cocaine socialism

Out of all the so-called britpop bands, Pulp has always been my favorite, by far. And now that Island Records (UK) has released deluxe editions of three out of the four albums they put out, i can rejoice in my Pulp loving phase. The deluxe CDs come remastered and complete with b-sides, demos, never released and live tracks. It is a completist's dream...

Most fans would argue that Different Class is the best or the favorite of all records, it's certainly the most popluar of all, but i have to say, now listening to all three, it's a tough call. They're all amazing. His 'n' Hers contains some of my favorite songs that are the precursors to what followed (Lipgloss, Babies and Do you remember the first time?). Different Class is similar in form and content, but more cohesive and consistent all over, and obviously full of hits that you may or may not have overdosed on, depending on your geographic location and party habits. Though Different Class gave us the party anthems, musically, there are darker moments (F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E and Monday Morning) that make the album a well balanced aural meal, because let's be honest, too much dancy pop would not be good the heatlh. In fact, this is probably what sets Different Class as a perfect pop-rock album; it's not too sweet, not too sour...
Truth be told, i have a soft spot for This is hardcore, the sexed-up, sick-of-it-all "coming down" album, full of provocation and gloom (starting with the cover art). I wouldn't necessarily call it my favorite, but it has a special place in my collection. In This is hardcore, Jarvis Cocker is done talking about partying, skirts, underwear and screwing girls, he now clearly states that he is sick of the attention and infatuation, and wants nothing more than go back to human status (oh please, how foolish of him!). "I am not Jesus, though i have the same initials. I am the man who stays home and does the dishes" from Dishes says it all. It's 10+ years after the crazed Pulp days of Glastonbury and NME covers, and i still know some people who see Jarvis as some of kind of god... and well, i can't really blame them, but that's another topic altogether. Perhaps This is hardcore is the dark horse of the repertoire and the most underrated of them all, but c'mon, forget about Common people, Help the aged is as much, if not more, anthemic. I believe that at the time of the release, critics and fans, expecting another Different Class, didn't really give This is hardcore a proper chance, and with a few years of perspective and aging, most would agree that it was, and still is, brilliant.
No matter which record is your favorite, every deluxe album has some really great added material. The demos and b-sides are a real treat, Watching Nicky and Can i have my balls back please? (i know, wtf?) just to name a couple. There is one demo that was never released before, which really grabbed my attention, it's the one called Cocaine socialism (according to the liner notes, it was the first song recorded for This is hardcore), in wich Jarvis sings:

"Well you sing about common people
And the mis-shapes and the misfits
So can you bring them to my party
And get them all to sniff this?"

Now considering this was written in the late 90's, that was some serious divine premonition...

His'n'Hers - Different Class - This is hardcore... which Pulp deluxe edition are you?