" isn't included and its legitimacy as a single continues to be eroded. For some reason the version of "Suburbia" is an edit created for the video rather than the single mix, but as it is credited correctly I assume this was done knowingly. Mistakes include the use of the album remix of "Heart" instead of the single version and a previously unreleased version of "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing" appears out of nowhere.
There are also two new songs to help drive sales in the form of "Miracles" and "Flamboyant". The former is an excellent track that is an overlooked gem in the PSB back catalogue. I'm less enamoured with "Flamboyant" and it might be nitpicking, but the version released as a single was different from the one included here.
Possibly as a result of these issues "PopArt" wasn't a hit with the record buying public and it entered the UK album charts at a lowly number 30. This commercial disappointment led "a legendary musician" (read Elton John) to comment to the boys that "it was over". There is no doubt this album found the Pet Shop Boys at a crossroads in their career, but Neil and Chris have since mastered the tricky transition from ageing outrage to national treasures and "PopArt" has been superseded more than once. 4/5
