Separations

2002 release. Originally released in 1992, Separations marks a remarkable paradigm shift in Pulp's rise to Brit pop stardom. The long-term lineup of bassist Steve Mackey, guitarist/violinist Russell Senior, keyboardist Candida Doyle, drummer Nick Banks and Jarvis Cocker is cemented on this release, as is the band's fusion of pop, dance and rock that would eventually make them a household name by the mid-'90s. The song "My Legendary Girlfriend" earned the band its first Single Of The Week in NME and the masterfully sardonic songwriting and consistent musical backing makes songs like "Countdown" and "Love Is Blind" just as good. An accomplished step forward, both illustrating the band's enormous potential while sounding solid on its own.