So as not to be left out, and because TIH (Deluxe) is probably my favourite album ever, here is my - sort of - tracklisting. I've gone for as much sleaze as possible with a touch of moody reflection.

It's more 'all the right songs but necessarily in the right order' as I'm not too fussy over track order as long as these songs are there:

The Fear

Help The Aged (I know it's not the most popular, but just for Jarvis finally realising that you "Can't run away from yourself")

Party Hard (not one of my favourites, but I think it's definitely an integral part of the album)

This Is Hardcore (original)

I'm A Man

TV Movie (I don't care, I LOVE this song)

Seductive Barry

Cocaine Socialism (better than Glory Days in my opinion)

Dishes

It's A Dirty World

The Professional

A Little Soul

The Day After The Revolution (without the ridiculous last note)

This Is Hardcore (End Of The Line)

I know that's a few too many but I don't care, frankly.

-- Edited by Jarvgirl on Monday 5th of August 2013 05:37:56 PM

To me most of This Is Hardcore still has the influence of Russell and I'd guess some of the songs came from previous ideas when he was still in the band. But the absence really shows in We Love Life, they are like a different band. The only song that sounds like Pulp on there is Wickerman.

-- Edited by shotoki on Monday 5th of August 2013 08:47:46 PM

Possibly so. But, as much as I love him, instead of complaining about the likes of Something Changed and Help The Aged not being fit to follow Common People, I wonder was he offering (m)any alternative ideas of his own?

My opinion is that Pulp's material in 1997 was just as strong and arguably more varied than other periods. They just weren't able to make a cohesive document in album form. With the more sombre and serious mood at the time and Mark's growing role - and his higher level of musicianship than Russell, they also became more professional sounding which I know is anathema or at the very least somewhat on the boring side to a lot of fans, primarily those who love the unique stylings of Intro and HnH the most.
But the best bands do change and grow so despite the misfires on TIH, and indeed We Love Life, I think the band should still be rightly proud of both albums.

And just to throw my A-Level Music knowledge in there, all the arrangements on the album are stunning they just don't really go with Pulp and it sounds tacky. I think they really missed Russell on this album.

TIH isn't my favourite Pulp album but still think it's pretty damned good, particulary with the deluxe edition thrown into the mix. I'd choose yet another running order again (then prob change my mind as soon as I'd decided, god knows what it must have been like being in the band making those decisions). I guess I always felt a few of the songs on Hardcore were good but could have been much better - eg, Dishes, Sylvia, pretty much as others have said on this thread. Gut instinct would be similar to what Shotoki said but replacing Tomorrow Never Lies with Glory Days. (But then again...) I've often wondered which songs they meant when they talked about "songs that could have been hits, but we left them off the album", or words to that effect.

I think with many albums, there'll always be one or two songs that get skipped over due to individual taste - and sometimes that changes over time, maybe due to changing as you get older, or just hearing something so much you get sick of it. But then again, the flip side is sometimes coming to really enjoy a song you never really paid as much attention to before - feels like you're discovering a band all over again.

There's a good strong set of songs, though, and I suppose if the fans find it tough to agree on the most effective running order, then it must have been even harder in a way for them, as we're all removed from the situation, weren't personally involved in the songs and have probably had years to think about it.

Guess we'll never know re: Russell. Although there was a clear shift in style on Hardcore, he'd been in the band as it evolved in the past and perhaps if it had worked out it he could have evolved with them again, but the outcome would have been different with his input so who knows? And though I'd say personally, my favourite period spans Separations through to DC, Intro/HnH in particular, I'm not sure I'd like to rewrite history - and not just because two of my favourite Pulp songs, Sunrise and Wickerman, came later on. And I agree with Eamonn, the best bands do change and grow - the two later albums were important pieces of work in their own right.

saw119 wrote:

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I rate WLL as a better album than TiH.

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Yeah, me too. I can see why people would raise it as another problematic album, but it's certainly a lot more cohesive than TIH.

It took me a long while to get into We Love Life, but it was definitely worth it. I can't quite put my finger on why it took so long for me to warm up to it. I listen to it now and I don't think there's a bad song on the album. The only one I'm not too keen on is "Roadkill", but I rate "Weeds", "The Birds in Your Garden" and "I Love Life" as some of my absolute favourite Pulp tracks. And I think I get what triciathetree means about it being their most beautiful album. It's not quite a full turn around from the bleakness of This is Hardcore, but it's pretty close, I reckon.

I think It has a lovely naive beauty to it, where WLL Is all grown up and sophisticated and beautiful. Know what I mean?

'Bob Lind' has just got something about it... it's one of the ones I tend to really sing my heart out to, like the end of 'Bad Cover Version'.

-- Edited by Beetlebum on Wednesday 7th of August 2013 10:24:17 AM

Jarvgirl wrote:

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I think It has a lovely naive beauty to it, where WLL Is all grown up and sophisticated and beautiful. Know what I mean?

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 Yeah i agree with you about It, and WLL certainly has its moments but is also very cynical and ugly in places