Reviews (page 3 of 13)
This was a tough one for me to get behind at first because I was so used to the fierce PJ of days past but man, this one gets into your bones. Some of her best stuff is on here. "I saw my reflection come right off your face" is such a good line.
Never really listened to her before... Big Exit - nice opener 4/5 Good fortune - similar 4/5 A place called home - nice gentle vibes, underlying music is really good 4/5 ...will come back to this album Best track - The Whores hustle... Surprised me. 4/5
I enjoyed this.
I love this album. I'm always a sucker for a good rock band with a strong female singer. And while this may not exactly be super heavy or hard rock, I love it. She has a fantastic voice, the instrumentation is great, songs are well orchestrated. This record is a must have for anyone who likes women-in-rock and probably for just rock fans in general. What more can you ask for? I'm glad this album was on this list. I'd heard a few songs from this album but had never sat and listened to the whole thing before. It flows really well and all of the songs fit together really nicely. It's one weakness is that I wish it ended on a stronger note, but still 5/5 for sure.
I was already on a mission to listen to PJ's entire catalog, and while I was tracking through the albums in chronological order, these past couple of weeks have put me closer to completing the task, even if it's throwing my plan askew. This was a classic the minute it was released, and while I've vacillated in where it fits in ranking among her releases, it's a 5-star album in that every song is just so good and PJ tapped into a strong, ethereal energy that permeates everything. We saw her on this tour... well I did. Marianne was crumpled up in a ball on the seats not feeling too well, but we weren't going to miss the show. She was amazing. PJ was good too. :) She's one of the few artists that I'll not complain about having too many entries included here. It amazes me that more people (especially musicians I know) aren't familiar with her work. Maybe that's a US thing as she's the Mercury Prize Queen.
all killer no filler. also, has anyone ever rocked a pair of sunglasses as hard as she is on the cover?
PJ with added Thom Yorke bonus?!! YES indeed!
Surprisingly enjoyable for an album I never heard of before, quite timeless as well
Banger I'm vexxed that I'm missing her concert in August I love her so much
PJ Harvey has existed in my periphery since she came on my radar in college with her album Rid of Me, but somehow I never really took her in. With Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea I'm glad I gave her a full album listen but also some sadness I hadn't paid more attention to her earlier. Great guitar-oriented indie rock with an easily accessible sound, I've been playing this album on loop and listening to her back catalog for the last week. Many great songs on this album including Good Fortune, The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore, You Said Something, and the Thom Yorke collaboration This Mess We're In.
cool!
Better than I expected!
Oh my Goddess. I've adored PJ since I first heard Sheela-na-gig way back in the day. One of the most accomplished artists the UK has ever produced.
I can't wait to listen to this album a hundred more times. I enjoyed the whole album, not sure of my exact faves but "A Place Called Home" and "This Mess We're In" with Thom Yorke stood out.
Amazing alt rock record. So glad it's in this list otherwise I probably would have never heard of it.
This is such a beautiful album to me. It's hits such a raw nerve bound up in regrets from half a lifetime ago. It was hard to listen to, but by no means *bad*. It's not you, Polly Jean. It's me.
Thank you for this album generator! I forgot just how good PJ Harvey is. It’s probably been about 20 years since I’ve listened to her, and man this album is just amazing. If there’s a such thing as singer/song writer with a raw gritty punk edge to it, than this is it. Also don’t even get me started on the bass. The bass guitar is what gives the texture of that raw and gritty feel the album has to it.
Man just a really good album. Love her voice and musical style. Loved the Thom Yorke track, just loved it all round. Thanks for introducing me to PJ Harvey
Not anyone I’d heard if so was good to listen to something new. A little bit heavy but the lyrics always had a story.
Ooh, another classic! PJ Harvey is one of those artists I take for granted; every time I listen to her, I think I should listen more often, and then I forget. This one is definitely top tier Polly Jean, but I’m hoping there are more on the list as well.
Paula Jean, you're a badass
I forgot to save my notes but I wrote a lot for this one. First 5/5!
love this album and i love her. see ya this august
Yes
Fantastic album. Peak PJ! All killer, no filler!
Wow. I'm really really into is. I love her voice. I love the music. What a beautiful album
PJ Harvey is awesome
Pulled into the 3s by one song
He’ll yeah
Brilliant. Distinctive sounding, but within the framework of the rock and indie of the time. I'm not sure why I didn't listen to more PJ at the time, maybe I thought she was too grown up and serious for me. If I did, I was wrong! A wee bonus point for Thom Yorke showing up secures the five for her, and i look forward to hearing more during or after this list
Favorite Tracks: This Mess We’re In The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore Good Fortune
Oh hello, old friend. It’s been a while. Loved this album and caught her tour at the Hammerstein. She was unbelievably good. Extra nice that there are so many references to NYC on this record. The duet with Thom Yorke is sublime. She can roar with the best of them, but it’s such a treat to hear her singing. We Float is so pretty. There’s a lot of range on this album.
Cool
Probably my favourite PJ album. It's got a lot to say, it's really in your face, it's beautifully produced, ebbs and flows. Phenomenal work.
Now this here: this is just good music. I'd never heard of PJ Harvey before, but I will be listening to more PJ Harvey in the future. This isn't groundbreaking or mind-blowing or anything, but it's high quality and enjoyable, and that's ultimately what I want from music. 4.5.
I am a lifelong fan of PJ Harvey.
Love PJ Harvey. This album displays a huge Nirvana influence
I really liked this album! I listened to it twice through, fun variety and also fun rock woman idk what else to say
I had only heard of PJ Harvey from her contributions to the Desert Sessions which I am a fan of, so it's no surprise that I would enjoy this album too.
PJ Harvey could make "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" sound deliciously haunting.
Love p
Wonderful Album by an Artist that I only knew from her guest Performance for Nick Cave.
Great album. Love her voice and the way she sings.
I once bought this album solely because Thom Yorke was on it. I very quickly realized that he was the least interesting part of it and this album became one of my all-time favorites. Partly a tribute to New York City. The imagery of being on a rooftop in Brooklyn, seeing the five bridges, will always be a powerful one for me.
Out of the artist that seem to be only important to England, and there are a lot of them on this list, this was my favorite so far!
LOVE IT! Never heard of her. Fantastic
I really love her singing... Beautiful album about love and NYC Just everything I love in an album, cohesive but still with variety, super listenable
PJ Harvey has always been one of those artists that people around me have mentioned that they like but that I haven’t actually listened to before. This is turning out to have been a massive mistake. This album is fantastic and the first one on this journey that I have started over from the start immediately after finishing it. I haven’t been focusing so much on individual tracks to mention any particular stand outs in either direction yet, but I am suspecting that this is also something of an intention on the artist’s part. I love this album and will seek out more of her music and add this album to my regular rotation.
In which PJ tones down the anger a bit and goes for a more mature-sounding record. And the results are fantastic. You still get some bangers like Big Exit and Kamikaze but the real draw of this album for are the more introspective tracks, like You Said Something and We Float. It's not a sad record but much like its cover suggests, it has a vibe of feeling alone surrounded by people. Walking at night in a pensive mood while everybody around you is having a good time. This is what this albums makes me think of. Oh and there's This Mess We're In and Beautiful with Thom Yorke which are moth majestic of course.
It’s an album that I really love and that I listen to often. I find it as powerful as it is light. It's like it was full of bad emotions, but PJ Harvey had chosen to uplift us and take us on a journey rather than bring us down. Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea is typically “alternative rock”, but is distinguished by a great sense of tone, emotion and arrangement. The pieces are all catchy without necessarily being excessively pop. My favorite from PJ.
Espectacular
Wonderful
I absolutely loved the lyricism and composition of this album. One I will keep in my catalogue for years to come and one I will recommend to anyone looking for great music or just a solid album experience
Solid gold. Peak PJH.
Great collection of songs and a duet with Thom York being one of the many highlights.
5/5
very good, sobre todo la última mitad
The first song of this album that I heard was You Said Something. I was a teenager, making a playlist of songs that could be played while sat on a rooftop. And it was perfect for the playlist. But for some reason, I never found myself checking out PJ Harvey more. Boy did I fuck up. This is fantastic. Sparse and simple yet strangely elegant Grunge sung by that voice, expressive and piercing, sultry and shrieking. I will be absolutely checking out more of PJ Harvey’s work now
I have always really loved this one. Reading the reviews, I never took into consideration the influences that helped bring this one to life. For me, it reminds me of living in NYC in the mid-2000s. 5/5
10/9/23. I’ve listened to this album before and it’s very consistent and enjoyable. Every song keeps you interested and PJ’s voice hooks you. Will listen again and again.
I went into this album blind and immediately found myself loving it. Harvey has a great voice with a good mix of falsetto thrown in at certain points. "Big Exit" was very catchy. "Good Fortune" was fine. "A Place Called Home" was great. Loved the intertwined vocals. The change in intensity in "One Line" was expected, but still effective. Decent song. "Beautiful Feeling" was great. Nice minimalist arrangement and lovely backup vocals. Thom Yorke's vocals are a nice touch. I like how the song faked me out into thinking it would grow more intense twice. "The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore" is a great title. Great song, as well. The (what I think is) distorted bass is nice. "The Mess We're In" was great. Yorke's vocals were good, and the intertwined vocals worked well. Drum beat was nice. The keyboards in "You Said Something" are great. The little solo section was beautiful. Good song. "Kamikaze" has an ear-catching opening. Great drums, nice distortion, ok ending. "This Is Love" was good. "Horses In My Dreams" was beautiful as soon as it started. Piano is great. Good song. "We Float's" more electronic sounding drumming caught me off guard, but it works. Nice piano and harmonies. Transition into the chorus was great. I was hoping for at least one fade-out and I think this was a great song to do that with. Good song. Good closer to the album. Great listen.
- At some point I need to listen to PJ Harvey's discography in full, but I have few doubts that this, to me, is her masterpiece. If she has an album better than this, I mean, that's fantastic, but also, how? - When she wants to, Harvey's voice can have a grand, all-encompassing quality to it. She deploys that frequently here, and to great effect. She also finds the perfect counterpoint in Thom Yorke's fragile wail. - It's a songwriting showcase; I feel like you could reinterpret all these tracks a hundred different ways, and they'd still be brilliant because at their core they're just so great. Harvey has pulled away from traditional notions of rock music lately ("I Inside the Old Year Dying" is a fascinating album, but it reads more as a performance piece than a traditional collection of songs), but she can write a fucking song when she wants to. - Rob Ellis fucking murders the drums on this thing when the song call for it. - "You Said Something" is so absurdly gorgeous. - When I first started trying out PJ Harvey's stuff, "This Is Love" was the song I really gravitated to. Which makes sense: it's still one of the catchiest, most direct things I've heard from her, and it's fantastic. I also probably wouldn't even put it in the top 5 of this album, which says something about how high the bar is on this thing.
Excellent album!
4.5
An album that I didn't give credit to when it first came out. Lyrically strong, filled with emotion. The album doesn't feel overproduced or rushed.
What is it about the late 90s to early 2000s that produced great, introspective albums about living in a bustling, business-never-sleeps city? Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea captures that feeling so well, the hecticness and the constant presence of possibilities just around the corner, contrasted with the wish of finding a place of calm in the maelstrom as well, reflected in its consistent switching of hectic, loud songs with floating, dreamy songs. Good Fortune and A Place Called Home are two of my favourite songs and they're placed here back to back, the former embodying that feeling of sauntering through a city with a close friend or a significant other, the latter embodying that liminal feeling of being exhausted in public transport, heading home at full speed but not feeling quite there yet. And embodying that combination of "we're here together while the world spins around us", we have Thom Yorke joining the album in This Mess We're In. Elsewhere you also get PJ Harvey's trademark grimy rock, from the starting stomper Big Exit, to The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore where Harvey lets out a belting scream at the end. And of course the superlative horny single This is Love. As the trip-hoppy track We Float closes the album, it's almost tantalizing to wonder about this period of time in 2000, the turn of the millenium, where everybody thought history ended or at least thought the future was going to be hectic but inspiring, before the real storm crashed onto the shorebanks of the city. I'm feeling a strong 4 to a light 5
Wonderful. Among the best pop music that’s ever been made.
i did not realise how much i liked thom yorke and how intergral he is to my liking of radiohead until listening to the 2 songs hes on this album. whenever i hear something even remotely similar to the guano apes i go feral and start drooling. fav songs: big exit, beautiful feeling, the whores hustle and the hustles whore, this mess we're in, this is love, horses in my dreams, we float, this wicked tongue. ok this entire album is fucking incredible.
Love this album, incredible vocals and music, could listen agsin and again
Listened to this on heavy rotation when it came out. Still stands up, still rocks, still in my top 10 of all time.
I’d call this quite a ‘grown-up’ rock record, without the raw, angsty rough edges of youth but nonetheless with a hint of danger to it. It’s sometimes slow, haunting and pretty; occasionally it’s thrilling and visceral; usually it’s somewhere in between. But I feel like there’s a kind of dark undercurrent to the sound, a tension lurking in the background that ties it all together. It’s punctuated now and then (e.g. by the easygoing You Said Something) but it’s never quite released until the final, dreamy chorus of We Float. Or, to put it more succinctly, it’s a collection of strong, diverse songs, that also work well together as an album. I can’t give this a straight 5 as there are a few tracks that plod on a bit if I’m not in the right mood. But I also gave Let England Shake 4.5 (rounded down) back when I was marking albums more harshly, so it feels only fair that I round up this time.
An essential record
Great album
This is a great album. Lyrically, musically, emotionally all there. Her finest work and also I guess her most accessible. Great to hear this again. This morning I was sure this was a 4 star. It’s now my fourth listen today and it’s a 5.
Big Exit- 4.2/5 Good Fortune- 4.3/5 A Place Called Home- 5/5 One Line- 5/5 Beautiful Feeling- 4.8/5 The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore- 5/5 This Mess We're In- 5/5 You Said Something- 4/5 Kamikaze- 5/5 This Is Love- 4.9/5 Horses in My Dreams- 4.7/5 We Float- 4.1/5 Total- 4.7/5
Love it, very good
Probably PJ Harvey's best album, along with "Let England Shake" (Maybe that one edges this out for me). This is an easy 5/5 for me; could listen to it on repeat. Best tracks: A Place Called Home, The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore, We Float, but I don't think there's a weak track on it.
"we float" was by far the standout for me - not to say the other songs weren't great though. loved the thom yorke feature. i don't really know what to say. erm...great album. 5 stars!
Uma obra-prima do rock, apresenta uma sonoridade única que combina guitarras distorcidas, batidas eletrônicas com a voz poderosa e emotiva.
A Revolution and eye-opener what Rock-music can be
This completely deserved its Mercury. smash THOM YORKE Everyone should listen to this at least twice before they die to fully absorb its magnanimity. 8.5/10
reminds me of patti smith so i’m extremely biased. do i care? hell no
I've always wondered about the contents of Polly Jean Harvey's handbag on this album cover. First because she twirls it like a sling on the video for "Good Fortune", which was pretty hilarious--not necessarily in a good way, but still... good memories. And then, because NYC can be a rough place, and the Bri'ish lass might have felt the need to place some objects that would allow to fend for herself in the city. Maybe even a weapon of some sort. "A pistol", as she says herself. Her mind in all about love, but violence is never far from the picture. They're two sides of the same coin, like the titular "city" and "sea" (the latter never to be seen in the artwork, interestingly). Songwriting-wise, Polly Jean sure breaks out the big guns with the first four tracks at the very start of this LP. But as excellent as they are, "Big Exit", "Good Fortune", "One Line" and "A Place Called Home" are not the only gems in this record. You also need to mention the perfect rocker "The Whores Hustle and The Hustles Whore", "This Mess We're In"--a touching duet with Thom Yorke--, manic "Kamikaze"--which hearkens back to the bluesy riffs of *Rid Of Me*--and, finally, the atmospheric-yet-climactic closer "We Float". Sound-wise, the album is a 180-degree turn from the far more abrasive LPs PJ Harvey had recorded up to that point. There were four of those LPs already: the raw, demo-like debut *Dry*, a *rough* diamond, but a diamond nonetheless; the Steve-Albini-produced--ahem, I mean "recorded"--*Rid Of Me*; and the part quieter, part noisier (and even industrial-tinged, sometimes) *To Bring You My Love* and *Is This Desire?*. Compared to all these records, *Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea" is a more "streamlined" affair, with a production that is very calibrated. No funny business anywhere. At the time I remember being disappointed by those more "mainstream" sonic aethetics (foretelling most of what would occur in "indie" music in general during the naughts, unfortunately). Today, I'm at peace with those production values, however, and I can even understand why Polly Jean needed them at this point of her career: she had just written material that had potential to become instant classics in a certain rock tradition, so Polly and her bandmates Rob Ellis and Mick Harvey (co-producing the album with her) probably felt like they needed to put out a very cohesive LP to give justice to said material. And given how strong the songs are, it works. Plus, the vocal perfomance on this album is spotless, and also helps creating an "instant classic" feel to the whole thing. Harvey had often been compared to Patti Smith in the past, but on tracks like "Good Fortune", her voice naturally reaches the same iconic presence that Smith had for her own classics.. And the constant references to New York in the songs (and artwork) can remind the listener of this connection as well. It all checks out. In *Stories From the City..*, Polly Jean both looks backwards, to the past, *and* forward, to the future. And she draws on a most prestigious rock tradition to cement her status of an artist who's here for the long run, who's here to stay. Hence why that record needed to be here, on this list. I'm giving this album a perfect 5/5 grade. I have also done that for *Rid Of Me* and *Let England Shake*, and if it had been in Dimery's list, I would have done the same for *To Bring You My Love*. Please, Robert, take out one of those convoluted, half-baked late LPs by Elvis Costello or Paul Weller/Style Council, and give one more spot to Polly Jean. I know that *you know* she deserves it. Beware, because if you don't comply, I'll grab that handbag of hers and hurl it in your direction to smash some sense back into your head. Pretty sure she keeps some very dangerous objects in that thing. So be warned... 😀 Number of albums left to review: 545 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 220 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 105 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 132
Thom Yorke on a pj Harvey album?!? Sign me up!
Oh, That woman. "There mess we are in" was my favorite for a couple of years, but then I played it to death. The huge album!
i was very pleasantly surprised by this! didn’t know i liked pj harvey but really enjoyed it
Polly Jean at the height of her confidence. Like Bowie in Berlin, NYC serves as a massive creative refresher.
Awesome album! Will be listening to this again!
Brilliant! Back in the day I thought this was a bit moany and screechy, but over the years my tastes have changed and I love this now. Need to revisit all of PJ's other albums.
Fantastic record. PJ Harvey is a great storyteller and here is a superb collection of songs. Musically lots of variation - PJ likes to shake up time signatures, and the input from Mick Harvey and Thom Yorke is great, especially the latter's vocals on "This Mess We're In".
Own on Vinyl
I’m already a PJ Harvey fan so this may be kind of biased. I love this album and I love PJ Harvey. “This Is Love” and “A Place Called Home” are outstanding. The worst song on this album (Beautiful Feeling) is still good. Fav tracks: The Whores Hustle And The Hustler Whores, A Place Called Home, This Mess We’re In, You Said Something, This Is Love, We Float, Kamikaze, Big Exit, Good Fortune Least fav: Horses In My Dreams (because I am scared of horses and certainly do not dream of them), One Line, Beautiful Feeling
One of the best PJ Harvey records
Jeez, this was great. PJ Harvey is such a hole in my music knowledge that I’m continually enjoying filling.
Love this album! Discovered it probably 11 years ago <3
Just sublime.
Love PJ Harvey and this is one of her best records, so a clear 5. Good Fortune is best song, just.
One of the best artists composing and performing from the UK in the last 30 years. This is a stand out album, up their with her best, and hence one of the greatest albums
Incredible!
This era was peak PJ. On her previous albums she would toggle between distortion infused rockers and ballads that were barely there. On this album she has shined up the ballads a bit which elevates those ballads.
I would think PJ purists wouldn't have liked this album, which is more mainstream and less raw than her earlier efforts. But what it lacks in edginess it makes up for in song writing. The 1st song (which is pretty raw actually) I couldn’t get enough of the 1st time I heard it and it keeps me bouncing off the walls, much like “Dress” from her first album. The 2nd song is a definite hit, with full-on Patti Smith channeling. Of the remainder, I lean toward the rockier numbers like Whores Hustle and This is Love, not so much Radiohead influenced ballads, although the duet with Tom York is right up there with the best Radiohead songs. I've been listening to a ton of PJ since 1001 and this might not he my favourite album of hers, but I think it's the best that we have been sent.
Even better than I remember it.
amazing
5/5 this album kicks ass! PJ Harvey deserves much more recognition, especially when she has albums like Is this Desire?, Cities, and Let England Shake. Favorite tracks: Big Exit, Good Fortune, A Place Called Home, One Line, This Mess We’re In, Kamikaze, This is Love, We Float
Last year Pitchfork 'rescored' this album from 5.4 to 8.4. Better late than never, I suppose. Excellent album throughout.
Perhaps my #3 PJ, after To bring you my love and Is this desire. Excellent songs, raw and accessible at the same time.
One of my all time favorite albums. Hypnotic indie rock album full of outstanding songs. This song was formative, and I kick myself for not ever trying to see her live back then. Standout track: "You Said Something" is one of the greatest love songs ever written.
"Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" is the fifth studio album from English alternative rock musician and singer PJ Harvey. The album has themes of love and connections to New York City where she had been living for nine months. She purposedly made it more direct, more melodic and less darker than her previous albums. I'll agree with that; the first three songs are very melody driven. She does still have an harder edge going in a lot of these songs which I've always liked about her music. It did win the 2001 Mercury Prize for the best album released in the UK by a British artist. "Big Exit" starts the album in a straight-forward rockin' way. Nice guitar melody. PJ's vocals come in hard and strong. A song maybe misinterpreted as a suicide song; I think it's more about a reaction to being in an unfamiliar place. The first single "Good Fortune" has another strong melodic start. The urgency in PJ's voice. Simply, about falling in love. Great song. The second single "A Place Called Home" uses an acoustic guitar giving it kind of a groove. Another love song...one day there will be a place for us. Thom Yorke takes over as lead singer on "This Mess We're In." PJ in the background. Slower, more of a ballad. This song has grown on me a bit. They want each other but are obligated to someone else. A similar theme is in "You Said Something." Sort of an off-key guitar melody. The music and vocals build the emotion. Imagery to NYC and they want to be with each other but something is holding them back. Probably my favorite song on the album. PJ goes more punk and Patti Smith in the third and final single "This Is Love." Hard repetition in the music and vocals. An ominous start the to the album closer "We Float" with the bass, organ, drums and PJ's vocals. Starting out desperate and then optimism kicks in with uplifting vocals repeating "We Float." A great album ender. This album sounded great today. Really solid from start to finish. I'm a huge fan of early PJ Harvey. Yes, this album is more melodic and less dark but still has the edge of those albums. Highly recommended.
This is one of my favorite albums. It was so prescient when it came out - it became one of those iconic albums which perfectly aligned with the zeitgeist. The songwriting is cohesive and so beautiful. The Thom Yorke tracks kill me every time. I know it isn't everyone's favorite PJ album but it's definitely my personal favorite.
This is really cool!!
p865. 2000. 5 stars New millennium Chrissie Hynde. Great tunes, great songs, great attitude, great image. What's not to like?
My favorite PJ Harvey album. I heard a lot of PJH in Patti Smith's Horses when it came up in the generator earlier this week.
This is Love!
Fuck it. I love it.
This is such a good album! I’ve always been curious about her music, but never gotten into it. And now I want to listen to other albums of hers.
Widescreen yet personal. One of PJH's most compelling and consistent albums.
Fantastic, can't believe I've not listened before!
the Thom Yorke bits seemed very un-Thom Yorke and that made it a bit strange
i stan PJ Harvey
I love the energy on this album. This Mess We're In, one of my favourite tracks of all time but then it does have Thom Yorke on it.
My favourite PJ Harvey album
I'm sad it took me so long to check this album out. Perfect vibes.
Loved this so much, no clue how I missed this until now. This is the first album that I’ve added to my library on Spotify, I adore the sound. Makes me oddly nostalgic.
The album certifies hot stormy lyrics with raw guitar. Have always loved a few of these tracks
That crooked mouth Speaks to me
Every track is gold.
Not bad
Good Fortune is one of the top rock songs of the decade You Said Something is my favourite song in the history of music This is my 10th relisten and I love Polly Jean Harvey This Mess We're In was gutwrenching but I am not a fan of the other duet
I love everything about this album and have since I first heard it.
An excellent bridge between the ‘90s and ‘00s alternative. Harvey’s voice is so eloquent but really quite excellent. Strong songwriting and storytelling makes this a great surprise!
Pretty much as close to perfection as alternative rock gets.
Another easy 5, it's seems all my other reviews cover what I probably would have said here. Faves: all of it.
Awesome album! PJ is a badass singer/songwriter.
🥰🥰🥰
Brilliant, one of my favourite albums ever, and Good Fortune one of my favourite songs ever. Noting fantastic production by Mick Harvey (ex Bad Seeds).
What an album! Right from the opening track, PJ Harvey hits off firing on all 12 cylinders. Between this album and To Bring You My Love, I argue Harvey brings forth a damn excellent case for best female vocal performance ever in terms of the emotions it triggers in me (which, in my mind, implies best vocal performance ever, period). The fact this performance is closely tied to recording technique does not hinder, but rather further supports to prowess of this multi talented musician.
One of my favourite albums from 00’s
Absolutely blown away by how good this is, for years I’d been aware of PJ Harvey but I’d never thought to listen to any of her music, despite knowing that several bands I like cited her as an influence. Glad this one has been added to my library. A solid 5/5.
very cool
Need to listen to this a lot more
Like it
I really enjoyed this one and will be revisiting it. I enjoyed every single song. I think due to my age, I missed out on a lot of things, and I'm so happy to have discovered this one.
What a great inside look to the women’s rock scene of the late 90s and early 2000s. I really enjoyed this one.
Had never heard of PJ Harvey, 5/5 rating though!
Probably some of PJ's best work, serious themes and some cracking tunes. Love "Big Exit", "One Life" and "Beautiful Feeling". Love it and rightfully on this list.
Didn't know much of PJ Harvey aside from 50ft Queenie, which is a great punk song but I didn't know how I'd feel about a whole album. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea was a wonderful surprise. This is solid alternative rock with a grown-up point of view. During my first listen, I favorited half the tracks. During the second, I favorited the rest. I love this.
I’ve heard of PJ Harvey but really had no clue what sort of music it was. As I started to listen I got a Pretenders vibe. The first half of the album I was liking well enough, but nothing was grabbing me or making me want to hit that “Add to Library” button. Wasn’t sure this was standing out amidst several weeks of standout albums… When “The Mess We’re In” came on I stopped what I was doing and just listened. I’m a big fan of Thom Yorke and recognized him instantly and really, really loved the song. Now the album has my full attention. “You Said Something” took me back to New York. “Kamikaze” with the vocal delivery and drums. “Horses in my Dreams” with its shambling, dreamy feel. And “We Float” with it’s great, spare verses soaring chorus ended things on a high note. On the second listen I realized how great this album is. Standouts this time included “A Place Called Home,” “One Line” and “The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore” - really fantastic. How had I glossed over these the first time? I guess I needed that Thom Yorke kick in the ass to get me to pay attention. The music is as cool as the album cover. Really great album.
Was even vergeten hoe briljant PJ is. Je moet haar een beetje op het juiste moment horen, maar als het je mood matcht is het zeker 5 sterren waard!
My intro to Polly Jean. Still in my top 5 albums.
La primera parte de la carrera de PJ fue forjada bajo la cruz del blues. Acá yo, meco que soy, noto una onda más jingle jangle en la guitarra, mucho más melódica (esa línea de los Byrds que atraviesa los 80 y regala cumbres con R.E.M.) y arpegiada. Big Exit es una gran entrada (pun intended) para este disco. Good Fortune capitaliza ese sonido que intuyo. Brillante y muy emocionante, una de sus mejores canciones. A Place Called Home me remite a muchas cosas, todas muy cinematográficas, de esas de heroísmo pasional y romántico, también me retumba otra vez las formas vocales de Michael Stipe y en cuanto a sonido, las ondas pop de electrónica orgánica del Adore de los Smashing. Canta hermoso aquí. Puedo seguir con cada canción pero la neta mejor escúchenlo completo y díganle que lo haga a la persona que más confianza le tengan. Pd. La de The Whores Hustle.... le hubiera encantado a Kurt Cobain.
Aguante PJ Harvey! Un disco variado, sad, pesado, pegajoso, con ritmo, con depre, con melancolia. Tracks favoritos: this is love y kamikaze. Mood: viendo la lluvia escurrir por la ventana de un camión
Polly Jean es una de esas artistas en mi vida que no están presentes todo todo el tiempo, pero que me encantan. Tiene una fuerza creativa muy chida, "Beautiful Feeling" fue por mucho tiempo mi favorita de este disco, aunque "This Is Love" y "This Mess We're In" también tenían lo suyo. Reescucharla con atención hizo que ahora me gusten mucho "A Place Called Home" y "Kamikaze" (con todo lo rockera que suena está última). La voz de PJ me encanta, tanto cuando se aloca como cuando canta tranquila, en calma. El disco abre enérgico y tiene un cierre más moderado. La quiero mucho. No tengo skips en este disco.10/10
Solid PJ album. Digging the tunes. A good candidate for my music library to go along with Dry.
I’d never heard of PJ Harvey before, but her voice and song writing are enjoyable and new (to me at least!). 4/5.
PJ Harvey is cool, and this is ace
Good one!
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
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
PJ Harvey just did not miss back then
Bra grejer, ironiskt nog så var så klart låten med thom yorke den bästa
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.
Almost a modern Joni Mitchell
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.
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.
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
-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
Gear: ZiiGaat x Hangout.Audio Odyssey 2 Artwork: 😎🌃🍎 Production: 🩺📢😖 Music: 🌗🗡️💔 Rating: 🪢🪢🪢🪢/5
Hon är ball och jag är generös idag.
de e bara så coolt
Ons laatste album van PJ als het goed is. De vorige vond ik helemaal niks. Dit album wordt gezien als een van haar beste en het bevalt mij ook een stuk beter. Het is iets toegankelijker, mede omdat het draait om de 90s sound en vnl elektrische gitaar. En dan is het voor mij erg fijn om te luisteren. Schrap 2 van die andere albums en hou dit in de lijst, helemaal prima, hoor je mij niet over. Het beste wat PJ te bieden heeft wat mij betreft.
Interesting new to me artist. No songs stood out in particular and wasn’t familiar with many names she has worked with while reviewing her wiki page.
hab ich sehr gemocht,“This Is Love“ sogar in die playlist gepackt
She so enigmatic in both her writing and her performances very captivating. PJ Harvey has cultivates such a clear path from soul to voice. A couple of Thom Yorke features on here, and they aren’t the best of the bunch honestly. I just feel like Harvey is at her best when she’s explosive and vulnerable and visceral in her performances, like sole of the vocal runs on “The Whores Hustle and the Hustles Whore”. An album thats the proper amount of challenging and rewarding all the way through. I have a lot of respect and not much else to say. Just go listen. 4/5
AAAAAAA!!! I’ve been waiting!! I always thought I would like this, and today I found out that in fact…! It’s fine. The persona is a little bit irritating, a lot of the album doesn’t feel like it’s bringing enough to the table. That being said, the heights, such as “Big Exit,” “A Place Called Home,” “Horses In My Dreams,” et cetera, all make up for that. The production overall is nice, if nothing too phenomenal. The vocals are a bit of an acquired taste, but really good if you can get behind them. Pretty much everything’s great, except for the general persona of the album, which I personally can’t personally find a way to enjoy or relate to. Not saying it’s bad. It just doesn’t connect to me in that way. Also, a lot of the songwriting (especially on songs such as “This Mess We’re In” or “You Said Something”) is just a bit too vague for me to really like it much. All this being said it’s a very nice album. 7.9/10
I reviewed this a while back and reading back, I was perhaps a little harsh. Maybe it just wasn't landing at the time, maybe it was disappointing when listening off the back off the earlier albums which I typically much prefer. A couple of years later and a fresher head and this is landing much better than previously, meaning I'll have to return to this some more. My previous complaints were the songs were a bit 'one idea' and the production a bit tame. I suspect that I was suffering a bit of hang up from the dirtier, grimier production of earlier albums and this sounded a bit polished in comparison. Essentially, I'm not comparing her to herself this time and it's sounding much better in that context.
She had a great band when she toured this one. It's a shame she doesn't do live albums. I've got a great bootleg of her singing The Fall's Janet + Johnny + James from around then, maybe the next album. I like the uncharacteristic shiny simple production on this, as an excursion - everything she does is an excursion, but overall I don't think the songs quite match up to her best. This really becomes apparent when The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore hits because it is just so great.
I actually really loved this album, but it took me a few listens to really fall in love with it unfortunately. I will also say that the sounds themselves feel pretty generic, but aren't done poorly. 8/10
Brilliant work. Proper 2000s, lonely but cool woman vibes. ‘No one understands me’ type shi
Tracks from this album have been with me probably since it was released. But I don’t think I have ever listened to the album. PJ Harvey really was at top form here. This is really quite a work. I just don’t find it consistent. But certainly the whole is worth more attention. 4 Boolean: yes, Beverly glad to have heard before I dir
chill af. her singing is a little inconsistent. very tasteful variance in instrumentation too. 4/5
it was pretty good, i think it was better than the first album she had because it had less weird sounds (like a car sound in the last album). I overall think it was actually pretty good and now im honestly enjoying these albums
Sounds equal parts fragile and confident.
This is really cool. Feels almost timeless, effortless, yet delicate.
dark and moody, generally good album. Falls off a bit toward the end.
Almost a comeback album. Great Patti Smith references
Was fully invested from start to finish on this album. A unique blend of pop and driving rock. I find her vocals get stretched out a little too much but gotta forgive her because of how strong this album is. The wide range of instruments is fucking impressive
I love her first 3 albums so much. This one falls off a touch.
Oddly enough I've not heard this one before. But it was definitely solidly in the region of albums I would have liked at the time. Especially liked the Thom Yorke duet.
This is a great album, one I used yo listen to a lot but not heard for a while
Wonderful album - We Float is one of my all-time favourite closers. Very nearly a 5 but I'm going with the strongest of 4s
I've really gotta listen to more PJ Harvey, because this was really good. This is one of the albums that I think most effectively translates the early '90s alt rock/grunge sound into the 2000's. And PJ Harvey pulls it off just by embracing an honest approach, and a sound that emphasizes both low polish muscle, and melodic sensibilities. She is gruff and convincing, and her lyrics are both to the point and really cool poetry. For the best of what this has to offer, check out Big Exit and Horses In My Dreams; two very different, very good songs. But this project ends up really tight and consistent. Mostly though, this experience told me that I just need to spend more time with PJ Harvey, this is really cool stuff.
tolle stimme und melodien
Dark and bright in equal turns, full of energy and personality. Huge, lush sound for essentially a rock record. I’m a true PJ Harvey believer now. Thom Yorke sounds great on “This Mess We’re In”.
8/10
A slightly darker, simmering PJ Harvey is something I apparently really like.
Ok
viby:)
I know some things about PJ; all of my music loving friends had and loved this album back in the day. I have maybe heard it all before, but have definitely heard some of it, blasted at house parties, cars, nights in/out etc. I don't remember any of those songs. She has a large mouth. Playing this I instantly remembered at least three of the songs and mostly enjoyed the entire thing. Sure it doesn't have a huge amount of musical variety but the vocals and punch carry things through. While Thom Yorke pops up, the whole album has a Radiohead feeling - specifically those clanging moments when Radiohead rock without really wanting to, but do anyway. You'd know what I meant if you were in my brain.
Fell on love with her voice watching the music video for Good Fortune on MTV2. Never listened to the rest of the album until now. Thom Yorke was a nice surprise.
I liked the song about whores and hustlers
My first entry into PJ Harvey, good place to start.
Really difficult one to rate this. At times I was certain it was just okay, but then a track would come along where I’d find myself enjoying it. Guitar driven alternative pop is how I’d describe it, and the last hidden track is possibly the best one! It’s probably a 3.5, so I’ll give it a low 4.
I never actively choose to listen to PJ Harvey, just never really grew up with any exposure to her work, but I usually always enjoy it when I hear it. This is probably my favourite of her’s that I’ve listened to though, only real gripe is with the best track on the album being a hidden bonus with around 90 seconds of silence in front of it. Hidden tracks were always neat in a Tape/CD era but in a streaming one it means I’ll never add those tracks to a playlist for regular listening, even if I love them.
Dope
90s alt rock- big gwen/no doubt energy.
I knew I'd like this and in the end I was right. Pretty great album. I think my standout was The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore, but really they're all solid songs. Maybe if I had one issue it's just missing that one big standout track that really makes me go "holy shit", but overall a good album.
Pretty great alt rock, good energy, not as forceful as Dry but a good album
I like it. The city vibe. The story telling, it’s very fitting and reminiscent of the time it was created.
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea may seem basic in it's style but underneath all of that PJ Harvey oozes talent. Stories is a lot different from her heavy and grunge inspired Rid of Me, but that doesn't mean that this project is bad by any means, sometimes the best solution is the simplest and if PJ can ace that simple style then she's golden. Thankfully she does that and so much more, I also think it was a bold choice to have Thom Yorke on the album as he very much bounces off of PJ's dry delivery. If you are going into this album don't expect anything new or out there but instead expect a very vanilla sound fined out to the sharpest and best degree.
This album may have actually made me a fan of PJ Harvey! It felt polished, but still retaining some of that rawness , but with the experience of a woman who knows exactly what she wants to say. This is Love, almost borders on psychedelic rock, while the song This Mess Were In with Thom York almost felt like Radiohead, if Radiohead was a woman. I listened this album twice and feel like I need to listen to it again I’m impressed!
La collab avec Thom Yorke était inattendu et très agréable. génialement poétique.
Very enjoyable.
It hits a certain mood like I'm in the backseat of a taxi on a rainy night. Very New York indeed. Also a sudden appearance from Mr. Radiohead himself Thom Yorke! It took a few listens, but I say this is solid enough (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)
Im excited to know PJ is on this list multiple times because I know that this isnt her best album, but what an album it is. I first knew of PJ through the desert sessions, not the most typical introduction but I was struck by her voice. This was actually the first solo album I listened to of hers, and I wasnt massively impressed because it all seemed a bit samey. I then listened to Dry and Rid of Me, and I understood it, every album has an intentionality behind it, and once you understand that this was a step away from the harsh sounds of her previous work, and instead a lush soundscape, it should make sense. Anyway I love this one but this isnt perfect.
I liked this one a little more than her last album I listened to since it was more rock heavy than grunge. Likes: Big Exit; Good Fortune; A Place Called Home; The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore; The Mess We’re In; This Is Love
Okay, turns out I rather like PJ Harvey. Cool! Good to find out!
This was my third PJ Harvey album here out of only 116 albums. Of the three I found it the most polished and enjoyable, if with a softer edge.
4 star
Enjoyed this album.
Would rate it a 3.5 tbh. But I'll give it a 4 since I believe I would enjoy it more on a second listen.
Achei legal a vibe do álbum, só talvez não seja um álbum que eu reouviria por ser mais cadenciado
I liked it! I liked the variety of music in this album and I really like her voice too.
High 4! One of the greatest and most innovative female rock artists of our century......
PJ Harvey is such an amazing songwriter and performer. Even her "weaker" recordings are at least good, which makes it especially hard — and somehow pointless — to attach a plain number to Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea. This album is often hailed by critics as one of her very best, but I'm not entirely sure I agree. The second half falls a little behind in terms of melodies and instantly memorable songwriting. Sure, the album has many brilliant moments (like Good Fortune — what a tune!), but does Stories... truly reach the heights of Rid of Me, To Bring You My Love, Is This Desire?, or Let England Shake? Hmmm. It might be a matter of personal preference in the end. I'd say it's on par with the equally stunning White Chalk (second tier, but nonetheless essential listening). My best guess is that this album marks PJ Harvey becoming more accessible to a wider audience, smoothing out some of the rough edges that made Stories... a great fit for its era. The eerie, strumming Beautiful Feeling with its dual vocals perfectly captures the collective sense of unease around the turn of the century, which is why it might have resonated so strongly with critics. Much like Kate Bush, it's hard to overstate the genius of PJ Harvey. I'll repeat what I said when rating The Sensual World: This would be a clear 5, if PJ Harvey hadn't already created even more towering works. In the bigger picture, Stories... serves as a transitional work between PJ Harvey's early masterpieces and the more understated, melodic approach to songwriting that she perfected on later albums like Let England Shake.
ballsy! definitely keeping this in the rotation, one of the best finds for me in this project to date (n=60 albums)
Just the kind of cool interesting music I hoped I would find! ✅
I listened to this twice (something I don't usually do) because I had such mixed feelings. If I described it, the album should be something I loved. Alternative rock sound. Strong female vocals. But I just couldn't get into it. I feel like I didn't sit up and pay attention until Thom Yorke started singing on This Mess We're In. That song, and We Float, were the standouts for me.
Such a nice spectrum from poppy to grungy to melancolic rock and always with such a vigorous voice, creating this unmistakable PJ Harvey-Atmosphere.
I miss some of the grit of the early PJ Harvey albums. Still good! 4 stars
There's a couple PJ Harvey albums I prefer to this, but it's a very good album nonetheless. I think it's probably PJ's most accessible album and there's some cool tunes, including "Good Fortune", "A Place Called Home", and "This is Love". 4 stars.
To Bring You My Love era is probably my favourite PJ Harvey period because the southern gothic element is so compelling. However, this is pretty close with a slightly more mature, radio-friendly sound. Big Exit, This is Love and We Float are all incredible. One key question remains from the Good Fortune video though - what is Polly Jean's go to order at the kebab shop?
One of the first Indie albums I ever listened to. Really made me a PJ Harvey fan. The song she does with Thom Yorke is awesome.
Despite living through the 90s, I never really got around to listening to PJ Harvey. This album is a recollection of NYC in 2000, where her life crossed with love and hope. She has a dynamic voice suited for rock, soft at times, belting in others. Plus three tracks with Thom Yorke can make any album intense. "Good Fortune": How a new love arrives and puts you where you seem to draw blackjack on every hand. "A Place Called Home": discusses love as a metaphor for home "You Said Something": puts the listener on that rooftop in Brooklyn.
I liked this and I could hear how it inspired artists from the 2010s and on that I really enjoy!
One of the best ever opening songs to an album. I also really like Thom Yorke’s appearance. Some great songs and some boring ones, but the good ones outshine those.
Good
Solid alternative album through and through. I’ve previously gone through PJ Harvey’s discography and really enjoy her music, but don’t return to it as much as I probably should. I completely forgot about Thom Yorke featuring on this album. Their duet works really well and you can definitely feel his influence on a couple songs.
really lovely vocals, pj harvey the influence u are highlights: good fortune, a place called home, this mess we're in, kamikaze, we float 3.5/5
Love PJ and never heard this album. It doesn't hit me as much as Let England Shake, but I like it! Maybe a 4.5?
Don’t think I’ve ever listened to this. Really good. I was coloured by “Let England Shake” which I really don’t rate at all. This one really demonstrates her unique voice and writing style.
It’s got that early 2000s timelessness. Really makes me feel nostalgic for a different time
Some very solid song writing and performance
Had a bad run of albums lately but this one brought me back. Thanks PJ
Really enjoyed this one
Great. 4/5
1001 Albums Vol. 0029: Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea ============================================================ Introduction: Alright! This is more like it. After two of the oldest albums on this site back-to-back, we finally have an album that I would consider to be "modern". I put that in quotes because...somehow this thing will be thirty years old in just four years....Yeah, time sure is something. Anyway, this album, Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea, was released by PJ Harvey, an artist I've literally never heard of before, in 2000. As for what m-...yeah, I don't know what makes it influential. I say that pretty much every time, I know. However, from what I've read, this album is supposed to be influential due to a mature blend between Indie Rock and Pop. Huh...that actually sounds quite pleasant...maybe this album had influence on a certain band that I can pretty much guarantee is on this list even though I haven't seen or heard anything about them yet?...I wonder. Anyway, this album apparently features Thom Yorke on it. As you may already know, I believe that he is literally one of the best artists of all time, so any song that features him automatically gets a 10/10 by law....Unless...you know, it deserves anything less. What the hell am I talking about? Alright, anyway, this album also seems to have a pretty generalized concept across its entire runtime as well. PJ Harvey apparently wrote the entire album to serve as a message of love to New York City....Yeah, I'll just go ahead and completely agree with her on that one. I've been there twice and I can confidently say that it is one of the coolest places I have been to in my life. I mean, there is literally something new and interesting to see around pretty much every corner....We just...don't talk about the state of New York now....I'll just go ahead and clarify that I'm not trying to make fun of its mayor or politics in general. I just have to throw that out there so that someone doesn't get pissed at me in the extremely rare chance that anyone is even reading this. So, with my love of New York in mind, I'd imagine that I'd probably be able to relate pretty well with this album. I'm sure there's going to be a few things here and there that I don't understand due to me simply touring the place for a few days, but I'd imagine I'll have a pretty good grasp on the general ideas and themes that this album presents. Let's just see. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 1: Big Exit: 10/10 Track 2: Good Fortune: 9/10 Track 3: A Place Called Home: 10/10 Track 4: One Line: 9/10 Track 5: Beautiful Feeling: 7/10 Track 6: The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore: 9/10 Track 7: This Mess We're In: 10/10 Track 8: You Said Something: 8/10 Track 9: Kamikaze: 7/10 Track 10: This Is Love: 9/10 Track 11: Horses In My Dreams: 9/10 Track 12: We Float: 10/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conclusion: And...THIS! THIS is a really good album. THIS is one of the main reasons I even wanted to start this project in the first place. Masterpieces I've never heard before, such as this, motivate me to keep going through this project. Yeah, a lot of junk, masterpieces you've already heard before (not that this is bad), or just average stuff will rear its head along the way, but THESE kinda albums are undoubtedly the best part of this site. It's honestly a shame though that PJ Harvey isn't a bigger name in Pop. I mean, you can't tell me that...oh...wait...I don't know if I should bring HER up....You know what....You cannot tell me that Taylor Swift is better than this! I don't care if I get my door broken down! I'm just speaking the truth! You Swifties whining over your 8/10, what do you think about this statement?!...Huh? I'm still alive....I guess I'm alright...for now. Alright, anyway, enough messing around. So, what makes me call this album a masterpiece? Well,firstly, this is undoubtedly some of the best Pop material I have heard in recent memory, musically at least. To be fair, the music on this album tends to lean towards Alternative Rock as well, but the fact still remains. Every song follows a pretty typical Pop song structure: verse followed by chorus, second verse followed by chorus, bridge that removes most of the instrumentation and slowly builds back up to it, and so on. Basically, none of these songs really do anything groundbreaking or super unique with their song structures. In fact, I'd argue that some of these songs really use their own respective choruses a bit too much. That being said, every song manages to be extremely interesting and captivating through their entire runtime. This comes from a combination of factors. Firstly, most songs either add small layers of instrumentation throughout the runtime or simply change the already existing instrumentation to make the melody feel familiar yet fresh throughout the entire song. On top of this, there are some songs on this album that simply have angelic choruses...pretty much all my 10/10s. You'll know what I'm talking about if you were to listen to them. They're just moments that surprise you yet quickly reel you back in and make you feel...simply impressed. Now, on top of this too, each of these songs are just extremely well-written and easy to learn. Everything about each of these songs simply feels so tight and recognizable even on a first listen. Now, this in theory shouldn't work. You should be able to re-listen to a song multiple times and notice small details you missed before; however, these songs are just different in a way that I can't quite describe. A lot of these songs either convey an almost edgy or pleasant vibe to them that I felt I could fully absorb myself into after one listen simply because I already knew the melody. I think that is this album's biggest advantage it has over other Pop albums that would come after. It simply evokes a generally unique vibe that is easy to lose yourself in from song to song. It may be due to the presence of Rock throughout much of the album. I'm not entirely sure, but it's there regardless. Now, with this album's music out of the way, let's go over the lyrics real quick....They're actually pretty great. There are a lot of either love or breakup songs throughout this album. Now, I'm not typically a fan of either. Most of these songs either come off as whiny, stupid, or simply feel a bit...too obvious. Yet this album's songs just...work. It's probably due to generally well-written and thought provoking lyrics that take multiple listens to get a grasp on, but they...they just work. I don't know how else to say it. Apparently, We Float is supposed to be a breakup song about how two people will feel free again after breaking up. Essentially, they'll "float" after breaking up. The way that the angelic chorus kicks in presenting the main idea of the song, "We'll Float", backed by calmer verses describing the situation of that relationship in a vague way should be the perfect example of how this album's lyrics simply work in a beautiful way. As I literally just described too, the music only helps further add to the lyrics and vice versa. Now, on top of this, unlike what I said in the intro, I don't believe there is any song on this album that is directly expressing love to New York City alone. Some songs are clearly set there and show some form of appreciation for it, yet even these songs have a very general and personable meaning that one can easily relate to. Basically, no, you don't have to have been to New York to get the full experience of this album. I mean, it was cool to see some New York references, but that's pretty much all I felt from hearing them. The main focus of every song should be applicable to you no matter where you are. Finally, as I always do, I'll briefly mention PJ Harvey's vocals...they're extremely good. She can sound great trying to provide a rebellious and desperate tone to her voice as seen in Big Exit and This Is Love, she can sound great trying to sound like a typical Pop singer, and, like I said earlier, her voice is simply angelic in portions of the album. It's great...definitely one of the best voices I've ever heard in Pop....Oh yeah, and Thom Yorke's voice is obviously great too...just had to get that out there. Now, with all that said...yeah...this album is just a masterpiece. I will admit, I really am not that big of a fan of modern pop at all. I think most of the hits we hear nowadays are completely annoying or are too simple. That being said, and I know that this album is losing its "modern status" more and more everyday, this album proves me wrong. I can hear traces of modern pop throughout much of this album and it still managed to be enjoyable all the way through. Huh? It's weird to see an album that actually kinda changes my view on music. I mean, it's not a major change or anything...but...still a change regardless...Well, here's to hoping we see more underrated masterpieces such as this. =========================================================== Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea: 9/10 Song Average: 8.9/10
I enjoyed this one. It hits those alt rock vibes of high school in the late 90s and early 2000s sitting in coffee shops with the mismatched furniture, posters for local bands, and zines. I found myself swaying and moving to the music. Not in a frenetic way but a way that it moves me as I do what needs to be done. I appreciate the beats and the different instruments that came up and I like Harvey's voice and how it feels both ethereal and grounded.
I'm surprised I haven't had this album before. It's pretty good. Nothing that stand out as great, but nothing really bad either.
I viewed PJ Harvey the same way that I viewed the Faroe Islands, as in I knew she/they existed, but I didn't feel a need to know anymore. And that is a positive thing about this 1001 experience, because this is a good album that I'd never have otherwise heard. There are so many elements within this album, from the folksy A Place Called Home to the raw This Is Love. Good Fortune sounds Pretenders-esque, everyone has a good thrash around on Kamikaze and it gets pretty much wrapped up nicely with the beautiful We Float. It's all very serious and impressive, and probably more exciting than the Faroe Islands. I'll return to PJ Harvey in the future. A high 4 stars.
evie from which cursive singing hath evolved
Powerful, emotive, strong songs & duets with Thom Yorke definitely add value. Side note: That point when you realise that the album you were once assessing as PJ’s “new stuff” is 26 years old!
No familiarity coming in beyond Thom Yorke. Loved those tracks and found myself enjoying the energy and style overall. Will continue to listen and give more time in the near future. 2 listens
I really liked this one. I had heard of them but never gave them much thought when I was younger. I should have
An alt-rock album. One that feels like your inner thoughts escaping at times and makes you feel like a lone traveller going on an adventure
PJ Harvey is in the dictionary as "Criminally Underrated."
Mezcla entre patti Smith y Kurt Cobain
The hole album is amazing, what really sold me on it is the 2 final tracks
Very interesting. Couple of great tracks. Wasn't expecting to hear Thom Yorke.
First time listening to a PJ Harvey album. Love this gal, but I'm reluctant to give this a 5 because I think she's gonna have freakier stuff. Some fantastic songs on here, good horse content.
Songs on this album are very different, i mostly like energetic/angry ones (Kamikaze/This Love especially), didn't dig Thom Yorke featurings. Discovered her kinda late, but been liking her music lately, cool unique voice, nice melodies
Good album!! Some cool stuff, nice voice, like the collab work with radiohead guy. Had picked out this mess we're in, but horses in my dreams turned me. didnt love the opening but turned out to be a very beautiful, melancholic song. tranced me a bit. 4.25/5
Très agréable à l'écoute, de bons sons et m'a donné envie de découvrir plus de l'artiste. Je réécouterai très certainement ! Top: The Mess We're In
- musiikillisesti vähäeleisimmät biisit voi olla hankalia päästä kyytiin, mutta aa että kyllä tältä levyltä löytyy sitten hienoja kappaleita
Great, but I always change it when I hear Thom Yorke because I think the album has ended. Weird song in the middle of the album. Not my favorite of hers but I do really love the other ones
Favorite of her albums so far.
We need more girl grunge!
The strongest of the PJ Harvey stuff on here.
thom yorke??? boy what are you doing here. get ur whiny ass back to radiohead. anyway good album!! been meaning to listen to pj harvey so i’m glad i was able to do so today.
Really beautiful, some high points that I loved (Kamikaze!). The Thom Yorke songs didn't totally do it for me, felt like they should have just been on a Radiohead album.
Almost a 5
Another one from my record collection (so far 14/35). I haven't listened to this one in years, but it sure sounds good after yesterday's Pantera.
Really liked it. Some very good tunes. However, those featuring Thom Yorke tended to be surprisingly less interesting.
A CD I recently bought on the strength of PJ Harvey being an artist I didn’t know too much about but wanted to. So it is an album I like and glad it’s now in my collection. That said I think that this album is a good example of her work but not too bothered about delving deeper into her work. 4/5 15/3/26
Yummy angsty
Love me some PJ Harvey!
Thom Yorke jumpscare
Thought this was pretty good!
ts was so fire i miss when people made good music
Transitional Polly. This feels like the obvious fork in the road that brings Dry along to Let England Shake There are parts of this that sound more like Chrissie Hynde than the wild yearning of PJ's earlier work. Never a bad thing, but it means the echoes of the past make you perk up a bit. There songs right in the middle help bolster the whole of the effort as far as im concerned. Probably 3.5, definitely worth a second spin. Top track? Probably The whores hustle and the Hustlers Whore, but that could change with familiarity
PJ Harvey wasn’t on my radar at all before starting this project and has been one of my biggest revelations. Admittedly, this isn’t my favorite Polly Jean album - I think I'll always be most fond of her early records - but this is in the top half of the discography, for sure. With most artists I insist on not comparing records to their later work, but for PJ my comparison will always be against the early records I love so much. Had I come to this record first, I might put it on a higher pedestal. This album keeps (returns to?) the 'rough around the edges' aesthetic I love so much from the first records, but adds a complementary bit of maturity and complexity. With that combination, it makes sense that this would be her most commercially successful release (at least to this point). Everyone's allowed to grow and this is PJ doing that in a way that feels natural. She's still that same dark, lovelorn, soul but now with better (cleaner) production and more complex arrangements. If you believe this is Polly's masterpiece, I will agree with you. It certainly feels like the inflection point of her career where you can easily pivot to into the darker and bluesy-er early records, or just as easily into the even more complex pop-adjacent compositions of the later albums. If you don't like this record, you may not like any PJ Harvey records.
Great album, a whole bunch of bops. I’ll be back for more.
Damn good coffee. Loving the intensity on The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, Kamikaze (who is that ripping up the drum set? Kudos.) and This is Love. I wasn't feeling totally inspired to go after the whole discography but looking at the album list it seems like I won't have a choice. Won't be mad when I roll the next album in the set.
7 / 10 - cooler alternative rock - Viele Interessante Taktarten, ohne dass es die Songs übermäßig komplex wirken lässt - Schlagzeug spielt oft Snare/Rim auf allen Beats spielt, dadurch werden die verschiedenen X/4 Taktarten interstützt ohne dass es komplex wirkt. Dadurch haben viele Songs aber ähnliche Vibes. Favs: - Big Exit - The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore - Kamikaze
Was on the line with this but after repeat listens it’s a 4
Shes so cool isnt she? Lots of really cool tracks, all quite mesmerising, it pulls you in, enchants you and keeps you there. 4.0/5.0 Best Song: Horses In My Dreams
Really good gear, PJ Harvey is Dorset's second finest export behind Thomas Hardy. I love this album its a lot of fun, its got a really unique vibe about it, whilst at the same time being extremely 2000s
Really cool never heard her before
Did not expect a whole lot from this as I’m generally not a huge fan of PJ Harvey, but I loved this. Lots of great songs and moody in the best way. “This Mess We’re In” spoke to my soul, and I loved “Big Exit” too. A stunning album, and a good surprise for me.
Dobrze się tego słuchało ale jeszcze chyba nie akceptuje części mnie lubiącej taką muzykę.
Belle découverte !