Reviews (page 4 of 13)
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.
4.5
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?
This is my second PJ Jarvey album. The first one was not my cup of tea at all, but this one is much more accessible and inviting. You can hear clear the references of Patti Smith in the way she sings and in her poetry but she made it quite easy listening and interesting. The first 3 songs are really good an cohesive but Thom Yorke presence made some songs really Radiohead in the production and in the poetry as well. I will give it a 4 bedcsuse it made me intrigued and I will certainly go back to this album 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 !
I had only vaguely known the name PJ Harvey, but this was my first time listening to her, and it turned out to be the kind of alternative rock I enjoy. If it had continued with simple rock like the first few songs, I think I would have gotten tired of it, but there was enough diversity that I was able to listen to it with enjoyment all the way through.
It's only been a couple of years since I went through her discography and it's hard to find an album that you could consider a weak entry. Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea isn't among my favourite PJ Harvey albums, but it's still a damn good one. PJ Harvey is always looking for new ways to evolve and this album is no different. It's a step in a more mainstream direction, but it's nevertheless a very good set of songs. It doesn't reach quite the same heights as Rid Of Me and To Bring You My Love, but that's a tough ask for any album, in my opinion. The collaboration with Thom Yorke is not as great as one would expect it to be. Both tracks are very solid, though. It's funny how much Horses In My Dreams sounds like a Radiohead track with no involvement from Thom Yorke, though.
Album #80 PJ Harvey: Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea One of the finest singer-songwriter albums of the 90s/2000s. There really is no better soundscape for walking through a bustling city during the day. This is definitely a loft softer than her other work, but I feel like she adapts well to this sound and creates possibly her best album. Thom Yorke, who is famously stingy with features, even going so far as snubbing Paul McCartney, makes two appearances here, so you know that the album must be good. Best Songs: We Float, Good Fortune, This Mess We’re In Worst Song: Kamikaze Score out of 10: 9
oh yeah this was sick
I liked it, some songs more than others. I'll have to go through it again to see which were which, since i listened to it while running places.
this one's being added to my library immediately. i've always vaguely planned to listen to some pj harvey at some point & never got to it so i'm so glad it got assigned i rly rly like this album!! have been listening to it the entire day. thom yorke jumpscare (positive)
she's like Fiona apple for interesting people
Bra flow. Man kommer in i PJs värld efter några lyssningar.
I liked this better than I thought I would have. It's somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for me, but I'm gonna give it a 4. I like her voice, I like the urgency she sings with. I like the instruments for the most part. The strong tracks outweigh the weaker ones. I'm assuming "Rid of Me" is on this list somewhere, I look forward to listening to it when it comes up.
Look at the cover of this album, then check out the cover of “The Hot Rock” by Sleater-Kinney which was released a year earlier. They are clearly going down a similar road. It’s hard to believe the packaging is a coincidence when the vibe sounds so (wonderfully) similar. These two albums fit nicely together, whether the match was made in heaven or on earth. I’m a fan of both.
Somehow, when PJ Harvey shows her softer side, she still comes on very strong. I love the power and strength projected on this album. It really is a toned down version of other works, but it is still undeniably PJ. It may be her best album for me.
She comes off very, very cool all throughout this. Such confident record
She's so cool!
I like the beautiful moody energy. if it’s supposed to capture the banality of urban landscapes - it succeeds
So so good. Only familiar with one of her songs before this but it's all so varied but just as strong.
Keep just hearing PJ as Patti Smith. Gonna listen to some of her other stuff until I can hear her for herself. 4 as a placeholder for now.
This was dope. Soulful 2000s rock, nicr vocals, nice instrumentation. Flows together nicely, almost too nicely... didn't even realize the album had restarted until I was 7 songs deep on my 2nd listen. Kinda gives me Verve vibes, especially when the male vocalist chimes in.
LOVED THE 2000s VIBES. Will be back
Dark, slow, dreamy
If you see Polly Jean's name you know you're going to be in for , at minimum, a half decent album or just generally great. This one is no exception. It's more traditional rock than other albums in her collection but that is not a weakness. The tunes are big, the emotions are bigger. Feel as overwhelmed with them as PJ obviously was when she was writing this tunes. Best Tracks: Big Exit; Good Fortune; Kamikaze
Good tunes by and in the style of PJH
First time listening to to a pj Harvey album. So stark and beautiful.
prefiero sus otros albums pero obviamente no le voy a poner un 2
"The Call of Duty another Warzone" PJ Harvey PREDICTS battle royale gaming surge 20 years in the past Apparently Nick Cave wrote Into My Arms about her 2 Thom Yorkes YAZOO!
something keeps me wanting to relisten, and maybe it’s because i’m not paying good enough attention, but i’ve had to relisten 4 separate times. i think i really like it?
i listened to this album a bunch when i was considering breaking up with my college boyfriend .
4.5
peut être que si je vivais dans un film et dans une ville je pourrais apprécier encore mieux l’album
Overall, it sounded to me like a darker version of The Pretenders. PJ sounded a lot like Chrissy Hind all over this album. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.
por fin una mujer en solitario en un album de estos. me hizo gracia como ella subio el album justo el primer día de los 2000.
Listening session: february 9th, while commuting to internship Listened to before: no Thoughts: PJ, I was not familiar with your game. And Thom Yorke brings this album to an even higher level Favourite tracks: A Place Called Home, Beautiful Feeling & This Mess We’re In
Good album! Favorite is We Float, but enjoyed the whole album.
The antidote to Taylor Swift. Great songs with creativity and genuine edge.
This was an unexpected gem. Many of the songs sounded familiar likely from air play. I favorited 4 songs which is high for a first time listen. I will be back for repeat listens to this one. 4/5
i LOVE pj harvey!!! i got into her way back when i was 14, all because of this album. i believe others from her discography hit harder and resonate more with me though. other than that it's a solid album ps make sure to listen to the hidden track (this wicked tongue)
Love the collaborations with Thom Yorke. PJ Harvey is just downright good. Have nothing else to say about this one. Great indie rock album.
Le donne della classifica sono qui per un motivo
Remember the buzz around PJ Harvey from when I was a kid, but never picked up on it. Sounds great, and now I see where Sahara Hotnights were coming from.
Solid album, before she went a bit too weird for me with her next offerings.
Much more accessible and approachable than the last PJH offering. Scraped a 4 for the first half, but got stronger as the album progressed. Landed on a comfortable 4.
Fantastic album, that goes in the rotation
Sophisticated PJ, but she’s always great
Actually prefered the other album but this is also good! Love the thom yorke feature here.
I've been listening to PJ Harvey for quite some time now. She regularly appears in my stream, which is how I became aware of her. So far, I've liked everything I've heard from her. However, nothing from this album has really stuck with me. It's okay, but not outstanding. 4/5
I was excited to jump into this album today. She is an artist I have ignored in the past, not for any reason other than laziness. I've already gotten Let England Shake from the generator and liked it a lot, but I knew it wasn't indicative of all of her music. So I felt confident I'd really enjoy this listen. The only unfortunate part of listening today is that my drive to work (when I typically get to play the album of the day) required more focus due to snowy conditions and a detour thanks to a road closure from said snow. Mostly I was listening and not able to truly pay attention to the lyrics, but it is what it is. I came away really liking what I heard. Someone commented on her sounding like Chrissy Hynde and I totally got that same feel, and that is a definite plus in my book. There were more standout songs than ones I didn't care for. The ones I really loved were This Mess We're In, You Said Something, and We Float (fantastic). I'm not sure I'd be able to give it a five star rating, but it's a very strong four.
Apprécié pour la profondeur des textes (à explorer davantage). 3,5/5
First album from an artist I’m completely unfamiliar with. I have heard the name, don’t think I know anything by her. To start off it’s rock heavy. Sound is kinda timeless rock. Could be late 70s or late 90s. Good Fortune is great. Enjoying it through the first half. Her voice has a great sound for rock music. Wow this gets really interesting. The Thom Yorke song is great. You Said Something is fantastic. Loving a lot of these songs. Kamikaze sounds like 90s grunge. For a first listen to an artist I’ve never heard before, I’m really enjoying this. Horses in My Dreams is probably my least favorite song here. A good album needs a re-listen and I think I’ll give this a re listen. This is feeling like a solid 4. Wishes it was a song or two shorter here on re-listen, but think I’ll stick with a 4. Really like it.
very edgy rock gritty raah I acc quite liked it. Fiona Apple esque which I liked and I’ll probs have to give it a re listen for any songs that stick out
A sadder, more thoughtful Chrissie Hynde.
Хороший альбом. Можна брати на вінілі.
Forgot how good this is, lush production and instrumentation
I was familiar w her earlier offerings, which are much more brash and raw - this, however, is a revelation, applying her sharply described observations to something she loves and believes in. It makes for an album that captures the mess and gloriousness of love at the same time, and is accessible without losing its bite.
this mess we're in 2000 united kingdom alternative rock
Super
I love PJ Harvey, but I would have picked something different for this list. Let England Shake and To Bring You My Love are better albums, in my opinion. Her voice is so evocative and she and Thom Yorke make an interesting duet.
YEAH!! This rocked so hard. Love her voice, the raw grunge, the vibe, everything. "The Whore Hustlers..." and "This is love" really captured my attention. I actually did not like the one with Thom Yorke (surprise surprise, not the biggest radiohead fan) even though that's the most streamed song on the album. "Horses in my Dreams" was surprisingly very powerful to me too. 7/10
Really enjoyed this. So much that I played it twice.
I really enjoyed this. PJ Harvey is among the musicians I've known of but never really listened to--for no defensible reason I can think of. I'm only one listen in, but I think this may enter my regular listening with additional listens. There's depth and a musicality I like.
Sometimes it feels/felt like PJ was writing songs to be edgy rather than a songwriter. But there are plenty of songs I genuinely like here.
Several good songs on this album that make you want to listen more. 4 stars or B.
Wonderful
This might be my favorite PJ record. Just ragged enough an edge but also has a glow radiating from it. The Patti Smithisms are unhidden, but why would you hide it if you got it?
A revelation. Added to my library to listen again in future. Very enjoyable.
Better than I remember it being. Still too much NY talk but pretty good
Rock & Roll Girl Storyteller Thrums Life Does grunge like the best of them & writes lyrically Good Fortune - I feel like a bird of paradise - you share in her love story. This Mess We’re In - masterful pairing w/Thom Yorke - builds to a romantic crescendo just like the story being told. Some of the album repeats itself.
Solid
Неожиданно хороший
The whores hustle and the hustlers whore, kamikaze, and this is love were AWESOME!!!! I like the vibe of the album and the guitar is generally pretty great, my only qualm is the singer’s voice just isn’t my absolute favorite but that didn’t keep me from enjoying the album. Also thom yorke features!!
Great one
Veldig bra!
90s Patti smith vibes SLAPPED. Been on my listen list since 5th grade if you can believe
Very good voice, enjoyed listening to the album. Good fortune was maybe my favourite, but overall would recommend the album.
I like it in general. A bit to melancholic at times. I like the songs with Thom Yorke and I like the songs that feel a bit more like punk with heavier instruments.
Both delicate and powerful
Pretty solid rock album. Not my favorite, but still pretty good.
Quite accessible Peej but its impact is no lesser. Amazing elliptical song structures.
idk, great voice, great agony with a bit of anger, great album overall, I felt it a little bit mono thematic and boring. felt it was a less interesting version of björk. I probably need another listen on a better day really liked the collab with Thom Yorke
KAMIKAZEEEE
Most of the songs on here are banners. There's a couple that are so so but this is good enough for four stars
pj harvey is legit.
Another PJ Harvey banger. The first album I had from her in this project was "Let England Shake" which was frankly terrible. Since then, I've had Rid of Me and now this album - both much better! This is another solid rock record. I don't know if PJ is on my all-time greats list, but a solid 4/5 for sure.
vindictive petty bitch music i love it Would I listen again? No Deserves to be on this list? Yes 4.3
I really enjoyed this album. The vibe gave night out with friends, very early-2000s Gossip Girl energy, just going out, hanging out, and existing in the moment. While I didn’t love every single song, the album as a whole really clicked with me. The music felt fun and confident. It’s an album I could genuinely see myself returning to and putting on when the mood fits, and I connected with it.
I enjoyed the album but I couldn’t pick a song that I loved
I really don’t understand why we don’t celebrate PJ Harvey more, a warm emotive voice, a great guitar player and genuinely a generational songwriter. Both political and personal at the same time, like little short stories
At the Electric Picnic music festival in 2006, the excitement had gotten too much for me. I was a bit "worse for wear", but as soon as PJ Harvey came out on stage I immediately snapped out of it, sobered up by her presence. It wasn't the first time I'd seen PJ Harvey live. We saw her earlier in 2004 at Oxegen, striding across the stage in a bright yellow dress with her full band. But the Electric Picnic gig was particularly special because Polly played solo, with just her electric guitar and piano. It was intimate and huge at the same time, one of the best concerts I've ever been lucky enough to attend. She's truly an exceptional artist. She first came onto my radar because of this album and the buzz surrounding it, but also because, as a Radiohead fan, I kept seeing mentions of the Thom Yorke collaborations on this album being passed around on forums (along with UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights"). I used to read Q Magazine as a teenager, back when it still felt like a serious source of music journalism, and in 2001 they featured PJ Harvey on the cover. I was *ahem* quite enamoured with the photo. Polly was wearing just a t-shirt, underwear, heels, and a Gretsch Broadkaster, held up against her like a shield. Her arms were raised behind her head, hair pulled back, with the lyric "Lick my legs" emblazoned across her shirt. Below the guitar, her legs were deliberately foregrounded, presented for licking, the image becoming a visualisation of the line itself. It was provocative and mischievous, but with her eyes locked straight into the lens, she had a look that made it clear that she was entirely in control of the narrative. There was no sense of sexual exploitation here. It was a striking image, one that always reminds me of Patti Smith in the suit on the cover of Horses: different imagery, same refusal to be framed passively. This was the first PJ Harvey album I bought, and I was an instant fan. "Big Exit" is a huge song. That guitar riff, what an album opener. It builds with a driving drum rhythm, Polly's spoken-word (or should that be "shouted-word"?) verses pushing it forward before everything crashes into the chorus and that crescendo of an ending. The punk poetry of the song reminds me again of Patti Smith, someone Polly consistently brings to mind, which makes it feel fitting that they share a space together in the "P" section of record shops. "Beautiful Feeling" is haunting and minimalist. Thom Yorke sits somewhere in the atmosphere of the song, but it's essentially just Polly and a single electric guitar, letting the song itself do the heavy lifting. "This Is Love" is built around one of the all-time great riffs. It's so simple and minimal, but so effective. Coupled with Polly's snarling vocals, it's pure punk perfection. Then we get to "Horses In My Dreams". Like "Beautiful Feeling" before it, it's quiet, simple, and gorgeous. Again, I feel similarities to Patti Smith here, so it seems relevant that she's singing about horses. That closing repeated chorus of "I have pulled myself clear" is one of the most beautiful refrains in music, full stop. I don't think I fully appreciated the song until I saw Polly perform it live, alone onstage at the Electric Picnic: just herself, her guitar, a single spotlight, and a red lampshade resting on a piano in the background. The crowd silent, in awe. Years later, I still hear the album through the lens of those live performances - the noise of Oxegen, the quiet of the Electric Picnic. Together, they sum it up perfectly, juxtaposing loud punk energy with moments of quiet intensity. 4.5 stars.
Growing on me
Surprisingly good
I had heard of PJ Harvey before but never a song, only passing mentions so this was definetly a good discovery, I will give it a relisten another day. Favourite songs: A Place Called Home, The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore, The Mess We're In, This Is Love
Vibey, big Fiona Apple vibes. Did not expect Thom Yorke to show up halfway through? Good times though.
A full listen, some 25 years after release, at first sounds flat--too smooth. I think I anticipated a grungier, nostalgic sound from the 90s. Something as jarring and haunting as Harvey's older song 'To Bring You My Love' (soundtrack to Peaky Blinders). But this is limiting to an artist who has spent her career defying easy categorization. In isolation, re-listens of select songs reveal more. 'This is Love' is affirms the visceral now: "I can't believe life is so complex / when I just want to sit here and watch you undress." 'This Mess We're In' interleaves a chaotic relationship with a NYC cityscape in flux. Thom Yorke joins to croon on opening verse, "Can you hear them? The helicopters?" while Harvey drives the memorable refrain: "The city sun-set over me." 'Horses In My Dreams' is a kind of sound painting, taken at a hypnotic, pounding tempo--"like waves, like the sea" indeed. In a 2023 New Yorker interview, Harvey says that Scottish poet laureate Robert Burns was "one of the few [artists] that could write brilliant songs and brilliant poems." 'Horses in My Dreams' starts to achieve something Burns-like. In that mesmeric repeated line, "I have pulled myself clear," there are horses, the ocean, struggle, and transcendence. A moment for framing. What's happening when one critiques an album? At the age of 41, I find I'm listening now with curiosity but also an increasingly provincial guardedness and gatekeeping. I'm less generous than when trying, say, new cuisine--though in so many ways music is as universal and as sustaining as food. I'm asking, how does Harvey fit into her time and place? How does she contribute something new? Do her geographies, the oceanscape of Dorset, the cityscapes of London and NYC show up authentically in some way? In critique (as in art and film and literature), we subject others to our taste, our interrogation, our own history. But while I notice my tendencies to circumscription and snobbery here, PJ Harvey reminds me of the refreshing opposite: the ever-searching, expansive soul. I give this album 4 stars.
I started listening to this over my computer speaker and was pretty underwhelmed. Then I booted my headphones and started over and enjoyed this a lot more. I'm not swooning over the lyrics, but the sound is really cool, and the Thom Yorke vocals complemented the album really well (but again, no swoon for the lyrics).
I really liked this, but returning to it, I'm not sure I can pick out any things I particularly liked. Parts of it felt like gender-bent radiohead, and then there was Thom Yorke. Good Rock-y vibes. I think this will be 4 stars. A part of me wanted to say 5, and maybe I'd get there eventually, but I'm not sure I have quite grasped the album enough in 2 listens for that.
There aren't really any standout hits on this album, in part because everything is just good. I appreciated this one and was glad to have had it pop up.
271225 15:37 4 / highlights: big exit, good fortune, this mess we're in
Surpsied at how much I enjoyed this album!!
Can't avoid PJ Harvey when we're having 3 weeks of her albums in a row. Probably not as good as Rid of Me - this is more poppy, grungey. Big Exit, Good Fortune, and The Whore Hustle and the Hustlers Whore are the standouts. Why do I avoid her?
An einem anderen Tag wärs vllt ne 5 geworden …
Echte Ausnahmekünstlerin, die ich für ihre Wandelbarkeit bewundere. Kann mich seit Jahren nicht entscheiden, ob dieses - ihr "schönstes" Album - oder "To Bring You My Love" mein Favorit von ihr ist.
Lightish voice complements darker lyrics and beats. I like this a lot.
8.5/10 Best songs: Big Exit, A Place Called Home, This Mess We're In, This Is Love The first album I actually own/have listened to before. Some of the songs are absolute must-listens (This Mess We're In and This Is Love are both still on my playlists today). A couple of the songs drag a bit (Horses in My Dreams). Overall a really, really solid album.
7/10 Great lyrically. So Patti Smith at times, but that's no bad thing
Solid through and through. Last song wrapped it up beautifully.
Melancholic and sad whilst still being uplifting. Songs and song structures are accessible, whilst still being unique and interesting.Great reverby and distorted tones on the guitars. I didn't know Thom Yorke would be making an appearance when i started playing the album. Pleasant surprise is an understatement. Their voices work together so well, creating a sort of beautiful, anxious mood. Really like We Float. I did Float. 8.5/10
I enjoyed this one
4.5 PJ Harvey is that bitch
No conocía ninguna de antes y me ha gustado en general bastante
PJ Harvey to jedno z moich ulubionych odkryć na tej liście (chociaż konkurencja jest spora). Wspaniała wokalistka. Ten album nie uderzył mnie aż tak jak jej debiutanckie "Dry", ale to chyba głównie przez to, jak wysoko postawiłem jej poprzeczkę po jej pierwszym albumie. Z każdym przesłuchaniem ten album staje się mi jednak coraz bliższy. Muzyka gra tu rolę drugoplanową, najważniejsze są opowieści Harvey i jej zawiesisty, otulający głos. Szczególne wyróżnienia dla "Big Exit", "A Place Called Home" i duetu z Thomem Yorkiem "This Mess We're In" (Yorke na poziomie lirycznym kojarzył mi się tu trochę z Morrisseyem.
Forgot how good this was. Need to get it back into rotation!
Dope ass album
This makes me want to dive deeper. Deserves more of my time. I prefer the slower moments reminiscent of Fiona Apple. 🍏
I have no idea what I was listening to in 2000, but it wasn’t this. We Float was my favorite track. Radiohead/Tori Amos sound. Probably won’t listen again, but did enjoy the quality songwriting and complex arrangements.
I liked this offering from PJ Harvey, kinda' missed her years ago. Jangle folk... i need to hear more, definitely going into regular rotation.
Not my typical jam but very good nonetheless. We float was really good. 3.8/5.
I actually liked this more than I thought I would. It had a mid-90s rock vibe that was on every track, which was not a bad thing.
81/100
I enjoyed some of the songs off this record. PJ's vocals are the main highlight here, a lot of confidence and personality.
I had only heard maybe a song or 2 in passing by PJ Harvey. I enjoyed this album. It got more ambitious & heavier as the the album goes on. The Thom Yorke tracks were good. I keep trying to compare her to somebody but PJ seems to have her own vaguely familiar sound. Like a grungy Tori Amos without the oversinging. This is Love is great. I dug Kamikaze. Not all the songs are winners but they are at least interesting like Float On. 4
A cool vibe to this one. 4 stars
always felt I'd like pj harvey but when listening always got something weird which switched me off. this album does it for me though
4/5 good songwriting enjoyable first listen
Really enjoyed the album. Good songs, well crafted. The guitar in This is Love really reminded me of Captain Beefheart!
Really enjoyed this, thom yorke guest vocals a nice touch
This one has me hooked, great talent. I've heard her songs, but never connected to them. I like that the album had a good constrast and feels pure.
Strong memories of listening to this being announced as the winner of the 2001 Mercury Prize on Radio 1 and all the interviewees being bummed out because it was September 11 (my personal pick for that year was Elbow's Asleep in the Back, but this is still great).
Enjoyed
Should probably have listened to this before. It was good. I’ll probably explore more by her.
4.1
A pretty phenomenal album. Such talent.
no Albini on this one, though Thom Yorke shows up a few times. i understand that zoomers don't care about lyrics and songwriting very much, but it's kind of sad seeing the artists losing stock because of that. and admittedly the alt rock instrumentals are just good and nothing mindblowing. the writing sells it. and PJ Harvey is a good singer as well. deserves to be one of the 1001? probably yeah. she's one of the most important British acts in her scene after all
I have never seen this album cover or heard of this artist before. A great way to take a break from my doom scrolling for the last hour or so. First Listen Takeaways: Track 1 - Big Exit: I like the electric guitar (or what I think is an electric guitar). I like the grit in her vocals, it feels a little bit like desperation. I don't know if it's due to the mixing of the vocals so it feels as if you're going through a tunnel and the mic is reverbed. It's angsty but I need another word...tense. can you be tense and content in the same body? "Sometimes it rains so hard/and I feel the hurt/in my heart" I think that's a part of the bridge, but that's how I feel right now. Track 2 - Good Fortune: I'm kind of just dropped into the track, a journey through the city, that's what I feel like when she does those vocal slides/vibratos (or at least that is what I believe them to be). "Everybody's got something good to say" Track 3 - A Place Called Home: I like that there are differing vocal stacks happening in m headphones at different times. This was an album made to be listened to with headphones. I can hear the hope and yearning she has about this current relationship she's in (after reading the lyrics of course). Also, I like the single cover for this track. She's crouched down behind some door, looking up at the camera, and it appears as though the wrists of her hand are wrapped lazily around the door handle. It feels liminal. I like liminal spaces. Why? Maybe the way I describe and think about music can include reflecting on the album covers, what I like/dislike, what comes to mind, colors, feelings, etc. I want to expand my brain and my ability to critically think about things and form fuller opinions with depth, that sound, feel, and is grounded in the time I took to listen to the pieces of art, listen and learn myself in relation to this work, when it arrived in my life, and the time in which the art itself has been released, and the time and deep knowledge that I have of myself, music, my craft, and language. Track 4 - One Line: "Can I draw a line to heart today?" Track 5 - Beautiful Feeling: This song has a haunting quality to it, something that would be at the end of a Charmed episode I think. I also really like that all of the songs up to this point is longer than 2:30; let's see if that's the case for the rest of the album. *I'll look at critique reviews after my second listen. Note: expand my vocab by reading more and understanding the language used to talk about music, albums, and artist, etc. Track 6 - The Whores Hustle and The Hustlers Whore: What a flip in a dynamic that's so normalize; that has stood the test of time and disease. I think this song as a whole is about flipping the dynamic. But I'm only listening right now and not actively reading the listens so lets see how that changes once I do. The guitar and drummer are having a conversation - what kind? I don't know yet. "This isn't the first time I asked for money or love/Just give me something I can believe" I think I just want someone to believe and care for me overly - I have victimized myself to a point where I think I need the external validation of a caretaker of higher authority to feel content and grounded in my life...weird. Track 7 - This Mess We're In: a soft coaxing, the drummer drops out as the vocalist sings the first verse, but then slowly comes back in. It feels like meeting someone in a low lit bar, strangers for the first time, but maybe not the last. The tone and texture of their voice can be the only thing that tells us what happens next in this story. Track 8 - You've Said Something: A ballad! The stories starts off on a rooftop in Brooklyn. The acoustic? guitar that's supporting in the beginning is important for transporting us to this memory in her head. I feel like throwing my head and arms around. Riding down an unpaved dirt road to some unrefined dream of freedom; one I'm too lazy or scared to explore because that would be the end of all other possibilities. So sitting in the familiarity of the memory, stale connection is better. "How did we get here?/To this point of living?/I held my breath till you said something" Track 9 - Kamikaze: "How could that happen?/How could that happen again?" feels a bit funky (thanks to that electric guitar, tambourine and some kind of percussive shakers in the back? There's confusion but not in choice but in the motivation behind the choice and what it may lead to next. What is a Kamikaze? In Japanese, Kamikaze means "divine wind/spirit wind" that originally referred to the typhoons that destroyed the Mongol fleets invading Japan in 1274 and 1281, saving the country. There were also Japanese pilots who conducted deliberate suicidal crashes into enemy targets, usually ships. Hmmm...how does this shift the meaning of the song for me? Track 10 - This Is Love: Very grunge...I miss my ex girlfriend right now. five days after an abrupt ending to our friendship. maybe this is what the end of my heart sounds like as I try to soothe myself and speed this along. Dread. "wanna chase you round the table/wanna touch your hand" Track 11 - Horses In My Dreams: "Set myself free again/I have set myself clear" even though the lyrics repeat most of the song, it seems like her conviction and strength in the words that she utters builds as the song plays. an ending that favors solitude and the quiet, water, after a chaotic journey through love and life. "set myself freeeeee again" Just her voice and a guitar. Not a man, not another woman, but herself. Whatever happened these last 10 songs, she has grieved, angered, roared, and cried through it. Now she exists quietly at sea. alone. Track 12 - We Float: "you carried all my hopes until something broke inside/we float/take love as it comes" I don't know how to do that yet, but the chorus of this song feels whimsy enough that it makes me think I can. *Note to self: watch the music videos/short films/interviews associated with these articles. Read the articles that came out too if you can!
I've now listened to three of Harvey's releases, from three different decades: this one from 2000; Let England Shake from 2011; and (straying off the 1,001 list) 2023's I Inside the Old Year Dying (my favorite of the three, with its unique neo-pastoral sound). I'm finding her work pretty consistently enjoyable, even as she crosses through somewhat different genres (here, alternative rock).
9 / 10
3,8/5
unbelievable vocals, the whole album feels like trying to be content with yourself
Catchy and repetitive
After her first four records flirted with everything from punk and grunge to electronica, Latin rhythms and blues, PJ Harvey's fifth record is her most straightforward one. 'Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea' owes as much to Patti Smith's influence as it does Sonic Youth, as the songs are heavily steeped in the atmosphere of New York from an alternative perspective. Although PJ Harvey is British herself, her voice on this album bears an uncanny resemblance to Smith's, further solidifying the sheer influence of her 'Horses' record. The songs paint vignettes of her deep affinity for New York, with 'This Is Love', 'Good Fortune' and 'A Place Called Home' clear highlights. PJ even brings Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke in on three songs: 'This Mess We're In', 'Beautiful Feeling' 'One Line': the former being a duet between the pair. With Yorke always a stickler for invention and reinvention, he's a good match for PJ here. With one of the most dymanic yet strangely underappreciated voices of the 90s, PJ Harvey is at her most accessible on 'Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea', and there's no doubt Patti Smith was a strong influence here, which is a strong endorsement for the passion and pragmatism on show here. Best songs: This Is Love, Good Fortune, A Place Called Home, The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, This Mess We're In, Kamikaze
High quality indie rock
Cool alternative rock music, sounds still modern.
How have I never heard of her before? Amazing
An enjoyable indie rock/ songwriter-y album. No tracks that I disliked.
I might have heard of PJ Harvey before listening but had no expectations going into this one. It was a great listen!
One of my favourite albums from PJ Harvey
On tää kyl hyvä. Hyvii biisei hyvää lauluu. Hyvää saundii. Monipuolista menoo. Oivaltavii ratkasuita. Radioheadin mies mukana hönkimässä. Nyy jorkki steit of maindi välittyy. On kyl tuttu artistikin, että ei siin. Tää taitaa kyl olla popimpaa kun ne jotkut aiemmat. Eli varmaan tää on hyvä lätty alottaa tän artistin suhteen suhde. Tai ei ainakaan kantsi kauheesti kaivella syvemmältä, jos ei tääkään maita. Tosin sen nyt tietää, että tätä on kyl melko varmasti tulevaisuudessakin tarjolla listalla jonka läpikäyntiä ennen ei parane kupsahtaa. Mut HEHE no tää ol sisäänajo sitäkin varten, että saa kuunnella niit muita levyjä. Kova jätkä antas tälle täydet. En oo kova jätkä ja kun ei nyt oo ennestään suosikki niin mennään löysän kaverin nelkulla. Mut jos ois aikaa niin kuuntelisin tätä enempikin. Sit kaduttas arvosana. Vuan katua ehtii sit listan läpikäynnin jälkeen. JA SIIHEN NYT ON VIELÄ AIKAA.
Onpa hieno levy. Tätä tuli jonkin verran kuunneltua lukioaikoina kun DC++ siunasi, mutta sittemmin kyllä unohtunut ihan kokonaan. Tykkään tunnelmasta tosi paljon, vähän semmoinen hähmyinen. Biisit keskenään mukavan erilaisia ja tarttumapintaa löytyy.
Some of the songs were really pleasant and emotional and made me feel a lot
Ligesom Joni Mitchell er PJ Harvey en virkelig god musiker, jeg er glad for at have fundet pga listen, men ved stadig ikke om jeg synes 4 albums er nødvendige
This was really nice! Both rock-mamma-bear, ballads and Thom Yorke.
Really enjoyed this one!
PJ Harvey was another artist I missed out on in the 2000’s for various reasons, so I was glad to get the opportunity to listen to this today. This is solid, reliable indie rock with a great selection of songs tangentially inspired by New York City. Her voice reminds me a little of Chrissie Hynde, with a similar level of confidence and assurance. The only odd bit is when Thom Yorke turns up on one track and he felt out of place to me.
This was the first PJ Harvey album i heard years and years ago, it's still as beautiful to me as it was back then, a little softer than her first records "This Mess We Are In" still gives me chills
Generally very good
Got part way through this album and realised I knew a lot of the songs on it. Nice to be reminded of songs I haven’t listened to in a long time, and I enjoyed the songs I hadn’t heard before. Appreciated that there was a mix of slower songs and more intense songs - I really like the slow songs but I think a whole album full of them would be too much. Fav song: The Mess We’re In Least fav: Big Exit
Thom Yorke, what is this a crossover episode? Thought this album was better and less England- heavy than her other one. Liked the general sound more too. Didn’t love it though. Specific rating - 3.8 Fav song- This mess we’re in Least fav- Kamikaze
I much prefer the softer songs to the rocky ones, but overall I really like the album. Favourite song: This Mess We're in Least: The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore
3.5
My favorite from PJ. Forgot about the thom York influence. Would share with most
Pretty cool, does lots of different things and they all feel decent Fresh experience
Zwanzigstes Album, das ich schon kannte. Lyrisch nicht wirklich meins, an manchen Stellen schreit sie mir zu viel, aber musikalisch ist das echt super und ein Vibe. Schwanke zwischen 3 1/2, ich runde einfach mal auf.
Solid 4 stars
wow, that oscillates heavily between genius and cheezy. but all in all, it's a finetuned and wondrous album with many different facets to explore
The mess we’re in with thom yorke was the highlight
PJ Harvey ditches rivers and standing stones for the concrete wilderness, creating one of the sexiest albums ever put to record. Favourite tracks: Big Exit, A Place Called Home, This Mess We're In, You Said Something
Rating: 8.5/10 Loved the vibe of this album, so many great songs. A few dull moments but mostly very enjoyable to listen to.
Really dug this one!! I love a good female rocker.
Pretty good alt rock album, with vocals that are possibly too pretty for the style at that time. Compared to acts like hole, the grunge is missing from what otherwise feels like grunge.
*Borat voice* VERY NICE!!!
Track 1, very Indie. Not really for me, but nice vocals in the quiet bits. Track 2, still not for me. Again, nice voice in the quieter talking parts Track 3, ok... Maybe getting somewhere! Track 4, alright, alright... Hold on. Not walking away just yet! Track 5, niiice. Track 6, wtf! :( Track 7, sounds like Radiohead but I like it :) and it makes my head wobble 👍 Track 8, good and bring in 9 🤞 Track 9, indeed! But 8 happened non the less 😇 Track 10, rocking chick knows love 😘 Best lyrics so far. And best song? Track 11, thank you for some peace and quiet 🤫 Love the haunting voice here! Going slightly Bjork too, huh? ☺️ Will there be a 12? Track 12, worth the wait, awesome story telling best vocals up to now. Breathing high in the airy highs! 3.5* 4.5* for the top 3 songs Edit: after a few more listenings... ****
I enjoyed this. She was not at all what I expected. For whatever reason, I thought she was a 90s hip hop artist, not low-fi rock. It's exactly the kind of sound I like
I had forgotten this. Worth it just for whiny Radiohead guy on the duet
Brilliant
gute Unterhaltungsmusik
So good! I bought this for my dad as a teenager and it didn't grab me when listening then. I've since fell in love with Patti Smith and damn does that recontextualise everything. The Thom Yorke colab is stunning. Makes me want to dream of horses. 70s swagger Highlights: good fortune, this mess we're in
This was a good album, pretty interesting sound
PJ Harvey to jedna z ikon kobiet w muzyce. Darzę ją ogromnym szacunkiem za odwagę, wyznaczanie trendów i swój własny indywidualny styl. Ale akurat ta płyta nie skradła mojego serca tak jakby mogła. Trochę zlewała mi się w jedno, nie udało jej się uchwycić mojej uwagi. 6.5/10 równane w górę za autorski sznyt.
Will be coming back to this one.
Would have liked stories from at least one more location.
Good songwriting, great vocals. Wasn't sold at first but it really grew on me. I like the punk-ish aesthetic. The Thom Yorke feature was unexpected. Favorite songs: You Said Something, This Mess We're In, Horses In My Dreams.
4/5 deserves to be on this list Good album, but definitely less experimental than other pj Harvey albums. The first half is probably the best. PJ Harvey is a really great vocalist. The instrumentation is also good but gets a little less interesting as the album goes on. Overall though it’s a very consistent album. Also thom yorke mentioned! Standout Tracks: Big Exit, A Place Called Home, This Mess We’re In
I enjoyed this album - Polly Jean's vocals and lyrics, combined with the instrumentals conveyed stories of longing, darkness, and the chaos of life.
brava lei, mi piace!
I don't know any P J Harvey. I've always wondered who she was and what she sounded like. Turns out, she occasionally sounds very much like Radiohead! I liked this album very much. I've been missing out! High 4
This album captures PJ Harvey at a moment of sharp focus and clarity. The production is clean and direct, pushing the guitars, drums, and vocals right to the front. Unlike some of her earlier, rougher work, this record leans into a more structured rock sound while still keeping its edge. It feels carefully assembled, but never sterile, with each track locking into a steady rhythm that drives the album forward. Songs like “Good Fortune” and “This Is Love” stand out for their immediacy, built on tight riffs and strong vocal performances. “A Place Called Home” and “You Said Something” add a more reflective tone, showing how the album balances its louder, more anthemic moments with quieter introspection. The lyrics are clear and grounded, often touching on themes of desire, connection, and urban experience without relying on abstraction. Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea works because of its consistency. It’s neither experimental nor overly slick, sitting in that space where rock can still sound both modern and classic. While it doesn’t take wild creative risks, its strength lies in its precision and confidence. It’s a well-crafted record that stands as one of her most accessible and cohesive works.
Great 90s vibes, was a hit with Megan.
I wasn't familiar with this album going in, having skipped it in favour of Rid of Me and Let England Shake previously. Although I knew a few of the tracks, this was a mistake - I've loved exploring this today. The album has a huge opening, with Big Exit and the banging Good Fortune. The influence of Thom Yorke throughout the album helps it stand out as a unique piece of work, with Beautiful feeling warming the listener up for the outstanding This Mess We're In. The album winds down with the simply delightful We Float. Overall, this combines the rawness PJ is so well known for with some incredible softer tracks. It's exquisitely balanced and a real treat to listen to. 8/10
This is PJ Harvey's best work. I listened very carefully. I love the vibe it creates. It contains everything you need to know about how 2000s rock music sounds. The production and songwriting are on another level. The whole album is thoughtful and driving - strong female vocals with driving guitars and a punk sensibility. "The Mess We're In" is one of the greatest duets ever created in alternative music, IMHO.
A terrific record. I typically don’t love the “step up in production quality” records from artists that thrive with a raw sound. But PJ’s songwriting and performances are of such high quality the crisp production lifts rather than stifles. Just killer art rock.
Never heard of PJ Harvey, but this album was a pretty good indie rock album. I actually have no idea how to classify all these rock sub-genres. It's not very heavy, but it's a pretty chill rock album. Very melodic and heavenly euphoric. Q Magazine had it as the top album for their Women Who Rock list...which seems....a little extreme, but it is a solid album. I like The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore and We Float the best. Not a fan of the Thom Yorke songs.
Great album! I like the music a lot and her voice reminds me of Siouxsie Sioux.
I would buy this record
A whore and a hustler
As someone who wasn’t familiar with PJ Harvey before, I found "Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea" to be a well-produced album. Tracks like "Good Fortune" really stood out and are definitely ones I’d revisit. However, as I listened through the entire album, I noticed that the sound and vocals started to feel a bit repetitive and monotonous.
++: Big Exit, Good Fortune, One Line, Beautiful Feeling, The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, Kamikaze, This Is Love, Horses in My Dreams +: A Place Called Home, This Mess We're In, You Said Something, We Float 8,5/10
Gritty, fun rock and roll blues
This is really good. Falls in a similar category to Fiona Apple
4+ was in relationship with Nick Cave. Good songs.
This was a fun album, artsy and creative. I didn’t have any songs that stuck out, but I liked the album as a whole.
Better than the last one, bump it up to 4.
PJ Harvey's most complete album -- might be a bit tad too long, but sometimes that excess is justified.
This Mess We're In was already a favorite of mine as a Radiohead fan, and it did still stand out on this album. That said, there were a few others that really hit that same spot, for instance A Place Called Home and We Float. All in all great album.
Got a little samey but actually judged this before listening and it surprised me!
This album was great. I’m not a fan of Thom Yorke, so that was a bit of a miss for me, but there are some great songs on this album that show an evolving PJ Harvey (I like her early stuff a lot too)
After three songs I was ready to turn this off and I'm really glad I didn't. What a pleasant surprise from an artist I've never heard of.
I just realized an odd bit of coincidence, today is the same day as the day that PJ Harvey received the Mercury Award for STORIES FROM THE CITY, STORIES FROM THE SEA, exactly 24 years later, to the day. What it is even weirder is that it took 25 years for me to hear this album. I don't recall bumping into any of the tracks from this album organically. I enjoyed this way more than any Nick Cave record, clearly he didn't infect her with his bullshit. Unlike Nick, PJ remembers, for people like me, who are not enamored with lyrics, to keep the instrumental hooks and earworms coming. The Thom Yorke vocal backing on "Beautiful Feeling" is okay, but honestly feels a bit like a nod to a collaboration idea that Tori Amos did with Trent Reznor in 1994. Did not enjoy "The Mess We're In". Fortunate enough for Harvey manages to not get stuck on the pretension bus and gets back to straight forward hook driven pleasantness. One of the few Brit rock albums from the 1990s that I actually enjoy. I know, it came out in 2000, but everything you hear on this album is a finely crafted piece of rock that was distilled from the everything the 1990s had embraced. Also SFTCSTFTS us an album where no song seems like a particularly strong single, but it doesn't matter because the song order and pacing makes for a pleasant album listen anyway. Favorites: "Good Fortune", "Kamikaze", "This Is Love", and "We Float".
Not a dull moment to be found on this impeccably recorded, excellently presented, approachable yet artful piece of art. Incredibly impressive stuff that I will be relistening to as soon as possible.
Favorites: Big Exit Good Fortune A Place Called Home One Line Beautiful Feeling The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore This Mess We're In You Said Something This Is Love We Float Mysterious qualities, but satisfying rock feel and impressive vocals. Would listen again!
Excellent
Cool album, appreciated it more as it progressed. Bonus points for Thom Yorke guest track.
Honestly didn’t listen
Pattie smithish, sheryl crow Beautiful feeling Horses in my dreams
Good writing, decent music. Yes, these are stories.
I can't believe I've never heard of her before. Great voice and the music style is just up my alley. Reminds me of the 90's <3 good shit. Almost a 5
Thom Yorke song was dope
Another album by PJ Harvey, another reminder that I have been missing out by not paying any attention to her music.
Klasse, gefällt spontan. PJ Harvey ist gemerkt.
Big big fan of this genre of music. Reminds me of bjork and fiona apple a little. Kamikaze and This Mess We’re In were my favourite tracks on my first listen but it might change — was not expecting to hear Thom Yorke’s voice lol. (This is def becoming one of my car ride albums though)
a charming little singer-songwriter album. kinda reminded me of melissa etheridge, and then i listened to melissa etheridge immediately after and this is 10x better.
Really love this album, some belters, but not quite 5/5.
Good,but I liked Rid of Me much better. 4/5