Jarvis Cocker

Jarvis (Rough Trade)

By Matt Siblo
Published: June 3rd, 2007 | 9:05pm

In the Brit-pop history books, Jarvis Cocker will likely be remembered as the gangly, spectacled champion of the English middle class. During his lengthy tenure with Pulp, he penned gigantic anthems for blokes and birds desperately looking to make a connection, or as is the case with most of Cocker’s lyrical musings, at least someone to spend the night with.

Fast-forward to a contemporarily domesticated Jarvis, a reluctant family man with wife and child in toe. Such a drastic change could spell trouble for a notorious Lothario, but Jarvis packs in enough of Cocker’s smarmy charms to make it worthwhile. “Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time” is a spirited kickoff, a cautionary tale seemingly dictated by the womanizer he’s warning the listener about. With a wink and a nod, Cocker has the distinct talent of making lines like “but when some skinny bitch walks by in some hot pants / He goes running for the door” not only sound cheeky but legitimate. Other highlights include “Black Magic,” the most soulful song ever sung by a six-foot white English nerd as well as the rollicking “Fat Children,” with its playfully bouncy bass line and plentiful “woahs” in all the right places.

Jarvis shows its spots mostly during the ballads, indulging in the hammy metaphors and extra helpings of schmaltz typical of solo offerings. While “Disney Time” takes a decent idea and putters out, “Heavy Weather” reeks of cheese, employing an ill-advised thunder crash to help flesh out the bad weather/rocky relationship parallel. Really, old boy?

With that said, Jarvis achieves the near impossible feat of a debut solo record that actually contains highlights instead of tolerable tunes that remind us how great they used to be. Say what you will about Cocker, but he’s not one to waste anyone’s time.