New Pulp

Strumms · 11-04-2025 02:33AM #1

single Spike Island….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-27a1ugJX8U

massive Pulp fan, my fear here was them turning up 25 years later or whatever it is now sounding a bit lost and underwhelming.

Listened to this and I think that fear has been pretty much confirmed…played it 3 times and there just isn’t that much of a kick of interest, sense of adventure, melodic excitement….or even Pulp quirkiness…

Makes me worry about the album that this could be the first single….

There isn’t a Pulp album I dislike, their more commercial and also avant garde stuff is properly great, a raft of brilliant singles, bsides and album tracks but…. Maybe it’s a grower and maybe there is an album there that will explode with brilliance when we hear it… but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t big time underwhelmed..

DwightShrute · 11-04-2025 05:49PM

Really? I think it's a strong return. Great movement in the rhythm section, catchy riffs and soaring chorus.

But don't worry, some of the songs on the album that have been previewed live have great potential. "My Sex" is a brilliant, identity-bending narrative with brooding electronics and some corking lyrics - "I haven't got an agenda, I haven't got a gender/And in answer to your question, my sex is open to suggestion".

"Hymn of the North" is just a beautiful ballad, an ode to his son growing-up that avoids being cloying.

"Slow Jam" was a Jarv Is... song, played live a few times in 2021. It's a sad treatise on ageing, physical decay, libido in flux and Jesus delusions.

"Got To Have Love" and "Background Noise" are the catchiest things outside of "Spike Island". Really strong choruses, the former especially really rollicks along (it dates from 2000).

"Farmer's Market" is the token romantic song Jarvis often puts on an album. Took me a few listens to warm to the live versions but it does have a lovely build to the main section (which, musically, is repeated a little too much for my taste).

"A Sunset" is the only one that hasnt made much of an impression on me from the live versions I've heard. A co-write with Richard Hawley. Its kind of in the vein of another Pulp song he is credited on, "Born To Cry" from the Notting Hill soundtrack.

Totally unheard live are "Grown-Ups" (which is a This Is Hardcore-era instrumental now presumably with vocals), "Tina" and "Partial Eclipse".

Potentially we're looking at their strongest album since Different Class. I don't think it'll be as uneven as Hardcore and it will have a bit more pop razzmatazz than We Love Life did.