Reviews (page 3 of 9)
This was pretty cool. I like this kind of alternative rock sound in 92. I don’t think she is that interesting of a singer though or maybe something about the mix feels to fall a little flat. Is this the 4th PJ Harvey album we’ve had- I feel like she might be over represented in this list? 2.5
Very forgettable but weve heard far worse
Unexceptional. Sounds like a demo that needs work
este se suponía que era el 1 que puse en el álbum número 60 ups
Gnarly and reminds me of Patti Smith, but nothing I'd need to hear again
(3/7) unremarkable
UMA MULHER!!!!!!! mas o album nao ta disponivel no spotify T^T FAVS(top 3): oh my lover, happy and bleeding, hair mençoes honrosas: dress, sheela-na-gig, plants and rags, water um album SUPER bom mas como nao ta no spotify dificilmente vou ouvir ele de novo... que tristeza gente... mas foi bom enquanto durou eu adorei!!! nota final: 4.5/5
Apt nam for the album because parts of it were definitely dry af but it was a good album overall.
Dry is a good first crack at the grunge/alt-rock template, which PJ would then refine on Rid of Me and later upend over and over throughout her career. That said, Dry is a pretty accurate document of what the Trio was like live at the time, especially with the quiet aspect of the dynamics. Rid of Me nearly makes Ellis sound like the Jesus Lizard drummer, which he very much was not. It works for the songs, but that sound is in contrast to how they came off live, which spanned from rock to something approaching a lounge act.
Just great stuff.
Want to dive deeper.
Really liked this one. Will explore more from her.
Great feminist alt / indie rock, and I was floored that this was a debut album! The artist already has so much mastery over her craft, and is so decisive about her sound. Highlights were Oh My Lover, Sheela-Na-Gig, and Plants and Rags
Het debuut van alternative rock icoon PJ. Eerlijk gezegd had ik er wat meer van verwacht, en zoals de titel al aangeeft vond ik het over de gehele lengte een beetje te 'droog'. Het had wel momenten waarvan je hoorde dat ze nog wel eens een interessante carrière tegemoet kon gaan, maar over het algemeen was de spanning van haar latere albums nog niet heel erg effectief. Het einde, vanaf het mooie 'Plants and Rags', vond ik sterk, en zorgt ervoor dat ze nog wel op een voldoende uitkomt. 6/10 Highlights: Plants and Rags
Deze plaat laat niet meteen een onuitwisbare indruk achter. Gelukkig is dit niet mijn kennismaking met PJ en weet ik dat haar stijl zal veranderen, gevoeliger zal worden en vooral ook complexer. Want op Dry klinkt Harvey nog wat meer rechttoe rechtaan. De nummers zijn zeker geen eenheidsworst, maar het geluid is ook nog niet zo uniek als waar ze zich later naartoe zal ontwikkelen. 6,5/10 Highlights Plants and Rags
Forgettable
I know the name PJ Harvey but never really heard her music. I like this opening track. Instrumentally at least. Not sure about the vocals. On track 4 “victory”. I’m digging this track.
mid
This was solid. I'd buy a copy.
This was really great. Raw, emotional and really well done. Listened to it a couple times. 4.5 but let’s put it on the 5 side.
rock. vocals. wall of sound.
No había escuchado nunca su primer disco. Interesante, pero no me guardé nada. Se ve lo que prometía. Lo volveré a escuchar, pero de momento se queda en 2 estrellas.
I love this genre of women
Left me cold
Not my thing, the more I look into the album the more it became interesting, still don't understand the influence it has to be included in this list
I really enjoyed this! Again, these are the kind of albums I started this project to find. 4/5
Very good.
One of PJ Harvey’s better albums
I wanted to like it, I really did. It was grating to sit through, which I'm sad about because I usually ADORE grunge. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood right now as I sat to listen, but I found myself looking forward to it being over. +1 star for feminist lyrics, fight the power or something.
I like her. Like her voice. Not too bad.
I think this one will climb for me. I couldn't tell which songs would be the singles or which are my favourites, but I think it will hold as an album to listen to in its entirety.
Brilliant, compelling and raw. High 4
PJ Harvey's debut album is excellent. The three piece band with Polly Jean on guitar and vocals is so strong. Every track is really interesting, raw and engaging.
This is a low key brutal album. I’m impressed with the propulsive, rough and tumble energy PJ Harvey is able to create with such a barely-held-together-with-sticky-tape sound. In 1992 she must have been at the forefront of this slightly distorted, lo-fi approach. I feel like I’ve heard various artists aping this style since - and not in nearly as accomplished a way. The chaotic, confessional lyrics pack a punch, and when the instrumentals decide to kick in there is a big whoosh of energy. PJ pulls so much focus that it’s easy to forget the band, but the hefty, relentless bass playing in particular must be applauded. Sheela-na-gig shows that if she wanted to be radio friendly she absolutely has all of the pop sensibilities required. I like that for the most part she chooses to cannibalise that into something a bit rawer, a bit more unsightly. But my god, once again - how many artists nowadays are ripping off and softening this exact sound in the pop sphere?!
And Dry gets a solid to high 4 from me, having only heard Let England Shake I had no idea PJ Harvey’s early stuff was this raw and heavy, great record
Another very strong PJ Havey album - particularly enjoyed Sheela-Na-Gig. Preferred it to Rid of Me - maybe is got a marginally less agro/in your face vibe. High 4.
Dry I sort of put off listening to this for a while. Let England Shake is one of my favourite albums from the list and I loved Stories From the City when it came out, and although I liked Rid of Me, I feel like I’m less interested in her early period, just as I’m not really into that early 90s grunge US alt rock sound in general. However I really enjoyed this, particularly over the first half where it’s very strong. Oh My Lover’s sludgy tempo is great, feeling like a deliberate feint before the unequivocally direct O Stella and the fantastic Dress, with its chugging rhythm and string coda. Victory is excellent too, its caustic slide matching the tenor of the lyrics, and Happy and Bleeding is brilliant too, a kind of grunge-country track with an brilliantly oppressive bass sound. Sheela-N-Gig caps the belting first half with another excellent, scratchy, biting track. Hair doesn’t feel as strong, sounding a little more rote in comparison, but Joe is great, rhythmically dense and frantic, with a faint air of disco and funk, and Plants and Rags is great too - portentous strings and a creepy western-horro feel. Fountain and Water feel similar to Hair to me, not as strong as the songs around it, feeling slightly less inspired than much of the album. I think I prefer this to Rid of Me, but I wouldn’t put it on the same level as Let England Shake or Stories from the city, so I’ll stick with a high 4. 🚱🚱🚱🚱 Playlist submission: Happy and Bleeding
This album should've strangled 90% of the grunge movement at birth, sounding as it does like a stripped down garage-band doing existential Pixies numbers, coming out of Dorset, and doing it with vim and vigour - unlike most of its whining American counterparts. The tight riffing and tracks coming in at reasonably sharp length, means the album avoids any suggestion of dirginess. 'Plants and Rags' has a classic grunge approach - slower tempo, acoustic guitar, anguished lyrics. The use of violin in the volume swell is a differentiator, and the vocal does a hell a lot of heavy lifting. It's crystal clear, and not the faux-pained drawl of countless grunginistas. From the opening imperious swagger of 'Oh My Lover' the album feels beautifully off-balance, engaging, and sidesteps the performative pain of most grunge. An excellent debut.
Never listened to her before and I actually really liked this! More rocking than I thought it would be and I like that
can’t believe ive gone this long without ever listening to this album.
Album 67 Top 3 favorites off the album: Dress, Plants And Rags, O Stella I was initially unsure from the opening track. I wasn't digging the vocals plus the spare instrumentation, and then it got more fleshed out and the vocal style made a lot more sense in that context. As the album went on, I started really getting into it! The sound is like if Florence + The Machine were grunge. It's an interesting mix of gritty and neat. Does that make sense? It doesn't feel rough as in unpolished or amateur, but it's got texture to it. A good listen!
Estuvo meh
Loved it! Emotionally and musically it's totally in my taste. From the first song I knew it will be genious. Got the idea of buying the vinyl record on the third song, i believe. Pure poetry.
Best Track - "Sheela-na-gig"
Enjoyed the album quite a bit, but not a lot of individual songs that I’m drawn to.
Never heard this before. British grunge is something I don't especially hate.
2012-2016 I consumed all riot grrrl music I could find. Even had extremely rare stuff downloaded from extremely sketchy websites, surely loaded up the family computer with all the malware & viruses that existed at the time. PJ Harvey was always in conversation with the genre but always separate. Kind of like Sleater-Kinney, on the fence of being “riot grrrl” or not. (Not that the label really ever meant anything. Just ask Bikini Kill) Shockingly I had never heard anything from her until now, or maybe subconsciously saved this progenitor of the genre for later. She’s name dropped in a handful of riot grrrl songs. Obviously this is my my shit, but I do think this album tapered off near the end. Regardless, I will listen to much more PJ Harvey now. Side note: is the story of Sampson & Delilah the reason why bald men are considered less masculine/desirable? (& I don’t mean bald like The Rock, I mean like a Costanza)
Not bad but left no impact on me. Woke up this morning and didn’t have a single memory of listening to this one
I bought this when it came out and even though I haven't played it in a long time, it's still a great album.
Vocals were not really my thing but overall pretty cool sound.
Has potential.
Bon, ça y est, t’es content? J’l’ai ai écouté tes albums de PJ Harvey, finito pis correcto, moyenno bueno
Previously known. Love it.
Didn’t used to, but man do I love angry feminist crunchy chick rock these days.
Why is there so much PJ Harvey on here?
An amazingly accomplished album, especially for a debut. And yet. This is PJ Harvey's third album I've come across in this project, and and Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea is still awaiting me. That being the album that really needs to be on this list. While Dry or Rid of Me are grand, but are "just" the build-up to Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea.
2.5
I'm actually surprised how much I liked this one considering how much I pretty much didn't like *Rid of Me*. But I can see definitely her influence on alanis Morissette, who really did a more commercialized version of this album, and even a lot of what hole would do in their next two albums. I almost want to listen to her follow-up to see if maybe my heart will lighten on it after listening to this. But this is almost three points (or a star and a half) higher than what I gave *Rid of Me* (8.7) ★★★★
Raw and emotional! A female Nick Cave. 4.5 stars
I thought this was a really good debut. I don't like it quite as much as the next two albums, but there's undoubtedly some good stuff here, including "Oh My Lover", "Happy and Bleeding", "Sheela-Na-Gig", and "Dress". 4 stars.
Grungy feel is good - Nirvana sans catchy riffs or melodies but with heightened notes of Nick Cave. Riot girl energy is good. Constant nails-on-a-chalkboard wailing is good. The song about female goatse is good. Turkey is a little dry.
I thought PJ Harvey was a man. Shows how much I really know about acts that are before my time.
Not as good as Stories From...
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ It's an average album. My favourite songs were Happy and Bleeding and Oh My Lover. The songs were kind of all over the place, but in isolation I don't mind them.
One of the most frenetic debuts in recent history
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Fantastisches Album.
It was OK
Not her best album but very good. She is a local from where I come from and use to see her live frequently. Great live show
Once again, I wish we could do half stars so I could give it 3 and a half. I've liked some stuff I've heard from her, but hadn't heard anything from this album and am a smidge disappointed with it, but it was still a good vibe.
This is just brilliant. Such a great debut. Not a dud on it.
There's a lot of PJ Harvey on here. The start of victory made me think of bad guy by Billie Eilish. You could argue PJ Harvey (and other such female vocalists in the 90s) walked so others could run. This is ok, not for me, but some ok tracks.
Heard Before? No. Somehow it's the only one of her albums I've never listened to. Notes: - production not as stark as Rid of Me, but still raw and bold. - with no compression, her dynamic vocals can lurk in the mix and then lunge forward. it's a neat trick. - strings on "Plants and Rags" a terrific surprise. - plenty of lyrical zingers. - arrangements are competent but unremarkable. - "Water" is an odd closer, forecasting her much more daring moves later. Verdict: A victim of context: PJ herself, as well as Liz Phair and Scout Niblett, would take these ideas and sounds to much more interesting places later. Listen Again? Maybe not, but I've already queued up Let England Shake.
I was surprised to find that this was her first album. It is more raw than ‘Let England Shake’ and I think that drew me in.
According to last.fm, the last time I listened to this album was 17 years ago! I used to have 'Rid of Me' on repeat, and only listened to 'Dry' a handful of times, so despite being familiar with some of PJ Harvey's work, this actually felt like a new experience for me. Enjoyed that throughout especially the opening run of tracks. Ultimately I think 'Rid of Me' is still the better album, but this comes close.
I love this album, the voice is amazing 4/5
2/18/26. Love PJ Harvey’s music the more and more I listen. She has the classic alternative sound that I love and her songwriting is consistent. This album is a strong debut.
This had art in the sound. Liked it very much.
(there's originally a 650 words long rant about the reason that i an anti-feminism but due to the irrelevence its deleted.) *sighs* it's (of course) not as good as stories from the city or rid of me, but since it is her debut, it's alright. but its still a 3.5 for me cause stories from the city impressed me too much and this album didn't impress me much apart from dress, although i know debut albums are always weaker than later works. 3.5/5
not that her other music is bad, but this was a far more interesting listen than other stuff i heard from her. i like this grungier sound its great, wish she stuck to it
Drones a bit but I like the lyricism and point of view.
coo
This debut from PJ Harvey is spunky and electric, reminding me very much of punk and grunge mixed together in this raw and authentic approach. While I don't think this project always sticks the landing I think it's unique sound mixed with PJ's vocals makes this a very interesting project. It's only up from here for PJ Harvey but I have to say, not a bad start by any means.
I’ve never loved PJ Harvey’s music, and this album did nothing to change that. Definitely understand her having an album on the list (I know she has at least 2), but this didn’t do anything more me. Not unlistenable, but just okay. This is a 2.5 but I’m rounding down because nothing really caught my attention or stuck with me.
Blind spot for me but it's obviously great
very cool and hip
Not my kind of music
Angry white girl music not as good as alanis.
I really should listen to more PJ Harvey. Both albums of her that I’ve gotten for the list have been good. Basically more of the 90s alt rock that I already love plenty of
Excellent!
A good album, I liked Dress and Victory the most.
It’s a decent listen. Hard to describe… early Riot Grrl, hard Indi? Definitely unique. Not a fan of the vocals, but I can see the appeal. All things considered, I’m pleasantly surprised. I thought it’d be soft and weepy. Nope, they bring it!
3.5
This is even better than her other album. Bangers. 3.8.
Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
Maybe juxtaposition but PJ gives me Janis vibes with grunge backing. This is technically brilliant and creative but quirky. Not my ideal listen, but not bad at all.
What a cool, heavy sound! I really enjoyed this!
I used to have "Rid of Me" on cd but never listened to "Dry". (fake-edit: on listening, I realize I'd heard "Sheena-na-gig" before). Finding I like this a lot more than liked RoM, which I remember as somewhat less accessible and doing more with discordance, although to be fair I probably need to give that a re-listen. Was expecting this to be weak 3 stars, buts it ended up being a no-skips 4 star. I'm adding most of this album to the rotation, great find for me by the site. This was the kind of album I'd overlooked which I was hoping to get turned on to when I signed up.
Good album! I never got around to checking her out so I’m glad I got assigned her debut. Will definitely check out more of her stuff.
Felt a little difficult to listen to
kinda incredible 5
Sounds good. A bit forgettable, but I enjoyed it
I'd like this if I had a girlfriend. Possibly.
Such a distinctive sound, might be being harsh. I’m excited for more of her stuff in this
I’m not the clientele for this album, but if I was, I would love this.
It's very refreshing to hear an album from a women on this list, those are seemingly somewhat rare. And I did enjoy the album. However, while I'm not familiar with anything else from PJ Harvey, I think I'd enjoy a newer album of hers more. Something with a further honed shape and sound. Three stars. (Favorite track: Dress.)
Boring to me
First PJ Harv. She's surprisingly well-represented on this list, though I suppose she has always been a critic darling. I've seen this album while flicking through the book, though I never stopped to notice that it was from the woman of the hour. Doesn't seem like an album cover she'd put out. Anyhoo, I'm familiar with PJ Harvey because I listened to "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" a few years back. My Dad recommended it to me because Thimmy Bjorke featured on one of the tracks, though I don't remember even noticing the track he appeared on because I was so bored by the whole affair. I have more discerning, music-hardened ears now, so I'm confident I had no idea what I was talking about back then. Hopefully this album is the one to make me a convert. I haven't seen a track rating this consistent in a good while. Every song (with the exception of tracks two and three) were rated a 3/10, which is my go-to score for songs which don't hold my attention, but also don't offend my sensibilities. My favourite word to use in the place of boring is dull, and by all measures of non-sharpness this album is a right piece of shit. It can't even cut through a wet paper bag. I'm not sure what I'm holding in my hand, really. It's one of plastic retractable knives, but it's made of Styrofoam. Does anyone actually sell these? As I have belaboured to this point, this album is incredibly boring and most of it didn't work for me. The instrumentals have this muddy sound which is generally unappealing and undermines whatever the rest of this album could have going for it. The growling guitars sound slightly off-key in a way which bugs me, and the remaining instruments are sparse to point of making these songs sound barren and unfinished. The non-descript instrumentals result in similarly uninteresting vocals. Harvey sounds like she's a wink away from snoozing on the mic for most of this album. The version I listened to was also strangely quiet. I was afraid I was gonna have my eardrums ruptured at any moment for cranking up the volume. While this was a lethargic listen, it didn't go on for longer than it needed to and it didn't frustrate me, which is why I'm saving it from the one-star category. Book time. Has feminist themes. Powerful vocals. Complex lyrics. Named Best Songwriter and Best New Female Singer by Rolling Stone. The Wikipedia page is surprisingly sparse, but it backs up that this album was, in fact, well-received by critics. It also says the album didn't chart anywhere outside of the UK at the time. I'm beginning to question whether PJ Harvey does deserve four list albums. The question is whether this album or her final inclusion is the one worth scrubbing - I'm pretty sure the middle two are worth keeping. I'll take a shot in the dark and guess that PJ had more of her act together later in her career than she did on this debut album. Snubbed. In place of this album, I humbly submit Animals by Pink Floyd for inclusion on the list.
6.5/10
First ever PJ Harvey album! I'd love more reverb on her voice. The songwriting is stellar and angsty, reminding me of Liz Phair. The production to me is like a mix between 90s alt-rock and Dire Straits' debut (3.5-4)
I like the 90s alt rock sound.
My first encounter with PJ Harvey was 2011’s LET ENGLAND SHAKE. A year or so later I gave RID OF ME a shot but bounced off it. This one by comparison I think is a little more friendly as an introduction, really strong melodic hooks with an attitude.
not the best production but it does show how good of an artist she is where the songs still come through. Truthfully too listening front to back the fact that it's not the cleanest production does add to it.
My favorite PJ record of the two I've heard so far. "Dry" might be the perfect descriptor of the sound of this record. Definitely a raw record, one that doesn't compromise and favors authenticity and natural occurrence.
women do music better
Easiest 4.5 of my life.
Was not surprised to see a lot of results when googling to see if people thought Carina Round sounds like PJ Harvey.
This was fine. I can tell this artist is talented but I found it all a bit forgettable. It sounded a bit like the Blur album I just listened to...
I just really hate the vocals here, it’s the same issue I have with a lot of 90s vocals they just sound flat
one of the coolest to ever do it. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
Holy hell this rocks. Sometimes I get too precious and talk myself out of giving 5 stars to an album I’ve only just heard the one time, but the closing song on this one prevented that.
Fresh and powerful
PJ rules. I dig this a lot.
7.5/10
This stuff rips. Very worthy of a revisit!
This album can be compared to a cracker: I can eat it, but it's kind of bland
this was excellent
Apple Music only has the demos version so yeah. boring
I’ve heard of her, but never heard her. Great music. This is the reason I started this.
Plants and Rags is painfully out of tune; otherwise the album is quite enjoyable, and authentic. 7/10
can't stand the voice
Not on Spotify, note one because of that...in the fact theres also four albuns on the list...by the way i like!
Mix is awful, but otherwise decent early 90s grunge
Liked it. it's falls in the vein of the other early 90s Indy Rock women but rawer and darker. it's her debut album and it sounds like a mix between Nirvana's garage sound with Patty Smith's cutting feminist type lyrics. Songs that I liked and stood out were "Dress", "Sheela-Na-Gig", and "Victory".
Not much I liked about this. I hated the mixing / production. I didn't like her voice. The songs were boring and unmemorable. I guess the guitar was cool and the drums were pretty good. I just don't understand how this makes the top 1001.
Never heard of her. I was pleasantly surprised. She sort of reminded me of a cross between Anne Lenox, Cindi Lauper and Blondi (I know dated refences). This a good example why I am glad I took the time to join the group and expose myself to new/different music.
Very edgy and gnarly....brave for debut album
I'm not so big on the grungier style here, disappointed as I love Let England Shake and was excited to hear a raw indie style. Can hear a lot of stuff here which I love in 2000s and 2010s slacker rock stuff but it just didn't click with me
Found myself really enjoying this debut from PJ Harvey. Great listen.
I liked the post punkish vibe right away. It’s raw and tense in a way that works, even if it’s not something I’d actively come back to once it’s over. There are definitely some cool moments. The bass line in “Victory” is really sweet, and “Sheela-na-gig” has some solid riffs that stood out. I also had to Google what the title meant, and once I did, I appreciated the writing a lot more. That was a smart touch.
I hate this front cover!
A good balance of grungy and melodic. Really enjoyable listen.
4eme album proposé après 'Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea' et 'Rid of Me' que j'avais plutôt apprécié (notés 3/5) et 'Let England Shake' qui m'avait déçu (2/5). Ce nouvel album est plus dans la veine de ‘rid of me´, avec un excellent son de basse, mais des compositions un peu moins originales. Je l’écouterais probablement de nouveau, mais ne rejoindra pas ma collection. =>3/5
Well executed, sounds great, but it seems all her songs follow the same recipe: alternate distortion, unusual time signature, lather, rinse, repeat. Still worth 3.4
Never really got PJ
I liked 2 or 3 songs, but mostly this wasn't my thing. 2.5 rounded up.
It was okay. The sound quality was all over the place though. I liked this album more than the other PJ Harvey album on this list. Still, I wouldn’t listen to it again.
It took me a bit to get used to her voice, but once I was used to it I really liked it. Think she gets a lot of emotion across and I really enjoyed the vibe of the album. Probably one I will listen to again now I know what to expect. Fav song: Dress Least fav: Victory
Not a huge fan of this one I’ll be honest. Think the album cover doesn’t help either. Specific rating - 3.4 Fav song - dress Least fav - oh my lover
Found the rawness of her voice a bit jarring when the album started but I warmed up to it. And then I unwarmed again. I went back and forth a lot in this album, there were songs that suited her voice and the roughness and there were others where it verged on annoying. Favourite song: Dress Least: Happy and Bleeding
Holt mich sehr ab
, ehrlich, gut
Geiler shit
PJ Harvey is a great artist, but unfortunately, some of her albums fall flat to me. I still haven't found an album of hers that I can relate to. But don't get me wrong, it's not bad, it's just not relatable.
Too many peej but she deserves it. I enjoy late period peej heaps more but ya know, 92 she was mad about not getting the vocals gig for Slint. Good stuff.
PJ Harvey is definitely an artist who has grown on me as a result of going through this list. The first one I listened to was Stories From The City which didn't quite grab me. Subsequently hearing this one and Rid of Me, I really like her now. Like her 2nd LP this is a raw and powerful album, emotionally punchy and sets her aside as a really unique artist. Those 3 people make a lot of noise, that's for sure.
I might give another shot
Truthfully at times I don't know whether I want to listen to her or be her; regardless, still digging her sound. Yes to Dress.
PJ Harvey’s album art is always sick as hell. every album I’ve heard thus far is super underwhelming though.
Okay so I have to admit, it took more than one listen to really understand this album. So glad I gave it a few chances because I absolutely love it now. I explored more of PJ Harvey after this and really have full in love with her music. She has such a powerful voice, it gave me the same feeling as when I listen to Bjork. The music to go with the voice is a bit chaotic, in a good way, and the voice just cuts right through the chaos. I personally love how experimental the band are in this. The music is nice and progressive and builds nicely on every track. The bass is outstanding, love it in ‘Water’. I do think she better material than just this album, that being said the sheer rawness and the fact she just chucked her all at this because she thought it was her only chance really does come through to the listener. Favourite tracks are: ‘Sheela-na-gig’, ‘O Stella’, Water’, ‘Dress’, ‘Plants and Rags’, ‘Happy and Bleeding’, and ‘Hair’. Definitely gonna be a revisit one for me.
i rated this more than i thought i would so this is a 3.5 moreso than a 3! she was only 22 when this was made and it's such a good time capsule of early 90s indie rock and feels like what all of the modern 'feminist' indie pop aspires to be, like the authentic counterpart to the facsimiles the labels keep trying to print
i thought i liked this and then i realized i don't lmfao
Upbeat and interesting.
My fave of hers still remains Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea.
This is a very strong 3 stars for me. Her vocals are 90% of my enjoyment of the album, and I would want something more well-rounded for four stars and up. Her other album, Rid of Me, is definitely my favorite, although Let England Shake is also excellent.
This was pretty damn amazing. Don't really know how to compare this to her other albums, but I really have nothing bad to say about this one. Banger after banger
I had to go back and listen again because I sometimes miss what she is saying. I know it is strong because of the emotion she evokes with her voices. Sometimes that is a bit over the top, but overall it worked for this album. I am really enjoying more of this girl rock.
I like these early PJ Albums. Very raw rock and roll. I can pass on Hair. She's all on about a bible story and not that great of a song. Victory is one of my favorite PJ songs. Also like Oh My Lover, Dress, Joe, and Sheela Na Gig. Btw... A sheela na gig is a middle ages pagan fertility carving of a naked woman displaying an exaggerated vulva.
I really liked this. A raw and rockin' take on being a woman frustrated with men who suck. Favorites are Dress, Victory, Happy and Bleeding, and Sheela-na-gig.
Not my jam. 2.5
I don't like PJ Harvey, this was probably better, but I just don't.
Not my taste
Me gusto
Before listening: like the cover art, might have heard of PJ Harvey? Zero expectations for this one. During: Oh… so it started off kind of okay? And then… it became noise. I cannot stand the lead vocalist. I found a couple of moments of headbanging, but I cringe every time she sings. After: that album felt endless, glad to be through it. Before listening: 0/12 songs saved After listening: 0/12 songs saved (obvi)
It's fine, but not something that I think I absolutely needed to hear...
I don't connect with her music for some reason. But I liked O Stella, Dress, and Sheela-Na-Gig.
Angry, angsty, depressed, but not well expressed like Alanis' work.
Girl rock, not remarkable
I was excited to have another album by a female artist, but I really wasn’t vibing with the angst and edginess on this one. I was honestly relieved when I got to the end of this listening experience. Sorry to say it was a 2/5 for me.
Alt rokkia, vähän ehkä liian taiteellista sellaista. Kappaleet oli aika räväköitä ja "meluisia". Parhaat: Fountain, Victory
Now this is an album that waxed and wained. It didn't get off to the best of starts but did improve quite quicky. Her voice seems to be a mixture of Skin, Toya, and Rosalie Cunningham, an interesting mix entirely. And it ended up quite a reasonable album. Worth a 3
Sensational song writing with vocal and guitar performances to match. Love it.
Fantastic debut. Many bands cant even reach these heights in their entire career, and what a career Polly Harvey has had. My personal favourite on this has always been 'Sheela-na-gig', top songwriting and great guitar work.
There is a character named Corey in the classic 1989 movie “Say Anything” who rights an unhealthy amount of songs about her ex named Joe. That what PJ Harvey sounds like to me.
I had a some PJ Harvey songs on a few playlists, but nothing from this album (yet). What a shame. From the fuzzy bass riff that opens “Oh My Lover”, through the little bit of country twang sprinkled everywhere, to the dissonant strings of “Plants And Rags”, I was totally hooked and along for the ride. If I had to pick a low point, “Plants And Rags might be my skip track. Those jarring strings really spoil what could have otherwise been a good acoustic breather for the record. Instead, we get one of the more abrasive/eccentric tracks on the record and I’m not convinced we’re better for it. There’s a track with similar strings, “Man-Sized Sextet”, on the next album (1993’s Rid Of Me), so it’s obviously something PJ wants. Who am I to really question it, I guess? On the other side, “Sheela-Na-Gig” feels like the most radio-friendly single but it’s missing the little bit of cowpunk that permeates the rest of this album and doesn’t feel fully representative. It’s not a perfect album, but it’s one where the bugs all feel like features. Every decision feels intentional but the results still feel raw in all the right ways. I’m sure there are several more listens in my future.
I will always love Sheela-na-gig. But the album as a whole just did not grab me in the same way. Sorry PJ.
A few great tracks and some filler; not her strongest in my opinion but it was a debut that promised more great things to come.
"Dry is such a catchy album. Although some songs are better than others, it is a sharp, dark record with a feminist edge. You definitely won't regret your first listen. 4,4/5
I’ve never really understood the hype around PJ Harvey. The album isn’t bad, but it feels fairly ordinary, perfectly listenable, yet ultimately unremarkable.
Female rage! Enjoyed this, I could listen to more.
Ok. Bit samey. Good for its time
2:5
Robert Christgau once pointed out that, for certain artists, the way they sing a particular word or phrase encapsulates something really essential about them. For Joey Ramone it's "wanna." For Robert Smith it's "never." For Billie Joe Armstrong it's "care," as in he doesn't. And so forth. PJ Harvey sings the word "lover" like she's addressing God. Throughout this explosive song cycle she worships and begs and rages and self-flagellates at the feet of her deity, twisting and swirling like a frenzy of ancient legend. The Earth Mother figure showed up in female-led Nineties rock in a million different ways but never as compellingly as it does here. And we often call rock music "wild" but rarely do we hear it like Harvey makes it - feral, instinctual, fecund, consumed at all times with a gaping maw of need and lust. *Fuck*.
Such a strong, singular voice, so exciting and invigorating. Reminds me of a quote whose source I can't remember that "when someone doesn't sound like anyone else, it's because that's who they really are."
I was let down by this album. I was excited because I really like one song by her, but this was not it.
...
was a very fun listen
Feel like I’ve always been missing something with PJ Harvey, that everyone else gets. Let’s see if this is the album to persuade me otherwise! Appears not…. Just doesn’t grab me, feels a little uninspiring but I can see how if you are into this vibe, it maybe hits or feels quite unique. Maybe growing on me a bit. Some nice rhythms and groove and at least different to the norm. Fair play to the innovation and ingenuity and given I give that so much stick on other albums, probably warrants a 4*
Dry
Está guapo pero no me fascinó
Very grunge-ish
pj... een van de beste vrouwelijk artiesten aller tijden
I find pj Harvey’s vocals and style really grating. It’s fine but doesn’t do anything for me at all
Not fun
I think I have listened to a few PJ Harvey albums over the years but they have never done much for me. I think this is her first album. Has some ok moments musically but I don’t love her singing. I suspect I may like her later records better
I wrote a review for this, it disappeared I guess. Maybe I didn’t post it. So, going from memory… good record?
I need to revisit this one. I enjoyed it. Lots of back and forth between quiet and loud, soft and harsh sounds. I like.
1/10
2,5 stars
Shades of Joan Jett
Good vocals, 90’s alt
513/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
everyone who rates this low is going straight to hell RIGHT NOW btw. theyre not even waiting for you to die its just gonna happen right now
I keep hearing the same melody over and over.
I enjoyed this, but not as much as the other album presented here, Rid of Me.
not my bag
5.9/10
PJ Harvey’s raw, visceral debut is a nervy punch to the gut, showcasing one of the most powerhouse rock vocalists of the 1990s.
I listened to this yesterday, and I can't remember it.
Sounds like a mental woman singing in a pub at first, but it's actually alright
I quite like PJ Harvey (not as much as all the critics) but she would get better than this. It's pretty good for a debut album and I can see why it was rated so highly but I prefer her a bit more polished years later. Also some of the tracks are recorded much quieter than others, meaning you have to keep putting the volume up and down, which although was intentional is pretty annoying.
not bad but not for me
Fabulous debut album I celebrate her entire catalog!
Really like the grit and honest of this album.
How did I never know I loved PJ Harvey until this project? Great shit!
Ok
I didn't feel strongly about this album in either direction.
Just couldn't get into it.
Where has this been and how had I missed it! Rid Of Me, her second album, is a favorite in my collection and I think I like this one even more. Infectious musicianship, intense lyrics, fantastic vocals, brilliant dynamics. This has all the interest that the too perfect Crosby, Stills and Nash lacked. Maybe it won't survive in perpetuity like the classics, but it burns like a 1000 watt bulb from start to finish. Anyone liking this should definitely check out her follow up album, also in the 1001.
Really enjoyed the first three songs. Apparently listening to this album at an airport is significantly more difficult than at home; the dynamic changes were much more bearable in a quiet environment. The songs were also quite engaging and had interesting structures, as well as hooks. Also enjoyed PJ Harvey's voice. Looking forward to when she comes up later in the generator 4/5
Started great then it was just meh
This is undoubtly a good album, but i don't love it enough to listen regularly
"Oh my love" was pretty cool, a really good start for the album. "O Stella" is also very good, a good song to vibe and dance. "Dress" follows the same as the anterior, same vibe. "Victory" start with a nice bass, slowly and then going faster, such a good song, i like the instrumental, not only in this song, but as a whole so far. Classic rock to rock and dance! "Happy and Bleeding" was good as well, "Sheela-Na-Gig" wasn't though, following "Hair" that is the weak song so far. "joe" was mediocre and "Plant and Rags" has a violin that dont add to the song, its just strange and somehow broke the melody. Maybe this one is worst than "hair". "fountain" returned the goodness of the album. "Water" is a great song. As a whole the album is pretty good, it has consistence and nice instrumentals, beside being simple and raw. Actually, being that way make it have a sensation of listening to a small concert that is fun. The songs i find bad do not make the experience bad for itself, making the album a great experience.
It was ok
Best Song: O Stella I had never heard anything by PJ Harvey before this. I think I always got PJ Harvey and KD Lang mixed up and never gave Harvey much of a chance. I was very pleasantly surprised here. Solid musicians, a much more punk/alternative sound than I ever would have thought, and an overall nicely put together album. I actually can foresee myself listening to this again. 4/5.
Would listen again
This was quite difficult to finish. Not my vibes but I appreciate the music
Another PJ Harvey???
Sounds like hex girl music, I see the appeal but isnt really for me. 2.5/5
Never a more apt album title. This album is requires a particular mood but when you are there: dehydrated physically and emotionally, it echoes out of the dusty cave of your heart and scares those blind moles who live there.
PJ Harvey is such a fucking badass. It took some real stones to debut in 1992 with an album titled "Dry" that's full of songs candidly exploring female sexuality, patriarchy and the complications of heterosexual relations. It's also an apt description of the sounds within, an austere mix of blues, punk and rock. The taut drumming of Rob Ellis demonstrates why he's been a fixture of her backing band all these years. I'm not gonna look, but I'd be disappointed if this is the only album of hers that made the list.
Great debut, holds up
Though she's certainly succesful it feels like she should have been even bigger than she was coming out with an album like this in 1992. A British singer channelling both Riot grrrl and Grunge and whatever modern rock thing was happening and doing her own thing with it. Noisy in the best ways.
Hmmm — she has 4 albums in the 1,001 while XTC only has 2 (of course, so does Slipknot…). Doesn’t seem quite right to me. Anyway this is our second of her four and was reasonably fun to listen to.
I liked it but I think I need to listen it again
I must admit, it surprised me how much I enjoyed this album. Not at all what I expected. I'm looking forward to having a flick through some of her other albums.
I'm annoyed at myself for not liking PJ Harvey more. She has all the ingredients! I should LOVE her. ...but I always get about 4 tracks into her work and I've had enough - sorry PJ, not sure what it is, but I will keep working on it.
4.0 - Very Good
Dry is a confident and powerful debut by one of the most important artists of her generation. It may wear its influences on its sleeve more than later PJ albums when she had truly found her own voice, but it remains a strong statement of intent. It’s an intent that she has delivered upon many times over, but for some, this debut remains definitive. Either way, Dry is the foundational step in an artistic career of many highlights and few compromises.
Correcto
Great
V good
Like an extra shot of espresso while I was cooking breakfast
Not my favourite Pj Harvey album but still good
PJ Harvey doesn't miss
There's actually a lot of good stuff on this record.It all kind of sounds the same.But i'm willing to chalk that up to my unfamiliarity, but she sounds great.The tone is awesome.This is definitely worth a lesson
Curioso cuanto menos, supongo que no es lo que me esperaba segun las expectativas que me ha dejado la primera cancion, que han sido muy bajas, acabo opinando que parece un album infravalorado.
I missed PJ Harvey in the 90s. The cover led me to expect something completely different, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Love me some PJ Harvey.
Impressive really how she managed to hit so many notes yet none of them were in tune I never want to listen to this ever again 1 ⭐️
Enjoyed this, good to.finf
90s critic darling PJ Harvey! For the 4th(?) time on this list. Ugh. I dont get the media obsession with this. Its on the lower end of mid tier as can be. To be fair this may be the best of her albums.
It was chill
Not for me. Never liked PJ Harvey’s vocal stylings.
2.5
4- Stars (10/15)
Not bad
6.0/10
I like the sound, I like the voice but the songs just don’t connect with me. I have been told later albums are better so we will see if any of those make an appearance…
Not ground breaking but a very, very solid straightforward rock album. I do prefer some of the later albums because of the variety in sound that Harvey uses, consistently reinventing herself and taking a different slant on styles. No songs grab me from this in the way that something like ‘to bring you my love’ does but enjoyed it regardless.
I have never listened to PJ before. Liked some of the songs on this album.
This really isn’t that bad, but I’m docking an extra point because this woman is on this list too many times.
Dry sounds like a grungier, moodier precursor to Alanis Morissette—raw, sludgy, and full of barely contained tension. PJ Harvey's voice shifts from restrained to feral in an instant, giving the whole album an uneasy, electric energy. It's not always an easy listen, but its rough edges are exactly what make it so compelling. Dark, abrasive, and confidently original.
A perfect debut record. It has everything I love about alternative rock.
Raw and original. I really liked most of these tracks.
The album title is a good review. Not as good as some of her other albums. Seemed a little rudderless
Listened to this like four times through now and, like, the music is good and her voice is fine but I just don't like the songs, I guess? Not terrible, though.
A very strong debut - in many ways, this is a good encapsulation of what a debut should be. A bit raw and rough around the edges, but with enough confidence to come flying out of the blocks. Dry does a sterling job of combining accessibility and catchiness with attitude, intelligence, some vulnerability and an off-kilter, anxious energy to much of the playing. It's able to remain consistently interesting from track to track due to ample variations in structure, mood and quietness/loudness. It's been on my purchase list for some time, and I will be addressing that sooner rather than later.
The instruments are what sold me, i had great time with this albums. The songs really kept going
First of all, why is this album so quite? I have to turn the volume way more than I usually do in order to not miss anything important. Second, her voice. I started both loving and hating it, but with more and more listens, her style of singing has being growing on me, although there are some moments I don't really like, those being the choruses of 'O Stella' and 'Water'. In these parts of those song, her voice sounds very forced to me. But overall, I like them. Her voice can be very powerful and some of the voice melodies are super catchy. I did also like a lot the alternative sound of the 90's with some touches of grunge that this album has. Mixed with the rough production, it gives the whole project the feeling of being raw and in your face. Very solid album, and I'm thrilled to discover more of her music.
The Good: If it’s going to get hot, it’ll be a dry heat… The Bad: Dry was not referring to the temperature… The Ugly: Guess we are missing lubricants… PJ, Polly Jean, is indeed an interesting person, and one who I don’t know too much about, except that she is repeated several times as an artist on the 1001 list… This album, of the previous ones I’ve had the displeasure of listening to, has been the most favorable. I am still uncertain if I want to give 4*, or shoot down the middle… It was kinda grungy, and I do like grunge… so I will add it to the list of albums I need to listen to again!
Not my jam. Too whiny.
Nope.
Fine, didn't leave much of an impression.
Ikke så glad i 90-tallsmusikk, men glad i å motta interiørupdates i 1001-generatoren. Selv hengte jeg speilet mitt ca 10 cm høyere i går, og byttet ut et bilde i stua
Neeh ikke for meg. Synes dette var ganske kjedelig. Til og med til pære-shopping til en av lampene jeg kjøpte i går. Pærer jeg kjøpte tidligere passet ikke. 2.
8% of my recommendations so far have been PJ Harvey. I enjoy her albums, but I’m not sure 3 (so far) deserve to be on this list.
Дуже кріспі звук, виразний бас, самі пісні драйовові. Завжди подобався вокал Гарві. Без якихось супер хітів можливо, але й альбом взагалі не провисає.
Прикольно, що оцей доволі простий звук\продакшн цього альбому найкраще як dry і не опишеш. Сухі гітарки, чіткий бас, все таке ніби слухаєш гурт який грає на репетиційній базі. Але в гарному сенсі, мені це тут подобається. З дискографії пі джей харві для себе особисто я обрав би щось більш пізнє, але тут впевнені 3.5
Interesting. More rocky than I'd have imagined, but still very angry. I probably won't go back, but enjoyed listening.
It’s a bit spiky, and raw, and a bit punky, and that would normally get me in a good mood but this is just largely unmemorable. It’s not bad, and I wouldn’t turn it off, but I’m unlikely to seek it out again.
#761. I don't hate it, but i don't like it, if that makes any sense. 3/5: fine
Not bad. Quite good background
4/5
Not my favorite PJ Harvey album, but still great.
I probably wouldn’t ever choose to listen to this again, but it sounds way beyond 1992 in a good way.
I need to listen to more PJ Harvey.
dva albuma prije ovog ugodno su me iznenadila, a sad i ovaj. slušam drugi put. čini mi se boljim od "let england shake", koji ću sada definitivno ponovo poslušati. a i ovaj
PJ Harvey was mixed into my daily stream years ago. I've always really liked her music. This album is also pretty good. However, I've heard better music from her. Nevertheless, the album is an incentive to listen to more of PJ Harvey. 4/5
Super solid debut album. Raw and emotion but still polished.
I'm kinda shocked at how much i enjoyed Dry. I've never really heard much involving PJ Harvey or her music (Unless you wanna count The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds) but oddly enough, this was the kind of music i was expecting from her. And yeah, it is some good music. It has such a rough sound with the guitars, bass and drums kinda giving it a bit of a grunge feel despite this album not really being grunge. I also think it went at the right length giving me my fill, not too much, not too little. There are some songs that feel like they don't get to the point and the ending of this album feels a little odd but aside from those two gripes, I really enjoyed this one. Best Song: Victory Worst Song: Happy And Bleeding