Fackin' hell, another artist thread, is this still a Pulp forum? 

Ste wrote:

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Sounds good to me - they used to be one of my "big three" bands, so I'm really pleased to read your early summary. Sounds far closer to what I'd enjoy, rather than the direction Office Politics took!

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Ah come on, Office Politics was a bold move. I really love that record, it's rare for an artist to take such a big risk. It's a fantastic record, but i suppose most DC fans did not enjoy it  A bit like Regeneration back in the day. 

I have not listened to the new one yet. Today for sure, but i have been waiting for that for 6 years, so its gonna be the right moment 

Only one listen so far, it didn't seem melodic enough but don't worry I'll give it the 6 more required listens before being properly judgemental. I'm seeing him twice in the next month live so it better be good.

Eamonn wrote:

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Only one listen so far, it didn't seem melodic enough but don't worry I'll give it the 6 more required listens before being properly judgemental. I'm seeing him twice in the next month live so it better be good.

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It's a weird one i gotta admit too. Feels like Neil doing someone else's songs, a bit like Regeneration. Gotta wait for a few listens too.  I'm not worried since it took me time to like Bang Goes... and its not one of my fav record ever, by anyone. 

Just 10 songs and one instrumental seem a bit short though, that's why i think there's gonna be a bigger record soon. 

There was room on this record for the songs he rejected on his best of: Outside or When When When especially. 

Don't worry about the tour though, he'll play at most 5 new ones and the rest will be same old same old. 

3rd listen, and it's starting to click. I guess he did it again ! It sounds like a Bacharach / Walker record with an inspiration from the later Arctic Monkeys record, with some less obvious melodies, something that take a bit of time to get into. 

Mar a Lago by the sea is something else 

Neil has a habit of throwing away amazing songs (Absolute Power, Smiler...etc). From the best of there's a lot of material that could have fit on a double album here ! 

Rainy Sunday Afternoon - The Storm 

Achilles

The Last Time I Saw the Old Man

The Man Who Turned Into a Chair

I Want You

Rainy Sunday Afternoon

All the Pretty Lights

Down the Rabbit Hole

Mar-a-Lago by the Sea

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Cant Let Go

Rainy Sunday Afternoon - After The Storm

Ill Take What I Can Get

Dont Make Me Go Outside

The Adventurous Type

When When When

Home For The Holidays

Simple Pleasures

Those Pesky Kids 

Don't Mention the War 

Butterfly 

Invisible Thread

-- Edited by andy on Saturday 20th of September 2025 12:22:48 PM

Ian wrote:

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So this has entered the charts at number 4, their highest chart placing for an album. Strangely, I thought they had a number 1 at some point but must have been mistaken. Also, I just noticed that they have only ever had one top 10 single (National Express in 1999). Wow, I seem to remember "Something for the Weekend" being everywhere at the time but it only reached number 14.

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Imagine releasing a single in 96. You had to compete with Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Suede in UK only and countless other from the US... I suppose it's the kind of band people with enjoy on radio but not necessarily buy the album or go to the gigs. 

DC only had relative success but a strong following over the years, but not in the same league as Pulp, way more indie, niche. I'm glad it's selling well although i suspect nowadays the numbers are not that high to be at the top. 

It's a vastly underrated "band". Every record is genius, really. Great melodist, lyricist, producer and performer... He's like the perfect one man band. And the B sides are as good. The "anthology" he released in 2020 is full is equally perfect songs that never made it on albums.

I've always wondered how much money he made. He's always kinda saying he breaks even or just a little profit at every album cycle. 

Eamonn wrote:

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I saw the Divine Comedy in Brighton on Thursday night. The played a short (1hr set - no drummer) promotional gig for the album for the opening week (short gig and a physical album for £25 thingy). It was really good, they played half the new album or so along with a few classics. The new material sounded strong especially The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, Achilles and the title track.

Hannon is just a consistently strong craftsman of songs & he's rarely lazy or obtuse in his lyrics. One thing I did notice - and I remember he's done it before when I've seen him - is that Neil's in-between-song patter is so awkwardly-geeky. He clearly leans into it ("Ah, yes, a can of Moretti beer. How refreshing!" or "I'm just tuning my guitar now, doo de doo de doo...") and the crowd lap it up but if he does this all the time, all these years, does that mean he's never sincere (apart from saying thank you)?

Sure, like Jarv he's a bit of a nerd, but Jarv usually sounds naturally funny and cool when chatting between songs.

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I've seen countless times and he's clearly uncomfortable, not "not sincere". He's a perfectionist in the body of an awkward boy, so when there is no music, he get very nervous because he does not know what to say. Jarvis is a story teller with or without music. 2 different kind of people but i never felt Jarvis was uncomfortable onstage with no music on, quite the opposite. He likes when people listen to his spoken stories.

Neil doesn't have any, they are (most of) all imaginary and in his songs. Jarvis speaks about real life, DC talks about imaginary life, or a concept, but in a very virtual way. I doubt he goes out much of his then bedroom / now house. 

He just confessed in a interview i've seen of him that he hates doing press before each album, that it makes him very nervous. I guess it's the same for onstage banter. Imagine having to come up with different story every night for all those staring eyes. I know i wouldn't know what to say 

Neil also said he's got the imposter syndrom i dont remember in which interview, basically he doesn't know why people like him and his music. Like a happy accident.

Two trajectories really, He's "made it" right away in a matter of months when Jarvis waited 15 years to have success. I guess one is wondering what he's doing here, when the other knows he wanted to be there from the start. 

Also feels like he was way more "confident" before. Seems like he's struggling with having people around more and more as time goes by. But small anecdote, i once had dinner in the same restaurant as him and his band before his show, like 3 tables away and he was a normal guy really, although maybe the shiest of them all. Not that the other bands members are Keith richards, mind you. 

Totally, they are a great band. I mean, they played all the albums in a row few years back. It's crazy that's like 100 songs to learn to play live 

I'm so sad i couldnt attend 

They've been playing together for more than 20 years now, it's always a treat to go see them.