Tonight I was called selfish by a good friend. I guess I am.

Maybe this is why I write these things here or post things to twitter.

I’m selfish for thinking I am alone in the world. I’m selfish for thinking that no one will love me. I am selfish for thinking that I am unlovable. I am selfish for loving my new iMac. I am selfish for thinking while I write this that the new Pet Shop Boys B-sides collection will drop on iTunes in 2.5 hours and I can’t wait to download it. I am selfish for thinking people who walk slower than me are ignorant.

I am selfish for thinking anyone will read this and absolve me.

And now, a post that does not involve food or food stamps.

Pet Shop Boys new album, Yes, dropped across the pond yesterday. Today the lead-off single, Love etc, was released on our shores today, and I assume the album will drop next Tuesday. So far the European press has been pretty favorable.

PSB continue their naming their albums with one-word titles and also their same minimalist design aesthetic. I’m assuming that it’s long-time collaborator designer Mark Farrow creating the design. The album artwork consists of an approval checkmark consisting of differently colored squares. The geometry is four to the left, eight to the right. Add some small, heavyweight type and that’s it. Clean.

The artwork for Love etc. keeps the same geometry theme going, arranging the love-colored squares into small x’s. Three in a row resemble an ellipse, to suggest a continuation or etcetera. Clever. The chorus also has a lot of “Don’t have to” repetitious lines in it so the x’s make even more sense. Plus it plays nicely as the opposite to the album cover. Here’s the video and the entire album can be streamed here: