PULP: THIS IS HARDCORE (33 1/ ) 3

JANE SAVIDGE

Following on from her enthralling exposé of the Britpop scene,

Lunch With The Wild Frontiers, and in-depth analysis of Suede’s Coming Up in Here They Come With Their Make-Up On, Jane Savidge proves she still has more than enough stories for her third book on the 90s music scene. Published as part of Bloomsbury’s fantastic 33 1/3 series, Jane’s gaze homes in on the end of the Britpop party and the release of Pulp’s This Is Hardcore album.

As with the rest of the 33 1/3 series, Savidge offers a deep dive into the LP as well as the social and musical climate surrounding its release, yet this volume benefits hugely from Jane’s position in the eye of the storm, acting as Pulp’s PR at the time.

From Savidge’s unrivalled vantage point, she offers an observation into how the band were functioning in those years. Tabloid infamy – thanks to Jarvis invading the Brits stage during Michael Jackson’s performance – as well as a raft of personal issues drove the band close to implosion and informed the various themes explored across the album.

Offering unique insight into the record as an entity as well as the evolution of each of its individual tracks – and the story behind its controversial sleeve artwork – Pulp: This Is Hardcore is every bit as entertaining, informative and gossipy as its predecessors. Elastica next please?