arvis Cocker is getting older. His'n'Hers created a portrait of how we want to see Jarvis - the common man. He laced the album with songs of experiencing love or, at least, lust for the first time, and then eventually mastering it as an excuse for life by the end of Different Class. With the foursome of Different Class singles - 'Common People', 'Mis-Shapes', 'Sorted for E's and Whizz' and finally 'Disco 2000', Pulp became a thing of legend. Pulp then went into the studio and produced the lavish This is Hardcore - an album that divided a number of fans. The album was Jarvis' growing-up album. Its sobering themes of break-ups, self-realization and reflection showed that Pulp wouldn't be pegged in too easily.It's a hard album to come to terms with immediately, although the one-two punch of 'Weeds' and 'Weeds II (the origin of the species)' certainly show that Pulp still have strong single potential, the album (built on a foundation of nature metaphor's) is *ahem* a grower - taking quite a while to really sink in.


On We Love Life, Jarvis appears to have come to terms with the issues he established on This is Hardcore. It may well be his most intimate album - yet seems divided between songs of love and devotion, and those of love lost, spurned or brought to a chaotic climax. 'I Love Life' seems to be Jarvis reassuring himself, driven by a menacing string accompaniment he asks "Don't think twice. Does it ease the pain of being alive?". Yet on 'The Birds In Your Garden' he proclaims "My Father never told me about the birds and the bees/and I guess I never realized that I would ever meet birds as beautiful as these" to show that he's not afraid yet of making love songs.


It appears that Jarvis is attempting to balance out his concerns with his newfound affinity for nature. Although the band may have lost some of their pop-sheen from their Different Class days, the album seems compelled forward by less conventional instrumentation and sound effects - drawing the listener into Jarvis' visions grassy banks lined with trees and populated by birds.


The album has an earthy appeal, most probably brought on by the bands use of acoustic guitars and strings - there seems to be a distinct lack of synthesizer leads, with Candida resorting to merely color the songs with her tasty drones and sweeps. It ends with the tremendous 'Sunrise' - an evocative guitar and synthesizer romp that draws the listen in and makes the listener thirsting for more.


If you're a fan of This is Hardcore I'd suggest you pick up the album, and let it grow on you - it's certainly worth the time-investment it demands. I think fans of heartfelt lyrical musings in general will be able to find the appeal that Pulp offers on We Love Life - though it may take some time to sink in.