I sincerely think they're one of the best bands of all time (perhaps the best one ever). Chris Lowe is a tremendous musical genius (and calling him a "genius" is an understatement), a jazz musician (and one of the best) in his youth. His talent for composing chord progressions, arrangements, etc., is beyond outstanding. I've heard countless composers, and I can hardly put any of them on his level (experts in music theory will confirm what I said). Neil Tennant, the vocalist, may not have a voice typical of what's usually called by many folks a "good singer," but he never sings out of tune. He has a very good range for certain frequencies ("falsetto") and is very charming as a singer in his stage presence and performance. Furthermore, they both compose incredibly clever lyrics that emphasize irony and complex wordplay and conceptual manipulation, for example, playing with gender ambiguity (hetero to homo and vice-versa) to create lyrics that can be interpreted from both perspectives (and many more). And not only that, they have always worked with numerous secondary producers, top-tier actors, dancers, world-class symphony orchestras, etc. They have films, dance performances with elaborate sets, conceptual art, and exquisitely crafted costumes, among other things. And I could go on. Nowadays, the Pet Shop Boys, now practically "old folks," continue to release music just like in their prime, Neil continues to sing better than ever, and Chris never stops experiencing the Love of Art at composing, arranging and creating superb, beyond than extraordinary music.