Jarvis- the new Album by Jarvis Cocker

Jarvis Cocker: Jarvis Jarvis is the debut album from Jarvis Cocker, after his self-imposed exile in Paris following the downfall and split of Pulp, one of the defining bands of the Britpop era. There isn't a single person in the music industry who hasn't anticipated, with a certain amount of curiosity, the first solo offering from Jarvis. With the emergence of Relaxed Muscle (a band Jarvis fronted dressed as a skeleton) some people argue that he's never been away. But the man who made possibly the most reticent yet highly poignant observations of Thatcherite Britain disappeared completely. Pulp was dead and it would never be revived until the real Jarvis made a welcome return. Well this is that return and it is indeed very welcome.
With tracks like Don't Let Him Waste Your Time and Black Magic, Jarvis nails the witty lyricism of Pulp's finest pop songs. With Fat Children and the strangely hidden Running The World, the father of Sheffield is scathing and angry. At times it can be a tough listen, but it's never far away from brilliance. Who's it by? Jarvis Cocker was the talented and quirky frontman of Pulp, one of the seminal bands of the Britpop era. Oasis had the swagger, the lads' vote and the attitude, with Blur skulking around attempting to be witty. Pulp managed to combine the two and even Noel spent the late nineties humming Common People, but then who didn't?Their greatest hits album peaked outside of the top 40 and people soon forgot the awkward looking bespectacled one.
Oasis trundled on and Damon Albarn turned into a cartoon, but Jarvis retired to France and hopped over the channel very briefly, dressed in a skeleton suit and singing about sexy women.
The great man is still fairly absent, gone are the topical references and in their place are general observations of British society.
"If you don't like it then leave/Or use your right to protest on the streets/Yeah use your right but don't expect to be heard" Running The World contains some of the most aggressive lyrics Jarvis has ever written and the chorus contains angry lambastes that are perhaps a little too strong for InTheNews. Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys If the man can storm the Brits stage while Jacko is on it, then why not.
What the others say "Feel grateful that such a unique voice has returned at full power." The Guardian "The central theme is his utter disgust at modern Britain's stagnation." NME So is it any good? When the chords on Don't Let Them Waste Your Time conclude, the rip roaring distortion of Black Magic come in and Jarvis lays down a fantastic vocal that seems disorganised and roughly recorded. It's a great sound and still manages to retain the crisp sounding lyrics that defined Pulp. This tempo isn't maintained throughout the record, it comes and goes, with the odd journey into country-folk and acoustic driven songs full of agony and heartache. Baby's Coming Back To Me portrays this perfectly before 'the Jarv' launches into Fat Children, his attack on the overweight, hoodie-wearing 'yobs' that attack other kids. Disney Time is another depressing journey, with a piano beat backing Jarvis' quiet, yet deep and concerned vocal. "Now it's Disney time," is delivered with the kind of tone that would give any kid nightmares, but that's always been the way with Jarvis. In Don't Let Waste Your Time he lays into cocky blokes, skinny b*****s in hot pants and pretty much anyone else he's got a bone to pick with. When he performed the Jarvcasts earlier this summer, the Icelandic folk tales and stories of changing light bulbs didn't really do a lot to inspire, but they certainly made you feel uneasy.
Jarvis – the album – is a worthy return by the true frontman of Britpop. It's not a record that will instantly appeal to the record buying public, but it will satisfy every critic and consolidates Jarvis's position as the man who's better than the doubters.