Good Pop, Bad Pop

Written with wit, wisdom and warmth. Jarvis Cocker is well known for being a talented singer/song writer/musician, but perhaps his greatest asset is his ability to think independently and tread his own path. He does this in such a naturalistic and uncontrived way. A truly great Briton who enhances our national fabric.

A confession: Aside from the likes of "Common People" and "Disco 2000" I'm not really a Pulp fan, and those are the only two songs of theirs I can actually name off the top of my head. However, this book sounded intriguing: Jarvis Cocker, the front-man of Pulp, is clearing out his loft and deciding which items he should keep and which he should discard. That's basically it - a tour of his loft, sorting things into keep, bin, and Ebay piles, explaining the significance of each item along the way.At first I found the book a bit odd. Why would anyone keep a pack of chewing gum or the label from an Imperial Leather soap bar in their loft rather than throw it away? A few of the items are oddities like that, but fairly quickly you realise Jarvis is telling you the story of his life through these items, from childhood to the pre-fame Pulp, and it becomes strangely fascinating. Pulp fans will love the old pictures of the band which appear from time to time, and Jarvis's notebooks about his plans for the group. The book is also really nicely designed, with pictures scattered throughout of each item he finds, and a few layout tweaks to keep things interesting, even on the Kindle edition which I read. For Pulp fans, a note at the very end will probably send them skipping back to the start to immediately re-read the book with a different perspective.This was the last book I read in 2022, and even for someone who isn't a big fan of Pulp it was one of the most enjoyable.

Sometimes, you buy a book because you like the author, only to read it and like them less. This is not the case here (for me, anyway).I was slightly worried that Mr Cocker might come across as, err, seedy as some of his songs do. However, after hearing him in an Adam Buxton podcast, in which he came across as genuine and likeable, I was emboldened.Jarvis is a natural raconteur and the tales from his life are vivid and engaging, with the added twist of links to things found during a clear out.There was a little bit of seed, though, and I appreciate that it affects me more than others. If I have one gripe, it's the propensity to commence a sentence with '&', though I guess it's original.Otherwise, highly recommended.

Wise, witty, talented and beguiling. But enough about me, what about my almost contemporary Jarvis and his book?Via a trawl through the contents of his attic we're taken on a trip through Cocker's early life, before fame was later to descend during the Britpop era. Ostensibly with the intention of deciding whether to keep that stick of unchewed gum, or that school exercise book where he decided the early Pulp manifesto, Jarvis tells us his story - from geeky kid to, well, geeky kid who hands his band's cassette to John Peel, with life changing results, albeit many of us didn't notice for another decade or more.Written with all the charm and humour you'd expect. For fans of Pulp, or pop, an absolute pleasure to read. A great place to escape to for a few hours as yes, they ARE still running the world.

Jarvis cocker attic memrobilia somewhat drawn out but quite entertaining

This was really fun to read, because although I'm a lot younger than Jarvis, I was living in the same place at the same time! Jarvis's address in the eighties is written in the book at various times as 130 Mansfield Road, and I lived at 134. So I know the little shops, the church, the dentists, the teachers... Interesting, informative and witty, and anyone from Sheffield is bound to have a little smile as they think back to the 70s and 80s places and landmarks.

Informative and interesting from first to last page. An innovative and refreshing different style of biography

Nice trip down memory lane

Quirky, not quite to a fault. Definitely a fun way to write an autobiography.

Definitely good pop. KEEPerWell written, funny bio of Jarvis and the first years of pulp told through the objects he accumulated.

This might not be a classic but still a fun read about Jarvis life. I am having a great time going through his stuff and memories.The book itself arrived in perfect conditions.

for all who loved PULP during the Britpop time. Singer and songwriter describes the way to the band PULP with using simple stuff which Jarvis Cocker found in his room. Many flashbacks. Interesting read. But you should be a fan of PULP or JARV IS - else it might not be as interesting as it was for me

A little slow in places, but was an enjoyable ride into Jarvis World. Not for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed it.