This thread on the PopJustice forums, wherein “fans” sound off on the release of Disco 4 has me bemused, saddened, and a bit ticked off. I’m pretty familiar with this pattern from my other major hobby’s online contingent, but the presumptuous nature of the response is galling. Here are my talking points in this matter, posted on the internet as all good talking points should be:

1. If you have all of the remixes, then you don’t have to buy the record.
   
2. If you don’t want the remixes, you don’t have to buy the record.
   
3. It’s not the job of Pet Shop Boys to do exactly what you want. If you want different mixes of existing tracks, then you’ll have to commission them yourself.
   
4. You’re going to buy it anyway, so shut up.

The way people were complaining about Disco 4, you’d think it cost $50 and was a required purchase in order to maintain their “fan” status. Myself, I think it’s a neat idea that probably won’t sell shedloads, but it’ll be worth a look for casual fans for both the duo and the artists they’ve remixed. I certainly don’t think it indicates “contractual problems” (as one fan in that thread pulled out of their rear) or a lack of interest in what they’re doing.