Released on 22 October 2001, "We Love Life"—was the seventh and final album by the English band Pulp—officially hit the market. The record reached No. 6 in the United Kingdom, remaining there for three weeks—a result considered a success, especially given that the album was recorded as a form of catharsis following the tumultuous sessions for its predecessor, "This Is Hardcore." The album spawned the singles "Sunrise", "The Trees", & "Bad Cover Version."
The album was produced by Scott Walker, who stepped in to replace Chris Thomas. The thematic and sonic shift of the record was met with a more positive critical reception; it moved away from the disillusionment that defined the band's previous work toward a much more organic sound, placing a greater emphasis on the natural world.
This direction was driven by Jarvis Cocker, who had begun to show an interest in this theme—viewing it as something inherently "dangerous"—while also believing it was appropriate to return to simpler, more fundamental elements, such as the natural environment. Cocker was quick to clarify, however, that this was by no means a "hippie" or "flower power" inspired record. It is worth noting that the decision to stop working with Thomas significantly shaped the sound of this record.
Thomas brought a more rigid approach that clashed with the band’s own vision, which demoralized the members—including Candida Doyle, who considered leaving the group if the recordings for the new album were shelved once again. Ultimately, she had a change of heart and stayed on. Even before Scott Walker came into the picture, the primary goal was simply to finish the album; the band held a deep admiration for Walker, whom they had first met at the 2000 Meltdown Festival.
The album was initially going to be titled "Pulp Love Life"—a nice name, though it was ultimately rejected for fear that it might confuse the audience. They then considered simply calling it "Pulp," but the September 11 attacks occurred, which influenced many aspects of the project. Consequently, they chose the title "We Love Life" as a way to share the universal sentiment of peace and love that was so desired at the time.
The album cover, featured the band's name in capital letters, was designed by Peter Saville. Upon its release, three singles were chosen: "Sunrise/The Trees" and "Bad Cover Version." The music video for the latter served as a parody of Band Aid and even featured an appearance by Kurt Cobain as a tribute. Thanks to Cocker’s beautiful, less intensely personal lyrics.
The album was well-received by both critics and audiences. It felt more moving and sincere, solidifying the band’s sound in a way that the contentious "This Is Hardcore" had not; it was even compared to their celebrated record "Different Class." Ultimately, this would be the final official studio album from this iconic band—a cornerstone of 1990s Britpop—and a few years later, Jarvis Cocker would go on to release a solo album.
We Love Life Track List:
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