Having followed Pulp for quite a while (when Richard Hawley was in the band in the late 80's) it was nice to see them release something so late in their hip career. The hidden track-razzmatazz from "His n Hers" actually is named on this cd. Pulp is one of those bands you either love or hate. They have a unique sound with quirky vocals from frontman hipster Jarvis Cocker. If you like Suede, Verve, Oasis, Blur and the other Bri-poppers I highly advise getting this cd along with Richard Hawley's (ex-Pulpster) solo album "Late Night Final" another materpiece.

Thanks Jarvis and Richard for making these cool sounds!!

You know you'd give it up for Jarvis Cocker. Without question. The way he can sneer right through a song while coasting on his smooth, white-soul voice inspires a host of dirty thoughts. Amazingly, this is a a 'best of' that manages to avoid glaring errors and ommissions. Don't even try not to shake yer hips to the first half of the album- songs such as 'Babies' and 'Common People' (the massive hit that pitted working class against upper crust with it's tale of a poor little rich girl) are laced with campy synths and have driving beats lifted straight from the Discoteque. And of course, it's all loaded with the kind of cheeky bantor that would make anyone but Jarvis blush. After all, how many bands could make you sympathize with a man who cheats on his girlfriend with her sister? As the pace slows the music segues into a series of slow-burn croons like the sentimental a "Little Soul," never losing the uniquely British character that Pulp refused to water down for marketability outside the Commonwealth.

On this evidence, Pulp may be the so-called "Britpop" act that has best weathered the '90's. They've been able to subtly alter their sound without retreating into obtuse "experimentalism" while also avoiding the trap of becoming one's own cover band. Older tracks like 1993's fantastic "Babies" still sound fresh, and the tracks from 2001's neglected "We Love Life" are easily on a par with the band's best work. In a rarity for compilations, even the new track is good!
Despite sagging sales, Pulp is still very much on top of its game. Let's hope that their current hiatus is not permanent.

Its such a shame Pulp have faded from our lives. In 1995 they were megastars in the UK with their release 'Different Class' which typified the indiekid/britpop movement and beat all the other bands that were part of it (and yes that includes YOU Oasis and Blur) to, quite literally, a Pulp. But unlike the many other bands who have had one successful album amid a fog of underachieving ones, Different Class isn't actually that far ahead of other Pulp albums. Its just that Pulp were so part of that particular moment that, as its fashionability passed, and 'indiekids' became no longer 'kids', they lost their limelight.

While the singles from Different Class remain brilliant (their best known, the classic 'Common People', and also 'Sorted Out For E's and Whizz' and their best track ever, 'Disco 2000'), there's plenty more on offer in Pulp's Hits album. There's the pop charm of the singles from the earlier 'His n Hers' album (particularly the album's opener, the fantastic 'Babies'), the harder work of the 'This Is Hardcore' albuim the rockiest of which is 'Party Hard' and the later commercial failure but artistic success of the 'We Love Life' album, particularly 'Bad Cover Version'.

There's also a decent, slow-burning new track, 'Last Day of the Miner's Track'. RIP Pulp