Wow! A ground-breaking album for both Pulp and the so-called “Brit-pop” scene that they got lumped together with at the time.
Pulp had been around for many years and released several albums before this one, but were virtual unknowns until “Different Class” and its singles hit the racks and the eardrums. Released in 1995, and available with different covers in limited edition (mine features the wedding photograph) it’s a definite must-have for collectors of classic albums of the 90s, if not all time.
Tracklisting:
Mis-shapes Pencil Skirt Common People ! Spy Disco 2000 Live Bed Show Something Changed Sorted for Es and Whizz F.E.E.L.I.N.G C.A.L.L.E.D L.O.V.E Underwear Monday Morning Bar Italia
This is one of those rare albums where the highlights aren’t purely the singles released from it, although highlights they certainly are in this case. “Common People” was a mega-hit and probably familiar to all – a masterpiece of lyricism, vocalisation and musicianship – infectiously sing-a-long and poignant depending how you see the lyrics.
The other singles, “Mis-shapes”, “Disco 2000”,”Sorted for Es and Whizz” and “Something Changed” can also be put in that bracket – even if they are somewhat lesser-known. “Mis-shapes” charts the power of mind over fashion, “Disco 2000” some poignant schooldays nostalgia and “Sorted for Es and Whizz” is a glorious, amusing anecdote of rave culture. “Something Changed” sees a bit of string-laden romance, unusually for Pulp and Jarvis Cocker.
Jarvis Cocker is a fantastic lyricist and singer. His writing shows a true human side and always contains some wry humour and his vocals can be wonderfully sinister aswell as haunting, whilst retaining his Sheffield accent.
His sinister side is shown beautifully on “I spy” – as he stalks and covets someone else’s wife including some of the most original lines of lyrics I’ve heard in many years.
“Monday Morning” is a ska influenced, skipping track about work and club culture not mixing well. The final track “Bar Italia” is a glorious ending, it rolls along, with Cocker sounding sleepy and exhausted as he relates the post-nightclub goings-on of the people who make it to “Harry’s Bar” in Soho in the early hours of the morning.
All in all I’m hard-pressed to label any tracks as lowpoints but for me my least liked tracks are “Pencil Skirt” and “Underwear” – purely because they are not as clever or as engaging as the rest but they are certainly not bad tracks for it.
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Harry's Bar? I thought it was about the genuine article, Bar Italia. Or at least that's where I always end up on dodgy Soho nights - I've never found Harry's.
cjkace 14.05.2001 03:17
Bugger. That was quick. I hit stop as soon as I realised I'd spelt drugs wrong and it still got posted. Cheers again - Craig
It became increasingly apparent during 1995 that the answer to the question "Blur or ... more
Oasis?" was, in fact, "Pulp".Different Classwas the sound of a band so on "it" that they defined "it". Thirty years of fury, frustration, sexual longing, class angst a...
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It became increasingly apparent during 1995 that the answer to the question "Blur or ... more
Oasis?" was, in fact, "Pulp". Different Class was the sound of a band so on "it" that they defined "it". Thirty years of fury, frustration, sexual longing, class angst...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Brilliant album, full of emotionful songs that defined Britpop, easy to get into, intelligent lyrics, Jarvis Cocker's voice Disadvantages: -
Ihatemusic 24.12.2006 (24.12.2006)
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Review of Different Class - Pulp
Advantages: Sex, drugs, and common people! Brilliant, catchy, important lyrics Disadvantages: some songs take a little getting used to; Can't I give it more than 5 Stars?
OKkaraoke 31.10.2002 (27.11.2002)
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Review of Different Class - Pulp
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