wouuuhouu

no, wait.

Eamonn wrote:

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no-one really cares anymore.

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That. Music the way we know it will be dead soon. kids only want ringtones and that's all music companies will give them in the near future.

Does J.C. even care?

The reviews that I've seen (a dozen or so...I like to spend my time productively) have described it as very good, outstanding or just good, roughly to a ratio of 3:2:1. Most artists would kill for those sort of ratings.

But all the press-fawning - and he has got more print-exposure than possibly even the Hardcore era, seems to have made not much impression on the readers of The Sunday Times or The Independent or Q (and several more). They might browse through these articles, he's good for a quote an'all, but that seems to be it. He's awkward, Pulp were awkward. If albums were sold on the strength of reviews Jarvis would have more number ones than he'd ever dared dream about in Intake in 1979. It's big labels with their air-play domination and marketing savvy, re-packaging the same shit in a slightly different way that dictates sales and it wins out most of the time.  

As a matter of interest did 'Jarvis' get much shelf-space in HMV et. al last week in the UK? Here there were (probably still are) 8 or so copies stuck under 'J' for 'Jarvis'. Is Rough Trade's distribution minor-league? I'd imagine so for an independent. Then again they'll only send out what the retail chains want.

Interestingly, Jarvis has made number one on the 'Independent Album Chart' this week. The Long Blondes are number two, and quite hillariously The Arctic Monkeys and Daniel O'Donnell are side by side at six and seven aswell. A chart for misshapes like this should really rule the world, not the cnuts.

Eamonn wrote:

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As a matter of interest did 'Jarvis' get much shelf-space in HMV et. al last week in the UK? Here there were (probably still are) 8 or so copies stuck under 'J' for 'Jarvis'. Is Rough Trade's distribution minor-league? I'd imagine so for an independent. Then again they'll only send out what the retail chains want.

 

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In Preston the Jarvis album was next to the pulp section in HMV, but music zone had giant Jarvis covers over their security alarms at the front door

Eamonn wrote:

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If it's a 'Hits' type inquest #2 perhaps we should take into account the number of best-ofs clogging up the top ten this week - George Michael, Jamiroquai, Girls Aloud, Sugababes and Paul bloody Weller. Still, that's to be expected this time of year.

The album leaking on t'internet as early as it did hardly helped sales. Would the album have sold more with a single to 'trailer' it? Possibly. What about if the name 'Pulp' was stuck on the cover instead of 'Jarvis'?

Or maybe no-one really cares anymore.

The reviews that I've seen (a dozen or so...I like to spend my time productively) have described it as very good, outstanding or just good, roughly to a ratio of 3:2:1. Most artists would kill for those sort of ratings.

But all the press-fawning - and he has got more print-exposure than possibly even the Hardcore era, seems to have made not much impression on the readers of The Sunday Times or The Independent or Q (and several more). They might browse through these articles, he's good for a quote an'all, but that seems to be it. He's awkward, Pulp were awkward. If albums were sold on the strength of reviews Jarvis would have more number ones than he'd ever dared dream about in Intake in 1979. It's big labels with their air-play domination and marketing savvy, re-packaging the same shit in a slightly different way that dictates sales and it wins out most of the time.  

As a matter of interest did 'Jarvis' get much shelf-space in HMV et. al last week in the UK? Here there were (probably still are) 8 or so copies stuck under 'J' for 'Jarvis'. Is Rough Trade's distribution minor-league? I'd imagine so for an independent. Then again they'll only send out what the retail chains want.

Interestingly, Jarvis has made number one on the 'Independent Album Chart' this week. The Long Blondes are number two, and quite hillariously The Arctic Monkeys and Daniel O'Donnell are side by side at six and seven aswell. A chart for misshapes like this should really rule the world, not the cnuts.

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The failure of Hits surprised me a bit, but as many people said Different Class was effectively a hits album to most people, who would probably have heard/liked little before/since DC.  I think Hits is a great overview of the band singles bar the strange omission of Mis-shapes, and when I got it in the bargain bin at Woolies (I only wanted Miners' Strike), it would have been a great album for non-Pulp fans.

As for the leaking of the album. it may affect sales, but then the biggest sales are of compilations/hits albums that people already have (as you alluded to).  I suspect that many who downloaded it will purchase it, but it's not quite as urgent.  Pulp fans have had to dig deep into their pockets in recent weeks.  I bought the Peel Sessions as they are the most essential to me.  Jarvis and the re-issues can wait.

Few people really care anyway.  There is a hardcore of Pulp fans, but the rest of the world won't be rushing to get the Jarvis album.  My mate who came with me to Koko wasn't moved by it, and I suspect that sort of general apathy will be the main reaction.

Positive reviews are all well and good as are interviews. Jarvis is admired for his lyrics and his quotes.  And many will be happy enough to read the interviews.  Musically, I find the album fairly insipid.  Two of the tracks are Nancy Sinatra cast offs, and a couple give the impression of being Harry Potter cast offs. What's left is a bit of a mixed bag.  

Rough Trade distributed The Libertines and got them a number one, so I don't think that's a factor.  I think 37 is about fair for the time of year and the potential fan base.  I suspect it will drop out very quickly and the remaining copies put in the new year bargain bin.  Chart success isn't everything. U2, Oasis et all will shift millions of units worldwide with repackaged stuff most people already have.  All a bit pointless to me.

I suspect Jarvis will be content with the impact of the record.  It's good to have him back making music again.

Jamiriquai!? You mean that guy with the hat??? Christ. People still listen to that shit? I suppose it is a bit sad if Jamiriquai can hit #1 whilst Jarvis can't even crack the Top 10.

I know this is getting off topic, but I must say that the British Charts are pure brilliance compared to the American Top 20. As I was saying above, looking over the american charts is nothing short of surreal for me. I try to convince myself that I'm a normal dude, but then I see this list, and it becomes painfully obvious that I am deeply and permanently entrenched in the recesses of the counter-culture. Is "Hannah Montana" a movie??? Where's it playing because I've never heard of it! I only heard of... hmm... maybe 5 or 6 of these "artists". Maybe I shouldn't get all my news from the internet.

1 Various Artists - Now 23
2 Josh Groban
3 Keith Urban - Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing
4 Sugarland - Enjoy The Ride
5 Hannah Montana - Soundtrack
6 Jim Jones - Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product Of My Environment)
7 Birdman & Lil Wayne - Like Father, Like Son
8 Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts
9 Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
10 Dave Matthews Band - The Best Of What's Around: Vol. 01
11 Andrea Bocelli - Under The Desert Sky
12 Barry Manilow - The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties
13 John Legend - Once Again
14 Evanescence - The Open Door
15 Beyonce - B'Day
16 Fergie - The Dutchess
17 Rascal Flatts - Me And My Gang
18 My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
19 Nickelback - All The Right Reasons
20 Kellie Pickler - Small Town Girl

Maybe you should all know these names. Inevitably, they are all going to show up in the UK with a sense of entitlement and demands that you love them too. Stop them at customes.

-- Edited by Fuss Free at 16:06, 2006-11-21

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-- Edited by Fuss Free at 19:38, 2006-11-21