I've been lurking for a good while but have never posted. But I've just found this fantastic interview on Pitchfork that I thought you might be interested in reading:
Some interesting points within the keeping-music-exciting natter that was a little boring after the first half dozen questions...
1. He's likely to play new songs on the US tour
2. A We Love Life Deluxe thingy will come down to whether Universal can be arsed. Jarvis is obviously proud of the stuff they wrote during that period that didn't make it past the demo stage
3. He realises that Dirty World is by far the best thing on the reissues and should have replaced Sylvia/I'm A Man/Seductive Barry on TIH
4. Mark Webber and Thom Yorke would get on famously
5. Fuss Free won't be happy, and I imagine Kate Jackson will be devastated, at what he says about T'Long Blondes
The Idiot wrote: Great interview, quotable as ever:
I picked up all the horrible, silvery snot, yes.
Every man, woman and mutant ought to be petition for new material, to let him know it's worthwhile.
I like this bit:
Sorry, I've been eating a lot of nuts during that.
Pitchfork: I was worried it had been 45 minutes of nothing but chocolate.
Jarvis Cocker: No, I've moved on to almonds. Have you been feeling sick through the whole interview then, thinking he's laid there...
Pitchfork: Right, you're on the couch with bon bons or a box of Milk Tray talking about your sluggish output.
Jarvis Cocker: No, I was eating nuts...I'll dispel that unpleasant image from your mind. Haha, i like how he gets sidetracked with blood sugar levels. I'm not sure how many people can still sound cool while talking about blood sugar.
Quote Eamonn: "5. Fuss Free won't be happy, and I imagine Kate Jackson will be devastated, at what he says about T'Long Blondes"
Quite the contrary, Eamonn. I found Jarv's comments on the Long Blondes very amusing. I thought it was ballsy of him to say it, and exactly the sort of thing that only Jarvis could do. I mean, here's this ragtag little band trying to make it in the big leagues, they're from the same hometown, they are huge admirers of Pulp. They're labelmates. They even hired Pulp's bassist to produce their record (even though Steve's credentials as a Producer are maybe not that impressive). And then Jarvis goes and cuts 'em down. Awesome! Only Jarvis!
I mean, the Long Blondes album ISN'T as good as the demos and the earlier self-produced singles. Ironically, I think that might be Steve's fault.
PostScript: Hmm... could Jarv's comments on TLBs be calculated? Maybe Rough Trade is trying to do some NME-style race-baiting. You know, pit two similar bands against each other in order to create some publicity? I'm sure NME will pick up on this interview and do a cover blurb: "JARVIS HATES THE LONG BLONDES! KATE JACKSON RESPONDS!" I mean, saying she has a voice like Barbara Streisand is kind of like a compliment disguised as condemnation.
(I just watched 'Funny Girl' on Turner Classic Movies yesterday. It was great.)
Considering that LMT apparantly cited their fellow-Sheffieldite as an influence, it's a bit out of order for Jarvis to be so dismissive of them not that he's likely to know that they were fans of his (not anymore it's safe to assume), but why go out of the way to make such a negative remark about a band still in their infancy?