Jarvis Cocker - Further Compilations [Album]

Rough Trade Records

May 23, 2009, 09:41 PM

Views: 719   Comments: 12

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I understand what Jarvis is trying to do here, he's attempting to prove he can “rock out”. Despite collaborating with Steve Albini as producer, I found this entire album entirely yawnsome. The thing that bothered me the most was Jarvis Cockers' voice, it's so bad it's almost unbearable. Admittedly I did enjoy some Pulp back in the day but it certainly wasn't for his vocal talents; more the witty, perceptive lyrics, which may I add this album doesn't really offer. It's such a lackluster, middle of the road pile of blah I couldn't wait to get this review out of the way so I wouldn't have to listen to it anymore. I'm a fair reviewer see, I like to give repeated listens before committing myself to a bad/good/ok review. Many times things are a growers.

Some songs are better than the remainder below par average (“Hold Still”, “Leftovers” and “Slush”), but still there is nothing that jumps out and makes me think, “So this is the hit”, and even in those songs he's vocals are so whiny and nasally it's still quite annoying to listen to. The songs that completely didn't work for me would be the more faster paced upbeat ones like “Fuckingsong” and “Angela”. You could literally just imagine him on stage panting along trying to be all rock and roll but actually just looking like a computer geek with weak, frail shaky arms (I picture him waving a shaky, skinny arm when rocking out).

Gone is the razor sharp perceptive wit, heavily replaced with half baked cliches (“You wanna suffer, go to a rock show” - Further Compilations), some of it's quite funny, but it's definitely nowhere in the same league as previous good efforts from Cocker. To be honest, I think I've fully had enough of Jarvis Cocker – can you disappear please along with the rest of the whiny, rubbish Brit Pop movement? Although, I do a teensy weeny bit respect that you have tried to be current and move with the times but actually I rather you didn't bother.

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