I was just listening to this today, and it might be due to the several bottles of cough syrup i've downed in the past 24 hours, but I totally forgot how incredible this album was. Most people I've talked to think this was a huge letdown after Different Class, but I think it's so much more focused (albeit darker) and with much stronger lyrics. I dunno, just wondering what y'all think about this album.

Brilliant and We Love Life is so vastly underrated.


Before you enter the palace of wisdom you have to decide: are you ready to rock?

I love this album. 'The Fear' is one of my favourite Pulp songs and is a perfect opener on this record. Jarvis' lyrics are much darker and personal on this record then they are on Different Class, although they still have the same wit and sleaze they did on earlier stuff. This album sounds like the come down from the party of Different Class (although the album shares a similar vibe with 'Sorted For E's And Wizz' on Different Class).

I like to believe there's a little Jarvis in all of us.

Im gonna go put this record on now.

my first taste of pulp was different class and that's still my favorite for personal reasons, but this is hardcore isn't anything to laugh aside. most of it is amazing, but there are a few songs that i just don't see working. (i've never cared for "seductive barry.") then again, pulp really didn't have many slip-ups in their last ten years. even most of separations is pretty good.

on a related note, i can't think of another band that languished for so long to eventually find such commercial and critical success so late in their career. early incarnations of pulp began in 1978 (they even had a peel session while, i believe, jarvis was still in school), but it didn't really happen for them until 1994 and then really in 1995.

yeah cocker was like 15 when the band started in his 30s when it took off.

okay, i'm listening to this now and i realized that this album is full of lyrics that stay in my head for days. amazing!

yeah I have certain lines that get stuck in my head
"I am not Jesus, though I have the same initials"
"Help the aged, one time they were just like you, drinking, smoking cigs and sniffing glue"
"When your no longer searching for beauty or love, just some kind of life with the edges taken off"

the choruses for 'The Fear' and 'Help the Aged' are in my head for days too

I need to do two things. Listen to 'This Is Hardcore' for the first time in ages and drink several bottles of cough syrup for the first time in ages. As I remember both are good.

I just downloaded His 'n' Hers and This is Hardcore from a newsgroup I'm looking forward to hearing them both. I recently started a renewed appreciation for Different Class after years of indifference.

Different Class is almost perfect. I thought This Is Hardcore was alright, but was a 'Jackie Brown'-like attempt to push the casual fanbase away from Pulp. It worked.

This is Hardcore is fine, but not my fave. Maybe I'll pull it out and give it another chance...

i couldn't stand it when i was a teenager. now i loves it. the album cover still creeps me out to no end. it's that blank look in her eyes. robots are scary.