i think his latest solo album is pretty good though a little harsh with steve albini as producer and the first solo was excellent.

I will kill again is outstanding

I have also seen Pulp a few times over the years and agree completely with your thoughts over Jarvis' career. I don't feel qualified to say who should get an Honorary doctorate although it seems that they can be given to anyone they like without any real qualification. With Jarvis though he seems to have become a media lovey. He has been on 'Question time', I think he may have presented 'Today' and he's often on various arts programmes. It seems he's in with the 'in crowd'. If it was left to his music career alone I don't think he would be making too much money.

in the 'Dull' category I'd say.

So expect to see him on the cover of The Word anytime soon.

But don't they hand out these things on the basis of how much publicity they can get by doing it?

Always goes down a bit whenever I hear they accepted something like this, same with OBEs and Knighthoods. But it's par for the course with Jarvis who seems to be doing anything he can to keep himself in the limelight in the last few years.

end of the internet haven't... we Jarvis is dull.... University handing out degrees like confetti... what's the point it's all dark outside i've got this pain down my left side....

of a more hip, less hectoring version of Geldof the Great isn't he?

I loved that song of his - "You're Gorgeous" - though.

"Because you're gorgeous...I'd do anything for you..."

like or "rate" (now there's an over used word) gets a honour no one seems values and everyone feels the need to whinge and moan about it classic.

Pulp had 2 really great songs (Babies, CP), about 3 goodish ones and many many ordinary/poor ones. Yet their standing is way higher than it should be. I haven't heard one decent solo song.

Jarvis is erudite and witty and has an interesting character to be interviewed and to be photographed, so he is all over the place. And now at Sheffield Poly, sorry Hallam Uni.

The one-armed drummer from Def Leppard is more deserving.

...without the Morrissey-esque snidey unpleasantness. While Pulp took a long time to hit their stride they were the best of the Britpop bunch and say more about Sheffield than Cabaret Voltaire (eg Sheffield Sex City). I think a Jarvis poem is also on a wall on one of the uni buildings in Sheff.

I can honestly say Pulp are one of my favourite bands of all time. Jarvis is a great lyricist, that I would quite readily line up alongside Shane Macgowan as one of my favourites, and they had a sound that just...did it for me. And he was also a fabulous frontman, a great character, and in the flesh a good bloke.

I don't understand these 'honorary' handouts that Universities do mind, what are they for? That's my question.

another thumbs-up.

The run of albums from His 'n' Hers to We Love Life is very strong - something to love on every album.
The two solo records are far better than we could have reasonably expected from a man who 'burned out' about 10 years ago! (That means I think they are good.)
He doesn't take it seriously, but he is very good at what he does.
One of the best lyricists of the last, I dunno, twenty years...

Viva Jarvis!

In the best/ worst list in Word Magazine as 'best frontman of all time'?

That'll do.

And also for his comment in 'Live Forever' - "What happens when you finally get everything you've ever wanted and you arrive there and it....it were rubbish"

why no-one agreed with my choice for "coolest band" - maybe it's a girl or rather, mature woman thing (all those "thinking woman's crumpet" cliches are true).

I'd love it if Jarvis got an hon. degree at the university where I work, but I fear I'd be like an academic I met from Liverpool whose idol was John Peel.

When Peel got his hon. degree from Liverpool, said academic was too shy to go and meet him, in spite of being legitimately entitled to be part of the degree procession, dressed up in all the ceremonial finery ... or maybe it was the thought of meeting Peel while in all that get-up that was just too humiliating to consider.

If they are handing out degrees what about Sheffield's finest singer/songwriter to date, the peerless John Shuttleworth.
He could do a few d.i.y. jobs while he is there.In fact ,why not make him Prime Minister.

Has this site become a spot to just diss artists? Apart from saint elbow and the beatles of course

Talk about grumpy old men (apologies to female and younger contributors).

So Flaming lips are worthless , Wayne Coyne can't sing ( whatever that actually means)and they have contributed nothing despite 2 very widely lauded albums and ,for mine, highly entertaining and musically rewarding shows.

Now Jarvis Cocker gets similar treatment. Just because he is overly opinionated and attracts / encourages media attention shouldn't be cause to dismiss his entire career. Pulp had their highlights and the Glastonbury show was superb. Any band that can attract Rcihard Hawley is alright in my book.

The first solo album, has a number of highlights as does the latest. I saw him with Air a year ago and look forward to his tour later this year. He can sing , he can entertain, his lyrics are thoughtful and clever and he does a pretty fair line in melody too.