Pulp Albums Ranked From Worst to Best

We're slowly working our way through Britpop and this week we're checking off another of the major players. We're ranking the 7 studio albums of Jarvis Cocker and Co. It's Pulp week!
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Pulp was an English rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. Their best-known line-up from their heyday (1992-1997) consisted of Jarvis Cocker (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Russell Senior (guitar, violin), Candida Doyle (keyboards), Nick Banks (drums, percussion), Steve Mackey (bass) and Mark Webber (guitar, keyboards).
Throughout the 1980s the band struggled to find success, but gained prominence in the UK in the mid-1990s with the release of the albums His 'n' Hers in 1994 and particularly Different Class in 1995, which reached the number one spot in the UK Albums Chart. The album spawned four top ten singles, including "Common People" and "Sorted for E's & Wizz", both of which reached number two in the UK Singles Chart. Pulp's musical style during this period consisted of disco-influenced pop-rock coupled with references to British culture in their lyrics in the form of a "kitchen sink drama"-style. Cocker and the band became reluctant figureheads of the Britpop movement, and were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 1994 for His 'n' Hers; they won the prize in 1996 for Different Class and were nominated again in 1998 for This Is Hardcore. Pulp headlined the Pyramid Stage of the Glastonbury Festival twice and were regarded among the Britpop "big four", along with Oasis, Blur and Suede.
The band released We Love Life in 2001 and then took a decade-long break, having sold more than 10 million records. Pulp reunited and played live again in 2011, with dates at the Isle of Wight Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Pohoda, Sziget Festival, Primavera Sound, the Exit festival, and the Wireless Festival. A number of additional concert dates were afterward added to their schedule. In January 2013, Pulp released "After You", a song originally demoed for We Love Life, as a digital download single. It was the band's first single release since "Bad Cover Version" in 2002. On 9 March 2014, Pulp and filmmaker Florian Habicht premiered the feature documentary Pulp: A Film about Life, Death & Supermarkets at SXSW Music and Film Festival in Austin, Texas. The film toured the international film festival circuit and was released theatrically by Oscilloscope Laboratories in the US in November 2014. It is the first film about Pulp (and Sheffield) that has been made in collaboration with the band.
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Thanks for watching! Let us know what you think of Pulp and how you rank their records by leaving us a comment.
Normally I post our upcoming schedule here, but we've had to shuffle some things around of late. However, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Porcupine Tree, and T. Rex will all be coming up at some point in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!
#pulp #albumsranked #worsttobest #britpop
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[@telsutton]

I'm a Sheffield contemporary of Pulp, my band The Way beginning gigging there from 1987. Became friends with Jarvis during the 'Sound City 1993', when I managed to get the entire band into the VIP area of The Leadmill using Steve Lillywhite's BBC pass which he'd given me two days previously when me and my bassist/Best Man, Jon 'Stan' White (Groove Armada/Faithless), got hammered with him for an entire day without recognising the production god (till he said, 'I've got to go do World Party now'!). Jarvis is a lovely bloke, but it was Russ Senior I really clicked with (being Mods), and I was sad to see him leave. Several years later I was being managed by Cerne Canning and was given 20 tickets to see Pulp in Doncaster... took my sis - a massive fangirl - for her birthday and was invited to the aftershow... I arranged with Jarv for him to go up and ask to snog her.... and he did! She's never stopped thanking me. I sold the rest of the tickets. :) Btw, Rich Hawley and I discussed starting a band in 2001 after I gave him and Si Stafford (Longpigs/Strummer) a lift home from a John Squire solo gig at The Leadmill, and we conversed on the phone (I live 20 miles away) over the following months... 'I've just got to get these demos out of the way'. The rest is history. Jammy sod. Now do Richard's albums. ;)

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

nice

[@marklife_ox4]

Rest In Peace bassist Steve Mackey. Passed away yesterday. Will remember the fantastic Glastonbury back in the '90s. Playing His 'n' Hers in tribute..

[@nilsohlanders738]

You're missing "Intro - the gift recordings" which is maybe not a proper album but one of my favourites, "Razzmatazz", "Sheffield: Sex City" and "Susan: a story in three parts" being some of their most characteristic, story telling songs.

[@rickyevans124]

I had a friend in high school who loved this band that passed last year and loved this band…. I love this review

[@christianewen3227]

Looking forward to this! Pulp are one of the best British bands of all time ❤️

[@ignatiusj.reilly5418]

Along with Suede, the most interesting of the BritPop mob... 1 His n Hers 2 Different Class 3 This Is Hardcore 4 We Love Life 5 Freaks 6 Separations 7 It

[@alexandertimber1279]

Found Pulp in high school 15 years ago and fell in love with Jarvis Crocker's misfit lyricism. Especially when I was only one in my high school listening to them. 1. His N' Hers- Love this album and really see Pulp finally breaking through. Really recommend listening to the deluxe version of the album some great b-sides. 2. Different Class- Great album though I sometimes think it's too polish but there is no song that epitomize the 90's better than Common People in my opinion. 3. This is Hardcore- This is the perfect album to listen to in your 30's when you start to feel the wear and tear of life. 4. Separation- I love how weird this is and I think Legendary Girlfriend is a top 5 Pulp song. 5. We Love Life- A great collection of songs that are better as a whole then separated. Also has Pulp's best music video Bad Cover songs.

[@edgustafson]

I only knew Different Class and This is Hardcore going into this, so I was pleasantly surprised how consistent the rest of Pulp's catalog is. They often get lumped into the Britpop scene, but I think they band is more interesting than Oasis and Blur. They're kind of reminiscent of a lot of other classic artists I admire, but also very much put their own stamp on it. Very good discography. *4.5 Stars* 1. His 'n' Hers - This is where their sound really comes together for me. They still incorporate some of the IDM stuff of Separations, but the songwriting is way better. 2. Different Class - I expect this to be most people's #1, and it's maybe their most consistent, but it maybe leans into the Britpop movement too much for my tastes. 3. This is Hardcore - More inconsistent than Different Class or His 'n' Hers, but some really nice high points in their catalog. *4.0 Stars* 4. Separations - I like how this is two distinct halves of an album with side one being this gothic, old world European sounding affair and side two being IDM bangers. The last track isn't great, but that's my chief complaint. 5. It - It doesn't sound like 1983 much at all. Initially, I was going to write it off as a Smiths ripoff but it pre-dates the Smiths by a year. For a debut, it's very polished. *3.5 Stars* 6. We Love Life - It's not bad, but they don't really evolve much from This is Hardcore and the songs just aren't as good. *3 Stars* 7. Freaks - There's a few good tracks here, but the dark, Nick Cave-esque carnival sound isn't really what I want from Blur.

[@michelewiese48]

Hi Eric, loved a lot of the things you had to say, the comparisons you made and your description of the albums.

[@179rich]

Cheers mates! Well done.

[@jamesegan2742]

Interesting discussion of an important band. Jarvis always reminds me of Ray Davies at his peak…observing England in the Nineties rather than the Sixties, but with such clever, penetrating observations and commentary. Can’t touch The Smiths, but they’ve got great attitude and energy. Cheers, JPE

[@Joooools5000]

Nice one Joe - honorary Englishman. A few Nick Cave mentions here - now that will be a discography.

[@frangarcia7774]

Count me in!!

[@robertkeene7909]

Woohoo! Wonderful to have a discussion on Pulp. There are many great songs but I think "Babies" is my fav Jarvis vocal performance. Their catalog definitely benefits from repeated listens and holds up outside of just a Britpop playlist. Thanks Tastes Like Music!

[@NotoriousLightning]

I'm not so sure about that song. Whenever I hear it, I have random outbursts of "And she was with some kid called David" for the rest of the day. It's not always worth it.

[@deathfromabove77]

Love this band. Jarvis Cocker is a pop genius. Different Class is the greatest album of the so-called "Brit Pop " era. My Pulp album ranking 7. Freaks - 3 stars 6. It- 3 stars 5. We Love Life 3.5 stars 4. Separations - 3.5 stars 3. This is Hardcore - 4 stars 2. His 'n' Hers - 4.5 stars 1. Different Class - 5 stars

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Hi. I'm not doing this discography - but from what I've heard, yer list looks solid. 😀

[@deathfromabove77]

@@NaughtyVampireGod Thanks , NVG 😀

[@Dittomist]

Wonderful video, gents! I'm so glad I stumbled upon your channel a few months ago. Pulp also have many fantastic b-sides: Your Sister's Clothes, Seconds, You're a Nightmare, Ansaphone, Ladies Man, Sheffield Sex City, Cocaine Socialism, Death Goes to the Disco, etc.

[@davidellis5141]

Pulp were really 👌 brilliant - My ratings # 7 Freaks # 6 Seperations # 5 It # 4 His & Hers # 3 We Love You # 2 Different Class & # 1 This Is Hardcore - The four albums recorded in the mid 90's to 2001 are all classic albums - Genius. 👍

[@LADOBMELOMANOS]

I love how you guys have ranked the discographies of almost all of my favorite bands and artists. At some point in my life, Pulp was my second favorite band of all time. They are still in my top 10 bands of all time. This is my ranking of their discography: 7) It 6) We Love Life 5) Freaks 4) Separations These three albums are absolute masterpieces in my opinion. 5 stars albums for me: 3) This Is Hardcore 2) His 'n' Hers 1) Different Class (one of my top 5 favorite albums of all time).

[@alexconway4950]

My favourite of the 90s crop of Britpop bands. Can’t really argue with your rankings guys. Think everything from His n Hers onwards is fantastic..

[@roberthardin2133]

I think Jason is on to something with the glam observation: when I hear the 90s Pulp, I hear echos of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. the somber moods that blend with the dark humor. I also think Jarvis had an obsession with former Walker Bro. Scott Walker (who they brought in to finish the production of We Love Life). I predict "Dishes" will make everyone's list of top songs. it's definitely my favorite.

[@garrettredd2541]

Getting ready to watch this episode for educational purposes. Pulp is a band i have read and about heard about for many many years, but for whatever reason have never once listened to *(to my knowledge). Cheers!

[@Chicago_Podcast_Authority]

I'm just curious if anyone has suggested Frank Zappa worst to best?

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

They've joked that they'll do Zappa when the channel grows to the point where they can quit their day jobs. So, it might be a while.

[@forestfc]

Zappa and Bill Nelson have far too many albums. Over 100 for both

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

@@forestfc "A journey of a thousand Zappa albums begins with a single step." -Ancient Chinese Proverb

[@TheGenreman]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 captain beefheart would be easy too do

[@claytonkelley4921]

I’ve suggested Willie Nelson :)

[@michelewiese48]

I enjoyed hearing your takes and the many accolades. Yes, This Is Hardcore is perfect in its sleaziness and I wouldn’t change a thing about it…first song I heard and it will always be my #1 .. pulled me into Pulp’s universe and nearly gave me whiplash

[@bengalgangster]

what a great description sweets!! as only you can tell

[@martineyles]

48:16 You'll like it, but not a lot, was a catchphrase of well know british magician, Paul Daniels. Something that Jarvis Cocker was probably well aware of.

[@andrewdyke5561]

I've only heard different classes and I love it alot need to check out rest of their albums

[@joshswainwright]

Really looking forward to when you guys do Suede, best britpop band hands down and their new stuff is fantastic.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Might hit them when their new album comes out in September.

[@christopherneilstephens9306]

You guys NEED to watch the video for Bad Cover Version. It’s one of the few videos I’ve ever seen that make the song go from very good to classic.

[@johnjackson3735]

Thanks for reviewing a group I had never heard of that I enjoy listening to: Pulp. I have just started listening to their music but my first impression is that His and Hers is my favorite and sounds close to 5 stars to me. Love the vocals, instrumentation, lyrics and recording ambience. I am also fond of what appear to be some evident echoes of Cure influences with the mix of whispered and full throated vocal delivery.

[@jukeboxcowboy]

🤠 A bit of a fan. Mrs Jukebox and I walked down the aisle to the instrumental version of "This is Hardcore."

[@claytonkelley4921]

Finished! Different Class - 4.5 stars (9.3) This Is Hardcore - 4 stars (8.4) Separations - 3.5 stars (7.7) His n Her- 3.5 stars (7.5) It- 3.5 stars (7) We Love Life - 3 stars (6.2) Freaks - 2.5 stars (5.7)

[@UlyssesJonah]

I love Jason's observation that I Love Love is like a fusion of Dixie Jazz and Dance Hall, I definitely heard the former, love the song, their earliest hints of playfulness

[@shaunread290]

I heard Kram mention Nick Cave! Please do Nick Cave! :D Another great vid, guys, surprised Pulp didn't make it across to the States, a little too British, maybe..

[@UlyssesJonah]

Even the name is ahead of its time for Britpop :P

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

good point

[@sonicpharmacist]

You guys need to check out Jarvis Cocker’s solo work. Just stellar. Joe, you in particular will love the track Running The World 😉

[@HeyFella]

Love Pulp. Alongside Suede they’re my favorite Britpop bands. Looking forward to you guys covering the latter at some point. Pulp’s B-sides are as good as some of their best stuff. Tracks like Ansaphone and You’re A Nightmare really stand out. I’m sure they won’t make your top 10’s because they’re not on the albums which is a shame.

[@roxannewalsh]

You gave me a shock with "Them and Suede are my favorite Britpop bands." My error, I thought of the band Them...G-L-O-R-I-A...

[@HeyFella]

@@roxannewalsh oh yeah, poor wording on my part lol. Edited the comment to make it sound more coherent lol.

[@palacerevolution2000]

IAW you guys on the top albums; a combo of "Different Class", His'n Hers" and "Hardcore". Maybe have the last one up there too. I always think of it as the 'Trees' album, but "We Love Life'. I like the way Jason reasoned it out about their sound, and that ultimately, they just don't hit 5 stars. I do want to give props to one of their very best songs, that isn't on any album "The Last Day of the Miner's Strike".

[@erickent4248]

The Pulp point of view is a bit sad, but valid, a man wracked with his own desires, that give him the only pleasures he gets, but also leaves him empty and cold. Not a radical or singular theme, but certainly dominant in their music more than many others except in say, The Afghan Whigs or Serge Gainsbourg or Neil Hannon. Good stuff.

[@psychguy2672]

Calling it in advance, but looking to see "Disco 2000" in at least one of your lists for the number 1 top Pulp song. I mean how can it not be?

[@CrunchyFrog47]

The official Sharkmeister ranking of the Pulp albums: #7 Different Class [1995] ⭐⭐⭐ #6 It [1983] ⭐⭐⭐½ #5 His 'n' Hers [1994] ⭐⭐⭐½ #4 Separations [1992] ⭐⭐⭐½ #3 Freaks [1987] ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #2 We Love Life [2002] ⭐⭐⭐⭐ #1 This Is Hardcore [1998] ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ It, Separations, & His 'n' Hers are pretty much interchangable for me...Different Class is almost right there with it the others other than there were no tracks that made to my short list for top 10. I loved the first half of Freaks. There was something pleasantly macabre about the first half, but runs out of steam on the second half. This is Hardcore and We Love Life were both incredible albums, Hardcore especially. We Love Life is almost a 4.5 but couldn't quite grant it. Average rating: 3.71⭐s

[@curly_wyn]

I love the more androgynous glam approach that both Pulp and Suede took to Britpop as a counter to the ultra-macho posturing especially of bands like Oasis.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

you should do Suede too. They were a great band

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Probably when their new album comes out in September.

[@anabellelei8540]

@@TastesLikeMusic She Leads Me On is enough to bring on big expectations.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@TastesLikeMusic Yay!

[@jackmckeown1487]

idk why you guys haven’t done the strokes yet their albums differ so much I’d love to see your opinions on them :))

[@tomsullivan9456]

just discovered your channel about a week ago & have been watching your videos everyday since...been enjoing you guys a lot...any chance you could rank INXS albums sometime?

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Yeah good chance of that.

[@Vanessa.P]

I was pretty excited to check out Pulp. Before this I'd heard This Is Hardcore and a few songs here and there (including "Common People", of course). I was familiar with the fact that they went back to the early 80s and had some older albums so I was also curious about those. I wasn't disappointed with this discography, I pretty well liked everything overall. I'm a bit higher on some of the 80s stuff than others but I can see why it doesn't connect for everyone. Listening to this discography was a lot of fun, I'm sure some of these albums will grow for me in time - definitely plan to keep going back. 7. We Love Life - 3.5 (7.1) 6. Separations - 3.5 (7.2) 5. Freaks - 3.5 (7.3) 4. It - 4 (8.0) 3. This Is Hardcore - 4(8.2) 2. His 'n' Hers - 4 (8.4) 1. Different Class - 4.5 (9.0)

[@michelewiese48]

Hi Vanessa, Happy to see you have It higher than most 😊 some beautiful songs on this one

[@Vanessa.P]

@@michelewiese48 I agree, I really enjoyed it! :)

[@jasperfranklin8332]

Elbow are another band worth checking out, Northern English band with some very clever storytelling lyrics and a very British sound

[@tbob1927]

Pulp definitely don’t borrow from Blur. They predate them, they’re northern, they know how to write class, Jarvis’ sex tales are clever not boorish, they know how to do The Smiths, Scott Walker and Leonard Cohen, not Damon Albarn’s London-centric vision in the slightest. Sorry Kram but that’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard on this channel! 1. Different Class 2. His ‘n’ Hers 3. This is Hardcore 4. It 5. We Love Life 6. Separations 7. Freaks I’m probably putting It too high but between that and We Love Life I went with favourite not best.

[@martineyles]

5:57 I wonder whether you have ranked Style Council albums, including their last, unreleased for at least ten years, housey album.

[@claytonkelley4921]

Have no fear! I will finish Pulp tomorrow :D

[@petederek7174]

Got into Pulp in the 90's when Different Class was released. Great album, Common People should have been a worldwide hit IMO, but didn't quite break in the States. Several tracks on the album had a big Scott Walker influence on it (along with Jacques Brel, who was Scott's spiritual influence). This is Hardcore I remember the critics not particularly caring for it, but I def dug it and it's aged well. All in all a top band. Another band that had their feel, with more of a Bond soundtrack influence, was Rialto in the late 90's. Think they only released two albums, but their self titled debut was great. Might want to check it out.

[@DJTomOke]

I know it would take forever but please do a Prince list!

[@179rich]

Good to see Kramzer again

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

yep

[@terrybnad2959]

Pulp weren't a Britpop band, their ascent in popularity merely coincided. Their first BBC session for John Peel dates way back to *November 1981* - the version of Wishful Thinking captured there is sublime. Interesting that Joe mentions ABC, another band from Sheffield, and worth looking at some of Pulp's other contemporary Sheffield peer bands, Human League, Heaven 17, Cabaret Voltaire, Artery, Comsat Angels, Clock DVA ... some of the best bands of the early 80s imho. One Sheffield artist that I think clearly influenced both Jarvis' writing and vocal style is *Graham Fellows* (a.k.a Jilted John, a.k.a. John Shuttleworth). If you are curious, please have a listen to the track *Sheffield Steel* from his 1985 album Love At The Hacienda - all of the nuances are there!

[@NotoriousLightning]

Will you be doing Sparks, my lovely Rock and Roll boyz?

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Someday!

[@manalive256]

1. Different Class (5) 2. This Is Hardcore (4.5) 3. We Love Life (4) 4. His 'N' Hers (3.5). Not listened to the other 3. Enjoying your collective dive into the Britpop waters, keep swimming! Next time what about the great Super Furry Animals, Boo Radleys, Manic Street Preachers, Suede or Mansun (not universally loved, but I dig 'em)?

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

Boo Radleys would be a fun one. Given that the TLM guys love Radiohead, I'd be willing to bet they'd like the Boo Radleys.

[@dannyj77dj]

his n hers 3.5? 😲

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

Average Scottish behaviour

[@benderrodriguez5934]

My Ranking 1. This Is Hardcore (9'5/10) 2. Different Class (9/10) 3. His 'n Hers (8/10) 4. We Love Life (7'5/10) 5. Separations (6/10) 6. It (5'5/10) 7. Freaks (5/10) Greetings from Canary Islands.

[@Nitro-bp2ss]

I'm really interested to know what you guys think of Stereophonics discography if you're enjoying the Brit stuff.

[@michelewiese48]

Happy Summer Solstice Everyone! 🌞 “Professor” Jarvis Cocker is the epitome of sexy nerd chic. His lackadaisical croon. His sense of humor about sex. His stature. His fashion choices. His witticisms. His drunken dancing. I was delighted by nearly everything I heard. Found Pulp in 1998 and listened to their entire discography 24 years later. Thanks TLM for that little push. Pulp Albums, in the order of my preference (for now): 1. It (I cannot articulate just how much this album speaks to me…so sublime.) 2. This Is Hardcore 3. Separations 4. His N Hers 5. Different Class 6. We Love Life 7. Freaks

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Certainly an unusual ranking. - Joe

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Certainly an unusual ranking. - Joe

[@michelewiese48]

@@TastesLikeMusic Maybe we’ll have some songs in common 🤔

[@davidellis5141]

@@michelewiese48 Joe felt compelled to post his befuddlement twice ! 😆

[@antunzlodi1087]

glad to see im not alone in having debut first (:

[@roxannewalsh]

I anticipate that my assessment on the band will resemble that of a person talking about Watcher of the Skies or The Knife in a Genesis discussion where people rank I Can't Dance or Mama instead... Pulp's early albums are very inconsistent from a band still searching for its way - which makes them far more interesting than later day britpop-by-numbers. Not a great band for me but due to their broader pallet they beat their one-dimensional competitors in the overall view (obviously I am not a britpop enthusiast in the first place...) Maybe their most interesting (and best) period is the one that did not produce an album at all but is captured on Intro:The Gift Recordings (most of my top 10 songs tomorrow are from that phase.) 8. His 'n' Hers 2,0 (They broke through with this to...somewhere. For me it sounds like a meaningless persiflage of previous attempts. A real disappointment if you knew the band before. Something like Lipgloss showed how low they could sink in short time. Most of it resembled the worst tunes of the Boomtown Rats. The highlight, Babies, was a re-heated single released already in the Gift period.) 7. It 2,5 (Cocker already had his topics but not yet a real idea of how to express them when they released the debut.) 6. We Love Life 2,5 (The Night That Minnie Timperley Died is among their best songs. There are ten others on the album but who cares. The production is far more interesting than the songs even if very far from what one would expect of Scott Walker.) 5. This is Hardcore 3,0 ("This is the sound of someone losing the plot", yes, it is. He says it in the first minute and then drags on for another hour to prove it.) 4. Different Class 3,0 (This time he tried to cross his Bob Geldof with a bit of Bryan Ferry on a selection of trivial pop songs. It seems that this was the magic formula...to sell records. Every time I hear the album it is like the first time because the songs are so forgettable that I cannot recall any when they come around again. To be better than Oasis does not mean that you are good.) 3. Separations 3,5 (Some songs on earlier albums had already resembled Dexy's Kevin Rowland and here he fully assumes that persona on the first tracks...Given that the album release was delayed, however, they were rather contemporaries fed by similar influences and ambitions.) 2. Freaks 3,5 (If you cross Jonathan Richman with Steve Harley this would be the result, not always successful but pretty unique. A lot of interesting moments but it does not sum up to a real album. Still it is more interesting than the britpop garbage.) Disqualified winner: 0. Pulpintro 4,0 (The assembly of the single A and B sides from the time they were searching for a new label turned out to be the most consistent of their early releases and works perfectly as an album in its own right.)

[@TastesLikeMusic]

This ranking makes sense from you. - Joe

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Rox . . I think I agree w your Oasis comment . . 🙃

[@RostyslavLogachov]

Well done. Pretty much agree with all you said

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

Sometimes I struggle to see where you're coming from on certain artists, but in regards to Pulp I don't think you're far off. I finally finished listening to all their albums and the only one I can say I genuinely liked is Different Class. I think it flirts with 4 stars. Everything else would get 3 stars or less from me. They do have a few decent B-sides/outtakes but not enough to make me a true fan of the band. I couldn't even get motivated enough to write-up my own comment on them.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Y’all crazy! - Joe

[@davidellis5141]

This Is Hardcore was my second favorite album of 1998 & warned of the lack of substance in " New Labour " a full 5 years before Radiohead got around to Hail To The Thief.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Yer top album that year was what?

[@davidellis5141]

@@NaughtyVampireGod Mercury Rev - Deserters Songs

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@davidellis5141 Ahh thx . . never got into them for whatever reason . . that's their best I take it?

[@davidellis5141]

@@NaughtyVampireGod In my opinion ...

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

@@NaughtyVampireGod I've been a Mercury Rev devotee since their very first album in 1991. To me, 1995's See You On the Other Side is their best. I like Deserter's Songs, too, but it's a little more straightforward. It's not quite as interesting/quirky as their early-to-mid '90s stuff, imo.

[@UlyssesJonah]

I agree on the early albums Jarvis sounds like singing Karaoke, imagine Morrisey singing It, would easily be 4 stars or more, good tunes

[@Maanebaronen]

01 Different Class 02 This Is Hardcore 03 His’ n’ Hers 04 We Love Life 05 Separations 06 Freaks 07 It

[@jasperfranklin8332]

Wish you guys rank Stone Roses/The Seahorses/Ian Brown albums as a video, Stone Roses first album is regularly rated as the best UK album of the eighties/all time, The Seahorses has the roses lead guitarist as the front man and Ian Brown is the lead man of the Roses

[@Townshend90125]

You should rank the Hollie’s albums I would love that

[@trashandcheese3636]

As one who knows their beat-era sixties pop - and liked the Rikfors era - I really don't think it's worth the effort.

[@chrisf7189]

I haven't listened to the early stuff for a long time but my top 4 would be 4. We Love Life, 3. This is Hardcore, 2. His N' Hers, 1. Different Class.

[@ste.6026]

Definitely a Pulp fan... Cast will always be my number one band of the period but Pulp have my favourite album of the period.... 7... Freaks - 2, 6... Separations - 3, 5... We Love Life - 3.5, 4... It- 3.5, 3... This is Hardcore - 4, 2... His 'n' Hers - 4.5, 1... A Different Class - 5...

[@williamrankin2418]

Cast 👍 especially “All change”

[@bigneon_glitter]

*Pulp* Top 5 Albums 5. _It_ - Jarvis was very much in the lo-fi student Indie sound of early Everything But The Girl - not bad, tracks "Boats & Trains" and "My Lighthouse" point to possible future greatness 4. _We Love Life_ - inspired in moments, offering some career best tracks but largely forgettable - Scott Walker elevated Pulp to a new level but their songwriting failed to meet the moment 3. _His 'N' Hers_ - the _"Modern Life Is Rubbish"_ model precursor to the _"Parklife"_ perfection of _Different Class;_ undercooked, messy, but top singles found within 2. _This Is Hardcore_ - dark, weird, kinda lazy; top singles but the sound of Britpop burnout, overall - the scene's funeral parade album 1. _Different Class_ - perfection 💎

[@AlexanderLaurence]

Russell Senior sang some songs on the early albums.

[@UlyssesJonah]

I like the mandolin on Boats and Trains and its short enough

[@basehead617]

Please do Belle & Sebastian Listography - enough to make a chunky episode but not so many that it's a slog, plus it's almost all good.

[@davewalker5706]

it may take you a whole day but you guys should rate `the Fall's LPs, all 32 of them!

[@robertsteinberger5667]

I always appreciate when people are chosing not to go for the bands that will get them most viewers. (unlike finn mckentie)

[@TimeToGetAlone]

Different Class in particular is such a joy to listen to. 1. Different Class - ★★★★½ (9.5) - Excellent all around, with a number of classics spaced throughout. A potential AOTY candidate. 2. His 'n' Hers - ★★★★ (8.5) - Getting close to Different Class. Highlights among their best. 3. This Is Hardcore - ★★★★ (8.0) - Fires on all cylinders to start. A tad bloated though. 4. We Love Life - ★★★½ (7.0) - More trip hoppy. Decent end, but not up to the previous three. 5. Separations - ★★★ (6.5) - At their most danciest at times. Gradually getting more like the Pulp I love, but not there yet. 6. It - ★★★ (6.5) - A tidy short debut that is kind of its own thing. 7. Freaks - ★★½ (5.5) - Founds this one quite hit-and-miss. There are some odd tracks here. Probably would prefer grabbing select cuts than as a full listen.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Looks good . . but gotta say my experience is mostly linited to the top 3 there . . Overall I was not as impressed w This Is Hardcore as many here are . .

[@TimeToGetAlone]

@@NaughtyVampireGod First few tracks to me felt like it picked up where things left off on Different Class, but that feeling doesn't really sustain.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@TimeToGetAlone yep . . .

[@gavinsmith9016]

As Kramzer says Different Class is well a different class and #1 for me by a mile (5*). 2: This is Hardcore 3: His n Hers 4: We Love Life 5: Separations ..... I don't have the rest.

[@conorfurlong]

You don’t like “Wickerman”? Christ, I think it’s an extraordinary track. So gorgeous, and achingly sad.

[@lastofthemouchers8873]

They never went to sheffield

[@britpop95]

Thank you for standing up for wickerman. It's a stunning song.

[@conorfurlong]

@@britpop95 it really is

[@markcorbett7402]

Motto of the Pulp story: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again……and again….. bit more……….keep going……..there you go!

[@roxannewalsh]

There are quite a number of artists where the phase when they struggled for success created better results than their "popular" phase, especially if success is neatly tied to some mainstream loss of identity. Even Phil Collins or Sting made some good music while they were still "hungry".

[@davidellis5141]

@@roxannewalsh Took The Church a decade to have their one & only hit single & album. Some of my favorites never Sniffed the charts - The Comsat Angels , The Chameleons , The Sound ..

[@andrewdyke5561]

deerhunter is a great band you guys should check out. and of course I suggest phish

[@stephenjennings6444]

1. Different Class 2. His N Hers 3. This Is Hardcore 4. Intro 5. Separations 6. We Love Life 7. Freaks 8. It

[@trashandcheese3636]

Re:my other comment - did these guys ever get around to hearing "Tunnel"? A bit of universally-understandable dread, given the "Sister Ray" + "Zyklon B Zombie" treatment - and thus guaranteed to cut a deep impression. Or "Aborigine" - how to turn almost-absurd monotony into something genuinely unnerving,

[@simonstaniforth8936]

Pulp really weren’t Britpop. They’d been around for years before that. I was in Sheffield as a student in the 80s and Pulp had a high profile locally. Saw them live and personally thought they were crap! I was amazed when His n Hers came out and it was brilliant, and then they got even better! I have a very soft spot for We Love Life but Different Class is when all the planets truly aligned. There was always a lot of focus on Jarvis and his lyrics so they were often underrated musically. I love when they let their hair down on Sunrise from We Love Life. Their last 4 albums are excellent. Everything before that much less so.

[@janoburns]

Do The Fall, ill be impressed!!

[@trashandcheese3636]

To be fair...few people have that much spare time!

[@trashandcheese3636]

I'm one of those other people (refer to my playlists!) who will maintain to the last that the "real" Pulp, the Pulp that endures, that matters, is the 1984-87 version of the group. My top three albums - Masters Of The Universe (is it a legitimate album? in my mind, you bet it is!) / Freaks / the imaginary "other" album (Maureen, Take You Back, Silence, Day That Never Happened etc etc).

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I’ll pray for you. - Joe

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

Disgraceful

[@DamnableReverend]

I like your personalities but sometimes I like beign educated as well. I honestly n ever even listened to Pulp, besides the song "Common people", which used to get played ont he radio a lot here in southern Ontarion in the mid/late 90s, and which you'd occasionally hear at clubs and such. But I always thought it was cool and in the back of my mind thought I'd like to check out the band that did that thing. Just never did. Too occupied with other music to really get into most "britpop" at the time, i guess. now though, I will. BTW, if anyone wants to have a great (and genuine) laugh/good time, check out William Shatner's cover of "Common People".

[@ndesdsadfd]

Worst to best.... 7. Freaks - 2 stars 6. It - 2 stars 5. Separations - 3 stars 4. His n' Hers - 4 stars 3. We Love Life - 4,5 stars 2. Different Class - 4,5 stars 1. This Is Hardcore - almost 5 stars

[@UlyssesJonah]

We Love Joe

[@thecroft6070]

TBH, don't know their first 3 albums well enough to rank them, so... 4. His 'N' Hers 3. We Love Life 2. This is Hardcore 1. Different Class (Transported back in the '90s when I play this... ahh!)

[@chrisf7189]

I suggest a Kasabian week, and a Morrissey solo albums week.

[@pete3105]

Discovered them when I saw Trainspotting some 10 years ago and have liked them since. 7. Freaks (1987) ★★½ 6. It (1983) ★★★ 5. Separations (1992) ★★★ 4. We Love Life (2001) ★★★★ 3. His 'n' Hers (1994) ★★★★½ 2. This Is Hardcore (1998) ★★★★½ 1. Different Class (1995) ★★★★★ ★★★★★ - Masterpiece ★★★★½ - Really great ★★★★ - Great ★★★½ - Really good ★★★ - Good ★★½ - OK ★★ - Bad ★½ - Really bad ★ - Awful ½ - The worst

[@hewkerrison5110]

Queens of the stone age!!!

[@slimeninja1]

You guys missed all the Demos in His N Hers which i consider some of the best music in that album

[@UlyssesJonah]

Not an accurate one as most done in 24 hours, 2 and 3 are interchangeable , love Pulp might be my favourite Britpop band now, Jarvis rules: 1. Different Class 5 2. His N Hers 4.5 3. This is Hardcore 4.5 4. Separations 4 5. We Love Life 4 6. It 3.5 7. Freaks 3.5

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Hi. I believe Suede is my favorite Britpop band. Good list, btw.

[@UlyssesJonah]

@@NaughtyVampireGod Love Suede but haven't heard enough, will do a deep dive sometime soon

[@UlyssesJonah]

@@NaughtyVampireGod Thanks :D

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@UlyssesJonah Hopefully TLM will feature a Suede discography in the near future . . They didn't do great on a patreon poll, but then again it is sometimes difficult to tell due to constant vote shifting. Suede had a comeback which was sustained and sucessful. Can't go wrong w the first three albums.

[@vambo13257]

Babies is a great song

[@frodofraggins]

Hmm well I have Siouxsie and the Banshees ready but not Pulp. :(

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

hey - i actually needed the extra time for siouxsie but very sorry about the circumstances - hope ryan gets well soon 🤓

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Siouxsie was pushed back due to Kram being sick when we were suppose to record it. We posted about it on the community tab. Sorry if you missed the memo.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@TastesLikeMusic yeah . . an important reminder to check the community page every so often

[@frodofraggins]

@@TastesLikeMusic no problem. I have a feeling Pulp isn't really my thing.

[@frodofraggins]

@@TastesLikeMusic Is that on your discord? I haven't seen the discord advertised is it for patreon peeps only? I'm curious about when you'll return to the songs of the year lists as well.

[@SpaceCattttt]

Different Class is their best. Followed by This is Hardcore. You know I'm right, Joe...

[@TastesLikeMusic]

I mean… that’s what I have. So yes! - Joe

[@senorfunball]

If This is Hardcore is not a 5 star album then nothing is 🤠

[@TastesLikeMusic]

What about their better record Different Class?

[@senorfunball]

@@TastesLikeMusic really like Different Class but musically and lyrically Hardcore is a step ahead, maybe because I'm a former nightcrawling party boy turned boring old fart, the fear, cynicism and weariness really hit home. The title track is epic, cinematic (though I always believed it to be about whacking off), the paranoia of the Fear, the resignation of Dishes, the poignant beauty of a Little Soul (the guitar break gets me every time) . I even listen to We Love Life more, though would rank it third, don't worry, you'll be an old fart too one day ! This is one band that I really wish kept on going 👍

[@siltom1962]

I never delved into a band like Pulp. Should I?

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Clearly yes. - Joe

[@siltom1962]

@@TastesLikeMusic I'm sure some of it is worthy, all that 90s Brit-pop just never appealed particularly.

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

​​​@@siltom1962 Just listen to Different Class, then you might like this is Hardcore, his n hers and we love life. Supergrass: In it for the money and I should coco. Blur 13 and parkflife. Radiohead bends and ok computer.

[@AlexanderLaurence]

Early Pulp was more like Leonard Cohen/Scott Walker, not Joy Division.

[@trashandcheese3636]

Real early Pulp - like Refuse To Be Blind/Crabs That Killed Sheffield - doesn't fit that description.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

Joe, we gotta get you off the 1998 hate. Sure, it's nowhere near one of the greatest years for music, but it's actually pretty good compared to 2008 or 2018. You guys just covered 2008 in your "...of the year" series and I was once again struck by how weak '08 was, especially for albums. (For songs it was a little better but there's still nothing that notable.)

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Hi Whammy - I will also stand by 1998 . . but after that the five year period from 1999 to 2003 was a relative low point. I don't think 08 was a bad year at all - a SLIGHT step down from 07 which was the best year since the mid 90's. It should be noted, however, that I do not follow the charts. Probably a different story if you go by the charts. I just cannot do that to myself. 🤮

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

@@NaughtyVampireGod Just an honest disagreement over '08, then. I found 2008 to be a huge disappointment when I participated in the Album of the Year series. I remember Shannon Talks Music happened to agree with me (back when she was still on KZbin.) Just last Friday I listened through everybody's top 10 songs lists for '08 and, I'm not saying I hate the year, but I haven't heard anything from '08 that I would put up against the best music out there.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Yep . . honest disagreement . . And ultimately subjective. I found a lot of the music i personally like in 08 . . therefore a "good" year. From a critic's perspective it may be an entirely different situation. idk. I contrast this to 2003 where I found a lot less of what I liked. So for me 03 was relatively disappointing. By that measure 03 was the weakest year since 1963 - when I started w this series. Do you have a "greatest year ever" for music? My answer tends to be 1967.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

@@NaughtyVampireGod I tend to land on '67, too. Although I think an argument can be made for pretty much any year between '67 and '73 (especially 1970). To me, the most recent years that can even begin to compete with that '67-'73 Golden Age are the years 1991 and 1994.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Hey Whammy - What makes 67 even more impressive is when you consider how many fanatastic bands released TWO studio albums that year - Doors, Stones. Hendrix, Beatles (there were others) - Amazing year! 😀 I sometimes see comments that 1971 was the greatest year ever 🤔 - honestly I think that is when things started to wane a bit - I'd set the First Golden Age at 64/65 to about 73 (glam/bubblegum arrived just in time to keep things going - bowie, too, of course) Second Golden Age kicked in on 76/77 and keep going to the late 90's . . . I agree that early 90's were peak years - but also love the late 80's - two of my favorite albums of all time were in 89: Pixies Doolittle & JAMC Automatic

[@RostyslavLogachov]

7. Separations (1992) 2/5 6. We Love Life (2001) 2.5/5 5. His 'N' Hers (1994) 2.5/5 4. This Is Hardcore (1998) 2.5/5 3. It (1983) 3/5 2. Different Class (1995) 3/5 1. Freaks (1987) 3/5

[@TastesLikeMusic]

Unacceptable. - Joe

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

not a fan, eh? 🙃

[@RostyslavLogachov]

@@TastesLikeMusic I like 3-5 songs per album the rest feels to me bland. First 2 albums shorter, so I like them a bit more. Their 'classic period' albums too slick and too long for me. Don't like at all 'talk-singing' style. At least we agree in Freaks star rating, ironically it's finished at their finest work in my book.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

I finally finished listening to Pulp's albums and I'm not far from where you are, @@RostyslavLogachov . My main disagreements w/you are that you underrated Different Class and overrated Freaks. I think Different Class flirts with 4 stars and Freaks is no better than a 2 star album. Other than that, I can't find fault with your ratings or your analysis. I found the vast majority of their catalog to either be unremarkable or just plain boring.

[@RostyslavLogachov]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 I can see Different class at light 3,5 stars, definitely not at 4. Still prefer as start to finish listening Freaks, maybe because it's so different and obviously shorter, even though my favorite song from Different Class.

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

Boys . . Would side 3 this week have anything to do w "spoken word" in songs . . ?

[@ryankramzer1256]

That's a good one, we came up with something slightly better. But that's a future one

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@ryankramzer1256 Thank you, Sir . . . Hope you are feeling better.

[@179rich]

I was just thinking the same thing!

[@NaughtyVampireGod]

@@179rich 🙂

[@frangarcia7774]

Tom Waits and Nick Cave would have a top spot in that spoken word show

[@carlydelreyjepsen927]

When’s the Lana del Rey coming?

[@viscountpalmerston]

Jason's most contrarian (and incorrect) no1 pick...

[@TastesLikeMusic]

This is far from my most controversial take.

[@viscountpalmerston]

@@TastesLikeMusic Ahh yes...I just remembered your Nirvana ranking!

[@thetragicyouth]

Guess I must be the only Pulp fan who hates This Is Hardcore...? We Love Life is a far, far better album.

[@TastesLikeMusic]

How would you hate it if you’re a pulp fan. At worst you should mildly dislike it. - Joe