Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker believes albums are “coming back”, arguing that vinyl records offer a better listening experience than streaming and digital downloads. In an interview with NME, the singer shared his thoughts on the future of music consumption as Pulp continues to celebrate its recent return with new music and live releases.
Jarvis Cocker Says Albums Are “Coming Back”
Cocker believes the physical album format is finding renewed appeal among music fans, particularly through vinyl, while digital album purchases have become less common.
“Albums, I think they’re coming back. Vinyl sales are up, CDs are kind of scheduled to disappear, and no one buys an album digitally.
I always thought that a vinyl album was where records worked best. You’ve got a side that’s only 20 minutes long, you can listen to it, go and make a cup of tea or whatever, and it’s a good thing.
Albums are coming back, that’s what I’m saying. They’re back!”
For Cocker, the format encourages listeners to experience music in shorter, focused sessions, with the structure of a vinyl record shaping how an album is heard.
Pulp Celebrate Their Return With Documentary And Live Album
Cocker’s comments come as Pulp continue their latest chapter following the release of More, their first studio album since We Love Life in 2001.
The band’s comeback has also been documented in Pulp: What Do You Do For An Encore?, directed by Garth Jennings. Released in September, the film charts Pulp’s rise to fame using previously unseen archival material and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the group’s 2025 More tour.
In August, Pulp also released Live!, a live album recorded during their performances at London’s O2 Arena in June 2025.
Cocker explained the thinking behind the release’s title:
“A concert is an event where songs come back to life. That’s why this album is called Live! It’s both a statement of fact (it’s a recording of a live band) and a challenge (come on! Everyone come alive!).”
Could Pulp Release More New Music?
Cocker has also left the door open to further new music from Pulp, explaining in an earlier interview with NME that the band approached More without treating it as a final statement.
“Maybe. We tried to not have a concept for this record or think: ‘This is it, this is our last gas’. I used to think that a lot.
I had this weird thing that when an album was mixed and finished where I’d think: ‘Oh, I can die now and it would be OK’. That’s a terrible way to think about your life, really. I didn’t feel that with this record [More].”
