Reviews (page 5 of 13)
nunca habia escuchado pj harvey. suena bien, sobretodo la guitarra que tiene un brillo muy particular
Really grabbed my attention with the first track with Thom Yorke, and kept it through to the end of the album.
I liked the angsty passion of this, it made an otherwise monotonous trip for the Fulbourn Tesco Extra shop on Saturday, dare I say it, a pleasurable experience. Will be returning to it (sadly, the Tescos too)
I found this album intriguing. It didn't jump out and grab me instantly but it's very much within my genre of choice and had good variety. I could sort of sense the quality but it feels like more of a grower than a shower. I'll definitely be coming back for repeat listens.
3.5 stars
Liked it
rumor has it that pj harvey is the 6th member of radiohead (source: thom yorke) (source 2: trust me)
I expected to not like this for reasons I can't articulate. I really liked it - the songs rock and a bunch are surprisingly catchy.
oh Thom Yorke
very cool girl
Weird, dark, grating, great.
8/10
This is her best record. Still like it to this day (after 25 years)
This album evokes a time, place, and mood. I had left NYC for L.A. and was now listening to PJ singing about my home. I think I listened to the whole thing (it was the Napster days) but I don’t remember some of the whole tracks - but the “hits”, “Good Fortune”, “Hustle” and “Mess” are all-timers and I’ve come back to them over and over through the years. The things in between make it a real document of an ascendant, pre-9/11 NYC that was fully out of its late 20h Century malaise, but not yet a luxury product when being on a rooftop in Brooklyn in the middle of the night meant something different than both today and 10 years earlier. The last track “We Float” reminds me of something that would’ve fit very nicely on Zooropa. Perhaps this record is “New Yoropa”? A snapshot of a changing place that will shortly transform in ways inconceivable at the time.
Very good.
Great album, incredible songs and a very underrated artist. Fully reccomended record.
Good genre and good album. Would listen again
Mega sej 4/5 alternativ rock som lyder lit
I know PJ by name for a long time now, but never really got to actually listen to her until now. Starting off, I didn't really love her voice in the opener. The music was cool, but nothing that blew my mind. Things change by the second song, 'Good Fortune'. Now this is something else. Gotta say that this is one of my favorite "new" songs in a while. I totally dig PJ's voice by now. It's like a more modern and grungier Patti Smith. Then other influences clearly show, like Nick Cave or Radiohead, which are quite obvious given her work and relationship with the former and the actual collaborations in this album of the latter. But all filtered through her own style. Amazing discovery for me.
Enjoyed this thoroughly.
Don’t understand how I missed this back in the day
Pretty good.
I like this. 4 *
I think this must be the second PJ Harvey album to appear on this site... anyway, it's pure and genuine, full of emotion. Great songs and lyrics make this album flow very well, except for the small moments where it seems to drag a little. 4 stars.
I'm not sure what to write about this album. I enjoyed listening to it, but nothing resonated for me. Definitely a step above the other "nothing bad, but nothing great" albums on the list. Worth listening to.
Just short of 5 stars from me, but I love the album.
An interesting listen. Great, unpretentious underground music that would slap in an intimate concert setting, but not quite captivating enough that you would recommend to your friends and play when you're up on Aux. Felt like a British Pat Benatar
Album heeft me verbaasd, verrassend goede productie en songwriting. Features van thom Yorke ook erg sterk. Prachtige stem met veel gevarieerde nummers
Much rockier than her later one, enjoyed on a ride
I'd imagined this would be a middle-of-the-road album, having no idea what she's really like. It turned out to be a cracker. Real edgy feeling to it. Proper decent.
i’m so biased in favour of women that rock (literally and figuratively). this was my first time listening to a PJ harvey album and i can’t wait to dig in to the rest!
This was good. A nice alt-rock album with some punk vibes.
The opening song really does pull you into the album, really enjoyed this. Loved how it had a classic 90s/ early 00s indie rock vibe to it. Favourite songs were Big Exit and A Place Called Home
Really enjoyable album, lot of great songs Couple slower songs dragged a bit, great album still though
very calming aughts rock, i need more of this.
PJ is just bread and butter good. Not her best, but quality nonetheless. 7.85/10 Favorite Song: The Mess We're In
I was kind of dreading this because I remembered not enjoying (1 star rating) her other album (Rid of Me) when listening to it, but I actually really enjoyed this. To the extent that I also re-listened to Rid of Me to see if I had changed or PJ had. Little bit of both - Still didn’t love Rid of Me but I definitely didn’t hate it (would be between 2-3 stars), this one is a high 3 or 4 for me.
Pretty nice sound. Some sobgs sound like radio head imo the mess we are in to be exact
Love that I’ve found this album. Screams New York City to me. I have a hard time liking albums with female lead singers (I have no idea why it’s just something I’ve noticed) but I love this album.
3.9 Great variety in her songs, and a lovely Thom York feature i completely forgot about faves: big exit, this is love, this mess we're in
This album shows a more mature and refined version of PJ Harvey. I like this one the best of the PJ albums I have listened to on this list. 4+
Nice,I'll listen again.
L’an 2000, le grand bug redouté n’était qu’un pétard mouillé et le rock indépendant, après une décennie 90 intense et souvent sombre, cherchait de nouvelles lumières. C’est à ce moment précis que Polly Jean Harvey, notre sorcière bien-aimée du Dorset, l’icône du blues poisseux et de la fureur à vif, a pris tout le monde à contre-pied. Elle a sorti un album d’une beauté éclatante, presque insolente. Et je ne parle pas ici de la beauté vénéneuse de "To Bring You My Love" ou de l’esthétique du chaos de "Rid of Me". Non, cette fois, c’était une beauté frontale, mélodique, presque pop, une pure merveille. "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" est arrivé comme un bol d’air frais, un shoot d’énergie pure. Moi qui, à l’époque, passais mes journées à refourguer des disques dans mon shop indé, je me souviens de l’effet que ça a produit. On avait laissé PJ Harvey dans des limbes électriques et torturés, et on la retrouvait en plein soleil, avec des riffs clairs comme de l’eau de roche et une production d’une richesse et d’une précision incroyables. C’était son album new-yorkais, l’album du cuir et des lunettes de soleil, l’album d’une femme qui prend le pouvoir avec un sourire en coin. Il faut l’admettre, avec le recul, cet album est un coup de génie. C’est un disque de rock alternatif parfait, vibrant, qui a trouvé le point d’équilibre magique entre une accessibilité qui aurait pu le rendre mainstream et cette tension sous-jacente qui est la signature indélébile de Harvey. Les guitares carillonnent, sa voix, toujours aussi possédée, semble plus maîtresse de ses moyens que jamais, capable de passer d’un murmure intime à un cri libérateur. On sent l'influence de la Grosse Pomme à chaque coin de rue, cette frénésie qui vous pousse à composer des hymnes taillés pour la route, la ville, la vie. Des titres comme "Big Exit" ou "This Is Love" sont des décharges de garage-rock poppy, aussi irrésistibles qu'intelligentes. Et que dire du duo avec Thom Yorke, "This Mess We're In" ? Un sommet absolu de mélancolie atmosphérique, la rencontre de deux des âmes les plus singulières de leur époque. C'est une bulle suspendue dans le temps, un moment de grâce pure. Le cœur battant de l'album, c'est l'amour, mais un amour nouveau, loin des tourments et des obsessions maladives. Ici, l’amour est une évidence, une force qui rend "immortel", une lumière qui simplifie tout. En dévoilant cette facette plus lumineuse, presque sereine, PJ Harvey ne s’est pas affadie, elle a au contraire montré une nouvelle facette de sa puissance. La guerrière a baissé la garde pour révéler une force peut-être encore plus grande : celle de la vulnérabilité assumée. Alors oui, à l’époque, mon adoration pour la noise crasseuse et le post-punk anguleux m’a peut-être rendu un peu aveugle. J'ai sans doute vu cette production léchée comme un compromis, alors que c'était un choix artistique d'une audace folle. Il a fallu du temps pour que je comprenne pleinement la portée de ce disque, il a fallu vieillir un peu, peut-être, pour apprécier cette perfection sans y voir une trahison. Car cet album est une pierre angulaire, pas seulement dans sa discographie, mais pour le rock du début des années 2000. Il a remporté le Mercury Prize le 11 septembre 2001, une coïncidence tragique qui ancre à jamais cette ode à New York dans l'Histoire. Ce jour-là, alors qu'elle était à Washington et voyait la fumée du Pentagone, son disque triomphait à Londres, comme le symbole d'une beauté et d'une insouciance sur le point de disparaître. Avec le temps, "Stories from the City" s'est imposé pour ce qu'il est : un classique. Un album qui a su capturer l'air du temps tout en étant intemporel, il a la complexité émotionnelle de ses prédécesseurs, mais la communique avec une clarté et une générosité nouvelles. Ma préférence ira peut-être toujours, par réflexe, à la fureur de ses débuts, à la PJ Harvey qui semblait vouloir dévorer le monde. Mais il serait idiot et malhonnête de ne pas reconnaître que cet album est un chef-d'œuvre d'écriture, de composition et d'interprétation. C'est l'histoire d'un amour qui a mis du temps à s'installer, mais qui, aujourd'hui, est indéfectible. Un putain de grand disque.
It picked up for me during the second half. The Thom yorke colab was great.
Wow!
Melodic guitar based rock with a beautiful soft side.
I probably would have loved this album had I l listen to it when it came out.
“I can’t believe life’s so complex. When I just want to sit here and watch you undress.” I don’t know why, but that opening line to This Is Love gets me every time. And with the crunchy guitar riff as the accompaniment…I mean, chef’s kiss, in my opinion. I have Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea by PJ Harvey already in my library. So I’ve spent some time with the album prior to this listen. It really is a great collection of songs. Sadly, I feel like this is an album I take for granted. After running through it for this project, I asked myself why I didn’t listen to Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea more. I couldn’t come up with a good answer. I really like eight of the songs on this album. And the only song I don’t really care for, in some capacity, is Horses In My Dreams. Will try and get this one in the rotation more often. It’s a great album by PJ Harvey. This is a 4 rating for me. 4/5
Great album, not a single bad track on the album.
Pas mal, Pat, Patty, Nick cave
great
Strangely, the Thom Yorke collaborations (for me) are the weakest parts of the album. PJ Harvey on her own ROCKS. Lots of great tracks to this one, very much in a harder rock vein. Being a fan of other singers like her (Tracy Bonham in particular), I am surprised I hadn't heard this album before. Will definitely replay this one. Top tracks: "The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore," "Kamikaze," "This Is Love," "We Float"
I've listened to PJ Harvey's first three albums a decent amount but I don't know if I've ever listened to this one the whole way through. I've been missing out. I mostly just knew The Mess We're In, her duet with Thom Yorke (which I really like), and a couple of singles like Good Fortune and This is Love. Those latter two are also solid so I should've dug in because this album is solid. Great sound. Not the same grungy edge of her earliest work, but a refined alt rock guitar sound. I was hooked from the opening chords in Big Exit. Other slick songs were One Line, You Said Something, and Kamikaze. This may be her most consistent album I've listened to.
It's a bit derivative (90s alt-rock), but it's my kind of derivative. A little repetitive, too, but I like the sound. 3 feels too low, because I wouldn't mind hearing it again. I'd call it a 3.5 that I'm rounding up because I enjoyed it and could keep listening, but I'm sure that doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement. Favorite tracks: The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore, Horses in My Dreams, We Float (by far my favorite song on the album).
Never listened to PJ before but have known of her for years. Great album and songwriting. Stellar vocals
Good, I like it
A dream of a city night - fierce, tender, and raw in all the right places. Some drag late, and Yorke nearly puts it to sleep, but the highs glow.
Abwechslungsreiches solides Album mit guten Songs. Mit diesem Album gelingt der Interpretin ein Inspirations Feuerwerk. Songs wie „Big Exit“, „A Place Called Home“ erinner schon an Kate Bush u.a. zu ihrer besten Zeit. Gerne Wiederhören.
How the hell have I not encountered any music from PJ Harvey before now? Is it because I’m American? Maybe, but jeez, this was a fine piece of alternative rock. PJ’s got an amazing voice that strikes a nice chord between moody and soft. It satisfies my alternative rock craving while serenading me with it’s lighter tracks. The Thom Yorke collaborations were pleasant surprises. I didn’t even know he would be on this album, but I’m glad he is. Knowing this list of albums has a slight British bias, I’ve become aware of the Mercury Prize. It‘a basically a British award for the best British album of the year. I know this because I read Wikipedia. I’ve gotten two winners of the prize from this generator, but neither impressed me. One was meh, the other was bleh. This one, however, was the first to break the cycle. Hopefully, I encounter more PJ Harvey in the future. Favorite track: We Float Other hits: Big Exit, Good Fortune, A Place Called Home, You Said Something, The Mess We’re In, Horses In My Dreams
I didn't really like this album at first, but it seemed to pick up as it went, and I ended up looping it a few times, and I guess I'm hooked. I don't think this is my favorite PJ, but it really grew on me in a hurry.
This Album was going to get a solid 2. It's OK, familiar sounding, and I can't quite put my finger on why. However, it gets 4 stars for the collaboration with Thom Yorke - an awesome track!
This mess we're in.
We float is definitely a standout. It sounds different from the others and I like it the most. Very spacey and soft sounding. I went back and looked at the most popular songs from the album and was surprised that wasn't it lol.
This surprised me, really good album. The production was notably strong, just a good mix to my untrained ears. Can’t put my finger on why I enjoyed it but I did. Thanks PJ 4/5
Already loved this mess we’re in but hadn’t given the full album a go, really liked it especially the slightly heavier songs, great stuff
I immediately feel in love with the music of PJ Harvey when she first appeared, and her first three albums were all played repeatedly and religiously at my house. I found her powerful, emotional, honest and with the ability to surprise and disturb. I really liked the raw production of her first two records, and the change to unsettling "To Bring You My Love" was welcome. The brooding, seething restraint of To Bring You My love is a masterpiece that I am, frankly, surprised to see is not on this list. But, as I listened to less new music in the late 90s and early 2000s, I lost track of her new releases. I certainly continued to read about PJ Harvey, and saw her live at the Enmore Theatre in the 2000s (she was awesome) Which brings me to this album, that I do not love in the same way. She produced it to be more 'beautiful' and pop (in her own way). It was a big success (especially in America) and the sheen clearly worked. But I miss the drama. I miss her ability to surprise and disturb me. I miss her rocking out (Kamikaze excepted). I feel like she took the wrong lessons from Radiohead (whose post-OK computer albums are clearly a big influence here); a mood is not preferable to the drama of great rock music. And it won the Mercury Prize, which is a usual signpost of mediocre crap. There are some parts of the record that remind me of her previous work, although never quite to the standard. I mean, the lyrics to "the Whores Hustle..." are an embarassing first draft that never should have made the released record (although I find it compelling musically). Am I judging this too harshly based on this not being as great as her previous records? I think maybe so. This is certainly better than many, many records on this list, and a shit load better than most UK indie of the same vintage. 3.5 stars, rounding up
Great album. I didn't remember that Thom Yorke was on this album, as I haven't listened to it in a long time. I don't think it is an album that will blow people away, but it is just solid all the way through, and PJ Harvey has an attitude and aura that can't be denied.
Love a bit of PJ. I’d like to know her, she seems fun
A good rock album with a singer who has a really good voice for the kind of music she makes. It reminds me a bit of Fleetwood Mac at times. The more mainstream rock music and her smoother on the verge of raspy(?) voice creates songs that I will come back to in the future.
wish i could give this a 3.5 but nvm pj Harvey is very good and her voice is amazing but her music doesn’t always rlly grab me or do anything too crazy for me from what ive heard but the last two songs here are beautiful
I don't think this reinvented the wheel in any big way (and it doesn't need to), because PJ Harvey is in her bag on this LP. The tried and true rock influences, the Thom York feature, the weirdness of PJ all work well together.
Good indie rock album, liked it much better than Rid of Me.
I got quite into this album. Listened to it several times. Some nice variation. The stuff with Thom Yorke is interesting, but drags away from PJ herself.
Never really liked her when she’d appear on Letterman, but this one surprised me…really enjoyed it. Hearing Thom Yorke’s voice pop up on "The Mess We're In" was a pleasant surprise. Will listen to this one again.
Fav: Kamikaze Least Fav: Beautiful Feeling She really likes New York I guess ft Thom Yorke for some reason
Damn Good album. My first album by PJ Harvey. The collab between PJ Harvey and Thom Yorke on This Mess We're in is wow!
This list loves it's PJ, and I get it! I missed out on the majority of her music when it was current with the exception of a few singles. I'm glad this list is making me go back and give it an honest listen. PJ has great vocals and all of the songs are well written and arranged (I had issues with the album Rid Of Me, also on this list, for sounding like it was cobbled together from parts and not played as a band). I especially enjoyed the 2 tracks with Thom Yorke. I'll be coming back to this album again in the future for sure
Not sure why I thought I was familiar with this artist… or why I thought she was a male British rapper. So I was pleasantly surprised! I got some hints of female grunge and (yes I know PJ predates her) Lana Del Rey. I really, really liked it.
I liked it
Found myself enjoying this, especially the tracks with appearances with Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Definitely the sort of music I like, but i didn't find any of the songs getting stuck in my head, so would need a few listens to see if anything really sticks.
I quite liked the album, a blend of rock and love songs (albeit for New York City).
Enjoyable, lots of variation.
Exciting, and thoroughly enjoyable the whole way through. I don't have too much to say about it. I seems like I never find much to say about PJ Harveys music. She is oh so cool and hip and alternative, as always. And the execution is superb, as always. I suppose she is a bit more commercial sounding this time around. My only gripe was the displeasure of having to hear Thom novocaine-sounding-ass Yorke on one of the songs. Oh well.
Instead of listening to PJ Harvey's "Stories from the City", we listened to "To Bring You Me Love" which had a few really good songs and a few that left us a little flat. overall 7.5 worth a listen.
35/1001 - A lot of the problems I had with "Rid of Me" aren't present in this album. Some instrumentals are still on the safe/boring side: providing a "bed of sound" for the voice instead of reacting to it (which to me is a lot of the fun in rock). The Thom Yorke duet was neat. I liked it more than I thought I would.
Chulo thom yorke
i love u pj
I enjoyed this album very much and I heard a sound that I'm not quite familiar with. Love the rawness in vocals and guitar on quote a few of the tracks.
Fantastic album, best so far
i want to love pj harvey so much more ... i need to SUBMERGE
Excellent album! I’ve always thought to myself that you can’t define PJ Harvey, and you can’t guarantee you’ll like what she puts out either. But this, this is tremendous!
The beginning of this album didn’t really grab me but once it was a third or so through, something clicked and I found myself really enjoying PJ Harvey’s raw lyricism and tightrope of genre trends that came with the new century. Some stuff is very ‘90s - it rules. My standout track is “The Mess We’re In” because I’m a Thom Yorke shill, but this is an album that blooms when listened to in whole. Never gave PJ Harvey a try before this but I enjoy the vibes this one gives off.
PJ Harvey is one of the artists I’m most thankful to the 1001 for. She went from being a name I knew but had always regretted not looking into more, to an artist I really like. Even as much as I like her, though, placing four albums on the list seems a bit much compared to her contemporaries. Not sure which one I’d remove. “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea” is really good. I particularly loved the Thom Yorke tracks, so clearly influenced by him, though they stand out from the rest of the album in a way that is both a positive and a detriment.
A little long but mostly incredible
Just saw her tour this fall. She is an incredible showman (show woman?). I have a real soft spot for her.
loved this record, awesome songwriting, cool atmospheres, good energy. 8/10
Хороший альбом, классный женский вокал
PJ Harvey always brings interest and excitement into each record.
Great late 90s jams
I got flannel vibes!
Finally no screaming
Five consecutive days of four and five stars! This is Polly at her absolute best for me. It's still powerful and angsty, but it's really beautiful in places. I absolutely love the two big hits, especially You Said Something, but let's also give a shout out for We Float at the end, because that is tremendous. It sounds like the song that Sharon Van Etten (the greatest current songwriter IMO) heard immediately before she began her career. All round great stuff. Nice to get a bit of peak Yorke on here as well by the way, just months before the great Kid A comeback.
Jätte bra album, melodier är inte så "memorable" men det stör mig inte i det här fallet
I had tried some PJ Harvey in the past and not really loved it, but this one clicked for me (not sure if it right place right time or what). I have always enjoyed the Thom Yorke duets but the whole album was solid end to end. 4/5
Catchy and fun, dark and intense, and way weirder than your average alt-rock album
Really like this one, first time hearing the full album. Strong Patti Smith vibes. The only songs that let it down were the Thom Yorke collaborations, which come with his usual level of despair. 4/5
I already like PJ Harvey's last 3 albums so this one is basically a no brainer of liking for me. I always forget how weird and interesting PJ's voice and writing is because so many songs are so distinctly her type of understated but great rock writing, especially in the opener, closer, A Place Called Home, Mess We're In, etc. Just a really strong album
Everything that is good about Patti Smith and Chrissie Hynde is in PJ Harvey on this album!
There’s something I like about this raw sound.
This was my introduction to PJ Harvey - an artist I've been wanting to check out. The album really picked up for me in tracks 5-9 (incl. the song with the Radiohead guy) and I ended up really liking it after a somewhat mediocre start. She's a bit of a chameleon with her voice, at times sounding like some of the other 90s era ladies, at other times having a bit of a Chrissie Hynde vibe. The guitar riff on one track reminded me of Nirvana and it was fun to read Kurt Cobain was a fan of hers and she was asked to perform with the remaining members of the band after his death. I definitely want to listen to more of her.
Just really good indie rock. Abrasive and listenable.
I think I get this album and the intentions behind it. I can feel the powerful emotions that were barred on display, the openness and vulnerability put out into the world in the lyrics. I’m just not sure if it’s really for me. PJ Harvey is clearly an incredibly talented vocalist, lyricist, songwriter, and musician. Sonically I appreciate every aspect that was put into this album. Thom Yorke’s vocal appearances on this record are really cool too, and he fits the vibe absolutely perfectly. I just had this nagging feeling the entire time I listened to this album that I wasn’t feeling the feelings that I was supposed to. I’m not really sure how to put it into words, but I found it difficult to fully connect with this album, like I was sitting a room away from someone else who was blasting this record and really feeling it. None of that is to say I didn’t enjoy it, I just feel like it didn’t hit me like I think it should have. 3.5*
“The Mess We’re In” was slipped into some shuffled mix I was listening to recently by Apple Music and I really liked it. I was shocked to see it was recorded in 1999. I wanted to listen to this album but hadn’t gotten around to it, so I was happy to see it for the AOTD. Surprise at the release date holds up for the album as a whole. It definitely feels related to several of the indie/alt rock girlies of today like Phoebe Bridges, Angel Olsen, maybe even some Mitski in there - but this album has a good 15-20 years on them. Its age does not show, except for a few tracks. Favorite tracks - “One Line”, “The Mess We’re In”, “You Said Something”, “We Float”. On the latter track, she closes out the album with some beautiful, airy, soaring vocals in a higher register than most of the singing/rhythmic talking that makes up most of the vocals on this album. I wish this softer vocal style got a little more use. “The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore” and “This is Love” are my least favorites. It’s a really nice album overall from someone whose songwriting talent and maturity is evident. Would listen again and would listen to more from PJ Harvey. 8/10
Much better than I remember. Beautiful voice, record has great pace and great songwriting as well. She is a bit less punk and a bit more indie pop than blondie. I like it more now than as a kid. Its a Kate Bush upgrade
Good stuff
I cheated a bit during the last PJ Harvey album and listened to some of this This is much better than Let England Shake. I liked The Line, The Mess Were In, Horses In My Dreams and We Float. Admittedly, some of this was noise. I didnt like Big Exit or Good Fortune. 3.5 stars for now. Ill have to listen more. Rounding up to 4
- indie rockig aber atmosphärisch - Tolle stimme die sich unglaublich dynamisch und variabel zeigt, sehr lebendig gemixt - typisch 2000er gitarren sound/ britischen, manchmal bisschen quirky riffs aber die meisten sind mega geil - Die drums aus dem drumcomputer (place called home) geben mehr 90 vibes, Die analogen drums wirken lebendiger und passen besser gut ins konzept -häufig überwiegt dunkler vibe, erinnert ein bisschen an nirvana nevermind, verträumt aber nicht verschlafen - auf „the mess were in“ merkt man stark die radiohead einflüsse - fav tracks: Big Exit, a place called home, beautiful feeling, the mess were in least fav tracks:
She can write a killer hook, whether it’s using distorted guitar or just a wordless vocal melody. The lyrics really put you into the New York setting of this album and all its adventure and possibilities
Compelling, intriguing, very interesting chord progressions and rhythms, and I just dig the overall vibe. Dark without being too self-referential or too harsh. Really solid album.
I’ve listened to some PJ Harvey but don’t know this album. There’s a late ‘70s Patti Smith feel, some Christie Hynde mixed with ‘90s indie. I like it. Very listenable, all the songs good, without there being a standout. It’s largely guitar, bass & drums, well recorded with a couple of contributions from Thom Yorke including a duet on “This Mess We’re In”. I do really like the sound of the record and it could well be a grower.
I read that PJ Harvey thinks it’s lazy to compare her to Patti Smith - but I can think of a lot worse singers to be compared to! The whole record doesn’t sound like Patti, but there are certain songs that do. PJ has such great command of her voice and a unique sound. I enjoyed this a lot.
I was surprised by how much of this album I’d actually already heard and had put into various playlists. With 4 already somewhat on my radar, especially the tracks with Thom Yorke I was excited to get stuck into this album. Big Exit is a great start to the album, I love this song, the exclaimed short vocal lines for the verses mesh well with the driving drums and guitars, and then the rest of the instrumental kicks in with the chorus and really elevates the song with the more melodic hook. The piano punctuation in the chorus is a really great embellishment that really elevates the chorus. The bridge is a beautiful melancholic change of pace that comes back to a final chorus wonderfully. Good Fortune is another solid alt rock song with satisfying overlayed vocal harmonies and a great progression throughout. More melodically focused than the previous track and maybe a bit more generic as far as 90s/00s alt rock is concerned but still a great track nonetheless. A Place Called Home, has this great staccato to piano line underneath that drive the rhythm and tempo of the track, rising along with the chord progression nicely. The alternating vocals are excellent , and the instrumentals are great aside from an accordion or harmonica solo/ line that sounds like a preset on a keyboard which sounds a bit dated and artificial now. But still another great song. One line is a notable change of pace and feels more moody and dramatic. It has pretty good group harmony vocals that underpin the track as it builds to the climax/anticlimax with a haunting xylophone or glockenspiel line to carry the last part of the song. Another solid track, loving the level of consistency in the track list so far, feels coherent and flows super well. Beautiful Feeling with Thom Yorke starts slowly with PJ’s beautiful vocals sitting atop a dark guitar and bass instrumental, remaining drum less for the track. Thom Yorke can be heard harmonising in the background acting as another instrument like a violin, punctuating most of the vocal lines with an eery atmospheric understated delivery. This one is a great atmosphere builder and I love the energy created on this one. The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore, turns up the volume and the energy instantly after the ominous echoey tracks. Another really great track that seems to meld the alt rock sounds of the first couple of tracks with the atmospheric breaks of the previous songs. It creates a really great full sounding almost climactic song that feels like you could hear it in a late 90s early 2000s action movie, which isn’t at all a criticism. The song sounds dated to that era but it ends up feeling nostalgic and beautiful instead of a relic of its time. This Mess We’re In sees Thom Yorke and PJ Harvey trading places from Beautiful Feeling with Thom Yorke taking centre stage and PJ accentuating the spaces between his vocal lines. Again I’m struck by the atmosphere created on these tracks and this is easily one of the highlights. Such a solid string listen so far. Again the pianos are excellent on this track and every instrument seems to be used as sparingly as possible whilst making the most of its impact. You Said Something is probably my least favourite track on the record, the lead melodic instrumental line, sounds very artificial and programmed and the quality of the digital sound used is quite weak. The song structure itself is pretty good but that instrumental line really takes you out of the song. Kamikaze is fastest and most eclectic song on the album and is another pretty fun alt rock track, the vocals are more emboldened but the chorus sounds a bit too strained at points, whether it’s intentional isn’t clear and the vocal recording quality is as good as the rest of the album. This Is Love is a pretty good in your face rock song. With a great instrumental, the vocals are back to being excellently mixed and produced, and the performances across the board are solid. Horses In My Dreams returns to the slower more atmospheric sounds found elsewhere on this album. Which I think is where the most interesting songs of the album sit. The obtuse and obscure lyrics on this one are great and create this mysterious alluring atmosphere. PJ Harvey seems to be doing her best Björk vocal impression on this one, which suits her and the track really well. I’m not drawing the similarity to highlight any shortcomings or lack of originality though. The piano is also a highlight on this track bringing an emotive powerful force to the song that underpins the vocals and instrumental perfectly. Also a stand out track for me. We Float starts with a pretty weak piano line and programmed drum beatthat builds for the first couple of minutes the vocals atop sound great though. Once the rest of the instrumental kicks in with the chorus this song becomes absolutely stunning. I just wish the production on the piano lead was a bit better for the verses, as it really sticks out in your head. It’s also weirdly panned to the left annoyingly. Although the majority of this song is immersive and magical a couple of parts let it down. This Wicked Tongue is a great gem of a bygone era, where you’d have a couple of minutes of silence tacked on to the end of the last track on the CD to make it seem like the album was over only to discover a hidden track! You felt like you’d found this secret that only the true fans knew. This is mostly lost now that streaming is the norm but what a feeling it was. Overall this track is pretty solid but seeming as it’s a hidden track I don’t think I’m going to put too much thought into it. Overall thoroughly enjoyed this album, very solid and beautiful alt rock album with atmospheric sections that stand out. Production sounds dated in places, sometimes that’s a strength although in a couple of tracks works against the album. Can’t wait to re listen to this really loved it. 4/5
It's powerful....
For some reason, both PJ Harvey and Nick Cave have been blindspots in my post-punk/alt rock exploration over the last couple years. I've skipped several Nick Cave albums on this challenge that I'll have to get back to — I don't know why, but he just hasn't clicked for me the few times I've tried to listen to him. But I recently binged Peaky Blinders (yeah, I'm late to the party), and having had both of them shoved down my throat throughout the series, they've grown on me a bit. I feel like it's finally time. I'm not sure how this album compares to the rest of PJ's discography (it certainly doesn't sound anything like "Down By the Water" which is the one song I know of hers), but I'm guessing this is more stripped down than her typical stuff. I'm digging it, though. She has a cool voice with a good range, and she knows how to use it for emotional effect, going high and whispery for vulnerability and low and growly for aggressive and angry (sometimes high-pitched howling as well). She reminds me of a more mellow Siouxsie Sioux. I like the confessional lyrics for the same reason — vulnerable and honest but with a gritty edge. It reminds me of Lisa Marie Presley's first album, which came out a few years after this one. Musically it's very late 90s/early 00s alt-rock — lots of acoustic guitars, still sort of a post-grunge sound but with bits of U2, Oasis, and Radiohead influence peeking through (I started typing this review while still listening to the album and had to laugh when the song with Thom Yorke came on — nailed it). If I have one complaint about the album, it's that there's not that much variation in terms of tempo. There are a few faster, harder songs ("This Is Love"), but for the most part it's mid-tempo and slower songs. There aren't really any bad songs, but it does get a bit monotonous. I'm still not sure where I'll land with Nick Cave, but I'm pretty sold on PJ Harvey. Definitely going to check out more of her catalogue after this. 4/5
better than i expected.
After years of hearing about PJ Harvey, this is my first actual dive in. It feels like the diet of music I would have loved in high school. As it is, there's some really enjoyable stuff to this album, but nothing that really sparks excitement or engagement. It's the type of music I might play in the background while working on something in the house.
Ezzz jóó, nem mondom, hogy a kedvencem lesz, de nagyon menő, meg adja a vibeot. Ezi is olyan Debrecenben hallgatós.
Have listened to quite a bit of PJ Harvey but for whatever reason not this album. Suffice to say it’s another good one!
I love Radiohead and with few Thom Yorke appearances i can only salute that. Yet the Best PJ Harvey Project ive listened to. Had some little rock moments with quite much punk in it (If I'm not tripping) 4.0/5.0
PJ is always a great listen and this album is so good.
Everything about this album is awesome.
I thought I knew this album pretty well, but a closer listen revealed how great it is from start to finish. The final song is beautiful.
It took me two listens to really appreciate this album. I was prepared to only give it two and a half or three stars but now I am giving it four stars. I didn't like her voice at first but the second time I listened I had an awakening. I hear shades of Patti Smith and the Pretenders. I even hear echoes of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. The songwriting is very strong and the execution of each song is perfect.
Her best work by far Great listen Easy 4 baby
Surprised I liked it!
Buen disco. La nueva Patti Smith de los 2000.
Seemed like a pretty short album. I enjoyed it
Good
Albumi #127, 07.12.2024 PJ Harveyn parhaita albumeita.
I love the rawness of her other albums like Dry, but turns out I also love her being a little more polished like this. And Thom Yorke is always welcome. Great album!
Changed my mind on this from 4 years ago. The album does trail off in the last quarter or so but the first half is so strong. I'm coming back to this.
83% Best: Good Fortune; A Place Called Home; The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore; This Mess We're In; This Is Love; We Float Must-Hear? Sure
such a specific vibe and such a great sound but sometimes pj seems to rush her lyrics out
Good shit, I fuck with it.
Cool album! Albeit none of the songs reach out to me to make me love them, The Big Exit, The Whores Hustle and This Mess We’re in stand a shoulder over the rest, while Beautiful Feeling and Horses make me disinterested. Rounded up to a 4
PJ Harvey is honestly one of the most underrated artists ever and I'm so glad this list brought me to her music.
Fantastic. Why didn’t anyone tell me about her or Liz Phair before?
I was obsessed with this album in college, but my tastes have changed enough that I can’t give it a 5. Still a great album though! 💕
The frequent references to horses and New York City make comparisons to Patti Smith inevitable. This is far more accessible than her early works and enabled PJ Harvey join Tori Amos and Natalie Merchant as the celebrated female Alt-Rock stars of the era. Although Thom York's appearance on this album fit seamlessly with the more subdued vibe on many tracks, I prefer the more stripped-down Noise Rock jamming on tracks like "This is Love."
an album that asks: what if you were in love and you were in new york at the time? 3.5/5
A strong, powerful voice to listen to. The whole backdrop of New York gave the album a nice thematic consistency. Some of the songs didn't really grip me, though. Best songs: One Line, A Place Called Home Worst Songs: Horses in my Dreams, You Said Something
Hadn't listened to PJ Harvey before, glad it came along here. Poppy but also grungy, accessible but also raw. It strikes a nice sonic balance. Looking forward to more from this artist.
A distinctly American album from a noted British artist. Very nice.
Big Exit Good Fortune This Mess We're In This Is Love
Enjoyed this
Another excellent PJ Harvey album - I’d put it about at the same level as “Let England Shake,” my other favorite of hers. Seriously considering a 5 here. Favorites: Big Exit, Beautiful Feeling, The Mess We’re In, Horses In My Dreams 4.5-5
Under the radar. PJ Harvey is badass.
Best Song: Good Fortune Worst Song: We Float
4 out of 5. This album was a pleasant surprise, good energy in the first half but dragged a little in the second.
First song was pretty yelling...rest pretty dang good!
The last time I got PJ Harvey, it was her album Let England Shake, and I thought it was not enjoyable at all. I ended up bailing in the middle of the album, and giving it a 2 out of 5 on the challenge site. This album is much better and it reminded me that PJ Harvey has always been hit or miss for me. I’m glad this pick was on the list, because it was a bit of a redemption. There was only one song I wasn’t too keen on, but the rest of the album was really damn good. Probably some of her best work on this one.
This was pretty good. No bad songs here.
4.5
I enjoyed this. Angsty, grungy rock with hooks and attitude. Surprised I never got into PJ Harvey when this came out.
i don't think i really cared for the last PJ Harvey album we had on here, but i quite liked this one. mellow, occasionally a little meandering in that new age early 2000s singer-songwriter way, but a nice solid record. really great thom yorke feature on here too, he fits right into this sound!
this was interesting and i liked it way more than the newer PJ Harvey album on this list. kinda like if michelle branch, sleater-kinney, and nirvana all got together to make an album. powerful, dark, weird, and interesting. not all the songs hit but overall this was a neat album to check out. also thom yorke is here on multiple tracks for some reason???? favorites: good fortune, this mess we're in, you said something, we float
There is a Fiona Apple/Alanis Morissette vibe to this album. Way less punk than Rid of Me. A Place Called Home is a really good song. There's and undefinable quality that's really great about this album. Radiohead...that's the quality I couldn't find maybe, Thom Yorke on the album makes it seem like that's the answer at least. Kamikaze has some of that old punk PJ Harvey feeling, great song, like a tribute to the Ramones. Horses In My Dreams is a great song but very much like Fiona Apple.
Enjoyed this more than the other PJ Harvey, good listen
4.4 - Woah this was great! So much emotion and I've always loved we float
A good one. I didn't use to enjoy the clean production. Now, I think it gives the music a heft and weight. No filler on this, just loads of good songs. Her best album? I think so.
Somehow I missed this one from back in the day. I really enjoyed it
PJ in fine form - kicking ass and taking names.
I can be a bit of a PJ hater but this surprised me. Thom Yorke coming through turned things up
I was sure I had this album pegged after the first song. It was that same sort of mid 2010's garage girl kind of album. However the more I listened it was actually pretty decent. Lots of different styles, and I was impressed by the craftsmanship of the music. I didn't feel like it was too heavy handed with instruments, and things seemed to be well written. I'm surprised, but I'm going with a 4 on this one.
Thom Yorke feature? You got me PJ, dammit, you got me.
Incredibly good. Great songwriting. Excellent studio production. Solid album. No weakness to my ears.
Really enjoyed it Standouts songs: A Place Called Home The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore This Mess Were in Kamikaze
Never really got into PJ Harvey back in the day but on listening to this I’m not quite sure why. Much better than I was expecting and will now have to go and check out her back catalogue and see if I really was wrong to overlook her all those years ago.
an album that's said to embody the energy of new york city, the good, bad, and the ugly. pj makes this abundantly clear in her music, which can be either upbeat or slow; her voice is very pretty as well. it has a nice sound, i like the variety in tracks. it's just accessible and it has a nice selection of tracks for all sorts of moods and vibes. wish i had more to say!
Loved the surprise of Thom Yorke here, and suddenly realized how much some of these songs sounded like Radiohead. Definitely going to listen to it again. Update: listened again and really liked it despite it getting a little too "imperfect" at times. I can see why this is a classic. Some legitimately beautiful moments on here.
VERY GOOD
Another PJ Harvey album. Pretty good, not my favorite of hers. The anger has definitely been toned down which I think is a loss, but her vocals are emphasized a lot more which is nice. She’s a good singer
Banger after banger - "this is love" entered into the pantheon of great tracks to listen to on a train. Bit of a flat section as she exhibits her inner Leonard Cohen with "horses in my dream" which I found to be quite lacking in charge. Thom Yorke compliments her voice very well on other tracks however, to create a more morbid and morose vibe when required. Never listened to PJ Harvey before, can safely say I will now.
2000. Great listen. First thought was it had a lot of drive to it, and the lyrics sounded like proclamations. Not necessarily bad, but I didn’t strike me as unique. But, then a few tracks hit me hard. A place called home, horses, we float. I wonder if those last few songs, which are more melodic and uplifting are the stories from the sea. Really nice bass lines underneath droning guitars. Her voice is edgy and resolute. But still has that round divine sound of like angel olsen. I like the melodic bits more than the darker more rote sounding tracks. Thom Yorke’s features just didn’t work for me. Lot of soul in this album. Fav track: Horses in My Dreams
Really enjoyed this album.
I enjoyed this a lot more than Dry, which heard earlier for this project. Still, not sure how much I'd listen to again, though This is Love, We float, and Kamikaze were all pretty nice.
First listen. Pretty good.
7,5
I didn't know what to expect but I quite liked this. I heard it's different from her previous stuff but to me it sounded good, sure it was melodic but I heard the rock edge and I loved it
High fours, what an album and what an artist.
Wow. I have always liked PJ Harey but never really paid full attention past radio play. I kinda took her as a militant feminist type for some reason or other. But listening now I don't see or hear that much at all. Now to be sure, I am an academic feminist, but as a transgender person I find things get bristly when the feminist becomes something more radical and hardcore and that is definitely not feminism. Perhaps people also change over time and temper their ways a bit. I have no idea of PJ Harvey's arc. At any rate, I found this extremely listenable and rather a joy to rediscover.
V v good. Need to be in a certain mood to listen to it, could probably put it in a playlist with Belle and Sebastian ykwim, The whores hustle and the hustlers whore Horses in my dreams
Very enjoyable! 3.7 stars
Right on
PJ = Rocks!
I’d heard one song prior to this but enjoyed the album as a whole and will try to revisit more.
-I love this! can’t believe I’ve never heard this especially considering it has Thom Yorke in it… i will try my best not to talk about him. PJ Harvey has a REALLY good voice and I like the sort of classic rock influence, I was actually very surprised to learn it came out in 2000 -Favorites are Good Fortune, Beautiful Feeling, and Kamikaze
Good album, but I seem to be in a minority in greatly preferring her early work.
My first time with this one. To be fair I gave it a couple of listens. This is an album that will get better with repeated listening time. Eclectic and punky and PJ has an excellent voice. I liked it.
Listened. Witnessed live. She’s amazing
p j harvey is very cool, the whores hustle and the hustlers whore is my favourite
Liked this album a lot. Will revisit on the regular.
what a beautiful album. harvey’s voice is stunning, complimented nicely by thom yorke on two outstanding tracks. each song had its own defining features, giving some variety to the album whilst letting it flow gently through your ears. i absolutely adore the sound of this record, and it served as a brilliant introduction to harvey - for my sins. i will be sure to listen to more of her stuff, and i hope that this isn’t the last i see of her throughout these 1001 albums.
4 stars
Top notch
Enjoyable, not entirely my bag but I could hear it again.
If I were a Gen X this would be an easy 5. Some of the cultural context isn't quite there for me but still excellent.
I really enjoyed this album. Must better than I anticipated,will be listening to more PJ in the future
Pretty iconic sound from the late 90s early 2000s. She captures the angst and grunge sounds pretty perfectly. I enjoyed despite her keeping to a pretty narrow lane that she was able to keep each song in the album feeling fresh. The Thom Yorke were really good features too. Got winey at times but overall really nice album.
This had a an energy of music made for slightly edgy early 2000's tv. Stuff like angel. Luckily for this album thats a sound I like. It was a bit melancholy and a bit dingy. It's good rainy day listening
3.5 Fave tracks: "This mess we've made" and "Kamikaze"
I’ve listened to this before but never gotten into it, so I had in my mind that it was a 2/3 album. After listening the first time, I thought it was a 3/4 album. By the end of second listen, I was persuaded to give 4. Very enjoyable.
Everything you could want from an indie rock album to end the 90s. PJ Harvey transforms teenage angst into mature anguish. Still grungy, but now all the more beautiful for it. Four hustlers before they started side hustling.
Not really my jam but the talent and soul put in this album is evident. Nice recommendation.
Overraskende solid egentlig
a pretty good album. my second foray into ms. harvey's music, and i definitely would like to hear more. her songwriting is great - i just wish this album was a little more abrasive and less slow and ballady. I didn't really care that much for the two songs with thom yorke (hot take?) but nothing here is bad at all. just felt like it could have been more for me. still a good album!
To me, PJ Harvey feels like one of those artists that fuckin rock, but somehow I completely missed out on when they were at their peak. Standout tracks for me include "Kamikaze" - what a banger - and "This Mess We're In" - I'm a sucker for Thom Yorke, what can I say.
Have this on vinyl, need to listen to it a bit more. Great album.
This is my first PJ Harvey record ever. I really fell into a groove with it. Will need to relisten to fully appreciate I think. 4/5
Like Alannis, good duo songs with Thom Yorke.
Erkenne die Wichtigkeit. Viele Instrumente und Effekte machen einen einzigartigen Sound.
Good background play for hanging out with friends
Solid but not quite a 5
Dang I enjoyed this. Special voice n vocals. Probably special lyrics too but I'm a heathen when it comes to parsing lyrics. I found this a fairly effortless 3x repeat listen. Easy 4 stars. Good find.
Great album. Enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Fiona appleish at times?
Enjoyed most of the songs and was very surprised when thom yorke showed up!
Cool rock album. I really liked her voice and style
What an iconic 90's sound. It was very clear that some of my favorite current female powerhouses (Fiona Apple, Florence & the Machine) get inspiration from PJ. This album was tricky for me to rate because I think if I listened to it a lot more I'd get into it, but for a casual listen the strong 90's influence made it closer to a 3.5 rating for me since it's not my favorite sound.
Feeling somewhat grunge rock inspired to me, I like this album quite a bit. The tracks featuring Thom Yorke "Beautiful Feeling" and "This mess we're in", deserve special mention, as these create such a strong interplay between their voices, I love it! Favorite tracks: "Big Exit", "You said something" and both Thom Yorke features
This post grunge album from 2000 really works for little PJ. Great guitar strumming with an edge that keeps these lyrics flowing. The Radiohead influence takes it up a notch. Listen to this one all the way though the first time.
4*
Such a great album and artist. Add to the list of wanting to listen to more.
I knew the name but never listened to her except for maybe a radio hit somewhere a long time ago. I could get behind this. I was thinking production pop rock, but I was wrong. It’s a 3.5, but I just got laid listening to it so it’s a 4. I’ll listen again and the good times will roll.
Love her work, definitely one of her best albums
3.5 stars
Smooth
3.7 stars rounded up.
Wasn’t sure exactly what was so awesome about this till those last two tracks. Really brought the whole thing together for me. Overall just solid rock songs, with some really cool, spacey guitars.
More tame than Rid of Me, but you cannot deny Polly Jean Harvey. Silky and urgent, longing and demanding.
Incredible Wow Loved the thom yorke features
I really really enjoyed this - this is the kind of music I would make if I had the ability to
Before starting my daily album reviews, I somehow had not ever come across PJ Harvey. I did enjoy Let England Shake, so I had decent expectations for today’s album. Thankfully, those expectations were fulfilled as I was given some delightfully mildly angsty pop rock. This may be a controversial take, but I’m not keen on Them Yorke’s voice, so this led to me not quite enjoying This Mess We’re In quite as much as the other tracks, but I expect I’m probably in the minority there. And that’s fine.
8/10 So good. 6-21-2024
# Playlist track - Good Fortune # Notes - I've heard ABOUT PJ Harvey so many times while studying design. But never stopped to listen to her. Maybe I tried in some weird past. But I don't even remember it. - It's an interesting listen, and I catch myself all the time thinking that I should have tried it more when I was, in fact, a teenager. - I really like the Radiohead-ish tracks with Thom Yorke. But it feels like listening to Radiohead more than PJ Harvey.
Heard it several times now, love it
The bits with Thom Yorke were pretty good. Floaty dreamy kinda sound.
Aldrig tagit mig av PJ. Hört duetten med Yorke, som är fenomenal Skulle nästan kunnat vara ett Yorkealbum på något sätt.
Loved it, can't explain why really but the cameo from thom and the fact you could tell it was a multi instrumentalist was fantastic, would love to see it live
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I had heard of PJ Harvey, but I hadn't listened to a single note of her music, until now. Singer/songwriters like her are the reason why I joined the 1001 albums generator.
PJ Harvey comenzó el milenio con un disco consecuente con su primera década dedicada a la música. Tras empezar con la fortaleza del rock alternativo de "Big Exit", se desliza en ocasiones por temas más pop como son "Good Fortune", "A Place Called Home", "One Line" y "You Said Something". Se la acusó entonces de comercial pero el tiempo suele poner las cosas en su sitio y hoy Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea nos llega como un robusto álbum de rock de autor. Me gusta especialmente "This Is Love", en la que reflexiona sobre la complejidad del amor y el deseo. También las dos colaboraciones con Thom Yorke, "Beautiful Feeling" y "This Mess We're In". Pero sobre todo los temas en los que concentra su característica furia: "The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore" y , sobre todo, "Kamikaze". Mención a parte merece la canción con la que cierra el disco, "We Float", una poética llamada a superar los fracasos cantada con una dulzura inusual en PJ Harvey.
Pretty good, better that I was expecting which was usual boring indie. It's quite relaxed but in a kind of dark brooding way.
Really liked this, was all in from the first song. Could hear influences from all over the place, including Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar and Talking Heads to name just a few.
I am so glad we had the whole weekend to let this album bake. I wanted to give PJH a fair shake and I really enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I listened to it four times through over the weekend and liked it better each time. I really liked at least half the tracks (1,2,4,5,9,10,12) and the rest is strong enough for a play through. Just a call out on the drums on “Kamakazi”; short track but interesting. 4.25/5
This was really nice surprising listen. One that I liked better than earlier stuff and one that also flowed better than some of her later stuff. Covering all the moods and dynamics, the album is also much more melodic than other of her works which is probably why I liked it more. And the Thom Yorke duet was a cool standout that doesn’t take away from the overall feel of the album.
Nice addition to the list, this was a cool album with a really unique vibe. Thom’s involvement clearly meant he gave his informal seal of approval, so hard to go lower than 4 here.
Def a pleasant surprise. Was expecting to be very meh based on her other stuff, but I enjoyed it. 3.75/5
I was familiar with PJ Harvey and liked what I’d heard well enough, but this was new to me. It’s a very good album that deserves the hype it gets.
Very nice
Really enjoyable. Upbeat and a good voice
Good album. I enjoyed this. There were a couple duds but mostly good songs. Guitars were good and arrangements interesting. Solid alternative/indie record. ****
This was a pretty decent album, favorite track is probably "A Place Called Home."
Polly Jean! This is my family record of hers which may sound blasphemous BUT the vibe of this one resonates with me. I actually haven’t listened to it in a while. The vocals on this remind me both of Patti Smith and a bit of Natalie Merchant but not in an obnoxious way. The songs are catchy, especially tracks like Good Fortune and This Is Love (the singles) but the thing I like the most is the attitude. It’s a great continuation of the high she rose from the record before this but it’s not so similar that there’s no progression. The quieter tracks are no less intense than the more rockin tunes too. The duet with Tom Yorke of Radiohead is my favorite track, This Mess We’re In. Her collaboration tracks tend to be massively beautiful. Honestly it’s nothing particularly groundbreaking, but it’s absolutely lovely. Worth its place in this list for sure.
Into it. This was a pleasant surprise. Not sure what I expected, but this is a very competent release. Mostly hanging out in the indie guitar realm, but not afraid to hop the fence into a more garage/punk sound when the feeling arises. PJ's vocals fit all the music quite nicely. Ending the album on two lighter sounding pieces is something I'm usually critical of, but it works here.
Really good. I've never been able to crack the code on getting into the PJ Harvey discography, but this may be the entryway.
Alternating dark and bright, energetic and tired. Most enjoyable PJ Harvey album I've heard so far.
Thom Yorke's in it. It was really good too
4.5/5. PJ Harvey is just too damn cool, shoutout the Thom Yorke cameo.
Nice
Lovely!
I enjoyed this more than the other PJ Harvey record we have done - I appreciated a bit more variety, and Thom Yorke lifts any record he is on.
Kinda like Patti Smith but way easier to listen to.
One of the magnificent indie rock albums of PJ Harvey that is also accessible and a commercial success. The production is somewhat smoother making the music sound less lo-fi and intimidating.
This Mess We're In - лучшая секс-песня в истории. Лучшая песня - This Mess We're In.
Great voice great guitarist only a few songs that felt meh
I hadn't been exposed to much PJ Harvey before listening to this, outside of her mega-popular, creepy-ish song from the mid-90s, "Down By the Water." I'm very glad that's no longer the case! This album is rock solid and absolutely fantastic. SFTC,SFTS caught my attention immediately with the banger opener of "Big Exit" and kept it throughout. The album's musically classic, has clever lyrics, and has some awesomely catchy choruses (particularly on "Good Fortune"). The rich production value rewards listeners who take it in through headphones, especially on sweeping acoustic-driven tracks like "A Place Called Home." The arrangement of louder, brash songs mixed with the quiet, introspective stuff like "Horses In My Dreams" makes this an album absolutely worth appearing on this list and is now on my growing list of albums I greatly appreciate being introduced to thanks to the 1,001 Albums listening project. Nice work, PJ...even if you don't really like it! (see my note below from SongFacts.com) 4 stars: I am struck by this album. Interesting Factoids from Wikipedia: *In 1998, while shooting a film as an actress for Hal Hartley in New York, she felt inspired by the city and wrote several songs. Some of them ended up on the record. In 1999, she chose to live there for nine months. However, she insisted in interviews it was not "my New York album". *[On song "This Is Love"]: The blues-influenced song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 2002 but lost to Lucinda Williams song "Get Right With God." Interesting Factoids from SongFacts.com: *Harvey confessed to Mojo magazine in January 2008 that, in retrospect, the Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea album didn't satisfy her: "I felt like I got lost around that record. I wanted to try writing lots of perfect pop songs. It's great to set oneself projects, but they also have to ring true to your heart and soul. Pop music isn't where my heart is at." Standout Tracks: Big Exit, Good Fortune, A Place Called Home, The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore, This Mess We're In, This Is Love, We Float
Sin duda, uno de los mejores trabajos de PJ Harvey. El LP es bastante energético, con letras apasionadas y una producción muy nítida y definida. Además, a pesar de tener códigos sonoros de principios de los 2000s, el trabajo envejeció bastante bien, transformándose en una de las mejores piezas de época, siendo realzada por las tendencias actuales de la música pop.
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This was really good and got better the further I got into it. Going to have to give it another listen, so it's at least a four star rating on my first impression. I somehow always managed to miss PJ Harvey, sort of writing her off as a female Nick Cave, but she's far more than this.
PJ Harvey sounds both fresh/original and accessible at the same time. Her voice has a warmth and an edge to it as well. So much personality, one of the best albums so far from this list that I had never listened to prior.
Ja nice, wilde deze artiest ook altijd al een keer luisteren, vond het goed hoor
leuk album, had ik van tevoren niet verwacht, paar goede platen tussen
PJ Harveyyyy Ze komt naar Best Kept Secret!! Goede muziek hoor
One of my favorite from Miss Harvey. The simple directness of the opener, The Best Thing, belies the varying complexities to come. You Said Something is among my favorite of hers, melodic, lush, earwormy. She is exploring the possibilities of her voice and not hesitating to to head toward the mainstream. I recall a general diss,This Isn't Our PJ Harvey Bold and Raw. Too bad. You'd've bitched she was doing more of the same if she did more of the same.
Excellent!
Good radio rock. I liked the duet with the guy. Stand-out: The Mess We're In
I really love PJ Harvey, the tone of her music is so dark and so "fuck off, leave me alone" that I really enjoy listening to her
As much as i liked PJ in 1993 i never heard this record. I heard it was good, just never got around to it. This doesn't sound like the PJ i remember, This is a beautiful and brutal record. i love it.
Glad inwas able to return to this later in life. It's all here for ya, Patti Smith, Christie Hynde, Siouxie Sioux, but with additional post-grunge sensibility. Lobe the duet with Thom Yorke on This Mess We're In. Just a kick ass rock record that quite honestly just turns me on the same way Horses does.
Норм музло
- Hat mich richtig gut unterhalten und ich habe ein paar Songs in Playlists abgespeichert. - Beim zweiten Hören hat es mich noch einmal mehr überzeugt. Da sind so viele geile Songs drauf und spannende Stilwechsel, Hooks die ins Ohr gehen und finde den Vibe einfach richtig geil - Werde mir auf jeden Fall nochmal mehr von ihr geben 4/5
Nice vocals. Unfortunately I don't think I'll remember the album for long. The album was okay and that's it.
I didn't know I missed PJ Harvey
This Mess We're In and We Float are really beautiful and I loved The Whores Hustle. I've always known of PJ Harvey but I guess have never actually listened. Well, that's what we're doing here then, isn't it?
PJ Harvey seems like the sort of lifeform I would find under a rock in the mystical forest over yonder, glowing a bright shade of purpur. On the same level as "Let England Shake" and "Dry". Love everything I've heard from this woman so far. I have to look into her portfolio more. Thom Yorke jumpscare. Where the hell did he come from. (Best song on the album, by the way).
Unusual and fascinating approach to vocal melodies, that often prioritises melodic repetition, strange minor intervals and minimal range in the verses. Then, sometimes, these beautiful flowering choruses or variations soar around with shakes of Kate Bush (in the best way). Lovely harmonic structures, accomplished playing, striking singing, exciting internal evolutions and interesting, knotty lyrics.
PJ Harvey is one of those people that I'd always heard of growing up but missed the boat on because I was a bit too young. This is my first listen of a full album and I loved it – this is raw, dark, compelling, inspiring stuff.
I've struggled to get into PJ Harvey, with the exception of 'Let England Shake' which is great, but this might be the album that helps me on that path. Not really a weak song on here, the songwriting is consistently great throughout. On the heavier songs she's really belting it out, and she still shines on the more restrained tracks. Also shoutout to Thom Yorke for his excellent little contributions on here. Deserves a few more spins from me.
Day 3/1001. Flat 4. Familiar story again, as I had no idea who PJ Harvey was before today. Also, rock is one of my most unfamiliar genres, so i wasn’t sure i’d like this record, but i really did. PJ’s raspy but comforting voice compliments the gentle yet striking instrumentals. My favorite track was “the mess we’re in”.
I liked this.
Pretty good I’ve never listened to her before. I think that some of the songs could really be punched up with some better more intense drum work, but if it’s for the time and place when this album came out good listen