Reviews (page 4 of 14)
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.
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.
Varies excellence
This is a really good album. One thing i noticed is the very long song and album titles. You said something is clear about New York. We float is a great song.
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.
New york based (I assume) indi adult alternative rock lady. Nothing exciting was hoping this would be interesting as I have heard of her. It’s fine not breaking any boundaries here. It’s fine.
Not my jam
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.
ehh, not my kind of music. i can appreciate what it's trying to do, however, it's certainly not for me
Excelente álbum con un buen repertorio de canciones de inicio a fin.
Several good songs on this album that make you want to listen more. 4 stars or B.
I have already listened to two albums from PJ Harvey and I have always felt it was a 3, not too bad and not that good.
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?
PJ Harvey got herself glammed up and recorded her most polished set of songs, including some stunners like “Big Exit,” “Good Fortune” and “This is Love,” whose lyrics I adore: “I can’t believe that the axis turns / on suffering when you taste so good.” This is the album where she mostly set aside her more topical and pointed subject matter and aimed for the heart. In retrospect it was kind of a transitional album for her but man, it works.
Don't love this one as much as her earlier works but its fine.
meh. best one was the mess we’re in
speechless
I would definitely give this a 3.5 but unfortunately that's not available on this site so 3 stars it is. But really nice tempo on this one! Favourites would be "We Float" and "This Mess We’re In". It took me a little while to get used to the vibe so right now least favourite would probably be "Big Exit".
PJ Harvey has been one of the more pleasant surprises of my 1001 Albums journey so far – I wasn't previously familiar with her work, but she was one of the best things about Nick Cave's Murder Ballads album and I ended up really enjoying Let England Shake as well. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea is a weird one for me because my opinions of Side A and Side B are essentially opposite each other. Side A is just solid early-2000s alternative rock and I found every track to be at least decent (if not great). It was really cool to hear Harvey doing her thing in that era and blending in perfectly! Side B gets a little weird. I'm perfectly okay with weird if said weirdness feels exciting and innovative, but the second half of the album just came across as "boring weird" – I'm sure other people in this community have a few albums they can think of like that. The only track I really enjoyed from Side B was "We Float" and the rest was kind of a slog to get through. Side A would probably be a strong three to a light four for me, whereas Side B would be a decent to strong two. I'll average the two and call the full album a light three. Just two more PJ Harvey albums to go! Highlights: Big Exit, A Place Called Home, One Line, The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, We Float
2/3. Moody, dark, she definitely listened to a lot of Nirvana. I really like the dark guitar sound, but other than that it didn’t move me much. Lot of tracks bled together and the album just isn’t very dynamic.
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
An artist who has somehow passed me by over the years, even though I like her style of music, this album reminded me of a slightly mellowed out less punky Sleatter Kinney. And what about 'The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore' as a song title, fantastic. I also enjoyed the good combos with Thom Yorke on backing vocals. Enjoyed this 3 out of 5
A little too hard for me.
Enjoyed this, but still not the biggest PJ Harvey guy
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
Yeah, whatever. Very forgettable music about drugs, sex, and deviant behavior. Radiohead wannabe and doesn't even come close. 2/10
- 10/10 beautiful voice - so moody - obviously Thom Yorke track is amazing but also loved Kamikaze and the more upbeat tracks - Horses in my Dreams lovely
Неожиданно хороший
3/5
It was good, I think though PJ has been on here a lot and I need a little break or just expecting something more because she is on here so much.
It’s been a long while since i’ve listened to this album. It feels like her BIG commercial Rock ‘N’ Roll moment…available for purchase at your nearest Borders, whereas everything before and after this feels like a little underground secret iykyk. Overall it’s a good record with songs that stand up, like A Place Called Home, One Line, and We Float, but it doesn’t even come close to being my personal fave, which is actually Is This Desire? That’s a stone cold classic.
As a Mercury Prize Winner, this album didn't wow me as much as I was hoping for. It feels too restrained for her, and it just wasn't that engaging. The songs were pretty though, and it's interesting to see her veer into this softer, gentler direction.
Solid 3 - enjoyable
Um disco arauto dos anos 2000 que pode ser descrito "como soava Nova York pré-11 de setembro". Big Exit é magnânima. Nunca falha em me por em um estado de mania por alguns minutos. Tantas outras músicas são incríveis, as quais escuto no dia a dia. O aspecto visceral incorporado em forma de música sempre... Ele está longe da definição de um álbum perfeito e de atender a todas as baboseiras estipuladas por críticos preocupados em masturbar seus egos, mas, sem sombra de dúvidas, é um disco que se destaca na premissa desse projeto.
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!!
taka pheobe buffay nie moj styl bez szalu
Stella, magnificent flawless.
Her best record I think
Actually a 3.5
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.
Well made alt rock/jangle pop but nothing really substantial. The collab with Thom Yorke was the best part.
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
Same as below. 3/5
Pretty solid rock album. Not my favorite, but still pretty good.
I didn’t know if I would like this since I didn’t care for the last album but it this was alright.
she's really good, I absolutely loved the way that she kinda of remind me of multiple other female artists that I love, like the singer of the cranberries.
Quite accessible Peej but its impact is no lesser. Amazing elliptical song structures.
Just not my style
T Yorke surprise. Best listened loud.
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