Reviews (page 4 of 14)
No pude terminar de escucharlo, pero no porque fuera malo sino por cuestión tiempo.
I'm gaining a better appreciation for PJ Harvey, but I can't really put my finger on which of these albums I've liked more than the other and why. Also, going to start tracking favorite song on the album Favorite song: Kamikaze
Such a cool album
Okay
Album 159. Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea (https://open.spotify.com/album/0cJAiqO1obIJQGf4YI31q4?si=OuLjmAjJTBacGH18hSYmLA) — PJ Harvey (2000) Good enough, I like it. Not for regular listening, but I added a lot of songs to playlist for occasional shuffle. I don't get why PJ Harvey is called generation X's Joni Mitchell by some reviewer. But I have to admit PJ Harvey has some similarity to Patti Smith music. 3/5 Liked: — One Line — This Mess We're In — Horses In My Dreams — We Float
not a fan but i liked we float and love the aesthetic of the album cover
realmente me termino gustando, es un 3.5 o 4
"É só isso?" - Zoio, Everson
it’s like an emotionally mature grunge.
This album is so 2000s. I'm just not sure if I'm a fan of PJ Harvey's style, I'm not huge on her voice and the songs didn't really hit for me. There were a few Thom Yorke collabs which also dated this album to 2000. For me, it's just okay.
Can rate this without even listening to it. I bought it when it was released and still listen to it to this day. Great album and perhaps more accessible than some of her other stuff. Some great rock songs mixed with slower and at times a little more experimental songs. 5 stars
It’s got that early 2000s timelessness. Really makes me feel nostalgic for a different time
Some very solid song writing and performance
Over 800 albums in and finally my first PJ Harvey album! And what a one to start with, arguably her best with how much of a range it has. She of course shows some amazing moments where she really goes for it and rocks out, but doesn't ever shy away from showing the much calmer side of her sound too. The whole thing really is just so well put together, both in terms of the music but the lyrics too with her amazing storytelling abilities as she clearly had a lot she wants to say.
Had a bad run of albums lately but this one brought me back. Thanks PJ
Zone out a fair bit. It's meh
Really enjoyed this one
Great. 4/5
didn't expect Thom York to show up all over this album, cool little surprise.
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
Holy crap. This was great! Took me totally by surprise, I wasn't expecting this to be this good. Didn't know much about PJ Harvey aside from the name, but this is a GREAT rock album, really solid all the way through. I'll be returning to this one for sure!
Today’s album was a collection of songs, each of which were a collection of notes, words, and rhythmic components. It lasted approximately 47 minutes. While better than some albums, it was worse than others. It featured instruments, including the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and voice. That’s all I really have to say. Perhaps significantly more active listening would be important. But it was quite uninteresting to me, so it became background music almost instantly. 4/10.
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.
'salright. Def better than average 90's alt rock. Couple tunes sound good even outside their context of time & place. Mostly tho I think this can be left in the 90's. Disagree it's a "must." 2.75 stars
low 3.5. A produção é boa e tem composições legais, mas acaba sendo um trabalho um pouco safe demais para os padrões da PJ
Good enough
Excellent album! PJ is the 50 foot Queenie!
lindo, es chill para dejarlo de fondo buenas letras y buena musica
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.
classic alt rock that i like :3
Great album. PJ, both voice and words, works extremely well for me. One of my favorite artists, and this album one of my faves from her. I'm going with 4 indie stars but question if I actually think it's a 5. Because along with Cat Power, I'm a big PJ fan and this is one of her best full albums.
Early 2000s alt style, kinda comparable to Stereophonics but not quite. Not my style but can see why people like it.
evie from which cursive singing hath evolved
3.5
I remember these songs from a while ago.
On a few tracks I was could hear Siouxie Sue crossed with Chrissie Hind, a combination that would normally have me rushing to put the album on repeat, however, it didn't grab me. One or two tracks were great, but that wasn't enough to make me reach for more.
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!
Great album by an amazing artist. Recorded over only 2 months with very sparse instrumentation. I saw Polly perform at Splendour in support of this album in the Moshpit one of my best ever gig experiences. Definitely 5 stars and then some. Great co production and performances by Mick Harvey, Robert Ellis and colab with Thom York
Like the rest of her albums, totally fine but doesn't hook me and have me coming back for more.
12313
Es un álbum para NPCs deprimidos
Mercury Prize winning fifth album from Somerset's finest featuring an excellent Thom Yorke duet (especially the second one) and the track 'This is Love' was familiar at the time. It has its grungey moments and PJ Harvey is forever associated with the alternative 90s scene, a darling of the music press form that era but this is a more varied collection overall. a decent listen today.
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
Expectation: -> Not sure if PJ Harvey is a band or person. After listening: -> Going to take me a while to warm up to this album. No standout songs after a couple playthroughs. Track ranking: Fortune Whores A Place Said Something Float This Is Love Mess Exit One Line Kamikaze Horses Beautiful
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
Not my type of music
Not my type
The hole album is amazing, what really sold me on it is the 2 final tracks
Review - my second PJ Harvey album. No where near as good as Let England Shake. The guitars are sort of droney in the first few songs particularly, a bit like Stereolab but less interesting. There are some songs where she goes for repeated high notes and her voice just isn't quite there. That said, she's obviously a good songwriter and some of the songs here are really good and well performed; more are really good and midly performed. An ok album. Rating - 5/10 Need to hear? YES
Only listened to half cause I got distracted. Didn't dislike it
Didn't really grab me, a few average songs and the rest just passed me by.
None of the songs really engaged me. The highlight was the track featuring Thom Yorke. Otherwise the songs kind of blurred together.
3.5, cool album
Very interesting. Couple of great tracks. Wasn't expecting to hear Thom Yorke.
I do love 90s rock, but there are certain sub-genres that I don't vibe with and after the first couple of songs I thought this was one of them. And partially it was, but there were also some songs that I really liked including "This Mess We're In" and "We Float." That all balanced out to a solid mid.
So far suicidal lol. Pretty basic in terms of instrumentals but the singer sounds familiar in a good way. I like the mellow track with no drums but it’s so far picking up after the middle of the album. not good but not bad, probably wouldnt listen to it again.
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. EDIT: Moving ar Polly Jean up to a 5. Keep coming back to this one, the songs are just banging. I don't fuck with that Thom Yorke one that's a moaning man (which is her most popular on Spotify), but the rest slaps
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
PJ Harvey's music has never been particularly close to me (so much so that I walked out of her last show in my city), so I listened to this album, considered by many to be her most important, in its entirety for the first time. There was no fireworks display of emotion: it's simply solid alternative rock, sometimes measured, sometimes energetic. There are a couple of hits, and it was a pleasure to listen to. The main drawback is that when Polly switches to a high-pitched voice (let's be honest, it's almost a screech), you really want to turn the record off; fortunately, such moments are few and far between. One journalist disagrees with me, however, and considers the album's only drawback the presence of Thom Yorke — on three songs! It's laughable until you try to imagine his vocals on the other tracks and catch yourself thinking the album sounds like early Radiohead. Let everyone decide for themselves whether that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Slightly disappointing.
Pretty good 90s rock. Not a lot of variety though.
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
Sympa ça s’écoute bien !
- musiikillisesti vähäeleisimmät biisit voi olla hankalia päästä kyytiin, mutta aa että kyllä tältä levyltä löytyy sitten hienoja kappaleita
Ehh, it’s fine I guess. Not much going on here for me. Like Nick Cave, I don’t see what the fuss is all about. Seems like music for people whose whole personality is being into stuff you’ve never heard of. 2.5⭐️
2.5....I could go either way on this one, but I was never totally bored so I'll round up.
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
Pretty chill rock, good background noise. A lot of the album is about love, particularly for New York City. Nice theme, it's just love songs haven't been my thing for a long time. The songs featuring Thom Yorke were probably my favorite along with the final track "We Float."
Favorite of her albums so far.
We need more girl grunge!
The strongest of the PJ Harvey stuff on here.
Another fine album that I’ll never listen to again
I wasn’t into this one :( I feel like the instrumentals were too repetitive for the first half. As if it was building up to a climax that never came. I don’t know if it’s just my shitty zoomer attention span or not. As soon as “Whores Hustle” started I literally said out loud “THERE WE GO.” Because I feel like that suits her voice better! MASSIVE props to her guitar work though. I just wish her vocal style gelled with better instrumental build-ups. I’m definitely willing to give her more chances in the future, just not for this album. Favorite track: The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore
Not my vibe, but I can see whey it made the list.
pretty good
solid album, after a while the album restarted and i didn’t even realize because most of the songs sound the same favorite song: the whores hustle and the hustlers whore least favorite: beautiful feeling
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.
amazinggg
It’s okay, solid singing and instrumentation. Just not really my cup of tea.
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.
Every time I return to this I remember how masterful it is. A perfect picture of New York. Of love. And an album that show the world that alternate music was alive and well in the year 2000. PJ Harvey is an absolute all timer and so is this record. Everyone should own this on vinyl.
Fantastic to be back listening to this - it’s been to long!
Almost a 5
Intriguing one here. Somewhere in the middle it turns from an abrasive girl-punk album to a very good "girl doom metal" album with less distortion. Then shifts again to "adult contemporary". I wish for more cohesiveness, but it's clear that she's talented and in control of the production process.
2.5
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.
I prefer living in the city, but hearing stories from the sea.
Really liked it. Some very good tunes. However, those featuring Thom Yorke tended to be surprisingly less interesting.
I thoroughly enjoyed the album's instrumentals, but the lyrics felt overly bland, and the lead singer had the same flow for most of the tracks. Listening to this album, I felt as though this was a softer, female-led Nirvana, trying rock instrumentals of different intensities with a lack of depth in the lyrics and singing. Overall, 2/5.
I felt very indifferent about this album. None of the songs particularly appealed to me or moved me.
There is something about the songs on this album that makes me listen only till the half of the song. Then i get bored and forward to the next
A well-crafted and balanced record that ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression. While the technical details are evident, the "indie" mixing choice to bury the vocals within the production creates a frustrating distance for the listener. Despite a solid collaboration with Thom Yorke, the repetitive structures and the natural reverb of the recording make the overall experience feel professionally executed but emotionally hollow.
I've always been aware of PJ Harvey but don't think I'd ever heard any of her songs. This album was ok..nothing Id revisit. I feel like if I was an angsty teenager or early 20s trying to find my way in the world I'd probably like this more.
🥲
It was ok. I don't like one note songs
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
The scream on “The Whores Hustle…” is glorious, banger. “We Float” is absolutely euphoric after the tense experience fostered throughout the rest of the album. Excellent pacing, 4 stars for now but can definitely see it growing on me. I’ll see tomorrow.
Yummy angsty
Love me some PJ Harvey!
2000’s Girl Punk pop loathing bed rot
Décidément je ne vois pas ce qu'on trouve à cet album qui est pour moi un des moins intéressant de PJ Harvey.
I know some punk fans love her, but I find it redundant.
Good I wish it was grungier tho
Instrumental:4 crisp, clean, pleasant Vocals: 2.5 good voice but not my speed I really liked every song until they started singing.
Some good songs. But her voice can’t carry the slow songs.
Thom Yorke jumpscare
Thought this was pretty good!
I wish I had stronger feelings about this
ts was so fire i miss when people made good music
I don't feel very strongly about this one one way or another. High 3
Okay
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.
Love this album!!!
Great album, a whole bunch of bops. I’ll be back for more.
I don't understand what it is exactly that I liked so much about this record but I couldn't stop playing it so I guess it's a 5
music is love
genérico
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
1: You Said Something 2: This Is Love 3: Good Fortune
Was on the line with this but after repeat listens it’s a 4
I remember when this came out. I was a big fan of Dry and (especially) Rid of Me, and I thought this was a bit commercial, bland and 'tasteful' by comparison. I think I appreciate it a bit more now, but I'm not sure if it's just because we've had a crappy run of albums on this project recently. 6.9 Fav track: This Mess We're In Least fav: This is Love (sounds like a toothless version of her earlier stuff)
I listened to this one as background music and I liked it, but didn't love it. Thom Yorke on two tracks is always nice. 7 / 10
Meh. I really like some of PJ Harvey's other stuff, but this is very forgettable.
It's OK
meh
LOVE
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
You know it's not my album when Thom Yorke's feature is a breathe of fresh air. Just not my style of singer-songwriter, going to chalk this one up as "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".
Meh
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.
Ngl i couldnt make it far into this one, not for me. From what I heard it was ok.
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.
The album is growing on me as I listen through. I liked You Said Something and Kamikaze. Her voice is cool! The collab with Thom Yorke is cool too.
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.
I dig PJ Harvey but... 4 albums on this list? Why?
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
re new york
Some great songs
Contaba con que fuera un poco más duro pero es un rock mucho más tranquilo, seguramente sea un álbum al que vuelva en el futuro y me acabe gustando
a bit like nails on a chalkboard
I didn’t like this one as much as Let England Shake, which I got less than a week ago, but it was still a very respectable album. Thom Yorke’s haunting vocals work well on their duets. Fine listen.
Not good
Nice. Listenable. Good writing. Good melodies - a little haunting. Could use more drive. Beat. To add heft. 3.
Eh, some interesting songs here but not my cup of tea. A little bit of Radiohead especially when they invited Thom Yorke on “this mess we’re in” Fave songs: this mess we’re in and Kamikaze
it's fine, don't get the hype tho
Patti Smith vibes at times. Some nice moments and melodies, but none of the songs were really sticking in my mind. Pretty meh overall
Interesting but not my cup of tea.
oh yeah this was sick
Better than her other records I've heard, maybe it's just that I'm getting used to her style. Still just a perfectly okay indie album
I do understand that the idea is to create melancholic and atmospheric sounds. However, I cannot ignore how the singer often sounds downright bored to be in the studio. And when there is a guest singer, the text quality becomes so abysmal that I had trouble not to burst out laughing (This Mess We're In being the worst offender). Best songs are Kamikaze and We Float, mostly because they sounds like something the artist actually wanted to make. At least it goes to show that anyone can make dull, boring sounding sad music. 3/10, please drink some coffee next time.
This was a great, great album. I've heard of PJ Harvey, but she is really not played on the radio that much, so I had no idea what to expect. I'd equate it to Fiona Apple, but more guitar than piano based. I ended up with more than half of these songs in my personal library. So many great tracks. Good Fortune, A Place Called Home, One Line, The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, This Mess We're In (bonus having Thom Yorke), You Said Something, Kamikaze, and We Float were all excellent songs. 5 stars. Way, way beyond what I ever expected.
Am I a bad feminist if my favourite song was the one with thom Yorke? Appreciate it for what it is but I think it’s not majorly a relisten for me, maybe my issue is I don’t like New York so an album written as an ode to the city potentially never going to appeal to me? There are moments of real enjoyment and brilliance, but I think there are albums of this genre/period that scratch this particular itch more for me.
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
Really good all the way through, give windows down in the car on a nice day vibe.
Another pretty decent album, with some good songs but it didn’t feel super special. So unfortunately, not loads to say on it, there wasn’t a bad song on the album though to be fair. There were still some highlights with cool instrumentals and depth to the songs, a standout to me was ‘The whores hustle and the Hustlers whore’. Overall, a pretty cool album but not quite enough for me to go into 4-stars.
Weird how the best musical depiction of pre-9/11, Giuliani and gentrification NYC, that isn’t Illmatic, is from an alt-rock album by a goddamned Brit.
Bra flow. Man kommer in i PJs värld efter några lyssningar.
GOD
i like the song with thom york, rest is meh ok
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.
some good songs
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.
I had not heard of them before. Cool to see a Thom Yorke teamup.
Vocals were good, but instrumentals were peak
She comes off very, very cool all throughout this. Such confident record
Not for me
I read in a review that this album would have been perfect if it weren't for Thom Yorke's involvement. The track with Thom Yorke turned out to be the best one on the album. Overall, it's mediocre.
Sounds like a shittier version of alanis morissette. It's good, but I don't know why it's on this list
There’s so much great material in the back half of this, but I think the first few songs are really just kinda uninspired and sort of generic. Also I think she sounds a lot like Fiona Apple on a couple of these songs, but that’s not a bad thing it’s just interesting. Favorites: Beautiful Feeling, Kamikaze, This is Love
Absolutely fine. Middle of the road.
Bleh
Glad to finally know what's up with PJ Harvey. But def not for me.
She's so cool!
Love it.
I like the beautiful moody energy. if it’s supposed to capture the banality of urban landscapes - it succeeds
I'm new to PJ Harvey and just a couple weeks ago, this site fed me her 2011 album, "Let England Shake", which I really liked. So it was hard not to compare this one to that, and I really preferred the later album. This one just didn't stand out. Perfectly listenable, but not striking like the other.
It was ok, nothing to write home about but also didn’t feel the need to skip a bunch of songs
So so good. Only familiar with one of her songs before this but it's all so varied but just as strong.
First saw Polly Jean live in 2025 and this album has similar feeling to that show. Great range of styles from Big Exit to quieter more subdued The Mess We're In with Thom Yorke then back to harder Kamikazee and This is Love. Requires more than one listen to appreciate the lyrics.
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
Girl rock
Dark, slow, dreamy
Grungeigt Bra röst Favoritlåt: a place called home
Pretty decent. A bit unmemorable.
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
"We Float" carried this album.
There were some high points. The vocals are reminiscent of Christie Hynde, which I like. But then there is the song featuring the singer from Radiohead. Low point.
Meh
Good tunes by and in the style of PJH
First time listening to to a pj Harvey album. So stark and beautiful.
Moins convaincu que le premier album. 2.5/5
I just don't get the appeal
Not that bad but I don't like PJ Harvey
4,5
prefiero sus otros albums pero obviamente no le voy a poner un 2
I like it. If there was a 3.5 i would rate it 3.5, but, i cant give it a 4. Not that good. Going 3
Didn't really stand out much to me.
Great voice. Like a cross between Lucinda Williams and Pat Benatar.
"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!
Absolute heater gonna be all I want to hear for weeks
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 .
Instrumental interesting, don't know if I like vocals. 2!
4.5
solid. that song with Thom is incredible
peut être que si je vivais dans un film et dans une ville je pourrais apprécier encore mieux l’album
I liked the more uptempo songs in the beginning quite a bit, but when the pace slowed down it kind of lost me. The slow songs at the end are too long and Thom Yorke really didn't need to be featured on here. Still, the regular alt rock is nice enough to warrant it from being bad.
you said something - boa vibe calminha one line - kamikaze - n gostei we float - a bridge é melhor parte mas overral deu me sono. a place called home - fiona core good fortune - gostei brautiful feeling - simplesmente nao
Own this on CD, loved it when it came out and still today.
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.
Okay album. Nothing flashy though
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
I liked it wasn’t wowed but some good singles
Good album! Favorite is We Float, but enjoyed the whole album.
Always loved this one. 5 stars
Decent little album
A solid album for PJ. It shows both the grit and the songwriting chops that make her great. However I’m not a fan of the way the guitars are produced. A little too slick to handle the bigger guitar parts that anchor some of the songs. It it is effective on some of the songs which bear more production weight like A Place Called Home and Beautiful Feeling but less so with material like the opening track.
The antidote to Taylor Swift. Great songs with creativity and genuine edge.
Didn’t know what to expect, was pleasantly surprised. Found it to be a decent album
This didn't stand out to me. Nice enough and competent. Nothing very musically different;competent writing performance and singing
Another great album. I really enjoyed this one.
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
pretty good stuff with some poignant lyrics and beautiful vocals, but i can understand why i haven't heard of it.
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)
My reviews often talk of angry young men making recordings, well this is a breath of fresh air from an angry young woman making a recording. As I am no longer young a lot of this music isn't for me.
I’ve always thought about diving into PJ Harvey but never did much, so I was excited to have this assigned. But I’m not sure I see what all the fuss is about here. There’s a few solid songs here, but nothing I found stunning. Just a mix of 90s-ish alt rock that ranges from guitar-driven to singer-singer writers to more atmospheric - and while I enjoyed some, nothing was quite groundbreaking or spectacular.
I didn't love it. There were three songs that I enjoyed. But I have to say that if I had heard this album in 2000 when it was released, I would've been all over it. It's interesting, it's the type of music I was listening to then, but I had never heard of her. Songs: This is love We float A place called home
Very raw, just didn’t connect with it too much
One good song, the rest sucked. One star
It was ok
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Listen to this at least once a week.
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.
This album was the hardest decision yet. It was very middle of the road, I think its just music that's not for me. She sounds good and there's nothing wrong with the music, I just can't get into it.
I dig PJ Harvey
Solid album, before she went a bit too weird for me with her next offerings.
Not really into PJs 90s stuff but this is very different - the fantastic cover suggests a more mature Harvey, backed up by the music, lyrics, instrumentation, production. Big Patti Smith vibes overall. This Is Love still a highlight but the keyboard/vibraphone combo at the end of One Line is brilliant.
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.
I thought I wasn’t going to like this. The first half of the album was a little bland and didn’t capture my attention. But the second half of the album was much better than the first, and I loved "You Said Something.”
Hell.
- It’s giving 2000’s emo - Hendes måde er synge på er ikke min smag, og musikken siger mig ikke forfærdeligt meget, det er 100% et mig problem, for hun er tydeligt dygtig, det rammer mig bare ikke
Fav: A place called home 2.5/5
Lush and beautiful
Generic album nothing really stood out to me.
Fantastic album, that goes in the rotation
Sophisticated PJ, but she’s always great
good
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 had only ever heard the name PJ Harvey, and had no sense going in on what to expect except the cover. I expected femail vocalist over soft rock, but the music was harder and more uptempo than I expected. The rock was energetic and satisfying, and the vocals felt like a wall a sound that mostly worked for me. Curious to know what the rest of PJ Harvey sounds like,
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
yes
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.
Was torn on it but the final song ended up swinging me, loved this one. Wasn't familiar with her at all, and though there were a few misses like half the songs I really liked. That heavier late 90's / early 00's alt feel just wins me over, with similar vibes to say Alanis Morissette or Bjork.
Interesting, still after all those years.
Pretty much perfect
7/10
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
don’t think I’ll be coming back to it a lot because it’s pretty sad but objectively phenomenal record
It was okay.
Struggled with this one - just not in to her? Have a feeling she’s not an instant artist so will keep trying
A sadder, more thoughtful Chrissie Hynde.
Хороший альбом. Можна брати на вінілі.
This was weird. I didn't like the first few tracks. I was coming around and then boom Thom Yorke, pretty cool. I am sure I would have loved this if I was slightly older and heard it in its heyday
fan-fucking-tastic. a guidebook for female indie rockers everywhere (me for sure...)
Oh my, my second favourite PJ Harvey's album!!! (My biggest favourite is To Bring You My Love and my third favourite is Uh Huh Her, both unfortunately NOT in this list. Shame, shame, shame. My biggest reccomendations to listen to these too if you liked this one!) Honestly, I think this is probably her best album. It all sounds so fresh, so cohesive and never boring. Every song is superb. Storytelling is great. I just love this album so much and for so long.
Pj who? 1.5 stars
i already knew « this mess we’re in » that i liked but the rest not for me
It didn't grab me as I'd hoped. Lyrically beautiful though. The collaborations with Thom Yorke worked really well and The Hustlers Whore was a standout track.
i feel like shes so cool but i cant like her songs
PJ Harvey has always been a known name, but I have never really gotten into her music; Just a song here or there. This has been an eye opener (or ear opener perhaps). It started a little slow, while listening in the car on my way to work, but after a while something happened. I slowly got dragged into it. It started around Beautiful Feeling, the first of two songs with Thom Yorke. I think his voice and presence pairs really well with Harveys voice. From here and out I really enjoyed the rest of the songs. I had a feeling that I missed out on the first half, so I had to do a second round. And I was right, now I really enjoyed the whole album. I am defintely not done with this record and I am looking forward to check out more of her stuff. Favourite songs: This Mess We’re In, You Said Something, This Is Love and Kamikaze.
Forgot how good this is, lush production and instrumentation
i don’t think that’s for me
Definitely a step down from Dry or To Bring You My Love. Polly's voice remains compelling, and there are a bunch of great songs, but it veers a bit too close to stadium rock at times and the Thom Yorke song is a bit yuck.
Call me old-fashioned but I like songs to have a melody.
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
2026.01.19. Az első női előadó, amit kaptam, legjobb eddig!
Super
Was not familiar with PJ Harvey. She might be an artist who grows on you. On first listening this seems to be a good album. Several times of listening might produce a better review but it's not currently feeling very memorable.
I thought this album was good, but I didn’t really connect with the material in any meaningful way. I’ll definitely revisit it in the future and maybe come to appreciate it more then, but for now, I think this sits closer to the mediocre end of good than the great end.