Pulp '82! I'd love to see Brett's face if that was put to him!

It's gone straight in at number two, their highest album position since 1999 which is pretty impressive in a way. It took less than 20k sales to do that (with streaming even included, I believe) but given that it's their 4th album since reuniting in 2010, there's clearly no sign in slowing-down creatively.

I was crazy about them for a few years when I was at university and their early albums and bits and bobs after that will always be special to me but there's something about Brett's style (overwrought, insecure, lacking humour) that also comes through in his memoirs that turns me off a little, now. Also, their music style hasn't changed that much and the guitar sound sometimes feels samey/generic. Having said that, I know the new album has got great reviews everywhere so I'll check it out.

In some ways, I wish Pulp had put the hard yards in like Suede after reforming in 2012. I think we all would have settled for one new album in the past decade, let alone four! If Pulp had released 50 or so new songs in that time, I think we'd have got a an eclectic range of all sorts of material.

Suede have also been aggressive in their reissue policy, most of their 90s records have been deluxe'd/superdeluxe'd multiple times. They have an army of hardcore fans (actually called The Insatiable Ones) who to probably a large degree, keep the band ticking over, financially. They mobilised this week to buy/stream as many copies of the album as possible in order to get a good chart position.

In comparison to Pulp, whom I don't think have that number (1k-2k?) of obsessives but overall have a larger casual fanbase (Pulp's Spotify listeners per month is solidly over 2m, Suede's usually hovers jusr below the 1m mark) but yeah...it can be hard being a Pulp diehard when hibernation is the name of the game 90% of the time over the last 20 years.

Fair play to Suede though, great work ethic and still inspired to create. There's always at least a couple of really good songs on their new records and being without a major label, they have managed to make their middle-aged career work for them by consistent touring and creating new and rehashed-old product for their fans.

Eamonn wrote:

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Suede have also been aggressive in their reissue policy, most of their 90s records have been deluxe'd/superdeluxe'd multiple times. They have an army of hardcore fans (actually called The Insatiable Ones) who to probably a large degree, keep the band ticking over, financially. They mobilised this week to buy/stream as many copies of the album as possible in order to get a good chart position.

In comparison to Pulp, whom I don't think have that number (1k-2k?) of obsessives but overall have a larger casual fanbase (Pulp's Spotify listeners per month is solidly over 2m, Suede's usually hovers jusr below the 1m mark) but yeah...it can be hard being a Pulp diehard when hibernation is the name of the game 90% of the time over the last 20 years.

Fair play to Suede though, great work ethic and still inspired to create. There's always at least a couple of really good songs on their new records and being without a major label, they have managed to make their middle-aged career work for them by consistent touring and creating new and rehashed-old product for their fans.

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Have to confess, I have got suckered into the suede re-issues.  Two sets of LPs

I reckon Pulp have plenty of obsessives   Jarvis has had a more high profile/successful solo career than Brett Anderson.  Though I think Bernard Butler has done some great work post suede and rarely disappoints.  His latest album with Jessie Buckley is well worth a listen or ten.

It is a shame that Pulp didnt do similar in last 10 years.