Dry

3.6 Victory was a stand-out track. Nothing is really that weak, pretty interesting overall

Aggressive, angsty, and shockingly well produced. I've liked all the PJ Harvey I've had so far, but this album is definitely my favorite from her. O Stella, Victory, Sheela-Na-Gig and several others are standouts here. This is a highlight of the decade for me.

Driving female energy. While it feels straight out of the 90s, it also holds up just as well today.

OK but unfortunately not my cup of tea. 2/5

Rootsy, gritty. All good.

I don’t think I ever listened to a full PJ Harvey album before but man did I miss out. Going straight into my library.

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.

To mene moje oblibene album harvey, presto vyborny

Favorite track: O stella. Overall score: 3.4/10

at first i really thought i wasn’t going to like this one, just based on the first two tracks, but after that it kinda grew on me. 3.5 stars bc i like it but not lovee it

Yay fierce feminist music! I want to like it a lot but it isn’t super my jam

She has a nice voice

I like how guitar is a bit more at the front. Grunge-y Edit Apr 15 2026: 3 --> 2

this for running >>>

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.

The debut of Queen Polly Jean and it's so very good. It doesn't have the guts, yet, of her later stuff like "Stories from the City..." but the bones are all there. The same raw, horny, pained, confessional that appears throughout -- and that incredible voice of hers. Probably not the place to start with her catalog (That would be "To Bring You My Love") -- but you really can't go wrong here. Unexpected bangers: Victory, Plants and Rags, Water

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.

Some ok rockin moments but nothing Id recommend

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".

Excellent album love it!!

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?

A classic debut album. Doesn’t reach the heights of subsequent albums, but contains some all time bangers.

I’m just not a fan.

Somewhat enjoyable, interesting riffs and vocals, but don’t see myself listening to again, it can be too whiney at times. 6/10.

Oh My Lover 3.8 O Stella 3.9 Dress 3.5 Victory 3.7 Happy and Bleeding 3.6 Sheela-Na-Gig 4 Hair 4.1 Joe 3.4 Plants and Rags 3.3 Fountain 3.6 Water 3.6 Score: 3.681818182

Not ripe yet

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.

I heard her later albums first - what a solid start for a dynamic artist. That crunchy guitar sound just gets me. 4/5

The cover for this album made me incredibly uncomfortable and not excited to listen to it. I thought it would be one of those albums that seems to go out of its way to make you uncomfortable, with song topics and lyrics that make you squirm and a sonic palette that makes the hairs in your ears stand on end. That isn't really at all what I got, thankfully, and I actually ended up quite enjoying this more than I thought. It was much more...cohesive and interesting and engaging than expected. It has attitude, it has a little sneer, it's musical. "Dress" is an insanely catchy and fun tune. "Victory" feels like it could've been a Nirvana song. The overall sound is a little too clean in places to be grunge, but it definitely has grunge-adjacent sounds and sensibilities. I don't know what else to say except that I loved it. The cover aside, the entire experience is such a cohesive listen. Each song is different from the last, while still also feeling like they belong together. The energy, the arrangements are amazing and I honestly was left wondering how I never heard of her before now. Five stars, honestly. This is exactly what this project is supposed to do - introduce me to artists I didn't even know existed and now love. Standout Tracks: O Sella, Dress, Victory, Sheela-na-gig, Joe, Plants and Rags

Once this got going it was a real solid album, with an edge I was really into!

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.

Amazing debut album Love it

A fine debut album which made me curious to want to hear more from her. I like the raw energy. 3.5/5

classic, always happy to get an excuse to listen to this. not quite as good as Rid of Me but, like, nothing is

Not listened before Fav tracks: Plants and Rags, Dress, Joe

Good work from Peej here. Enjoyed it a lot.

She's got a great sound!

hey! pretty good... i liked it !

Glad to hear a woman but didn't need a 90s edgelord

chilling and wibing teen angst wibes

I enjoyed the grungy vibes, but Harvey’s voice just doesn’t do it for me.

Ugh, another PJ Harvey album. I don't know why, but I expect her to be some cult classic artist from the 90s, but turns out she definitely isn't. At least not to me. The last album we had by her was nothing noteworthy, and neither is this. In fact, it's less than noteworthy, it's subpar. Her wheezing quickly becomes annoying to listen to, and musically there is not anything really to bring home here. Strong 1.

I mostly know PJ Harvey from the "Let England Shake" album and singles like "We Float". The sound of that album is more eclectical and one might say more pretentious. This was more straight forward rock which was a pleasant surprise. Enjoyed the guitar tones, the riffs and the singing. It brought a lot of energy to the mix. Felt a lot like Nirvana for parts of it. Many highlights like "Dress" and "Sheela-na-gig". Giving this one a weak 4, surprised that I liked this as I was dreading listening to it beforehand.

GOOD

A big fan of later PJ Harvey albums. I wasn’t as familiar with this one but it was a great listen.

2.5

3.0

This is really good. I haven't loved some of PJ's later stuff, but I really enjoy listening to her 90s indie rock sound. And she's honestly a really great singer. There are some odd songs near the end, and I'm not sure if I like them as much as the earlier songs. "Plants and Rags" starts off as a song that I would usually end up loving, but it takes a weird turn, and that taste follows to the next song. It does end up on a high note, though. Favorite Song(s): Oh My Lover

I liked the tracks but can't do her voice

I did not expect to love this so much! What a banger

Much better than the other two albums of PJs that were previously reviewed - which is odd considering this is her debut work. Now I feel like I listened to all of her stuff in reverse order and missed out on the progression of her work. Maybe I owe those a re-listen. I really liked this one.

One of the things I've learnen from going through this list is just how much I despise PJ Harvey. I don't care how authentic or feminist or indie she is - she sucks.

Probably the best new listen I've had from this generator yet. The way Harvey's gorgeous vocals contrast with the ugly distortion of the guitars and blistering rhythm of the drums is just perfect. I'm so glad I took the plunge with this one.

3.5

Not keen on her voice. Never have been.

One of the best albums I've heard in a long time. Fantastic raw grungy feel

Good music

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

7.5/10. I think this is actually dissonant music in the way it should be done, and for the most part it really grew on me. I think 'Oh My Lover's really sets the tone of the album so well and I was a massive fan of the track 'Dress' which seemed to incorporate more bluesy rock elements in combination with Harveys edgey sound. I think her voice work fantastically in this style - the only way I can put it is she sounds sort of on the verge of madness sheerly through timbre which I love. I was also a big fan of the tracks moving from these fragmented, hard to follow verse structures to big heavy hitting riffs in the choruses. I think I would've preferred a slightly fuller sound on this record and a few of the tracks had pretty forgettable refrains but all in all a very cool project.

Wave geprägte Frauenstimme mit dem Sound der 80er, rau, wild und konfrontierend . Ganz ok - aber auch nicht mehr.

I'm about halfway or more done with this, and so far, if nothing else, this list has taught me two things: A lot of acclaimed music does indeed suck; and PJ Harvey kicks ass.

Better than I though tbf

Raw 90's rock.. Sure I have a soft spot this music but fantastic album none the less.

PJ is fantastic. Joe is great as well as Sheela but Dress will always be a favorite not the least because it’s a highlight memory of our wedding reception dance floor.

I liked this. Good 90s sound. Wasn't sure what i was expecting but this was better then that.

I really liked this one. I think I found that the older the PJ Harvey album is, the more I liked it. This is a solid album and I could see it maybe even rating higher on further listens.

25/03/25 Haven't heard of her before and it was certainly interesting.

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

I can’t think of a better debut in that decade. I miss “PJ Harvey” the power trio, though I have a lot of love for what followed. I saw them in big old Manchester Academy a couple of years later perhaps on the “Rid of Me” tour and they were magic.

Happy to get this one! Gather round, kids, it's time for your indie grandpa to wax nostalgic once more: I was fortunate to meet PJ at the Rough Trade shop in Neal's Yard one balmy Saturday afternoon, before "Dress" was released, just hanging out. She was so cool and compelling that my group of grebo-adjacents were inspired to sell our long-coveted tickets for Carter USM outside the Brixton Academy that evening, dashing up the Northern Line to catch her destroying the sweaty backroom of the Camden Falcon instead. My memory is hazy, but I think she played all of this, basically in sequence, perhaps ending with "Sheela-Na-Gig". Fucking incredible, occasionally I do pick a winner! This album is, necessarily, quite dear to me. For a brief moment, PJ was the Camden Lurch Patti Smith and we were "just kids" hanging around CBGBs/The Sausage Machine angling for a grasp of fame. I didn't quite see her at the White Horse (although did catch Suede there, as regular readers may recall), but I do like to think *I was there* in a mildly-gratuitous, sentimental-old-man way.

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.

I liked it, it’s nice to have a grunge era album that actually tries to push against the dogmatic strictures of the genre. Rating: 4.0

4.5 - No wonder PJ Harvey and Nick Cave were together briefly, they really fill the same space for me. Loved the album

Found this pretty uninspiring. Its raw and punky and doesn't really do anything for me. 2.4/5

No my favorite PJ Harvey album. But it did remind me how much I love and miss that gritty, dirty 90s sound.

First song was good, but then it went downhill. Seemed like a WalMart version of Garbage.

Good stuff!

Polly has picked up the Siouxsie baton and has not stopped running. Not a bad thing.

"Live band party on the hill"

Better than the other PJ album them on here

Nice

I give DRY a one-and-a-half-out-of-five-star rating. I get that I'm supposed to like this album, but I don't - sue me.

Excellent 👌

Mulling over just *how* great this is, but it's pretty damn great

Hvordan har jeg aldrig haft en PJ Harvey periode. Så godt

Vild debut, en af de bedste plader der kom ud af grunge bølgen

Enjoyable and nice to hear some actual nice rock with a female vocalist.

Not interested

Skjønner folk kan digge dette. Men er ikke min greie. Skal mye til for at jeg skal like avant-rock og this ain't it.

Convinced that PJ takes her songs to her producer and is like “make these sound as dull as possible”

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.

ok. kinda a lot.

Не могу много сказать про этот альбом. Для меня показался обычным классическим рок-альбомом, без каких-то особенных черт. Могу только выделить вокал. Слушая его хоть и понимаешь, что слушаешь вокал 90-х годов, но звучит все равно приятно

Very edgy and grungy, with a surprising amount of depth. The bass work in particular stands out as simple but very effective. Some not every song is a hit, but there is a really solid energy that keeps the songs edgy without overdoing it. Top tracks: Victory, Sheela-Na-Gig, Hair

Kann ich nichts damit anfangen.

PJ Harvey may be my greatest discovery from this project - I had never heard of her before, and I’ve really enjoyed every album I’ve gotten. (This is the fourth, and I’m guessing the last on the list.) This one felt more similar to “Rid Of Me” than “Let England Shake” and “Songs From The City…”

Overall: 9/10 Patti Smith for the modern age! I loved this, it rocks hard and doesn't hold back. PJ not only has an incredible voice, but her lyrics are some of the best I've ever heard about women, how they perceive the world and how they are treated. It's brave and thought provoking stuff. Definitely a favourite so far. Fav Song: Dress Least Fav Song: Water

Although I'd never heard anything of this album before, it seemed "comfortable" to listen to, like an old friend somehow. The muddy production was a shame, but I got used to it after a couple of listens. Seems like a strong 4 star album, possibly higher, but the murky sound was a little offputting.

I have never really gotten into PJ Harvey; it’s yet again a voice thing, I think. I get why people like this, but it was not all that enjoyable for me to listen to, although I did like certain elements.

Sorry PJ I really didn’t like this it was indeed DRY

That's not my taste in music

First track was unlistenable. O Stella is certainly an improvement reminding me of 80's fare like Siouxie, et al. The guitar work is very basic, but gets the job done.

Up until now, I'd not yet heard an album from PJ Harvey that gripped me. This however, is gritty, ballsy and fearless. A lovely alternative to the grunge that enveloped rock music at the time - the compositions are unique and engaging, the guitars are jaggedly rich. Best Tracks: O Stella Sheela-na-gig Fountain Water Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 8/10

I would not have clocked this as a debut album. The vision is so clearly executed beginning to end. Growling bass definitive of grunge era, but this is more indie rock with a feminist bent, but I can hear the grunge to come in tracks like Victory and Sheela.

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

One of my fave artists of all time. Great first album. She only gets better

Nice and raw album. I haven't listened much PJ Harvey but I've liked what I listened so far. Varied songs and a good voice she has. I did feel like Rid Of Me was a bit better though, I can't quite remember many of the songs here after the first listen.

A lot of singer-songwriter albums fall short for me because I don't care about vocals that much and the instrumentation is usually quite boring and doesn't do much to make the songs more fun. However, I happen to enjoy this heavy alt rock style of instrumentation, so Dry, while still maintaining a bit of that singer-songwriter vibe, is a lot more exciting to me. It's simple but fun, catchy, and overall a pretty pleasant listen. Gives some Nirvana vibes. Whoever mixed that needs to be taken out back, though.

'I'm spilling over like a heavy loaded fruit tree'; 'Fig, fruit, flower myself inside out for you'; 'Gonna wash that man right out of my hair.' This one grows on you b/c you start believing it, whatever it is that warrants belief. Not as obscure as Patti Smith, Harvey's also not encumbered by feminist messages or cultural critique, tho they're there and good for her for being involved. Angry, not angsty, she's full of details, stories, and memories, which is more than you can say about a whole lot of artists doing similar things but far less impressively. Musically, the drums are the unsung hero while the strings on 'Plants and Rags' are heavy and sensible. As 'Oh My Lover' started, I didn't think I'd be down. By the end, I very much was.

Ok 2/5

It was okay I guess. Seems pretty heavily influenced by Patti Smith, who I don't really care for.

2/5

decent album, good for a debut

Damn that's way too depressive

🤘 Crazy that this album is over 30 years old. Unfortunately still very relevant, fortunately still kicks absolute ass. Love this damn album even after not listening to it for YEARS.

I discovered PJ Harvey at the right time - she definitely spoke to me as a teenager. But even without the angst, this is such a great debut from an artist who arrived fully formed. I also don’t think she gets enough credit for the tunes - Sheela-na-gig is straight up catchy.

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

Grungy

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.

Great album, great vocalist. I've known of PJ Harvey for years yet I've never bothered to listen to her. It's easy to see why she has become so inspirational. Love this one, looking forward to exploring other albums.

I really liked her, despite never hearing her before. This was a nice surprise. It was a bit like an updated patti smith with less swagger

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

really just didn’t click at all

Tilfinningarokk er ekki alveg í uppáhaldi hjá mér og ég fílaði þessa plötu ekki neitt sérstaklega. Mér finnst lögin keimlík og mér finnst næstum því eins og ég þurfi að vera í andlegu ójafnvægi til að geta notið tónlistarinnar. Ég get samt alveg hlustað á þetta en kýs að gera það ekki.

not really my thing.. love her voice tho!!

dull

# 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 didn't have any expectations of what this would sound like as I am not familiar with PJ Harvey, but man I can feel something listening to this. Its not super interesting sonically though its grungier than alot of the "Indie" stuff I typically listen to

Oh My Lover, love how it opens with just her and the guitar and continues to build other instruments around it. Sounds like she harmonises with herself? but makes it sound like it’s different people. It became very comfortable so didn’t listen as intensely towards the end. O Stella, that riff is so good. She has moments of using all of her vocal range with like one phrase, very impressive. This song almost sounds like it’s not 4/4 cannot figure it out. The lead into Dress is seamless. Great drums. Love the writing in this, simple and effective. Chorus “if you put it on” talking about a physical dress but i’m assuming a lot about putting on bravado too. Fake it till you make it. Victory, the guitar/ bass motive reallly strong. Makes then whole song. I think the lyrics are going over my head but it feels powerful, it’s sung extremely proud. Happy and Bleeding, woah her voice is so far back in the production. The whole this is extremely quiet. I’m getting the impression that she’s screaming into the void. No one’s seeing her worth, particularly someone she really wants. Again the guitar work is so fab, so well layered. Her tone carries over it all so nicely. The ending feels like a small crash out and i relate. Sheela, love this straight away. It’s angst and it’s great. “Put money in your idle hole” is now part of my vernacular. Hair, there seems to be a lot of religious references in this album. This one seems to focus on betrayal. I love the drums, again the guitar work in this album is incredible. Bass line is so great in this. Another one with a strong chorus and vocal delivery to match. Joe, this is stunning. Something i’d never think i would like at face value. The time signature seems to be a concept and i love it. There’s so much going on that all works so well together. a proper head fuck of a song. Plants and Rags is her ballard. It’s stripped back and still very busy. I hear a man’s vocal? Seems like that’s her to a T. It’s tension and release. Confusing and understandable. Fountain is another one that begins with her voice very much in the background. Again seems to be deeply rooted in religion. I hear a man’s vocal again. This is discussing waiting for a prophecy?? Being willing to be completely naked in order to follow someone. Whatever time they give you is precious. Water, the final track. An intro that sets a strange and easy to grasp time signature. Jesus walked on water and so do his followers? She’s “taken it into her head” but she asks “prove it to me”. What i take from it is after this whole album she’s decided in-fact, she is doubting all that she’s been taught. She’s starting to sink into the water and the music completely compliments that. She was 23 releasing this album, very close to my age. I get the hope and the doubt, the screaming the whispering. This is an album with a very strong core and after one listen I appreciate her art a lot. For a debut this is such a strong sound, with rock solid soul interwoven.

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

Really enjoyable, more so than expected actually. Highlights: O Stella Dress Victory Sheela-na-gig

This is Feminist Brutish Rock 'n Roll. Solid rhythms, relevant lyrics, and catchy beats. Nothing mind-blowing though. Favorite Song: "O Stella".

Encore un très bon album de PJ Harvey. À ce point je ne sais pas quoi dire de plus, assurément je suis un fan de sa musique. 8/10

Super boring

This reminded me of the time mum was screaming-angry in the car at Braehead and PJ Harvey was playing in the background

Ok

Pierwszy raz próbowałem tego posłuchać do treningu, ale już przy pierwszej piosence zmieniłem album, bo wiedziałem, że ten będzie ode mnie wymagał więcej uwagi. Fantastyczny krążek. Kilkakrotnie kojarzył mi się z "Debut" Bjork, choć PJ Harvey jest oczywiście bardziej rockowa, niż popowa, a także mniej eklektyczna od islandzkiej królowej. I ma mniej "crazy factor" w sobie. Ale to wciąż fantastyczna wokalistka o ciekawej barwie głosu, tworząca intrygujące światy w każdej piosence. Jest cięższa, bardziej surowa. Duży bonus za rozbudowaną i dominującą sekcję rytmiczną, dla mnie to zawsze ogromny plus. Trochę wahałem się między bardzo mocnym 4 a słabym 5, ale idę w piątkę, bo jednak dla mnie poziom artystyczny tej płyty jest bardzo wysoki.

Alternative music sang by a girl with great voice. This is just a baseline where I would give 4 but this album is so much more.

Debiutancki album PJ Harvey, "Dry", to surowa, emocjonalna i niezapomniana eksploracja kobiecej siły i wrażliwości. Nowatorski kierunek dla alternatywnego rocka, łącząc minimalistyczne brzmienia z intensywnym, niemal prymitywnym przekazem. Brzmienie albumu jest surowe, zdominowane przez potężne gitary, oszczędne aranżacje i pulsującą perkusję. Produkcja podkreśla autentyczność i intymność muzyki – nie ma tu miejsca na nadmiar, wszystko jest skoncentrowane i celowe. Wokal – raz subtelny, raz pełen furii – jest rdzeniem tej płyty. Moje top tracki to "Oh, my lover", "Dress" i Sheela-na-gig". Ale cały album jest prawie idealny. Słabe 5

This my 2nd PJ Harvey album, and I think she is growing on me. Great energy and presentation. Brooding and enjoyable. I will likely revisit her work beyond this list.

That blew me away. I've gotten a couple of her later albums very early on in the project and was pretty indifferent. This one I loved from start to front. I think the front half rocks a bit more than the second half but there's genuinely not a song I didn't enjoy. Rating: 4.8

Very emotional, great debut album. Favs: Oh My Lover, O Stella, Dress, Sheela-na-gig, Plants and Rags

The energy here is exhilarating, rushed, angry, emotional. All the instruments are used in the right places, including furious, atonal strings on Dress and especially on Plants & Rags, distorted guitar (plus an abrupt punk-esque ending) on O Stella, the Nirvana-esque guitar and drums of Sheela-na-gig, the rolling, mysterious rhythms in Hair… the list goes on. Harvey’s vocal here has that signature classic rock energy, comparable to that of Blondie or the Cranberries. It’s not completely refined, which adds to the atmosphere rather than detracts from it. There’s a clear punk influence here, but Harvey’s voice is significantly better than the (vast) majority of punk singers. It’s a breath of fresh air, for sure. The compositions are reasonably good, but could be a bit more melodically and harmonically complex. There’s a lot of “hard rock melody” going on here. It makes the songs difficult to sing along to even if you know them well. Many of the songs are two or three chords, meaning it’s also difficult to catch onto the melody based on chord changes. Additionally, for 1992, I guess I don’t see this album progressing enough past its contemporaries to warrant a perfect 5 stars. But it’s still a darn good showing by the PJ. 4/5 Key tracks: Oh My Lover, O Stella, Sheela-na-gig

It has the Nirvana pattern of quiet heavy quiet that was popular in the early 90s

Jaunty with some quite catchy tunes.

This is Harvey’s most typically 90s alternative rock album but it’s wonderful nonetheless.

Grungey rock. Not bad but nothing special.

Another one I'll never understand. Once, maybe two songs of interest in their entire catalog, 2 albums on this list.

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

Brutal

Pretty good raw-ish alt rock. A lot of heavy power chords and lyrics coming from an honest place. Standout is "O Stella" with "Victory" as well.

i listen to this every day and i love it beyond belief what can i say. seeing pj harvey live changed my life.

Not for me. 1/5

I saw her in concert about two months ago! I went into it with very few preconceptions or specific expectations and I left very impressed. She’s a performer through and through, it was dramatic from start to finish, very few words were said until a break towards the last few songs. I greatly appreciated it. Anyways, as for this album here, it is a great balance of delicate and guttural. I suppose you can say that about all of her best stuff. Uninhibited vocals and raw instrumentals to back it up. A very very strong 4 outta 5.

So damn good! Remembers me of Fugazi. Garage/grungy sound, lots of balls 💪🏼💪🏼

3+

I like the raw energy that PJ Harvey tends to bring to her albums. It’s crazy to me that I hadn’t heard of her before this whole album experiment, but I’ve definitely found some music that I like with her. Today’s album felt familiar enough when hearing her other albums, but maybe with a little less polish. It’s alt rock, so it’s always going to be a safe bet for me.

This was ok, nothing too great. Certainly had alt 90’s vibe.

Nice voice fits ‘90s mold

Very nice. Liked her voice. Songs were nicely written and sounded good. Classic artist.

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

Loved it, grungy

This was a stronger PJ Harvey album. I get the 90's anger and the raw energy

14 days in and I received the first new-to-me album that was worth listening to! This album was amazing - driving and immediate; visceral, cryptic, pleading and powerful. The music perfectly complementing and bestowing, delivering, offering, bearing the message of the song to the listener. Nothing superfluous, everything crucial to the communication. Exquisite.

And easy copy & paste of the last review I wrote for a PJ Harvey record: “Meh. Angsty, harsh, too distorted for my liking. Not for me.”

really not my thing, couldn’t even finish

No thank you

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.

Ha! I’ve been going through a major PJ Harvey kick lately, not sure why but I’ve been loving it. This is terrific though if it’s on the list and To Bring You My Love isn’t I’ll be mad. Not mad, disappointed. Don’t let me down, list.

Pretty good!

It's rare that one of these albums is something that I find myself looking for again the next day, but this was one. Loved it.

Decently listenable, but nothing really stands out here.

Fantastic through and through. Holds up remarkably well.

Sounds like "annoyed-woman-screaming-in-microphone-with-guitars-having-too-much-distortion-music"

So good. Amazing vocals, great songwriting, dynamic arrangements, eclectic, rough, sensual.

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

I was only okay with PJ Harvey and this album…it doesn’t make me want to go in search of more music from her.

Raw and pretty heavy. Don't listen for the voice, though. I feel like the instruments drown out the singing in the mix.

Solid stuff. Enjoyed PJ Harvey's work in this project as this is her last album I get to listen to. Quality material throughout. Will check out more of her music in the future.

pretty good, i want to come back to it!

Such a brilliant voice

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.

Such a boring listen. There is nothing noteworthy for any of the songs and makes me wonder why it even is considered as on lf the greatest of all time

cool

Pretty good album. I only knew her song she did with Thom Yorke, so this was a lot more punk than I expected it to be, it reminds me of Sleater Kinney. Mid 4.

I prefer PJ in small doses... I find it difficult to get through a whole album in one sitting

It was enjoyable but not really what we've come to expect from PJ

This is the second album from PJ Harvey I got on my journey, after listening to Rid of Me last month. Since each album in her discography has its unique musical identity, I will judge this album on its merit rather than in comparison to her followup. In the case of her debut album, Dry is a blues-adjacent alternative rock affair with pummeling drum beats and clean production courtesy of Rob Ellis. The song compositions are straight and hit between the eyes, with the fury of a young and hungry PJ who put everything on the table from the get-go in her songwriting. There is some genuine transgressive angst in her delivery as she belts out her words that tackle relationship norms of the time, coupled with excellent work on the guitar and violin. I'm not quite over the moon yet for this album, as not every song is memorable except those with good hooks like "Dress" and "Victory". But there's no denying that PJ Harvey put an insane amount of effort into her debut and it showed in spades. Give it a listen.

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.

All noise and no rhythm, especially from the lead singer, terrible.

I just felt disappointed listening to this one. I thought the mixing was especially awful for the musical style of the album. The instruments were all much louder than the singer, but they weren't doing anything interesting to make it seem intentional.

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.

A very interesting record. Reminds me a lot of Christina Rosenvinge. Cool!

Драйвовый, сырой звук, ещё и женский вокал. Короче альбом хайпик.

Forgettable album

Compared to the last two PJ albums I've gotten, this stands head and shoulders above. Pretty great debut, not bad Peej! and Victory is a pretty damn good song, even though I thought it was Lithium at first, also wacky to find out she was a contemporary of Cobain, so thats cool. Dry was pretty good too. Just mostly good grunge rock, nothing fancy, raw lyrics and instruments, it gets a little long in the tooth, but I found it a treat despite not liking much grunge to begin with.

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

Not for me.

Not as good as the last one from her but still a nice album

A great debut album. I have most of Harvey's albums, and I might have chosen a different one for this list.

nothing memorable. not bad either. 5/10

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.

Ich begreife nicht, was daran hörenswert ist.

Not my thing

love pj harvey

Vocals can quiet at stages and overall mixing all of the place but otherwise too terrible

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?

Thi is barely a 4 because the drums scratch that itch in my brain, but other than that it’s a relatively solid album. If it was lacking at all in any other department it would be knocked down to a 3

Pretty cool. Definitely feels raw and early but never fails to be interesting.

punk rocky

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

Not my cuppa

Fínasta rokk. Túttulagið frábært. Gef aðra umferð, 3,5.

Fine

Stong debut agit-fem rock from PJH.

5/10…Indie / Alternative Rock

Such a killer debut. It's raw, intense, and passionate. I love how she portrays female sexuality in such a positive way, but without shying away from it or its power. The instrumentation complements the lyrics perfectly.

her music sucks

Interesting vibes, some good songs, but not my thing.

im so hyped for PJ Harveys other album bc the songs I know on there are actually so fkn good. this was also good tho.

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.

This went hard

Victory // Sheela-na-gig // Water 2-2.5/5

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.

There were two tracks I really liked, probably because they strayed away from the 3 chord punk rock, Nirvana-esque sounds of the rest of the album: "Happy and Bleeding" and "Plants and Rags". I love the dissonance, whining strings and big bellowing drums behind it all. There's some really cool cascades with the guitars, too. Outside of those two, the rest of the album was listenable, but its sound had a low ceiling for me. IT was 1992, I think her debut album? If so, you can hear it bursting with energy and cynicism. So much less mature than her later city/sea stories album, but definitely raucous fun. A shiny two stars. Fav track: Plants and Rags

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.

it seems like the type of album that would get carried by great vocals. unfortunately the vocals were okay at best and it didn’t work

Fresh, singular, wide open, heartfelt and direct - a powerful listen

Ah esistevano le donne nella musica? Stando a questa lista sembrava proprio di no, bel lavoro PJ

Wow. Mi sento colta alla sprovvista. È tutto molto… cool. È un album diretto, crudo, piacevolmente dissonante. PJ, scusa se fino a questo momento non ti conoscevo, hai il mio interesse.

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

Dry is the debut from PJ Harvey, when she was still recording work as a trio, prior to moving to releasing work as a solo artist. Harvey is a singer songwriter that puts lyrics out of a folk song to a three piece, edgy rock band. These are angry, inspired, articulate songs that are engaging both for the storytelling and the catch hooks. Harvey's emotional songs match the power chords and heavy bass lines of her work. Her stained, expressive vocals fill the pictures she creates with depth and impressive range. Her songs are interesting glimpses of her experiences, like "Dress," with plenty of undertones about the impacts of these elements of her life.

PJ Harvey's floor is always at least 4 star album, in my opinion. She has that darkish style, which sometimes feels like an unplugged black metal. But her more optimistic and neytral songs are relly good as well, the whole record fits together stylistically, pretty good debut album. Dry lacks a bit in hits and singles, but overall it's easily an above average position on the list.

Not bad

The legendary PJ Harvey, a femal powerhouse when it comes to Alternative Rock has always had a pretty consistent discography and of course that had to start somewhere. Her debut album merges the Alternative Rock, that she will mainly create in her career, with elements of Punk Blues and Grunge. So this album is pretty much a younger and female version of Nick Cave around the same time. And as someone who absolutely loves Nick, I also really like this album. The songs are a little bit inconsistent at times but those that are incredible are just masterpieces. The albums starts with the passionate and anxious 'Oh My Lover' which is full of aching love as well as some really nice sludgy guitars that build up until the drums and the rest of the instruments kick in to drive the song even further into a massive tension build up. The songwriting and the lyrics as well as the performance of either is absolutely incredible and if it wasn't for a couple of "pauses" that interupt the song a little bit, this would've been a perfect song. But still, it is an emotional height to start an album with and is absolutely incredible. The Grunge influences comes through a lot on 'O Stella' which keeps the album going with some really nice and rhythmic melodies that are absolute bangers. Sadly, the songwriting closes them off a little too early which does result in the overall enjoyment being harmed a little bit but I think the song is still very enjoyable and simply a great track. The Dance energy is kept and worked out much cleaner on 'Dress', the albums first real masterpiece. It's simply incredible with how the song builds up over the span of just a couple of moments and neatlessly goes into the chorus which is just phenomenal. The bridge where she genuinely sounds a bit like Yoko Ono is so funny and after it the energy does not go away. It's full of incredible moments and one of my favourite Alt-Rock songs ever. It is simply perfect and was the first of two songs that made me fall in love with her music the first time I heard it. I love it!!! 'Victory' gets even more Grunge and actually has a lot of similarities with In Utero in terms of noisy production. I personally think that that aspect does harm it a little bit because it feels very unfocused and out of touch with itself. The great moments that it has do not fit with each other and although I like it, I don't love it because it feels pretty inconsistent and also incoherent. It cannot push itself further than a really good song. The influences of Raga Rock on 'Happy and Bleeding' are pretty unexpected but they fit with her style. The typical droning of the Ragas do feel similar to some of the noisier stuff but sadly the song fails to build up enough tension to be remotely interesting. It does not fit within itself and the songwriting just doesn't help. The song is good but definitely not great. The second half of the album starts with my favourite PJ Harvey song ever. 'Sheela-Na-Gig' is not just energetic and has an incredible hook but it's just so fun to sing and groove along. It's such a perfect blend of Post-Hardcore Punk and Grunge and even I as a man sing the lyrics with all my heart. Simply a masterpiece and I am not going to debate on that. 'Hair' does tune things back in terms of energy and noise but it still shows itself as an ambitious and energetic track. This time the Post-Punk ideas come a little bit through but sadly the song itself isn't strong enough to captivate any of what there might be to catch on. It feels pale and worn out, basic and half finished but it also does not have enough build up to make the chorus worth. The song is okay but sadly nothing more. It gets even more Post-Punk with 'Joe' which builds upon the fast and repeating guitar but again, it isn't enough to make the song thrive fully. It's got some nice moments but it mainly sounds like an unfinished mess without anywhere that it is going. Again, I like it a bit but when I compare it to some of the stronger songs on the album, it does feel a little left over. The next song 'Plants and Rags' does a complete turnover in terms of genre and sound. It combines Folk Rock and Singer-Songwriter aspects with some lofi Slacker Rock and weird production choices in the sound of Avant-Folk. It is a weird song but it surprisingly works. It's not perfect but it's not too far away. I really like it for it's weirdness and this time, the instrumental chorus and the build-up actually works. It's a great song but also with a lot of room for improvement. 'Fountain' comes along and removes the Folk and replaces it with different Punk ideas throughout. It's again one of the songs which try too much but forget the most basic thing of actually taking enough time to build a good amount of tension before releasing. This makes the song feel one-dimensional even if some moments are pretty good on their own. It's okay... The album closes with 'Water' which does take some time to actually start but once it does, it gets things going. The tension is much nice here although I still think it releases a little bit too early. But the overall songwriting and performances as well as the chorus are enough for me to think that this is genuinely a pretty good song. Not the best way to close the album but definitely not the worst. favourites: Sheela-Na-Gig, Dress, Oh My Lover, Plants and Rags least favourites: Hair, Joe, Happy and Bleeding, Fountain Rating: strong 7 to light 8 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Solid album, probably very influential, but can't say its the type of thing I enjoy a ton or that does much for me.

As with the other album, PJ Harvey is not my style. Rating: 2

Eh not for me I guess 2/5

3.5. Polly Jean is an excellent player and songwriter with a good band. I enjoy this from time to time.

An easy five. The Wikipedia roundup of the critical praise for this is kinda definitive. The brooding dark angel - and what a voice - and what poetry - no wonder she flitted with Nick a but. The French DJ here form 'Bury'field was right in giving me some Polly. And the Englishman from 'nes borough for introducing me to her. It's a match!

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, I worked at Scratches Records in Newtown, which specialised in female artists. So, when PJ Harvey's first album appeared, that was right in our wheelhouse. Having a wide back catalog of female artist (including lots of alternative artists), the emergence of a powerful, gritty female voice like PJ Harvey was not unprecedented, and we immediately recognized her as an important artist. Her playing is muscular and compelling (which I love), her singing is dynamic and soulful, and her songwriting is fresh and arresting. I think she really understands the blues without being mere pastiche. Part of what made PJ Harvey seem so fresh at the time was that she writes from a powerful and distinctly female point of view. It is a shameful indictment on the record industry that women are so under-represented in the music industry that this did seem fresh or unusual. But songs like "Oh My Lover", "Dress", or (my favourite) "Sheela-Na_Gig" are a perspective that we hadn't heard much to that point, and it was thrilling to hear. Many subsequent artists have followed the lead set by this album (which, in fairness, is not the only album by a strong female artist ever). And Polly Jean herself has progressed to show that she is true and evolving artist with much to say and interesting ways to say it. It's been 30 years since I first heard this auspicious debut record, and I still find it thrilling from the first track. I saw her at the Enmore Theatre in the early 2000s, and she is amazing on stage. This is really what I think the best of rock and roll for me: raw, smart (without being too clever for its own good), emotional, dark, funny, dynamic, exciting and powerful. Five stars.

Blind album, and after I thought I gave up on PJ Harvey, 2 of her albums did not hit right, but this strikes that chord perfectly that feels edgy and angsty but awesome in so many ways. So many deep cuts that sound great.

Some good moments. Can’t give it more than a 3 though.

Major “Oil Spill” from Bob’s Burgers vibes

Most songs have been removed

Only good and mostly raw indie-rock-songs. But I´m not 100% into her voice. favourite: "Dress", "Hair", "Joe" weak four stars for this album 3,5

Thoughts before listening: PJ Harvey is one of those artists that has been a mainstay of rock music writers since I started paying attention to music. Besides a few songs here or there, I have never been able to get into her, although I'm not sure I ever tried all that hard. I believe this will be the first time I've listened to one of her albums all the way through. Review: This sounds like 90s alternative rock which means I like it. The only track I recognize is "Sheela-Na-Gig" and thats a great song. Overall I wasn't blown away by this album at first, but it did start to grow on me on repeat listens. I think it was just so similar to other 90s alt rock albums I have listened to over the year that it didn't grab me, but I recognize that this is likely because PJ Harvey was a huge influence on a lot of those bands. This is 4-stars.

PJ Harvey is one of the most underrated rockers of all time

Fine. Last few songs are eh.

Enjoyable 3.5

An excellent album, raw and creative. I'd rate it a high 8 but for these rankings that is a borderline 3 or 4 star for me.

This album was pretty much the same thing the whole time. I’m sure at the time it was different and innovative, but I felt sounded like average garage band. That’s a special with the guitars or hooks and the lyrics. This one was only OK. 2.5/5.

What does it mean to review something? Is it subjective or objective? Does it depend on the context of the review? Is it a review of what someone thinks of it, or what something is itself? Dry by PJ Harvey is an exceptional album, that is everything alternative rock should be. Every song spoke to my soul and showed innovation that only a decent artist could achieve. Why did we go from this to the shit rock of the 00s that has continued today? I am not a fan of Let England Shake or her latest album, but these songs are so fuckin' good. I wish I was cool enough to hang out with Polly Jean! 5 ⭐s

so much angst love the vocals guitar and drums are insane really fucking good! 4.5 (i love girl rock)

This reminded me a bit of The Slits album earlier on the list. I had to turn up the volume pretty high to hear the quieter parts, that made it too loud for the louder parts. Overall, not bad, she's got a good voice, it's just not quite one I'd choose to listen to again. A high 3/5.

I’ve never loved PJ Harvey, I’ve never hated PJ Harvey. I didn’t love this album, but I didn’t hate it. It was sufficiently heavy, and she does tear it up. I’m sure she puts on a good show. At the same time, maybe because of how she tends to sing/speak, all of these songs kind of sound the same. This was her debut, and better albums do come along. I probably won’t put this on again, but I wouldn’t be upset if someone else did. 8th review.

Prefer Steve Harvey

I’ve always enjoyed this one, but put it a tiny bit below the extremely high bar set by some of the albums that would follow. I… think I was wrong? The two singles remain the high point for me, but I enjoyed every second of this listen. I don’t know if it’s been remastered or what, but the OG trio sound great here. Grading on a curve be damned, Dry gets the 5 it deserves.

Was fine. Listened to it a while ago and just now getting around to writing the review but I remember it being decent! 5/10

Damn this was rough. Tried to vibe with the raw energy, but it just hurt my ears. Harvey's voice? More screechy than edgy. The bare-bones sound felt half-baked. Hard pass for me

Very good. Love this pyjamas Harv guy does a good woman voice. 9/10

meh

This album is just okay but doesn't make me interested in a second runthrough so 2 stars or D+.

Surprisingly good album. Had it as a kid but didnt love it, I feel Im older and wiser and can understand its excellence better now. Great in every sense.

Enjoyed this, couple of stand out tracks but the rest were solid too. I imagine there is a lot more PJ in this list too so I’m looking forward to those

I would have liked this a lot as a younger person. At 40 I'm just not that angry or angst filled anymore. Still, it's pretty solid.