So, the 25th single of Jarvis' career (one for every year since 'My Lighthouse's' release), just to put that 'prolificacy' into perspective - Paul Weller has released double that amount in the same period (it's quality not quantity eh?), has been out since Monday. The mid-weeks had it hovering around the number 30 mark in the singles chart, a lot better than I would have thought. As radio-friendly as it is, if a little too lengthy/repetitive at the end, most lapsed Pulp fans will have the album by now, so any chart appearance would be impressive. Then again, it has received exposure on the likes of the Jonathan Ross show in recent weeks.
A couple of reviews:
Playlouder:
Jarvis - 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time' (Rough Trade)
Jarvis has earned plenty of plaudits on his return proper, many from these very pages. Without wanting to be the lone voice of dissent (and I'm delighted he's back, don't get me wrong), personally I felt the album could have been a little more varied and at times more captivating. His reliance on old pals Steve Mackay and Richard Hawley was in keeping with the general mood of the album, which lacked the extravagance or daring of Pulp, and the relegation of 'Cunts...' to extra track with its name changed to 'Running the World' spoke volumes. Along with 'Fat Children', 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time' is one of the absolute highlights of 'Jarvis', a confident, almost raucous barnstormer that contains the lines: "some skinny bitch walks by in some hotpants, and he's a-running out the door". Like I say, it's great to have him back.
Planet Sound's John Earls (incidentially, does anyone have his review of the album?):
It's huge, extravagant ballad as the epic sweep of Pulp's Weeds is revisited for a self-explanatory "us blokes are dim" tale. Great enough and the b-sides set a high watermark for extra tracks in '07. 8/10
Irish Times: ***
In a sardonic Spectoresque twist on Take Good Care Of My Baby, Jarvis has one last request for his ex. "He can kiss you where the sun don't shine but baby 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time". Now that's what I call being gracious in defeat.
***
All a bit generous in my view (though not with the album verdict from Mr Playlouder - I think the album is as varied if not more-so than most Pulp albums) but better them eulogising than scorning it.
If a b-side is downloaded and not the 'single' itself, is that counted with regards to the singles/download charts?
Arrgee writes: BTW I think the playlouder review is spot on! (wasn't me who wrote it)
Ha! I'm of a completely opposite opinion. I think DLHWYT and Fat Children are the album's weakest tracks. The slower songs (Big Julie, Quatum Theory, I WIll Kill Again and From A to I) being the album's highlights. And like Eamonn, I think the album is probably more varied than most of Pulp records (save maybe TIH, which is so varied it's practically suffering from an identity crisis).
So how are the b-sides? I'm questioning whether or not I care to purchase them.
Here's a review of the DLHWYT video from American magazine Entertainment Weekly (well, technically, it's from the magazine's blog). It's very positive, which doesn't surprise me. EW has always had a soft spot for Pulp. Different Class was their best album of 1996 and TIH was either #3 or 4 on their list in 1998. Not sure why they are so surprised Jarv has a sense of humor though.
Snap Judgment: Jarvis Cocker's 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time' Dec 27, 2006, 06:00 AM | by Leah Greenblatt OK, Jarvis... free association, go! Onetime lead singer of Pulp, original Misshape, "Common People"... There was little about his reign as one of the crown princes of Britain's singularly amazing rock scene in the '90s that we didn't love. But one thing we never pegged Jarvis Cocker for was having a crack sense of humor.
Here he is, the (albeit handsome and bookish) human equivalent of a praying mantis, all gawky gestures and skinny limbs, playing it nearly slapstick in the first single from his upcoming solo album, appearing as an English cabbie prone to advising his backseat customer -- at the severe cost of keeping his eye on the road.
Now, the 37 of you who picked up the excellent Nancy Sinatra solo record last year (I bought two!), may recognize the tune, "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time": Cocker wrote it originally for Frank's daughter but repurposes it to his own ends here. Minus her whiskeyed, world-weary intonations, it becomes less grim advice, more gentle admonishment, and the accompanying vehicular slaughter of prime London real estate (and several near-miss homicides-by-taxi) surprisingly suits his louche, Bowie-esque delivery. Then again, after a few viewings, we may be over the novelty, and ready for something a little less Jackass.
Number 36 in the charts is quite a decent achievement - especially when the song has been available on the album (or to download individually) for 6 weeks or so. The singles that followed Pulp's last two albums hovered in the late-20's mark. In fact it's even more impressive considering that the single is nowhere to be seen in the Download Charts - not in the Top 200 anyway, meaning that it was the 'physical sales' of the CD and 7"s that propelled it into the Top 40.
I didn't read through that adobe pdf on the new chart rules ArrGee but it seems the answer to my earlier question is no as you assumed - a b-side downloaded does not count towards the sales of the single itself.
I've just realised what DLHWYT reminds me of - it's like a slower version of Get Off Of My Cloud by the Stones, with the rollicking rhythm guitar and simple lead guitar melody.
I've just realised what DLHWYT reminds me of - it's like a slower version of Get Off My Cloud by the Stones, with the rollicking rhythm guitar and simple lead guitar melody.
I can see where you're coming from but I think Get Off My Cloud is more like 'Mr E's Beautiful Blues' by Eels! (Or Vice Versa)