Dry

Harvey makes music for a very specific crowd. I am not that crowd and yet I found myself drawn to this album, enjoying this album. It’s wonderfully written and structured. Every song feels like a chapter in a story. One told to us little by little. Unwrapping itself slowly and leaving us, the listener satisfied.

Great, but I like her later stuff more. Interesting to hear where she started, and another artist where I have added all her (other) albums to my "after the list" list!

Lots of catchy guitar hooks, very raw, emotive sound.

I would have loved this in high school if I had this on cd. It's a little weird and off kilter. Was a huge fan of the ones since that ended up on the radio. Not something I'd listen to a ton now but outside of the right place and time

I heard this album several times before. I like it a lot, but I didn't remember much of it. Favorite song: Victory

Such killer guitar sound and production. I've not listened to much of them before, but there's no denying the influence on lots of bands that got a lot more play..

Overall, this is a nice album. I love how PJ Harvey stepped away from her Riot Grrl contemporaries from the time and wrote songs mostly about gender politics. “O Stella” highlights a name given to the Virgin Mary, while some songs like “Sheela-Na-Gig” make me cringe due to the lyrical content. Regardless, PJ’s vocals are definitely powerful and worthy of praise. That’s why I think this album deserves an 85.4/100, or a 4.27/5.

Always been a sucker for a female voice like this. Good grooves to listen too

Polly does it again! And by ‘again’, I mean ‘for the first time’, this being her debut. Having already scored two later PJ Harvey albums highly I was prepared to take her down a peg or two this time, but I can’t do it. This is feral, high intensity stuff with no flab. The violin helps add some rustic colour to the rollicking power trio attack.

Album 330 of 1001 PJ Harvey - Dry Rating : 4 / 5 This is the PJ Harvey I enjoy. Had one of her later albums several days ago and it just didn't hit the same. Really enjoy this one. Another impressive female rocker who I didn't know much about before starting this.

Really enjoyed this album. PJ Harvey is an artist I’ve heard of a lot but never took the time to listen to, I’ll have to change that.

Polly Jean is a icon and should be taught in schools. Her energy, intelligence, voice and message are important. I don't think there are many better opening 6 track runs in an album. I put my headphones on and walked my baby to sleep and was bouncing along. I'd love to give this 5 stars, but the discordant strings on plants and rags weren't great and the drop in quality for the last 3 tracks make this a 4.4. Ive know this album for 30 years and it it was 5 stars I'd have listened to it more, so I'm rounding down.

yes

I knew nothing about PJ Harvey before listening to this album, and I really liked it. In particular I like "Oh My Lover" and "Dress", but the whole album has a good sound.

Like a 4.5. Mainly giving it a 4 because as much as I love it, I love a few of her other albums more, so I need that wiggle room. Such a strong first album.

Goddamn this lady is insanely talented.

What a special talent

Not really my personal style but I love the experimentation on this album. A lot of cool tones.

Love the roughness of the sound and her voice.

8.1/10

Pretty solid

Better than the other PJ Harvey album. Definitely the same broth base that produced Nirvana.

Definitely have to be in the mood for this. It's very raw....unique vibe.

Bit grungy for my tastes, but the rising PJ tide lifts all boats of style and genre.

I very much adore PJ Harvey and her work but I personally like her later, more in-depth and less straightforward alternative rock more. 'Dry' is still a great album that gets all its energy from the emotional force that PJ Harvey brings across.

Dress was the first song I connected with on the album. Its a pretty solid, grungey sound. I'm not super taken with the mix though, as the vocals are wayyyy in the back. Joe is another strong song.

Nice and crunchy rock and roll. I dig it.

I just about prefer her later albums - particularly Stories From the City - but this has so much barely-contained energy to it. She still sounds like the most exciting person in music.

Never listened to this artist before, but I enjoyed her quite a bit.

I've avoided PJ Harvey for a long time, I think I must have been particularly bitter about her Mercury Prize win in 2011. Saying that, this is really good - clever lyrics, aggressive and clean guitar. Victory was my favourite off the album, but I also enjoyed Joe. Finally, Spotify recommended some excellent songs when this album ended, including a couple from Hole. An all-in-all good experience. Will not be avoiding more of her stuff.

On my first listen I didn't quite liked it, sounded more raw than I was expecting. However I felt like there was something there and listened to it again. The choice to have her vocals mix lower than the instruments is interesting and the more I listened the more I enjoyed it. Will definitely listen to this again because I think it's got legs to become a 5 star album. Highlights: Sheela-Na-Gig Plants and Rags Water

I thought we'd had a PJ Harvey album already, but apparently not..... I am a little familiar with her, actually watched a NPR live set by her recently. This was completely different to what I expected, quite grungy in parts but it was the early 90s I guess. Similarities with Hole?? Was good. I recognised "dress" and "sheela-na-gig". Think those 2 tanks plus "plants and rags" were the best tracks. 3.5 I don't like the album cover!

Released in 1992, "Dry" marked the debut album of English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, establishing her as a force to be reckoned with in the alternative rock scene. The album, characterized by its raw energy and visceral intensity, showcases Harvey's distinctive songwriting, evocative lyrics, and dynamic musical arrangements. Lyrics: PJ Harvey's lyrics in "Dry" are both poetic and blunt, often exploring themes of desire, power dynamics, and vulnerability. The opening track, "Oh My Lover," sets the tone with Harvey's yearning vocals and lyrics that convey a complex mix of passion and pain. Throughout the album, Harvey's words paint vivid pictures, such as in "Dress," where she sings about the transformative power of clothing and its impact on identity. The lyrical depth and emotional resonance of "Dry" contribute to its timeless appeal. Pros: Harvey's ability to convey intense emotions through her lyrics is a standout feature. The honesty and vulnerability in her words make the album relatable and emotionally charged. Cons: Some may find the explicit and sometimes dark nature of the lyrics challenging, potentially limiting the album's accessibility for a broader audience. Music: The music in "Dry" is a sonic journey that traverses a range of emotions, from the haunting and atmospheric to the aggressive and powerful. Harvey's guitar work is a highlight, showcasing her prowess in crafting memorable riffs and melodies. The album's sound is both minimalist and bold, with tracks like "Sheela-Na-Gig" and "Victory" featuring distorted guitars and energetic percussion that drive the album's visceral impact. Pros: The musical diversity on "Dry" demonstrates Harvey's versatility as an artist. The arrangements are both engaging and challenging, pushing the boundaries of conventional rock music. Cons: Some listeners may find the raw, unpolished sound of the album less accessible, especially those accustomed to more polished production. Production: Produced by Rob Ellis and Harvey herself, "Dry" captures the raw intensity of the artist's live performances. The production is minimalistic, allowing Harvey's vocals and guitar work to take center stage. The decision to keep the recordings stripped down enhances the album's authenticity, emphasizing the emotional immediacy of the songs. Pros: The production style complements the album's themes and adds authenticity to the overall experience. The unembellished approach enhances the impact of Harvey's performance. Cons: Some listeners may prefer a more polished production, and the rawness of the recordings might be off-putting for those seeking a cleaner sound. Themes: "Dry" explores a range of themes, from the complexities of relationships ("Dress") to the empowerment and reclaiming of one's identity ("Sheela-Na-Gig"). The album delves into issues of desire, control, and the struggles of navigating societal expectations. Harvey's exploration of these themes is unapologetic and provides a unique perspective on the human experience. Pros: The thematic depth of the album adds layers of meaning, making it a compelling and thought-provoking listening experience. Cons: Some may find the themes too intense or dark, potentially limiting the album's broad appeal. Influence: "Dry" had a significant impact on the alternative rock landscape, influencing a generation of musicians with its fearless approach and innovative sound. The album's unapologetic exploration of female sexuality and its rejection of traditional gender roles contributed to the evolution of feminist rock. PJ Harvey's influence on subsequent artists is evident in the way her music challenged norms and inspired a new wave of creativity. Pros: The album's influence on the alternative rock genre and its impact on the representation of women in music solidify its place in music history. Cons: Some might argue that the album's influence is limited to a niche audience, particularly those drawn to alternative and indie rock. In conclusion, "Dry" stands as a landmark debut album that announced PJ Harvey as a formidable talent in the alternative rock scene. Its combination of evocative lyrics, dynamic music, raw production, thematic depth, and lasting influence makes it a timeless work of art. While its intensity and unpolished nature may not appeal to everyone, those who appreciate its unique qualities will find "Dry" to be a powerful and enduring listening experience.

Great debut that doesn't contain so much classics but her racous energy is the only thing that matters here.

Good

Solid and powerful alt rock.

I liked it

A great, raw early record from Harvey. Shows a lot of potential and guts.

Interesting listening to this album right after Siouxsie and the Banshees. There’s definitely a little overlap, but I much prefer PJ Harvey’s approach. Guitar driven, deeply confessional songwriting with fantastic melodies. I really enjoyed this album when it first came out, and I was happy to be reminded of it today!

It's good has that early 90s grunge production that was all the rage then. This goes in the give another listen pile.

Good solid album.

Cool. Enjoyed listening.

Extreme contrasts

better than most, plants and rags is quality

Did you know there's 4 PJ Harvey albums on this list? FOUR!! I'm not knocking her, but that feels excessive given all the omissions elsewhere in this list. All that out of the way, this was a fun raucous and exciting record. Raunchy bass, angular guitars and drums that never seem willing to just sit in the pocket with rhythms seeming switching up at the drop of a hat. Only thing that's hurting this album for me is the mix. For the most part it sounds like everything was done in a single take and whatever mix they had in the room is what you get on the final product. It sounds almost chaotic, but I guess that's also it's charm.

Curiously, I've got a bit of a PJ blind spot, which I'm extremely glad The Project is forcing me to remove. This was really good - full of angst and vitriol, but not overwhelmed by it. It's very raw, and if pushed, you'd probably guess that it was a debut album, but still, lovely stuff.

Really enjoyed this. missed the boat back in the day and a little disappointed now

like

PJ is bomb.

Man the name PJ harvey really undersells this album. I wasn't expecting a punk rock in your face album. I can really see the influence from the Monkeys, which is one of my favorite bands, so I really had a wonderful time with this album. Sheela-Na-Gig feels like it was part of laying the groundwork for the Alt-Rock sounds in the early 00s. Of course this all could be reinterpreted as a Nirvana-alike, but I think this is less Stone Temple Pilots v Pearl Jam and more two artists pulling from the collective unconscious that was vibing on the same level at the time.

Really good! I enjoyed it a lot.

The album art pisses me off but the music is fantastic. Dress is a banger, and Victory is bass heavy in a great way. She reminds me of people like Patti Smith and Tori Amos. Additional standouts include Sheela-na-gig and Joe.

The Best of the 8000 PJ Harvey albums we’ve heard so far. This one can be on the list, the others can leave to make room for hip hop and r and b

Brit grunge.

Wish I had more time to comment let’s just say she’s great.

I didn’t pay any attention to PJ back in the day because I was busy listening to other stuff. I’m glad I got to really listen now.

God damn, I love PJ Harvey. I am familiar with most of her catalog — this is an album I don't own and am less familiar with. It's funny, having discovered her on To Bring You My Love, when I first checked out this material, I dismissed her first two albums as an artist still finding her voice. The rawness and streamlined muscularity of this early work masked the brilliance of her songwriting, at least for me in that context. I've since warmed up (big time) to Rid of Me, and this was a pleasure, hearing PJ Harvey's first release — familiar and new all at once. It's fantastic. Noisy. The band is great. The songs are sneaky in their sophistication and odd structure. I'm going to listen to every one of her albums in chronological order — this made me hunger for more. She's just released a new one, I Inside the Old Year Dying, which is apparently excellent. I can't wait to arrive at that one at the end of my journey. This is a 4... she and the band have plenty of 5s in the catalog. This flags just a tiny bit at the end. But, god damn, I love PJ Harvey.

This was my first time hearing this and I dug it. I liked its quietly aggressive vibe. Lots of interesting rhythmic things going on. Great lyrics. The strings on that one tune were amazing. Is it a 5? Maybe, but today it hits like a solid 4 with the potential to level up.

What really struck me while listening to Dry is how artists' first albums can really hit the right notes while others serve as a foreshadow of even greater things to come. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this listen but I could also hear how she is on the path to smooth out some of the hard edges while still retaining her force. Sheela-Na-Gig was definitely a repeat listen last night. It's hard to give this album a 3 because it's so clearly a necessary path to get to Stories From the City, Let England Shake, White Chalk...

Damn... it's raw. I like it.

I like this a good bit. Very raw.

A genre of music that I would not list among my favorites 3 years ago, this list has really made me appreciate the sub genre of 1990s female-led alternative rock. Stuff like Garbage, Hole, Sleater-Kinney, and PJ Harvey. So thanks, list! Thlist.

Raw and powerful, PJ Harvey channels Patti Smith for her debut album. This record fits perfectly among the early 90s indie and grunge scenes and still holds up well.

Powerful, raw, emotional songs. A cohesive album of high quality, as one might expect from a powerhouse songwriter such as PJ Harvey. I am a little surprised there's not a remastered version of this, as the mix seems a little muddy and dull.

Strong debut, her other work is definitely stronger in my opinion but this is a solid, raw album that is pretty emblematic of her style.

Listened to it three times

HL: "Sheela-na-Gig", "Water", "Hair", "O Stella" Idk why I had such a hard time summarizing my experience here. Yesterday (the 9th) I listened to it with no distractions, yet I still had to listen to the whole thing again today (the 10th) to give a proper rating. Apparently this is "real" PJ Harvey (I had Let England Shake as my introduction to her, which doesn't really evoke her sound on the early stuff). I think the first listen, I just heard grunge. cowpunk. 90s angst. not really my thing. And on the 2nd, I heard a lot more. funky time signatures. funky cello. unexpectedly heavy percussion on "O Stella". fury. Either a 3 or a 5, so I'll compromise a bit here. August 9, 2023

Quite good.

No iconic songs on here that I had heard before, but a solid album I thought. Pleasant to listen to.

My first PJ Harvey album to come across on this list, really enjoyed this, raw female punk energy. Added to my rotation.

A really solid album, feels like it was more influential and important to other artists than we might know or consider.

Une voix de femme comme je les aime, vulnérable, rauque, mais pas appuyée. Quelque chose de dramatique sans le pathos.

Pretty fire, badass female vocals

It has the authenticity and energy that I love about indie music and at the same time, it has the dirtiness of early grunge. Quite nice.

Geggjað fyrsta albúm, mjög solid fílingur gegnum alla plötuna.

really good debut. not as good as stories of the city... but really solid.

A bit challenging of a listen, but i like the raw emotional songs that have an occasionally aggressive musical energy. Oh My Lover and Water work best for me, though the album is pretty engaging.

Cool album. Nice powerful songs.

PJ Harvey has that "goblin guarding a stash of gold" vibe. A true icon. You go girl. This album sounds like Björk if she actually made music. Or maybe like Patti Smith if you dipped her into hydrochloric acid. I don't like how I can see her nose hairs on the album cover though. That's not funky fresh, I'm afraid to say.

Well it’s PJ Harvey with some great great songs - Dress, Sheela-na-gig, oh my lover… not her best overall record but a strong one nonetheless that is always fun to revisit for me.

Polly Jean is so cool and this is such a strong debut. The band rocks, the lyrics/singing are dark, sexy, and mysterious. There is this great visceral energy about the album, sweat and spit drip off of every song. Every time I listen to this I like it more.

This is not my favorite PJ Harvey, but it's still very much PJ Harvey.

Hey you. Yeah you. I see you scrolling with them dry-ass lips. Nah don't even try licking them. Dry-ass lips having ass

I don't know if I like this PJ Harvey more than To Bring You My Love, but it's ridiculous that she wasn't on the wave of success and stardom that other rock acts with much less talent got to ride in the 90s'.

Even though nothing REALLY peaked my interest. I still was very willing to come back to it. I'm not really sure why. I just enjoyed it a good bit. I also wonder if PJ Harvey was influenced by some Kate Bush? Her vocals reminds me of Bush.

Interesting

I was familiar with PJ Harvey due to "Down by the Water" (which I enjoy), but this was my first time listening to an entire album of hers. This is much rawer and more guitar-heavy than "Down by the Water." It legit rocks, and I dig it. I'm impressed. 4.5 stars.

I should like this more than I do, but I don't. I'm strangely picky with female led rock/alt bands. 3.5

When most think of grunge music they'd likely think of Nirvana. This album exemplifies that style just as much!

It's good, yeah

I've never heard of this artist before but I liked this album a lot! I don't know what about it appealed to me but there was just something that made me wanna keep listening instead of just kinda getting through it because I had to like the previous record. Honestly this is probably the closest I've been to buying a physical copy of a band I've recently heard of from this list.

Kul kul kul. Ne čiiiisto zame, a moram še parkrat poslušati.

som legal, mina cantando e tocando um violao e guita com estilo, agradável

Aika hyvä määrä näitäkin levyjä listalla. Tämä tähänastisista PJ Harveyn levyistä ehkäpä paras. 4/5

Jeii, Polly Jeaniä ei voi olla liikaa. Tän alku on melkein jopa legendaarisen kova. Hieman lopussa tuntuu, että oliko biisit parhausjärjestyksessä. Mutta helppo 4/5 nyt ainakin.

Erinomainen, kekseliäs ja itseironisella tavalla hauska levy. Saundikin toimii. Vähän heilun nelosen ja vitosen välillä, mut ehkä jään nyyläilee neloseen viel. Ehdottomasti pitää kuunnella lisää tulevaisuudessa.

It’s nice but I need to listen to it more really to “get it” I think 4/5 maybe???

I listened to this twice in a row, because I felt that there was something more there that first time I listened to it. I'm glad I did, because I liked it even more the second time. Not sure why I liked this album more than the other PJH album we listened to so far, but this seemed to be a bit more cohesive. PJ Harvey said she put everything into this first album because she didn't know if there would be a second. Man, you can tell. There was a lot going on there. "Dress" was probably my favorite, the lurching of the 3/4 time signature did it for me. I did not like the abrupt stops of the first few songs, that did feel a little like there was a missing track somewhere. Definitely an album I will come back to.

Dark, gloomy, and grungy. Just the way I like PJ Harvey's music (and a lot of other music too). It's got that same raw guitar and bass that early Nirvana was going for, as they chased after a Pixies kind of thing. I liked her two singles Dress and Sheela-Na-Gig when I first discovered this album a couple years ago. Re-listening (a few times over) I also found I really dug Oh My Lover, O Stella, Victory, Hair, Joe - again, loving the raw guitar and bass. Big fan of Harvey's first three albums. Solid debut here.

Wow, very cool album. Heard of her, but never heard her music before. I see there are three more albums here, so looking forward to those. I'll call it a 4 because I don't know if it's an essential album, but I definitely want to listen more. Great voice, cool music. Favorite Tracks - O Stella (awesome bass line), Victory, Happy and Bleeding, Sheela-Na-Gig, Plants and Rags (like the unusual stylings - great use of violin).

My initial reaction in seeing this was WTF?! THREE albums by PJ Harvey?! Is she married to the editor? Then I listened to it and realized this is the good one.

She's so much better since she split from Duncan.

You ex-hib-ition-ist

Great listen, will definitely be checking out more from PJ Harvey! Best tracks: O Stella, Victory, Sheela-Na-Gig, and Plants and Rags

Raw and powerful. Initially I was going to ask if this album was necessary for this list - how many slots can one artist take? - but this is as essential a debut and mission statement for Harvey as an artist that it warrants inclusion.

Still my favourite Peej album even after all these years (must be a teenage galvanising thing). So much more accessible and fun than Rid Of Me. Muddle of album is particularly impressive (Victory, Hair, Sheela, Dress, etc).

4.0 not bad, ran to it. Good run. 90s rock, female vocalist/songwriter

PJ Harvey is awesome. Poetry with attitude, this album in a case in point for how music can be heavy and nuanced, moody and intelligent. Rock music with a truly delicate soul

I really like this album. I like how it's more vocals focused, and the darker instrumentals help set the tone. The lyrics hit hard, and it's angry but catchy and really well made. It's not something I would've tried to seek out on my own, but I feel like that is a mistake on my part. Favorite Tracks: Dress, Sheela-Na-Gig, Plants and Rags, Water

Good grungy nineties lady I enjoyed

Check out the olds here: I first heard Sheela-Na-Gig on the local college radio station KGRG 89.9 FM broadcast from Green River Community College in Auburn, WA before I graduated high school. The DJ introduced PJ Harvey as something like a "female fronted Fugazi" which after hearing the song felt both accurate and totally off. That aside, I was completely floored by the song and picked up DRY as soon as possible. And now I'm just another long-time fan of PJ Harvey whose amazing voice, artful song craft, and impassioned bravado has never fell out of fashion with me.

Oh My Lover- 8 O Stella- 7 Dress- 8 Victory- 9 Happy and Bleeding- 6 Sheela-na-gig- 9 (very good) Hair- 7 Joe- 7 Plants and Rags- 8 Fountain- 8.5 Water- 8 Total- 85.5 or 76%

No one song particularly stood out, but the overall sound really worked for me

I enjoyed it!

Love that angry chick rock

That crooked mouth, speak to me. Polly Jean, you are a wonder of this world. "PJ Harvey is a music icon because she is a truly original artist who has made a lasting impact on the world of music" (trying a little AI in the comments)

Saw another review mention the mixing, but it really knocked my enjoyment not being able to fucking HEAR HER for half a song. Whether it's Apple Music or just the album, I don't know. There's a lot really good here, and as a debut too.

Good

i liked it!

Love PJ Harvey. Solid album.

I liked the vibes of some of the songs. I would probably listen again

A great album but short of her fabulous best

Yeah really good. Like this music.

Dark and gritty post-punk that serves as a perfect companion to the grunge era. Instruments have a lively and atmospheric feel to them, incredibly spacious and synergetic, giving an abrasive undertone to the underlying melody. This is supported by Harvey's eery vocals buried beneath the distortion, as well as the dirty and screechy sound of many of the instruments (e.g. the cymbals and classical strings). Second half is weaker but still full of great ideas. Favorites: Oh My Lover, Dress, Victory, Sheela-Na-Gig, Joe, Plants & Rags

I liked this album. I think I liked the other PJ Harvey album recommended on this list better, but this had a similar style 4/5

Pretty good

App deleted my review. Here's what I remember writing. Any excuse to stick a bit of Peej on. Really solid debut with some proper bangers on it. She goes from strength to strength and she's one of those artists who whatever she does you know it will be interesting. You exhibitionist!

Polly Jean in full-on rock goddess mode.

Good album, love some PJ Harvey, nice to hear the album that has O Stella. Definitely good lyrics, good riffs. PJ’s singing can be hard to appreciate at times, but I liked the album overall

Now this is more like it! Great decorating music: my painting has been 43% more aggressive and efficient.

Good I liked it a lot, reminded me of Euterpe

09/19/2022 Retrospective listen. Tried for several days to get to this one. I would’ve loved the shit out of this if I was alive when it came out. This album rocks hard

Very enjoyable. Classic PJ Harvey.

PJ Harvey is a treasure.

A compelling collection of grooves, driving distorted rhythm, and poetry given passionate life. Awesome album!

PJ i love you. even though it is not as good as the stories album from 2000 i appreciate this one a lot.

Tres cool

Very chill, experimental, melodic and emotional. Will listen to it again

4.5

A lot of overlapping qualities shared with the Riot Grrrl movement and big of the time bands like Nirvana. This album rips, killer debut effort.

Aggressive, Fuzzed out alt-rock of the highest order. Dry could be released today and still sound fresh. Great record.

A amazing feminine album

La voix de la chanteuse est très rock and roll et ca sonne super bien avec la musique Grunge/rock. C'est très de l'époque et ca s'écoute suprenament très bien. 4

Right before the swell of bright britpop that would be the UK's conscious reaction to America's dingy grunge, England's PJ Harvey had accepted the raw and noisy textures associated with grunge for her debut album. This style of alternative rock would be a hit for Harvey, working well with her prose that invites listeners into scenes from tired relationships. Truth be told, I have a soft spot for cool 90's alt rock like this. Sonic Youth, Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, etc. All of it cool. Even if I don't love it, I still hold it in high regard for some reason.

Postoji li prigodniji naslov za ovaj album

pañuelo verde a full

Not my favourite PJ album, but still great.

Nice, spikey stuff, with some lovely sounding bass. Has aged well and sounds pretty timeless.

This was excellent. A little suprised as I've listened to PJ Harvey before and never been that fussed but this was very sparse and arresting. "Water" is right up my street...

Var på tide at eg hørte litt på pj harvey, har tenkt lenge at eg skulle testa da ut. Syns egentlig da va ganske bra, men eg e jo ein 90tallsdritt som du pleie å dei

I had a bunch of notes but they’re gone. Basically I’m feeling a 4.5

Love the grungy feel, surprised I had never heard of her before!

Gotta love PJ Harvey.

Bought this on release with the demo vinyl. Loved it then. Still do, but not as much.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Sheela-na-gig, Joe

Pretty rad, Sheela-Na-Gig is a banger

Bit of a darker sounding album, lots of intense songs. Really liked it.

Meilleur que Rid of Me Prefs: Oh My Lover, O Stella, Dress, Happy and Bleeding, Joe, Plants and Rags Moins pref: Fountain

What a debut. She doesn't mind spilling her heart all over the stage. She arrived fully formed and just got better. Just when it was getting a bit same-ish, the last four songs just blew me out of the water.

I much prefer this to "Songs from The City...". More raw and impassioned. I feel like it's an album I'd have to live with for longer than a day to really enjoy, but I played it through three times and enjoyed it.

I think I gave this a single listen back in the day and did not like it at all... My sonic palette has broadened considerably since the only-metal days, and now I can quite get into it, albeit it took a couple of listens. This album is where singer-songwriteriness and noise rock collide, and it's rewarding, even if it isn't inviting. Fave track - "Sheela-na-Gig", I reckon!

An amazing debut album that introduced us to the incredible PJ Harvey. Her longevity in music has proven this record was no fluke. A raw, rocking album! I haven't heard the demo version of the album yet, but I will for sure now!

Gritty, impassioned and powerful, but more straightforward than Stories and Let England Shake, and thus less sharp and dramatic. “Happy and Bleeding” and “Sheela-Na-Gig” and “Dress” are best moments (and very good indeed). One digs quite a few hooks (bassline on “Victory”) and like the rough edges (as at the end of “Dress.”) This is a solid 4, even without grading on the curve for the debut. Still, I feel compelled to question the presence of four PJH records in this list. (This one or Rid of Me would be the one to go, probably.) Artistic growth was going to come, but they never were going to be Radiohead.

прикольный рок для женщин, песня про платье - во!

4.25

A damn incredible debut

The true indie queen.

Surprisingly musical for the grungy style. It might grow on me if I listen a few more times.

Wrong opener.

Great debut, god bless pjh.

Amazing. One of the coolest albums of the 90s. Love the minimalistic sound. My favorite of hers. 8/10

more ferocious than i remember. Almost there to Rid of Me. Great repurposing of the blues.

Great album, PJ is relatively new to me but it's a good album.

Ooooo I liked this, gave me Alanis Morissette vibes. Lots of energy, will def come back to this one.

A solid debut from one of the best songwriters of the last 30 years. Hoping there's a lot more from her as we go through the list

I'm beginning to realize that I enjoy 90s female indie rock quite a bit in between this and fiona apple. The guitars are really good on this album

I think i owned this - good grungey bluesey stuff

This is my second PJ Harvey album, having heard "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" recently. This earlier album definitely sounded more "raw" and I wasn't very fond of it first time through. Songs that did first grab my attention were "Dress" and "Sheela-Na-Gig." Spending more time with this, I found it even more engaging than the "Stories" album, as each song in turn revealed something striking.

Having listened to a PJ Harvey album earlier in the project, I had some idea of what to expect. I enjoyed rockin’ to this one. Not every track was a home run for me, but as an album I thought it flowed very nicely.

Great. I never listened to PJ Harvey back in the day. Wish I had now, this was really good.

Love a bit of PJ but there seems to be a few of her LP's in this list. I know she is a "Musicians Musician" and I admire her work but.... This is a good album with some nice tracks. "Sheela Na Gig" my favourite here.

I originally listened to Dry when I was 18 but, I dunno, I didn't really like it. (Rid of Me was dope, though.) But now I absolutely get it. It's that raw rock, the sneers and licks. And maybe the greatest rock lyric, "Put money in your idle hole", with the deep dip on the hole as a good hole should be.

Another PJ Harvey album? What a treat. Not sure I prefer this album to Stories From The City. So 4/5.

Enjoyed a lot of the driving bass and percussions.

A great angry statement of a debut.

I thought this was really cool, and it had a sound that I couldn't quite place. Powerhouse vocals.

Made me a bit angry listening to this on my way to a bbq. Love her energy, and she has so much to say.

Its a fantastic album, crammed full of the energy and innovative novelty of a debut of an artist who will go on to greatness. I think the comparisons that others have made to Patti Smith's album "Horses" are apt in a lot of ways. The song "Dress" perfectly exemplifies the simultaneously approachable and yet rough nature of the album. The song is compelled forward by the persistent beat, and everything feels like it is charging and driving forward to an unheard point of explosion. Another track with a similar energy, which I loved is "Joe". But there are other faces to the album such as the somewhat swanky "Hair" or "Plants And Rags", which starts out as a girl and a guitar and slowly grows into an ensembled piece of at least 4 different stringed instruments that roll around eachother in near dissonance. It was super fun to listen to, and I'm stoked to hear another phenominal female artist on this list.

This was really good. Musically solid, with creative, sometimes dissonant use of strings, which I always appreciate. Harvey's got a fantastic vocal style, with shades of Patti Smith. She can switch it up from blistering and raw to incredibly lovely with ease. Her lyrics are beautiful, raw, deeply poetic. The comparison to Smith seems apt again here. My one small critique would be that she does the quiet-loud thing a bit overly much, to the point where I'm having to adjust the volume constantly so I'm not blasting myself out of my AirPods. It's a great effect, when used more sparingly. Fave Songs: Dress, O Stella, Plants and Rags, Water

Angry, gritty, full of emotion. Hadn't listened in a long time, but this is still a great album.

I mistook a lower ceiling and floor for less dynamic range than Rid of Me. Harvey's voice is reminiscent of Björk's at times, though it's no copy and the music underneath certainly is not. I adore the low instrumentation, especially when the low strings come in loud. The moments of self-loathing are the most painful ones, but more than anything the music pushes the listener on and on. It's a twisting journey along a less-than-smooth curve. I feel goodness, but not something that can be grasped all the way around. Perhaps that's one of the points.

I'm not sure what kind of rock this is, but I like it.

Grunge rock that's stripped back to a point where it's got a folk-y bluesy sense to it. Great voice as well as great tunes

Dry is the debut studio album by the band PJ Harvey, fronted by English singer-songwriter and musician PJ Harvey, released on Too Pure Records on 30 March 1992.

Rockin' and artsy and excellent.

No stand out tunes but overall a great album 3.9

Yllättävän positiivinen kokemus. Olettamukseni PJ Harveysta oli jonkinlaista taiderockia. Hieman tyyliin Tori Amos mutta oudommin. Taisin sekoittaa Kate Bushiin tms. Tämä olikin oikein sujuvan angstista rockjytäilyä. Happy and Bleedingista tuli vahvat Alanis Morrissette-vibat. Joka on siis positiivinen asia. Tasaisen vahva levy, jonka arvosana 3,5 pyöristyy ylöspäin.

There is no denying PJ Harvey’s talent, and this might well be her seminal album. I prefer “Stories from the city, stories from the sea” which is a natural progression from her music creation skill present on this album.

Well that was a bit weird and even discordant at times, it must have been very strange in 1992 because it still seemed that way in 2021

Takes me back to my Dad playing it a lot when I was younger. Personally I prefer "Rid Of Me", "Is This Desire?" and "To Bring You My Love" but that's probably due to having more exposure to those than this one.

Liked this more than expected. Lots of guitar and cool riffs. Patti Smith energy

Really raw, emotional yet mellow rock with hints of blues and grunge and an aftertaste of punk. No wonder Kurt Cobain stated that this is one of his favorite albums; this sounds like a more experimental, maybe even prog-ish Nirvana album. Solid 9/10.

Really solid 90s alternative rock. Some great production and interesting time signature/rhythm changes.

Girl RadioHead. This better than Lady in Satin. I like it. Audio volume is inconsistent between songs.

Great so far, but will need to listen to it more.

If it wasn't all a little too muted, especially when it's too quiet for the quiet parts, it would be 5-star. Female rock vocalists are kind of my thing, and I should have listened to more PJ Harvey back in the day.

Sympatoche

Textbook 90s alt pop/rock. Genre isn’t personally my cup of tea, but album is objectively good and I can appreciate that.

Epic album, not her best but a banger. Dress, hair and joe are goated

Debut studio album by PJ Harvey with great personal songs. I back this quote of a critic: "a volcano and the scorched earth surrounding it, ripped with landsliding guitars, cowpunk mania, twisted blues, profound extremes, and power chords that hit like boulders dropped from on high."

What a really great album. I truly did not expect this style of music form her. She is an artist that I will be playing more often! She rocks!!!!

Raw, messy, muscular, feminine, vulnerable, angry, seductive, powerful.

I dig it. Had heard of PJ Harvey but didn’t really know her music. I think I’d revisit/explore more.

Surprisingly delightful. I was a bit leary reading the wiki but ended up enjoying her efforts.

Liked this. Has the worst opening track ever but otherwise really great.

Really enjoyed this, will be spending my weekend listening to more!

Вообще уважаемо, женская альтернатива 90-х вроде более прилизанно и попсово звучала (e.g. Garbage, Cardigans, ну и всякие там параморы после), тут вот этот перегруженный впизду просто фузз даёт сразу ощущение трушечки определённой. Да и сама ПиДжи интересно завывает время от времени, особенно финальный трек (по традиции) в душу запал. Но пока слушал — пришёл к неприятному для себя выводу. В какой-то момент понял, что некоторыми частями мне это всё напоминало творчество Ким Гордон из Sonic Youth. А проблема-то в чём: если бы мне вот так же попался какой-то сольник Гордон, то я точно так же с аппетитом бы отведал и сказал, мол, норм, за артистизм и трушечку можно высокий балл поставить. Но суть в том, что с творчеством Ким я знаком по SY. И там её унылые профеминистические гимны просто убивают нахуй всё настроение. Я хз, соники — одна из моих любимых групп, но по сравнению с песнями вокалистов-кунов песни вокалиста-тян просто меркнут и при этом калят легендарные альбомы (учитывая, что их обычно чуть ли не большинство). Короче, для себя понял, что по сравнению с лучшими примерами альтухи 90-х (читай «мужской») этот дисочек довольно бледная и замусоленная калька, спасаемая иногда только экстремально имбалансным сведением и редкими достойными припевами. Но будет ли честно оценивать альбом на сравнении, нежели как определённый продукт творчества в вакууме? Вероятно, нечестно. Посему с небольшой грустью ставлю 7.

Nicht das beste Album von pj Harvey aber immer noch super

Kinda feels like English female Nirvana grunge. But post-punk at times too, also with some country/blues-esque vibes. Really enjoyed this and really wasn't expecting to. 4/5.

Raw, aggressive, and sexy. Love it.

I liked the bits I listened to

Loving it! Definite Pretenders vibes!

love this onreeeeeeeeee

I have some of PJ's stuff from a few years later but never had this one. It's mighty fine.  Sheela-na-gig is a beauty. The words "wash that man right outta my hair" are lodged in my memory bank for some reason. An old jingle for a TV commercial perhaps or maybe  an old movie. My memory bank is cloudy but the memory is that it was sung in a girly girl way. Not so much this time; in fact  about as far from girly girl as one can get. Is "femme angst" a genre? If it's not, it should be. After all, male angst is a genre. It  goes by the moniker "grunge". 

Oh my

90s kinda good moody rock. kind of annoying how dissonant she sings sometimes. but part of the ruggedness I suppose.

This grew on me a lot as I listened to it. I really liked a few of the songs and even tho it’s not my style I definitely see the appeal. 7.

Not really my thing but still pretty good. A solid 7

I like the raw, bluesy, punk-ish sound. I had “Dress” on high rotation back in the days of Napster, but the rest is new. A great debut album!

Je suis surpris de pas connaître ça !! Du rock des années 90. C’est très bon on dirait un mélange de L7 et sublime. Le violon est bien ajouté et n’a pas l’air wacky. La bass groove grave et vol le show selon moi. Les vocals sont pe le point faible je trouve, on dirait un cover band (mauvais chanteur) puis les textes... m’en criss hahahah

5/10

Some really quiet bits and then some really loud bits. Quite repetitive but like the rawness. 3/5

I’ve struggled with PJ Harvey over the years but i’ve never quite given her an honest shake til now. I didn’t LOVE it but i definitely want to know more now!

Not my thing

Never dug too deep into PJ Harvey, this was my first listen to her other than her one hit song. Band has a great crunchy grunge sound, love me some 90s grunge. PJs delivery has a little bit of a Patti Smith vibe which completely rocks. Enjoyed this quite a bit glad to discover this.

It’s no surprise to me this is one of Kurt Cobains favorite albums. You can hear it in its instrumentation and DIY sensibilities. Maybe I don’t like it as much as he does, but I will say it’s a commendable 90’s indie album.

Strongest PJ album I had so far. Feeling high 3* and if I ever return to this album I might upgrade. 3/5

The music was fine, kind of reminds me of Fiona Apple. But….. I reeeeally don’t like looking at the album cover

Better than some of the other PJ Harvey records.

Decent debut actually. Raw lime we know her but also diverse and engaging

Better than I expected

Seminal, grunge cello.

No conecté

Fav song: Sheela-na-gig

pretty decent actually

medium

Polly Jean Harvey is a very controversial artist. First of all, I don't know a single person who has a negative attitude toward her music — either people call her "Legend" or they simply don't understand her work. As I've already said at SFTSx2 review, I'm one of the latter. I liked PJ's debut album much more than the 2000 album — it's much rawer, a little wild in some ways, but not aggressive. It all sounds rather grungey (and of course, it was hard to do otherwise in the 90s), but it's also melodic. True, the second half sags in places — the cello appears prominently there, making the songs seem sharply played on out-of-tune instruments. And yet, the record constantly feels like something's missing! It's exactly the same situation as with the artist herself — I can't say anything bad about her, but I feel like she's just a little bit missing for the album to be truly outstanding. But I don't understand what's missing.

I really love the lyrics and instrumentation on this LP with most of the songs having pieces I really enjoy. The voice of PJ Harvey is also what I think will bring me back to this album the most. The starting track oh my lover is a great example of this and is one of my favorite openers I have heard due to this project. Some of the songs do fall flat for me personally but as a whole a very solid album. Fav tracks: oh my lover, dress, happy and bleeding, shee-la-gig, and plants and rags

An interesting debut album by this trio. Edgier then her following albums and not as lyrical but I liked it better.

6/10

A nice rock n roll album this one, I enjoy the loose guitar and catchy riffs. PJ Harvey is a mainstay on some queens of the stone age songs too, it's got that desert vibe

Mieux que l'innaudible "rid of me"

interested to hear more, inspiration for other female alt vocalists

This is one I feel like I haven't had enough time to absorb. It's got an appealing grunge-like sound and starts strong out of the gate. It started to feel samey later in the tracklist and never really hit the heights of the first three songs again. Oh My Lover starts things with an appealing slow crawl, and O Stella picks up the tempo before transitioning abruptly into Dress which keeps up the pace. Vocals remain consistently good as does the instrumentation -- all with enough rough edges to keep the whole thing feeling appropriately raw. This is one of those albums that make me think the best from this artist was yet to come -- and I'm interested to find out more.

I like it. But nothing stands out.

It's not bad. I prefer her later stuff but you get a great idea as to what she's about with this album. Its well worth a listen and if you enjoy it give a listen to her solo stuff.

I feel like there's a bit much PJ Harvey on the list but it's cool to hear the debut. I'm realizing how much it's a challenge to review her without talking about the mood and attitude it brings. Okay I just reread all my reviews and that's what I've said each time. Yeah I don't think this clicks with me but it's interesting that I keep feel like I'm missing something. The opening track here did work for me more than most of what I've heard from them though. Maybe this time it caught me on a good day.

Very enjoyable alt-rock album

I found it funny that one song was inexplicably barely audible

Not bad, probably would have been more impactful if I had listened when I was younger.

I've never really listened to PJ Harvey, but this was a lot better than I thought it would be. Very raw. I hated the first tone at first until I loved it.

Almost a 4, I wish there there was a different singer. There's nothing wrong with the vocals though.

Mixed feelings about this one…I didn’t mind it, but one thing I found rather annoying was how many of the songs started so softly that I could barely hear them, so I would adjust the volume, and a few seconds later get my ears blown out. Anyway, this one is between 2 and 3 stars; I will give it three, in spite of the annoying volume issue.

Ohan ok. Aika mitäänsanomaton

Not really a standout for me but not terrible either. Really dug “Dress” but that’s about it.

Mid britpop belike

First time listening to this. Liked the passion, strength, unique sound of it.

it was ok but damn the album cover was terrible which made me not really like this album. Kinda forgettable lowkey

Well as my original review was wiped out and apparently offended my own web browser which mass deleted the entire thing, here is the abridged version. Solid debut by PJ who used Patti Smith as her muse and built upon that history of unique female writers such as Laurie Anderson to create her own rock oriented niche that has stood the test of time. This debut is solid, the 2 singles catchy and lyrical wry and interesting and you can see this as the jumping off point for a successful career because the writing is meticulous and PJ has something to say. Not her best record but a solid beginning. 3.5/5

Grundgy guitars, raw sounding vocals. First few tracks sort of blend together in style. Really like the rawness and spaciousness of “Fountain.”

This was ok. Decent, angsty 90's rock. It was maybe a little too dour for me on a Monday morning, but it sounded kind of cool and definitely of it's time.

I like PJ as a principle. This album is a time capsule and was fully like 7 years ahead of its time. But not something that would call me back to revisit it regularly

Best Song: Dress. Fantastic rolling rhythm section. This song has a great sense of momentum behind it. Worst Song: Happy and Bleeding. This song somehow lacked the punchy energy of the others. Overall: My favourite of the PJ Harvey albums I've been shown on this list. This one feels a bit more approachable, but also more punky. There is an endearingly raw streak that runs through it, but I still don't find it particularly memorable. Also, the album really dissolves in a dull way in the latter half.

DEU PRA OUVIR NÃO ROGERINHO

Deserts.

Season: Late Spring Nights Favorite Song: Water

Didn’t listen to all of it but 6/10

I respect the reckless abandon that went into this album. One more listen at a higher volume may be required. 3.

2,5

Never been a fan, but this one is better than the others.

The vibes of this lady are great - punkish, rebellious, discordant. But it didn’t really connect with me - maybe it was a bit too dry.

Enjoyed this a good amount. It's a bit harder rock than I really go for, but so much of this works really, really well. 3.5 stars, rounding down to meet my policy.

Yes

Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Very Good - I've heard lots of good things about PJ Harvey over the years but have never listened to anything. I really like this opener, it reminds me of a grittier, less sleek version of The Cure. A few tracks in and this is absolutely great. Victory is really good, as is Happy And Bleeding. Plants And Rags is awesome. I think this is probably the best new discovery of the project so far, absolutely phenomenal album. I'll have to listen again but I expect this to grow on me as well.

bass guitar should just sound like that I think. What I love about PJ's vocals is how baroque she sounds. Like her delivery is so operatic. Nice compliment to the 90s guitar thing. the 90s areso awsom. :) but honestly there are times where i was like this would be so more awseom if more raucous. I guess that is what Rid Of Me is for. SLIDE GUITAR SO FUN!!!!!! so many lyrics about the body... i feel so silly!!!!!!!!!!! like i loved bikini kill & sleater-kinney in high school, was like yess this riot grrl stuff is cool but i feel ignorant not knowing that PJ was kind of the frontrunner of the style??? but actually maybe this is not riot grrl??? not everything with Feminism Lyrics is riot grrl, barrett!!!! this is true. not as raucous as riot grrl. so maybe this is why i'd rather just put on The Woods or Dig Me Out. Let's circle back when we inevitably pull one of those albums on this journey we have taken ourselves on. drums on Hair, specifically in the verse, are causing the doubts with regards to this "is this riot grrl?" mental turmoil anguish i'm currently experiencing. Because they are so jazzy!!!! The band is so good here. hashtag let women talk about how much it sucks to be a woman without GRAHGRAHGRAH vocals. more "Subtle." Oh how I love subtlety. That thing that was so awesome about the 90s. Subtlety. I love how I write shit like this and then the next song is "Joe." Which is awesome. ACOUSTIC GUITAR WOW!!!!!! I LOVE WHEN THE 90S ALBUM IS ALL GRAHGRAHGRAH AND THEN THEY DO THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR!!!!!! BALLAD TIME!!!!! WOW!!!! BUT THE INSTRUMENTATIONS YES????? THEY ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE!!!!! AND WOW THAT IS A LOT MORE!!!!! I SHOULD EXPECT THESE THINGS!!!!! TIS THE NINETIES AFTER ALL!!!!!! This is awesome, but by the end of the end of the album, I feel the disconnect between vocals and instrumentation are apparent. Both are awesome, but it's just like, yes these things are awesome but it feels like both are panned hard left and hard right. They don't mesh together for me. This is a hard one to say THIS SUCKS!!!!! BUT WHEN IT IS ON MY EARS I'M LIKE I LIKE THIS!!!!!!! it's an easy one to say I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WANT TO RETURN TO THIS!!!! Hush little baby don't you cry. Albini's gonna come and place a mic.

didn't like it as much as other of hers

Started my Monday by seeing this enormous herpe on the cover. Not a bad grunge album though.

It’s good to have a woman-led band on the list. We need more. I want to like it more than I actually do. Maybe it takes several listens? After two listens I’m hearing strength but the energy isn’t really grabbing me in anyway. It most certainly isn’t inserting itself in my memory at all.

cool, jaime bien la basse notamment, a voir. . .

I like it, but nothing really sticks out to me though. 6/10

Whenever I hear PJ Harvey, I say “I quite like this. I should listen to more PJ Harvey”. Then I never do.

Light 3,5

Rock solid

Good mix of stuff from PJ Harvey's debut. The thrashier elements of this are really cool but - and maybe this is sacriliege - I think the more she leaned into hookier stuff, the better her albums became. My issue with Dry is that her more abrasive stuff is outclassed by American riot grrl stuff around the bend. Still quite good, fits well in concert with them but her later albums are my personal favorites.

this was okay, it just didn't fit the vibe rn, but i see hour people would like it. I enjoyed hair and water

This is a dense album for such a small sounding group!

Rv

This is epic. Nosy and chaotic and somehow delicate too.

I didn’t find much special in this but as a one time listen was a good experience.

Didn't hate it or love it. Was just meh.