Reviews (page 7 of 8)
This is a disappointment to a nearly immeasurable degree. Sure, it still sounds like Pulp, with Jarvis Cocker's ironic suave swing found in his voice, and the sensual lyrics and melodies that sound like they came straight out of a 70s Bond film, but it nearly completely lacks that pop-focused outlook on music, and it makes the music sound aimless. Many songs just don't have that driving charm with a vision, and it leads every deep cut to be extremely forgettable, save for maybe Seductive Barry, but that certainly isn't remembered positively. The hits fair a bit better, but they try much too hard to be different. "No, I don't wanna be popular!" Cocker cries, as he pens The Fear. Maybe it would've been a genuinely daring tone change in '98, but sad British white guys aren't meant to be frightening, and it is just a little goofy. Especially when that funny feeling bleeds into styles JArvis and co. already nailed on the prior album, such as the seductive tunes. The titular song has a great instrumental, but the lyrics are so stupid that I can't help but groan by the end, and the whole album gives off that unfortunate feeling. Just a few knob shifts and this could've been an album on par with Different Class, but it just leaves me hollow inside, and wishing I spent my hour elsewhere.
Definitely more glam rock inspired britpop, but I find myself becoming less and less interested in these 90s britpop albums as I go along. It also doesn't help that much of this is overly and uncomfortably sensual, so I guess the album cover should've been a sign. Much different than "Different Class" from a few years prior, but I don't think this quite reaches the heights of that entry in Pulp's discography. I'll leave this one behind.
Did not like. I found it dull and I do not like Cocker’s voice.
Listened to this twice, and my gut reaction is not favorable. Something about this particular vocal delivery style always comes across a bit "try-hard" to me and I can't shake it. For some reason the effect is so pronounced that even when the instrumentals are solid, I feel something similar distrust. Some moments on here are fine -- Party Hard is a jam and This is Hardcore has a certain epicness to it that reminds of James Bond. But there are times when I really didn't enjoy this album: Dishes has an enjoyable structure, but some really dumb lyrics; and Help the Aged is another one with weird lyrical matter. All around this straddles the high 2 - low 3 line for me. Going lower to try to put a bit more diversity into my scores and reflect the fact that I would never come back to listen to this again.
This is so not hardcore. Something about this dudes voice or delivery seems so pretentious to me. Kinda hate it, which is a shame since some of the instrumentals are really solid. This was a slog to get through but had its moments. Won't be back though.
Not as interesting as the previous Pulp album on this list. Maybe it grows on you?
Generally okay album. I really like some moments of some songs and their dramatic build ups. I do enjoy the mix of singing/talk sing. Nothing really stood out. Might take a few listens to grow on me but first impresión is just fine album. 2.5
Not a fan of Pulp, this kind of music sounds lacklustre to me.
Not my favorite, but if it was on in the background I probably wouldn’t notice.
This album is just a slog. Pulp trades in the catchy wit of their earlier work for something that feels heavy, self-important, and honestly kind of depressing. Most of the tracks drag on far too long, and the whole record feels weighed down by its own sense of misery. The big dramatic moments fall flat, and nothing here sticks in your head the way a good pop album should. It comes across as trying way too hard to be dark and edgy, but just ends up feeling tired. I was bored well before it was over.
Meh
If this is hardcore, I'd rather go vanilla.
How much Britpop is too much Britpop? Listen to every goddamn Britpop album ever made on this list and find out!
Okay?
Man o man did they lie. This not hardcore, at all. Just a major crush on Bowie with none of the talent.
Idk this was kinda boring to me overall. It's not bad, but most of the songs hit the same emotional resonance to me and feel like he sings almost every song the same. \"I'm a Man\" and \"Sylvia\" were the two tracks that stood out to me.
Certainly not hardcore. I thought it was a little “ boring”. I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it.
I know very little of Pulp (I bet one song). But I do know of them. I have never listened to this album before. I was right: One song (and it wasn't from this album). This is decent. Sort of shoe-gaze-y and a bit Bowie-esque at times. But not really my thing. There were a couple of songs I would add to a playlist of similar-ish stuff but nothing that I loved.
This sounds a lot like David Bowie. Not the worst, but I don't like brit-pop because of Oasis. Sorry, I have a personal beef with that band. I enjoyed this a bit more though.
This is good. Just not sure I was in the mood. I dint care for how he tried to sound like, and sing like Elvis Costello on a few songs. Also, a couple of songs got me wanting to listen to OK Computer. I'll listen again, but I wasn't feeling my first go around.
meh
Hieman tylsähkö ysärirock-levy.
Eh, nothing special here. Sorry Pulp, you’re a one album wonder.
Never been a big fan of the voice or the sound. They had their short moment in a very long career but this is bland and nothing stands out.
2.5
I like Pulp. But I don't like this Pulp
Bit bored with this genre of music
They were trying so hard to be interesting, and there are scattered moments of value throughout. But they're too self-consciousness, and their singer can't decide if he wants to be David Bowie or Elvis Costello.
The introduction of CDs as the most popular album format has done disasterous things to album pacing
Låter som Bowie fast sämre.
I like the Trainspotting song. Otherwise, nope.
This is... gross. Music is barely okay, and the rest is just forgettable. 2/5
I know I’m on the wrong side of history but I find this brand of navel gazing and mourning your own success so exhausting.
Just because they're from Sheff doesn't mean that I liked it. Bit dergy. Arctic Monkeys but depressed. Glory Days was good, but eerily similar to Common People...
Pulp is niks voor mij. Geen leuk album.
- Arschgeiler Einstieg mit The Fear - danach ging es etwas bergab und hat sich für mich auch nicht so wirklich wieder erholt - insgesamt also solala
Interesting listen. Not enamored. Some jams on here I would have liked a few years ago. Bit of a slog
I liked a couple songs well enough, but the rest was a slog.
Eh
I wasn’t expecting much from this. I’m not so I ended up liking it more than I thought I would.
not for me
What an uninspiring choice for the list. I don’t like Pulp but I know a couple of their hits and they’re not even on this album. This felt like the album of a band that had a big production budget but no decent songs. It was just an overblown, over produced, vapid, echoey mess.
Dette er det kjedeligste jeg har hørt hittil. Det var ikke en sang som var verdt å skrive hjem om.
Easy listening normal Pulp songs
Ugh. Another album that's boring as fuck. Why is it on this list? The vocals sound the same on every track. Low, bassy, unintelligible singing to start, then firmly in a Bowie baritone for the rest of the time. It's pretty obvious if you're a 90's Britpop/indie rock band from the UK with a couple of mediocre singles, you'll have at least 3 albums on this list. I listened to one of their other albums and it was better than this. So I'll be expecting that album eventually.
At first I was digging it and as it went on I started to hate it.
Meh, not huge on Pulp, a few good songs here, not really interesting to me overall though, kinda overrated
Ik denk bij hardcore aan iets heel anders. Dit is eigenlijk wel relaxte popmuziek. De nummers zijn ook echt heel aangenaam om naar te luisteren, maar het is geen hardcore. **
Very mid album Top tracks: Help The Aged, Glory Days
Not really my thing
sorry u went thru that bro
Much of the music is harsh when listening on headphones. I'm not a fan of Jarvis Cockers voice, but with that said, I like the track "The Fear"
Sen máis a verdade, non moi alá, e que na última canción dura 14 minutos e dende o minuto 4 só é como ruido, pois xd saes
Not for me
90s rock with bad lyrics and a terrible album cover
Not as bad as I was expecting. Not a lot of Britpop has held up well over the years, and Pulp are no exception. But they were always a bit more cerebral than the other knuckle-draggers and overgrown school prefects. Patchy this one, I frankly detest the title track and "Help the aged" but some of the faux cinematic stuff is a bit stronger, and the opener does sound like a cold night after the pubs have shut and you missed the last bus. But if you are going to copy Bowie, copy the good stuff. Can't work out if this needs to sound less creepy and overblown or more. One listen was enough thanks.
Worth a 3 but I got soooo bored by the end of it.
OK music, but tiring to listen to the whole album at once.
Don't love the vocals on most of the tracks. Overall meh, 2*. Bailed during the long outro because there was just nothing there. Enjoyed: help the aged (kinda reminds me of Ok Go)
This was an OK album to listen to. The songs were fairly simple but the orchestration and production made it more interesting. The lyrics were also fairly interesting, but the lead singer’s voice was mediocre at best. If I had to listen to it again, I’d prefer it in small doses
31/100 Based on this scale: 1 star - 0 to 19 2 stars - 20 to 39 3 stars - 40 to 59 4 stars - 60 to 79 5 stars - 80 to 100 Not actually bad, but not good either. The best parts can best be described as "okay" and the worst parts are just boring. I tend to ignore lyrics, but from the bits I noticed, they're probably the best thing about this band.
Ehh it wasn’t something I would come back to. Too long for what it offered. Title track was ok.
El penúltimo disco de los britpoperos más intelectuales de Inglaterra carece de su guitarrista y violinista, y se nota bastante. Si bien las letras de Jarvis Cocker siguen siendo tan afiladas como siempre, el sonido del disco es bastante pantanoso y poco definido. Mucho peor que su antecesasor "Different class". Aun así, destaco la pista "A Little Soul".
2/5 naaah
edgy rock
No Common People, boo! Overall a hum-drum of an album.
Sounds like middle era Bowie but not as interesting. Didn’t really dig it
Wat? Dit is echt totaaaaal geen hardcore hahaha Dit is SPR(Slappe Piemel Rock) joh, snap ik het dan niet? De titelsong(This is hardcore) laat de zanger een beetje zeikerig thiiiiiis iiiiis haaaardcoooooooore zingen. Het zal wel. Ik vind dit een ontzettend nietszeggend album: 2 sterrren.
aika mid et niiku salee hittais jos ois mielentilas mut emt ei kyl ny
Brit poo 5/10
This is one where I don’t understand why it’s on the list. The music is fine but not terribly notable, and it’s way too late for it to have been influential on its style which is from at least a decade earlier. Weird pick
A few poppy hooks and sparse original melodies not supported by an overindulgent lead singer.
I didn’t expect to know any songs but I knew three! It was too long and kinda whiny in tone! I liked the vibes but it’s not something I really wanna listen to again.
Theres a certain sound indie has that I don't care for but can tolerate. However, the vocals and weird spoken word segments made this album unpleasent at best and infuriating at worst to listen to.
Was not Hardcore at all. Liked few Songs more than i expected but overall its not a bad album, but also not that good, that i will revisit anytime soon! (2.5/5)
Its ok liked I'm a Man and This is Hardcore
Poop
This was not all that good, honestly. I expected better
Seemed like a satire album at the start. Got better.
Heel erg Bowie light, tis wel oké maar voelt alsof je naar een onbekend album van Bowie. Gitaar spel wel hard
I can see the value in it but it really is not my cup of tea. I quite enjoyed the first song but found the rest of the album to just drag along.
Not big on the vocal performance here, but I can see why some may love it. Feels a little disjointed.
Sounds like uninspired 90s Bowie. I guess it's ahead of its time, compared to a lot of the mid-aughts indie rock bands like Franz Ferdinand? I feel like the standards for "great" British bands collapsed after the Beatles. Any bullshit like this or Oasis is considered amazing, when in fact it's just boring, derivative rock.
Very boring
70 minutes of this bullshit!? Are you joking me!? I wish it were hardcore...
Otro disco de hueva, nada rescatable.
thematically very interesting with a unique vibe and solid instrumentals, the singing seems designed to hide a lack of singing ability, while interesting there's not a lot of memorable or catchy songs
Nothing memorable
Couldn't get into it, was maybe two passable songs
Cool album, not my favourite
Nah. Not for me. The vocals are annoying, the music is boring. I wanted to finish the album as soon as possible and it shouldn't be on the list.
Best Song: Like A Friend. This song rocked the hardest (still meager) and was a signal that the album was almost over. Worst Song: Seductive Barry. A prime example of this album's meandering, unedited efforts. This song makes no use of its over 8 minute runtime except make awkward, patently unsexy attempts at being flirtatious. Overall: The audacity to call such a milquetoast album "This is Hardcore". Literally none of this album fits any definition of hardcore. It's all just your stock standard British fare of the time, bloated to a runtime that exceeds an hour. Couldn't wait for it to be over.
i can't say i was anticipating an album named this is hardcore to have its second song to be about cleaning the dishes comparing himself to jesus, but i guess that's where my day took me. with this album being released in 1998, i was surprised how similar it was to david bowie's music. even the lead singer's voice sounds like david bowie? if i didn't know better, i'd bet money that this was david bowie, not just music that took david bowie inspiration. not terrible, though i couldn't find much original about this music. as always, i've definitely heard worse music on this list!
This was an interesting thing to hear, honestly. It sounded like typical 90s Britpop, but done by someone who really wanted to sound (musically and vocally) like David Bowie. It's like a little window into an alternate reality where David Bowie blended into the typical 90s Britpop craze. The album was definitely not bad, but I could have probably gone without it, especially if I was just thinking about David Bowie the entire time. Probably a 2.5, but not enough to bring it up to a 3 in my opinion. On a sidenote, there is just SO MUCH average 90s Britpop on this project.
This was just ok. Not my kind of music and sadly no stand out songs.
I find it hard to care about the narrator of these songs. And the music isn't doing it for me, either. And it's too long. Other than that, awesome.
Shame track 11 wasn’t a Springsteen cover. Or maybe not?
This is Boring. Different Class was up and down but had some memorable songs. This is Hardcore is a snoozefest and it's no wonder I don't recall any of the singles. I kept waiting for the album to be over. There's nothing else to say - boring.
I don't know...there's definitely a lot of Roxy and Bowie sound here with the vocals especially and maybe that's why I waver back and forth. It's just too featured, too hot in the mix, too detached - again it's the odd Jarvis Cocker distraction here. It always is. The lyrics and phrasing are just....they're just weird. Or unsettling in a not-cool way. Like "Dishes" - gak no. Roxy did this better. I can definitely see how ppl loved him/them, but I can never get beyond a 4 or 5 stretch of cleverly-sarcastic subtly depressive-laced dreary life tales ("Sylvia" is good, if not merely in a tasty cookie cutter mid 90s Brit ballad kinda way, but it sticks out on this otherwise almost loungey rock sound to the disc) and it really seems pointed on this album. ok it's all fine - it's fine! But I like it a bit less than Different Class and stop trying to convince me otherwise. I just don't know if it's ok enough to give a 3 here, I think I've already forgotten it an hour later. 5/10 2+ stars
Highlights: "The Day After the Revolution," "I'm a Man" If you wished you had the completely artless lyricism of New Order but also reeking of slavering midlife crisis perversion, all performed with the moaning dribble of The National, look no further. More often than not completely repugnant. The constant gamble of its nihilist candor is right twice a day with stuff like the penultimate song, and there are interesting heavy instrumental moods that are regularly ruined by the foreground. That's the nice thing to say. Incredible that anyone could recommend or praise this without dying of shame.
Why was the last track 15 minutes for no reason?
Music was not too bad but the vocals and the cringe lyrics ruined it for me
first impression: thought it was going to be bad a bit further in: maybe itll be good final opinion: boring
Er zit 'hardcore' in de titel, dus Eric zal dit wel goed vinden? Hoe dan ook, ik vind er niet veel aan. In de jaren negentig-Britpop-strijd tussen Pulp en Oasis zit ik in het Oasis-kamp, vrees ik. Die zanger van Pulp zingt niet, dit is toonloos mummelen. Die stem klinkt zo ongeïnteresseerd, waarom zou het mij dan moeten boeien? Verder is het album zo nineties dat het een 'Zet je cd-speler uit!'-track heeft. Ben je doof of zo?
Would not ever consider this Brit pop but apparently that’s what it is and that they were one of the better Brit pop bands. This felt longer than it was. The album had a good variation in style and sound and there were a few songs that were a bit poppy and entertaining but it starts off pretty slow and the low points are pretty rough. Overall this isn’t worth revisiting much but it is okay. 5.3/10
Meh. Didn't feel like anything special, but I didn't hate it.
I don't know why, but i find this album boring. I loved the one before, Different Class. Maybe this is a grower?
Not super enticing to me. I didn’t find it legitimately bad, just there was nothing particularly good about it. Instrumentals were alright but vocals kinda throws it off. 4.5/10
The last line on "Dishes" made me physically cringe, so that's why it's a 2, and not a 3
The cover really oversold the music.
This album actually had some really cool instrumentals but was hard to appreciate them under that singer that sounds like a slutty Dracula
Some good tracks but far too long. Was over it by the end. Very British.
Kinda generic
OK album, nothing great but purely for the last song having 10 minutes of one chord, gets a 2
If I ever make a playlist of background music I would think really hard and maybe consider contemplating it. The music equivalent to a participation trophy, they give me vibes of taking themselves too seriously but without the talent. I can see them saying "Don't you know who I am!" as they try and get a discount on a large buttered popcorn at the local cinema.
If I had to describe this, I would have a hard time. It's depressing soft rock. But it's not good or bad. It just kind of hangs there. For a really long time. This record feels LOOOOOONG.
Beetje saai, niet verrassend. Paar vette nummers.
Pretty good to listen to, not as harsh as I was expecting from the name.
Britpop
I admire the glam influence but this is too post-punk for me sorry :/
Not my cup of tea
The music ranges from the mildly interesting to the definitely boring (the album's duration certainly doesn't help). Pulp is OK, but I can't see in what universe this album can count as an album to die for.
2.5/5. This was not good, but I guess it could have been worse. I found most of the songs on this album stale and dated.
Getting pretty bored wit all dis Britpop
not my vibe
I had never heard of this group previously nor did I know any of the songs. It was not that good and did not care for it. It is pretty much indie music. No songs were skipped but I do not need to revisit any of the songs. It really isn't a two but I will round up.
I've always thought that Jarvis Cocker was a bit of a wanker tbh. This feels a bit self indulgent
This was hard one to get through for me. All in all it's just not a sound that i get into. No wow factor going on. The only song I listened to on repeat was Seductive Barry. A few of the song were over produced. There was nothing to sing a long to. I felt it tried too hard to be a cleve lyrical revelation.
Oh cool another British pop punk band with the same sound and melancholy as every single other band in the 80s and 90s
Disappointing. After all the hubbub I heard about Pulp, this was ass. Not impressed at all. Boring at best.
Not bad. I don’t know the band or songs. 2.5/5
This was utterly pretentious and mediocre. I would have given this a 3, but honestly I had expected better from Pulp (I like Different Class) so due to the disappointment it's a 2.
Meh
Interesting and not too bad although they’re not a band I would gravitate to. 2/3* ?
Disappointing.
ruhiger guter Rock, erinnert minimal an bon jovi, bisschen baladig
Leider nicht mein Ding. Es kam stellenweise gut rein aber nicht so richtig zusammen.
T3B 1. The Fear 2. This Is Hardcore 3. Seductive Barry Very interesting listen. Hard to rate. Two absolute bangers. Rest of album, ok to kinda forgettable, 2.
This is hardcore. Interesting choice of title for an album so completely whiny and dreary. I’m familiar with Different Class so I was expecting this to be much more edgy and in-your-face. Unless they were trying to do some kind of ironic juxtaposed thing with this album title/imagery and the music that I’m not getting, it just doesn’t add up. Disappointing and pointless.
I don't know man. This brit-pop is just not my jam. I don't know why they would call something like this "Hardcore" because it's more like a diluted and poppy version of grundge or something.
felt really mid
I think I prefer it over all over Common People but it is still overly dramatic and comes off as pretentious. 2.5 stars
Pulp is a good band but it's not the kind of music I search.
Some interesting sounds and instrumentation, all in all a pretty unique sound. However also not really a lot of breathtaking songs... After some checking, they have some amazing songs... just not on this album, curious that this album is on the list...
Expected and needed more.
Could only somewhat get through the first three songs b/c I just don’t like the vocals. The instrumentals were actually quite good but the vocals were not imo.
silly. melodramatic. kinda boring. not breaking any new ground. it did get better as the album went on but still, how did this make this list?
Not really my thing. Too talkey.
not my jam
This album is what David Bowie would sound like if he was too lazy to make good music. It's fine for what it is, but it's also another britpop album that doesn't seem particularly suited for a list like this. It's an album from the tail end of the 90s that doesn't sound all that much different from a lot of other albums that came out in the 90s. The harmonies are good, but most of the music and the lyrics unimpressive. On the other hand, I'm really excited for this album to be over soon 2/5
Not my taste
Ah, UK again. This sounds like Britpop getting fucked by pub rock. Oh, it's Jarvis cocker. That explains it. 2/5.
In 1998, I was graduating from college. I was 21 and the world was full of promise. This album was barely a blip on my radar at the time and failed to rise above the many other outstanding albums that were coming out. I was deep into downloading and accumulated much of the incredible library I now enjoy. Still not doing it for me.
“You are hardcore, you make me hard.” There is nothing sexy or seductive about Barry or this album.
Was pretty meh…couldn’t get into much of the songs
This is Hardcore, this is actually a little dark. It's definitely over produced. This worked well on previous Pulp Britpop bangers, not so for the comedown album. It was also around 20 minutes too long. There's a few hidden gems such as A Little Soul and Sylvia. But definitely a difficult album for everyone.
It was fine, pretty chill, but nothing crazy
thought it sounded pretty good but i got sick of it two thirds of the way through the album too fucking long and idk man i listened to too much radiohead already that's all the british i need thanks
This album was alright. Not really my taste and didn’t really blow me away. There are a couple of good songs that really standout for me: Slyvia, This is Hardcore, and Like a Friend
This list really loves Brit-Pop!
More British indie rock. No thanks.
Looked forward to listening to this when it came up. I like all of their hits etc. However I never engaged with it. Maybe it needed more time or maybe it’s not that good. Cover art. 3/5
Day 8: Didn't really enjoy this one, kind of felt mediocre the whole way through, the slow and quiet lyrics were getting drowned out by the instruments in the background most of the time. I can understand why some people might like this album, but I just don't have the time or desire to re-listen to it again, just so I can focus on the slow and quiet lyrics rather than trying to enjoy the music. Best Track: Sylvia
Highlights: TV Movie, Glory Days, Like a Friend. I am just not having a good time listening to this album. It's making me feel like I've forgotten how and why I listen to music at all, as though by being kind of annoying it's retroactively ruined the entire concept of music for me. There are moments that are lovely, lyrics that are clever, but there's not a single song I would choose to listen to ever again.
Never heard of Pulp. But based on the name of the group and album and album art I'm expecting metal. OK track listing isn't illuminating, guess I'll have to listen to find out. I get an immediate Alice Cooper vibe. Which is not a bad thing. Plus maybe some David Bowie in the vocals? Clearly English in any case. Not actually metal but I stand by the Alice Cooper comparison on the basis of atmosphere/camp. Although as the songs plod on it's not actually fun like Alice, just seedy. Gorgeous voice, the songs are smart and sound pretty good, but all together it doesn't me want to befriend and hang out with it. I'm wondering if this was my best introduction to this band.
Did not grab me, found the vocals irritating and the music underwhelming. 2.5/5 stars
Nice instrumentals but i find jarvis cockers voice isa bit irritating. I like this is hardcore, glory days and the last one
I really like different class, but this album didn’t do much for me, maybe needs a few more listens but nothing really stood out.
A sigh. A shrug. A yawn. Often, classic punk rock offered solutions along with voicing concerns. Maybe Pulp carries the label post-punk because they’ve moved well past the point of offering solutions, and just don’t care anymore. This is the second and, I hope, final Pulp LP I’ll ever review. I simply don’t enjoy this group at all. The music is at least a little better here than the one before, but that’s not saying much. The Monkey’s second LP was a little better than their first; but, it didn’t significantly improve upon their general monkeyness. It’s not the music I’m really critiquing anyway. It’s the lyrics: ‘When you’re no longer searching for beauty or love, just some kind of life with the edges taken off, when you can’t even define what it is you’re frightened of, this song will be here.’ Sad, the prospect of abandoning the search for beauty and love. What would life be in their absence, I wonder? ‘I look like a big man, but I only got a little soul.’ I’ll say. Only two songs before, he counsels help for the aged, but not because it’s a caring, loving thing to do; rather, you’re going to be old someday yourself. So do unto others to insure that you’ll be done one in return. Purely reciprocal, which is fine as far as it goes, but hardly soul growing. At least he admits in ‘Dishes,’ that while he and Jesus share the same initials (first and last only, no mention of Jesus’ middle initial, H) he’s no miracle worker, just a man. From that he concludes that what’s real and common sensible are the tangible things here on Earth, and not the illusionary hope of Heavenly things. Exactly the opposite of what the first JC taught, cautioning that is the earthly, and not heavenly, things that are subject to theft and decay. ‘And if it all amounts to nothing it doesn’t matter. These are still our glory days.’ Really? All this disillusionment with modern ways, but with no actual alternative offered, this whole random, bleak, meaningless existence called human life- these are our glory days?! Does Pulp even know what ‘glory’ means? True glory is neither false nor fleeting, and rich with meaning and purpose, informing our days. Glory glories in Love. And, sadly, that appears to be beyond the reach of Pulp’s experience or understanding. Is there even a glimpse of either love or glory represented on the cover (an artist’s interpretation of perhaps the most unerotic nude woman I’ve ever seen)? I rated the prior LP I listened to with only a single star. I’m going to give this one a two, because I did enjoy the music a little more; but mostly, because I now suspect that Pulp is doing the best they can with the little they’ve been given.
why is pulp so fucking weird?!
realizing I think there is only one great Pulp song. remember when this album came out and it got a lot of accolades, not sure why.
Very boring and forgettable. 3/10.
I don’t remember any of this
Interesting sound but not my cup of tea.
Wasn’t that impressed at the time. Still not.
Another day, another Britpop album that I don't really rate. Am I not getting something about the sound in general? I guess I like music you can sing/dance to, and this isn't it, but wasn't bad. The album title certainly is a misnomer... I enjoyed the opening track 'The Fear' the most.
Not bad, but didn't hold my attention very well.
First Listen. Don't know the band at all. I was expecting something more 'hardcore', but I'm happy that this wasn't another metal band. I really hear a David Bowie influence when I listened to it. Does this mean they are not original? Just listening to the music and taking it for what it is, I think it isn't bad. But, at this point, I'm not sold on it. Like to hear more. 2/5
This was alright, but then the last track killed it for me. Thanks Jarvis.
This is a Blur-adjacent britpop band that I was never aware of at the time, but I appreciate their tongue-in-cheek delivery. This record feels like it is one past their peak (Different Class) though. It just seems a little boring and less charming than DC and His N Hers.
Britpop. ou seja não é hardcore
I don't get what makes this so great.
This album didn't feel Pulpy or hardcore. The vocals are generally that mixture of meh and warbly that turns me off. Some of the music is pretty good, but not enough to make me want to listen to it again. 2 stars.
Tja, Jarvis en ik zullen nooit hele dikke vrienden worden vermoed ik.
Agradable buen disco de pop muy pop
A boring album that tries to be artsy. The only reason that this could be considered art rock is because the singer sounds like Bowie. I don't mean to be too hard, but there is nothing of value or substance in this album. I liked two songs when listening to it, but after finishing it I'm questioning if it's even worth it to call them highlights. It's not that the album sounds bad, it's that there's no reason to listen to it at all. Highlights: 1, and 6.
Didn't like it
im sorry this is so dumb xD music is pleasant enough but his voice/delivery/lyrics had me cracking up more than anything
Did there really need to be a ~10 minute outro? Haha. Overall, eh for me
Not great
bad
Was expecting more. Maybe even felt nostalgia would help. But it didn’t
Not a Pulp fan but the music in parts saved this from being a 1*. Don't get on with his voice which doesn't help
Rock alternativo lento e sonolento; disco muito longo. Melhor música: Help The Aged
nope
Boring and not very hardcore. 4
Bowie meets 90s alt rock.
I looked into this band after we listened to Blur - they were in the Britpop "big four." I listened to Freaks (1987) at that time, and really liked some of it. This album not sticking out as much, I am underwhelmed. Hearing similarities to Blur in some of the instrumentation occasionally. Not really into the album.
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Overly long and boring. Really disappointed.
Bland British pop-rock – seems like the band is trying to force these big, emotional moments but they're not earned anywhere in the instrumentation or track layout. The more upbeat and enjoyable tracks just sound like discount Blur.
Best songs: Help the aged No doubt with male vocals musical-pop distortion guitar ok, rest not 3.5/10
Fine - angst rock but like more mainstream than nirvana
Band has some classic songs but not on this album. 2/5
This is like the 3rd or 4th album by a band I’ve never heard of on this list that I think I’d enjoy more if there were no words.
I last listened to this album when it came out, it was dull, seemingly endless. Jarvis may be seen as a great lyricist but the tunes don’t cut it, sort of sub Brel, Walker Brothers. They really should have stopped after Common People.
This is Shit.
Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 📹🍌🍑 Production: 🔉📏🥱 Music: 🔁🎸🇬🇧 Rating: 😏(😏)/5
Dollar store British rock, "We have Bowie at home" type of listen. Going in blind, it is wildly unimpressive, not leaving really any good impression, first or otherwise.
Most Brit Pop does not appeal to me at all. Pulp is no exception. This is lifeless and boring.
I am aware of the existence of the band called Pulp and I have 1 song liked by them on Spotify - the song called "Common People" which looks like it was on the album before this one. But I have never done a deep dive into their stuff. Thoughts while listening... I noticed that he sometimes sounds like David Bowie. BUT on the whole, his voice tends to be very annoying to me. The first time through it was really getting on my nerves. The deep voiced, talky singing style can be pretty grating. Combined with some of the lyrics, it definitely comes across as very whiny to me. I ended up liking 2 songs - "Sylvia", and "Glory Days" I had to look up who is considered "Brit Pop" and I realized I never really listened to much Brit Pop. Of the bands that are considered Brit Pop - the 2 for which I have the most "liked" songs are Blur and Oasis - but it's really not that many songs with about 10 each. I also read that Supergrass is considered part of this genre and I REALLY don't like them. Even the one song I previously liked by Pulp ("Common People") always felt like a one hit wonder kind of band with a quirky song - I had never realized they were supposedly considered so highly. Oh well - it was interesting to listen to even if most of it didn't grab me. and now I have 3 Pulp songs that will show up on my playlists instead of only 1. Small steps. Liked songs on Spotify: 2/12 Rating: 1/5
This was tough to get through
That NINE-MINUTE-LONG synth outro really encapsulated what annoyed me about this album
Can one be racist against Brit Pop? If so I'm the Grand Wizard!
wow. Underwhelming to say the least.
More Britrock slop.
This was not for me. Mid/down tempo generic rock with a Bowie affectation. Meh.
Not for me
Straight trash. Why this band has two albums on this list (so far) is beyond me. Music isn’t good, lyrics aren’t good. Just bad, bland English garbage.
no idea what's happening
Jarvis Cocker BritPop halt dunno? c
Buh, no
Need a vocalist who can sing
Okay. Skip. No thanks. Aight Ba ba ba ba baaaaa. Guys this is hardcore. Tbh I didn’t care to finish this album.
not my cuppa tea
My goodness what a drag. Not helped by the fact that this is the second Pulp album in two days I've had to listen to. This one is even more a load of nothingness. I wouldn't know how to describe this album. It is a pretentious Bowie album, but there are no highlights on this album at all. The never-ending outro on the last song is symbolic for the pretentious load of horsedung on this album. Easy 1/5
I should give another listen sometime to see if I still feel the same. 3/10
i was over this album halfway through. there were some decent songs on here but an absolutely incredible amount of filler. i was between a 2 and a 3 until i hit the last song which had a 10 minute one synth chord outro. i kept listening expecting it to kick back into the song or go into a hidden track but nothing ever materialized. wish i wouldve read the reviews mentioning it before i listened to the whole thing. either way it loses points for adding to an album that was already too long.
3/10 - Gave up with this album. Too slow and dreary.
Not for me. 1/5
Ok
I dislike most things about this album. I don't like the style, I don't like how long it is, and it's not at all hardcore. It almost seems like they're going for a kind of Bowie-ish sound, but they miss the mark by so far. I will actively avoid listening to this record in the future.
Never heard of them.
It’s been a day slightly dusty from some ill-advised Father’s Day-related revelry yesterday; in touching distance of memories of having tried, and failed, to eat a hangover into submission (I didn’t bother today, that’s personal growth for you). Pulp’s “This is Hardcore” therefore arrives at a moment when feeling restless within the project of trying to get something done is a very real existential fact. This record sounds absolutely huge at times, even comically so. Big, bombastic swings of sound – crescendo layered atop crescendo – rubbing, suggestively, up against jagged guitar licks – all of it accompanied by Jarvis Cocker’s slightly-miffed-host schtick. Yet for all the talk of parties being over and the like, this album is so clearly and self-consciously representative of the end of something that I find it a challenge to remain engaged. It’s the sound of britpop gently running out of steam; a charmless droning on, the sun coming up and illuminating a kitchen full of one-sided conversations. By “The Day After the Revolution” – a song that genuinely offends me in its inanity – it’s everyone in taxis to sleep it off. My patience today may be thin, but regardless I think I’d find the “if you remember the 90s you weren’t there” energy of this record to be a truly tiring thing to repeatedly have to encounter. I do remember the 90s, I just don’t remember this album being there. And on both scores, I don’t feel like I missed anything all that important.
I tried to be onboard but this melancholy throughout the album just never blossomed into anything exciting.
Meh. Seemed to me to try too much to channel or mimic Lou Reed or that genre. No melody or lyrics or other hook to grab the listener. If I was in a bad mood perhaps I could have gotten into it more.
★☆☆☆☆ (1 out of 5) As a Gen X Britpop fan who grew up on the sounds of Blur, Suede, and of course early Pulp, This Is Hardcore was a real letdown for me. I went in hoping for more of that clever, catchy wit that made Different Class such a standout. Instead, I got an album that felt grim, cold, and a bit too wrapped up in its own sleaze. Some tracks had moments—there were flashes of what made Pulp great—but overall, it didn’t land. The title track especially left a bad taste. It tries to be dark and dramatic, but to me it came off as creepy in all the wrong ways. Honestly, it gave off this unsettling, almost predatory vibe that I just couldn’t shake. Not cool, not clever—just off-putting. The musicianship is solid, and Jarvis still has that unique voice, but good vocals can’t save songs that make you feel uncomfortable for the wrong reasons. It’s not an album I’ll revisit. One play was more than enough. If you're into the Britpop sound, there are far better ways to spend your time. Give this one a miss.
This is an hour of my life I will never get back
There are better Pulp albums- not for me
This is not hardcore. Just more of the same tiresome British alt-rock with bellowing masquerading as singing
every pulp song sounds like an interlude or b side meant to kill time until they do common people
Didn't like it
Rätt tråkigt även som bakgrundsmusik, kommer inte lyssna på igen.
There was nothing hardcore about this album. The music was uninspiring and boring.
This sucks lol. It's like if a theater kid tried to make post punk. 1/5
Älskar inte denna. Låtarna är helt enkelt inte starka nog IMO. Det finns inte mycket som är UNIKT med denna platta heller.
Nope. I didn’t enjoy anything about this experience. I don’t have any friendly thoughts about this album or band at this point in their career. Maybe a vague less genuine and likable version of David Bowie which I assume is why this is on this list because the author has a fondness of all things Bowie. But this isn’t good for anyone. I feel like I need to take a shower after listening to this just to get it off me. They say that you can’t unsee things but I hope age will give me the kindness's of unhearing this album. 🤮 Sylvia was okay
The end of the first song: yeah dude you're not cool or edgy you dip shit. The end of the last song: I don't remember how long was it, I think it was between 7 to 10 minutes. To whoever fell asleep on the button in the studio during recording. I understand that life can be rough and exhausting sometimes. We've all been there. But.... doesn't excuse you to fall asleep mid recording and give this piece of shite of the soundtrack to the world. Sleep better and produce better music and not this shite.
My brain feels like it's been beaten to a pulp after listening to this mess.
If I could read this a zero I would.
There is something about this album that really frustrates me
nah
Fav song: A Little Soul This was apparently Jarvis Cocker’s horny album. There’s not much I like at all about this album, not a fan of the performance and delivery of the lyrics, not a fan of the flimsy sounding production, and generally I find Pulp’s sound to be a bit cheesy. Combined with the horniness of this album it all turns into a big old ball of things I just plain don’t like.
I previously had Different Class, and I strongly disliked it. This follow up only amplified what didn't work for me. I was searching the reviews to see if anyone else had the same reasons for hating this, and I found a fellow 1 star who wrote a breakdown last January evaluating the lyrics that's perfect. I still don't like his voice, but I might if he did anything interesting with it. But it's mostly the lyrics that make me scrunch my nose and curl my lips. I don't care if many of the song were loosely based on some fictionalized Barry White character. The common narrator of these two albums I've listened to it still Jarvis Cocker, and this narrator is a cringey creep. I almost feel bad giving it 1 star because the rest of the band is good, but they needed a different lyricist / frontman. I only give 1 star if I truly dislike every single song, and this meets the criteria.
1.5. I expected it to be more hardcore
Well. There goes any worries about genre ambiguity. Hardcore Punk. Or just beat down Hardcore like Terror? We shall see. It could be an elaborate ruse meant to bait me but that simply cannot be. What??? Wait a second?? Is this just an intro to the hardcore album? It’s really long for that. Alright guys you got me. Can’t wait for the Discharge influence to really break through on the next one. My commitment to this dead/dying bit aside, I can’t decide how I feel about this right away. There’s a melodramatic, theatrical element that I hate, but there are some nice moments of melody as well. “I’m not Jesus but I’ve got the same initials.” I audibly groaned. This almost feels like something I’d like if it had any shred of likability. Does that make sense? Bah. I’m sure none of my reviews have anyway, so why start now? These lyrics are awful. Bordering on a joke song where I’m still waiting for the punch line. Oh god this song is horrible. It makes me want to party in the style of John Belushi. Overdosing and dying. Maybe I’ll fade out before the end of this song! Another boring song. Everything feels very tongue in cheek, but also devoid of anything to say. What are we being subversive against? This is Hardcore. Again. The false advertising. This sounds like a film score and due to the lack of vocals, probably starts better than any song on this album thus far. And there they are. After hearing “you are hardcore, you make me hard,” I would typically skip but I said I’d do this right. I have to be here. This is the background music to a terrible sex scene in a show about young people written by old people. Dreadful. Holy shit it’s not over? Bottom of the barrel here. Can only elevate from this point. I might break it up with an Agnostic Front song or two. The vocals are so bloody obnoxious. Swamp fumes levels. Miasmic stench rippling off of every belch from this pretentious dolt. And this was the best song so far. Still, not good. The giggle before “Try me,” made me punch the screen. Awful. This is Type O Negative afflicted by a horrible blood disease. Those affected “baritone” vocals. Look up BoDaddy Harris on instagram. Some weird man who essentially belches songs. This has to be his favourite band. Hopefully the singer was restrained and also cast off to sea. Oh no he’s back. STOP SINGING ABOUT SEX. YOU ARE GROSS. Hey. The lyrical content is vomit inducing, especially coming from this fella, but at least the slow pulse of the song fits the vocal delivery. The whispered soliloquy halfway through this marathon through broken glass has genuinely made me asexual. Hahahahahah. When he tries to exhibit range. Fuck. Also, how many allegations does this guy have on the books? How many *off* the books?? You should apologize to me. Not Sylvia. This is almost a decent song. It sounds like an Oasis song went through the paces at a Steven Seagal vocal delivery camp and was then slowed to half speed. We really are in the glory days! This album is almost over! Besides a FOURTEEN minute escapade to fully bring this medical waste barge to port. 10 minutes of ambient chime interrupted by this moron saying “bye bye.” Just shut up. Man. I get such a pretentious feel from this. While not Type O Negative, I think they might actually relate more to Type AB+. The universal recipient. They offer nothing to anybody. They only take. It took my time, my ear space and even small amounts of electricity. Everything has a disgusting, unctuous sheen that makes this so thoroughly unlikable. Add in bad clap sound effects, fairy tale swells and slap a girl on the cover. You’ve got “This is Hardcore.” Music for people with a pocket full of rohypnol who think they’re the smartest person in the room. 0-0.5 HIGHLIGHTS: I almost forgot to include this section! That was close.
This album took me 4 hours to listen through. There are parts of songs I like but no songs I particularily enjoyed. More birtish rock-slop. Spilled a bunch of paint at work to Sylvia. Overall cursed/5
boring as -
So annoying and pretentious that I can’t even get through one song. This band is wildly overrated.
It wasn't enjoyable
More lame shit britpop
Interesting at best.
Nope. Not for me. This album seems like it searching for its sound… and doesn’t find it. Sounds like a Bowie cover band.
Post New Wave The Cure? This is like if The Cure and The Velvet Underground/Lou Reed had a baby. Every song reminds me of some other band, Urge Overkill is coming to mind. Nine Inch Nails Light? Bowie, U2, maybe I'm not listening closely enough. It's not super compelling but it is also listenable. Ten minutes of fade noise with Jarvis Cocker saying "bye-bye" in the middle on the last song is inexcusable artiness with no real payoff.
Horrible. Jarvis Cocker's unmusical warbling had me, at times, wondering as to whether this was a parody album. This Is Hardcore feels like a lengthy joke meandering towards a non-existent punchline.
on different class there was some interesting stuff going on sonically in spite of Cocker's massively unlistenable voice. here, the music is boring and his voice still sounds like he's auditioning for the part of a carefree and lively tree on a nicktoons animated series
Pretty grungy Brit rock. Some of the songs sound like something Cake would do. I feel like there are bands before, and after pulp that do this sound better. I find the writing to be underwhelming.
Not my thing either.
This ... is ... crap.
This is not hardcore.
New to Pulp from this list. I can now confirm I don't like this band. Will I listen to again: 0%
How many Pulp albums are on this list? So annoying and pretentious that I can’t even get through one song. This band is wildly overrated.
not my thing
Quiet, whisper rock that did nothing for me.
No me ha gustado. Muy típicas las canciones y además insoportables
Not good
Guitars are rad but vocals are neither captivating or insightful. Shitty David Bowie.
Still don't care for Pulp. And it's definitely not hardcore.
Echt een stom album, een soortcslap aftreksel van david bowies muziek. Niet mijn smaak.
Boring
1. the fear - 1 2. dizhez - 1 3. party hard - 1 4. help the aged - 1 5. thiz iz hardcore - 1 6. tv movie - 1 7. a little zoul - 1 8. im a man - 1 9. zeductive barry - 1 10. zeductive zylbvia - 1 11. glory dayz - 1 12. the day after the revolution - 1
Don’t see how this makes it into this sort of list, very forgettable pop music, I couldn’t find anything to like
If you close your eyes, you can believe this album is Dracula: the musical. Not as cool as the album cover would lead you to believe.
I don’t know what this is supposed to be.
Nee, das ist an einigen, wenigen Stellen bestenfalls mittelmäßig. Wer soll sich DAS denn über 70 Minuten anhören? Was für eine absolute Frechheit. Überschätztes Album einer maßlos überschätzten Band.
Good god this was AWFUL. WAYY too long. too boring. voice bad. music bad. NO GOOD.
it most definitely is not hardcore and I was upset about it the whole time. rather boring record, small moments of intrigue here and there but it’s just not doing it for me.
150 dagenssia sitten.. annettiin kyseiselle bändille viiden tähden petkutuksen.. ainoa indie albumi kerhossa...SUURIN VIRHEENI KOSKAAN.. tänään tapahtuu niin sanottu korjausliike heh... kaksi subjektiivista = objektiivinen...heh... double negative... ensimmäistä biisiä viedään ja PÄÄTÖS JO TEHTY...kymmenetttä biisiä viedään ja on aika heikkoa kyl paria humpakkia lukuun ottamatta this is hardcore
No
Booooring. Strictly mid. Doesnt belong on the list. 1/5
Didnt enjoy this one
Mahhh. Blahhh. British Pop Rock Blahh. Not my style at all.
Couldn’t make it through the first song. Rolling Stone is a joke. Can we get a better curator?
Not my thing
Between the cringy lyrics and the sex doll looking woman on the cover, this might be the ultimate incel album. Well, at least my skip button got plenty of action.
Great album art, but the music inside is rather flaccid and weak. This is Not Hardcore is more LIMPcore if 'core at all. I'd rather liken this to eating dinner on the couch in a dark flat while watching reruns of Benny Hill - whereas 'dinner' consists of McVitie's Chocolate Digestives, Jaffa Cakes and Kool-Aid. That is, I would rather listen to much anything Morrissey has to say about animal rights and gender identity than replay this drivel again. Hmm, actually that's too harsh, I'm sorry, Pulp, I take that back. But my point is that this album is really sad, and despite the cover art, disappointingly uninspired.
Further proof that Pulp is entirely overrated and Jarvis Cocker in particular is an overrated lyricist. His lousy lyrics are only rivaled by his annoying voice. Jarvis, we know you’re not Jesus - you don’t need to tell us. “This is Hardcore” is not hardcore at all, and seals the deal on orange juice-related band names. Cranberry juice never has pulp. And The Cranberries are more than deserving of at least one of the three spots taken up by Pulp and Orange Juice. The Cranberries “No Need To Argue” stood out amongst a 1994 filled with amazing albums, and filled a unique spot in mid-90s alternative rock. In a year of terrific music, “Zombie” is one of the most iconic, impactful, and long-lasting hits. Strain out the ⭐️ Pulp and replace it with the ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cranberries.
The album is 65 minutes of utterly, irredeemable shite! And 5 minutes of somewhat interesting guitar work (Glory Days) ruined by terrible vocals. This is yet another less than mediocre band with a singer that can’t sing who tries to sing and miserably failed. To be consistent with other rankings I should give this a 2 based on not being overly offended by the music. But I am overly annoyed. Music is boring. Vocals are awful. And it drags on for 70 minutes! -1 star for the extra suffering. NME ranked this the 166th greatest album of all time. Holy fuck that’s offensive. Finery put in the 1001 list. Bollocks! Is everyone fucking insane?
The name of this album is misleading, there is nothing hardcore about this album. This is the soundtrack of being trapped in a bad 90's teen movie. I feel like I'm stuck at some open campus high school in Southern California, desperately trying to exit the campus but am met with a barrage of kids wearing leather jackets over flannel shirts. This is not good. It fails at being angsty or hardcore. Please get me out.
No thanks. Not just one starring racy covers, either.