Reviews (page 5 of 8)
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.
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
rock. vocals. wall of sound.
One of PJ Harvey’s better albums
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.
Never heard this before. British grunge is something I don't especially hate.
Bon, ça y est, t’es content? J’l’ai ai écouté tes albums de PJ Harvey, finito pis correcto, moyenno bueno
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
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.
It was OK
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.
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.
Drones a bit but I like the lyricism and point of view.
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.
very cool and hip
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
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.
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.
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.)
6.5/10
Was not surprised to see a lot of results when googling to see if people thought Carina Round sounds like PJ Harvey.
Fresh and powerful
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
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".
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
I don't like PJ Harvey, this was probably better, but I just don't.
Not my taste
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.
Girl rock, not remarkable
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
I will always love Sheela-na-gig. But the album as a whole just did not grab me in the same way. Sorry PJ.
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.
Ok. Bit samey. Good for its time
...
Dry
I find pj Harvey’s vocals and style really grating. It’s fine but doesn’t do anything for me at all
I need to revisit this one. I enjoyed it. Lots of back and forth between quiet and loud, soft and harsh sounds. I like.
Shades of Joan Jett
I enjoyed this, but not as much as the other album presented here, Rid of Me.
5.9/10
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.
Ok
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
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
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.
Correcto
Not my favourite Pj Harvey album but still good
It was chill
2.5
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…
I have never listened to PJ before. Liked some of the songs on this album.
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.
The instruments are what sold me, i had great time with this albums. The songs really kept going
Nope.
Fine, didn't leave much of an impression.
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.
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
I probably wouldn’t ever choose to listen to this again, but it sounds way beyond 1992 in a good way.
Super solid debut album. Raw and emotion but still polished.
A not-quite-as-good Alanis Morissette. I could say more — there's some more rock vibes with more distortion on some of the instruments, but the vibe is similar without as interesting instrumentation. Maybe other albums of hers are better!
It was ok. 3 star
3,1/5
Good
Wel vet, maar niet helemaal mijn smaak
It's okay.
Raw
Dry — дебютный студийный альбом английской певицы и автора песен PJ Harvey, выпущенный 30 марта 1992 года на лейбле Too Pure. Альбом был записан в местной студии The Icehouse в Йовиле, Англия, а треки исполнялись одноименным трио Харви. Первые 5000 виниловых пластинок и первые 1000 компакт-дисков включали демоверсии треков с альбома, а Dry впоследствии был выпущен в США на Indigo Records. Обе версии вышли в 1992 году. В интервью журналу Filter в 2004 году Харви сказала о своем дебютном альбоме: «Dry был моей первой попыткой записать пластинку, и я думала, что она станет последней. Поэтому я вложила в нее все, что у меня было. Это был очень экстремальный альбом. Я была очень рада, что смогла его записать. Я никогда не думала, что у меня появится такая возможность, поэтому решила, что должна сделать всё как можно лучше, потому что это, наверное, мой единственный шанс. По этой причине я чувствовала себя на пределе». Не совсем моё, но не скучно и не блекло. Прослушивать было приятно. Гранжево.
Pretty solid
I admire the passion, determination and message behind "Dry", but it didn't really make me want to explore further. Sorry Polly.
Nico après que kaaris a mis la lumière sur sevran. Vraiment pas convaincu au début puis c'était de mieux en mieux ! GG
Gear: Moondrop Variations Artwork: 🏜️👄🧷 Production: 🔊🔈🥩 Music: 😤♀️🌪️ Ratinng: 🍖🍖🍖(🍖)/5
I dunno, I liked it, I guess? Not fun or easy listening though.
Not really my music taste but it was full of raw emotion and some really nice indie rock passages. I liked Plants and Rags the most
3.25
Three stars seems a bit high but two felt a bit low. 5/10
Kind of whispery and hard to hear the vocals for a few songs. Ok but not my favourite.
idk why but i didn't realize PJ harvey was a woman. seems cool though.
Meh. Again, not a female singer fan.
Best PJ Harvey album so far, I liked that it was a bit more gritty and raw. Still not all that entertaining though. 5/10
"Dress" is really fun. So far this entire album has felt like something I'd hear at a really good basement show. "Sheela-Na-Gig" is also a jam. I enjoyed the strings and vocals on "Plants and Rags". This album had a lot going on. Lots of variation in instrumentation and rawer vocals that I enjoyed. Not many of the songs grabbed my attention, but I enjoyed them all. 6/10
Pretty solid, not my favorite of hers though.
Never had a PJ phase, but I think I like her other albums more
Enjoyable. I know she's a really interesting songwriter but couldn't get particularly into this album in the one day with it. Grungey production choices aren't my favourite either. Good though
Lots of energy. Getting to know the sound of this artist with another album on this list recently.
Liked this one a lot more than the other 2 on this list.
Day 49 Was heavier than I was expecting, some nice songs I’ve added to my dog-walking rotation list. 7/10 Highlights O Stella Dress Sheela Na Gig
Not really my speed.
Think this is the 3rd album by Polly I’ve been served up. So the 1001 Gods must be really into her which is no surprise. As I’ve said before I find her music a challenge but without doubt very accomplished if not immediately accessible. Never come across this album before. First impressions is that it is very brash with a lot of punk and grunge influences. So for me not as refined and easy on the ears as the albums she made later. 3/5 28/9/25
Holds something more the average indie debut but surely could have benefited from label cash. 3/ 5
This is a good album. It’s a shame PJ Harvey didn’t get over more commercially.
It was fine
Listened quite a lot to PJ Harvey in the 90s and early 00s but did not know this album. You already hear her typical sound here although for me the sound and songs I most liked are not so prominent on this album. So this one only gets a 3 from me.
Hard album - angry album. I can see why people would love this album. It would take me too long to get into it. I know when I love an album I haven't heard before as I'll play it again on the way in to work and this morning I really wasn't feeling it.
Para nada mi estilo. Bastante personalidad pero un sonido que escuché varias veces. Nada, un meh
A true 90s sound to this. Never listened to it before, but I like the rawness of PJs voice.
So I was totally prepared to hate this as soon as I heard the opening wails. I couldn’t listen while I worked — too distracting — and when I put in headphones late at night, there was a lot to like here. I particularly enjoyed the driving guitar and bass, when uptempo, to match her voice. I had a harder time when her vocals featured a bit more, although I applaud the raw effort and varying range. Never heard of her before and now I’m glad I did.
Patty Smith would be proud
Grungy but effective. 3.5/5
I like PJ Harvey lots, this one from early on is good…but there are better to come. She’s so wonderfully raw and stripped-down.
Its ok
I like PJ Harvey, and this is probably the best of her FOUR albums on this list, but four albums? She's not that 'must listen'. 3.5/5
PJ Harvey has always been an illusive listen. I really enjoy female-fronted rock adjacent music, but never got into PJ. Listening to an entire album I get it more. I dont think I will revisit her work but I appreciate her work.
I had never listened to a whole PJ Harvey album before. It is Ok, I was expecting more. The sound is very very early 90s as expected, but I really dont see anything that stands out. I think it is mostly girl rock for men to listen to.
I like a lot of the music on this, but I'm always iffy about Ms. Harvey's vocalizations. Mixed feelings.
Pissed off women make some decent tunes
She has a great voice, but this is not engaging at all to me - artsy and dull pop/rock. Also third PJ album so far among the 300 and something albums I have listened to, which makes no sense at all to me.
fínt rokk bara, lögin misgóð en ekkert sérstaklega eftirminnleg
i get pj harvey and patti smith mixed up a lot. lowkey, pj is the lesser version. but this album was ok
Last song on the album was favorite. Liked two others, can't remember which. 3 of 5 ***
I liked this one.
Not super enthused to strap in for another PJ Harvey album, to be honest. I'm also in football mode so I keep reading this as RJ Harvey. Anyway, I think I was actually into the first half of this more than anything off the last album. O Stella and Sheela-Na-Gig were good songs that felt like they were cut from the same cloth as Nirvana. The second half (from Hair to the end) was not particularly my cup of tea. I liked this slightly more than the last PJ album we had, so scoring this as a Low 3.
Much like the most recent PJ Harvey album we reviewed, I found this one to be enjoyably crusty. Often angsty, but ever varied, I liked more than I didn't. But by comparison to that most recent album (Rid of Me) I didn't find as many individual songs to grab my attention and hold it. The few that really got me were O Stella, Sheela-Na-Gig, and Plants And Rags (more for its out of placeness than anything else). Also really enjoyed the opening lyrics of the album with its slogging bass accompaniment: "Oh, my lover; Don't you know it's all right? You can love her; And you can love me at the same time." I'd say this is a high 3 for me.
Great use of simple syncopation. Great lyrics.
Dry – PJ Harvey (1992) | Alternative Rock / Punk Blues | Avg: 6.0 | Favorite Song: “Dress” Dry is raw, unfiltered, and full of intention, but it doesn’t always translate into something I want to revisit. “Dress” was easily the standout for me: it’s sharp, tense, and truly delivers on the album’s ferocity. That track feels like PJ Harvey at her best: emotionally direct, dynamically arranged, and completely captivating. But much of the rest of the record feels stuck in first gear—spirited, yet often repetitive and lacking nuance. From a reviewer’s perspective, I understand the appeal. There’s a kind of righteous anger and stripped-down intensity that was clearly making room for something different in early-’90s rock. But overall, Dry feels more like a blueprint than a breakthrough. The energy is there, but the songwriting doesn’t always hit with the same accuracy or emotional depth. It’s a bold debut, no doubt, but it seems more important than essential.
PJ Harvey was never on my radar during high school as her sound just didn't do it for me when I was seeking out hard rock and grunge at that time. This was enjoyable, and significantly better than the last PJ Harvey album we had. The longer the album played, the more I enjoyed it - a solid 3.5/5.
This album is steeped in that 90's sound. It was just fine to listen too, with the back half being better than the front.
Fun listen, probably won’t return though
I liked this enough to look up her wiki and, lo and behold, she had a relationship with Nick Cave and cites Shane MacGowan as having been a lyrical influence. Don't know if I should embrace this or run away, but I will definitely listen to it again.
...I'm gonna be real, I have barely anything I wanna say about this album. I mean, from all of the ingredients I should be into it — the loud guitars, the raw energy, the feminist lyrics... And yet, actually trying to take in the final project, it really just kinda bounced off of me. To the point where I'm not even able to articulate exactly why it did. And believe me, I've given this album more of a chance than I have some other albums that I clicked with way more; I've given this thing 1.5 plays, for goodness sake! But even on my second play of side one, where I felt like I was getting into it slightly more... Pfffh, I'unno. I still wound up with nothing I really wanna say. Maybe my problem is just that I'm not too much into this exact brand of 90's alt. chick rock? I mean, I don't recall being too much into that Sheryl Crow album my group got, or Liz Phair's 'Exile In Guyville'. And, like, dang, if you're not 'Exile In Guyville', I feel like you ain't gonna have much luck with any of these. And I know I like music from women in the 90's; I was pretty into that Skunk Anansie album my group got pretty recently, and, hell, I really dig the Spice Girls — if that's worth anything, putting their name next to PJ Harvey and Liz Phair. I guess maybe the Lilith Fair crowd just wouldn't have been my scene. I'unno. I think I'm just babbling to try and fill space because I legit have nothing I wanna say about this album. I mean, it's not even a bad record at all; it just... The impact it left on me is so nonexistent, I'm surprised I was even able to get **this far**. Y'know, whatever I was able to get out of that later album of hers, 'Songs From The City' or whatever... It just ain't here, I guess. Shame, but wha'cha gonna do? Fingers crossed I can get something out of the other two albums of hers on this list, I guess.
Meh. This didn't do too much for me. 3/5 Highlights: Dress
B-)
not my favorite PJ Harvey album tbh, but it was still a nice listen !
respect the awards it won, but not my jam
kinda grungey, Kinda riot girl, not bad
I like the vocals a lot but the music feels very alternative, almost grunge at times, which I can struggle with. Trying to stay impartial though - Dress is quite good. Victory begins with a fuzzy bassline which drives the whole track. It's energetic and there's bluesy guitars, it all works well together. Liking the drumming on the next song too. Sheela-Na-Gig was the biggest hit on the record but it's unfortunately a bit of a miss for me, maybe too much of that angsty 90s alt-rock I was afraid of. Joe finally has some much needed quicker riffing and Water is fine as a closer. I listened to the album twice. Plants And Rags is a song I didn't get into on the first pass, but features cello to great effect. Overall, I want to like this more but it's not as good as Stories From The City (which I already had pop up on the list). There is art here though, if you are willing to tease it out.
Great album but not really anything that stands out tbh
High three. Really hit on a hot humid cloudy day
PJ Harvey is one of those artists where, I recognise her influence over a generation of artists and appreciate her, but the music has never clicked. Had only heard Sheela Na Gig before and what a tune, any song that deftly references Carrie and obscure Irish paganism is great in my book. But overall to me this is a good, not great album. Ends strong with Water, but a lot of this I wouldn't necessarily seek out again.
Love the punky, aggressive bass - it's easily the best/most interesting part of the album. There's also a lot of creativity in the musical ideas here. Unfortunately, each song consists of only one half-formed idea that runs its course after thirty seconds, and PJ's vocals are still incredibly annoying (although lyrically she's very good). Still, the rawness of the whole album is enjoyable. 3.0/5.0: Good
Not much variety, but good overall with some standout lyrics.
3.5 better than expected
No me disgustó
A sheela na gig is a figurative carving of a naked woman displaying an exaggerated vulva. These carvings, from the Middle Ages, are architectural grotesques found throughout most of Europe on cathedrals, castles, and other buildings. Well then... That clears that right up. - Some good cuts on this. Finally in the spot to say, "I think PJ Harvey is aight". The album runs a really fast 40 mins. I heard a bit of nirvana like angst (released in 91' and she'd be right around 22 years old). Guitar lines are all really simple and punky, but they're effective. Some variation of sound to keep you guessing (Fountain was really dark).
ye alright
Did nothing for me , bit I appreciate she has her own thing.
PJ Harvey's "grunge album". Solid debut, but her more original work was still yet to come.
Not much to say. Solid nice album
My second PJ Harry album. It had some moments, but I'm still not impressed.
Good
It was ok, but not my favorite
somehow I always had some pop music in mind when reading the name PJ Harvey, but luckily it's not pop gargabe. dunno why Happy and Bleeding is greyed out on spotify though
I think I’m one of the few people who prefers her later output to her earlier catalogue, hence the 3 here
PJ's voice compliments the hard guitars well. Not much else to say, an overall enjoyable listen.
Interesting, but not really my thing.
pretty good
After having two previous albums by PJ Harvey, in which I rated one a 2, and the other a 4, this album reflects my opinion on PJ Harvey so well. This one is right there at a 3 out of 5. Ever since my teens PJ Harvey would have a song I liked, then a song I didn’t. This album is pretty much that exactly, as my opinion from song to song kept dipping and rising.
General enjoyment. I was sanding and painting, so maybe the repetitive nature was soothing. But also, some of the positive opinions are based off of her collab with Thom Yorke on the song THIS MESS WE'RE IN.
"I'm gonna make it so dry for you" - PJ
Das Debütalbum „Dry“ von PJ Harvey erschien im März 1992 und wurde im Icehouse Studio in Yeovil, England, aufgenommen. Harvey, eine britische Musikerin, arbeitete dabei mit ihrem gleichnamigen Trio zusammen, bestehend aus Steve Vaughan am Bass und Rob Ellis am Schlagzeug. Die Produktion übernahmen Harvey selbst, Ellis und der Produzent Head. Musikalisch bewegt sich „Dry“ im Spannungsfeld von Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Blues Rock und Post-Punk. Das Album zeichnet sich durch eine reduzierte Instrumentierung aus, bei der Gitarre, Bass und Schlagzeug im Vordergrund stehen. Harveys Stimme variiert zwischen zurückhaltendem Gesang und expressiven Ausbrüchen, was den Songs eine besondere Dynamik verleiht. Zu den markantesten Titeln zählen „Sheela-Na-Gig“, das sich mit Geschlechterrollen auseinandersetzt, und „Dress“, das Themen wie Selbstwahrnehmung und gesellschaftliche Erwartungen behandelt. Weitere hervorzuhebende Stücke sind „Oh My Lover“, das als Opener des Albums fungiert, sowie „O Stella“ und „Happy and Bleeding“, die Harveys Vielseitigkeit unterstreichen. „Dry“ wurde von der Kritik positiv aufgenommen und erreichte Platz 11 der britischen Albumcharts. Obwohl es kommerziell nicht sofort ein großer Erfolg war, wurde es später mit einer Silbernen Schallplatte für 60.000 verkaufte Einheiten im Vereinigten Königreich ausgezeichnet. Das Album gilt als bedeutender Beitrag zur britischen Rockmusik der frühen 1990er Jahre.
Cool sound and overall attitude, a little lacking in the song writing department. Tracks 1, 8 and 10 being welcome exceptions
Pretty cool
Very cool to listen to rock with female vocals, first so far in this list. Sounded good, nice change of pace 3
That album art is creepy and why is her voice so quiet? Otherwise, not bad
There is a lot of PJ Harvey in this book. I did enjoy the album I had listened to prior to this one. I think I enjoyed that one more than this, as Dry is very raw and I'm not sure I enjoy her sound as less refined. I could be in the minority on that. I enjoyed the album but I can't say I would revisit the album. I'm intrigued to see if I enjoy PJ Harvey's other two albums on this list.
Yet again, I really want to like PJ Harvey, and yet again, I'm getting annoyed by her music. I'm disappointed in myself more than anything else. To be fair, I did like this album more than the other 2 we've had on the 1001 list so far, so a bonus point for that.
- sometimes i wonder if I’m a misogynist (not sure I love her voice) - nvm this is awesome I love the guitar in stella - if a man had made this i would care so much less - feels like a very Cool album - familiar with sheela na gig, like that one and plants and rags
It's an ok album. Nothing really jumped out at me.
I initially thought PJ Harvey was the flag pole sitta guy but I was way off. I’m a sucker for a sultry indie rock songstress and PJ is right in that wheelhouse. Can definitely see what Nick Cave saw in her
I enjoyed this, I've never quite found a pj Harvey albums that really captures me. I saw her live once and she was amazing, but her albums never quite do it. This one might be the best I've heard. I'll give it another go.
This was definitely not what I expected at all. I kind of enjoyed it, an entire album of her was a little much all at once as a first time listener. But I’d definitely revisit in the future.
Man this is an unappealing album cover. Something about it. Could be the fact that it is primarily focused on what appears to be some sort of medical face distress. Who knows? I can’t get inside the head of the New York girl herself, ol PJ Harvey. After hearing the suburbs to city stinker from 2000, I’m hoping digging backwards in her discography will produce more genuine results. If not, I have a tough hour in front of me. TAXI. Hey can I use the aux cord? Oh My Lover - Very grunge-y. I don’t mind this at all. Sounds like this would play before an indie wrestling show in 2000. Ahead of her time in the wrestling world (which means about 10 years behind the real world). O Stella - A lot of lamenting here. Oh My Lover, O Stella (we’re going 1600’s with this spelling) Pretty hard riff. You won’t hear lamentations from this hack. Dress - This sounds a little too much like a made for radio track. I still like her voice and a few of the instrumental choices here, but probably the worst of the three. Just needs some more grit. Damn near found it at the close! Victory - As I go through this I’m doing some more research. This is her debut. This is a fun rock song, with some lyrics that piqued my interest once or twice. Just meat and potatoes rock with a unique voice. Highly enjoyable. Happy and Bleeding - Well! That certainly is a crazy combination!! Who could be bleeding AND happy?? She certainly is a zany cat. This one was a little more off the wall, but ultimately didn’t do much for me. Sheena-na-gig - I don’t know what this means. The lyrics are not really providing any insight. Outside of that, this song is pretty cool. Punk chord changes in the “idle hole” part. Damn. That rectangular guy from instagram has some competition. Hair - The quiet to loud nature of this song brings to mind that horrible era in like 2008 when every band was called “Army of Chipmunks Climbing Mountains” and people were getting moustache tattoos on their fingers. I deserve a medal for surviving. Joe - I like the noise of this song. Joe must have been the true wild card of the Harvey-Verse. The real Harvey Heads oughta know. No Alanis Morrisette comparison intended. Plants and Rags - Are we sure this wasn’t on Nirvana’s Nevermind? Very of the time, although, this time, it’s oh so English. Cool alternative grunge song with violins that aren’t obnoxious. Very cool. Fountain - Anither decent track. Well. We have the fountain. Where is the water? Water - Wow. PJ is bringing the song title game to a new level. PJ giveth and giveth once more with the big structure, and then the vital piece of said structure is right behind!! What a day. Refreshing. I am refreshed. It’s nice to be ushered back into the realm of enjoyable music. This didn’t blow my mind, but at least it didn’t spur me into thinking about blowing a hole in my mind. A lot of things pretty basic grunge/rock with a capable and enjoyable vocalist. I enjoyed this far more than her “Stories…” album from the turn of the millennium and a lot of that is down to more relatable lyrical content, as well as a palpable energy that comes with a debut release. I’m sure we’re not done our trek through the catalogue of ol PJ Harvey, and whilst that may have induced a migraine before, but after “Dry,” my purpose has been renewed. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: O Stella, Victory, Sheena-na-gig, Joe, Plants and Rags
Nice dark songs to help you through some nights.
After really enjoying Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea, I had high hopes for Dry, but it didn’t quite land the same way. It’s not a bad album by any means. The energy and songwriting are still on display, but nothing here really pulled me in or stuck with me. It feels more like a strong foundation for what would come later rather than a standout in its own right. A solid debut, but not one I see myself revisiting often.
One of those albums where I keep thinking "I've heard this one before".
I like PJ a lot. This is not my favorite of hers, but it's very worthwhile, and has some interesting bits. I'd been learning how to play triplets in 4/4 just yesterday, so Dress really caught my attention.
It was ok. Of its time. Couldn’t listen to it frequently.
This is such a blindspot. Who is this person?
Somewhat enjoyable, interesting riffs and vocals, but don’t see myself listening to again, it can be too whiney at times. 6/10.
Brass tacks brooding grunge. Earthy and flirting with trad folk. Like the Talking Heads album I had yesterday (77) you do feel the lack of flesh on these early bones but unlike that album you don’t necessarily miss it.
Som en onsdagsspelning på pustervik med lite för mycket humaniora-studenter
I am a sucker for some distorted bass, so those parts stuck out to me. First couple of songs were great, but it kinda dropped off afterwards, especially those last two I thought were quite disappointing
I don't know what happened to my review of this album. But I gave it another listen and sort of skimmed through the tracks, and I definitely listen to this one. I remember feeling pretty mad about it, I've gotten PJ Harvey before and I definitely like her sound but I don't think it's anything special.
I think this album will grown on me. I love the use of bass throughout the album.
A fine debut album which made me curious to want to hear more from her. I like the raw energy. 3.5/5
She's got a great sound!
3.0
I like everything about this, but somehow despite trying a few times it never really clicks - I haven't found the right setting to really absorb and let it work on me. It's full of plaintive, urgent, angry vocals. Grungy distorted guitars altenate with violently strummed acoustics. It's dark and despairing. There's lots of space in the music with big chords in line with drum hits rather than constant strumming. Other songs have guitars drop out/in and a more propulsive bass/drum groove underpinning it. It plays with quite loud dynamics, and gradually building/removing layers of guitar parts: overdriven riffs, cleaner kind of whiny sounding guitar leads. I enjoy it while it's on, but nothing lingers.
It's another good album this week. I really enjoyed "O Stella", the second track. Harvey could've sung better but I don't really care. Her guitar work is excellent though. So I have mixed feelings for this album. 3 stars for "Dry".
Was pretty good until the grating strings near the end
Well good and chill but nothing outstanding, perhaps set some tones amd waves at the time it came out but I feel like it is relatively outdated for an indie music
Wave geprägte Frauenstimme mit dem Sound der 80er, rau, wild und konfrontierend . Ganz ok - aber auch nicht mehr.
Better than I though tbf
A bit too rough around the edges for me, but definitely a very cool record, with a very grimey and dispondent atmosphere. Good but I enjoy other PJ Harvey records more. Key tracks: O Stella Dress Sheela-Na-Gig
Kinda on par with Pj's other albums in my opinion. I love the rawness and angst on this album though. Hard to believe this is her debut. A few of the highlights are "Dress" and "Plants and Rags". One day I hope I fall in love PJ Harvey but until I do I'll still enjoy her stuff. Favorite track: Plants and Rags 3.5/5
Мне нравится ее тембр, но как-то с этого альбома песни тяжело слушаются
I liked this album… but not great when u r already depressed
Dry is a bold and gritty debut that makes it very clear PJ Harvey wasn’t here to play it safe. Her mix of raw guitar work, emotionally charged vocals, and confrontational lyrics gives the album a sharp, immediate edge. Tracks like Dress and Sheela-Na-Gig still stand out for their intensity and clarity of voice, showing early signs of the powerful artist she’d become. But as strong as the identity is, the album as a whole doesn’t always maintain its momentum. Some songs feel more like sketches of ideas than fully developed pieces, and the lo-fi production—while intentional—can make it a slightly tiring listen over time. There’s a lot to admire in Dry, especially in its attitude and stripped-down honesty, but it doesn’t quite hit the level of greatness for me.
Good stuff!
Mulling over just *how* great this is, but it's pretty damn great
Enjoyable and nice to hear some actual nice rock with a female vocalist.
PJ is trending up for me. She’s good, but gotta listen more to appreciate more
Solid album. Kind of alt-rock, I liked her singing and energy. I doubt I'll ever revisit but I enjoyed it. Favorites: Water
475 Although it's a 3 it is a strong three. I had not hard PJ before/ gave a listen, second time through, a day later, it was better.
I feel like I’m missing something, maybe the lyrics are deep and I didn’t pay attention? It’s a solid 3… fine, but I don’t need to hear it again.
Wasn’t bad, but 1 listen wasn’t enough. I’d need more time on this album.
I always liked PJ Harvey well enough. This is a pretty good representation of some of her more guitar driven stuff
decent album, good for a debut
2.8 I might like this album more or less than I think. Very much a snapshot of 1992 with true unadorned grunge production and chords. Dynamics are mostly relegated to whether or not the distortion is kicked on or not. Vocals are limited with some passion. Lyrics seem mostly relationship focused. It sometimes tries to get noisy but only feels sure handed in those explorations when the cello is pushing it
Not my favorite
Solid rock album. I like her voice, but there’s not much here that grabs me.
After listening to her far more critically acclaimed 2000 album, I expected to hate this. I still think her voice isn’t good, but it lends itself better to this style of grunge tinged angsty alt rock than the downtempo singer/songwriter stuff she did later on.
Little alternative, little weird, but enjoyable.
Maybe it takes some getting used to, maybe it just starts off weak.
Bit to grungy for my taste? Still decent
# Album Name: Dry # Artist: PJ Harvey # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Good opening with Oh my lover. Decent track. Dat bass is slapping on Oh Stella. Decent debut album from PJ. Quite unpolished is a good way to put it. Theres a edgey feel to the record. overall its not bad. just alright. # Top Tunes: oh my lover / stella / dress / sheela # Would I listen to it again? Probably
I like the grungy music on this album, although the screechy violins seem rather unnecessary. At the end of the day, though, the artist's vocal style doesn't really resonate for me, so three stars is the best I can do for this one.
This sounds like a demo. Like the songs are there but not perfectly produced. I feel like this is a late 90s to early 2000’s album. Where women artists were present but stood more on the edgier side of things than the poppy sell out crap they do now. I had this on as background music I guess. I really lost focus of what I was listening to and got carried away with my thoughts. I’m ok with that. Choice cut: Fountain
This is Feminist Brutish Rock 'n Roll. Solid rhythms, relevant lyrics, and catchy beats. Nothing mind-blowing though. Favorite Song: "O Stella".
Ok
Jaunty with some quite catchy tunes.
Grungey rock. Not bad but nothing special.
Better than the other album hy her that was on this list. Kinda grungy rock that wasn't terrible. I still don't think she can sing well, but it kinda worked for the style. 3/5
3+
This was ok, nothing too great. Certainly had alt 90’s vibe.
meh. never listened to her on her own before. usually in collaborations w/other artists. don't feel like I've missed out on anything. won't seek her out again
yeah, dry
This was a stronger PJ Harvey album. I get the 90's anger and the raw energy
Good, with a couple great tracks, but I like their other albums more. Their other albums might be more deserving of being on this list than this album.
Decently listenable, but nothing really stands out here.
This is #day112 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I kind of don't mind some PJ Harvey, I guess. I used to explore her discography back in the day. That must have been when Let England Shake was her latest record. Was it that long ago? As for this record, it's very much 90s, gritty, dirty, and raw, rooted in blues and whatnot. One thing that stops me from giving it a 4, though, is what I discovered when reading through PJ Harvey's influences. In particular, this: "She has also drawn inspiration from Russian folk music". Poor Polly... Being a Ukrainian and sitting here in the dark room on the evening of a countless Russian attack on the critical infrastructure all over the country including my hometown Lviv, where I'm based, I declare: fuck russia, fuck russians, and fuck russian folk music, Polly. I wish you had had better sources of inspiration. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day113.
Stop giving me these. This was slightly less bad
Raw and pretty heavy. Don't listen for the voice, though. I feel like the instruments drown out the singing in the mix.
Die erste Nummer leierte vor sich hin. Ab der zweiten Nummer wurde es Gott sei Dank sehr viel besser. Rockig, melodisch und abwechslungsreich war dann das Motto.
cool
I prefer PJ in small doses... I find it difficult to get through a whole album in one sitting
Finally a PJ Harvey album I enjoyed. Not sure why her other two albums I've got were so bad, but this one's alright
I want to like this, but I don't quite connect. Maybe it needs more listens.
I think if I spent some more time with this album, I would probably/possibly enjoy it, but I didn't much care for it on the first spin. The music is just a smidge too bare bones and repetitive for me. I did like "Dress," though.
This a much simpler compared to the other two albums I have listened to from her which makes sense given it’s her first. This is some pretty typical 90’s alt rock. Favorite songs were Dress, Sheela-Na-Gig, Plants And Rags, and Water.
Didn’t enjoy the first 2 PJ Harvey albums we got and didn’t really enjoy this one much either
It was fine. Good aggressive punkish music
I think I respect PJ Harvey more than I like her music. I think she’s an incredible talent that makes very interesting music, I just haven’t listened to one of her records that grabbed me fully. This one is no different.
Not my thing
love pj harvey
Standard sorta indie rock kind of affair. Doesn't speak to me.
It was alright, I always enjoy some good slide guitar.
Another 90s alt rock album This album sounds like Patti Smith's Horses, which came out 20 years prior and is already on the list, so did I really have to listen to this?
The album had a really strong start; the first four songs were fire. Unfortunately, the momentum died out somewhere around track 6-7. The last few tracks did not live up to what the first half promised. Solid album nonetheless. 3.5/5 stars
Fínasta rokk. Túttulagið frábært. Gef aðra umferð, 3,5.
Fine
Stong debut agit-fem rock from PJH.
5/10…Indie / Alternative Rock
Interesting vibes, some good songs, but not my thing.
6/10 - I did not love it that much. There were some enjoyable parts but overall not my favorite. I was going to relisten bc Lucas said it was good and I just never did.
Like it but don't love it.
PJ Harvey’s voice is raw and haunting. Her music is emotionally impactful in a way that that I recognize as good. But I also find that most of her music is difficult to listen to. On this album, I really like Victory, and I remember Sheena-Na-Gig from back in the day. I’ll come back to those songs, but probably not the rest of it.
Ok, but nothing special. Favourite songs: Water, Oh My Lover, O Stella Least favourite songs: Happy and Bleeding 3/5
3.18. Enjoyed this more than I thought.
Feels a bit cliche but it's just good, gritty indie rock from indie rock royalty. I can't really explain why I've never got massively into PJ but while I've never loved her work, it's very consistent and highly listenable.
Need to listen to these at different times of day/different moods. Sitting in an office listening to indie rawness isn't a great listening exp.
Ok album, didn’t get me too excited, but didn’t put me to sleep.
Very good
Not bad
Solid album, probably very influential, but can't say its the type of thing I enjoy a ton or that does much for me.
Some good moments. Can’t give it more than a 3 though.
Major “Oil Spill” from Bob’s Burgers vibes
Fine. Last few songs are eh.
Enjoyable 3.5