Title: Different class
Artiste: Pulp
Year: 1995
Chronological position: Fifth album
Previous experience of this artiste?: Just the singles, both of which are on here
Why is this considered a classic? Coming at the height of the Britpop movement, it propelled Pulp to superstar status and also gave them their two biggest hit singles. It made a household name out of Jarvis Cocker too.
My thoughts
One minute (or thereabouts in) ---- Good, great, bad, meh, still waiting or other? Great
One track in --- Great
Halfway through --- Great
Finished --- Great
Comments: I had originally been going to go for
This is hardcore but was convinced by those who know better to change it to this. I see why now, as it is regarded as one of their best and most successful albums, the one that broke them commercially. I pretty much love it from the start, both the first two tracks are great: the first has a lot of anger and pent-up energy in it, while the second is quite sly and cheeky. I of course then know “Common people”, love that song. Next track is fu
cking brilliant, and then of course I know “Disco 2000”. No complaints so far!
I hear a lot of Bowie in “Live bed show”, probably the first slow song, though I wouldn’t quite call it a ballad, and “Something changed” has a very Divine Comedy vibe about it, another slow song with some lovely strings-like keys (unless it’s an actual orchestra. It could be an actual orchestra) and then I love the acoustic guitar and keys in “Sorted for Es and wizz” (huh?), kinda folky in a way. And it just gets better. The next track has a sort of spacey, psychedelic feel, with a note of menace and brooding about it, then explodes into a big orchestral punch, which really takes you by surprise.
I’m not sure what “Underwear” is about --- at first I thought it was a child abuse thing, daddy creeping into daughter’s bedroom --- but now I’m not so sure. It’s a great song though, very guitar driven and with the same hooky melodies that abound throughout this album. “Monday morning” pulls in a bit of Madness, and puts into words the feelings we all have on that crappiest of mornings. Staccato guitar really helps here, and if closer “Bar Italia” is also great then this is a truly exceptional album. Yep, it is. Superb.
Favourite track(s): Everything
Least favourite track(s): Nothing
Final impression --- What a wonderful slice of 90s Britpop. I thought after hearing the two singles that I might like Pulp, but I didn’t realise how much. This is stupendous!
Do I feel, at the end, A) I wish I had listened to this sooner
B) I'm sorry I bothered
C) I might end up liking this
D) Have to wait and see
E) Bit underwhelmed; was ok but a classic?
F) Definitely enjoyed it, but again would I consider it a classic?
G) Enjoyed this album just purely on its own merits
H) Glad I listened to it
Oh, an absolute A and another, only our second
