Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications

A couple years ago Jarvis Cocker released his first solo album away from his longtime band Pulp.  I gave the album a couple listens (not familiar with any of his work with Pulp) and dismissed it as yet another aging-rockstar-who-realizes-they-are-growing-old-and-it-kind-of-bums-them-out album.  There were no moments of "wow" and it was, honestly, depressing.  But now it's 2009 and he has gotten over that phase and decided he would shake things up a little.  And this time he would do so with tongue firmly in cheek.  On board this outing is distinctive producer Steve Albini.  Albini is known for his stripped down productions and upfront sound.  For two decades this has described his M.O. and as a result bands such as The Stooges, Nirvana (I still get chills when listening to the opening drums of "Scentless Aprentice"), Joanna Newsome (ugh), and others have requested his services.  And together, Cocker and Albini have created a frontrunner for one of the best (if not the best) albums thus far of 2009.

From the opening chords is pelted with the trademark reverb and overall grittiness of Albini's sound.  Then Cocker joins the scene and it begins.  He describes how his life only leads to (album title) further complications.  But he doesn't do it in the mopey style of his previous effort but instead Cocker does it with a cocky kind of swagger.  This tone prevails throughout the album.  For example, "Leftovers" has him detailing a relationship with a woman he met at a paleontology museum (and he has "no bones about it") and his efforts to love.  And the song is very much in the style of early 70s Bowie.  Lots of emotion and buildup.  In fact, much of the album sounds as though it should have been released 36 years ago.  

Only once during the album's run does Cocker push aside all the goofiness and display some honest emotion.  And consequently, like the rest of the album, it is great.  "Slush" which is about, ahem, global warming, is a lovely track.  But never does it come off cheesy considering the subject matter and the rest of the album's mood.  In fact, it's sandwiched in between "Caucasian Blues", which contrary to the name is more of a straight rocker than a blues song (yet still relays the troubles of the white dude), and "You're In My Eyes (Discosong)" which is, no joke, a disco song complete with the synths and spoken word interlude.  

This signifies just how great this album is.  The tracklist (although splendidly put together) could work in any format and the overall effectiveness of the album would remain.  Whether it's a disco song, an instrumental ("Pilchard"), or a song that could have been a 60s hit with its catchy riff ("Angela"), it all works.  Cocker, assisted beautifully by Albini, has released an actual album.  Sure you could check out a track here or there but you would be doing the two an injustice by not taking it all in at once.  Each track is definitive in its own way, thus making it one of 2009's definitive albums.

4.7/5.0

Standout tracks:  "Angela" "Leftovers" "Slush"

Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications