| If any band is more deserving than Pulp of a Hits package, let them step forward now. Pulp have suffered the twin misfortunes of having an enormous, era-defining pop hit on their hands (1995's "Common People") and a uniquely gangly, instantly recognisable frontman who is better known than his songs. Pulp's years spent skulking rather happily in indie-land produced some fine (and not so fine) songs. Pulp care--about their music at least. It's also refreshing to have a hits compilation put together with some love (instead of the Manics ill-assembled Forever Delayed and U2's jumbled Best of 1990-2000). Here, instead of "Mis-shapes", we have "Sorted for E's and Whizz" as well as "Underwear". The latter was always planned as a double A-side, but was dwarfed by the enormity of twin "Common People." It's easy to forget just how brilliant Pulp are sometimes. With some nay-sayers questioning the future of the band, it is a satisfying experience indeed to bask in the shimmering beauty of "Last Day of the Miners' Strike", a slow burner of a quality, maturity and beauty that would make even the harshest critic usher the band into the nearest recording studio as soon as possible. With a dignity that most of his contemporaries--even the Manics--could never muster, Jarvis sings lines such as "Some joker with a headband is getting chicks for free" and name-checks kids spitting on the town hall and frightening old ladies. "The future's ours for the taking now, if we just stick together." Let's hope for the future of interesting, diverse guitar pop that they do. --Ben Johncock |
