It's good! But I didn't listen to it in anywhere near the right conditions so I need to give it another go. Due to having two noisy young kids I listened to so much last night and the rest today... don't expect much variation from those tracks that are already out there. Part of me thinks good on him for finally getting an album out there, and for it being so different to his other solo albums, but by the end part of me wanted some catchier tracks with a bit of variation. Sorry if this review so far isn't very helpful!
I don't, which proved a little difficult in translating the thing! It's really a pretty rough translation but there were only a few places where I didn't understand what was being said, the majority of it is readable.
I've just gone ahead & put everything in a google drive folder, the most recent interview is in the folder called "SPEX":
I can't attend the Rough Trade signing, please, please could someone ask Jarvis if there will be a 3rd 'solo' album.
It's not often we get to ask him directly, thank you in advance!
The titular track is lyrically quite reminiscent of some of the background that fed into the themes of This Is Hardcore (alone in a hotel room watching porn, having a nervous breakdown - ie Jarvis when touring Different Class). The piano is sparse and pretty again but I hope there's some "fuller sounding" songs to come with Jarvis singing more. It does seem however that there will be quite a bit of storytelling through the record which is more likely to lend itself to lots of spoken-word.
I see that the album's running time is 50 minutes long so I wonder if they're going to have to stretch the set with other songs at the live shows. Or maybe Jarvis' in between song patter and the theatricality involved might take the set comfortably past an hour. It would be interesting though if the musicians on-hand could contribute to delving into Jarvis' back-catalogue for the encore.
Even if Pulp is a no-go respected area it would be great to hear some of the less guitar/rock of the solo material. Maybe a few numbers from stuff like Big Julie, I Will Kill Again, Disney Time and Baby Coming Back To Me from the debut, Hold Still and Slush from Further Complications and Likely Stories from last year's soundtrack EP.
Or maybe we'll just get a few other songs that Jarvis and Chilly have written or covered. I remember seeing one or two on YouTube before.
-- Edited by Eamonn on Saturday 4th of March 2017 06:22:55 PM
I'm really looking forward to it! The lyrics have Jarvis' signature insight & wit, paired with Chilly's beautiful piano. It's an interesting idea & I look forward to doing my own research about the Chateau Marmont after listening to the songs, maybe try to connect the lyrics to real events. The recent interviews coming out of Germany really show that Jarvis & Chilly put a lot of thought & work into this project.
Also I think that the vinyl will come with a digital download, if anyone (like me) was wondering.
Be patient, it's more special listening to the album upon release when you have it.
I can't see any new press online for this album and even 6 Music only played Tearjerker once or twice. Too worried they would be seen as biased towards one of their employees if they playlisted him? Doesn't stop them playing Elbow all the time...
I guess some of the music monthlies have reviewed the album?
Hehe yea well excitement isn't as high as it was 20 years ago when the only way to get a record was to go to a record store. I had the chance to listen to TIH a few days in advance in the store and i stood for an hour with headphones on whilst people were minding their own business. Pretty special.
Now i buy them online coz the prices in store are pretty stupid, otherwise i would still go.
I dont think this album is gonna sell much.
Almost no promo and a few gigs. I guess it's a very small release and hope Jarvis has a "real" record coming up in the next few months or next year. Something to make TIH's 20th anniversary maybe ?
I'm sure i'll enjoy this one, but i will surely miss the guitars, drums... etc
Jarvis & Chilly were on the cover of two German magazines, & there seems to be a decent amount of French hype as well so it may be that while there's not too much going on in the UK as far as promotion, there's been more of it in these other two countries. & The events they're doing seem to sell out incredibly quickly so there's definitely interest.
But I don't think they're expecting this to be a chart-topping album it's almost more of an art project.