In House #1839: Jarvis Cocker's Jarvis Out In the U.S.; New BRMC

After months of state-side hand-wringing, the solo debut from former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker finally gets a proper U.S. release tomorrow thanks to World's Fair. Already made available to most of the rest of the world last November, Jarvis finds Cocker in classically wry form, with plenty of the kind of social commentary that made Pulp's 90's output stand out alongside their Brit-pop contemporaries. Most notable in this for its direct lyrical approach, "Running the World," included as an album-closing hidden track, calls the international powers that be on the carpet, scolding them with the only words most of them deserve. Elsewhere, Cocker's critical eye is more metaphorical, slicing up corporate culture and its residuals in the scathing "Fat Children." Other highlights here, and there are plenty, include "Heavy Weather," "Baby's Coming Back to Me," and "Black Magic," the latter of which samples Tommy James & the Shondells' "Crimson & Clover," to surprisingly great effect. It's not necessarily surprising to get such a fresh-sounding album from Cocker, though it's never clear what one might hear from an artist who's over a decade removed from his best work with his former band. Jarvis, however, shows Cocker to have aged at least as well as Blur's Damon Albarn, and certainly better than the likes of Oasis. Indeed, Jarvis has returned.

Jarvis Cocker

In House #1839.
Airdate: 4/2/07
Focus: New release from Jarvis Cocker, Jarvis, finally out in the U.S. tomorrow, plus new music from the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, the Kaiser Chiefs, Band of Bees, and more.

BONUS MP3s-
Jarvis Cocker, from Jarvis:

"Running the World" (MP3)

"Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" (MP3)

"Baby's Coming Back to Me" (MP3)

PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #286