When we last left Mr. Cocker, he was kicking our ass last July at his Music Hall of B-Burg show. In that time frame, he was working on his second album with producer Steve Albini (Pixie's Surfer Rosa) at the helm.
The result is Further Complications, which will be release on Rough Trade/Beggar's Banquet on May 19. I got the advance, and you should expect some very different rock sounds from the former Pulp frontman.
Here's a track by track breakdown.
1. Further Complications: On the whole, the album is a more ballsy rock album. His Jarvis album was smooth, sexy and had lot of instrumentation. In the title track, it sets up that his voice has more force and the music more stripped down to basic drums, guitar and bass.
2. Angela: He played this song at the Music Hall show. It's a rough quickie with a glammy, T-Rex guitar part. This is a good representation of what I think the album sounds like.
3. Pilchard: More driving, wacky guitars with a pounding pace. Jarvis doesn't necessarily sing on this one, just moans and breathes quickly to match the quick tempo.
4. Leftovers: Time to slow things down with the six-minute song, that's more akin to the first album and some of his Pulp work. His vocals are more along his normal style -- smooth and seductive. "I still want to love you while we still have the flesh on our bones" is one of the choice lines on this great song. I love six-minute songs. 5. I Never Said I Was Deep: I wonder if the title of this song is a statement about Jarvis himself. He has a female soul choir backing him up on this one. This is his take on the Rolling Stones style from the late 60/early 70s. This soul song builds up to a big finish. It's interesting that he's tackling this style of song.
6. Homewrecker!: Back to rock, you even find a deep baritone sax on this classic 50s rock track. It's a dirty sounding tune with the various horns blowing over each other.
7. Hold Still: Another simple seductive track with Jarvis putting the moves on his lady.
8. Fuckingsong: He also road tested this song last year. The guitars are back in full force. Even a year later, I still remember him strutting around on stage and going through his various poses. You even get a little "WOO!" thrown in the song. The guy is a British sex machine.
9. Caucasian Blues: Maybe a playful take on Cocksucking Blues? If anything, this album is definitely more guitar heavy than his last. While he was a master of 90s British Pop, this one kicks out the jams, and on this one, he screams his way through it.
10. Slush: This one is slow plodding song, also clocking in at 6+ minutes. Even the title makes you feel like it's grinding to a halt. The first half takes it time, then eventually you hear the gospel choir and it becomes bombastic.
11. You're In My Eyes (Discosong): This ain't no a party, but this IS a disco, It's Jarvis getting freaky with the 8-minute closer. It's not a party anthem at any stretch of the imagination, but you do get the sense that this is his Bee Gees song. You hear that wackacha-wackacha guitars and the disco drums through the whole thing.
In all, it's not a consistent album, but you get the feeling he's trying on different hats. Angela is the one people will take to because it's a catchy track. There's not a track that sounds like the brilliant "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time", but then again, there shouldn't be. I do know that the Further Complications should be great to hear live.
