Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea

The kind of album you listen to when you are in college and you think you are listening to cutting edge stuff. It isn't.

The sound is a little dated to me, sounds of a time, but it still holds up and I like the vibe and message.

Meh

Great voice and some songs that I liked a lot as well as some generic Britpop ones. On the fence between 3 and 4 stars.

Ella es súper Cool, su voz, la forma en la que sacrifica la melodía para dar fuerza, lo disfruté bastante

The first word I could think of for this album is "Radiohead". Maybe my head remembered some review comparing it to PJ's contemporary. And as I was writing that I just got to "This Mess We're In" and Thom is featured. Makes sense now. In addition to that, the guitar work feels very late 90s/early 2000s alt-rock. Compared to "Dry", the last album I listened from PJ, it feels more introspective and "transient". Not sure how to put it into the words but the album cover evokes that evening/midnight feeling of walking around NYC and seeing people and lights coalesce into one. As always, I'm more of a sucker for the more simple tunes like "This Is Love" and "This Mess We're In". The second half stood out to me as sounding more different than the first half, which to me were just variations of the same rock sound (3-3.5).

6/10

-mega am schreie leider

She's got some cool stuff going on here. Feels like a great NYC cultural artifact that does a really nice job of catching the vibe and feel of the city before 9/11

PJ Harvey is incredibly consistent throughout her career and I like just about all of her stuff but it never sticks around in my head

Three-leaning-four

This album sounds like it's made specifically to listen to it while on a road trip, it's melancholic but not really sad, it feels like whoever made it is passionate about music. Not a 5 stars because it's not my kind of music, but it's still a banger.

On peut pas mettre 2.5 c'est chiant.

Banal

Casi casi un no skip

Love her!

7/10

Good, very 90s poetic

To be honest, there aren't enough women in alternative music and rock so I was glad to listen to this album. Super unique with great vocals (imo) and music, not to mention an amazing song with Thom Yorke.

Rock chick par excellence, full of gritty tunes about her new love L, it’s joys and insecurities

Played this one quite a bit in my record store days. Nice hearing it again. Always liked it, but haven't heard it in ages.

I feel like I enjoy her early work better, but this got me through the morning commute on the train.

I do see it, liked it, just didn’t feel in the mood for it

es un buen disco, hay que decirlo.

This was very entertaining and I enjoyed more than her previous releses.

Amazing. Really want to give this a 5 but my heart says I can’t. Love the fusion of Patti Smith with the alt grunge

I might be biased by nostalgia here, but I like this record a lot. I had forgotten how much I used to listen to this when I was a teenager, but the songs came back to me quickly. It rocks surprisingly hard, the guitars sound great, PJ's voice sounds great. But it also has a kind of arty urban chic to it, which is probably what first attracted me in high school. Overall, good shit.

I get it, you're hard like that, like an angrier Florence and the Machine. Nah.

Album #186: PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea ⭐⭐ Unpopular opinion time. Just to set the scene here, I am a lifelong PJ Harvey fan. She’s literally one of my all-time favourite artists. I listen to her all the time, and I know this is one of her most popular albums. For me, though, this is an album I’ve never, ever warmed to. I really thought today might finally be the day. I’ve had many, many goes at giving it another chance, thinking eventually I’d warm to it, and sadly it just hasn’t happened. This album annoys me for a number of reasons, chiefly among them the fact that she won the Mercury Prize for it. It was critically lauded enough that this was apparently the album where everyone decided, “We better reward her with something for this one, because this is next-level.” I just couldn’t believe that, with everything she’d done before this album, this was the one. It shows the banality of music awards, and maybe that’s apt, because I think this is a really banal album. I have loads of issues with it. Sonically, I think it’s her least interesting album. The aggression of Rid of Me and Dry is gone. The experimentation of Is This Desire? is gone. Instead, you’ve got very straightforward, stripped-back, fuzzy alternative rock. That might be perfectly fine in the hands of another artist, but it’s just not enough for her, in my mind. The standard is too high. I get what the album is supposed to be about. It’s an album of lost love and gained confidence in New York City. But just because you can name skyscrapers, different boroughs in the city and set a few scenes on rooftops doesn’t make for a very lyrically interesting album, unfortunately. Her lyrics here are among the weakest of her discography, in my opinion. She doesn’t say anything particularly interesting for pretty much the entire album. She repeats herself a lot, and it’s often fairly obvious where the next lyric is coming from. Her vocals are great, because her vocals are always great. But she’s not delivering anything interesting with them, and it brings everything down. This is the woman who once sang a song about cutting her lover’s legs off if they tried to leave her. Now, am I asking her to make Dry 2? Am I asking her to make Rid of Me: The Sequel? No. On Is This Love, she sings, “Does it have to be a life full of dread?” No, Peej, no. It’s obviously a more positive album than her earlier work. But it’s just very, very vanilla for me. She has a great band behind her, with Rob Ellis on drums, who’s one of my all-time favourite drummers, but his drums are so muted on this thing as well. Very few moments where he expresses himself. And I get that the production is meant to be slick. It’s New York. It’s slick. It’s cool. It’s a cool-sounding album. But, it lacks rawness and character. I actually think the precursor to this album is A Perfect Day Elise from Is This Desire? It’s a similar style of tune. A Perfect Day Elise could easily have fit on Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. But, Is This Desire? is much more lo-fi, but it’s also way more experimental and way more interesting. The weirder tracks on that album are vastly more interesting and enjoyable than the weirder tracks on this one. If you liked this album, or if you’re only really getting into PJ Harvey, I would strongly recommend listening to Is This Desire? It’s my favourite PJ Harvey album and her most interesting, in my opinion. I think she was ascending into the stratosphere of quality there, and she took a big nosedive for me here. There are three moments on this album that I really like and actually come back to quite a lot. This Mess We’re In, where Thom Yorke comes in and saves the day and makes things a bit more interesting. It’s a beautiful duet between the two of them. Kamikaze, which is a little more old-school PJ Harvey and has this creepy quality that, to me, almost feels like an eerie foreshadowing of 9/11, which was right around the corner. There is a level of intensity that the rest of the album doesn’t have. And We Float, which is a beautiful song despite having some of the lyrical issues I have with the rest of the album. She goes a little more electronic and atmospheric on that one, and it’s much better for it. But overall, the atmosphere is stunted. I’ve tried this album a hundred times. Some of my favourite album reviewers love it. I see it lauded all the time. I don’t think anyone in the comments, or any other review I’m going to read, is going to save it for me. This is PJ Harvey’s weakest album, in my opinion. It’s two stars for me every time I listen to it.

First PJ Harvey and there's definitely some cool shit on here but overall I'm a bit meh

This was some of her better work for sure.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this but it was solidly fine. I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more had I heard it back when I was a teenager/at a more formative age but I can see why it made the list. I did particularly appreciate the surprise Thom Yorke so an extra star gets added for that.

lush and multi-layered. 4/5

Really strong album. I always liked the song "To Bring You My Love" from her first album, but never listened to much else. I will be listening to this one multiple times.

One of the things I'm glad this list is finally getting me to listen to is all the cool women in rock music that I've been sleeping on. Some nice alt. rock on this specific record, and I really love "A Place Called Home" in particular. 8/10.

This was mostly excellent. An evolution from her earlier work but no less original. Normally anything that includes Thom Yorke post OK Computer would lose points because of his insufferable nature/voice/attitude, but I’m not going to let him ruin what is a great album. Her third album “To Bring You My Love” is still my favourite, but I really enjoyed listening to this again.

I had never really engaged with PJ Harvey properly and this was an interesting first time. Some stand out tracks (Good Fortune, This Mess we're in) makes this hard to ignore while the rest navigates between good and pretty good. Overall I'd give that another listen if I fancy some naughties rock while not being obsessed with it. Maybe more like a 3.5?

This is my 2nd album from this artist in 4 days, and while it was (unlike the previous one) at least tolerable, it wasn’t anything to get excited about (her voice is annoying to be honest). As I said in the previous review, praise from critics is not the same as successful musician- and sing her praises all you want, the low sales speak louder than the critics. Real talents are lucky to have even 1 album on this list, this one definitely doesn’t deserve 2. Oh wait, silly me, she’s British so that’s why she gets on the list. 🙄

it's nice. i like it. i especially like the songs with radiohead guy

She has a big voice but I remain fairly unengaged.

Better than other PJ Harvey records.

Not my style. Vocals and rhythm were good just didn't click for me though.

Knew PJ Harvey, but never actually listened before, legendary status confirmed, this one's genuinely good. Get why it's called one of her masterpieces, feels like her most accessible and melodic work. Bonus points for the Thom Yorke collab since I'm a Radiohead fan, that track hit. Might come back to this one someday.

Didn't expect anything and came out disappointed, I guess good vibes ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A fun album. Almost like Radiohead was a girl.

Probably her most accessible album. Have loved this for years.

ok

This album starts off with an absolute bang. Despite its title, 'Big Exit' instantly draws you in, and the rest of the record never lets go. Harvey joins a long line of London artists totally mesmerized by New York, using that energy to inspire an amazing record. I had heard of her but never actually listened before—I'm so glad this popped up. A fantastic album.

Chill

For me, PJ Harvey constantly shifts along an axis between moody introverted poetry and visceral extroverted lyricism. Each album challenges me to re-establish my relationship with her lyrics and music, although my preference continues to be for her more dynamic performances, and… …and yeah, what a load of pretentious twaddle. What I’m trying to say is, I still really like the shouty bits.

Jeez (I thought). If the algorithm is throwing up a second PJH album in less than a month, there are maybe a few more to come. Which boded badly given the last was an impenetrable mess of noise. But yet… this is undeniably much better than her last entry - more tuneful, rocky, and less angsty. And it was starting to sound like a Pretenders/late 90s Radiohead mash up (a good thing), when Thom Yorke showed up as if to prove my point - so an extra point awarded for that. Hope her other albums are more like this one than the last one.

Yes, this please.

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would!

Surprised me a lot, I really enjoyed it :)

I got into PJ Harvey with her Rid of Me album, I prefer her more raw, heavy a gritty music. This is a decent album, a lot more melodic, but I wouldn't consider it exceptional. The subject matter is still pretty dark at times. The duet with Thom Yorke was surprising and a nice touch. I might add this to the collection if I could find a cheap copy but I prefer her earlier work.

3 of these albums so far on the list. The other two got a 2, and I am on the fence on this one. Okay, 2 it is - the streak continues

Pas mon style

love this album, but _to bring you my love_ better be on this list as well. as should _dry_. pj was pretty unstoppable through 2000. and pretty much her entire career. forgot how good this album really is and also forgot that thom yorke guested on this one.

powerful voice and lyrics. pretty basic instrumentation.

Liked ... Big Exit

2.5/5

Another hit from PJ Harvey! The atmosphere on this album is impeccable, and Thom Yorke perfectly serves the two songs he features on as well.

This was fine. Not bad, not amazing.

PJ Harvey is an immensely polyvalent artist and I respect her so much for it, but the alt-rock direction she went for on this particular album really didn't speak to me. The Thom Yorke collab invites the comparison: a lot of the material here has the same dullness I disliked about Hail To the Thief. Out of curiosity though, I queued up 'Is This Desire?' after this and actually adored it! Sad that it's not included in the book. Every record I've heard from her has gone in a totally different direction from the last, so perhaps we all just need to find our right PJ Harvey album. Standouts: One Line • You Said Something

This is kind of about you; this is kind of about me... I love this album so much, but it definitely won't give up its secrets on a quick listen. You need to really sit down and take in what she's saying. The way that she varies her voice from low and husky to clear and high adds so much texture. Her duet with Thom Yorke is something I never would've thought of, but having heard it I want ten times more. The only complaint I could muster about this album is that Horses in My Dreams drags, but following it with We Float to close the album is a slam dunk.

Cool enough but no head bobbing hits. Sets a mood but that's about it

PJ Harvey – Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea (2000) On Day 235, I experienced a solid, polished indie-rock LP. The overall production and atmosphere were great throughout, but the absolute highlight was the vocal work; I especially loved both PJ Harvey's and Thom Yorke's performances across the record. Their collaboration on the project added a fantastic dynamic to an already strong, melodic body of work. A great, memorable turn-of-the-century alt-rock listen. A solid 4/5.

I had heard of PJ Harvey before this project, but had never actually listened to any of her music. Loved the first album I got and immediately went out and listened to more (including this one). Love this.

Wow, this really clicked for me on the second listen. It has the nostalgia of early-2000s grocery store soft-pop-rock, except with more abstract, complex melodies, really exposed & powerful vocals, and a broad sonic landscape characteristic of all my favorite albums. Love love love. Plus the album cover is kinda sick.

Thom Yorke jump-scare got me good.

#1035. You Said Something was good. Miss me with the rest of it. 2/5: meh

Overall very pleasant album. We float is my stand out favorite. It has the airy melancholic feeling that hits the right spot. The other songs range from excellent to pretty good. Big Exit was also very nice! Would listen again

Un disco maravilloso

Apparently she's got an MBE for services to music and a NME award for an outstanding contribution for music. Really? I found it all a bit bland and boring.

PJ Harvey is one of my discoveries from this project. I knew the name, but had never listened to her before. I have enjoyed every album the list has to offer and some it doesn’t. This is probably my favorite album of hers, having only heard it for the first time this morning. I’ll give it another listen this afternoon and may amend my rating to a 5.

I've heard some PJ Harvey but this would be my first full length. Solid overall but from my understanding not as dark as some of her earlier work which I'd imagine I might prefer. Some nice collaborations with Thom Yorke of Radiohead, a band that I've heard some earlier albums but nothing more recent. All the tracks seem to fit together as a whole and the singles didn't really stand out to me. Interested in hearing more of her work in the future.

I enjoyed this album.

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/pj-harvey/stories-from-the-city-stories-from-the-sea/ I remember saying before that I prefer the 'newer' PJ Harvey sound, but this album might change my mind somewhat. Nice Patti Smith influence on some songs (The Whores Hustle...), positive Thom Yorke jumpscare, and generally a bit more approachable than Rid of Me. This will definitely benefit from repeat listens that I will give it.

Super, good songs, arrangements production. Has aged great, main complaint is that Horses in my Dreams should have been the album closer. 9/10

A blind spot in my listening history, PJ Harvey is actually pretty solid. Catchy tunes, perfectly fine writing, and a sound that is perfectly encapsulated in that turn of the century sound. I'll be back to this.

skipped a couple, didn't love her voice but some songs were catchy

Album Cover: 5/5 (Classy) Best Tracks: Big Exit, Good Fortune, This is Love Big Exit is a great opening track. Rating: 5/5

I think I can best summarize this as 'not my thing'. I don't think anything was outright bad but didn't really like it.

Very solid 3. Nothing I hated, not much that grabbed me either. Her voice is nice though, and I enjoyed the variety in these songs.

Just missed the 90's

A bit dull

Boring. Don’t like it.

The mess we’re in was instantly not just one of my favourite songs on the album but of all time and I’m so scared each time I listen to it that I’ll get sick of it and it can’t capture that magic feeling of the first listen, I was playing subnautica listen to this album and the atmosphere of the album fit perfectly with the feeling of being at the bottom of a vast dark sea. A somber peacefulness with a perfect pinch of sadness and dread.

I should listen to PJ Harvey more. 4/5.

idr

First impression was "ah sounds like some decent radio rock" but it quickly improved from that. Very fun and pleasant listen, strong 4; I'll stick with this one, but it didn't "wow" me quite yet for a 5.

Way more rock than I was expecting. I like it, but considering the 2 day delay in writing this review I'm struggling to expand on it. Will relisten.

Not her absolute best but that’s just saying this is a great album

Didn't set my world on fire. PJ going soft, all muted tones and hushed vocals. It's pretty, but pretty like a rainy day that you'd rather skip pretty. Where's the fire? Where's the raw power that usually grabs me by the throat? I'm left wanting more grit, less lullaby. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Good Fortune - This Mess We're In - This Is Love

Solid album, and did I hear a Radiohead duet? Didn't have that one on my bingo card today.

Really good. Had never heard of her before.

This wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t for me. And that’s okay.

Most female singers are like beer. PJ Harvey is usually like whiskey. In this outing she's a little more like wine rosé at the beginning and a more robust Bordeaux towards the end. It's more subtle and not better for it in my opinion. The tunes are there the lyrics are there but the rawness is sadly lacking.

I like that the guy from Radiohead is there too

fav songs: one line beautiful feeling this mess we're in this is love alt, atmosphere, melodic 70/100

Mercury Prize winning Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea is easily my favorite work I've heard from PJ Harvey. Written about her love of New York City, it's suitably majestic, a little grimy, and often frenetic. The songs are well-crafted, the production is crystal clear, and there's zero reason to skip a single track. There are even Thom Yorke appearances in a few tracks, as if things weren't good enough as is.

мне она не нравится

Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea isn’t PJ Harvey becoming less interesting. It’s PJ Harvey becoming more emotionally open without becoming less dangerous. And that’s probably the album’s greatest achievement. “This Is Love,” “Good Fortune,” “A Place Called Home,” and “You Said Something” are Harvey at her most immediate—and the fact that she could make songs this accessible without sounding remotely generic is why this record deserves its reputation.

Not really for me.

Love any excuse to listen to Polly Jean. What a consummate artist. I really don't listen to her enough, to be honest. This is a fantastic record, by far her most accessible, and she loses little by going a little more tuneful, a little more direct. Thought I may prefer, her noisier, artier outings, this fits right into her discography. Not quite a masterpiece, but PJ can do little wrong in my eyes.

Oooo. This was *THE* PJ Harvey album I listened to in college. Almost every mix tape had songs from this. Still put tracks on playlists to this day. A Place Called Home, This Mess We're In, and We Float are my favorite PJ tracks. They are conveniently all on one stellar album.

5⭐️

I don't often get gender euphoria, but goddamn if PJ Harvey doesn't make me thrilled to be a woman.

First time listening to a full PJ Harvey album. Was really solid and enjoyable.

This was ok. A little repetitive and nothing really standing out.

She’s a goddess and this album is a masterpiece.

Got some jams, probably the most accessible PJ record

Neither here nor there. Forgettable songs and a generic style they doesn't leave an imprint.

Previously known.

Massive fan from the very start. Polly Harvey is up there with the best singer songwriters ever. Always pushing the boundaries, always doing her own thing. This is a truly great album from a list of great albums.

Fun to revisit this classic, good stuff.

One of the albums of all time

Recently got into PJ Harvey and enjoying it.

4.5 never heard of her before this but nice vocals and great song writing

Hyvä levy mutta ei mikään mestariteos. Tuntuu, että levyllä on iso nippu sinänsä vahvoja biisejä, mutta ne ovat kuin yhdestä puusta veistettyjä ja ehkä siksi levy ei ihan lähde lentoon. This Mess we’re in, Kamikaze ja This is love erottuvat edukseen. Jotenkin jäi fiilis, että potentiaalia olisi ollut jopa loistavaan albumiin mutta jokin muuttuja on väärin tai puuttuu ja näin ollen arvosana on ”vain” hyvä. 3/5

Starts strong, peters out then the hidden track strikes back hard.

This was good

Didn’t vibe with it.

I only semi-liked 3 songs from the album. Of course I’d heard of PJ Harvey before but was never really impressed with what I heard. All I kept thinking throughout this was Patti Smith 2.0. 1.5

Not a PJ Harvey fan before this album. Still not one after. Annoying, monotonous, dull.

I admire PJH but it’s not really what I want to listen to. And I’m sorry about that.

Standard rock, don’t like her voice.

Heard Before? Not in years, but I've gone through a PJ phase more than once. Notes: - first listen was fairly uneventful. the tracks i remembered ("Good Fortune", "You Said Something", "We Float") jumped out, but a lot felt like filler. - production is part of the problem: the mix is all vocals and rhythm guitar, with all the nifty extra touches buried. even the piano on the piano-led numbers is oddly quiet. - on second listen I got a better feel for the songwriting and was as impressed as I've ever been with her. - the decision to cede lead vocals to Thom Yorke is a real momentum killer, like throwing a wet blanket onto the album. yuck. - thankfully it bounces back with two of the most engaging tracks, and the whole second side is then terrific. Verdict: This really seems like her fourth or fifth best album. Still exciting and vital, but not innovative or definitive. Listen Again? Unlikely. But good to revisit. And this time around I really dug "Kamikaze".

Sounds a lot like Patti Smith. Not the same level of artistry though. Best song is This Mess We’re In. Not into it though.

I genuinely don't understand why she's in here. Her music is so boring and flat. The lyrics are meandering. And the music and lyrics never seem to sync up, which is probably on purpose, but it works to its detriment. I've gotten two of her albums so far, and I just don't see what the appeal is. And there's two more waiting in the wings. Even Thom Yorke can't save this mess, although This Mess We're In was the most enjoyable track. I had Rid of Me before, and I found that album more unpleasant than this one. So here's hoping she steps it up on the next one.

This was perfectly enjoyable. Even hearing Thom Yorke lend his vocals to a couple of the tracks was a nice surprise. But by the time you’ve reached the fourth PJ Harvey album on this list, Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea no longer feels especially distinctive. It’s a solid listen, yet it never rises above simply being another good PJ Harvey album.

This is The most palatable of her four albums on this list. Only one of which should have been here if at all.

i miss new york :(

Tyttöenergiaa ja naispuolista näkökulmaa

Great album. Moody and pleasant.

Pretty ok!

Mid

This has been pitched to me as 'PJ Harvey goes more accessible' and it delivered on that front. I've struggled to get into Rid of Me and Let England Shake, this felt like a better entry point

Actually quite good, never heard of her before this but will definitely look around at some of her other stuff now

3.5

These records aren't really for me, but I always find a way to enjoy them. The album features a variety of time signatures, which was unexpected for the genre. Pop records like these are very lyric oriented with the instrumentation not being too unique, but it manages to stay interesting almost the whole listen. That being said, the lyrics are also great, and they kept me quite engaged. Thom Yorke also appears on two similar tracks, which I obviously like. Unfortunately PJ's vocals are a little inconsistent, and on some songs I straight up think they're bad. However the majority of the album has pretty good deliveries. There's just nothing crazy special about anything here, and it's a high 3 rather than a low 4.

I've tried this record several times, Pj is very cool and just seems like the sort of thing I should like but I has never hit for me. A couple of the songs sounds like maybe they would be a promising demo of a great song but never quite worked them to that point. It just feels flat to me, musically.

5/5 because it’s just that fun

Y'all actually like this? Maybe I'm the dickhead here but I can't get into this. It just feels like a walmart version of Sinead O'Connor, someone who could actually say something. Sure, there is talent here, but this just feels like a nothing burger, singer-songwriter slop of an album that goes on way too long.

Oh, I sure have heard it before. I adore this album. This is probably PJ at her most mainstream but she's still great.The songs make you want to walk outside swinging a bag around like Polly in the Good Fortune music video. Not even Thom Yorke appearing on one song can make me rate the album lower because even though I don't like him he somehow fits on the song he's on 5/5

Nostalgiaferatu

It was a good listen, soft yet bold and I liked her voice although her lyrics may have been repetitive

I liked A Place Called Home and The Whores Hustle. Thom Yorke is whiny and PJ can be kinda whiny too. Overall this was alright, very hipster. Bet it would have been great live. (3)

I somehow missed this when it came out, but its great It's not too often that the 1001 Album challenge delivers something this wonderful But would have been even better without Thom Yorke's vocal contribution I would buy this album just on the strength of the song This Is Love

I value deep lyricism, this just doesnt have that for me. But I do like indie rock, sooo....

Though easy to see that the chaotic nature of this album is a shortcoming, by going all over the place, PJ Harvey returns to a sort of more raw version of herself, as she tells her city stories, remembering everyone in this album how good of a storyteller she is, even in this more advanced stage of her illustrious career. An LP filled with great songs, though it carries low points alongside it.

Don’t get it

Big Exit - 4/5 Good Fortune - 4/5 A Place Called Home - 3.5/5 One Line - 4/5 Beautiful Feeling - 4/5 The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore - 4/5 This Mess We're In - 4.5/5 You Said Something - 3.5/5 Kamikaze - 4/5 This Is Love - 3.5/5 Horses in My Dreams - 3.5/5 We Float - 4/5 I wouldn't say there's anything that really stands out about this album, but it all definitely feels cohesive with its execution. It almost feels like a bit more raw and indie version of Radiohead, mainly due to Thom Yorke appearing on here once or twice. I wouldn't say this is one of my favorites but I definitely enjoyed enough. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: This Mess We're In

Unmemorable

This was close to a 4 for me it does a lot of things that I feel like I could return to and dive a bit deeper in. But at the same time it wasn't fantastic Standouts The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore The Mess We're In This Is Love 3/5

Was alright

4/5

Polly on her usual arc

8/10

Uno de los mejores álbumes de PJ Harvey, emotivo, entretenido y muy disfrutable.

2,9 Highlights: This Mess We're In, We Float

It was alright not really

A little gloomy for my liking, and the vocals didn't necessarily work for me. That being said, the instrumental stuff was good, especially on big exit. Kamikaze is probably my favourite. I like this is love. We float was a good ending to the album.

I like how dark this album is at times. There are some great moments, it is brought down by the end of the record though

So good 90s nostalgia. Mostly harmless.

Sweet album, liked the one with Thom Yorke

She’s pretty good. I don’t think I have listened to female rock artists before.

6/10 I saw PJ Harvey play at Reading festival in 2001, coincidentally in the wake of this album’s release, and wasn’t vastly impressed. That being said, I was, at the time, a 16 year old, very much uninterested in indie-coded music. She’s often referenced in circles of musicians that I have subsequently come to love, so this should be an interesting experience. Tonally, this album falls quite nicely in the slot between grunge and indie, but with an edge of pop music flair to the melodic side of things. There’s a decent amount of bite, some really nice elements of orchestration and sound design, and for the most part, PJ’s vocal delivery is great, with dollops of swagger and attitude, blended into sweet and clean tones too. The songwriting is by and large pretty good too, with songs like The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore and This Is Love showing the strength and weight of her compositional skill. The instrumentation across the album is varied and carefully balanced too, with sparse, almost ambient sections making way for full-bodied, distorted riffs and cool, evolving synth lines. While those elements of the record tick a lot of boxes for me, things did fall down on the fact that quite a lot of the rhythmic choices on the album were very rigid and repetitive across the course of full tracks. The crotchet snare pattern of Big Exit, for example, really jarred with me due to its persistence whenever the drums were involved across the track. It wasn’t just the drums, either. The strumming pattern of Good Fortune being another example of something that felt quite inflexible, plodding and relentless. When more range was delivered within a track, or even when the rhythms became a bit more fluid, I did find myself warming to this quite a bit. It did feel a touch long, and the quality of the work did vary a little over the course of the album, but the general vibe, production and balance of the album was actually very good, and it’s clear that she’s a good songwriter. While I’m unlikely to spend too much time with this record in future, it has at least tempted me to check out some of her other work to see if it offers something a little more my style. Big Exit - The atmosphere and attitude to this is good, but rhythmically, it’s quite rigid. There is a nice breakdown in the middle eight, but I don’t think there’s enough variety in the composition, so things get a bit repetitive. I do like the vibe, but each section sounds fairly similar and all of them sound like build up, rather than payoff. It feels like we’re going somewhere, but we never arrive, like some kind of sisyphian composition. Good Fortune - Similarly to the opener, this is quite repetitive and rhythmically rigid. There are changes to the underlying chord structure through the different sections, but the plodding pulse and inflection remains consistent throughout, so it becomes a touch draining. Again, tonally, this is really good, and the swagger and attitude of it is cool, but I just find it a bit too repetitive. She does add variety through the instrumental choices as the track progresses, but it’s just not got enough range for me. A Place Called Home - There’s another nice atmosphere here, and the wash of instrumentation creates a really nice, thick pad of tone with arpeggiations drifting in and out of focus from the mix. The beat gives this a solid and infectious groove too. While this is still rhythmically quite rigid, there’s enough range in instrumentation and arrangement to give this a bit more depth. It’s perhaps still not as musically developed as I’d like, but it’s definitely better. One Line - A slow burn now that deals well with atmosphere. It broods and smoulders until things start to kick in. The groove is good, but again, the rhythm is quite rigid and static in nature, not feeling particularly free-flowing at any point. It’s another that constantly feels like it’s building to something. I quite like it, but it doesn’t really feel like it ever actually gets anywhere. Beautiful Feeling - There’s more rhythmic variety in this, just from the guitar and vocal and it feels less plodding as a result. It’s quite ethereal and sparse, but pretty because of that. It’s slightly unfocused, but in a purposeful, drifting way. It’s very pretty and well performed. Nice. The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore - This is way better, too. It has more distinctive sections and has rhythmical and dynamic range that the early tracks didn’t offer. There’s a darkness and brooding to this that’s really engaging. It sits well in the hinterland between grunge and indie, with good pace, intensity and a touch of grit that gives it extra weight and power. The effects use and atmosphere is also top notch, and the groove is great. Really solid. This Mess We're In - And here comes Thom Yorke. He must have heard that the album has started to get quite good! This continues on the brooding theme, with a nice dip in and out of vocals and drums in different places. PJ and Thom’s vocals work quite nicely together and the vibe for this is great, but it does fall a touch back towards the somewhat relentlessly repetitive rhythmic flow of earlier tracks. It’s saved a bit by the nice harmonic composition, but it is still a little one paced. You Said Something - This has more nice melodic and harmonic writing, but I still find it to be rhythmically quite plodding. There’s a bit more range in there this time, and with some of the instrumental sections, she does pull things a little out of the standard shape, which is nice. There’s a decent range in intensity across this track, and there’s some of it that I really like, but I just wish there was a bit more of a fluid rhythmic base. Kamikaze - Like this! Now we’re (kind of inexplicably) leaning into a drum and bass style of breakbeat. The intensity and range of this is so much better, and reminds me a touch of Skunk Anansie. It’s heavy, pacy and powerful and the soundscape that she creates is deep and interesting too. It also gets the job done in two and a half minutes with attitude and intensity. More solid stuff. This Is Love - This is the single that I know best. It’s a great vocal melody and this sits nicely somewhere between L7 and The White Stripes. It is a touch rhythmically repetitive, as with quite a bit of the record, but there’s way more range in the instrumentation, arrangement and vocal performance on this to give it more depth. It’s a great song with good drive , interesting harmonic work in the cleaner high frequencies, which blends nicely against the gritty, beefy main riff. It’s hooky as hell too. Another really good track. Horses In My Dreams - Back to a pretty, drifting effort now. When things start moving, it’s again very stilted, rigid repetitive from a rhythmic point of view, and it’s melodically quite unfocused and rambling. There’s some elements of beauty to this, especially the vibe and general construction of the slowly building soundscape, but I do find that relentless pulse to be quite distracting from the nuance of the sound design and musicality of the composition. It’s a shame really, because there’s a lot to like here, but the flat insistent nature of the groove just doesn’t quite vibe with me. We Float - It takes a while to shift out of its holding pattern of the first couple of minutes. The chorus is very spacy and melodic, which lifts things. Again, it’s rhythmically quite repetitive, but at least the groove is more fluid here. It’s another that’s got a cool atmosphere and vibe, and shifts really nicely into the chorus, but it’s ultimately a little too flat. It’s almost ambient indie in a way, but there’s probably not enough subtlety of arrangement or hypnotics focus for it to completely work on an ambient level. Very nice, very pretty, but just a touch bland.

PJ Harvey is an artist I've always loved. I've been lucky enough to see her live several times over the years, and she's one of those rare artists whose albums I've consistently enjoyed throughout her career. From the raw emotion of Dry and the ferocious energy of Rid of Me to the brilliant songwriting of Let England Shake, she has an incredible ability to evolve while still sounding completely and unmistakably like herself. That makes Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea a serious contender for her best album. Song after song lands perfectly, with hardly a weak moment to be found. These are great rock songs, full of purpose, emotion and confidence, delivered by an artist operating at the absolute peak of her powers. The music is fantastic throughout, balancing moments of intensity with quieter, more reflective passages, while PJ Harvey's storytelling remains as sharp and compelling as ever. There is an immediacy and energy to the record that makes it incredibly easy to connect with, but it also rewards repeat listens as more details begin to emerge. What impresses me most is how effortless it all feels. The album never sounds like it's trying too hard to be clever or important; it simply delivers one excellent song after another. For me, it's one of the standout albums of the early 2000s and another reminder of just how remarkable an artist PJ Harvey is. PJ Harvey is superb. Favourite tracks: There are so many great songs here, but "A Place Called Home", "One Line" and the excellent single "This Is Love" are particular highlights for me. Least favourite tracks: Honestly, everything on the album deserves its place. Album artwork: A classic PJ Harvey cover — simple, striking and instantly recognisable.

Dang I guess I am too picky about my turn of the century woman singer-songwriters...

Good writing, solid music

I love PJ Harvey’s writing, especially how she chooses a very set identity for each album’s sound and instrumentation. I wish this one had more textural variation though, got a little monotonous sounding.

Once again, I’d prefer a ten point scale for this. This isn’t quite a 3 but it’s definitely not a 2. I’m gonna give it a 3. It’s not a bad album, but I wasn’t into it. Kamikaze was decent.

Big exit 4/5 Good fortune 4.5/5 A place called home 4/5 One line 4.5/5 Beautiful feeling 3.5/5 The whores hustle and the hustlers whore 5/5 This mess we're in 5/5 You said something 4.5/5 Kamikaze 5/5 This is love 5/5 Horses in my dreams 4/5 We float 4.5/5

This Mess We're in isch eis vode Schönste Lieder wos gittt. D Radiohead Stimm mit PJ Harvey Rock paaret -> es ganz es hübschs Musikalischs Chind! und au de rest vom Album absolute ohreschmaus. Abrgundet 4 Harvey Davidson

Harvey’s most musically conventional record, the one you’d play for those just getting into her (at times it feels like a bit more aggressive Sarah McLachlan) but the songs are so well-written and exciting that any eccentricity lost is more than made up for. As good as this is, it’s good she went back to weirder stuff afterward – there is a lot of music that sounds like this. Best track: “The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore”

Definitely had some good moments, surprise Thom Yorke feature was fun, ‘We Float’ near the end was a bit of a banger. Decent bit of filler though and I’ve got nae time for ‘Hidden Tracks’ that are just normal songs with 5 minutes of silence first.

Nunca he entendido el culto alrededor de PJ Harvey y este álbum de lo confirma. No está mal pero pues no es algo que le vuelva loco o que quiera escuchar más de ella.

Meh

What an album! Almost every song is a banger, with such emotional, animal emotion. I'll definitely be putting this on for frequent repeats

I’ve never been a great fan of PJ Harvey. I like the occasional song and enjoyed listening to Let England Shake. I recognises a couple of songs that get frequent plays on 6Music, but I didn’t warm to this overall. It’s exactly of its time sadly. Lots of plodding guitars.

This was pretty good, but got a little boring after a while.

Horrible, I can't see why anyone would listen to this crap more than once. Ugh. 1.5/10 Top song The one with Thom Yorke, because Thom Yorke is in it.

i’m not use to it

got better as it went on

3.5

tues i had we shake england or whatever, fri i have stories from the city oh yah no if the whole album is like this then i'm not listening to the whole thing and it's getting a two, so here's to hoping it gets better. the instruments are *fine* her singing is like sandpaper good fortune--yah nope "EEeeEEeeEEeeEEee" i am not doing that is she trying to cause physical pain to my ears???? 1/5

Haunting and beautiful, but not an album that has me drawn to return.

Excellent album, with the cameo of Thom Yorke being a particular highlight 5*

I loved the fact that she sounds like a 2000s version of Patti Smith, but i wouldn't consider this an 8/10 album. Obviously there are some grat moments here and there, and I wouldn't consider the consinstency a problem of this record, but there's just something missing, it's an inner feeling I've been dealing with for the entire listen, and i hate it when i can't use the right words to describe it. Perhaps i need to try this again another day, but for now i didn't quite click with it.

Okish

I liked the Thom Yorke duet especially.

Está divertido pero es demasiado denso, no se cómo explicarlo mejor. ME parece que ela compreisón del sonido me cansó. El resto no está mal pero tampoco destaca.

Better than expected. Some annoying vocal affectations

It's not bad. It's just so boring.

i didn't hate this album, but unfortunately i didn't resonate with it very much at all. i'm not a huge lyricist though and i've heard that's a large part of the appeal, so maybe that's the problem lol.

it's like I'm being told a story but i forgot what it's about

It's ok. Not great, not horrible

Kinda sounds like if Nick Cave was good.

PJ Harvey makes me think of Fiona Apple but if she was more upbeat. Overall I really can’t get with a fast paced Fiona Apple.

Didn't love the singles but a better album than I remembered

Nothing really hooked me. Favorite was say something.

Mere velkendt, end jeg havde regnet med. Rigtig godt album.

Really good, love the Thom Yorke appearances. Listened a few times in a row, definitely need to go further down the PJ Harvey rabbit hole.

She's in a world of her own. Or a galaxy. And then to bring Thom Yorke as a side show? Very well done.

It was alright. Will not revisit honestly.

Great

3,92 1. "This Mess We're In" 2. "Good Fortune" 3. "A Place Called Home"

pj harvey…… so effortlessly cool. this is a great album with really beautiful songwriting

Beautiful. A departure from the early albums. This is the last album of hers that I really loved

do not love

Highlights: Big Exit, Good Fortune, A Place Called Home, This Mess We're In, Kamikaze, This Is Love, We Float Sonically this one isn't anything too special, but it was an enjoyable listen with good energy in some of its tracks. I'm not a fan of the slower tracks on the album as they honestly just bore me a bit and there are unfortunately quite a few of them (the exception being the closing track). I definitely feel like this album could have taken some bigger risks and produce more unique sounds. Also a feature from Thom Yorke of all people was a nice surprise.

2,5

Gets better in second half. Would go 2.5 stars if that was an option

Liked this one a lot and will return for more listens.

аврил лавин вайбик такой. Кому нравится женский вокал подрочить пойдёт. Художественная ценность минимальная

Her voice is fine, but this strikes me as just more generic guitar strumming rock. I think this is meant to be carried by the lyrical work, but nothing felt that groundbreaking or unique to me.

New to me artist. Well done album. She's quite varied in her songs. I'd like to hear more.

Somewhere between 2 and 3. I'll go 3 because it's a sunny morning.

The music was a bit better than I had expected. But overall, I'm pretty indifferent to this album.

Solid PJ album. Digging the tunes. A good candidate for my music library to go along with Dry.

PJ Harvey's finest hour in my opinion. The grungy, distorted guitars give way to clean, post-Britpoppy tones that are not that dissimilar from stuff like pre-Kid A Radiohead, but with an extra airy feel. Thom Yorke himself even shows up at one point. Timeless, and yet very of its time. Key tracks: Big Exit A Place Called Home This Mess We're In This Is Love

Fucking tedious, and boring

6/10 Tranquilo, sin molestar, no me llamo la atencion nada pero tampoco decepcionó

Second time for this. Before this exercise it was an album I don’t think I had ever listened to, though I was extremely familiar with a number of tracks from it. This is one of the reasons I am totally in with the exercise, despite the issues with certain albums contained on the list, etc. My natural inclination is to think of artists in terms of their albums, to think of songs existing in the context of an album, even if I know I am not actually familiar with that album. I’m so glad for the opportunity/ motivation to listen to albums and keep contextualizing the songs they contain. So today I’m even more impressed with this. PJ Harvey succeeds in creating a world, an experience for me. 5 Boolean: True

First listen

not really for me

I’d never heard of PJ Harvey before, but her voice and song writing are enjoyable and new (to me at least!). 4/5.

It was ok

PJ is an artist I’ve long respected more than I loved. I first heard her when Let England Shake was released and topped many album of the year lists, but while I liked that album it never penetrated my brain like SFTC,SFTE has. I’ve read that it’s some people’s favorite Harvey album, and now I’m firmly in that camp. What a record. The entire record is great, and there are some highlights in Big Exit, The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Who’re, The Mess We’re In, and This Is Love. However, the track that really penetrated my brain is the closer We Float. It’s easily my favorite PJ Harvey song and it’s been tough to remove its chorus from my head since I heard it.

PJ Harvey? The Denver Broncos running back?

One where I like all the elements but have never been able to really get into the final thing. Crunchy alt rock guitars, dissonant chords and dark timbre, moody and expressive, great dynamics, and vocals that range from grunge angst to Jeff Buckley falsetto wail. No hooks, earworms or really standout riffs to hold onto though.

The kind of melancholy music I typically like but didn't really hit right. May be worst a relisten

nice listen, but a bit of too repetitive for my tastes. middle of the album was a highlight

I felt like this album was supposed to evoke emotion in me but it didn't really. Except for This Mess We're In. Banger. 3.5/5

I like this album alot. Maybe not as unique as some of her other ones, but this def has some of my most listened pj Harvey songs.

Pj Harvey is really good

Not my cup of tea

You can hear the influence as PJ sounds just like Chrissie Hynde, especially in the gritty first few songs. I didn't really enjoy the Thom Yorke songs as they added a softness that she didn't really need. Loved the strong female punk aspect of this as well.

Really weird, some songs are nothing more than childish rhymes and thrown together whilst others are quite good.

Oki

I kept thinking of the word “bracing”. Every song feels like the most emotionally thrilling night you could have in New York City. This is why I started this challenge, so that I could have an excuse to finally listen to albums like this.

7/10 Fav Tracks: You Said Something, Big Exit Heard before? ---–- ✅ Saved a Song? ----- ❌ Saved Album? --–-- ✅ Will Listen Again? -- ❌ Album Cover -------Almost 90s-esque. Perfect for a 2000 album

PJ Harvey is cool, and this is ace

Good one!

I expect, it rather want, a bit of grit and grime from a PJ Harvey album. But to be fair, I'm not too familiar with most of her catalog. And this felt lacking in that. It wasn't bad but didn't excite me enough to warrant a 4 star rating.

Really like a few of the lyrics

Великая.

Meio chato

I was quite oversaturated with British 90s indie rock but this one was great nonetheless.

No surprise I enjoyed this album considering I already loved the thin Yorke collab on it

really enjoyed this album. A solid 4, great songs. I would definitely listen again. I had heard this back when it came out and liked it then, but I would say I like it more. Certainly needs another listen

Type of CD you find buried under a bunch of stuff in the glove box.

Fine album, not blown away or really hooked by it.

Harvey has created an album that has marked her career. The hardness of her distinctive voice combined with the melodiousness of her compositions and the perfection of her lyrics have created an album that leaves its own mark on music.

V good

Class

I don't listen to much of her but everytime i do i ask myself why i don't! Class album

Unreal album

PJ Harvey just did not miss back then

Who is picking these records? This is not a good PJ Harvey record. WTF??

Bra grejer, ironiskt nog så var så klart låten med thom yorke den bästa

This girl clearly rocks. I especially liked "The Line," "We Float," and the Thom Yorke collab. I like her rawness and style but I also like her voice. This album came out when I was in the midst of a long female-vocalist hating era, so I passed on it at the time. I wonder if I would have liked it then.

Has a citadine feeling. Liked it

I've listened to a few PJ Harvey albums from the early '90's but haven't gone any farther than that. This is apparently the follow up to Bring You My Love and its a good album. It abandons that albums blues influence and offers a set of fairly strong indie rock songs. The songs are fairly strong and I've always been a fan of Harvey's voice. I particularly like the duet with Thom Yorke. I like it. I'd probably pick it up, but I don't especially feel like saying much about it.

pretty good album. Not enough to lift it to a four. The song with Tom York is pretty good. Not a huge fan of TJ Harvey’s voice or delivery style, but the tunes are generally solid.

I was ok with PJ before I listened to this album. I'm questioning why this one is on the list. It's kind of annoying. Like she's trying a weird Dylan impression and failing at it. I know she's got talent but it's not showing on this album. Good fortune and A Place Called home really hit me wrong. Some of the other tunes are boring but those two made me question ever listening to her again.

Almost a modern Joni Mitchell

This is my last PJ Harvey album from this list, and it’s easily her best. You can hear the Radiohead influence throughout, and not just because of Thom Yorke’s guest vocals. This album has a real eerie vibe that works well for PJ Harvey. Rightfully included here.

The songs are almost there but don’t quite capture what the vibe is. Very 90s sounding

At first I didn't get this album at all but by the time I hit A Place Called Home something clicked. Still not sure if it was the lyrics or her voice but I began to enjoy what I was hearing. Will I listen to PJ Harvey again? I don't know but Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea is an album you either love or hate. There's no in between.

I suppose that i dont like this style of pop

loved it!!

Ik vond het prima. Maar ook wel een beetje saai. Je merkt dat het beter word als Thom Yorke opeens gaat meezingen. De titel van het album vind ik dom. Ik vind het uiteindelijk niet vervelend maar wel een hele nipte voldoende voor mij. Ik las ergens anders dat het album bekend stond om haar sensuele sexy stem. Nou ik word er niet warm van.

Ik kende het van het duet met Thom Yorke. Had dus verwacht dat ik dit leuker zou vinden. Ik kan niet zo goed duiden waar het aan ligt, want ik kan ook niet echt iets heel stoms opnoemen. Misschien is het de stem, of juist de standaard gitaar, bas, drum-bezetting zonder een echt uitgesproken element. Het voelt voor mij daardoor allemaal wat gewoontjes en ik mis iets in de klank of composities waar ik echt op aanhaak. Tegelijkertijd vraag ik me af of dat daadwerkelijk aan de plaat ligt, of dat ik hem gewoon nog niet genoeg tijd heb gegeven om erin te komen. Voor nu doet het me in ieder geval nog niet zoveel.

Dit album is typisch een drie sterren plaatje: prima, maar niet bijzonder. Halverwege dacht ik even dat hij naar een Radiohead nummer was overgeschakeld, maar nee, Thom Yorke leverde enkele bijdragen. De stem van PJ Harvey is oké, maar niet echt mijn ding. Muzikaal gezien zijn er hier en daar wel mooie gitaarpartijen, maar het album heeft me te weinig verrast, misschien is het het millenniumgeluid wat je sterk terughoort in het nummer A place Called home, ik ben er niet erg fan van. Misschien word ik enthousiaster van haar andere albums, aangezien ik al had gezien dat PJ Harvey nog drie keer in de lijst voorkomt. Voor mij is het wel wat te gortig, maar misschien is haar eerdere werk wel leuker.

Number: 163 Date: 06/15/2026 Artist: PJ Harvey Album: Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea Year: 2000 Style: Singer Songwriter Alt Rock Familiarity: Moderate (3) Rating: 3 Before: ======= I do like PJ Harvey a little but can't think of any of her albums I would put on this list and it look s like she has 4 here. One of them's got to go but this is the first one I've had so far, so can't say which. During: ======= 2 Big Exit 3 Good Fortune 3 A Place Called Home 3 One Line 3 Beautiful Feeling 5 The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore 2 This Mess We're In 3 You Said Something 5 Kamikaze 3 This Is Love 3 Horses In My Dreams 3 We Float ----------------------------------------------------- 3.1 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= There were only 2 songs I liked a lot, The Whores and Kamikaze, the rest I could take or leave. I suspect I would like the album more if I listened to it a couple more times but I doubt I'll be doing that any time soon. 3 my personal rating 4 suitability for this list 3 impact ----------------------------------------------- 3.3 composite rating

Where has the time gone? It does not feel as though twenty-six years have passed since I bought this album, and "Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea" certainly does not sound like a twenty-six-year-old record. The production - co-handled by Rob Ellis, Mick Harvey, and PJ Harvey - is sharp and precise, highlighting the strength of the material and, in particular, the nuance of the vocals. It really has not dated in the slightest. Across its twelve tracks, "Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea" proves to be a consistently strong collection of songs. It retains the listener's interest from start to finish, offering plenty of variety without ever repeating itself. A clear highlight is the duet with Thom Yorke on 'This Mess We’re In'; beyond the vocal interplay, the instrumentation on this track is quite exquisite. Elsewhere, 'You Said Something' carries the warmth of a Joni Mitchell or Neil Young song, and it is a piece that has always resonated with me. Four stars. 1 "Big Exit" (4/5) 2 "Good Fortune" (5/5) 3 "A Place Called Home" (3/5) 4 "One Line" (4/5) 5 "Beautiful Feeling" (4/5) 6 "The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore" (5/5) 7 "This Mess We're In" (5/5) 8 "You Said Something" (5/5) 9 "Kamikaze" (3/5) 10 "This Is Love" (5/5) 11 "Horses in My Dreams" (4/5) 12 "We Float" (5/5) Total - 52 Average - 4.33 352/1001 188/352 albums reviewed were new to me.

not my vibe

Another masterful work from England’s finest

For some reason, I was not very familiar with her work. I enjoyed her vibe and her attitude

Янка Дягилева, если бы нее было счастливое детство и хорошие гитары

good, there are some nice creative choices. enjoyable experience

listened twice even but just didn’t hit

2000. Contains themes of love that are tied into Harvey's affection for New York City.

Good - not necessarily my type

An album firmly in the singer-songwriter non-genre, SftC SftS' relative success and inclusion on this list is puzzling. It's a decently interesting album, but it isn't markedly more unique than some other contenders in the singer songwriter space; Harvey's a good singer and has a decent voice but she isn't an incredible talent; her lyrics are generally a step above most pop songs of the era, but they're not profound and are never striking. There are bits and pieces of the songs that are great — there's this little instrumental bridge in "Horses in my Dreams," that I absolutely love — but the majority of the songs are interesting at best and off-putting at worst. Truth is, her music tends to be at its best when her instruments have some time to breathe and when her vocals aren't present. Which is strange, as she's a capable singer with a pretty voice, but the melody and vocal rhythms are so blase that she might as well let the instruments be front and center and do some vocal backing. An okay album that can easily be forgone in the span of one's life.

I’m getting less and less excited each time I see an album from the 2000s, and I had a hard time getting myself to care about this one despite multiple listens through.

-Fairly eclectic, - which makes sense when she said this album is a amalgamation of her previous albums. Lot of a different moods are present, some atmospheric ("Beautiful Feeling" and "We Float"), some straight rockers ("Kamikaze"), and some melodic alternative anthems ("Good Fortune" and "This Mess We're In.") I like the diversity. She said this album is a amalgamation of all her previous albums, even though I haven't listened to any of her previous albums, that statement sounds about right. PJ Harvey's vocals are definitely not the easiest to get into - like Bjork or Siouxsie Sioux - but I'd love to listen to this again and her previous stuff to try to get into it. A solid 4 from me . Highlight Song/s: "Good Fortune" and "The Mess We're In"

I can't believe that life's so complex When I just want to sit here and watch you undress

A bit bittersweet for me. Easily her most accessible and straightforward album, but also where my love affair started to fade. It'd be easy to cynically describe it as having all the edges sanded off compared to her earlier work. But the desire, violence and loneliness are still there, just reconfigured with big choruses, clean guitars, and oddly uplifting spirit. The louder numbers rule the roost IMO; the opening trio of Big Exit-Good Fortune-A Place Called Home is huge and bombastic and electric, This Is Love another great example. But it's the beautiful and contemplative This Mess We're In that is the highlight of the album, and arguably her discography. Finally clinching a very well deserved Mercury Prize win [and, in the future, as the only artist to ever nab two] this remains a cracker of an album.

On paper, I should like PJ Harvey. But I don’t.

I'm fond of this album and of PJ Harvey's music, but I wouldn't consider it a must-listen album. Hearing Thom Yorke on this was a nice surprise. Their voices mesh in a lovely way. fav song: one line

THOM YORKE DETECTED, great feature My quest to understand PJ Harvey continues, this one is so different from the last one that popped, so much less abrasive

Having a thom yorke feature on your album that is basically just a thom yorke song, and also have it be the best song on the album is certainly a choice I did enjoy this more than the last PJ album that came up on the list 3.5

Gear: ZiiGaat x Hangout.Audio Odyssey 2 Artwork: 😎🌃🍎 Production: 🩺📢😖 Music: 🌗🗡️💔 Rating: 🪢🪢🪢🪢/5

Högt och lågt. Får väl bli ett mittenbetyg

Ballt men lite långtråkigt. Stark trea!

Hon är ball och jag är generös idag.

de e bara så coolt