Beyond the Pale is the best thing Cocker has done since Pulp, and that is very good indeed.
This record — Cocker's finest work since This Is Hardcore, maybe — marks the arrival of an adventurous collective who might just be getting warmed up.
Judging by Beyond the Pale, his best album in years, Cocker is one of those confounding frontman who appear to dominate bands but struggle on their own.
‘Beyond The Pale’ is a cracking addition to the Cocker canon, bursting with that Pulp knack for nerdy melodrama and primed for the dancefloor.
‘Beyond The Pale’ is seven tracks is timeless and timely genius from the finger-wagging Sheffield frontman, matching his lyrical wit to a series of fantastic arrangements, touching upon everything from Leonard Cohen documentaries to the lingering attractions of rave culture.
Right now, as we all tap our feet – nervously, impatiently, wondering what new rhythms our lives will have to adapt to – Beyond the Pale offers a light in the darkness.
Beyond the Pale feels tight, tense, yet free, with pasty Cocker as this debut album’s broodingly bittersweet yet (somewhat) gleeful centerpiece joining together with his ensemble for a ring of rare design.
While it may be far from a perfect album, Beyond the Pale is a satisfying offering from Cocker and his new JARV IS... project. The album's themes, along with the complete embrace of art rock stylings, make this far from a retread of his previous musical endeavours and a worthy listen for Jarvis Cocker fans.
Wow, huge disagreement between critics and users! this is always an interesting ground.
Disclaimer - I am a big Pulp fan and I think they recorded the best songs from the whole brit pop movement (I do love blur and Oasis too, but Pulp is Pulp).
Let's review this by parts.
The Concept –
The idea was to take some live recordings and add overdubs in top of them in order the make some kind of mix between the rawness of the lives albums and the neatness of the studio records. As an ... read more
Genre: Art Rock
How the hell did this completly unknown band get a must here? *Slams keyboard* ah it's Pulp. I like Pulp!
These lyrics sound like if Bob Dylan was a teenage girl. Talking about being born a harmony in a world of melodies 😔 and tapping his toes with the devil 🔗🥀🔪🩸.
Regardless, even ignoring the VERY 90s style sound of this album you still have your standout moments. Such as the last two minutes of "Am I Missing Something" which is just....goddamn ... read more
Well, I don't care who Jarv is (everybody knows), I don't care what's behind the pale. I don't care about the way it was recorded, I don't care about the all that fuss...
All I know is that I enjoyed this album, much, pretty much and I listened to it five times in a row and that's something that I care!
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