With all this talk about the reissues going on, ok its a fantastic thing that is going on........possible remastering of 3 albums, unreleased demos, outtakes........ fantastic !!
Tho call me picky, but I think Island has been a little bit lazy with the selection of the tracks..... all the bsides ARE already available, and some of the tracks which are "previously unreleased" have actually been released.......(your a nightmare - peel session, this was the actual version on the Lipgloss single, whysky in the jar - was released on the childline album.
I know that it might sound quite silly what I have put, but im a little bit dissapointed with the track selection. IF the albums are remastered, then granted - these are going to be a bargain. IF they and NOT, i think they are not as good value as everyone thinks.
Sorry to sound like a killjoy, but when you think about what could have been done with these releases, the prospects are mouth watering.......
Instead of seeing the b sides released, what could have been done was releasing instrumentals....not just vocal less tracks, but the orchestral pieces which were used on tracks....... eg I Spy, This Is Hardcore (ok we have the End of the Line mix, but thats not the full thing), Something Changed etc....so we can experience the full arrangement of the strings and synths etc... Ok they didnt reissue WLL , but imagine hearing the breakdown of Bad Cover Version with candy's keyboarding experties in that track.....mmmmmmmmmm!!!!!
Do you lot see my point, or am i just talking bollocks? Am still going to buy the rereleases, but i think they could have been a little better
I think we're doing pretty well with what we're getting - how many other artists put out 'orchestral pieces' of their tracks? Every song demoed but never previously released from 3 albums worth of sessions is being released. Could even the most positive Pulp fan have predicted that when we heard the albums were being re-issued?
As for the previously released stuff - The b-sides aren't really readily available are they? Unless you count downloading an mp3 off a file-sharing network. How many times do you see an old Pulp single in HMV?
I'm surprised you feel short-changed Scotty. I think we're doing quite well
Meh... there's always going to be some stuff out there that they could have included but didn't. Not everyone is going to bother tracking down old singles and B-sides, so I think that putting them on here is perfectly valid - some of those songs are as good as anything Pulp ever released, so surely it's a good thing to have them back on the shelves for people to hear should they want to.
I think the reissues are fine - they strike a good balance between semi-rare B-sides for casual fans who want to catch up, and real obscurities for geeks like us.
I think they are great... except that I'd rather pay $30 and just get the 3 bonus disks.
The killjoy in me is more concerned with the fact that 10 years of collecting rare Pulp songs will be wasted the day these CDs hit though. It's like there's almost nothing left to search for. And the new discoveries are a large part of what kept me interested in Pulp for so long. And what will I put on my mix CDs when I want to impress my friends?
When I heard news of reissues, I just expected 'bonus' discs of b-sides. But I did a little wee when I saw the tracklist.
I was just listening to Chevette's version of 'We Can Dance Again' this morning, so I'm looking forward to hearing a pulp versions that wasn't recorded in a cave of some sort.
on the canadian HMV site, there is mention that Jarvis picked the tracks for the 2nd cd, and that he wrote the new liner notes, plus there are bonus photos.
Very unlikely I would say. Apart from 'Best Of's' how many re-issues (as in original studio albums repackaged) actually chart? Even REM or U2 would struggle to get big sales out of re-releasing 'Automatic For The People' or 'The Joshua Tree'.
'Different Class' did actually spent a couple of weeks in the lower echelons of the albums chart last year (slightly higher than 'Hits' fared I think!) but that was pretty much down to the fact that HMV's spring/summer clear-out sale had a whole host of classic albums being flogged for under a fiver. These re-issues will cost close to three times that amount and are likely to be bought in the main by us die-hards. After all for anyone who vaguely remembers 'Mis-shapes', 'Common People' and 'Disco 2000', they will always go for the cheaper option of buying the original album or in these times of mp3s, probably just pick the tracks they want off i-tunes or limewire or wherever.
Polydor Records is releasing their own 2-disk deluxe edition reissues of classic CURE albums on August 7th, and those are expected to chart. At the moment, Amazon UK's sales tracking figures show two of the Cure albums are already in the Top 100. Not too bad for pre-release sales. The Cure probably has a more loyal following than Pulp, but I've learned never to underestimate Pulp's fan base. They're a diverse crowd.
It's still early for the Pulp reissues. We haven't seen any reviews in the legit press. Unless you actively search for Pulp news, chances are you still haven't heard about them. Regardless, Different Class has pushed its way into Amazon Uk's Top 500.
One of the reasons record companies both to release reissues is because they know us old people actually like buying cds. We don't quite trust this whole limewire/itunes stuff that all the kids are into these days.
Amazon, play.com etc. rarely have their 'Pre-Album' sales cluttered by whatever disposable rubbish McFly or Westlife are passing up. It tends to more alternative artists...basically artists that people care enough to pre-order their next lp - the teeny bob brigade get enough exposure to Britney et.al through tv and advertising before spending their pocket money on them. Acts like Pulp don't have that exposure.
I just think that enough people that have ever taken an interest in Pulp, have long since owned this album which leaves the music fan of diverse tastes who wants to check out a load of b-sides that he's heard good things about and us hardcore eagerly awaiting the 'rough around the edges' demos. Maybe if it was just 'Different Class' that was being re-released we'd see a decent amount of sales, but shelling out £45, or €70 or $85 in one fell-swoop for 6 discs hardly helps the prospects of a sudden surge in interest. Pulp's general high worth among critics and Jarvis' impending solo career could make this back-catalogue a steady seller over time. Not that it really matters - Pulp and commercial are two words that i wouldn't mind ever seeing again in the same sentence. Their songs are strong enough to leave their own legacy.
At least all 3 should sell more than 'Hits' I suppose!
Oh, and as for reviews, Pulp's is the main re-issued feature in the new edition of Q magazine. I'll give a synopsis of what was said on a new thread.
Plus, these aren't just re-issues, they've each got additional extra albums with them, full of soon to be un-rare collectables.
Mind you, if they'd have released the extras seperately, as a series of whole new Pulp-The Lost Collection albums, I do wonder if they'd chart at much better positions..?
Still, you've got us 20 or so buying them, so that's gotta be some kind of chart position, right?
I don't know if they'll chart, but I do think these reissues will get a lot of press over the next month or so.
Music journos have always had a soft spot for Pulp, and I think a new generation of critics are itching for a chance to express their feelings on these records. So, I'm looking forward to the reviews almost as much as the records themselves.
Old reviews tended to focus on Pulp's "kitch-value" and disposability, even when the critics were raving about the albums. I mean, back in the 90's, it seemed like any band with keyboards was automatically dismissed as "lightweight" or "retro". Whereas "serious" bands were supposed to stick to their distortion pedals.
I'm just curious to see if critics will finally say "hey, maybe this song Lipgloss ain't as shallow as we thought". And I hope the b-sides and demos will help put the album tracks into perspective.
The review is a decent-length overview, the only reason I bought the magazine, especially after seeing this month's theme is ''Guilty Pleasures - Records It's OK To Love'' complete with a free cd compilation of soft-rock...God save us...
Anyway, the review. I'm not going to type the whole thing out as I've not got time, someone will probably scan it in a day or two anyway, but the things of note were...
The first thing that I saw was the 'star-ratings' - and what leapt straight at me off the page? You're not gonna like this... a measly two stars for His'n'Hers! The justification? I quote...''With the plasticity of their post-Roxy Music pop made even more brittle by trebly, echoing production, the power of its lyrical themes -class and power played out through the mating game - was never matched by its wholly undramatic music.'' Before you get prepared to lynch Mr Garry Mulholland, at least he leaves the caveat ''Nevertheless, Babies and Joyriders remain strong statements of lyrical intent''. Safe to say that the 'Bullerization'' of His'n'Hers wasn't sorted out in the re-mastering then...Shame.
Mainly I was looking for hints over the unheard stuff but mention is merely made of ''these remastered reissues of the three key Pulp albums - expanded with plenty of excellent b-sides, BBC sessions, demos, remixes...are timely''.
Ultimately it's a positive review though the main plaudits being Mr ****ers lyrics rather than the band's music. His key analysis being that many of today's popular bands owing a great depth to ''****er's blueprint for those outsiders cast adrift...'' and the proclamation that ''These three albums could easily have been made in 2006''.
His final comment once again discredits the music the group wrote in favour of Jarvis lyrical skills - ''Although Pulp's music struggled to keep up with JC's gift for words, these three albums sound more relevant now than they did in the blithely optimistic 90s''.
So in short then, a more than worthy re-appraisal of Pulp's years in the limelight with a disparaging attitude towards some of the music itself.
In my opinion Pulp would never have entertained the idea of a guitar maestro a la Squire, Butler, Coxon running the show. Instead they always placed the power of idea and imagination over perceived musical dexterity, which is a huge reason what them so special.
Both DC and TIH are given the four star treatment by the way - with the 'key tracks' to download apparently being Babies, Common People, Sorted, Help The Aged, This Is Hardcore & Cocaine Socialism. And interestingly, in the 'If you like Pulp, try these', we have Roxy Music's self-titled lp, 'Kimono My Horse' by Sparks, Ultravox by Ultravox , Bowie's 'Scary Monsters' and 'Employment' by The Kaiser Chiefs -a nice list until that last one! I could have nearly typed out the whole review in the time i've written all this, though it is fairly lengthy, and worth a full read.
Thanks for that. I'm really surprised the reviews gloss over the bonus disks. Could it be the preview copies didn't include the extras to keep them from leaking?
Hmmm... 2 stars for His & Hers? Ok. I'd point out that Q has never had much time for Pulp, but whatever.
Eamonn, I think you are spot on about your guitar meastro comments. I hate guitar wanks and I've never been able to enjoy bands that put technique before ideas. I with those guys would just **** off and go listen to Rush in their garage or something.
Am I the only person in the world that loves what Ed Buller did?
I'm with you there, I think the production on His 'n' Hers is fine.
Reviews are also out in Mojo (just for This Is Hardcore, oddly) and Uncut (nice full page review of all 3, including a few lines from the lyrics to Catcliffe Shakedown and Don't Lose it, plus an interview with Jarvis). Sweet.
It sounds too echoey in places and this makes it shows it's age. Whatever about the lyrics and music,I can't imagine that production being used by a major act in 2006. In fact, Ed Buller seemed to disappear after producing Suede's Coming Up (which makes HnH's sound Eno produced). Does he still produce records?
Yeah I had a quick glance through Uncut and Mojo during my lunch-hour. Uncut give top marks (5 stars) to HnH and DC, didn't get time to read the article or interview, will probably buy it after work. 'Deep Fried In Kelvin' is also on their free cd! (Did it also appear on 'The Full Monty' soundtrack?). Uncut gave We Love Life five stars as well on release, so I was expecting good reviews of the re-issues.
Interestingly, Mojo mentioned that 'You Are The One' and 'Street Operator' are more in keeping with the sound of Different Class.
There's an interesting recentish interview with Ed Buller here:
http://www.recordproduction.com/ed-buller.html
I agree His 'n' Hers has an idiosyncratic sound to say the least, but you have to remember at the time that Pulp probably weren't an easy band to record. Not technically great musicians, fond of battered old guitars and creaky analogue synths, yet keen to make chart-compatible pop records without compromising any of their quirkiness. I get the impression that something like 'Street Lites' was Pulp's 'natural' sound at the time... how would you make something like that sound like a viable pop act without turning it into something totally different? I think Buller just about captured it on the whole.
I prefer the production on Intro and His n' Hers to the other stuff. I found Chris Thomas's production a little too conventional - dispite his punk credantials. DYRTFT is a good example of Ed Buller's work, with lots of nice little noises in the background. I think he reigned himself in a lot more with Pulp than with Suede, who he really lost it with after the first album. Coming Up was awful,