I never thought I would ever say it, but Pulp are back. Fucking hell. And while More could hardly beat that perfect three-album run they had in the 1990s, it still met my highest expectations. The album never feels tired or laboured. It is clever, groovy, totally engaging. And it has, in the relentless "Grown Ups", one of their best songs ever.
All things considered, Patrick Wolf's comeback felt just as unlikely. His previous album, the unashamedly poppy Lupercalia, was released back in 2011 when the world was a much different place. And, after all these years of oblivion, Crying The Neck feels like both a healing process and a rebirth. I'm delighted to report that Patrick has not lost any of his songwriting powers: the songs may at first appear somewhat meandering, but further listens reveal strong hooks. He does romantic balladry ("The Last Of England", "Hymn Of The Haar"), he does romantic pop music ("Limbo", "Dies Irae"), and it all amounts to a career peak.
Also, new albums by two unfading rock stars of the 60s. Neil Young's Talkin' To The Trees is the usual ragged affair that teases but never quite delivers (it's been a while since I last loved a new original Neil Young album). Still, the disarmingly gorgeous "First Fire Of Winter" almost makes it all worth it. Van Morrison, for his part, has recorded his best album in years. In fact, if there is anything frustrating about Remembering Now, it's that with a little editing it could have been even better. As it is, 68 minutes is taking things a little too far. But damn it if there isn't an eight song classic in here.
Finally, my review of the new record by Comet Gain can be found here (short version: it is excellent).
P.S. I still haven't heard the new Half Man Half Biscuit album in its entirety - but I certainly will at some point.
Songs of the month:
"Grown-Ups" by Pulp
"Down To Joy" by Van Morrison
"First Fire Of Winter" by Neil Young
"Jupiter" by Patrick Wolf
"The Ballad Of The Lives We Led" by Comet Gain
"56 Nervous Breakdowns" by Luke Haines & Peter Buck
"Jack's Been To The National" by Half Man Half Biscuit
"I Started A Joke" by Paul Weller
"A Song By Me" by Jim Bob
