Reviews (page 8 of 8)
Stylish. But inconsistent.
It’s an alright album. The singing reminds me of Kirin J Callinan with the humor swapped out for sensualness. Some fun tracks but then certainly some duds as well. 5/10
I didn't like this one as much as Different Class, but it had some good songs. A lot of it felt like filler though.
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.
For me, it's not their very best. Still very good
This is my second Pulp album in two weeks and what I've gathered is that they're the horniest band on Earth. These guys LOVE singing about sticking their penis into female orifices (too often nonconsensually as well). I'm too asexual for this, sorry. I think I liked this a bit more than Different Class and I gave that a 3/5, so same for this one. Favorite track was probably "Help The Aged". [Insert Bowie comparison here] [Insert "Suede is better" here] [Insert complaint about whispering here]
I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. It was just...kind of there. I'll give this album a bit of credit for getting slightly better as it goes along. The first 4-5 opening tracks were pretty weak imo. Giving this an extra star for having a couple of bops. But definitely not one I'd return to over and over. Fave track: It's a Dirty World
Did not grab me, found the vocals irritating and the music underwhelming. 2.5/5 stars
What killed Britpop? The most common answer, Oasis' Be Here Now, has some merit: although in no way the turkey of legend, its hubristic, cocainistic bloat is obvious. Now, Oasis were the best, most important Britpop band, so a relatively weak album from them had to corrode the genre's reputation. But, of course, this is far too simplistic. Now you may not wish to admit it, but Blur were nowhere near as good as Oasis, and part of Britpop's collapse was due to them finally being rumbled. And, of course, the glut of charmless no-mark bands like Menswear, Kula Shaker and Blouse was ultimately the method of execution, a death by a thousand cuts. Also, the culture that blossomed around Britpop swiftly turned bathetic, all dodgy sideburns, four warm cans of Stella and Gail Porter flashing her spiders' legs. Finally, the fashion just inevitably changed, opening a flank for Radiohead to seize all the critical cachet with their own not-aged-too-well darling OK Computer. And then we have this, the follow-up to Pulp's era-totemic Different Class. Jarvis Cocker had founded Pulp as a teen in the late 70s and had stayed firmly lower-league for over ten years, but with Different Class, Pulp and especially Jarvis became stratospherically famous. With this, our Jarvis found that the success and the attendant women, charlie and notoriety he'd lusted after for so long didn't elate him, it emptied him. So, our Jarvis' next album developed a cynical, self-loathing edge. And that's the sticking point of this album: it doesn't want to be liked. It feels alienated by the whole world, so it seeks to alienate the whole world. This does not make the album bad; there are several good songs on it, especially the sordid, engrossing title track. But there is the occasional duffer (the almost parodic dance-infused Party Hard causes the listener to recoil), and more seriously, the whole atmosphere of the album is slightly yet wilfully hostile, as if the album just wants to be left alone. A note on the title track. One of our Jarv's fave songwriting tactics is to write a masturbation fantasy, usually but in no way exclusively in a romantic manner. Do You Remember The First Time, I contend, is written from the point of view of a lesbian wishing to resume an experimental fooling-around with a straight friend who is nowadays in a heterosexual relationship. Disco 2000 is a paean to tugging yourself off over the memory of the girl you had a crush on at school. But with This is Hardcore, the romance, the desire to connect with someone both emotionally and physically, is absent, and the song is just about wanking over porn. What development better indicates the album's coldness, compared to our Jarv's earlier work? This album is oft called not so much a cocaine album, but rather a cocaine-hangover album. Cocaine albums, such as Be Here Now, have a grim reputation for disaffecting self-indulgence, and this album still pushes the listener away, if for the perhaps nobler reason of disaffecting self-disgust. So what was Pulp's contribution to the death of Britpop? The smartest, wittiest (and perviest) band to flourish with Britpop came to hate it, and deliberately released an album that cut their own throat.
Nice instrumentals but i find jarvis cockers voice isa bit irritating. I like this is hardcore, glory days and the last one
2.5 stars
Cool alt rock album
The good: Has some great tracks. Party Hard sounds like a lost Bowie song, Help The Aged has a good chorus and passionate vocals, This Is Hardcore is very theatrical and intriguing, and A Little Soul is a nice acoustic ditty. The bad: Overall its 20 minutes too long. Why does the last song feature 10 minutes of the same keyboard sounds. Half of the songs are either boring or sound similar to songs preceding it. And afterwards it feels like I gave a mental birth. To sum it up, this has some good songs but overall too boring to listen in full. Would give it 5/10 if I could.
Now that's a fucking album. Another band I have heard of but never listened to. I've been missing out. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loved this one! Possibly the best brit-pop album and one of the best British new wave albums I've heard. The music doesn't stand out all that much by itself and there were no real standout tracks. But it was just excellent as a whole. All of the elements really come together to turn elements that could be drawbacks into strengths - it's sleazy, but just the right kind of sleazy, it has an air or self-importance, but is convincing enough to pull it off, the vocals are frequently off-key, but the singer is skilled enough to make clear that it's on purpose. Count me a fan.
sounds like damon
first listen kinda just alright britpop
Ok. Always thought Pulp were overrated TBH, which is a bit controversial when you live in Sheffield but they only had a couple of good tracks really. The rest got on my nerves a bit. Average.
I like Different Class by Pulp and have listened to it in full numerous times, but I'd never really explored beyond that. I don't mind the vocals, but overall this album is just too long and doesn't have that song to bring you in like Common People.
I wish this was a hardcore album. While I doubt Pulp would've put out a punk classic the running time would've been much shorter. Instead we get some Bowie worship that just isn't that appealing to me. It would've been a 2 star but it met the 1 star criteria: I couldn't wait for it to end and had to listen to something I liked afterward to get the "stank" out. I don't like Pulp in my o.j. and I don't seem to like it in my music library
Empiezo a pensar que 1000 discos son demasiados. En mi opinión hay mucho relleno. Por ejemplo este disco. Si a mí que me gustan Pulp no lo considero imprescindible a todos los que no les atraiga el Pop de los 90 les parecerá un churro. Están bien Party hard o This is hardcore.
It was enjoyable listening. Noting truly did stand up after the first listening.
Decent
i like pulp
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.
nakon šta san poslušala Different class, ništa manje nisan ni očekivala! iznenadilo me šta mi je čak nekoliko pisama poznato otprije, ali ovako slušajući cili album, ostavljaju upotpunjen dojam. Posebno me obradovala This is hardcore jer, za razliku od drugih pisama, ima istaknut klavir umisto gitare šta je neobično za ovaj đir glazbe. 4.5/5
Love the band. So tart and peppy, ragged-edged and sarcastic. Not sure it's my favorite Pulp, but a pleasure to listen to. Takes itself with precisely the right level of seriousness, with the perfect dash (or seven) of irony. Plus, it holds up well musically.
It’s not quite Different Class
Same initials as Jesus Christ, but cannot make water into wine. Pulp may not be able to make boring music exciting either. It is not entirely unacceptable that songs as poetry exist, but subpar music is. Pulp puts a lot of words to song and while one can appreciate the amount of creativity and talent it takes to be wordy and musical, Pulp falls short in keeping it interesting. It is understood that there are a lot of people who put value in the lyrics over the music, and that is fine and perhaps this is an album they will enjoy immensely. Pulp's wordy descriptions and near witticisms tell elaborate tales, the title track being exceptionally well told. However, songs have an expectation that poetry does not, and that is the music that accompanies it. Songs create a thesis in their chorus, details in their verses, supporting material in the bridges, with driven repetition. Poetry tends to progress and advance a narrative, and be a good read. In reading the lyrics to this, it was found to be a good read. It however was not so great a listen.
Nakon dva poslušana albuma, drago mi je da san se priključila ovome i otkrila ih ☺️
Ovaj challenge mi je otkrio Pulp. Hvala na još jednom albumu!
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.
Enjoyed
why is pulp so fucking weird?!
3.5 for me
A little long, but very impressive work. I especially liked the use of layering on the tracks Favorites: "The Fear", "This Is Hardcore", "A Little Soul"
Not great not terrible
Pretty interesting 90s art rock album which sounds kind of like a blend between a post glam vibe mixed with 90s punk pop, on the high side of3 stars
Pf
Interesting choice for a Pulp album. I'd probably have gone Different Class myself. Wow. Party Hard is such a relief! Some good tracks in here. I'm actually genuinely surprised to see it in the 1,001 albums list because while Pulp were clearly an incredibly influential part of the 1990s British music scene.... This is not their best work.
I have tried many times but just can't quite get into Pulp. Really the most disappointing of the Britpop elite. This album is no different. Nothing really struck me as worth listening to again and I was looking forward to it ending. 1.5/5
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.
Album is weird and not something I would’ve ever found on my own. Really dope and different, super glad I got to listen to it.
What an awful album. Just sad, mediocre singing and uninspiring music. Yeesh. 2/10.
Britpop-rock. Ni fu ni fa.
Very boring and forgettable. 3/10.
Wow, there really is a lot of Britpop on this list. But Pulp are one of the few worthwhile bands from that scene. "Different Class", their more celebrated album, is also on the list. "This is Hardcore" has a more world-weary, less quirky style of songwriting. The sound is more "mature", but less attention-grabbing. I've always liked Jarvis Cocker's vocals and his writing. However, there is a queasy dreariness to the album, which I find in so much 1990s British pop/rock. Overall, I enjoyed revisiting this, but I wish it wasn't over an hour long, as it does end up dragging. 3.5*
It’s a little bit David Bowie, and a little bit Bryan Ferry. It’s probably too long, but it’s still mostly very good. It’s stylish and lush in sound but behind the shiny veneer there’s an album full of uncomfortable truths about fame, success, and addiction. The moral of the story: be careful what you wish for because it might just come true.
Interesting
Overstayed its welcome, but pretty decent.
Always meant to give them a chance and happy to listen to this
Well first impression...I think I like this album better than Common People. Lots of good songs, more dramatic sounding than that other album. 3.75 🌟
I don’t remember any of this
This band is so middle of the road and forgettable that I was like “never heard of these guys wonder if they’re any good”, and then I realized I heard an album by them from this list like less than a month ago!
"Interesting" is really all I can come up with Highlight Tracks: 1, 2, 6, 12 (minus the 6 minute final note)
Interesting sound but not my cup of tea.
Wasn’t that impressed at the time. Still not.
Not so much Pulp as pith and vinegar
Best Bowie album not by Bowie.
Wow. This was suprisingly fantastic. I did not expect it to be. Silly me :)
There seems to be a lot of Brit-pop on this list. I feel similarly about most of it - good, listenable, well produced, catchy, well-crafted pop songs, but not overly interesting or unique. Most of it seems to fall into the 3 star category for me, and this one is no exception.
Subdued and cynical follow-up to the rebellious and romantic Different Class, but the sweetness is still there.
Iznenadio me je album, nisam očekivao da će mi se sviditi - skoro većina. Inače mi ne sjedaju baš (naspram koliko ih dižu u nebo), ali opet ne mogu reći da su loši. "I like this one that says some pulp." - Tony Soprano
Očekivo sam bolje jer jebiga PULP, al svida mi se
Amazing. Not what I, or anyone else, expected after Different Class, but really really good. Probably suffered at the time from how good their last few albums had been. A little soul, help the aged, & the title track stand out, but every song has something interesting
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.
I had never heard of Pulp before. It took me a while to get into this one, but I'm not really sure why. It's like a mix between Blur and U2 (and maybe a little bit of Weezer). I also heard a few flashes of Radiohead, actually - but that may be just because Kid A was just a few days back. I think part of what made it difficult to get into was I wasn't sure if they were trying to be serious or a little tongue-in-cheek. My favorite track was A Little Soul - "I could show you how to do it right I used to practice every night on my wife Now she's gone" Great line. That is still making me laugh for some reason. I'd go as high as a 4 on this, but I think that's partly influenced by hearing it for the first time. The baritone vocals and general weirdness might wear on me in subsequent listens.
3 Mehs..
Average
10. This is Hardcore - Pulp. 12 Tracks. Quite an enjoyable listen. There was a nice flow to this and I'm not actually a Pulp fan. It was... soothing and melodic which is not at all what I think of when I think of Pulp. Well worth a listen. 3/5
Britpop. ou seja não é hardcore
I liked it, but it dragged on a bit
One of the more interesting UK Alt. Rock albums that I've listened to. Lots of relationship issues in the lyrics. CAN I HAVE MY BALLS BACK PLEASE?
This was going to be 5 based on the first four tracks but then I felt it went downhill a bit and became a bit whiny/samey.
Liked it a lot more than I thought I would as I imagined it as a Punk-ier album. Really nice atmosphere/vibe on the longer tracks, even the extended outro
I love this album.
9/16 3.5/5. Another beautifully produced album from Pulp, the second half after the title track started to lose me but there were hardly any dull moments throughout this project. Standout Tracks: Dishes, Help the Aged, This Is Hardcore
Jo men ändå bra. Nära en fyra men kändes spontant som om det saknas något som tar det över gränsen.
If this killed britpop I don't want it to live
Its no Different Class. A bit too long. Best: Help The Aged, This Is Hardcore, I'm A Man.
Hadn’t heard the song ‘Help the Aged’ since about 2000 when Ali G freestyled over the top of Jarvis. Very funny, he was a childish supporter of the band. Didn’t mind it. The outro is still going as a write
3/5
This was a trip. I enjoyed the album. Very wide soundscapes.
buen disco
Not what I expected overall honestly. I think each song had its own vibe, and man it's catchy and different. It's a solid piece of work.
An interesting album, very different to the excellent Different Class. More Bowie-esque. Worth listening to a few times. A bit long. Currently I'm giving it 3.5, but this might increase with familiarity.
Nothing on here standing out at all, even on a second listening. Inoffensive enough though
Controversially, my second favourite Pulp album!
I don't get what makes this so great.
The sex album.
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.
De track 'this is hardcore' is dan wel echt geweldig, maar dat neemt niet weg dat de rest mij toch niet echt helemaal kan overtuigen.
Net als het vorige album, ben ik niet overwegend enthousiast. Ook niet slecht.
Tja, Jarvis en ik zullen nooit hele dikke vrienden worden vermoed ik.
The 90s vibe is there and sprinkles of experimental arrangements or use of instruments but it just didn't catch me.
Pretty dang enjoyable. I'm actually really surprised how short this feels despite the long run time. One of the better Brit albums from the 90's that I've heard.
Knew of Different Class (and especially "Common People"), but this album was an introduction for me. Surprised by how much I'm enjoying the Dickens out of it. Not sure why a 14 minute closing song was necessary.
eeh
Agradable buen disco de pop muy pop
I was not even able to finish this one, the union between the music and the vocals seems unfinished, the lyrics are good but this seemed like such a boring album for me, and I’m really into 90s bands
It's pretty repetitive for an art rock album. The singer's voice gets pretty annoying after a while as it's super breathy and screamy. The backing guitar sound like a rip-off of other band's sounds, and the whole ensemble feels unoriginal and uninteresting. The second half of the album is worse than the first, but that's not to say the first is any good.
Some of the lyrics are interesting but that is about all I can take from this. This album is not for me.
There’s a weird Nick Cave/Tom Waits/even Chris Isaak quality to this but I’m not sure I like it. I think I will have to roll it again to figure it out. But I also kinda don’t want to, first impressions being what they are. Dunno. An enigma. Or an off day for me. Note to self: try it again someday.
Really enjoyed this albums from this band I knew little about. Had a the National vibe
Fun album. Good voice, spectacular lyrics.
Cool. Jeff did a cover of "Dishes"
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Seductive Barry, Sylvia, Fear
As always first and foremost, I listen to the music first. Lyrics don't really resonate with me very regularly. Cockers' lyrics are clean and clear and easy to understand but it was the music that caught me with this album. Yet another 90s Alt-Rock win to the Poms.
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.
Back at it and today it’s pulpppp. I just listened to different class the other day and I loved it so I’m excited. First track the fear. Ok yes and yes thank you. The eerie backround. THE CHORUS AGHHHHHHEG. OH MY GOSH. I love the yelling in the back and the feeeling in his voice wowwww. The chords. Oooh some theremin I hear??? Ugh I love it so far so good. It’s like Halloween but your depressed because you got dumped. Mmmmmm I love this chorus. The oooohs wow. This meledy is so threatening I absolutely love it. And that guitar?? Excuse me sir?? So good. Next is track two party hard. Springy boingy ooh. Lowkey sounds like 80s david bowie. This ones not too bad. It’s kinda vanilla but I like it. Like robot disco or something. Eh that one was ok. I mean it was good don’t get me wrong but like I said, kinda vanilla. Next is track three I’m a man. Hmmmm never heard that song title before. I like the beginning guitar riff. Ooh yeah that guitar is nice. Ooh ok yes. THE CHORUS. The diminished chord HAHHHh. HAKFKDBHAJ. When he said mahhahahahahan. So great I love this one wow. It’s giving me chills. I JUST TURNED ON STEREO AUDIO AND WOW TEN MILLION TIMES BETTER. HEJAKAKAKLSLSLSLLPPPPQPAPPPAPPPPAPAPP. I’m relistening to it in stereo. Heck yeah. Ok no I’m not but I will later I don’t have time rn lolz. Track four is a little soul. Some piano this time niceee. Almost sounds like an 80s prom song. The lyrics don’t match that vibe tho hehe. Ooh yes those claps in the chorus?? I swear all these songs are good but then the chorus hits and they are GOOD. This one is really good too but it’s kind of poppy. SHOOT IT WAS ON SHUFFLE XX. Ok scratch what I said about the track numbers I just went 1, 3, 8,7. Now I’m technically on 10, Sylvia. THIS ONE HITS. Wow ahhhahahhajajjajajj. Ok so far I love this album so much even though it wasn’t in order (oops). Also pulp reminds me so much of blur (one of my favorite bands) so that’s a huge plus. When he says “what it’s got” I am in love. I love the resolution at the end. OK now it’s track two actually, dishes. Starts off with some 70s sounding keyboard and piano almost like bill withers. This one is happy sounding. This one is a little cheesy but it is very pretty and I like it. Kinda lovey dovey. “I am not Jesus tho I have the same initials” wot. Ok track 4, helped the aged. I like this one so far the bass line is nicee. Sparkles? I mean ok. ELECTRIC GUITAR. Of course some good chord changes it’s expected now. The piano is pleasant. Mmmmm. I love when his voice goes all falsetto. This song is so great. Now track 5, this is hardcore. I love the beat and the trumpets (I think they’re trumpets?) ooh and that one line piano goes perfectly with it. Oh wow this really IS hardcore. Menacing. A minute and a half intro alright. But it was an interesting intro it didn’t seem long at all. THE MELODY AND THE MENACING BACKROUND. The stringsssss ugh yes. When he said “action” whoa. Like one really low not on piano it’s so good. The bassssassasshshjsjabsbjak. Please pulp if I hear one more good chord progression or just good chord modulation I WILL cry. Leave some for the rest of us smh. Now track six TV movie. Something buzzing in the back with acoustic guitar and singing. Almost like your playing guitar in space. Oh there’s the rest of the band. Melts so smooth together. This one is really chill. I can’t even explain what was going on it that song but it was fantastic. Now track 9 seductive berry. First time I’ve heard a girl sing. This one is like you’re in a forest changing for a tribe or something. I think it’s pretty obvious what the songs about based on the title. This guy is so horny. Meh this ones alright. So corny. Yeah this ones weird. It’s like 8 minutes too??? I might skip sorry... yeah I skipped on to the next one. Track 11 glory days. Not the Bryan adams one. This one could totally be used in a coming of age movie. I like it it’s fun. Danceable and fun. Yeah that’s all there really is about this song it’s fun and danceable and I like it. Now it’s track 12. AbHuhahhau. This one is amazing. Can I say something about the chords again?? Gegegv this one is so good. That’s all there is to it it’s amazing and that electric guitar wow. Wowww. This ones giving me chills too. The outro is long but besides that that songs was so good. Ok now last one, like a friend. Ooh yes. Surfy sounding guitar. Kinda sad sounding but pretty. Sparkles again?? THE BASS YES. Some congo drums alright. “Kill me while you smile like a friend.” OOP PICKING IT UP I SEE. HYPEEEEE. Heck yeahhhh. I can’t get over the bass I’m literally gonna learn this song. Ooh yeah I really like this one. Oh wow that was a great song especially to end a great album. Yes the last part is so good. Ah. Ok I definitely rate this one 8/10 because it was SO GOOD but there were like two or three songs that were kinda meh. But overall this albums was so good ugh.
The Fear is quite catchy, Dishes lyrics are not convincing. Help the Aged also good. TIH buildup too long, Like a Friend has a great instrumentals. Overall not my thing, its mostly a watered down combination of Bowie and an above average rock-project. 5/10
Enjoyable in places.
Great album. Another band I hadn't heard that I really should have.
I love the music, dislike the voice of the singer. He’s not very good and he’s very serious
Good background music and also interesting
-Lots sounds like David Bowie, and 1 or 2 like Pink Floyd -Some interesting tracks
Didn't like it
From the first song, I felt like I was listening to a different version or sequel to the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Bootleg Radiohead.
Alright weirdo rock
im sorry this is so dumb xD music is pleasant enough but his voice/delivery/lyrics had me cracking up more than anything
I thought this album was intersting. I enjoyed the song "The Fear", but I didn't enjoy the rest of the album as much. Each song is quite neat though.
Not nearly as hardcore as I was expecting, though I'm glad.
Only really listened to one song
Beautiful vocals and melodies! Britpop at its finest. The only song I didn't love was the one where not-Jesus did the dishes.
Glory days makes it a 4star on its own
Ganske lett å glemme, husker ikke så mye dagen derpå. Føler det var ganske standard rock. Eneste sangen jeg husker er den derre vaske sangen, merkelig å skrive sang om å vaske...
Sexy som bare det! Kule tekster, helt spesiell stemning. Likte spesielt tittelsporet, dishes og like a friend (selv om den egt er bonusspor). *I am not Jesus, though I have the same initials*
Banda inglesa de rock pero no el disco más conocido de ellos. No lo había escuchado concienzudamente y me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba.
Did there really need to be a ~10 minute outro? Haha. Overall, eh for me
Minor Threat is hardcore. This was okay. Love Jarvis Cocker’s voice but wasn’t as much energy here as I’d hoped.
This really feels like a record I should enjoy more. The production is lush, but dark and Jarvis Cocker has some really cutting lyrics throughout. But, a lot of it blended together for me, so it's a bit of a confusing listen for me. Fav Tracks: TV Movie and The Fear.
Pulp is leagues ahead of Oasis and Blur in my internal Britpop rankings, but I don't think this is their strongest album. Some excellent tracks, but it doesn't quite hit with as much urgency as Different Class or His N' Hers. Rating: 3.5/5 Favourite song: The Fear
A gorgeous and clever album that allows Pulp to transcend the Brit pop genre and cement Cocker’s status as a bit of a genius
This is a good one. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that I like Pulp best of all Brit-pop bands. Now I’ll admit that as an American, I don’t know if that particular opinion means a damn thing, but from what I’ve heard, these guys are my favorite. The title track on this is just so far beyond good. The atmosphere it creates is sleazy as hell, yet strangely compelling in its payoff. This album will get 5 stars. Different Class is now officially 5.5
Good. Lots of variety, well-produced, would do again.
In turns bleak, brilliant and hilarious.
Pulps finest album, gets better as it progresses, lyrically brilliant as always
It's going to be a bit difficult for me to review this record impartially. I was around when it came out and I pretty much accepted it as a masterpiece along with the rest of the world at the time, but here goes. ...And the Gods Made Love starts out the album with some primitive slowed down speech, flanging, stereo effects and the like, but even here, a high level of artistry and imagination is apparent. The first proper song, Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) blends rock, soul, and psychedelia seamlessly, with a flowing melody and changes which are as surprising as the seem inevitable. Cross Town Traffic gives us a jolt of pure pop. The low tech and inspired use of a comb and a piece of cellophane provides the vocal effects. Hendrix and Stevie Winwood (on organ) provide a master class in electrifying the blues on Voodoo Child that hasn't been approached, much less equalled since. I'm also amazed by how the musicians, seemingly communicating telepathically, improvise much of the music, building and building the drama and intensity throughout the 15 minute run time, without a wasted second. Hendrix's phrasing and tone are phenomenal on this live in the studio track, and Winwood comes close to matching him. Finally, with Little Miss Strange, we get a tune which is merely very good. Noel Redding's lead vocals are a little wimpy here, but it's a charming tune nonetheless. With Long Hot Summer Night, Hendrix is back to combining soul and rock in his unique way. Don't let the ease with which it goes down blind you to the complexity and taste of the composition and arrangement. Come On (Let The Good Times Roll) is a straightforward blues tune, good but nothing special. Hey, they can't all be great! Gipsey Eyes and Burning of the Midnight Lamp are accessible but wholly original, a neat trick. Midnight Lamp features Hendrix's mastery of the wah-wah pedal. The next suite, which took up a whole album side in the days of vinyl, gives us a demonstration of Hendrix's studio wizardry. It's been a long time since I've listened to this album. I've forgotten how effortless and soulful Hendrix was as a singer, composer and guitarist. Rainy Day, Dream Away gives us a stoned paean to rainy days, which drifts into the groove of the lyrics on 1983...(A Mermaid I Should Turn Out To Be). It meanders with a purpose, if that makes sense. It's blissed out meditation, pure music. I could go on, but I think y'all get the point. I haven't even talked about the incredible tango psychedelic rock hybrid House Burning Down or the definitive version of Dylan's All Along the Watchtower, the album's big hit yet. I don't know what drugs Hendrix was taking, but I want some! He does more with a primitive studio, standard rock trio instrumentation, and an occasional sax or organ than almost anyone has since, and this without the benefit of anyone blazing his path for him! The studio trickery, his approach to the guitar, his arrangements, all of it is unique to him! And he reached these heights in a scant few years! Electric Ladyland is more flat out astonishing with the benefit of 50 years of hindsight than it was at the time and that is saying something. 5 out of 5.
Not bad. I enjoyed this.
Slow at first
Not great
I hadn't heard of this band. When I saw "THIS IS HARDCORE" I thought, oh lord, not hardcore music. It's a little weird to say, but I sure am glad they were referring to the other type of hardcore. Fuck the roses and doves, nothing says Happy Valentines Day like a bit of Hardcore!
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
Enjoyed most of the songs but jesus 70 minutes, come on Jarvis!
I like this. It is too long but my type of music. Weirdly nothing standout, no particular song is great. But the whole thing I can happily listen to.
Rock alternativo lento e sonolento; disco muito longo. Melhor música: Help The Aged
more like 4.5, but I love this album and pulp
nope
Fabby album. Unexpectedly good
There’s moments I liked (last song!) but it just sounds so pretentious, energy is low, and it was way too long. 5
Boring and not very hardcore. 4
Darker than what you expect from a Pulp album. maybe 3.9 but very good
6. Some interesting songs, but too fucking long
Ok
Hearing this in the shower I thought I was listening to Diamond Dog out takes. Lots of Bowie & Roxy influences. I prefer the drawn out, dirge-ier, pieces like Seductive Barry & the title track.
Hi: The Fear, Help The Aged Lo: Seductive Barry I went in to this one because I truly enjoyed A Different Class, however This is Hardcore starts off strong, but somehow devolves into just standard brit-pop. The Fear is introspective and invades your space (in a good way), Help The Aged is pleading because old folks were once just like you... but then Seductive Barry comes off as sultry, but ends up just being long and meandering, The Day After the Revolution suffers about the same fate. Like A Friend starts off meandering and ends up stronger and brighter, but isn't enough to save the B-side of this overall less-than-stellar album by Pulp. Still good, and if songs from this album appeared in my British Invasion station, I probably wouldn't skip them, but I also wouldn't seek them out.
Buenas canciones de pop-rock con un cierto toque en ocasiones, pesimista, pero así con una buena colección de temas. Tiene personalidad, aunque no he terminado de enganchar con ellos.
“This is Hardcore” by Pulp (1998) Lyrically, there are two basic themes here: (1) Titillation is never what was advertised; and (2) What you end up getting is alienating and meaningless. Ironically, these themes apply to both recreational sex and this album. The message fails, because it is devoid of either redemption or closure. It’s simply depressingly vapid. It’s a fruitless (but apparently lucrative) artistic endeavor—expressing disillusionment that intelligent young people figure out for themselves just after they have the means to pay for this kind of crap. Musically, the compositions (too frequently) alternate between major and relative minor keys, with spare melodies delivered in even more spare vocal attacks. There’s too much slow tempo on this album to attract a second listen. Lead vocals lack both quality and concern. Flights into high drama seem to not care that the listener isn’t coming along. Rhythm section is flat and boring. Now there are some nice arrangements of backing orchestral and keyboard overlays, but it’s good icing on bad cake. This album is not a waste of talent. It’s just a waste. 1/5
Un altre gran clàssic. Per mi, l'àlbum definitiu de Pulp, el que millor mostra les qualitats i els excessos d'aquesta banda. I el que té la seva obra mestra, "This is hardcore", per mi el seu millor tema, arriscat, ambiciós, colpidor i encertadíssim. L'àlbum comença amb "The fear", hereva directa del seu anterior "Different class", i continua amb un "Dishes" antològic. "Party hard" baixa una mica el nivell i després arriba "Help the aged", el sorprenent primer single de l'album. Després del tema central i capdal del disc, el nivell baixa una mica però encara una recta final notable, que culmina amb una impactant "The day after the revolution". Bones sensacions amb el retrobament d'aquest disc, ple de bons temes i un parell d'obres mestres.
There is no reason for some of these songs to be so long. 5
Hit and miss but when it hits, it really hits. Leaning towards a 3.5.
The album starts off very slow, but the second half picks up nicely and I found myself enjoying it at that point. While I am not crazy about the sound, I am intrigued and would like to check out more Pulp music.
Definitely not hardcore. But I liked it.
Decent British arty pop-rock music. I think I liked the vibe of the album more than I did the actual music. Could definitely see this as a strong 3 instead of the 4 I gave.
Very much like Radiohead.
Maybe some songs in the album, Like The Fear, are so great that makes the other songs look less good than they are.
Hab ich noch nie gehört, nice Ist auch eher softerer Rock aber gut! Einen Song gespeichert. Turns out mein soft rock heißt eigentlich Alternative :D
It's got some good songs - not my particular jam, but I can see why this is a respected album. Wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it, but a great sound
Bowie meets 90s alt rock.
i'm going to have to look up the meaning of the titl, because by my current understanding, there is no definition of hardcore that this actually is. that said, it was fun enough to hang out with, for sure.
Meh. Not impressed. Lyrics were still witty af.
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.
Ok album. Lots of whispering singing. Some interesting lyrics ("the professional") the instrumentals are good.
a little melodramatic, but also really lovely. if im gonna be a 90s cliche, its this or the cranberries
Just when I thought that I was going to be listening to boomer rock for three literal years, I come across this banger of an album. It feels like the album covers different genres from song to song, but the line that threads all of them together is a creative tour de force.
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Erg slappe hap, totaal niet mijn ding
Quite hard, but not too hardcore
I think there is a certain genius to Jarvis Cocker's sing/speak style and his lyrics. I can see how it's not everyone's cup of tea but I do enjoy the humor and his strange brand of bare it all brutal honesty and just the right amount of shock. There's an interesting balance of deep vulnerability being delivered with such posturing that it is somehow simultaneously both ironic and deeply heartfelt. All feels very autobiographical in a way that few artists let you into so intimately. He doesn't filter himself much and I'm sure he'd be a pain in the ass to hang out with and a mess in his personal life but he is able to reflect the internal dialogue of many states of mind that don't often get put into song in such a direct way. I feel like it takes repeated listens for it to really sink in. Easily my second favorite britpop group after Blur (even though I think that's a very vague and nearly useless term). "The day after the revolution" is certainly an audacious way to end an album. I really like some of the tracks on the bonus disc of the deluxe edition, perhaps even more than many tracks on the album. Tracks like "cocaine socialism", "we are the boys", and "can I have my balls back please".
Strong start instrumental. I know a few Pulp songs (Common People, Disco 2000) and those are pretty good. First track is pretty good. I like that background vocal ahhh-ohhh. The e-bowed/sustained guitar that sounds synth-y is nice. First track reminds me of early Muse actually, mostly the falsetto and electric guitar. Nice outro too. One thing I like is watching Pulp video, cause the singer is quite an expressive performer, although some of it is likely cause he is so damn British, if he were American I'd probably be annoyed. I'm switching over to the deluxe version now cause I'm curious. Well, that was maybe not the best decision. After the first song the album has fallen off for me, shame. Not a single other song does anything for me.
Overly long and boring. Really disappointed.
pretty decent. felt like it was trying to hard to have a unique sound
Very keen to dive deeper into these guys. Bowie like in its melodrama but hilarious and meta and not taking its self seriously at all.
Not my usual sound, but definitely has some bangers!
I didn’t hate it
5
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.
I really liked the album but did not listen to the whole thing.
Probably my favourite undiscovered artist
This was a super fun pop-rock album that sounds like an influence to Kirin J Callinan.
Not bad. A little boring not a whole lot of catchy or mind blowing stuff, nothing that bad either
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
Not all that interesting
Wat een swing - doet meteen denk aan de Buena vista social club. Verder niet echt mijn smaak, maar wel leuk als afwisseling.
Had no idea what to expect and boy was that just great! Many great songs on here that were really just a vibe and the opening/closing songs are *chef's kiss*. It was a journey that I thoroughly enjoyed.
More modern, less Britpoppy than for example Oasis and Blur. Liked it a lot, especially the second half of the album. However due to the slow first half, I have to award a 4 instead of a 5
This... is not hardcore. Not at all, in fact. It's a fairly ho-hum album. Most of the songs live in that in-between tempo that's neither up-tempo or down-tempo what I like to call lazy tempo. It's unchallenging and uninspiring. After the last Pulp album that I reviewed (Different Class), I expected more from this band. Unfortunately, it sounds like a college garage band that's REALLY into Bowie. Not the best listening experience. I was disappointed.
Started kinda crap but slowly get better.
This was nice. The music was mellow and melodious and it brought me into a good headspace.
Finally something interesting haha
I don’t have a fully formed opinion on it yet after my fourth listen. But I like it and am gonna keep trying. I appreciate the Roxy-isms and that final track is a thing of beauty.
Band has some classic songs but not on this album. 2/5
Controversially I prefer this to its older more popular sibling Different Class. Dark and introverted…. The Britpop hangover started here!