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Rachel


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ArrGee wrote:
Rachel wrote:

Ive never liked Help the aged. Cant put my finger on why either, its my most likely 'skip' song.

IMHO the problem with Help The Aged was the subject matter and that it seemed to be somewhere between Different Class and Hardcore in a no man's land.  

Given it was released about six months ahead of Hardcore to a less than enthusiatic response I was surprised it appeared on the album.  It sounds like it was recorded long before the other tracks (though so was Common People/Underwear), and does jar a bit on the album.

A bit like Mis-shapes for me, maybe not the greatest Pulp moment, but it has many redeeming features.  Still can't believe it was a single.  

The Island executives must have hated Hardcore as an album, as there were no proper singles on it.  It's odd that from Babies to Something's Changed, Pulp released very commercial singles, even if they weren't all successful at the time, and then didn't have one after that.  You are more likely to hear Lip Gloss and DYRTFT? on the radio than Help The Aged, and they didn't even dent the top thirty in the UK.

 



-- Edited by ArrGee on Tuesday 5th of April 2011 09:28:05 AM

 Yes ill agree with that!! the first time i heard the song was at V96 and he's played it live at every single gig/festival ive attened sinse then, whats the chances lol?

 



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weener


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i remember the first time i heard help the aged - driving with my ex through vauxhall of all places.
i thought 'WHAT HAVE THEY DONE'

but after a few listens i loved loved loved it.

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ArrGee


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weener wrote:

i thought 'WHAT HAVE THEY DONE'

This is Hardcore (the single) was more like that for me.  It was the true lead single and it was very unexpected.  It has a real bollox to this lark feel about it.  

Many bands who get sick of the commercial nature of the single at least make some rudimentary effort to have a single that can be played on the radio to promote the album, whereas Pulp made a single that was near unplayable (overlong, no obvious hook, dodgy subject).  

That said, it is a great track on the album.  This is Hardcore as an album is greater than the sum of its parts. The only tracks that seem to work as individual tracks are Dishes and Glory Days.  

 



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Ian


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ArrGee wrote:

That said, it is a great track on the album.  This is Hardcore as an album is greater than the sum of its parts. The only tracks that seem to work as individual tracks are Dishes and Glory Days.  

 I agree about "Glory Days", I think that it should have been a single but I think that the slower songs ("Dishes" inparticular) sound better within the context of the album.

 



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ArrGee


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Ian wrote:
ArrGee wrote:

That said, it is a great track on the album.  This is Hardcore as an album is greater than the sum of its parts. The only tracks that seem to work as individual tracks are Dishes and Glory Days.  

 I agree about "Glory Days", I think that it should have been a single but I think that the slower songs ("Dishes" inparticular) sound better within the context of the album.

 

I don't think Dishes is a single, but it is a song I can listen to in a playlist without the rest of the album.    All the hardcore tracks just need to be together, even the B-sides.



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shotoki


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What about Im a Man? Would have been a perfect choice for a single, its one of the best from the album and is very poppy and catchy. Or even Sylvia



-- Edited by shotoki on Tuesday 5th of April 2011 04:47:31 PM

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Ian


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shotoki wrote:

What about Im a Man? Would have been a perfect choice for a single, its one of the best from the album and is very poppy and catchy. Or even Sylvia



-- Edited by shotoki on Tuesday 5th of April 2011 04:47:31 PM

 

 Did you actually hear "I'm A Man" at Finsbury Park?



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shotoki


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Ian wrote:
shotoki wrote:

What about Im a Man? Would have been a perfect choice for a single, its one of the best from the album and is very poppy and catchy. Or even Sylvia



-- Edited by shotoki on Tuesday 5th of April 2011 04:47:31 PM

 

 Did you actually hear "I'm A Man" at Finsbury Park?

 

 

No I didn't, was it bad?

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Rachel


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Sylvia is one of my favourite pulp songs.... - doesn't seem to be a common choice tho lol.

RE: im a man - hmmm... its ok...not so sure it being a single worthy tho.

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Sleeve


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I was at Finsbury Park and in spite of liking I'm a Man don't remember it as sounding particularly bad. I'm guessing tho' that Jarv got a bit strained vocally? My memories of that night are vague tho. I remember they played Laughing Boy at the end and I'm on the video! Full screenshot before TIH, I think. I was sitting on the ground with my head down- I was knackered after getting an overnight coach. I jumped when I got the video home!
Help The Aged just had the wrong sentiment for a single. When it came out we all thought 'well, it's ok'. Just very standard, solid and unchallenging, like much of the album. TIH, Seductive Barry, The Professional (should've been an album track)- that's were I think Pulp should have gone. I liked Slylvia- it just keeps coming back though.


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ArrGee


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Sleeve wrote:

 Just very standard, solid and unchallenging, like much of the album. 

I would never describe This Is Hardcore in those terms.  Given it followed up a bonafide smash hit album, it was as big a departure as you could expect.  It was the death knell of Pulp for many of those who bought Different Class and liked some of the earlier singles.  Only the true believers were there for We Love Life smile  

However you make a good point with Pulp moving more in the direction of The Professional and Seductive Barry.  I sometimes think that Pulp should have gone for it even more on Hardcore and made it even darker.

The individual songs isolated from the album are not strong, but together they do seem coherent to me.



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Ian


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shotoki wrote:
 Did you actually hear "I'm A Man" at Finsbury Park?

 No I didn't, was it bad?

 I certainly agree with Jarvis when he says he cut it from the video because it wasn't up to scratch. I can't really remember much but I remember thinking that at the time. Same goes for the other performances I have of that song on bootlegs. 



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andy


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In my opinion, This Is Hardcore dont have one bad song.

Sure, Help The Aged sounds a bit weird on it, but isnt it always the case when a song is released 5 months before the record ? I agree that's it's a bad choice for a comeback single, but then in 97, i can say i was crazy about it and played it to death. In the context of the record, it's a good filler, which shows the level of that record: timesless classic.

I tend to dislike David's last summer, i dont know why, it's just a boring song.

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Sleeve


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It's weird, I haven't listened to David's Last Summer since 1997. I can't bear it, it's so poignant and dramatic. The ending where Jarvis is singing 'I don't want to live in the cold' with the music reaching a crescendo really haunts me.

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shotoki


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Surprised a few people have mentioned David's Last Summer. Its one of my all time favourite songs by any band ever.

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Sleeve


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There is nothing like it. I've never heard a song with such a rich narrative entwined with an epic soundtrack. It's immense but I can't imagine listening to it again just because of how sad it makes me feel!



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Ian


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I must admit, I haven't listened to it myself for ages either.



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Bort


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I really wish they had released Cocaine Socialism instead of the forgettable Glory Days.



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PaulTMA


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'Cocaine Socialism' is just terrible. Can't believe anyone would prefer it over 'Glory Days', one of the highlights of TIH.

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Bort


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Glory Days is the always-skip track on This Is Hardcore.

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Pip


Cocaine Socialist

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Glory Days is a must-hear on This Is Hardcore - I'm A Man is the always-skip.

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Eamonn


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Agreed.
I think Glory Days has some of Jarvis' best lyrics...the dawning realisation that dole-life is as good as it gets as youthful aspirations drift further out of reach. For a song ''about nothing'' it says quite a lot. Cocaine Socialism was prescient in '97 but sounds old now and the bombastic arrangement is a bit of a turn-off for me too.

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Sleeve


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It's weird, but I haven't listened to This Is Hardcore since 1998. It would make me a bit depressed if I heard it again. I still like The Professional, the title track and the End of the Line Mix but that's it. I still rate Glory Days and the Day After... but the album feels like it belongs in the past whereas His 'N' Hers is always welcome. Yes sir.

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Muldfeld


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I can't stand "Something Changed" -- too mainstreamish. Very dull song.

Also, "Pink Glove" and "Party Hard"; just horrible melodies. I've never cared for "Lipgloss" either. Quite frankly, Jarvis' 2nd album is even worse, especially the unforgivably simple "Angela".

 

God, I'm so glad Pulp is back together and hope desperately for another album!



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Deborah


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TIH is my favourite Pulp album but my one skip track on it is Party Hard

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