Reviews (page 4 of 8)
I should like Pulp more than I do. I am their prime demographic. I think I'd rather be in Pulp than listen to Pulp.
I'm sorry, I get Pulp and Blur mixed up. I understand people like them but well... ok
Different class is on the list, and thats the one you need, if at all.
First, I'm like 80% positive every song on this album was written with one hand. Anyway, it's fine. There wasn't anything terrible, but nothing really stood out until the last two songs, The Day After the Revolution and Like a Friend, and then the album was done. Those two were great, the rest I've already forgotten about.
I will preface this by saying that I do actually like this album. But I’ll also say that as soon as it was over I went back and listened to the other Pulp album on this list, different class. And it’s aptly named because they really are in a different class. There’s just a lack of energy on this one that you didn’t have in their first album. That’s the difference between a 3 and 4 here for me.
Not bad. Not sure why, but I thought this would be more hardcore or punk, but was way off on that assumption. Mildly entertaining, probably not something I’ll come back to. 3/5
Lyrics are....a lot of male viewpoint based in sexual bias and misogynistic social trends, but the musicianship is quality
Overall not a bad album, not a fan of pulp so ok
2.9 2x
Another album that was just fine. I was really trying to pay attention to the lyrics and understand the hype, but it did nothing for me. Musically pretty good, but I never got why Pulp was a big deal.
Provocative album and album Common people:good song Not great but not bad. Part of the Britpop scene. Average album: three stars
I love this record more than any other Pulp album. It sums up the times, and the state of the band in better ways that any one else did at the time.
Listening session: june 7th, while making dinner Listened to before: no Thoughts: i can enjoy some Britpop from time to time, but this was not it for me. It’s not necessarily bad but it’s so average that it’s forgettable Favourite tracks: The Fear & I’m A Man
have not fully unraveled this, but good?
I mean
Katoin et tuli pulp ja luulin että ei voi olla huonoa musiikkia. Tämä kuitenkin yllätti. Ei uppoa itellr ei sitten ollenkaan. Side note: arvostelut jäänyt vähön lyhyeksi ja pari kertaa jäänyt kokonaan kuuntelematta ku ollu nii hirveedti ohjelmaa lähiaikoina. Nyt pakko tsempata
Estuvo entretenida, me cuesta saber si fue algo promedio, o un poco sobresaliente
There wasn't anything here that I really disliked, except for maybe the length. Pulp definitely could have gotten the idea across with a much shorter album, but other than that, this was decently good. I really enjoyed the vibe of a few of these songs and will definitely come back to them! Favorites: A Little Soul, Sylvia, The Day After The Revolution
Pulp is a big blindspot for me, but plenty of people whose music opinions I respect really love them. This was pretty good, but didn't particularly win me over. But I can see how they could. I know this isn't considered their best so look forward to checking out Different Class to see how they are at their peak. Also boy do I hate CD era bloat. 70 minutes??? You kidding me?? Say what you will about what truly has the best audio quality, but at least LPs made bands be ruthless in their editing.
I like a bit of Pulp, but I'm not a huge fan. There are some great tracks out there, most on other albums though. Couple of good ones here, but nothing too amazing.
Britpop is often such a Blur, I mean a Pulp Normally, when I listen to an album a second time, I hear things that are new, and it softens my initial reaction. Not so with this record. My overall impression was, "Meh."
A fine Brit Pop. Did we need another fine Brit Pop album? Who’s to say? Me. We didn’t.
This was one of those albums you look at and underestimate. I was not familiar with Pulp so I had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. It was very later-Bowie-esque. This is Hardcore could have come off Heathen. A Little Soul felt like Elvis Castillo, the good album. I think my favorite track was I’m A Man because of its dynamic flow and urgency in the lyrics. I’m coming back to this album again. I dig it!
I liked the middle third of the album the most as before track 5/6 I wasn't impressed.
I quite liked this album, which surprised me because my faithful 1001 challenge buddy hated it (and she is an awesome barometer!). It was sooooo like a David Bowie album that I needed to do a little research to find out if it was just me that noticed. This was the best quote I found "Cocker sounds most like Bob Geldof when he is trying to sound like David Bowie." I know that the album cover is controversial, its unfortunate that it was probably chosen for all the wrong reasons. Publicity seeking should not be at the expense of objectifying anyone. That said, id probably spin it up again!
Edit: after chatting with my challenge mate I decided to give this one another go. Maybe I was a little hasty and harsh. I stick by that it's not as good as Different Class, but I think maybe I was in a bad mood when I listened to it and Jarvis Cocker was giving me the shits, the music is ok, just don't listen to most of the words. Well, I know this is about to pop up in my 'controversial' list! I loved 'Different Class' - I loathed 'This is Hardcore' Has there been an album which is more punchable? I feel dirty, and not in a good way. Jarvis Cocker, you better go change your bedsheets and soak the precum stains off your undies. Jeeze. Also the cover is creepy.
liked The Fear and Glory Days
- Absolutely no expectations going into this - woah, that ending to “the fear” was wild - Vocals sorta sound like Lou Reed
Liked the combine soldier feature on the last track
It’s fine? Some parts got me going, other parts I really didn’t enjoy. I think that’s my overall opinion on Brit pop in general.
Gibt iwie bisschen david bowie vibes Basically Weird indie rock. Kinda dig it Favs: the Fear, TV movie, the day after the Revolution
Album 191. This Is Hardcore — Pulp (1998) Well, I like this album more than previous one. This album is more cinematic, dark and gorgeous. Still bad, but a little better. I think if David Lynch were a bad director, he would use it in Mulholland Drive. I read reviews before listening about similar sound to some Bowie music. It’s actually true a little, but much worse because it feels like a cheap imitation. Overall, I still prefer *no pulp* 3/5 Liked: — I'm A Man
Solid
Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Good - This opening track is immediately much darker and more gothic that previous Pulp I have heard. It matches the cover quite well. The title track is the next one that jumps out as a highlight after a few decent but not particularly special tracks. Sylvia is a great song. There is certainly a heavier art-rock/Bowie influence than Different Class and the long outro of the closing track sums up that spirit pretty well. An enjoyable listen.
oOoOoH bet this is some edgy '90s bs the fear--yes that's exactly what it is. got a different flavor than your standard grunge. slight british accent showing up. ope is the a TARDIS i hear? the dishes--is that a jesus song? i don't think it counts.. so counter shall remain at 2 ok going good, this isn't too bad. i like the mundanity. almost as if belle & sebastian tried grunge? it's trying to be edgy and over the top and cheesy, but it's something going for it seductive barry--oh not a fan of this one tho. and of course it's 8min long
This is most definitely not Hardcore music. I am very disappointed since that was what I was expecting from the name of the album and the year it came out. That being said, the music was okay, though there's definitely some dissonance between the lyrics and the music. Would give 2.5, unsure if I'm gonna round up or down.
Not as hooky or poppy as their best stuff. Really well produced and great sounding, just not that memorable for me.
Broadly unenthused.
Це 2,5. Альбом має свою енергетику, але якогось прям захоплення не викликає
I don't mind some tracks on this, but I don't see why it's on the list.
Not my fav but I enjoyed the album well enough.
Meh
not bad but not good. honestly, kinda boring. 3.3
Jarvis is so dramatic!!! 3 o 4 joyas
Didn't hate it. Didn't love it, either. It's definitely a Pulp record.
This wasn't very hardcore. And it was not impressive to me. It wasn't anything bad, it was just unremarkable and not what I expected from the title. The title track does have a nice build to it and a good finale, but the rest of the album doesn't really match its quality.
Not as hardcore as I thought - in a good way ;)
Lacks the fun and joy of Different Class, but I guess that's the point. Very dark and moody, but with odd naughty lyric that reminds you this is a Pulp record.
Я не знаю, что происходит. Мне не понравилось, но я послушал этот альбом 4 раза. Пока что 3. Что-то в нем есть, что меня задело, я ничего не понимаю.
Интересный голос, даже прикольная музыка в The Professional, но этого не хватило, чтобы я их полюбил
This list has way too much Britpop. Do we really need multiple Pulp albums? Different Class surprised me in that it was better than the average Britpop album. This one - is exactly like the average Britpop album. One really good song (the title track in this case), a couple of slightly above average songs, and a bunch of filler (with the added bonus in this case of a couple of annoying songs too). One Pulp album was enough.
Uuh, how scandalous to have a naked made up blonde on the cover and “Hardcore” in the title, how pornographic! I’d rather say “This Is Boring”.
5/10
This definitely is not harcore, this is mediocre. 3/5
Better than I was expecting but you’ve gotta be joking with that almost 15 minute song
Haiku about Pulp: Don’t try to be Bowie or Elvis Costello
I want to like pulp, but they make it difficult
Never got in to brit pop when it arrived, and Pulp was definitely not a band I listened to if I listened to it at all. I felt the production of this album was pretty terrible. Granted I listened from Spotify in my car, but the vocals were so muddy and low sound that I had trouble picking it up. All in all this is what I feel about most brit pop. Just... alright.
I was previously familiar with Pulp but nothing from this album. This is a rock album, I guess it would be considered Britpop. It's fine, but nothing particularly stands out to me, although the vocals walk a fine line between grating and very solid. I would listen again but not in any rush to do so.
I know, everyone loves pulp. I could never got too into them.
I liked this more than I thought I would. I quite liked Different Class but cant really say that I know a lot of Pulp’s work. This album was not what I expected. I was expecting something a little heavier and less Brit poppy. I’m not sure why. It’s a good album but not one I think I would really play again. And it’s about 25 minutes too long. 3.5/5 rounding down because of the length.
A Different Class was so good that subsequent albums were always going to be difficult.
This was okay. Some of the songs were better than others.
Britpop royalty, the highs are very high the standard is very standard.
2.5
After the super high, mega hit of Different Class, This Is Hardcore is kinda like the hangover, it's raw and a bit bleak. Forget the party vibes, this one dives into the dark side, anxiety, feeling alone, the whole deal. Jarvis Cocker ditches the catchy tunes for something more moody and introspective, all self reflection. It's got these cool, orchestral sounds, but it still feels kinda cold, like the end of a long run for fame. It's got this nihilistic vibe, with some Bowie-esque glam and art rock thrown in, and they don't care about being on the radio. It's not always easy to listen to. It's ambitious, a bit much at times, and it definitely makes you think. But that's what makes it such a great post-Britpop album. Tracks like "The Fear" and the title track are super intense, showing a band dealing with loss, and it's honest even if it's not always comfy. It's Pulp at their most grown-up and real about getting older and feeling let down.
Dig it, need a closer listen. Felt like The National was at least somewhat inspired by this.
Not bad but not especially memorable
This is much too poppy and synth-driven for me. There are some good songs but overall, this isn't a record I would revisit anytime soon. I can say without a trace of irony, this has an AMAZING album cover.
I liked this more than i thought i would based on the first couple songs and i’d like to listen again coz it feels like there was something fun happening here i didn’t quite reach but i can’t lie i was pretty tempted to skip knowing what was next so take it all with a grain of salt.
Just another pulp album. Ok
An album that I really can't take at face value.
I rather liked this album.
It's good, but a bit hard to give too high a mark.
Quite good!! I like Pulp… this is hardcore? Ok!
I enjoy statements... im sorta done with the question... no more questions!! just statements!!!
I never heard of that band. Good songs. Good album.
Some good songs on here, but not as good as Different Class.
I did not enjoy the first half of this at all. But the second half kind of rules!
Little torn on this one, but landing 3. Pretty cool moments in here and some funny and thought provoking lyrics, but in the end I think the bit is a little too silly. I see the Kinks similarities but I think I need the arrangements to carry the day and the humor to blend in. Pulp firmly on the radar though.
So much britpop on this list. This is at least more bearable than most of the stuff from the 80s.
Når inte riktigt upp till Pulp-hitarna (Common People osv)
Solid album, but not as exciting as the previous ones
This album really grew on me. It may be a 4 star after a few more listens. I wish I could give it a 3.5.
"We have David Bowie at home" David Bowie at home:
I liked slyvia
Good but forgettable.
Another band I’ve heard of but never heard. Knowing that they were British and that this was from the ‘90s didn’t make me look forward to this but I am pleasantly surprised by this listen. I like the variety of songs here and they are all well performed and recorded. There’s a good amount of experimentation in the arrangements and in the mix. This whole album kind of has a Bowie vibe but does seem to retain some originality. Jarvis Cocker does seem to be a bit pompous in his delivery but I suppose that is what makes these songs work. There’s one more album by them on this list so I’ll be looking forward to that one!
"Jarvis Cocker, in particular, became an unlikely sex symbol and cultural provocateur, offering an intellectual and satirical counterweight to the laddish masculinity of contemporaries like Oasis" -Pulp's Wikipedia article Who out here is thinking Oasis and masculinity should be in the same sentence?
Abit too much British pop/rock lately in this challenge. Well perhaps it makes it more easier to compare. Compared with Blurs Parklife this had a little more nuance in it that fit mu taste buds. Little more depth.
Some interesting melodies going on here, but, unlike Pulp's first album, the lyrics in "Hardcore" skew toward self-pity.
After the wave of positivity and drugs that was Britpop and Pulp's eventual admission into the ruling class of the movement, then come down begins. That's this album. Best Tracks: Help The Aged; This Is Hardcore; I'm a Man
Another Brit rock album where I enjoy the music, but just can’t handle the lead singer’s voice. Just not my bag. 2.5 / 5
ok, kinda forgettable.
If late-90s Britpop were the only genre to chose from, I would pick this over Oasis. But that’s a pretty low bar to clear.
Solid 7
There are some elements I liked. Some chord progression is not bad. But overall it’s like having yogurt with some fruit bits. Fruit bits are sweet and taste not too bad but the yogurt itself is really mediocre and boring.
kinda sounded like Nick Cave, if he didn't suck but in all seriousness, it was an interesting album. its dark, its moody, but it does a good job of capturing its audience. overall, not a bad listen. didn't love a 10 minute outro with a single lyrics in it... but hey, thats artistry for ya? realistically this would be a 2.5, but ill bump it to a 3
It was fine. Totally forgettable but not offensive.
My left nut is more hardcore than this. A bit boring.
Britpop turned to depression. It's a strange album. The sound is this darker version of the britpop we are used to but the lyrics truly reveal that this is music written to describe a troubling side of humanity. And while it is at times too dissonant and dark to immerse yourself fully, it has its moments where it becomes very relatable though that might be subjective (and dependant on what you make of some of the symbolism).
Big lie by Jarvis. Having listened to better stuff by Pulp this was disappointing. Sounds a bit decaffeinated. Neither good nor bad.
*1998. Britpop, glam rock. *This is fun. If you told me this was David Bowie, I would believe you. *A little goes a long way. RATING - 6/10
Because I enjoyed A Different Class so much, I gave this album several more listens than I normally would. But even after my fifth time through, I feel like nothing really sticks. Whatever moments of earnestness existed in their previous album are completely absent here, replaced with Jarvis Cocker's dull ennui. He sounds as bored singing these songs as I feel listening to them. The music sounds pleasant enough, but it all kind of blends into a kind of sonic wallpaper
Bigger, heavier, and more dramatic than Different Class. I like this album a little more, probably because it dispenses with the twee fake optimism and embraces the misery at the core of this band’s music. I respect its honesty, and the songcraft, but something this grim and sleazy isn’t really for me.
this is pulp. the unmistakable voice of Mr Cocker good album. not aware of any hit singles from here but not the biggest Pulp fan so.
note to self: copy and paste review from previous Pulp album, remove any references to "Common People" it's almost interesting but never gets there
ok
Imagine my disappointment when I realized that this was, in fact, not hardcore.
I don't really known Pulp outside of the big hits, so it was nice to hear a bit more. That being said, this album doesn't feel like a must listen. There are some good moments and plenty of wry lyrics, but not many songs stand out after a couple of listens.
Hä, 10 Minuten Dauerton als "long Outro"?
I was suprised to hear this album. I didnt dislike it actually. Anything from this genre is always kind of hard to life out, but this one seemed to grow on me the further down the album I got.
Some great lines, and I like that the music got darker after Different Class. They remain band I find easy to like, hard to love. I know Jarvis Cocker is a horny poet or whatever but the album cover’s pretty stupid.
The Fear - 4/5 Dishes - 3/5 Party Hard - 3.5/5 Help the Aged - 3.5/5 This Is Hardcore - 4/5 TV Movie - 3/5 A Little Soul - 3/5 I'm a Man - 3.5/5 Seductive Barry - 3/5 Sylvia - 3/5 Glory Days - 3.5/5 The Day After the Revolution - 3/5 I knew this wouldn't get any higher than a three because of the singer saying he has the same initials as Jesus. My first foray into Britpop for this list was properly whelming. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: The Fear, This is Hardcore
***an ok album
Some of the lyrics are good, but the lack of musical variety on this one drags it down. Too much drone, not enough melody. It’s consistent and not horrible but not their best for me.
Hard not to compare to Different Class, which is obviously in a different, better class. Feels like it could be a grower and I’ll try to revisit it a few times. For now, it’s a 3
It's a great style. I think I need multiple listens on this one.
This was fine but I didn't like it as well as the other two pulp albums I've listened to. Has some good spots but also seemed like it was probably too long.
Pretty good. Damned by being the follow up to an absolute all timer, and by the tendency of late 90s albums to be way too long. But - the good songs are excellent and the okay ones are elevated by the force of Jarvis Cocker's wit and personality. Overall though, needs a good harsh edit of about 15 minutes and it would be so much better.
Wel oke
Fun tale of a nasty little man.
Sometimes a vibe, sometimes kind of awful, sometimes just noise. Highlights: Like a Friend, The Fear, Help the Aged, A Little Soul
Some very good songs but felt like it dragged on too long.
Não gostei muito
This wasn't very hardcore. The album should've been called "This is more britpop"
Ok, I've never really listened to Pulp aside from their radio singles. I like a lot of UK bands from the same era, so I don't know why I never tried this album out. I was pleasantly surprised! It's really solid, and I'll listen again.
Sometimes interesting, but mostly about sex troubled childhood.
I have hated the song Help the Aged since I was 11 years old when it was released as a single. I've consciously avoided it, turning over the tv or radio whenever it started for the last almost 30 years. I finally listened to it today and... It's pretty good actually.
I gave this a listen while working and it slipped into the background. So, I thought I'd listen again. Same. It's good .... music that sounds familiar and I wouldn't mind if someone else was playing it around me. Dishes, Party Hard, Help The Aged, I'm a Man were most memorable.
I enjoy Pulp's overall sound and Jarvis Cocker's talk-sing style, but I ended up liking this album less than I had hoped. "The Fear" is solid... the British seem to keep finding new ways to explore modern listlessness, and I'm here for it all. But I found myself kind of lost in the later tracks. Like a lot of these 90s albums, it seems a little too long and unfocused. I would probably give it 3.5 if that were an option, but for today it's just a 3. I wouldn't be surprised if I return to it later and feel differently.
This is the opposite of hardcore. More like This is Just Average. This is Mediocre.
This is good, but not the most interesting thing on here. It's Bowie-esque in a comforting way, but as much as I love Bowie's music I don't think everyone needs to sound like him. Favorite track: "Glory Days"
I didn’t love it or hate it
Never been a Pulp fan but some of this is very good indeed. 3/4 out of 5
Peppy alternative rock... didn't grab me.
Yawn
Kinda slipped into a trance listening to this one.
Slower/calmer than my usual music taste but nice. Sort of a seductive note. Depressing at times. Nice tho. Need more time to figure out if I like it or not. Think I like "The Fear" best.
I'm not much of a Pulp fan. It took me a while to warm up to this album and sink in-- and there's plenty of time to do so with the full album coming in at about 70 mins, which I reckon is too long here. It's a bit as if this is an album that Bowie never made. Or at least, lesser Bowie, and the character being played is Jarvis Cocker. I can't figure out if I actually like him or not-- is the poetic cockiness charming and deserved? For instance, the line at the end of "Dishes", "I am not Jesus though I have the same initials" is more likely just 1998 rage bait, but I'm not completely certain he doesn't believe it. The whole album plays out like a curtain call on a big stage, dramatic and cinematic like the Thin White Duke or Ziggy Stardust giving his all at the end of the night. "What exactly do you do for an encore/ 'cause this is hardcore"... Cocker certainly has a talent for final lines in songs. So I'm really sitting in the middle on this. It didn't resonate with me, but I didn't think it was bad. I think on a re-listen, I could get more into it.
It's weird to name your album for a style of music that definitely is not featured on the album. But I guess CBGBs wasn't named for the style it featured either. Anyway "This is Hardcore" is an evolution from Pulp's previous style. A bit more experimental and darker maybe. It's not bad, but it lacks the memorable moments of "Different Class". If there were such a genre as post-Brit-pop, this would be it. Not bad but not great.
The titular track is brilliant, good opening and closing tracks, but some of the rest falls short
Average.
Mrh, not great, but not terrible.
It kept sounding like different artists(most that I like). I should probably do another listen, but it seems good but not quite great.
# Album Name: This Is Hardcore # Artist: Pulp # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Pretty Average. Not their best stuff # Top Tunes: Like a friend / This is hardcore # Would I listen to it again? Maybe
Sleazy sounding glam rock - a few of the songs reminded me of Creep by Radiohead in a derivative way.
There are moments here that I like more than Different Class, and aspect I really don't. DC was already long enough that it'd start to grate on me, and 'Hardcore goes on even longer. I do like some of the rougher production that shows up occasionally here and there.
They got their Bowie on! Good songs was long but not boring
Not bad
This Glam Rock album cloaks its sleek synths, pulsing bass, and dramatic string accents around dry, theatrical half-spoken, half-sung vocals, shifting between detached narration and wounded intimacy, dissecting desire, power, and disillusionment, unfolding like a velvet-curtained nightclub after closing time—seductive, self-aware, and faintly sordid, yet aware that the glamour has already begun to curdle.
Best Song: I'm a Man This was a new one for me, and I know that people will play word games with the title, This is Hardcore - spoiler alert: it is not hardcore. It is alternative-pop with a pinch of new wave thrown in here and there. It's ok, but nothing that I needed to go out of my way for. It could easily have been skipped from this list. 3/5.
Art rock, bowie Party hard This is hardcore
A good amount of meaning but not very listenable or fun or danceable or singable
Good band, good album just not great
Factually incorrect title. I’d consider songs about being nice to old people to be pretty far from hardcore.
holy shit
I liked this, but probably won’t revisit this.
fine, boring
Loved the last Pulp album I got, and while there’s a lot of great stuff here, it falls into the trap I find a lot of later 90s Brit pop falling into, i.e., it’s overlong and getting self important, with lots of not great songs crowding what could be a better, refined listening experience. 3.5
Аранжировки местами интересные, но сами по себе песни безликие. Лучшая песня: Seductive Barry
it’s a nostalgic sound, the voice is really specific. I enjoy listening to the music, the lyrics are a bit whiny/horny, but they are not as bad as other 90s singers (looking at you Nick Cave). But quite a bit of cringe nonetheless.
a little boring tbh
Temu Radiohead. That's how I felt for the first 4 songs. But then the album turned a corner for me with This Is Hardcore. It was orchestral and I enjoyed the mixing of the keys and the horns. It sounded like it was recorded all live off the floor of a concert hall. Would make a good James Bond song. It was a tad bit long but I liked that song. And the songs that followed were great driving music. I don't love the singer, but I like the music in the middle album. And then it turned another corner and it was back to being uninteresting to me.
More arty, loungy and darker than A Different Class I thought this album was a transition to something more and left me wanting. Another curious entry into the list of albums that are in the shadow of something better and more culturally impactful by the same artist that don't deserve to be here.
It’s not really that hardcore. Kind of dramatic and whiney, actually.
Not my favorite.
A tad too languorous for me.
Did not bother me, did not fascinated me. Actually, it didn't produce me anything. 5/10
not as good as their other albums but it’s cool to hear pulp on here
This was pretty good! Wasn't blown my socks off but good enough!
Album Nr. 93 Bestenfalls durchschnittlich.
I’ve known Pulp for years, at least through their bigger tracks, but sitting with this album didn’t hit me the way I hoped it would. It has that Morrissey/The Smiths dynamic - strong band, poetic frontman - but the overall impact lands softer for me. Jarvis Cocker’s writing is absolutely poetic, but it doesn’t connect with me on the same level as other lyric-driven artists. No knock on them; it’s just not quite my lane.
This is fine. Def understand Pulp's place in britpoptopia. I wish the songs were better.
what the hell this isn't hardcore at all
Oh wow, another Pulp album. NGL that other one was pretty great and I still have that song stuck in my head. lol This one is from 98...Meh this one wasn't as good. Good but not that good 3 stars.
This seems like some kind of odd mashup of Bowie, a bit of U2, a bit of Pink Floyd, and some other things. Though the music kind of grew on me as I listened, I can't imagine why I would ever listen to this again on purpose.
Meh. Probably would have liked this more had I heard it upon release. Good overall but a few tracks just hit my ears wrong.
Not a bad album. Some parts remind me of David Bowie, e.g. the last track "The Day After The Revolution" could be a Bowie song.
overall it’s okay. lyrically not an album for me. the bowie sounds makes me want to listen to bowie instead. fave song: the fear glory days was also kind of a banger. 2.5/5 🌕🌕🌗
Had Bowiesque moments. Bit grudgy in spots
This is a pretty interesting listen. The cacophony that ends the first song is really something I'm into, and I'm impressed overall at the instrumentation in the first few tracks overall. The vocals are kind of hit or miss for me. This album is so eclectic, it can't help itself but go in a ton of different directions. The first 5 songs go everywhere and anywhere, and I love the weird slow drum n bass electronic synth string "This Is Hardcore". I feel like I liked this? But it would be better if i gave it a few more listens to really get through it all.
Idk how I feel about this, it was entertaining to listen to but not my favorite
This album is good, but it pales in comparison to their previous album. The songs on the last album just felt so much more bombastic, and the melodies were stronger. This is still a decent album though. High 3.
Góð en mér fannst alveg óþarfi að setjast á hljómborðið í korter undir lokin
Langar að hífa þetta upp í 4 stjörnur en þetta er allt ansi eins.
This was fine, but at the end of the day nothing really stood out and it is largely forgettable. Better than most 2s. 2.5/5
Thought I would dislike this more based on some of the reviews. Though I didn't like it as much as Different Class, I think it is still deserving of a 3 rating. Nothing caught my attention like Common People, but still a decent listen, albeit a bit too long. 2.75/5
One of those bands: I get they are great, just doesn’t work for me
This was enough of a raw Bowie-ish recording that it won me over. I had heard of Jarvis Cocker, but honestly thought he was Joe Cocker's son. Never heard of Pulp, except maybe on Steven Wilson & Tim Bowness' podcast 'The Album Years'. First half is definitely stronger, first 5 tracks are a great sequence and 'Party Hard' is a standout for me.
This is my 2nd Pulp album. The other one was this album's predecessor, Different Class. I liked that one a tad more, but this is still quite listenable. I won't return for a re-listen.
Chill rock. Not bad, same band who did Common People. 3.5 stars
Well, this is pretty dark.
Good enough, even if it was the best of album that I heard
Interesting but unexciting. 3 *
I can't rate it a 5 because it feels to sacred. I think I rated a Santana album 5 stars awhile back and I regret it. It's good, BUT FIVE? A PERFECT FIVE? Let's calm down.
I've heard of this band. Not sure if I have listened to much of their stuff. It's alright, not for me. Very artsy.
Help the Aged
The more I listen to this the more I like it. It's a very cohesive piece of work; you can't just jump in and grab a song here and there and appreciate it as much as in the context of the whole album. With enough time, this might get to a 4 for me. But interestingly, there's no stand outs; just one long collective work that's really pretty good. High 3+. Maybe should be a 4.
the fear- 5 or 6 dishes- 5 party hard- 5 help the aged- 4 this is hardcore- 4 tv movie- 5 or 6 a little soul- 5 im a man- 5 seductive barry- 4 sylvia- 4 or 5 no more- it reminds me of phineas and ferb music idk why
Another average one
This was an album that passed me by back in the 90's. I'd heard the tracks that were released as singles, but never the whole album. In general it was pretty good, but it's another one that never fully grabbed my attention. If an album is on this list then I think it should be at least one of either (1) fucking amazing, (2) fucking awful, or (3) groundbreaking. This feels like none of those. Perhaps I've become a bit stale, now that I'm half-way through the 1001 albums, as I seem to be awarding 3 stars quite often now.
Good album but not Pulps best.
Interesting
Pretty good 3.5
Today I learned that Myron Wagtail of the Weird Sisters fronted a Britpop band that did not break in America called Pulp. Pulp released an album called This Is Hardcore where Myron used a voice spell to sound like David Bowie. It's okay.
This was fine. Solid 3-star album.
I kinda dig it.
I like this better than Blur? #lamereviews
A very dark yang to the A Different Class's archly humorous ying. Doesn't come out that well in the wash.
Buen grupo de brit pop y buen disco.
Not bad, fun! Drags on a bit
2.5 Sorry, but all of the 80s and 90s British bands that made it Pulp is one of those I don't get. And lord I've tried. Never been able to dig Jarvis Cockers style, but even besides that the music for the most part is just so... Lifeless? The odd song is a banger, but I mean odd. As in 1 every couple of albums. One day someone will explain it to me.
Not my thing, but I can appreciate it.
Honestly there was nothing to this album for me.
Sounds like Nixon. 2.5
Some standard, kinda boring britpop. Not very hardcore at all.
Not bad. Quite unique, but not exactly my cup of tea. I understand why people like it.
1. The Fear - 8 A track that's like a modernized Tears for Fears. Lyrically it's a good track with a great guitar sound. Very enjoyable opening experience. 2. Dishes - 3 Lyrically it's not a strong song. Everything else about it is alright but given it's a softer, slower song the vocals dominate most of the sound and they are very uninspiring. 3. Party Hard - 4 Instruments often drown out the vocals that are too low in octave to really enjoy fully. Guitar sound in the verses does sound quite good but it should not come at the cost of the vocals in the first verse. Lyrically this track isn't anything fantastic. 4. Help The Aged - 8 Classic Pulp sound on this track. Really enjoyable sound with a building of the guitars and lyrics that traverse a large landscape of vocal sound to culminate in an excellent track. Best track of the opening four. 5. This Is Hardcore - 9 Another solid building track with an awesome guitar sound. Really really solid title track and lyrically one of the best on the album. 6. TV Movie - 6 Decent song that slowly builds into a crescendo of a chorus until fading out. Overall a solid slower song. 7. A Little Soul - 6 Decent track with a great underpinned chord to lead the verses. Choruses are alright but the middle part of the track is a bit lost in pace vocally. 8. I'm A Man - 9 Quintessential Pulp track. Great guitar sound backed by an excellent drum. Vocals build into the choruses incredibly well on this track. Awesome song. 9. Seductive Berry - 2 Lyrically it's not a great song and vocals are at sometimes drowned out by the background singers and guitars. Forgettable track. 10. Sylvia - 5 It's okay. The louder parts of the track in the second half of it are fantastic but the opening slower parts are very lost. Ends on a great note though. 11. Glory Days - 4 Lyrically it's pretty bad but the guitar leading the track is quite enjoyable. Just feels like a bit of a random song in the verses until you reach the glory days line to lead out of the verses into the bridge. 12. The Day After The Revolution - 7 Drum is superb on this track and adds a great beat. Lyrically it's decent but the song's constant moving from high to low to high to low in the middle of the verses themselves make you feel a bit lost during the track. The guitars are very enjoyable and can help you get through some of the more almost annoying parts of the track. 13. Like A Friend - 8 Solid closing track that builds well. Enjoyable lyrics and a fantastic guitar to accompany an excellent crescendo of the percussions on the drums. Average Rating: 6.08 Adjusted to a 5-Point Scale: 3.04 Rounded Down: 3 Stars
Unlike seemingly most, I didn’t get caught up in the Pulp love during the Britpop era although spending a lot of time in indie clubs, I heard (and danced to) a decent amount. I’ve somewhat softened my view these days and can even get nostalgic when listening but they’re still not a band I’ve ever chosen to play. So I can’t really compare this to earlier albums but there’s plenty of moments on here that feel grittier than their earlier singles, as well as a more cinematic aspect that’s clearly continued in their most recent work. Some great lyrics too. I’m certainly intrigued by this and may listen again at some point. It is too long though!
One of the most "meh" albums I've heard. It's not bad and unpleasant to listen, but it's a forgettable bunch of songs that start to meld after a while and start to sound the same. There are some interesting moments, but overall I found the album boring, unfortunately. I guess it's not my cup of tea. 2.5/5
background music while I was working
This Is Hardcore is a good album but far from my idea of hardcore. A more thoughtful and accurate title would have been This Is Mellow(dramatic) The songs are slow, thought provoking and musically on point. The album improves as it progresses, Glory Days takes top honors. The Day After The Revolution is intriguing and Help The Aged strikes a chord. I like this band. (3.4*s) Nothing lasts forever.
Not sure they need to be on this list twice but the list creator is obviously a britpop fan. It's a bit of a departure from the britpop sound but I think it still works. The more diverse and electronic sounds from Party Hard and a couple of other tracks round the album out a little more than what I heard from their earlier stuff. I thought it might drag a bit at 60+ minutes but I didn't struggle through it. 2.79 stars
Help the Aged This Is Hardcore
The random "bye" in the 10 minutes of dreamy noise at the end of the album was certainly a thing. A Day in the Life did it better.
Liked this quite a bit. Quite a bit of good songs here and the instrumentation is fairly unique.
Found it to be a little weak towards the middle. Other than that I really enjoyed it. „The Fear“ really stuck with me.
Good album. Very Bowie-esque.
Britpop, but alternative!
I respect the ambition and scope of sounds. There’s an excellent, maybe perfect, album in here somewhere. The songwriting is strong, but I think this is stretched kind of thin as a whole. I wished the lead vocals were mixed a little louder.
Nice
Day553 - as far as pulp albums go this has been my favorite one. it’s maybe a little slow but melancholy is where i lean
Just … ok.
I was never that taken with the whole Britpop thing. Oasis were a very shit Beatles rip off and Blur took themselves a bit too seriously. However if I had to pick one band that I could listen it would be Pulp! This is not their best album but still a good listen.
The Fear 3.8 Dishes 3.5 Party Hard 3.3 Help the Aged 3.7 This Is Hardcore 3.6 TV Movie 3.4 A Little Soul 3.5 I'm a Man 3.5 Seductive Barry 3.2 Sylvia 3.4 Glory Days 3.5 The Day After the Revolution 3.3 Score: 3.475
Another band I’ve heard about through the grapevine, though I don’t exactly know why. I’m surprised this album released in 1998. I was of the impression that Pulp were an 80s band, which I guess isn’t wrong despite only finding breakout success in the 90s Ah! I remember why I know these guys. My Mum gave me a CD of Different Classes when I first started out with listening to music. I don’t remember anything about the album other than it sounding kinda shitty, so I may as well be going into this album completely blind. This one deserves a relisten somewhere down the line as I thought it was pretty alright for the most part. It admittedly lost me somewhere along the way, though there’s a genuine craft to these songs and some pretty interesting lyrics to boot. Dishes is good. I like the delicate guitar performance that guides the song and the strings/organ that appear later in the track are also pretty good. Help the Aged is another good cut. I like the echoey, hollow sound in the guitars and the vocal performance is strong. I’m a Man is very familiar, especially the guitar performance at the beginning of the song. The songwriting is pretty good. I enjoy the malaise that is captured in the lyrics and the track has a very strong chorus. Equally enjoyable is the instrumental. I like the Planet Telex-esque guitar reverb, which pairs nicely with the vocal style. I can confidently say that this song is one of the best tracks I’ve listened to in recent memory. Sylvia is another great track. The vocal melody is fantastic, especially around the chorus. Complementing this is a very pleasing backing track. The synth during the less lively bits is admittedly a little weak, though the explosive percussion and guitars around the chorus are very good. Glory Days is another familiar one, though I think I may be mishearing it as another track. In any case, it’s very solid. This album has been full of tracks that build towards a loud crescendo. Frankly, I can’t fault these guys. They do it very well. Just to proudly wear my stripes, I daringly braved the ten-minute synth note at the end of The Day After the Revolution. After touring in the trenches of The Flaming Lips’ “Noise Loop”, getting through this one was a piece ‘a cake. I will gladly wear the “bahbah” as a sign of status from now on. I get the impression that this is a solid pick for the book, though I’m curious to know a little more as to why. Let’s see. A huge pivot within the band’s sound. “...a profoundly unsettling piece of work”. I always appreciate it whenever artists forego any commercial obligations and do their own thing, so I can happily cosign this inclusion.
Loved the opening track. The rest was still good, but I feel like I was set up for better.
This isn't hardcore. This is parallel universe Bowie.
Sometime in the mid 1990s I heard a Pulp song and decided they suck. I don’t know what song that was but I must had been pre- This is Hardcore. This album is not at all what I was expecting. It’s dark, lush and cinematic. Fear and the title track are highlights 7.7/10
This was fine. Nothing particularly stood out to me. It was smooth. I read the description comparing them to Oasis and honestly I didn’t hear it. This is more boring, but inoffensive. I wouldn’t mind this on in the background.
Pretty good!
This didn't seem that hardcore. It fact it felt pretty low energy, not terrible, but nothing to really pull me in.
Y'know... I feel like I spent quite a bit of time during this album thinking Nirvana's IN UTERO. That was the album the band put out after NEVERMIND, with the explicit intention of alienating the pop audience they'd gotten. They cranked up the noise rock and Kurt's screaming got much harsher. Sure, it has softer songs like "All Apologies", but for all intents and purposes (and as I've always understood it) it was meant to scare people away. From everything I've read about Pulp's THIS IS HARDCORE, they seemed to be aiming for something similar. After years and years of trying to achieve, they finally got what they wished for their album DIFFERENT CLASS... And it turns out, they (and by "they" I mean the only band member that matters, Jarvis Cocker) didn't like it. They really didn't like it. So, as a response, they made THIS IS HARDCORE — what I've read described as a "cocaine hangover" album. It intends to alienate the audience, but not in the way like IN UTERO where it's loud and noisy and screaming at you. More, this album is just dark and sleazy and brutally, painfully honest... LIke, it's nursing its hangover and it just wants you to go away and stop bothering it. Well, that's what I gathered from the reviews, at least. My own experience with this album tended to be more like, "Uh... OK?" Look, I really tried with this album. I mean, I went through the effort of piecing together reviews to make that paragraph above so I could try and figure out a lens to view this thing through. I wanted to meet it where it was. Failing that, I tried looking at it like a concept like one of my fellow group members did... And neither one really worked for me. I was honestly wondering to myself, "Am I the problem? Is it me? Am I getting too distracted talking with friends about Subway, or trying to find on Google Maps where an Arby's used to be? Is that why I'm not engaging with this material?" Being completely real, I think I just don't jive with this material and this sound. And it's not like I blame Pulp for going in the direction they did. If they really didn't enjoy fame, I don't expect them to just write DIFFERENT CLASS 2. I **get** why this album is the way it is. And, y'know, maybe I'm a jerk for thinking this, but I think I liked Pulp better when they were happy. I relistened to "Common People" from that previous album, and, yeah, I just dug it a whole lot more than I did anything on here. I mean, it took me until the last three songs to get into this album, and the closer just **had** to screw things up by holding a single synth note for nine minutes straight. Funny joke, guys. Maybe **I'm** wrong for having assumed that happiness was Pulp's hook. Not like "happy–slappy ecstasy" kind of shit, but just that they're like... Joyous. They're looking at the shitty situation people are in and they're still finding joy in it. Which I suppose should make the contrast all the more palpable when they spend this album just wallowing, but... It just really failed to grab me in any meaningful way. It's like, where DIFFERENT CLASS made a good case for Pulp as one of the "big 4 of Britpop," this album has me wondering why I'd even really bring them up in the same breath as blur and Oasis. And I don't have a problem with downer or depressing music, honestly. And it's not like this even a fully bad album; there are parts I liked. Plus, again, I **did** really enjoy those last three tracks, the closer's outro aside. I just can't dig its sound, and that's really the worst it gets for me. Still, though: it ain't nothing. So, IN UTERO this ain't. And even putting aside my comparison to that album... Yeah. I might return to a song or two from DIFFERENT CLASS at some point — but this album? I think it's just too hardcore for me.
Very 90s Muse precursor
I like the title song. The rest is very confusing.. all over the place.
It's the ugly, angry cousin of their big three records but there's some fantastic arty highs despite being less euphoric and consistent than the predecessors. Will be more often in my rotation than it was, as it's a lot better than I remember it being, although Seductive Barry could be their nadir.
Slightly dreary. Does have a slight melodic melancholy about it
Rock, 1998 -> 3
Bueno
Sick name
i suppose i'll round down but it's pretty squarely a 3.5.
Solid, kinda moody rock Favorites: This Is Hardcore, Seductive Barry
No tiene los temas de Alternativa
It wasn’t as hardcore as expected.
You Look Just Like Sylvia 1001 Albums Generator 25 (05/07/2025) For my quarter-centennial album, I got the sixth album by the British band Pulp, This Is Hardcore. I had a very difficult time listening to this at work because of the album cover, but I was able to get around it lol. I know Pulp only as one of the big four of Britpop, but I have never listened to them. Interestingly, this album fulfills a similar role to the 4th album I got on this journey, Blur's self-titled, as This Is Hardcore similarly represents a band shedding their Britpop sound in favor of a different form of rock music. While Blur went for a more American alternative rock sound, Pulp opted to stay with sounds of the U.K. and instead pursue a distinctly British form of artsy glam rock, a la David Bowie two decades earlier. Often cited as the definitive album of the post-Britpop era, This Is Hardcore sees Pulp embracing more experimental, electronic soundscapes and darker themes. In general, this album is best when its energy and tension is bursting from the seams. Opening track The Fear is a haunting, gothic song led by great guitar harmonics and Jarvis Cocker's sometimes spoken, sometimes yelped vocals. While it sticks to a slow tempo, the tension is palpable. Party Hard is a really fun noisy rock song that is the most obvious single on the album. Cocker is doing his best David Bowie impression here. The lyrics were written as a cynical criticism of party and clubbing culture, in stark contrast to much of what Pulp's musical peers were writing about at the time. The title track is the most popular song on the album and features a jazzy trip-hop inspired instrumental and lyrics comparing musical success with being a porn star. Talking about his inspiration for the song, Cocker said "You'd see the same people in films, and they'd seem to be quite alive, and then you'd see a film from a year later and there's something gone in their eyes. You can see it, that they've done it all and there's nowhere else to go." I wonder if these ideas are still relevant today... A Little Soul and I'm A Man are unapologetically jangly Britpop. The former is a bit cheesy with its *clap clap* chorus but it's fun. The latter features a really great guitar solo. Sylvia is one of the strongest songs here, featuring heartbreaking lyrics of memories of a lost love, sung in a flying falsetto. This one almost gave me second-wave emo vibes when the chorus comes crashing in, a la Mineral or the more emo moments on You'd Prefer An Astronaut. However, this is quite a long album and features some slow songs that, to me, do not justify their place on the tracklist. Dishes is slow and psychedelic in a way that could be interesting, but it never gets off the ground, and it feels strange as a second song on the album. TV Movie is another slow moment, a piece of chamber pop led by acoustic guitar as opposed to the synths of Dishes, but it similarly fails to really pick up until around the last minute or so. Seductive Barry has orchestral touches of the post-rock movement that was gaining traction in the U.S. and Canada at the time, but I don't think it's done as well as many of the popular bands in that movement. I absolutely love the Spotify version of the closer The Day After The Revolution, which is a multilayer glamfest through and through, but the full 15 minute version doesn't do it for me. I can appreciate the experimentation of ending the album on a 10 minute drone, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it. This Is Hardcore. This is an alright album. This is an album with some great songs and a hefty serving of filler. This Is Hardcore. This is a 3.5/5, rounded down to a 3. Favs: Party Hard This Is Hardcore Sylvia Least Fav: (Original version) The Day After The Revolution (Spotify version) Seductive Barry
Alt rock, on the slower/contemplative side
Don’t think I have this one enough time to have a solid opinion. Was interesting though.
3.2 By the looks of the wiki page, pulp was a pretty popular band in the UK. Growing up in Canada I dont think I ever heard them on the radio once. My introduction would have been through a ripped William Shatner album and the cover of common people. Maybe a bit more going on than some of the britpop out there
Honestly not sure whether this is a 3 or a 4, probably closer to a 4 but I really like rock music. Would definitely give it another listen eventually but I’m not racing to do so, hence the 3. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great music, but I’ve listened to a lot of high-energy rock music recently
Did not expect the type of music I got from just looking at the album cover haha. It was alright, the singer was pretty whine-y, which got a bit annoying. I also listened to this while cooking dinner so I didn't pay too much attention to the lyrics, but reading a few other reviews apparently they are pretty sexual haha. So I guess the album cover fits after all. Standouts: Like a Friend Rating: 2.75/5
Late 90’s alt rock
3.0 - Ok
Good Brit-pop, but not great. A couple of hits for sure, but I prefer their previous album.
I've never listened to much Pulp and thought I wouldn't really be into them, but there are some seriously epic tunes on this album.
3.5
File under: Dramatic white people music See also: Bowie, Elvis Costello, Nick Cave
Very mediocre
Like Bruce Springsteen does power ballads. An interesting thought experiment, but too dad rock for my taste.
Not my go to Pulp album, that's 'His 'n' Hers', but this has lots of bangers from start to finish. It's always good to stick it on every once in a while.
Always wrote them off as B tier Brit pop but there was more going on here. More artsy that I expected. I would listen again.
There's quite a set of strong songs on here. I must be personally going through a strict and demanding phase as I don't feel inclined to be generous with the scoring. Definitely a decent record though.
Favorite Track: Dishes
# 441 : 21/03/2025 : They've done a pretty decent job, not very hardcore I'll admit, but better than I expected.
It wasn't bad, it just wasn't particularly good.
Worth a second listen, I wanted to like it more but often felt something was missing like how Smokin Joe has some technically correct blues music that lacks soul. The album sounds like it was contractionally mandated.
This seems at least somewhat influenced by Nick Cave, not bad. Probably will not seek out.
Enjoyed the vocals and overall sound from these guys. Probably won't seek out on my own but if they come on in the wild, I'll take a moment to appreciate it!
i sure liked this more than their last one i heard on this website!
Man this wasn't bad but I don't know why I expected more. I'm not at all familiar with Pulp's work, but I know they're supposed to be this transcendentally good British pop/rock band more intellectual then Stella infused Oasis and less goofy than Blur, etc, etc. Sure the lyrics in here are a bit more mature (or just horny?) than some of the stuff the aforementioned bands talk about but I don't know...it comes off as skeezy or desperate in some cases. Surely that's intentional? In any case, I wouldn't call this a bad album, and if I came in with no preconceived notions about what it was supposed to sound like then maybe I would've liked it more. The beginning up until the end of the title track is better than the rest. Once you hit "Seductive Barry", which is terrible, it rapidly drops off a cliff. I would say only that last bit is bad, the rest is fine to kinda good even. And man, this would have been a great album cover and title for an actual hardcore album.
nice overall, a bit tiring after a while. still, a nice discovery!
Good rock album, enjoy some songs, but some songs do blend together a bit
It's okay - put the album on and started trying to figure out a new process being implemented at work. I didn't pay much attention to the album, but it wasn't distracting.
Good but nothing major for me
nice and forgettable at the same time
With apologies to Pulp because I'm sure it's frustrating as an artist to always be compared to your most popular work: it's no Common People :( I do like The Fear and a couple of other tracks but could leave most.
this is so long
I have some friends for whom Pulp is their favourite band. Yes. They are citizens of the UK. Why do you ask?
Enjoyable. Would listen again.
this is not as good as the previous one lol
Liked it
Different Class had moments where I found the subject matter to not be to my liking. Mostly dealing with sexual escapades at others expense. The worst of the sex, drugs, and rock n roll. This album is full of just those moments. It seems like an accounting of the underbelly and the relationships are all about dominance and physical manifestation of that dynamic. The music itself is performed well and adds a gavitas to the Britpop band's sound that is welcome and suits the subject matter.
A bit of bad, but a whole lotta good. I would’ve preferred shorter songs though, but that’s just personal preference. Fav songs: I’m a Man, Sylvia, Glory Days Least fav song: I think it was Dishes but I honestly forgot
Pretty good. It definitely sticks with its own style.
While it’s not always for me, I always appreciate music made for vampires and ghouls
I actually mostly like Jarvis Cocker and his lyrics, but there's a thin line between the songs he pulls off, and the songs where he fumbles and it's all a bit embarrassing. This album has both. The album is longer than it should be, and there's absolutely no excuse for that 15 minute closer.
Solid Brit-Pop
Enjoyed
Very decent album, had some great songs throughout but wasn't their best work.
already partially heard, fav is title track long bloated boring