a music magazine, perhaps the last remaining critical medium where people are supposed to express honest opinions
That's rich. None of his criticisms of Cocker (apart from going on Star In Their Eyes) could not also be pointed at attention-seeking sensationalist music journalists.
What's also odd is that Stylus magazine praised Jarvis' recent solo album. The piece is clearly a character assasination written by a very, very nasty f**kwit.
If it were a character assassination stemming from highly held principles, or even personal grudge, it might be understandable, but the chances are it's a grubby piece of journalist sensationalism. It's very easy to be critical in this manner, but the author of the article is risking nothing. Reminds me of Waiting For Godot: when Estragon and Vladimir are arguing they exchange escalating insults until one of them says "Critic!" and the other, speechless, has lost.
I think he makes some fair points. The Observer peice was a bit self-serving, and his recent guest appearances with The Gossip and CSS came across as an attempt to be relevant "with the kids"... Like when Madonna did that single with Britney Spears.
Not that I don't love all the attention he's been getting.
I was just leafing through the DVD section at Best Buy when I noticed Jarvis provides audio commentary to Glastonbury: The Movie. That is officially "too much exposure".
Well everyone is entitled to an opinion I suppose.
So here's mine!
This article is made up half truths and unhelpful criticisms which don't really stand up.
Even if you really hated Jarvis' music and despised Pulp. He surely couldn't irritate you THAT much! If I stumble across and article on someone I find a little annoying (such as said Preston) I don't read it. I would just think "tosser" and turn the page!
Jarvis is entitled to his opinions too, as is Mr Passantino, as am I. You aren't forced to take any of them on board.
I read a few other articles by Mr Passantino and I can say Jarvis is not alone in his scathings! Maybe he is setting out to be controversial. 'The Simon Cowel of Music Journalism'. Or maybe, I clearly don't know anything about the man and have formed a misjudged, hasty opinion of his musings.... ring any bells?
"Cockers debut solo album, modestly entitled Jarvis only managed to get to #37, three places ahead of All Saints Studio 1, a positioning so poor as to get them dropped from their label. And they didnt even have the benefit of an extensive billboard and TV advertising campaign that Cocker did. "
What a load of nonsense, Jarvis the album was hardly advertised at all!
Yes, it's a good album is 'Jarvis' , I don't think it matters where it gets to in the charts.....mind you 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time' sounds suspiciously like Dion's 'Only You Know', anyone else picked up on that? That's my only criticism, if indeed it is one.