Alternative

The Pet Shop Boys’ various greatest hits albums over time, for all the relative repetition, certainly do make the case for their abilities on the charts. But perhaps an even stronger case for their quality, not to mention decades-long career, comes in the form of their B-sides collections, Alternative being the first in 1995. A rich blend of inspired one-offs and hidden classics, Alternative’s songs like “In the Night,” “Shameless,” “Some Speculation” and “I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)” just scratch the surface of the duo’s remarkable creativity.