Pulp - Different Class

I would love to say that discovering Pulp's Different Class in high school help pinpoint my budding sexuality, but that would be all too perfect. No, instead I just shook my butt and weirded my friends out. There is a lot of fun history with the album cover as well. You can check out the Buzzfeed that is all about the wedding the album cover was taken.

This is probably Pulp's biggest and best album. Opening is Mis-Shapes, a toe tapping with a simple start that builds up to it's climatic chorus. The taboo Pencil Skirt is full of an overly sexual aggressive Jarvis Cocker in all the right ways. The huge hit off this album and maybe out of all of Pulp's work is Common People, a hit you can shake your bum and scream the lyrics too. The french noir themed I Spy is very Serge Gainsbourg meets Dr. No. Throw Disco 2000 on at any high school reunion and dance the night away with the one who got away. Live Bed Show is the sad point of view of a bed and the lonely women, who at one point got a lot of action, but now occupies it alone. Taking things to the B-Side starts things off with the dreamy Something Changed. Then the Sorted For E's & Wizz gives off the vibe that it could have inspired The Flaming Lips. F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E gives you a feeling of being on a dark street corner until it explodes into cascade of synth and guitar. You won't forget how to spell this song after you listen to it (much how I still have to think of Gwen Stefani when I want to spell bananas). Underwear is a sad song that some girls can really relate too unfortunately. The epiphany brought on by Monday Morning is not a great one, but it does perfectly describes the mundane feeling of finally hitting adulthood. Ending the album is the sensual and sweet Bar Italia, which is about getting up after a night out with the worst hangover ever, a great way to end this album. 

I was lucky enough to see Pulp reunite a few years back, it what was an amazingly fun show. If you like britpop the Stone Roses or just great sexually charged dance music that isn't full of the word "bootie" and over driving bass, then you should give Pulp a try. Amazon has it for $32 since it is an import from the UK, but you can search eBay in hopes of finding a cheap use copy. 

Happy hunting!

PAIR WITH:

If you were lucky enough to get tickets then you probably don't need this suggestion, but the perfect pair would be going to the Ace Theater to see Pulp: A Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets with a bonus QnA with both the director and Jarvis Cocker. But if you can't make it, be sure to check out the trailer and hopefully it will be released theatrically or streaming:

The film premiered at SXSW and has been making the rounds, but you can check to see if there is a screening in your area.

UPDATE!
I just read on Oscilloscope's Facebook that the movie will be released nationwide in the US Nov 19th!

First Post! The Back Story

Number 1 Record. That was my first vinyl. I bought it at Amoeba in Hollywood. From there, it's been a slow building addiction. From digging through $1 bins, to standing in record store day lines, to surfing ebay, to finding surprisingly cheap deals on Amazon.com, I've been building up my collection (which, after 2 years, is currently at 544 12" 2 10" and 14 7").

I love music, both live and recorded. Although it really didn't become a large part of my life until middle school. I would just listen to top 40 hits on radio (whatever Rick Dees was spinning) and it wasn't until middle school that I started to actively go out and search for new music. My first CD that I bought was blink 182's live album The Mark Tom and Travis Show. It was a combination of dirty lyrics and raunchy jokes that caused my 11-year-old self to barely listen to it all the way through without the fear of getting in trouble. Oddly enough, it was that feeling of "I shouldn't be doing this" that sparked my interest in music discovery.

I spent my adolescents in the era of the Emo/Softcore boom. Some of my favorite bands included, but weren't limited too, Brand New, Thursday, Taking Back Sunday, Mae, and Death Cab for Cutie. Along with this new genre came going to live shows, a place where my music library exploded to bands that I still enjoy today. Be it Frightened Rabbit opening for Pinback, Mates of State opening for Taking Back Sunday, Stars opening for Death Cab for Cutie, or Brand New covering Neutral Milk Hotel, I gained a more eclectic ear for music.

Fast forward to today. Living in LA, going to at least one show a month, big or small. Reading various blogs, attending free shows, and running around festivals to see as many acts as possible have given me my music knowledge today.

And so, not to take up anymore of your time, I wanted to share what I know and what I recommend, so that you can also build up your vinyl collection with albums you may or may not know. I am not claiming to be an Audiophile, I can't tell the difference between listening to a 180 Gram vs and a clean normal vinyl. I'm not a DJ, I don't have any special speakers, no pre-amp, no fancy head phones, but I do know what I like listening to. I just consider myself a fan of music, and a casual listener.  Though I don't think you should take my opinions unbiasedly and hope that you discover something new and interesting, refine your musical taste, and that some of my recommendations help build up your collection.

Thanks for reading!