Latest news with #Pulp
Wall Street Journal
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘More' by Pulp Review: Satire and Sincerity
In the 1990s, the U.K. was in thrall to Britpop, the retro-leaning movement that was a more melodic answer to the grunge that had taken hold in the U.S. Among the biggest bands of the scene, Oasis had anthems, Blur had taste and Pulp had style. That last, Sheffield-based band, led by singer Jarvis Cocker, was initially an outlier because its first two albums came out in the '80s and weren't representative of what came later. But by 1994's 'His 'n' Hers,' Pulp had mastered its own brand of multifaceted guitar pop, which mixed glam rock, disco and punk. Mr. Cocker, whose persona was a magnetic fusion of Bryan Ferry's louche sexiness and Elvis Costello's wit, became one of rock's great frontmen. And then, after Pulp's 2001 album 'We Love Life,' produced by avant-pop legend Scott Walker, the group went its separate ways. The band's membership had always been fluid, though drummer Nick Banks and keyboardist Candida Doyle were there from nearly the beginning, and it was fair to assume after it split that Mr. Cocker would pick up where the band left off. But he had tired of Pulp's celebrity and pursued low-key solo projects. In what has become an increasingly common progression for once-disbanded groups, a series of reunion tours led to studio sessions and now, after 24 years, we have a new Pulp record. The stunningly strong 'More' (Rough Trade), out Friday, is a celebration of everything that made it great in the first place. The opening 'Spike Island' is both heavy and slinky, marrying a quasi-disco beat to a palpitating bassline that's at once sensual and menacing. Mr. Cocker, a bundle of jittery energy, spits out his lines as if he's walking briskly on the street next to you and trying to finish his story before heading down into the tube. He's an exceptionally good lyricist with an uncanny ability to mix satire and sincerity, and here he jokes about the absurdity of making a life in music while nodding to his band's history and extended absence: 'Not a shaman or a showman / Ashamed I was selling the rights / I took a breather / And decided not to ruin my life.' During his mellower solo years, Mr. Cocker has acquired some wisdom but has lost none of his mischievousness. Much of 'More' is about looking for love and breaking up, though nothing is ever simple. On the second track, 'Tina,' his narrator thinks he's found the perfect relationship, but he's never met his obsession and she doesn't know he exists: An outside observer would call him a deranged stalker. Mr. Cocker has an eye for telling images—here he imagines making love in a charity shop's storage room, 'The smell of digestive biscuits in the air.'
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Glastonbury Festival fans convinced they know who the mystery Patchwork guest is - as full line-up is announced
Glastonbury Festival fans are convinced they've worked out who the mystery Patchwork guest is on the 2025 line-up. Festival-goers have gone wild with speculation around who the act could potentially be - as it plans to perform on the Pyramid Stage 6pm to 7pm on the Saturday. Names including Oasis, Mumford And Sons, Sam Fender, Harry Styles, and Lewis Capaldi have all been thrown into the mix. Fans speculated on Reddit: 'There's two surprises on the Pyramid Stage, one Friday one Saturday. Talk of Mumford and Sons on the Friday and I'm praying for Pulp on the Saturday." Another user suggested: Haim probably', 'A massively long shot, but could it be Oasis to officially kick-start their comeback? Only a 35-minute set, which would probably be like 4 songs with a lot of talking. Which feels appropriate', From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Festival-goers have gone wild with speculation around who the act could potentially be - as it plans to perform on the Pyramid Stage 6pm to 7pm on the Saturday 'Patchwork ?Oasis I know they've said no, but that doesn't carry a great deal of weight... Patchwork... Patching things up... might be a bit of a reach but MY GOD it would be good', 'Ed Sheeran I think. Been doing secret sets all year. Just popping up', 'Pulp would fit. New album which is great. Gap in tour. Headlined twice before. Band of the people', 'Hopefully Sam Fender, heard about Harry Styles aswell'. Glastonbury has revealed the line-up for this year's event as it announced the headline acts which include The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo. Moments after the acts were announced, fans who had already purchased their tickets took to social media in their droves to complain about the line-up. Branding it the 'worst one ever', they claimed that the globally recognised event had 'gone so far downhill' in comparison to previous years. Fans who didn't manage to bag entry during the November sale admitted they no longer minded about missing out following the announcement. Fans suggested who they thought Patchwork could be on Reddit on Tuesday British pop-rock group the 1975 and the US pop-punk songwriter Olivia are both first-time headliners. The poster was shared by the official Glastonbury X page this morning with the caption: 'Here is the first Glastonbury Festival 2025 line-up poster.' The band, led by Matty Healy, have been revealed as the top billing for the Friday night on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm. Pop princess Olivia, who performed on the Other Stage in 2022, will serve as the headline act on the closing night of the event. Canadian singer-songwriter Neil will fill the Saturday night slot, which will also see performances from Charli XCX, Raye and Doechii. Neil previously accidentally announced he would be playing at the event on January 1 when he declared he would be 'withdrawing' from the festival - despite it never being confirmed in the first place. He cited that it was due to the fact the event was under the BBC 's 'corporate control'. The Somerset-based festival has worked closely with its exclusive broadcast partner since 1997. Neil later admitted had received bad information and confirmed he would once again perform, announcing it was 'back on his itinerary'. Following the line-up announcement, many took to X to share their thoughts on the musicians who are slated to play at the iconic event Sir Rod Stewart was already confirmed for the coveted teatime legends slot on the Sunday. The Other stage headliners have also been revealed. After her unforgettable Brat Summer – and rivalling Dua Lipa's headline performance with a DJ set at Glastonbury 2024 – Charli xcx will headline the festival's second stage on Saturday. Hot off her Brits success where she bagged a jaw-dropping five gongs, Charli is no doubt likely to draw a huge crowd. Also on the same stage will be hip hop star Loyle Carner on the Friday, as Essex electronic group The Prodigy close the event on Sunday night with a show that will be their first at the festival since the death of frontman Keith Flint in 2019. Other acts include Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro, Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, US chart-topper Noah Kahan, English rock band Wolf Alice, British indie rockers Wet Leg and recently reformed US pop group Scissor Sisters. Manchester-formed The 1975 have headlined various festivals in the UK and elsewhere, with controversial stage antics. However, they have not done so at Glastonbury. Glastonbury is taking a fallow year in 2026 to allow the farmland to recover, organisers said last year. In 2024, London-born singer Dua, rock band Coldplay and American singer Sza all headlined the Pyramid Stage. The festival will take place at Worthy Farm in Somerset from June 25 to 29.
Asharq Al-Awsat
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Pulp Is Back for ‘More,' Their First Album in 24 Years. Even the Britpop Band Is Surprised
Pulp has returned with a new album, their first in 24 years. Who could've predicted that? Not even the band, it turns out. 'It took us by surprise as well,' dynamic frontman Jarvis Cocker told The Associated Press. 'Why not?' If there are casual Pulp fans, they don't make themselves known. The ambitious Britpop-and-then-some band emerged in the late-'70s in Sheffield, England, artistic outsiders with a penchant for the glam, grim, and in the case of Cocker, the gawky. Fame alluded them until the mid-'90s, and then it rushed in with the trend of Cool Britannia. Their songs varied wildly from their contemporaries, like the recently reunited Blur and soon-to-be back together Oasis. Instead, Pulp's David Bowie-informed synth-pop arrived with humor, ambiguity and intellect — songs about class consciousness that manage to be groovy, glib, awkward and amorous all at once. Then, and in the decades since, Pulp has inspired devotion from loyal fans across generations. They've charmed those lucky enough to catch band members in their heyday before a kind of careerism led to a hiatus in 2002 — and those who saw them for the first time during reunion tours in 2011 and 2022. With all that reputation on the line, it's reassuring that the band has decided to give its audience 'More,' their first new album in over two decades. Give them 'More' There were a few catalysts for 'More.' The first: 'We could get along with each other still,' jokes drummer Nick Banks. 'It wasn't too painful.' The second: The band worked a new song into their recent reunion show run — 'The Hymn of the North,' originally written for Simon Stephens' 2019 play 'Light Falls' — and people seemed to like it. The third and most significant: The band's bassist and core member Steve Mackey died in 2023. 'It made me realize that you don't have endless amounts of time,' Cocker says. 'You've still got an opportunity to create things, if you want to. Are you going to give it a go?' And so, they did. Cocker assured his bandmates Banks, guitarist Mark Webber and keyboardist Candida Doyle that the recording process could be done quickly — in three weeks, lightspeed for a band that has infamously agonized over its latter records, like 1998's 'This Is Hardcore.' Webber describes a 'reticence to get involved in a yearslong process' that was alleviated when they started to work on new songs which came 'quite easily.' That's at least partially due to the fact that, for the first time in the history of the band, Cocker elected to 'write the words in advance. ... It's taken me until the age of 61 to realize it: If you write the words before you go into the studio, it makes it a much more pleasant experience.' The 11 tracks that make up 'More' are a combination of new and old songs written across Pulp's career. The late Mackey has a writing credit on both the sultry, existential 'Grown Ups' originally demoed around 'This Is Hardcore,' and the edgy disco 'Got to Have Love,' written around 'the turn of the millennium,' as Cocker explains. 'I did have words, but I found myself emotionally unable to sing them.' 'Without love you're just making a fool of yourself,' he sings in the second verse. 'I got nothing else to say about it.' It makes sense, then, that the romantic song was held until 'More,' when Cocker believed them — coincidentally, after he was married in June of last year. A pop band reflects Maturation — the literality of growing up on 'Grown Ups' — is a prevalent theme on 'More,' delivered with age-appropriate insight. 'I was always told at school that I had an immature attitude. I just didn't see any point in growing up, really. It seemed like all the fun was had by people when they were younger,' said Cocker. 'But, as I said on the back of the 'This Is Hardcore' album, it's OK to grow up, as long as you don't grow old. And I still agree with that, I think. Growing old is losing interest in the world and deciding that you're not gonna change. You've done your bit and that's it. That doesn't interest me.' 'You have to retain an interest in the world and that keeps you alive,' he adds. 'So, you grow up. And hopefully you live better, and you treat other people better. But you don't grow old.' In addition to 'More,' 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the song that defines their career, 'Common People.' 'That one, we've never really fallen out of love with,' says Webber. 'Because of the way it affects people, really, you can't fall out of love with it,' adds Cocker. 'More,' produced by James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines D.C.), arrives Friday. The band will immediately embark on a UK and North American tour. Then, who knows? Is this the beginning of a new, active era for the band? 'The next one is going to be called 'Even More,'' Cocker jokes. 'Nah, I don't know. The album wasn't conceived of as a tombstone. ... The jury is out.' 'It wouldn't be good for it to end up feeling like you're stuck on a treadmill,' Banks adds. 'And at the moment, it's still pretty exciting.'
The Advertiser
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Pulp is back for More with first album in 24 years
Pulp has returned with a new album, their first in 24 years. Who could've predicted that? Not even the band, it turns out. The ambitious Britpop-and-then-some band emerged in the late-'70s in Sheffield, England, artistic outsiders with a penchant for the glam, grim, and in the case of Cocker, the gawky. Fame alluded them until the mid-'90s, and then it rushed in with Cool Britannia. Their songs varied wildly from their contemporaries, like the recently reunited Blur and soon-to-be back together Oasis. Instead, Pulp's David Bowie-informed synth-pop arrived with humour, ambiguity and intellect - songs about sex and class consciousness that manage to be groovy, glib, awkward and amorous all at once. Then, and in the decades since, Pulp has inspired devotion from loyal fans across generations. They've charmed those lucky enough to catch band members in their heyday before a kind of careerism led to a hiatus in 2002 - and those who saw them for the first time during reunion tours in 2011 and 2022. With all that reputation on the line, it's reassuring that the band has decided to give its audience More, due for release on Friday. There were a few catalysts for More. The first: "We could get along with each other still," jokes drummer Nick Banks. "It wasn't too painful." The second: The band worked a new song into their recent reunion show run - The Hymn of the North, originally written for Simon Stephens' 2019 play Light Falls - and people seemed to like it. The third and most significant: The band's bassist and core member Steve Mackey died in 2023. "It made me realise that you don't have endless amounts of time," Cocker says. "You've still got an opportunity to create things, if you want to. Are you going to give it a go?" And so, they did. Cocker assured his bandmates Banks, guitarist Mark Webber and keyboardist Candida Doyle that the recording process could be done quickly - in three weeks, lightspeed for a band that has infamously agonised over its latter records, like 1998's This Is Hardcore. The 11 tracks that make up More are a combination of new and old songs written across Pulp's career. The late Mackey has a writing credit on both the sultry, existential Grown Ups originally demoed around This Is Hardcore, and the edgy disco Got to Have Love, written around "the turn of the millennium," as Cocker explains. Maturation is a prevalent theme on More, delivered with age-appropriate insight. "I was always told at school that I had an immature attitude. I just didn't see any point in growing up, really. It seemed like all the fun was had by people when they were younger," said Cocker. "But, as I said on the back of the This Is Hardcore album, it's OK to grow up, as long as you don't grow old. And I still agree with that, I think. Growing old is losing interest in the world and deciding that you're not gonna change. You've done your bit and that's it. That doesn't interest me. "You have to retain an interest in the world and that keeps you alive," he adds. "So, you grow up. And hopefully you live better, and you treat other people better. But you don't grow old." Pulp has returned with a new album, their first in 24 years. Who could've predicted that? Not even the band, it turns out. The ambitious Britpop-and-then-some band emerged in the late-'70s in Sheffield, England, artistic outsiders with a penchant for the glam, grim, and in the case of Cocker, the gawky. Fame alluded them until the mid-'90s, and then it rushed in with Cool Britannia. Their songs varied wildly from their contemporaries, like the recently reunited Blur and soon-to-be back together Oasis. Instead, Pulp's David Bowie-informed synth-pop arrived with humour, ambiguity and intellect - songs about sex and class consciousness that manage to be groovy, glib, awkward and amorous all at once. Then, and in the decades since, Pulp has inspired devotion from loyal fans across generations. They've charmed those lucky enough to catch band members in their heyday before a kind of careerism led to a hiatus in 2002 - and those who saw them for the first time during reunion tours in 2011 and 2022. With all that reputation on the line, it's reassuring that the band has decided to give its audience More, due for release on Friday. There were a few catalysts for More. The first: "We could get along with each other still," jokes drummer Nick Banks. "It wasn't too painful." The second: The band worked a new song into their recent reunion show run - The Hymn of the North, originally written for Simon Stephens' 2019 play Light Falls - and people seemed to like it. The third and most significant: The band's bassist and core member Steve Mackey died in 2023. "It made me realise that you don't have endless amounts of time," Cocker says. "You've still got an opportunity to create things, if you want to. Are you going to give it a go?" And so, they did. Cocker assured his bandmates Banks, guitarist Mark Webber and keyboardist Candida Doyle that the recording process could be done quickly - in three weeks, lightspeed for a band that has infamously agonised over its latter records, like 1998's This Is Hardcore. The 11 tracks that make up More are a combination of new and old songs written across Pulp's career. The late Mackey has a writing credit on both the sultry, existential Grown Ups originally demoed around This Is Hardcore, and the edgy disco Got to Have Love, written around "the turn of the millennium," as Cocker explains. Maturation is a prevalent theme on More, delivered with age-appropriate insight. "I was always told at school that I had an immature attitude. I just didn't see any point in growing up, really. It seemed like all the fun was had by people when they were younger," said Cocker. "But, as I said on the back of the This Is Hardcore album, it's OK to grow up, as long as you don't grow old. And I still agree with that, I think. Growing old is losing interest in the world and deciding that you're not gonna change. You've done your bit and that's it. That doesn't interest me. "You have to retain an interest in the world and that keeps you alive," he adds. "So, you grow up. And hopefully you live better, and you treat other people better. But you don't grow old." Pulp has returned with a new album, their first in 24 years. Who could've predicted that? Not even the band, it turns out. The ambitious Britpop-and-then-some band emerged in the late-'70s in Sheffield, England, artistic outsiders with a penchant for the glam, grim, and in the case of Cocker, the gawky. Fame alluded them until the mid-'90s, and then it rushed in with Cool Britannia. Their songs varied wildly from their contemporaries, like the recently reunited Blur and soon-to-be back together Oasis. Instead, Pulp's David Bowie-informed synth-pop arrived with humour, ambiguity and intellect - songs about sex and class consciousness that manage to be groovy, glib, awkward and amorous all at once. Then, and in the decades since, Pulp has inspired devotion from loyal fans across generations. They've charmed those lucky enough to catch band members in their heyday before a kind of careerism led to a hiatus in 2002 - and those who saw them for the first time during reunion tours in 2011 and 2022. With all that reputation on the line, it's reassuring that the band has decided to give its audience More, due for release on Friday. There were a few catalysts for More. The first: "We could get along with each other still," jokes drummer Nick Banks. "It wasn't too painful." The second: The band worked a new song into their recent reunion show run - The Hymn of the North, originally written for Simon Stephens' 2019 play Light Falls - and people seemed to like it. The third and most significant: The band's bassist and core member Steve Mackey died in 2023. "It made me realise that you don't have endless amounts of time," Cocker says. "You've still got an opportunity to create things, if you want to. Are you going to give it a go?" And so, they did. Cocker assured his bandmates Banks, guitarist Mark Webber and keyboardist Candida Doyle that the recording process could be done quickly - in three weeks, lightspeed for a band that has infamously agonised over its latter records, like 1998's This Is Hardcore. The 11 tracks that make up More are a combination of new and old songs written across Pulp's career. The late Mackey has a writing credit on both the sultry, existential Grown Ups originally demoed around This Is Hardcore, and the edgy disco Got to Have Love, written around "the turn of the millennium," as Cocker explains. Maturation is a prevalent theme on More, delivered with age-appropriate insight. "I was always told at school that I had an immature attitude. I just didn't see any point in growing up, really. It seemed like all the fun was had by people when they were younger," said Cocker. "But, as I said on the back of the This Is Hardcore album, it's OK to grow up, as long as you don't grow old. And I still agree with that, I think. Growing old is losing interest in the world and deciding that you're not gonna change. You've done your bit and that's it. That doesn't interest me. "You have to retain an interest in the world and that keeps you alive," he adds. "So, you grow up. And hopefully you live better, and you treat other people better. But you don't grow old." Pulp has returned with a new album, their first in 24 years. Who could've predicted that? Not even the band, it turns out. The ambitious Britpop-and-then-some band emerged in the late-'70s in Sheffield, England, artistic outsiders with a penchant for the glam, grim, and in the case of Cocker, the gawky. Fame alluded them until the mid-'90s, and then it rushed in with Cool Britannia. Their songs varied wildly from their contemporaries, like the recently reunited Blur and soon-to-be back together Oasis. Instead, Pulp's David Bowie-informed synth-pop arrived with humour, ambiguity and intellect - songs about sex and class consciousness that manage to be groovy, glib, awkward and amorous all at once. Then, and in the decades since, Pulp has inspired devotion from loyal fans across generations. They've charmed those lucky enough to catch band members in their heyday before a kind of careerism led to a hiatus in 2002 - and those who saw them for the first time during reunion tours in 2011 and 2022. With all that reputation on the line, it's reassuring that the band has decided to give its audience More, due for release on Friday. There were a few catalysts for More. The first: "We could get along with each other still," jokes drummer Nick Banks. "It wasn't too painful." The second: The band worked a new song into their recent reunion show run - The Hymn of the North, originally written for Simon Stephens' 2019 play Light Falls - and people seemed to like it. The third and most significant: The band's bassist and core member Steve Mackey died in 2023. "It made me realise that you don't have endless amounts of time," Cocker says. "You've still got an opportunity to create things, if you want to. Are you going to give it a go?" And so, they did. Cocker assured his bandmates Banks, guitarist Mark Webber and keyboardist Candida Doyle that the recording process could be done quickly - in three weeks, lightspeed for a band that has infamously agonised over its latter records, like 1998's This Is Hardcore. The 11 tracks that make up More are a combination of new and old songs written across Pulp's career. The late Mackey has a writing credit on both the sultry, existential Grown Ups originally demoed around This Is Hardcore, and the edgy disco Got to Have Love, written around "the turn of the millennium," as Cocker explains. Maturation is a prevalent theme on More, delivered with age-appropriate insight. "I was always told at school that I had an immature attitude. I just didn't see any point in growing up, really. It seemed like all the fun was had by people when they were younger," said Cocker. "But, as I said on the back of the This Is Hardcore album, it's OK to grow up, as long as you don't grow old. And I still agree with that, I think. Growing old is losing interest in the world and deciding that you're not gonna change. You've done your bit and that's it. That doesn't interest me. "You have to retain an interest in the world and that keeps you alive," he adds. "So, you grow up. And hopefully you live better, and you treat other people better. But you don't grow old."
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
10 gigs for June: Macklemore, Pulp, Kneecap, and Picture This
Macklemore, Thursday, June 5, Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) Multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning rapper, Macklemore, makes a highly anticipated return to Ireland by opening this year's Musgrave Park (Virgin Media Park) gigs with special guests RUDIM3NTAL. Martha Wainwright, Monday, June 9, Cork Opera House, Cork Martha Wainwright. Picture: Gaëlle Leroyer Celebrating her ground-breaking debut studio album's 20th anniversary, acclaimed singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright brings the highly anticipated 20th Anniversary Tour to Cork. Pulp, Tues, June 10, 3Arena, Dublin Two years after their acclaimed sold-out comeback Dublin show at St Anne's, Pulp will play 3Arena this summer, marking the release of their new album More on June 6 — their first in almost 24 years. Cork Midsummer Festival, Friday, June 13 to Sunday, June 22, various venues across Cork city The Cork Midsummer Festival will transform Cork city into a hub of creativity and celebration. The vibrant arts festival features an array of events, including live performances of music, theatre, literature, and visual arts, showcasing both local and international artists. Charli XCX, Tuesday, June 17, Malahide Castle, Dublin Singer-songwriter and producer Charli XCX will be joined by special guests FIFI and The Japanese House. Kneecap, Thursday, June 19, Fairview Park, Dublin Members of Kneecap, Liam Og O Hannaigh (Mo Chara), JJ O'Dochartaigh (aDJ Provai) and Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap) Award-winning Belfast rappers Kneecap, who have been making headlines lately for their ongoing support of the people of Palestine, play their biggest ever live show at Fairview Park on June 19. Picture This, Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 26, Live at the Marquee, Cork Kicking off this season of summer gigs at the Live at the Marquee venue with two shows, following on from performing for 60,000 fans across sold-out shows in Dublin, Belfast, and Cork last year. Olivia Rodrigo, Tuesday, June 24, Marlay Park, Dublin Olivia Rodrigo will play Marlay Park alongside special guest Beabadoobee. Peggy Seeger, Friday, June 27, Live at St Luke's, Cork Peggy Seeger. Picture: Vicki Sharp The grande dame of American and British Folk music, embarks on her last-ever concert tour alongside her sons, Neill and Calum MacColl, in celebration of her 90th birthday in June. Steven Gerrard, Friday, June 27, Vicar Street, Dublin Former Liverpool FC Captain Steven Gerrard will take to the stage at Vicar Street to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the club's historic Champions League triumph in Istanbul. Read More Culture That Made Me: Music legend Brush Shiels picks his touchstones
