Every band, regardless of how pompous and highbrow today, makes a debut. Not all debuts are stellar. In fact, some of the most amazing bands today made relatively mediocre or downright awful first impressions. British band Pulp is certainly included in this category.
Led by the charismatic, yet notoriously difficult, Jarvis Cocker, Pulp has been around for more years than they care to admit. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that the band’s debut on Velvet entitled It would be dropped off the discography if they had the choice. Alas, it isn’t. In fact, Velvel re-released the poorly produced and not in the least bit representative album on disc in 1997.
Pulp formed in England in 1978. Throughout the band’s almost quarter century in existence, no fewer than twenty (yes, 20) individuals have been members. The best explanation for this attrition rate is certainly Cocker’s sour personality and difficult attitude. With a debut like It, the band was unlikely to break. In fact, Pulp got little attention until the 1990’s when Cocker and company put together 1994’s His ‘n’ Hers and 1995’s Different Class.
Distinctly folk, It contains thankfully just eight tracks. At times it seems that Cocker misses notes and hasn’t rehearsed enough while at others songs faintly glimmer with what might lead to stardom if refined. During this early incarnation of Pulp (there were many different lineups), eight members collaborated with Cocker. Let me reword that. Eight members did what he asked them to. In fact, this album was the only time that those individuals worked together. The lineup disintegrated upon the release and subsequent overwhelming failure of It.
The album begins with the wholly annoying squawking of seagulls on My Lighthouse. The song certainly sounds a bit like Cocker was going for a Cure feel emotionally. Amateurish and unremarkable, the song also stands out as one of the better ones on this overall not-quite-mediocre album. I guess the thing that is important about It is that the album gives fans a reference point at which Pulp began and proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Cocker singing, songwriting, and guitar have improved immeasurably since 1983.
The wistful feeling of Wishful Thinking would have been easier had it not been for the fact that Cocker sounds as though he’s singing in a metal box. In addition, the track goes nowhere and the instrumentation is rather annoying. I can’t even enjoy the castanets because of an almost complete lack of variance. Nothing about Wishful Thinking could possibly be seen as useful or entertaining.
The earliest notes provided by an upright bass in Joking Aside are lovely, but the second that Cocker joins the song disintegrates. I do appreciate the use of very understated acoustic guitars. But, having to listen to the off kilter and off key singing provided by Cocker is painful to say the least. Songs really don’t get worse than this.
Pulp continues down the path to sure musical failure on Boats and Trains. I’m sure they were going for quirky, but in the process of moving toward folk the band got lost. The mandolin sends unpleasant shivers down my spine and Cocker’s incessant whining doesn’t help the situation any. A truly horrible song that could ruin a poor soul’s entire day if listened to just once.
Next, the album pukes up Blue Girls. Once again, the young Cocker sounds like the out-of-tune amateur he was in 1983. The flutes are misused while the various other instruments can’t do a darned thing to save this dog of a song. The chanting female voices that appear out of the blue throughout manage to wreck the song even more than one could have though. It seems that Pulp thought they were doing something more important than they actually were. It’s song like this that made the album fail commercially and critically.
Love Love is completely different than the other songs on the album. It’s novel in the use of a trombone and clarinet. The song leans toward experimentalism in a good way. Using these types of instruments in a rock song could be a death sentence. Instead, it is significantly more aurally pleasing than most of the more traditional rock tracks.
In Many Ways is by far the most upbeat track of the album. Unlike some of the other songs, at least the melody is interesting. But the fact that Cocker completely misses notes while singing is unforgivable. The poorly produced song with the percussion and stringed instruments competing with the vocals also are a major drawback.
Thankfully, the final song on It is better than some of the rest. Looking for Life is repetitive and at best mediocre, but at least the vocals and guitars aren’t completely repulsive. Again, Cocker sounds extremely rough and the instruments aren’t polished. The strange organ in the background also is a bit distressing. But, like I said there are worse things on this album.
Let me get this out of the way. Do not buy Pulp’s debut album It. It is pure crap. It’s not often I give albums just one star, but on this occasion that rating seems just. I can’t recommend it to anybody…not even the most die hard of Pulp fans. Seriously. If you like the band please stick to the 1990’s. If you slip into the 1980’s you’re likely to become nauseated by Cocker and company.
Rating: 1/5 stars
Track Listing:
1. My Lighthouse
2. Wishful Thinking
3. Joking Aside
4 . Boats and Trains
5. Blue Girls
6. Love Love
7. In Many Ways
8. Looking For Life
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Want to buy a decent Pulp record? Feel free to check out His ‘n’ Hers [1994], Different Class [1995], or This is Hardcore [1998].
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