Customer Reviews

This Is Hardcore

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Despite the critical acclaim and feverous fan acceptance, Pulp's 1998 masterpiece "This is Hardcore" failed to build on the momentum that started with their landmark 1995 album "Different Class," and it will be remembered as Pulp's arty career-killer. If there ever was an album that proves that commercial success and quality of output don't always meet, this is it.

I was a diehard Pulp fan in the 1990's, and I especially remember the excitement of this album being released in April 1998. After buying "Different Class" on cassette and listening to it repeatedly (the tape actually broke from so much play), I was expecting the new album to be more of the same. That is was something totally different became apparent from the opening bars of "The Fear." "This is Hardcore" was (and still is) a dark, textured, and pessimistic album about aging, loss, and failing hopes. If "Different Class" was the all night party, "This is Hardcore" is the morning after. But the strength of Pulp has always been in Jarvis Cocker's songwriting, which makes this album actually stronger than it's predecessors.

The unquestionable standout tracks are "Help The Aged", the first post-DC single about Jarvis hope for the world to be kind to him as he grows older, "Party Hard," which is perhaps the most rocking of the album tracks, and the title track - a glorious 7 minute track about...err...pornography. Lyrically, these songs are among the strongest that Pulp has ever produced. For people hoping for more DC-like material, tracks like "Sylvia," "I Am a Man," and "Glory Days" are excellent rock songs.

Despite the failure of this album to break the bank, Universal has seen it fit to release it as a deluxe, 2 CD special edition, along with Pulp's two previous albums. The extras are contained on the second CD, and it's a mix of B-sides, demos, unreleased songs, and alternate mixes. The standouts are the excellent "Cocaine Socialism", "Like a Friend" (from "Great Expectations") and the fantastic "Tomorrow Never Lies" (a b-side for "Help The Aged") Most of these deluxe releases contain plenty of filler, but the Pulp re-issues are the exception. This new edition is well worth the extra cost.

"This is Hardcore" is the album the separated the true Pulp fans from the casual listeners who dug "Common People." It is a challenging, complex, and criminally underrated album that is well deserving of a deluxe re-issue. Highly recommended.

Frankly, I had never heard of Pulp until I recently discovered the music of former band member Richard Hawley which I have grown to like quite well. Wanting to hear where he came from, I ordered this only to discover that Hawley is not featured on This Is Hardcore. But Jarvis Cocker is (well, it's his band) and since I was already vaguely familiar with him, understanding the album was easier.
As I listened through the first time, I was not thrilled but repeated listens showed me that This Is Hardcore is an album filled with multi-textured and glorious pop and a lot to like if you just give it time. I hear influences ranging from Lambchop to Barry Adamson. On disc one, my favorites are The Fear, the title cut, and Glory Days. The only cringe-worthy music is the long stretch of empty noise that ruins an otherwise enjoyable The Day After The Revolution. On disc two, I most enjoy Cocaine Socialism, Its A Dirty World, The Professional, the humorous Can I Have My Balls Back, Please?, Modern Marriage, and the silly My Erection.
If clever lyrics and alt-pop vibes appeal to you and you have not yet heard Pulp, This Is Hardcore (Deluxe Edition)is a good place for you to start a new musical journey. It is attractively packaged and comes with a useful booklet that contains lyrics, pictures, and album information. Get it soon while the price is right.

It's hard to add much to the two previous reviews, which were spot on. I didn't plan to buy this reissue, but I'm glad that I did. I tend to like pop Pulp, and "Can I Have My Balls Back, Please" and "You Are The One" from disc 2 are full of entertainment value. The album itself is finely crafted, but pretty grim. I'm glad to see Jarvis is pretty far from this 10 years on. Don't forget to buy the Relaxed Muscle.

Admittedly, I was not to fond of this CD when it first came out since it was such a departure from the Pulp of His n Hers and Different Class. There were a handful of very good songs but I felt the best song on here didn't reach the level of the worst song on the previous 2 albums. Time has been kind to this album. The deluxe edition has been even kinder. Knowing the background on the album and what was going on at the time this album achieves brilliance yet totally redefines Pulp. When I first had this album I'd say there were songs I would skip repeatedly. This IS Hardcore would be one of them. Now, I find every song wonderful. I really do believe it just came out at the wrong time under the wrong expectations. The second disc is a surprise since it consists of a lot of demo's. Due to this I wasn't expecting much. I had already heard all the B-Sides and knew they were good but the demo's i figured would be ok at best with not so great sound quality. I was wrong on both accounts. The sound quality is fine. Hardly a demo in my book. The songs itself are good be why the album failed on first released. They were the bridge between the 2 albums. If included the album may have gone over better on it's initial release. Even though I adore this album now this is NOT the first place you want to start. Start with Different Class knowing it is the best album they've released and then go back and get His N Hers and Hardcore. I warn you to not go any further back in their catalouge. Sorry, what I have heard before His n Hers is really not that good. Now, if I would only get the deluxe editions of His N Hers and Different Class that I ordered 2 weeks ago!!! I'd be in heaven.

One last thing. This is the LAST Pulp album. We do not want to discuss Tree's or Weeds or whatever that wreck was called. Do yourself a favor and just buy the Bad Cover Version single and say that was the last thing Pulp ever did. That album will leave you wondering, "what happened?"