WLL Is 25

[eamonn]

Hard to believe... Still holds-up as a swansong record but probably now suffers in comparison not only to the three behemoth Pulp records that came before but also More's more polished sheen and sexy theyre-back! narrative. We Love Life really was out of kilter in 2001.

But the lost songs will one day see the record have its day in the sun.

[eamonn]

Interesting article from the ever-reliable Quietus today on We Love Life, a republishing from the 20th anniversary though I don't remember reading it at the time:

https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/anniversary/pulp-we-love-life-review/?fbclid=PAT01DUAVG78ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAnNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzU2NzA2NzM0MzM1MjQyNwABpwBqVMpXUj7Z2Ho1xr0mRmdedO60zRLLV87GY0JxMwTnuD53fuPGRi7PjP4y_aem_DG0C9bYpb7m-rcgfHoA2Qg

[Ian]

In the autumn of 2000, Pulp were in danger of releasing their best album yet. "Sunrise" was getting rave reviews and it felt like everyone wanted a piece of them. Unfortunately, by the time the album was actually released, the momentum had been lost. The world had moved on. The previous three albums were released at just the right time: "His 'n' Hers" early on in the Britpop movement, "Different Class" at the height of it and "This is Hardcore" at the end.

I don't think matters were helped by the ridiculous choice of comeback single. When "Help the Aged" was released in 1997, it sounded appropriate given the mood of the people at the time (following the death of Princess Diana) and it does have a soaring chorus. "The Trees" on the other hand is a nice song but unlikely to be noticed on daytime radio. "Sunrise" may have held its own a year earlier but, again, that opportunity was missed.

Whilst I wouldn't say that "We Love Life" was a disaster album, it could have been a bit better. "Weeds II" sounds like a filler and "I Love Life" and "Sunrise" are great live songs but don't come across very well on record. Also, I don't think "Wickerman" has aged as well as some of its counterparts from previous albums. If they had got their act together a bit earlier, they may have very well released a different, and better album.

It still has some great songs; "Weeds" sounds like a more laid-back version of one of their big hits, "The Trees" works really well in the context of the album and "Bad Cover Version" exceeds on all fronts.

I wonder if we will ever get that deluxe edition. Is "St Just" a 9 minute epic centred around Cornwall? Is "Last Song in the World" as good as Mark says? Was "Sunrise" better in Chris Thomas' hands? Let's hope we get to find out...

[weej]

Is We Love Life still my favourite Pulp LP? Not sure! But I still absolutely love Weeds/Weeds II/Minnie/Wickerman/Sunrise so maybe. It hangs together as an album in a way This Is Hardcore doesn't quite.

[FarmerMatty]

"Weeds II" sounds like a filler and "I Love Life" and "Sunrise" are great live songs but don't come across very well on record. Also, I don't think "Wickerman" has aged as well as some of its counterparts from previous albums. If they had got their act together a bit earlier, they may have very well released a different, and better album.

Wowzer, I don't think i've heard a Pulp take I've disagreed with more. Each to their own of course but the recorded version of Sunrise finishing up the album (and the band... for a bit) a monumental full stop. The swampy electronic haze of Weeds II pushing the sound beyond the trad  'matured in an old oak cask' guitar indie so early gives such a promise, particularly as it seagues from Weeds. We Love Life, had Pulp ever done something so heavy/angst ridden before? Not for a long time. Where to start with Wickerman, we've seen spoken word epics before but never this lilting and and gentle, Kelvin is the city in full throb (bose speakers) whereas Wickerman is gentle journey down the post industrial Don.

Perception eh, funny old thing.

[Ian]

I think "Sunrise" would have sounded better on record a year earlier; a touch faster with more guitars and less strings. Similarly, "Weeds II" the way they played it at Birmingham in 2001 sounds a lot better to me. I do like it but it would have perhaps made a good B-side to a "Weeds" single rather than an album track.

[FarmerMatty]

Fair enough, thanks for the link I look forward to having a listen to that.