Reviews (page 8 of 13)
Really not a PJ Harvey fan, but this is probably my favourite record of hers if I had to pick one. She has an air of sincerity on this album that makes it more bearable compared to her earlier work.
I mean there were some decent tracks on here, but nothing really to ride home about. None of them meshed super well together so it felt a little disjointed.
Good turn-of-the-century female-led singer-songwriting here. Enjoyable!
Another Wasn’t expecting much. Not bad
Almost hated this for sounding like Nico Vega but the last few songs truly saved it. Beast of a hail mary.
I might need to give this a deeper listen but it sounded kinda good. 3
Rolls along nicely.
Stories from somewhere in between.
not always a fan but this is a good one
It’s aight, good beats for 2000s but nothing particular special
meh. Nothing really stands out on this one, aside from some screeches that I could do without. It isn't bad, and the tone does kind of grab you after you settle in, but not really compelling to me.
A good album, I liked A Place Called Home and This Mess We're In the most.
alright ig?
Not a stand out
Big fan of her first two records and their raw sound (Steve Albini did one). I think her voice and songwriting translates well with this slicker production, but I prefer the older stuff. An artist I could see doing a deep dive on at some point.
I like PJ.
Not dynamic, kinda boring
Not my jam but it was a nice sounding sound regardless
Au début j’ai bien accroché à la vibe alternative qui me faisait parfois penser à Radiohead (délire introspectif avec un joli travail sur les voies chantées), et parfois aux Cranberries, pour l'énergie un peu tranchante et entraînante, + le timbre de la chanteuse Plusieurs titres qui m’ont bien parlé, au début et puis ensuite The mess we’re in, qui a vraiment un truc de Radiohead je trouve, et est intéressant de ouf dans la construction et les mélodies, avec de très belles parties chantées à deux voix avec les douces envolées dans les aigus Au milieu et ensuite j’ai trouvé à ça plus boring dans l'ensemble ; il me manquait quelque chose. Parfois un peu trop British pop faussement rebelle, parfois un peu trop monotone à mon goût
Runs subtils dans la voix, je crois que j’ai un peu du mal avec le format lyrics courts. Dans premier son par ex, voix monte puis descend etc difficile de faire en sorte que ça sonne pas répétitif (prévisible). 3e couplet change un peu, casse rythme. Bizarrement je suis quand même convaincue par la proposition artistique (ce va-et-vient dans les sonorités évoque un peu les vagues d’une marée qui a du mal à se jeter à l’océan, prisonnière de la baie dans laquelle elle s’échoue). Intéressant quand elle utilise sa head voice. Une façon de poser la voix très caractéristique de fin 90’ début 2000 j’ai l’impression, un peu camp rock. Bien aimé la cohérence de l’album, avec thèmes de l’évasion, trouver sa place dans le monde, rapprochement/éloignement, qui se déclinent sous plusieurs sujets spécifiques (danger de sortir de sa bulle, l’envie de se propulser dans le vaste monde, la marche brinquebalante une fois la bulle éclose…), belle progression logique dans les thèmes, que j’avais moins ressentie dans la plupart des albums écoutés avant. Ici, impressionnante capacité à produire mouvement avec des patterns en apparence très répétitifs). Petit coup de coeur pour A Place Called Home, This Is Love, et la fin de The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore (expérience d’écoute: 2 sons en 1). Par contre assez indifférente à Beautiful Feeling, par ex, qui est à la fois très personnel et en même temps donne l’impression d’être le son dans lequel elle met le moins d’effort. Pour moi, un solide 3.75 arrondi en-dessous.
Enjoyed it.
Great album. Great genre. Not for everyone so not sure how it made this list.
This is like arthouse Alanis Morrisette, but these are Alanis's rejected songs that were released years later on a deluxe edition or something. First half of the album was more enjoyable than the second. I did not enjoy the Radiohead guy popping up on multiple songs. Overall, it was OK, but I didn't love anything. Low-end 3/5.
Solid late 90s rock. Listenable, forgettable.
Täähän oli jopa ihan hyvä! Lähin tätäkin ihan neitsyenä kuuntelemaan valmiina heittää 1-2 arviota, mut kyl tää kolmoseen nousee. Tosi kivoja juttuja soitannassa ja laulussa. Voi olla että menee vielä uusiks kuunteluun ja jopa omille listoille muutamat biisit. Ei kuitenkaan nostella neloseen
Aivan nevahööd akka. Aluksi mietin että kuka tällästä shittiä 2000-luvulla tekee, kun kuulosti modernilta ollakseen 70-luvulta, mutta oli seassa pari ihan ok kipalettakin. Sen suuremmin pohtimatta laitetaan kädenlämpöinen kolkki
Fine? Feels like it's only on here because it's british
For whatever reason I can never seem to muster enough energy to properly engage with her music. All of my prior reviews for her albums have just been straight down the middle, "It's alright". Aaaand... It's kind of the same here. Yeah, it's alright. At least she's consistent. Some tracks are nicely done, but there's also a lot of dirgy stuff in there which I'm not into.
Light 3,5
I liked this. PJ Harvey has got a great voice. But the music is a bit uninspiring - just find guitar a bit boring these days, especially guitars that are bereft of melody. At least throw some trumpets in there, PJ. The 2nd half was much stronger than the first. "We Float" offering something different and is I swear the only major key on the album?? "Kamikaze" also turning up the heat to spice things up. 6.5 / 10 Best track/s: The Mess We're In, Kamikaze
Lilith Fair Radiohead. Some great moments, some irritating.
I never knew she was British. Ya learn something new everyday.
Good album. Really like her guitar tone and her duet with Thom Yorke. Highlights: "The Mess We're In" and "We Float"
Gode sange, men min mindst yndlings af de PJ Harvey plader vi har haft -- synes ikke den er helt lige så spændende som de andre. Stadig stor 3'er.
quite liked this
Interesting album from someone I have never really given much attention to. It’s not an immediate album but it does draw you in. I think I’ll give it another couple of listens to see what it truly offers
Never could get into PJ Harvey, but this was alright. She must have been boning Thom Yorke.
I did not realy enjoi it not my music style sadly
Listenable.
Just didnt have it in me for another PJ Harvey album
feels like the cover looks, and that's not a bad thing. Just wish I had a 2000s movie over it 3/5 7.46/10
Sounds kind of Radiohead adjacent. Darker sounding. Late 90’s alt/indie vibes. I’m not sold on most of the lyrics - a little too basic on some level. Notable tracks include Good Fortune, A Place Called Home, Beautiful Feeling, This Mess We’re In, This Is Love, We Float.
This.album started off really strong and i was thinking it was going to be an easy 5 for me, but then it got to the more profound, stuff towards the end and I'm not giving it a 5. I totally appreciate PJH, it's just not my cup of tea and that has always been my relationship with her music.
Good songs
I enjoyed this more than the previous PJ Harvey. Well written, sounds good, but a bit to indie-y for me.
Thom Yorke jumpscare. Decent album, good voice.
Can't seem to get on with pj harvey
Although, a fantastic album with a few songs I added to my “liked” playlist, many sound the same and the album blends together a bit too much.
My hunch about PJ Harvey is that she’s pretty much the female version of Nick Cave. listening to this one, I can’t say my assessment is entirely incorrect. I liked it more than I thought I would, but I wouldn’t call myself a fan. I respect and was unfamiliar with PJs game.
- Alternative rock album - Good, solid album, but nothing particularly stuck out to me? - Favourites: Good Fortune, Horses In My Dreams
not the best for me, but i understand why this is a highly valued album
I enjoyed this album and on another day might have ranked it a 4. 3.5/5
Another artist I had some awareness of, but no real familiarity with. I don't know exactly where they fit into the chronology of other women who create similar music (Fiona Apple comes to mind). I enjoyed this.
Couldn't get into this, but maybe I could on a different day.
I like PJ Harvey, and have seen her live atleast a couple of times. This album, whilst still a good album, is not my favourite of hers. Despite including “This Is Love” which is on my favourites list, “Stories From The City…” ranks behind her “To Being You My Love” (1995) and “Let England Shake” (2011) as an overall album. That’s not in the least to say it’s bad, it certainly isn’t, just that I don’t think it’s my favourite of hers. Regardless, it was still really nice to play this through a couple of times today :)
It sounds like the inspiration for a lot of other music I like, but almost a too pure version of it.
I like the ambiance they're able to create, but the entirety of the album felt quite monotonous. Also, no standout songs in my opinion. 3.2
Solid
Muito bom! Ouvir mais...
This is solid stuff. I remember This Is Love from when it came out and probably hadnt listened to it since. Nice to hear it again. The Mess We’re In with Thom Yorke was another one that stood out. Probably a 3.49 so I’ll round down to 3
PJ Harvey is an artist name I'd never heard of and that, unfortunately, slips away as if it were a clothing label or department store brand. Easily allusive and forgettable, but thankfully the music isn't that — the sound is accessible yet memorable. As soon as I heard the voice, I wondered "Oh, maybe it's the woman on the album cover?" — a surprisingly raw and grungy sound when contrasted with the first impression that picture gives! My next impression was that she sounds like Nick Cave. I don't think I've managed to exist at both ends of the "surprised spectrum" as much as when I read they were partners... Have you ever noticed couples who look like twins or siblings, and it feels super weird? A few of these tracks are interesting. I like her voice, musical talent, and easy-to-grasp lyrics. I'm reminded of Feist — an artist I adore to my core — but I think this teeters too much on things I didn't enjoy: repetitive grunge mood, trying too hard to be haunting, and boring melodies. Suddenly, the unmistakable voice of Thom Yorke! They sound good together on the track, but it feels wasted on a relatively boring few minutes. When I realized he was also on an earlier track, I wondered how they managed to waste his talent even more on that one. That's almost 8 minutes of Thom Yorke where I somehow didn't think "wow, this guy fucking gets it" and I feel like I must've missed something. Alanis Morissette also comes to mind in a good way and so, based on the timeline, I must give credit to Harvey for paving the way for artists like Morissette and Feist. However, this album experience is falling short for my ears. It hasn't kept my attention for the whole 40 minutes. It redeems itself quite a lot with the final track but the middle of the album was truly "mid" — and I didn't enjoy the wailing. I can understand why some people could love and be inspired by this work, though... just not me. 3.5
Man, I really want to love this album, but it just isn’t clicking with me. I just can’t fully get into indie music yet. I can tell there’s something special here, though, and with more time and the right mindset, I think it’ll hit harder. For now, I can’t give it higher than a 7.5/10. I’ll come back to this one when I’m ready for indie.
Voix féminine qui change un peu, sympa mais un peu toujours pareil
J'étais enthousiaste au début de l'album mais finalement ça ne m'a pas transcendé. Sympa mais sans plus! 3/5
3.5, but might revisit
I liked the songs, just not my usual style!
I’ve tried many times but I can’t get into PJ. The songs just seem boring and empty
Didn’t like it then liked it, so listened to it again. Didn’t like it then liked it again. Probably a 3.5 rounded down.
It's just OK.
2.5 stars It all kind of blurred together for me. Some tracks were better than others, but honestly my favorite song was the Thom Yorke song and it was sung by Thom Yorke. That being said, it wasn’t bad. But I wouldn’t recognize these songs in another context.
I remember one of my middle school teachers telling me I would probably like PJ Harvey, and I didn't listen to her then. My teacher was right, I probably would have been into her back then.
First time actually listening to this album and it's decent. Nice cameo from Thom Yorke.
Kind of forgettable for me and wasn't crazy about the mixes
I like Horses in My Dreams and Beautiful Feeling because I'm kind of sucker for that kind of guitar. In general I'm not the biggest fan of PJ Harvey's music and I'm glad this exercise forced me to at least listen all the way through once.
Good indy. Classic PJ.
3.25
Better than I thought it would be
An okay alt-pop album. Reminiscent of Alanis Morrisette without the distinctive voice. Everything here is competent, but nothing here is truly great.
I wasn’t a PJ Harvey fan when she was at her peak, though I wasn’t against her. About the only thing I knew from her was her appearance on Beavis & Butthead with the song, 50 Ft. Queenie. I also heard her on Josh Homme’s Desert Sessions album, vol. 9 & 10, I think. So I went into this album cold, though not afraid. She’s a rocker. Pretenders Critics say this album is her best, and it is really good. The album came out in 2000, so it still has a ’90s sound to it. Harvey is a great singer, and she reminded me immediately of Chrissy Hynde from the Pretenders, a band I like, though I'm not a superfan. The album also includes an appearance by Thom Yorke from Radiohead. While I enjoyed the album, and maybe this is a Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois hangover, it just didn’t make that big an impression on me. It’s good and I’m sure some of you would really like it, but I’m not sure I’ll even remember the title in a year. Perhaps I’ve heard too much in my day. This sounds like 1995-2003. It’s good, but not great. I do love the song Big Exit, which is Harvey’s feelings about being exposed to the gun culture in America. Both songs with Yorke are great, and I loved The Whores Hustle The Hustlers Whore. If you like that kind of alt-rock from the late 90s, I think you’d dig this album, but I don’t really think it’s that special. Maybe three weeks from now, it’ll draw me back for another listen, who knows?
A decent album that I feel like could be 4 stars if I was in the right mood. Definitely some great songs on it.
seductive
Pretty good and I'm sure it was ahead of its time. It was cool catching Thom Yorke in there, and I can definitely see the impact on someone like Courtney Barnett.
3/5
She has a soothing voice. ★★★
Sounds like a strange mix of Patti Smith/Television/CBGB scene but updated with the smooth/suburban production aesthetic of the early 2000s….Somehow it kind of works?? She’s got a great voice. I’m not as crazy about the acoustic/whsiper-y songs and get a little bored with ‘love letter to New York’ type songs. Pleasant surprise to hear Thom Yorke on there. Overall, mostly enjoyed.
Sounds like P Harvey
I've been meaning to listen to PJ! It's good. And hearing Thome Yorke half way in was a nice surprise. Fav song: Kamikaze
I like PJ Harvey. I don't love this album. I also once again find myself wondering "why this album"? I guess 1001 is a lot of albums.
I happened to hear about PJ Harvey recently, in the sense that she's a well-known artist. Well, she wasn't that well-known to me. Pretty good music.
Mouais/10
From what I remember, she really mellows out in this one (or did that first happen earlier?) It's decent, but I'd rather listen to most of my favorite more straightforwardly indiepop albums than hear PJ Harvey approximate the same thing.
Not bad, great collab with Thom Yorke I wasn't aware of
Should revisit
It wasn't a bad album just kinda one of the more meh ones, not bad not good but ok!
7/10
I half like this. Its kinda that ethereal whispy thing I dont like but it has some edge in places. Kamakazi is one of the songs I liked. Thumb yorke is here and im not sure how to feel about that. It at least is interesting to listen to. It held my attention the whole time but I dont see myself back to this one again.
I liked it. Will definitely investigate more.
Nice, topical nyc lyrics lol
Cool album, love the tune with Thom.
A lot of elements from the Clash, I'm not the biggest fan of the Clash and certainly not the biggest fan of the style through this artist. However, I'm sure it's amazing for others, just not my thing.
It's a good album, PJ Harvey can write good, interesting songs and shows this throughout the album,I specially liked the second half. I liked her singing style, sort of laidback but still expressive. Instrumentally it's pretty straightforward. My favourite tracks were "A Place Called Home" and "This Mess We're In".
It was an ok album, I liked the music for the most part. I was not a big fan
Not bad. Refreshing to hear a female English singer. Songs about the city that never sleeps. Not really my jam. Just ok
Not bad. Kinda fills a similar niche to Fiona Apple. Often moody, often upbeat. Harvey has a nice smokey voice. Feels quite 2000s, in a good way. A lot of the time this feels like Radiohead, or maybe the Thom York feature just got me thinking about them.
It was ok
I think that this album is why I thought I didn't like PJ Harvey. A bit disappointing after how much I enjoyed Rid of Me
i loved all of this except the thom yorke ambush
Personally not a big fan. Not sure what it is might be her style of singing but didnt enjoy this one as much
An interesting rock album, though not one that is exactly to my taste. This is Love stood as particularly memorable. Most of the other pieces were alright, though I think some of the lyrics were questionable
Du vieux rock sympa Rien de surprenant cependant
PJ Harvey giving some Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders) vibes on Good Fortune 3 songs in, it's ok so far, but not great. Kind of one note late 90s early 2000s stuff Beautiful Feeling feels like a Thom Yorke before he even starts singing. Kinda liking the ethereal feeling of it I like this other Thom Yorke song, This Mess We're In Ooh Kamikaze slaps This is Love, meh Kind of coffee house, punk ish (I mean that in the loosest way), 2000s drama soundtrack vibes. Not totally my cup of 'coffee', but it's artful and fun at times. Didn't resonate, but hey imma big dumb boy
Grungy. Listenable.
PJ goes full Fiona Apple here. Favorite track: Big Exit 3.5/5
Decent indierock, not my genre but clearly well crafted
Thom Yorke is on this one
Alright
This is a perfectly OK album, but feels like an attempt at something radio-friendly or even late 90s adult-contempo by PJ. The gloss isn’t unwelcome nor ill-fitting (as was part of the critique at its release, which I didn’t share), but that she never returned to something in this guise makes it feel like a dalliance. It *was* financially successful and she could’ve continued mining this format, but works like Let England Shake or the preceding Is This Desire? show an artist with much more complex aesthetic concerns. She tried this one on, it more or less worked, and she moved on.
Muy agradable de escuchar no la conocia pero iconica
Enjoyed listening. New to me.
I love PJ Harvey, but I prefer Dry over this album.
nikakav specijalan utisak mi nije ostavio
carino
Cool album, I’ve not heard this before, and although I am not a big Thom Yorke fan I like her, so I'll listen again.
Album bien, para tener de fondo, tampoco me dice mucho más. Nota: 7,2/10
This is a note to myself to come back to this. Because I should like this. I can see why other people would. But there is something about this that just didn't click for me. The Vienna of albums.
Aufgenommen im Great Linford Manor bei Milton Keynes, präsentiert PJ Harvey auf ihrem fünften Studioalbum einen klarer produzierten, songorientierten Sound, der sich vom raueren Charakter ihrer frühen Werke entfernt. Die britische Musikerin verbindet Elemente aus Indie- und Alternative Rock mit melodischen Strukturen, die stark von ihrer Zeit in New York City geprägt sind. Neben der kernigen Rhythmussektion und eingängigen Gitarrenriffs sorgen ruhige, introspektive Momente für Ausgleich. Besonders markant ist die Zusammenarbeit mit Thom Yorke, dessen Gesang in „This Mess We’re In“ und Hintergrundstimmen in weiteren Titeln einen atmosphärischen Kontrast setzen. Bekannte Stücke wie „Good Fortune“, „A Place Called Home“ und „This Is Love“ zählen heute zu den charakteristischen Songs ihres Repertoires. Insgesamt wirkt das Album geschlossen, urban inspiriert und in seiner Balance zwischen Energie und Melancholie gut austariert.
Solid album, probably wouldn't listen again but was fine. Loads of buzz about PJ Harvey winning the mercury prize a couple (?) of times but I don't really get through hype 6/10
So I'm a fan of PJ Harvey. I know this album reasonably well but for some reason it never really hits as effectively as what I'd consider her best work. There's a lot of great music on it, but was it too polished? I think she's best when being more abrasive and confrontational.
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea – PJ Harvey (2000) | Alternative Rock | Avg: 5.58 | Favorite Song: “You Said Something” This PJ Harvey album feels like her attempt at accessibility—cleaner, more melodic, and far less abrasive than Rid of Me—but based on your ratings, it doesn’t seem to fully deliver. “You Said Something” emerges as the high point, bringing a sense of clarity and emotional warmth that much of the album lacks. A few other tracks inch toward that 7 range, but most settle firmly in the mid-5s, suggesting that while the album is more listenable than some of her earlier work, it doesn’t necessarily strike a deep chord either. There’s a recurring feeling here of almost—but not quite. The songwriting is solid, the vocals are emotive, and the production is clean, but the spark isn’t always there. It’s the kind of album that plays well in the background but rarely demands attention. Compared to Harvey’s more intense records, Stories from the City is undeniably more approachable, yet that smoothness might be what holds it back. It’s a competent listen, just not a gripping one.
This is ok. I don’t love it but it isn’t bad. Kind of a rough start until the whores hustle. Songs added to/on playlist: 0 Solid 3/5
I like her voice and I thought the music was put together very well. Not my cup of tea but I still enjoyed my time with it.
I liked this one, it was pretty decent the vocals were all pretty good and I liked the production a decent amount. I particularly liked “Good Fortune”. It’s like three and a half stars.
Pretty good, I liked about half the album and would listen again. Some songs weren’t my style, but some were.
Artiste connue et album connu, vite oublié, sauf le morceau 'This Wicked Tongue' qui est en bonus de cet album, et qui est bien plus original (plus rock, dissonant, chorus). Même si j'apprécie assez sa voix, je trouve les premiers morceaux plutôt ennuyeux. Et j'ai eu vite envie de faire autre chose. Heureusement quelques morceaux au milieu de l'album sont un peu plus intéressants ('One Line', 'The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore', 'This Mess We're In'), ou dynamiques ('Kamikaze'), ce qui pourrait me donner envie de l'écouter de nouveau. =>3/5
i really really liked the mess we’re in, but as a whole the album didn’t really stand out to me too much, and (i may be wrong but) the social commentary aspects felt more like an item checked off a to-do list rather than genuine observations. i liked both of her other albums on this list better than this one, but credit where credit is due the cover photo eats
I should like it but I don’t. Instrumentals sound good and I appreciate the artistic spunk but not my jam
I liked the track Horses In My Dreams here. And the end of the closing track
The album grew on me as it went. Pretty good overall
PJ Harvey is a singer-songwriter for people who don't like singers-songwriters (so me). Since they usually focus on vocals more than anything else, instrumentation on singer-songwriters' albums tends to be an afterthought and pretty boring, in my opinion. But PJ Harvey has a bunch of great riffs and overall more present and exciting instruments, which I prefer over complete focus on vocals. This album, however, leans a bit to much into the singer-songwriter part for my liking and has more slow, laid backs songs, so I enjoyed less than Dry. The album is still good overall, but she has a least one album (I haven't heard any more) that is closer to my preferences. 7/10
Big Exit 4.5/10 Good Fortune 6/10 Beautiful Feeling 5.5/10 This is love 6/10 This mess we are in 5/10 you said something 5.5/10 we float 6/10
This was alright, decent alt rock.
I liked it. Good voice and good vocal lines.
My mood was great today. It became okay
Perfectly adequate early 2000’s alt-rock laced with some nice guitar, shades of Nick Cave mixed with U2, and an unexpected but welcome cameo from Thom Yorke. ‘This Is Love’ and ‘Horses In My Dreams’ are my favourite cuts off this, whilst I seem to remember ‘Good Fortune’ and ‘A Place Called Home’ got played a lot on the radio at the time. This was fine overall.
I like this one. I think only 3 stars though, but This Mess We're In is an amazing song to me!
A NY love letter. Didn’t know too much about PJ Harvey but did enjoy it overall especially the Thom Yorke collabs: “this mess we’re in”
I’ve long skirted around PJ due to her former relationship with Nick Cave who I love but rarely actually listened to her properly. I definitely like some tracks more than others. Overall it’s not my favourite sound, some of it rocks but a lot is also not terribly interesting to me. This Is Love probably my top track. Not an album I’ll come back to likely.
Bastante guay, de 12 canciones he metido 5 a mi playlist. Las demas no estaban del todo mal pero no me han acabado de convencer. Le pondria 3,5 estrellas pero no puedo meter medios, asi q pongo 3
Sounds almost like a newer Pretenders album.
Naja
Some very good tracks, great opener but some songs a bit screamy
Couple of days on from saying that Let England Shake was 𝘯𝘰𝘵 my favourite PJ Harvey work, I now know what 𝘪𝘴. It's this one. She's still got the edge and anger from her early work but there are some really complete and accomplished songs here. Is it maybe too safe or pedestrian in places? Yeah it is. But she's matured and the songwriting and poetry is obviously a bit more subtle than 'lick my legs, I'm on fire'. I don't love the Thom Yorke duets but are there many other recording artists who could casually just call up the lead singer of Radiohead and get him to do some vocals on their album? I still don't think I'm coming back to listen to this all that much and I feel four PJ Harvey albums is a little more than needed, but glad to have had a good rummage through her highlights.
Skjønner mer av hypen rundt PJ Harvey nå, men treffer meg ikke helt. Kule låter og partier, men gir meg lite. Beste låt: This Mess We're In
This is like if Fiona Apple was good
7/10
PJ seems to be channeling both Chrissie Hynde and Liz Phair here quite a bit. But I found her most engaging when she was just being herself. Those are the most enjoyable tracks for me, anyways- “Big Exit,” “This Mess We’re In,” “This is Love,” “Kamikaze.” A few of the other tunes feel like they could’ve used a bit more time in the incubator. It rocks, it soothes, it tries to scare you a little. Good times. THREE STARS.
Nice background music. Nothing to capture my attention. 3/5
Clearly a grower that hasn’t yet grown on me. Some good tunes but nothing that particularly stands out on first listen. I’ll have to revisit.
The album cover is so familiar, but u dont recognize anything on this album. This is my third PJ Harvey, and none of them stand out.
Somewhat mystifyingly her most popular album but not her best. Rather let down by Thom Yorke’s tuneless whining.
Sorry Peej, max 3 as you've already had an album. Love the Thom Yorke guest. As I said earlier, prefer the later stuff.
Fascinating artist from the (well at least my) glory days of 120 Minutes who sometimes but doesn't always do it for me. We Float is gorgeous.
Regular
Yeah, it's pretty nice. Doesn't blow me away or anything. But quite nice
I want to like this, but I guess there’s a reason I never got super into PJ Harvey.
A staggering amount of PJ Harvey on this list. She's good I guess?
Solid.
This was ok. Nothing grabbed my attention, but each song was listenable, and occasionally enjoyable.
Lots of respect. Great lyrics. Great listen. Not exactly my genre but I dig it
Dig it! In general I love PJ Harvey, and this album does not disappoint.
Sounds good, but not much that sticks out as exceptional. Unexpected Thom Yorke is a nice surprise.
It was pretty mid.
This mess we're in - tune. Love a bit of Thom Yorke thrown in there
PJ saved the best for last on this album with We Float. One Line and The Mess We’re In (w/ Tom Yorke) are also good, but the rest of the album felt a bit bland to me. She has a decent voice (kinda reminds me of Hines) but the melodies aren’t as catchy. Liked it enough to go (2.5*s) Some solid advice to take life as it comes.
Nice one list! PJ Harvey been a bit of a sleeper for me. I have heard of her but never gave her a shot. Stories is solid all the way through. I think the team-up with Yorke on a few tracks here is perfect too. PJ has good mix of alternative, grunge and eeriness that pairs well with the likes of Radiohead. "Good Fortune" lands the top track slot. Her other works are great and I'm actually hoping to get a 2nd appearance, maybe from her debut. Harvey the wonder hamster pulls 3.38 stars for this one.
Never heard of PJ Harvey but it seems like she deserved some air play from the alt rock scene at the time. Maybe I was too young or just unaware of her career but I liked a lot of what she brought on Stories From The City, Stories From the Sea. There's a good offering of alt rock tracks and PJ brings enough edge and emotion to make it effective. Nice to see Thom Yorke show up and you can definitely hear his influence on the tracks he was involved with. She fits in nicely with Sheryl Crow, Alannis Morrissette and other female rockers of the era. Another nice unknown entry on the list. I'd be curious to see what else PJ has to offer. 3.32 stars
Never really noticed that PJ Harvey's voice is so much like Chrissy Hynde.
This was pretty nice. PJ Harvey is someone I’ve heard of but never really listened to. She has a great voice and this is album is pretty good
Straight from the post punk files
Dad- 5 Mom- 7.5 Mike- 5 Lori- 6 Michael- 6 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 5.9
5/10…indie / rock
Really solid album, sparse recording lends to the indie sound. No super memorable songs after one listen, but I wouldn’t mind listening to it again
Ok this is more like it
Idgi
OK, here I go trying to appreciate PJ Harvey...sorry, still tedious. Horses in her dreams, indeed; she's trying a little too hard to be Patti Smith. But I did like the Thom Yorke number.
6/10. My only previous exposure to PJ Harvey was “Down by the Water” and Yasi Salem’s constant endorsement. I liked the duet with Thome York’s the best
It's alright. Pretty good but nothing to revisit. Another middle of the road album
7/10
A good album but not a particularly memorable album for me. Like her songwriting though!
Decent
Seems aight, not totally for me Will I listen to again: 13%
I know of this album but am not sure what she sounds like. I know of some of her collaborations. It's alright, not my style.
The Streak of Mid has come back for another round
ela queria tanto ser a fiona apple
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3756-stories-from-the-city-stories-from-the-sea/
This is #day284 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's another PJ Harvey album. This list is heavy on PJ Harvey and Björk. Dry and/or Rid of Me would've been just enough. And yet there's nothing from Deftones or Slowdive, or plenty of other bands that deserve a spot. Now, there was a time I explored her stuff, mostly because of a friend of mine I've mentioned in a couple of reviews. He's a big grunge head and loves PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, those female alt singers. I like "This Mess We're In" with Thom Yorke, though. Ironically, I also used to like "I've Seen It All," Yorke's collab with Björk, probably because I was deep into Radiohead in my mid-20s. Again, partly because of that same friend. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea is… okay. Alternative rocky-folky kind of a Patti Smith thing. Fine, but not essential. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day285.
Patti Smith for the 90s.
I can't hate on it too much. It's pleasant on the ears and dramatic and pretty, but I couldn't really tell you what any of the songs are about. 6/10
Not bad, not good either. The songs sounds like one another and it blends
This would be more like a 3.75 for me. Starts off great on the A-side but is a bit slow on the b
Cool, unique and complex, but couldn't quite get into it on just the first listen. Will need to hear a few more times, 3/5
meh for me. kinda boring
Her voice is very pleasing and carries some real power within it. Song structure provides a good platform for her lyrics and vocals to shine. The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Who’re has a great grittiness. The Mess We’re In makes great use of Thom Yorke’s vocals contrasting Harvey and is the highlight for me. For all its strengths, feels very “Y2K” for a number of reasons: lyrics, vocals, and production.
Never heard of her before, so I went in with no expectations. I feel like I should have liked the album more than I did, so I'll have to come back to it at some point in the future. 3*
That's not my taste in music - But ok
It was fine but slightly generic
I liked a few of these songs. My favorite was This Mess We're In cause I'm obsessed with Thom Yorke's voice lol. I think the New York theme was cool, but for such a loud diverse city I was really expecting more creative and interesting songs.
some songs i could see in my playlists, but not all
Not my thing, was ok
Pretty cool. High 3/5
Really solid soft piano rock, I liked it, especially we float, this mess we’re in and the whores hustle.
Decent enough album. Some I liked, others not so much. 3/5
I like her a lot but this one isn’t my fav
Not bad but not good. Solidly mediocre.
Angsty Brooklyn music.
Pretty good. Better second half. Not necessarily by go-to sound but listenable. Good lyrics.
It was ok. Nothing special.
Fine.
Alright album but she has better
Would have loved in my younger days. Saved one song.
Started off as 4 for me but about half way stopped enjoying it as much so its a 3
Decent.
You said something, best tune. Chrissie Hynde-esque
Pretty great indie rock album! Not something I'd listen to often but I enjoyed it.
A solid entry. I'm glad I listened. 2.5 listens. Stand out track for me is A Place Called Home. The tunes with Thom Yorke in the are also quite good. Specifically the vocal layering in The Mess We're In is an interesting decision. I definitely hear some Patti Smith in there but I also don't have a ton of experience with any of Patti's music.
A few songs I enjoyed on here. Not really my sort of thing though, couldn't "get" it I'd never heard of PJ Harvey - her voice is not what I was expecting at all based off the album cover. Pleasantly surprised 3 ⭐️
Has 90s alt rock sound
surprise thom yorke feature, not once but twice
I did not mind this album. It is not something I usually listen to, so I doubt I will ever listen to it again.
Decent
Grunge- leaning rock
hypnotizing voice. i saved "beautiful feeling" " the whores hustle and the hustlers whore" which is an amazing track. my favorite is "the mess we're in" with Tom York vocals, such a pleasure to have him sing by surprise. A little bit too much New York centered for me. on the other hand she's not really good with the high note parts like in the song "kamikaze" which is painfully difficult to listen to.
I feel like the parts were better than the whole. She has a fantastic voice. Angsty moody vibes. Maybe it's the lack of hook that didn't connect with me or just the energy wasn't right. Can't put my finger on it. 'The Whores Hustle and The Hustlers Whore' and 'Kamikaze' are cool songs. 'The Mess We're In' was beautifully done.
This was alright, but reminded me a lot of Concrete Blonde and if I had a choice between the two I would listen to the latter.
Third quote-unquote 'grunge' album in a row. There are a couple of amazing tracks in here but you have to sift through a lot of average stuff. Could have used an edit. Big Exit opens with a tense guitar shimmers and Kim Gordon esque vocals echoing down the street. Good Fortune is a bit grating to be honest, Harvey wants to make her sound more beautiful but can't quite get there all the time. A Place Called Home does it better with jangly guitars, piano and dulcet overdubs in the chorus. One Line elevates things further with a slow 7:4 crescendo. The album finally hits the mark with Beautiful Feeling with a percussion-less dirge reminiscent of Swans when they were doing beautiful stuff. The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore feels like it falls off a bit, again trying to have it both ways with beauty and power. The studio tricks at the end are pretty cool but the chorus leans way too heavily on wordplay for the effect she was aiming for. Thom Yorke adds little to This Mess We're In and I have a lot less respect for the other people doing the project after seeing so many of you say that you think this is the highlight of the album. You Said Something is pretty average sub-Pogues alt-folk, tonally at odds with the rest of the album. Kamikaze is fun with jungle breaks and PJ hitting the whistle register. This is Love is perfectly fine grunge tribute to hard rock, something which has been done by every group since Sonic Youth multiple times. Horses in My Dreams is a beautiful cinematic ballad, again in the vein of late 80s Swans. We Float is cool in that it actually feels kind of future-focused, blissful pianos and synths and a (unfortunately quite boring) eurobeat break combined with a soaring chorus. Like a lot of the later stuff in the list it suffers from being out-of-joint with the times. I want to hear what the early 2000s sound like (even if it doesn't hit the mark), not well made tributes to 10+ years earlier. I'm looking forward to listening to some of Harvey's earlier works eventually.
3.2 Think this my third PJ Harvey album, and the first one I've enjoyed to be honest. Still can't do a bit of the shouty ones (which is bizarre as someone who loves metal) but the more laid back ones are good. Last 3 tracks (excluding bonus) are a solid ending.
Unauffällig.
She’s alright
Sonidos repetitivos y, bueno pero no comparado con los demás.
Quite liked it. 3/5
Prefiro pj esquisita e longe do Thom Yorke
essa música com o yorke é extremamente cafona mas o resto tem uns acertos bons e outros apenas ok
3.5
Empieza bien, después se riquelmea un poco
This is a really interesting album. Lots of the songs had a 4+2 rhythm/feel (as opposed to 3/4), which I like. I probably have to listen to it a few more times to fully get it. The Thom Yorke collaborations were nice. Liked Songs Added: The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore
Nunca había oído hablar de esta persona. Es bastante guay en general y lo volveré a escuchar, pero no creo que me vaya a acordar de ninguna canción.
2.5
Overall not too much of a stand out to me. Like it was a nice vibe to listen to, but wouldn't actively listen again (background music). But too much repetition and similar song structures across the album to be super interesting. Piano in A Place Called Home and layered vocals nice (contrast with lyrical and spoken word). Probably the best track on the album for me in terms of vocal and instrumental interest and variety.
"PJ Harvey...isn't she like an alternative rock chick? Pretty sure my friends who worked at the alt-rock station back in the day loved her." "PJ Harvey...wait, wasn't she in the Batman Forever soundtrack? That was my jam in middle school!" "PJ Harvey...is she like Liz Phair? Actually I don't know what she sounds like either." PJ Harvey is a name I'm familiar with but I can't for the life of me think of anything I've heard by her. For an album released in 2000, I'm a little surprised I haven't heard it, but then again I wasn't exactly seeking out good music my senior year of high school. I started this album, then, with concepts of an expectation. 90s alt rock, female vocalist. What I wasn't expecting was something that evoked Radiohead for me. This made a lot more sense when I had two more revelations: 1) she WAS on the Batman Forever soundtrack, so I had definitely heard (and probably liked) her before, and 2) maybe she gave me Radiohead vibes on purpose. Not only is it a similar era as some of their finest work, but Thom Yorke literally shows up on one of the songs on this album (and it's fire). You can probably see where I'm going with this: I really dig this album. It's moody, atmospheric and beautiful throughout; however, it did bore me at times and isn't quite a "masterpiece" I see myself repeatedly returning to. Not all of the songs hit me in good ways and sometimes I was either bothered by her lyrics or I couldn't understand them. I swear on "Horses in my Dreams" she kept saying "I poo myself." So there's that. But yeah, a solid offering and I'm glad I listened to it. I definitely won't be writing off Liz Phair, I mean PJ Harvey, in the future. 3.5 out of 5 for me.
I like this album more than some of the others I've heard from her.
Second half of the album is a lot stronger than the first.
Ok, but not more than that.
I think this may have to grow on me a little... I liked it though! I liked Let England Shake a lot back when it came out but I haven't really dug into PJ's catalogue!
She's cool! Perhaps the first album of hers I've listened to!
I really didn't like PJH until I heard Let England Shake, which I thought was amazing, dynamic, loud and interesting, this album takes me back to the Rid of Me and My Love albums where there just wasn't anythingn that I could grasp ahold of. Listening to Thom Yorke on a track was a nice surprise, but on the whole, I wasn't impressed or dissapointed. I was just meh with this one.
Better than I expected and much better than the other PJ album on the list. I particularly like the collaboration with Thom Yorke.
Now here’s a PJ Harvey album I want to hear again. When comparing this to the baseline of her 3 previous albums we heard, I almost gave an extra star. She said she tried to make this album more melodic. Yeah, more of this please PJ.
Respect, but not my thing
Excellent from front to back. Not sure it stands out enough to be an essential listen, but if you are looking for a guitar rock record from that era to listen to then this would always be a good choice.
Loved the music. Solid vocals and very nice guitar work
Some songs we cool, others were fine. By the end I had lost interest in listening to the album.
Indie alt rock
Really didn't enjoy the first 2 intro tracks but really dug everything after that.
Pretty good. A bit samey at times but good vibe and enjoyable lyricism. 3.5 stars.
All around a pretty good release from PJ. All around I found the songs pretty homogenous. Thom Yorke was of course a pleasant surprise. All around not bad. 3/5
another case of it’s not really my thing but i can appreciate the musicianship. it’s just soooo abstract-y idk i can’t really grasp the music well
Not very interesting 6/10
Okay, but it didn't make me feel anything
I dunno, it's good I guess, but it also just doesn't resonate or stick with me at all.
Maybe the most “made for portable cd player” album ever. Feels like a product of its time but also feels like it inspired a lot of the women of today in the rock/punk space. Didn’t love it but I respect it. Favorite Song: this mess we’re in Saved songs: this mess we’re in, good fortune
This album didn't really hook me but I thought it was interesting which by my history usually gets a 3. This one was hard to rate because it really is slow and moody a lot of the time and really blends into the background in a good way I think. It's like a candle but kind of a post punk indie candle.
I've definitely heard a few PJ Harvey songs before but never really sought her music out. This album is a decent one, and it's got a good mix of brooding songs vs relatively poppy rock songs. I think I like the former more, especially the ones with Thom Yorke. That isn't necessarily because of his performance, but because the songs are just better. "Beautiful Feeling" is my favorite just from the songwriting perspective. I think the 4 or 5 tracks on the album are the best and it tapers off after "You Said Something", though "Horses in my Dreams" is a great low burn. Solid indie/alternative all in all, I'd listen to more of her stuff if it came around. Wish I could give it a 3.5.
Wish I liked this more.
I didn't enjoy this. I don't care for her singing. Can't say any of the music really grabbed me either. 2.5* rounded up.
Day384 - this is one i might need to listen to a few more times to see if i like it or not
She's bold and brassy, nice
This album tells me that I might like PJ Harvey on albums of hers that have less repetitive chords and wailing. I hear that. I just don't fully like this one.
A very decent album. Strong throughout
It’s alright, not great. Some creative rhythms but nothing that really lands for me. I think it’s a weird energy somewhere between emo and late 90s female singer-songwriters.
Not bad.
Recently in a neighborhood shop, I recognized Thom Yorke’s voice on a song I had never heard, and I Shazam’d it - The Mess We’re In. Good song. I dabbled in the rest of the album at the time and found it a little less interesting, felt the same on this listen through. You Said Something is good too. In the end, I think St. Vincent plays a similar game with catchier songs and better guitar work.
not really my thing, liked place called home and whores hustle - Kamikaze was mad but I liked that too. Wouldn't go back for another listen but only cos it's not really my genre
Brooding
Strong female act
Interesting alternative album a few songs a liked quite a bit a few others I did not.
I’ve always had trouble getting into PJ Harvey. Maybe her music is more directed at the female gaze, though I don’t have trouble with Laura Marling, Sia, and other modern female singer-songwriters. Maybe I’m just more of a Joni Mitchell guy rather than a Patti Smith guy. PJ is definitely channeling her inner Patti Smith spirit on this album. Also, while I dig Thom Yorke, he felt woefully out of place, even though I like some of his input. I don’t know. This is an album of conflict for me. 3.4/5
Hard to believe this is 25 years old. It’s doesn’t sound it. This is good. I’m just not in the mood for it. In 2000 I’m sure I would have loved it.
I was dubious when it started, but it really grew on me. The songs are interesting both musically and lyrically, and even though it’s a little harder than I prefer I really liked it. We both think it could be a 4 after a few more listens.
Meh, mid
2.92
some of the songs i liked and thom yorke being on there was a bit unexpected but overall it was ok some songs i wasn’t the biggest fan of
It was an ok album. I like some of her songs but the album dragged somehow as a composition.
как всегда нет на ПиДжей Харви, но 1) не так тяжело как предыдущие, 2) услышала много Хейли Мэри основополагающего
This felt tedious. Not for me. 2.5 stars.
I mean it's alright, Patti Smith soundalike, but that album cover is fucking clickbait man it does NOT reflect at all what the album sounds like. If anything the album cover sounds better, does that make sense?
thom yorke was involved in this cool I dont have much to say about this i like it though On horses in my dreams it sounds like she keeps saying that she pooped herself thats funny
She has a nice voice. Good variety and energy on these tracks. Not my cup of tea but I'll likely revisit this album and maybe some of her other work.
Decent album, nothing special.
New York girlie but I preferred the sea stories
Bueno