Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Great needs further listening - one of those that unfolds with every listen
Brilliant album to get lost in. England and In Dark Places are particular highlights.
Soft and poetic
Really interesting but delightful album. The variation in styles is easy listening
Didn't know what to expect and yet still don't know what to feel. Grabs me in moments and I'm gone in others. Overall still 4 Stars because it makes me question myself.
Dásamlega svört ást til Englands sem er svo brotið land. Þoka, stríð og myrkur.
Melodically, I was super into this. Lyrically, it was pretty solid but I have to admit I wasn't paying as much attention because the music sometimes captivated me so much. A few songs here and there that didn't stick for me, but I'm sure a re-listen will do just that.
4.0 + More interesting as a concept than as a collection of songs to love, this album's more of a "thinker." Still, it's thoughtful and well-crafted, striking the right tone without too much sentiment or intellectualizing. I prefer the raw sexuality of early PJ Harvey but I'm glad it's not bland like some other recent records.
Pretty nice piece of alternative rock, I even started to like Britain for a while
I actually really enjoyed this having been rather skeptical about the last PJ Harvey. Would definitely listen again
Ooooo. I've been on a PJ jag lately... This is very exciting... I loved this when it was released, now time for a focussed relisten! Yay. Love the autoharp, didn't she play it like a rockstar 😍 The bugle in The Glorious Land fascinates me everytime I listen to this album. Super cool inclusion
"Sing, sing PJ, with your other-worldly voice Pack up your troubles and let's head out To the fountain of joy and listen out Swim back, forth, back, back, laugh out loud"
Was afraid this was going to be another british punk album. It probably got an extra star just because it wasn't
Вдохновляет. Запись в церкви!
Great album. Definitely my favorite of her modern albums. 7-8/10
Energetic and sweet.
Was pretty smooth, i listened to some other songs, not bad at all
This is an album about war by by PJ Harvey and it is great with dark and very England themed lyrics about The Great War and other horror.
not bad - quiet
It was really good, the sound and the topics are dark, but there's some lightness and airiness, which gives an interesting experience. The Last Living Rose is such a nice song.
this album was AWESOME but the first 3 songs werent as good as the rest of the album imo, at least on first listen. it only got better as it went on though!!! i liked it it was pretty good. id have to relisten to appreciate it better
Will listen to again
I don't immediately love this album, but after a few listens I am really starting to enjoy it.
What a great album! We had never heard of her before. Very innovative, and reminiscent of Bjork.
I absolutely love Harvey's vocals on this album, and the lyricism is incredible!
I had never heard of this band before, but this album was super fun! The lyrics were fairly eccentric at times, but I think it added to the uniqueness of the record as a whole well.
Solid, enjoyed it!
Geen al te speciaal album. Goed voor op de achtergrond. Niet het beste werk van PJ Harvey
Eigenlijk best goed, 4 sterren? Ja? ik denk het wel.
This is pretty cool, very unique obviously. Can't name a standout track, I'd never put it on but never turn it off either
Bastante consistente. Se puede tener de fondo durante el trabajo
Im Erscheinungsjahr von „Let England Shake“ hat mein fantasy-PJ-and-Fiona-Apple-fangirl bereits eine Tochter; Lotta heißt sie, benannt nach der Kölner lefty Kneipe und gezeugt in einer dieser seltener werdenden, unverkrampft freudvollen Nächte, auf einer sich übermütig brechenden Woge des dort ausgeschenkten Newcastle Ale. Nun ist Post-Brexit und das Töchterchen schon fast ausm Nest und da widmet sich mein körperlich gealtertes/geistig jung gebliebenes fangirl diesem Spätwerk Harveys, von dem fangirls und -boys behaupten dürften, es sei PJ zu recht zum 2. Mal der Mercury Prize verliehen. Und da sind mir dann alle meilenweit voraus, weiß ich doch kaum etwas über PJ, hab mich nie interessiert, hatte wohl auch mit keinem ihrer weiblichen Fans, so wie ich sie mir vorstelle, je Sex gehabt und somit keine Chance auf eine Tochter namens Lotta. Zu wenig Übereinstimmung, zu disparat die jeweiligen Welten, obschon man sicherlich schon im Stereo Wonderland oder in Odonien nebeneinander für Bier anstand. Ich erkenne aber, dass manche Unterschiede sich zunehmend auflösen, als Eitelkeiten oder Distinktionsgeschiss erkannt und als solches zum Teufel gejagt werden. Im besten Fall. Und in diesem nehme ich diese Abrechnung mit der Heimat eine halbe Dekade vor Referendum als etwas sehr gutes, wertvolles und verständliches war. Verspielt ist alles ein wenig, ohne an Ernst zu verlieren, vielfarbig instrumentiert. Sanfte hooks, gute vielleicht politisch etwas zu vorhersehbare Englisch LK-taugliche Texte, sanft flirrende Gitarre, glaubwürdige Erzählerin. Der Flood‘sche Sound erinnert mich an Scott Walkers Produktion des Pulp Schlusspunkts „We Love Life“, was eher eine Bilanz wie auch Aussicht auf das Älterwerden in UK & überhaupt überall bereit hält; demgegenüber drischt PJ‘s Rundumschlag auf das historisch abgewickelte Empire ein. Ich hoffe, Lotta hört mal so unvoreingenommen rein wie ich nun. Vom ersten Ton an 3.9
Nice
I’m really surprised at how much I liked this.
Rich orchestral live sound. Really beautiful instrument, is that autoharp? Also really weird, would expect no less from PJ. Lots of folk influence, lyrically, conceptually, musically. I think I would give it a 5 if this was less obvious. I do prefer her more growling vocal sound from older albums. The thinner vocals here have a slightly annoying faux childish sound. I still think of this as her "new album" even though its now 10 years old.
Let England Shake is the eighth studio album by English singer-songwriter and musician PJ Harvey, released on 14 February 2011 Upon release, the album received numerous accolades. It was placed 2011 "Album of the Year" by 16 publications[3] and in September 2011 won the coveted Mercury Prize. Mike Williams of NME wrote: "Francis Ford Coppola can lay claim to the war movie. Ernest Hemingway the war novel. Polly Jean Harvey, a 41-year-old from Dorset, has claimed the war album."
Muy bueno.
Made me think of Feist and Agnes Obel. This one is definitely a keeper!
Pleasant surprise!
My introduction to PJ Harvey. Really good album, cool vibe.
Timeless sound and feel to the album, harkens back to a Scott Walker grandiosity in scope and tone
PJ Harvey
Good stuff again from PJH
listened to other PJ harvey album
when somebody whose music could shake a small island apart calls an album Let England Shake, and then the music is autoharp, it's hard not to be disappointed lot of effort, lot of thought, lot of range though. too England for me, not quite enough shake for me.
If you were super cool in 1992, and you’re making an album for 2011, it’s a mistake to try to be cool in a 2011 way. Huge downgrade, can’t possibly benefit you. Cheuginess didn’t even exist yet in 1992. Not that this album is cheugy. There’s some cool and wild stuff on it, because PJ Harvey is cool and wild. But it still sounds 2011 in a way that PJ Harvey simply did not need to mess with.
Just can't get a grip proper grip of this album. I like this it but in the same time feels somehow slippery and demands second or third listening in the positive way.
Softer than her previous stuff, which I like a little less.
Let England Shake is probably my least favorite of the PJ Harvey albums on the list, but it's still pretty good. I honestly wasn't really into something this heavy today (an album about war), but I can still appreciate it. I like the instrumentation, especially the autoharp.
REVISIT
Eh. Some was good some was annoying and all of it was England.
3.8/5
I enjoyed this album more than I expected! The songwriting is beautiful AND powerful. I'd like to revisit this album when I am caught up on my challenge list!
I’ve never heard this album but really liked it, I think more than rid of me
Started off a bit meh, got to On Battleship Hill and thought "This is more like it" and then it stayed at a plateau until the end. I think I had more expectation from PJ Harvey, although I did like the overall 'minor key' feel of the album
Dreamy, dreary punk sound
Subdued but occasionally lush compositions! Enjoyable Highlights: "England", "Bitter Branches", "Hanging in the Wire"
This album was a bit weird. There were some tunes I liked but which were cut into by strange musical decisions or lyrics. I can't say the album is bad, in fact in some ways I think it's pretty good. I can see some really good musical ideas in it, but it's not an album I'll be coming back to.
Very excited to explore this artist as I was only aware of her from the collaboration with Nick Cave which was great. Hearing this now on the first time and it's not disappointing at all, quite interesting and seems like could be a concept album although I haven't done any research and might be wrong here. Definitely easy 3 stars, but could be more and she seems like an artist I should Revisit
Need to come back to this and listen to it properly. 3/5 holding rating.
Oh PJ
Este es un disco que nunca escuché en mi vida .No se parece a la PJ.harvey que conocía la verdad no me atrapó musicalmente ,en algunos pasajes vi a siouxie en otros a Kate bush. Pero lo que me atrapó fue el concepto del álbum cuando leí las letras .y la verdad que cerré los ojos y sentí el olor de la pólvora y la carne quemada .Un tratado sobre la locura de la guerra .Ojalá le de más tiempo y lo vuelva a escuchar quisas lo pueda apreciar más.
Every PJ Harvey album I hear is a similar experience despite how different they can be. My initial listen is “that was nice, but doesn’t stick with me” and a 3. I’ll throw it on again later and some songs will click a bit more, but I’ll still end up giving it a 3. But it is a 3 of interest, a 3 that feels like there’s more here for me if I get more familiar with the songs, or hear them in the right setting or at the right time. So I’m sticking with a 3, but just sense her albums are growers on me…or maybe they’re just a decent listen that’ll eventually fall to the side. But this one is quite airy, spacious, understated - folky in a unique way, in an exploratory, unconventional, lightly experimental way - particularly for an album about war and England. I do dig her as a singer - again, a bit peculiar of melodies but they can stick with you. She covers a lot of ground with those pipes.
PJ Harvey is a legend, and deservedly so. Now with that out of the way, this album just fell flat for me. Brilliant lyrics, stellar vocals by PJ, but the album as a whole is a little one note to my ears and I was bored with it by the end
This didn't make much of an impression.
Wasn't horrible but i wouldn't add it to my playlist
Really gone thru a bell curve of enjoyment over the PJ Harvey albums on the project (this is my 4th and final), and I’m back to enjoying but wouldn’t seek it out. Overall 3.25/5
This is a good example of something I've been told is good, I should like it, but there's something I just can't connect with. Lyrically I just find it off for some reason. It's not terrible but not great in my opinion.
I like PJ Harvey, but this is not her best. Very inconsistent.
Nice album, I presume it would grow on me if I listened to it more. Liked some of the production.
This album doesn't quite hit for me the same way some of her earlier albums do. I still enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll be returning to it; if I'm ever in the mood for some PJ Harvey, I'd be reaching for Rid of Me or To Bring You My Love. Honestly, do we really need 4 PJ Harvey albums in the list?
It’s not that easy to make an album like this, especially when you are 42.
2,8/5
I don't know why, but I never think of PJ Harvey as British, even though I think Ive known this. Rid Of Me, which I heard first and set the tone, even now sounds to me like it comes from the US. Never questioned it much beyond that, granted I don't really follow PJ. She's super-cool and I've always liked what she does. This album is for the fans. Like, it's cool, but it would mean a lot more to longtime fans than to PJ laypersons like myself. I probably wouldn't return to it, but it's good, quality-ass PJ Harvey music.
I didn't like this album as much as the other PJ Harvey I've heard on here. The music wasn't as deep, dark, or harsh which was my favorite part of Rid of Me. Let England Shake was more simplistic sounding and the lyrics way more politically focused (which is fine and not an issue here, just not what I prefered), but theyre very attention grabbing. The whole album seemed more childish or playful in style, which is kind of weird to me in relation to the subject matter of the album. If there was any time to be dark and gloomy on an album, I'd say it would probably be the concept album about war. Maybe it's this juxtaposition that makes it a bit intriguing though? Still, cool album, was an interesting listen. I'd have probably liked it more if I was British, but it's a solid 3/5. Solid idea, decent-to-well-done execution, but far from perfect to me. I really like PJ Harvey though and can see how people love this album, but I think her other work suits me a bit more. Standout tracks for me were "All and Everyone" "On Battleship Hill" and "Written on the Forehead."
Compared to the raw, guitar-driven intensity of Rid of Me, this album feels far more restrained and atmospheric. As someone who does not fully understand British history, I sometimes felt there were layers of meaning I could not completely grasp. In the Dark Places stood out to me the most, however, capturing the album’s haunting and reflective atmosphere particularly well.
I'd never heard any of these songs or this artist, but it was pretty fun! Gotta love weird English music!!
Enjoyable album, I don't see why this one specifically ended up on this list though.
She sounds so much like Karen O on this record it's kind of insane. I like the folksy/indie vibe she was going for here, but I don't think the songwriting was as strong overall here as it was on SFTCSFTS, where each track had a catchy chorus or strong instrumental part of some kind
3.5
New
Fairly entertaining.
I guess we are getting another PJ Harvey album. The editors of this book saw PJ Harvey had an album with "England" in the title and didn't even listen to the album. Automatic inclusion. It does not matter how many PJ Harvey albums this book gives me, I am not going to change my mind on the music. It's not bad but this isn't an artist I will sit down and just listen to voluntarily. I wish PJ Harvey albums would stop popping up on the list. They all sound very similar to me and I don't need to hear them over and over to determine if I like them. The song "England" is basically just moaning. I beg you. Stop. PJ Harvey is just fine. Favorite songs: Let England Shake The Last Living Rose In the Dark Places Written on the Forehead
album of the year is insane, but her lyricism is incredible. she's different on this album versus rid of me and Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. I find it overall ok though. doesn't get me longing for more
I have a strange disconnect with her. I like what I listen, enjoy her shows, and then completely forget what it was that I heard. It's all great. Just not something I attach myself to.
Björk-lite. On Battleship Hill is incredible.
Yep yep yep!
норм.
Worthy
Not a fan of the affectation she put on for the vocals on this one. I read an interview about how she said.the songs resonated more with a new voice. But, what do I know, it did win her a second Mercury Prize 🤷♂️
Loved this on release. Like it a little less now. Words That Maketh Murder is my most re-listened PJ track but the rest of the album kind of sacrifices musicality for atmosphere.
Okaay PJ
Didn't enjoy it as much as I did Stories From City.... but it's just as good. Seems like a love letter to England, warts and all. 3
Odd album. It works and doesn’t work at the same time? I didn’t like the vocals and then I loved them?? Definitely a strange one
A bit repetitive, nice vocals, but mostly boring instrumental.
This was, of all the PJ Harvey I've heard, the least interesting for sure. A lot of this stuff kinda blends together, and I think she's dealing with a less interesting sound than on Is This Desire? or the one I listened to for this. Not that it's a bad album, but it felt like kind of a letdown because she's been so strong before this. It wasn't bad though, just not as much my thing. Favorites: The Last Living Rose, All and Everyone, On Battleship Hill
Another decent album from PJ Harvey. Didn't enjoy it quite as much as her prior entry, but still liked it enough where I'm wondering how I have zero prior exposure to her. As a somewhat contemporary artist it seems like I should have had run into her from the radio or a random Spotify recommendation. Perhaps her work never took root across the pond but seems like she is a pretty solid musician. 2.75 stars
ganz ok, nicht mehr, nicht weniger
Dudel Dudel Dudel
Decent 3
This album reminds me of Frank Turner! Which is complimentary, but definitely not as good. Listened three times trying hard to get into it but ultimately did not.
3/5 INTERESANTE, LE DARIA OTRA ESCUCHA
Rounding up to three stars because it’s not a bad album, but against the other PJ Harvey albums on this list, it’s the last I’d listen to again.
Interesting
I dunno. Instrumentation very cool. Vocals didn't do it for me on the particular day I listened to it.
01) Let England Shake - 7,5 02) The Last Living Rose - 7,5 03) The Glorious Land - 8,0 04) The Words That Maketh Murder - 8,5 05) All and Everyone - 7,0 06) On Battleship Hill - 7,5 07) England - 7,0 08) In the Dark Places - 7,5 09) Bitter Branches - 7,5 10) Hanging in the Wire - 7,5 11) Written on the Forehead - 7,0 12) The Colour of the Earth - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,50 (75/100) Current ranking: 363/863
Her other stuff is betwr
england has been dealt with
Ballt men tyckte inte låtarna riktigt höll hela vägen
Stundtals spännande och riktigt bra, men jag vet inte riktigt alltså.
Thoughts before listening: I have never really understood why music press makes such a big deal about every new PJ Harvey album. I have heard a few good songs over the years, but nothing just absolutely blows me away. I think I listened to this album when it came out, but I don't remember much about it. Review: You know, some of this is okay. I like the title song as well as the "The Glorious Land", but a lot of this is just lost on me. Lots of mid-tempo songs here with lyrics focused on English war I think. Every once in a while a horn line will pop in and catch my ear, but for the most part these songs are just ambling by without really grabbing me. I guess I'll give this 3-stars cause its not bad, its just not really something I'm all that interested in.
It's good. Will need to listen to it some more once I'm in the mood for it.
Fine, but not my fave
Gran álbum. Primero que escucho completo de PJ Harvey. Me gustó. Tiene una clara mezcla de tradición o cosa inglesa con crítica a su política o idiosincrasia. En alguno temas se me hacía algo molesta la voz, pero bueno, son cosas que vienen ya con el artista digamos. 6/10
PJ Harvey has a unique vocal style to say the least. It takes a little time to adjust to it, but once you’re accustomed, the music and lyrics come together and you have a solid album of alternative pop music. At first listen, I thought she reminded me of Kate Bush and others who followed in her footsteps. But PJ has created her own art here. Reading reviews, I found that this is not necessarily her best effort and she may be worth looking further into. A solid 3 stars
I liked this more than I was excepting and will be revisiting it
Non l’ho ascoltato tutto, ma da quel poco che ho sentito ha del potenziale, sicuramente è particolare
Afghan war album?
Will listen to more by her.
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. -Wilfred Owen
Its ok not her best album still a good listen
PJ Harvey is so talented, and this was a very solid album. And yet I can never seem to get myself to care too much outside of a few iconic 120 Minutes tracks I remember from the 90s.
Ok album, men litt ujevnt?
3.4 Was alright, I quite liked the Bjork/Joanna Newsom vibe to some of the vocals, whilst it retained some of the modern rock charm. Some parts were less good, songs ruined by little bits, like the "Maketh Murder" line over and over again. Never completely understood the acclaim that PJ gets, but I'm content with finding her ok.
Blind album and artist. Nothing special but nothing bad I guess... Probably will forget i listened to this tomorrow.
This album has some great songs but other songs just aren't as strong. Probably my least favorite PJ Harvey album out of the 3 I've listened to in this project.
Let England Shake is a folk rock album and the 8th studio album by PJ Harvey, released on 14 February 2011. Admittedly, I'd never heard of PJ Harvey before. It seems this album was written over the course of two and a half years then recorded in five weeks inside a church. Reviews from critics and retrospectives have quite the high praise for this one. It even one quite a five acolades in a series of "best ofs" and placing high in five others. The album's lyrics were inspired by the poetry of Harold Pinter and T.S. Eliot, then the music of The Doors, The Pogues, and The Velvet Underground, along with the films of Stanley Kubrick, Ken Loach, and Ari Polman. The singer-songwriter, PJ Harvey, also said she spoke to and read testimonies of soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Gallipoli Campaign of WW1. This all sounds like quite the hodge-podge of ideas but the lyrics themselves are quite pointed. Directly criticising the love/hate relationship PJ Harvey feels towards her motherland, the UK, feeling the claimed glory of its past is an illusion. The blood and lies create a disonnance that PJ struggles to reconcile because she still loves her country and all the good it has done and the people in it. It also discusses the scars and wounds that the psyche of a counry itself has to battle with due to the wars its people have experienced. Even those who were not in those wars still have to contend with the trauma and carry the scars of those before them. This is an album where you'll need to listen to the lyrics. While the instrumentals are quite fun at times and beautifully somber at other times, the message is the point of the album. And its highlight. If you're unsure then pick one of the three: On Battleship Hill, The Glorious Land, and the titular Let England Shake. These three are the most emblematic of what the album is going for. If they don't get you then maybe come back to it another time. As for me, I quite enjoyed it. It's not an album I think I'll come back to personally but I'm glad I heard it. In The Dark Places and Bitter Branches are probably the ones I enjoyed the most is probably my favourite of this one. Both are simple songs lyrics but it was the melody of The Dark Places and the vocals of Bitter Branches that I liked most.
Folksy and generally pleasant. Not anything to write home about.
Good but didn’t resonate with me.
Super politiek, anti establishment album van PJ Harvey. Ik luister zeker niet altijd even goed naar teksten, maar het word niet veel duidelijker dan dit album zeg. Dat vind ik positief hoor, begrijp me niet verkeerd. Het scheelt ook weer dat ik het grotendeels eens ben met de politieke opvattingen van PJ Harvey. Ik trek haar zang ook best wel prima en de muzike an sich is ook best wel interessant met soms een soort trompet die door het hele album heen gaat. Doet me bij tijden ook een beetje denken aan een oorlogsalbum. Dat heeft te maken met de trompet, de drums, maar natuurlijk ook de teksten. Tsja, het album begint vrij aggressief maar kakt na een tijdje toch weer in. Dat zou je kunnen uitleggen als de machteloosheid omtrent Engeland. Dat zou kunnen... Het enige wat ik hier uit haal: PJ Harvey is boos, heel boos, maar toch ook weer niet zo boos dat ze een heel album lang boos is. Misschien is het wanhoop, maar ik merkte dat de aandacht toch een beetje verslapte richting het einde. Het is een anti oorlog album, zoveel is duidelijk. Merk dat ik dit album leuker of beter had willen vinden dan dat ik het vond. Maarja, ik heb ergere dingen geluisterd dan dit album voor 40 minuutjes. FAVO: The words that maketh murder, Written on the forehead
The album started strong but fizzled out after a bit. About halfway through I was getting tired of the high pitched vocals. She has more range than that and I would have enjoyed this more with more variance in her voice. The compositions were mostly interesting though and that kept me going. Although I most say, the vocals on England nearly made me skip the track. Grating and whiny on that one.
Best Song: The Words That Maketh Murder. I liked the inclusion of some brass and the gang-style vocals. Worst Song: England. Far too soft and wispy. Overall: Nothing in here excited me, nor did it offend or bore. It's perfectly fine, ordinary music. Perhaps the most 3/5 album in the whole list.
Fun album!
Finally, my last PJ Harvey album on this list. This is slightly better than Rid Of Me, though its theme is quite dark and somewhat depressing.
Listenable.
Interesting idea and I liked how her voice floated, didn't truly grab me though
This one didn’t grab me like her other albums.
I'm glad to come across PJ Harvey on the list, though it's hard to say whether this is her most representative release. Actually, that would be antithetical to her artistic development since she continually reinvents herself and evolves/metamorphizes with practically every record. Here she took on new musical instrumentation and vocal character. 'Let England Shake' may come across as unremarkable at first, but only without acknowledging this is a shift from harder, more challenging material to something a little more folksy, mellow and accessible. That said, there are other PJ records I would give a solid 5.
It's a cute and very interesting album Favorite song: All and Everyone
Interesting. Second PJ Harvey release in 288 albums, rate of 1 every 144 albums. Will there be 8 or 9 more to come? I don’t really wish for this. Looking ahead, I have another PJ Harvey album 3 from now. It’s fine, varied in style, which is always fun, but I can’t say I get it.
a little too much about England
I liked it! I feel like this would’ve been one of my MySpace songs or a repost on tumblr in the early 2000s/2010s. 3.5/5
1. cool! 2.un peu OSEF mais pas nul 3. délire la trompette, bon morceau 4. très bon! 5. pas ouf, arrangement chelou 6. cool! 7. à la fois nul à chier et bon 8. ok tier 9. ok 10. cool 11. let it be? très cool 12. sympa sans plus dans l’ensemble satisfaisant, pas vrm de banger mais c’est un bon album 3+/5
Such an odd break away for PJ Harvey: I think I like her raw rock early albums; this one--with its harps and zithers and whatnot--plus this babydoll pitched singing voice, is sonically not my cup of tea (and this such an English album). Some beautiful songs (like Hanging in the Wire) and some scary images, but nope.
It doesn’t pack the punch of her earlier stuff with which I’m more familiar, but I thought it was a fascinating project and I would listen again to it.
ich bin nöd so fan vo ihre glaub. aber de erst song het etz no cooli klangfarb mega en teppich. ich wird nöd esoo warm aber gfallt mer besser als s letste. battleship hill chli folky gfallt mer. ok bi england verlürt sie mich wieder chli huii. ich wird wüüürklich nöd war mit dere frau. cha nöd sege wieso. 3 gits aber trotzdem
woaaah gaaanz komische sound aber megaaa spannend hmm glorious land grenzt chli ah nervig und zu quirky NEII TUNMER DAS NÖD AH PJ, ich finds wieder langsam aber sicher eifach langwilig ihri stimm findi aber HAMMER, erinneret mich chli ad björk (und würkt mengisch weg dem fast wiene parodie?) POAH de wechsel bi written on the forehead isch geiil ...und denn chunnt wieder öppis wie colour of the earth wo wenigstens speziell isch aber :( joo. iwie eifach kein pj harvey fan aber han definitiv d kreativität vom album gnosse!
Not bad but Nothing special
Taking the edge of her earlier work, this album moves from post-punk/alt rock into a more indie sound - cleaner guitars, more atmosphere and space, less in your face intensity. Musically it's very of it's time - nice enough but a bit predictably following the beats, but it works really well to let her voice and words come through.
Reading about it was more interesting than listening to it
Felt Bjork-adjacent. Kinda pitchy, just ok.
I liked it, but it's not an easy listen. There's plenty of indie dissonance and oddness. I listened to a few tracks twice. It's not easy to carve out something unique in music, but PJ definitely does that. All sorts of blending of acoustics, musical styles, genres in a single song. This is advanced.
Critics seemed to have loved it but I don't really get it. Protest album and musically it's not bad, just not deserving of all the accolades. "Written On The Forehead" exemplifies the record by juxtaposing uplifting melody with brutal lyrics.
have limited experience with Ms. Polly Jean Harvey. It seems the creator of the 1,001 album list loves her, as this is my second album of hers from the list. The first was Stories by the City, which I enjoyed, giving it 3 out of 5 stars. It had a 90s alt rock sound to it, which I have, over time, learned to appreciate more and more. Though it's easier to appreciate 25 years later, because the wheat has been separated from the chaff at this point. So, I dive into Let England Shake, of which I love the title, thinking this is going to be a guitar-heavy rock album. I couldn’t be more wrong, and Harvey spoke about how she wanted to do something different from what she had been. She succeeded. Now, sometimes different means bad, at least at first. Everybody is afraid of change, but change is necessary to move forward and grow. If there is no change, you just wither and die. Don’t get me wrong, this is a rock album, but it’s just a bit less guitar-driven. However, track 3, The Glorious Land, has a driving guitar propelling the song though, it’s a bit of a rarity. The album was written over two and a half years and recorded in a church in around five weeks. I’ve always loved it when musical acts recorded albums in a church. I feel it gives the album a bit of a divine touch. Track 4, The Words That Maketh Murder, is a great song featuring a saxophone. The song is about the war in Afghanistan, among other wars, which Harvey used as inspiration for several songs on the album. Rolling Stone called it, “a pretty peepy song about murder.” And it is. It was a single off the album. Track 6, On Battleship Hills, might be my favorite track on the album. It has an old schoolness about it, like songs about good sir knights who saved the maiden and defeated the Mongol horde, type old school. The subject of the song is a battle from World War I that was horribly mismanaged, wasting many lives. I’m starting to gain an appreciation for PJ Harvey. There’s no doubt she’s talented, but maybe it’s the cold or the snow, but I’m just not feeling this album. However, it could be a grower, as the more I listen to it, the more I like it. I may have set myself up for failure as I imagined this would be an alt rocker facejam, but instead it's just a solid rock album touching on some big ideas. However, as I write this, track 9, Bitter Branches, is rocking hard right now. In the end, I’ll add Let England Shake to my albums from the 1,001 must hear list folder for music I want to hear more of, but it’s not an automatic must hear for me.
Meh
Certainly interesting. Very different vibes. Fascination reflections on nation, history and identity through music.
Pleasant enough… I’m still not sure I am ever going to get what all the critical clamour is over her work but I will keep trying…
Nice enough album but wasn’t as keen on the sonic palette used in this which seemed a little bit more restrained than other PJ Harvey albums (aside from perhaps ‘White Chalk’). I liked ‘In the Dark Places’ most on the album but otherwise didn’t have the instant replayability of some of her other work.
Not exactly to my taste, but her music is interesting and varied. This 1001 list has made me exceedingly grateful to artists that make albums that don’t sound the same all the way through or don’t heavily imitate somebody who came before them.
Donnerstag, 05.02.2026 ~ Nachmittags bis früher Abend ~ Im Superfit Europacenter, auf dem Weg zur Uni, im Seitensprung-Café, in der Ringbahn auf dem Nachhauseweg.
Freitag, 06.02.2026 Im "Seitensprung", in der U3 und Ring abends auf dem Weg nach Hause von der Uni, in der U9 auf dem Weg zum Gym, auf dem Laufband im Gym,
I thought this was a pretty cool record. The subject matter was dark and captivating and it was like a better Bjork.
This one kind of grew on me. At first, I wasn’t in but by the end, I was all in. This feels like a more palatable version of Regine from Arcade Fire, I can usually only handle a few Regine songs but I like almost all of these. Cool instrumentations and really cool composition of songs too. They’re playing with a lot of elements of folk and blues but making it very modern.
Good but the voice goes through me, great bunny rhythms though
I didn't like her other album on here but this is decent, if challenging, and I almost enjoyed it.
I preferred this to her last outing, but I just don't understand pj Harvey.
Second PJ album to come up in a few days. One that passed me by at the time and a bit of a departure from her more rocking earlier stuff. Definitely quite inventive, but I'm on the fence about how successful it is. Ultimately probably needs a few more listens to fully grasp it.
Harvey had better albums than this although this was fine. But they talk about England so obviously this was getting on here
Bonne découverte Chanson preferée : All and Everyone
Nothing wrong with it but it didn’t really grab me
Поначалу подумал, что что-то интересное, но в итоге нет.
Not my favorite PJ, and PJ is my favorite.
Moody/experimental indie(?) Detuned instruments in Let England Shake. Lyrics deal with war/WWI It's not bad but not blowing me away. Shame as first track is very interesting. Best track - Let England Shake, In The Dark Places 3 stars
Morose Bjork? Sadder Arcade Fire-the Suburbs? Violates some of my self-imposed metrics, because I genuinely enjoyed this. Like, using stream of conscious lyrics to convey wit, while not actually doing so, but kind of doing. Confused? So was I. Might not revisit immediately, but some intriguing aspects will most likely bring me back, see: WRITTEN ON THE FOREHEAD
Was ok, probably a 2.5
There better be another PJ Harvey album on here. I'm going to be seriously pissed if this is it (although British, so probably). This might be her weakest album, but she's a perfect artist for a project like this. Influence 4. Hits 2. Intangibles 3. Quality 4. Ooh, there better be at least two other PJ Harvey albums here 2.
Gear: Grado Hemp Artwork: 🦑🐦⬜ Production: 📈✨👍 Music: 🇬🇧🤔💭 Rating: 🫨🫨🫨/5
Bjork x kate bush
I dig the vibes on this. The vocals and instrumentals compliment each other well. To be honest, I listened while cooking, so I couldn't give proper attention to the lyrics. I'm sure that would have made me enjoy this even more. 3.5.
Couldn’t get into this one
Nothing too special here to me.
More straight folk than PJ Harvey's gypsy-witchy best, but with some pleasant lyrics. Perhaps I just didn't get it and unfairly judged it compared to her other releases.
Nice voice but didn’t relate to album
This was a really complex and beautiful album. Full of harmonies and interesting choices of instruments. The heralding bugle was not one of my favorite choices however. I enjoyed some of the songs like Bitter Branches and Written on the Forehead. PJ Harvey is an undeniably talented vocalist, instrumentalist, writer and poet. The only issue that I have with this album is, when am I ever going to want to listen to an album for pleasure when its overt message is the futility and desolate nature of war? Its very powerful and composed in a truly impressive way. Just, not the album for me.
Interesting. That's all I've got.
This is one of those albums that I feel like I should like more, and it’s not that I dislike it, but it just doesn’t really hit that hard for me. Now, maybe that is because I don’t really look to pop/rock music for meaning - which seems to be a big part of the PJ Harvey appeal. It’s not that I don’t like lyrics, I just feel like the all of the other parts (melody, instrumentation, recording, etc) are more important.
Decent enough - didn’t really grab me though
Felt pretentious, felt also almost close to something I would like, but frankly it would be annoying if I had to add a paean to Englishness to my listen list.
This was okay. Fun but kinda mid.
It's fine- I get why people revere PJ Harvey, but a lot of this album faded into the background for me. I hear Bjork occasionally.
Not as good as her last album we had but it had its moments.
It's fine. I'm not blown away. It's not very interesting instrumentation wise. The vocals are okay. Lyrics are okay. Not my type of music in general. If I were more crunchy it would be. The anti-war sentiment is something missing from music overall in 2025.
Interesting lyrics that focus on struggles typical of the time ("take my problems to the UN); very British rock, and good sound, but nothing that really resonated with me
6/10
Maybe I'm foolish but I was not expecting the title to be so literal. I figured there would be some talk of England but this is almost on an entire album of commentary on the subject. But props to her for using her art and talents to be so vocal and critical. The delivery was my favorite. There's some great upbeat jangly guitars juxtaposed by the heavier lyrics. There's plenty of variety here and although I didn't love every single song, it did make me want to explore more of her work.
Trur da va verdt et gjenlytt, men får sjå om da skjer
Good album, i have to relisten again tho
Interesting.
I never listened to this on release. Don’t know why. I like it.
I respect a concept album, but I couldn’t really put it together on the first listen. Reading about it a little bit, it’s probably worth revisiting and very well could be a lot more compelling once I understood it a bit more. However the nature of this excercise lends itself to quick judgements and I didn’t like this one as much as “Dry” - the sexy vulnerability of the album drew me in and that was totally missing (albeit by design) from this one. Probably a high 2 but I’ll round up because I think it’s probably better than my first impression.
3.5 This PJ album didnt engage me as much as the others on the list but still very good and very listenable.
So I saw the title Let England Shak and told myself, “This is gonna be some English feminine rage” from the 1990s. I was surprised that that’s not what I found. I think PJ Harvey was a harnessing, her inner Björk, Lisa Gerrard, and Dolores O'Riordan. Some of this was almost angelic, like on Battleship Hill. In the Dark Places, I think my favorite song, was a combination of folky singer-songwriter, alt-rock royalty, and experimentation. As opposed to the only other I know of hers, Rid of Me, and his album is a woman comfortable in herself and her craft, and possibly more English feminine rage than her earlier work. I would have never looked for this album but I’m glad I found it here.
Random thoughts: * I listened to this one twice and both times it just kind of rolled around me. * If this album was a movie it would be a period piece. * I don't know much about PJ Harvey but this appears to not be one of her top albums. Maybe critically acclaimed only because it was a departure from her previous sound. * This solidly mid too.
Enjoyed this one but don't love it
Världens kanske coolaste kvinna, möjligen brädad av Neneh Cherry. Att jag är svag för Polly är knappast nån hemlighet. Jag var ganska skeptisk till det här albumet när det kom, hade svårt att se förbi det storvulet pretentiösa. Men idag har jag omvärderat det. Musikaliskt rått och nedstrippat, lyriken sylvass och instrumenteringen ibland oväntad och kul (autoharp t.ex.). På ungefär hälften av låtarna funkar det förträffligt, titelspåret, "Dark places" och "Maketh murder" t.ex. hör till det bästa hon gjort. Men hon slår också knut på sig själv stundtals. Då har jag fortfarande svårt att helt förbise hur pretto det är. Klarar inte fyran riktigt men trean stark
Hat mir echt gut gefallen, aber so 100% hat es mich dann doch nicht gecatched.
Schönes Album. Ich höre es wahrscheinlich nicht nochmal, aber es war sehr angenehm zuzuhören.
Interesting. Curious. Not my favourite PJ album. A bit of the Julian Copes filtering through. Maybe not enough? Feels throughout that she could've gone weirder in every moment 3.4
The second album from her in this is okay
A few hits and a few misses. Definitely a mixed bag. But overall closer to positive than negative.
Clearly has something to say and I didn’t dislike it but didn’t connect with it either
Bit samey-samey on the first listen. Didn't quite feel as rich as other PJ Harvey albums.
Not what I usually listen to but I enjoyed it well enough
Day 1: Best tracks: The Words That Maketh Murder, In The Dark Places, Bitter Branches, The Last Living Rose I’m more of a fan than not. But I’ve always been lukewarm on Let England Shake. I think it is "The Glorious Land" that keeps me from embracing the album; I don’t care for the mix of the reveille in the song. 7/10.
very different from other pj so far, excited to see where it goes! title track is catchy as all hell, halloween vibes appropriately strong. loving this second track. on 3 now and yep understanding the mercury prize status now! political undertone strong here. hoping into the 2nd leg now! love the piano on 'on battleship hill'. goddamn this is AFFECTING, undoubtedly one of the best albums on war I've heard in a long time. 2nd half is even better. finishing up now, excellent as a cohesive statement. hard to pick individual songs but as an album WOW.
I like PJ Harvey, but I've never listened to this one before. It was interesting and I think it demands another listen. I just don't particularly look forward to doing so.
WTF…this is the 3rd album of hers to pop up on this thing!? Obviously author is fan of hers. Best of the bunch.
What kind of music is this? I dunno... Adult Oriented Rock? Pop? Alternative? Can't quite place it. It's fine, I guess... pretty non-offensive, but pretty bland for my taste. Some cool stuff, but not something I'd seek out.
I started this album having never heard of PJ Harvey. I was impressed - slightly quirky, melodic style. Good vocals I could get behind it. But the more I listened of the album the less of it I enjoyed. To steal the title of one her songs - I was experiencing the downward trajectory of battleship hill. Again vocals strong and elements of the album I loved, but not one I could listen in total over again. I don’t know if the intro to England was meant to symbolise the East London markets of warbaling and random noises. This song is a perfect example - the next part of the song was beautifully presented (lyrics a little strange can’t quite deduce) then it overlays the random warbling again 2.5/5
This one didn’t grab me like her others. It was a good listen but nothing more.
I have to go back and listen to it again.
3.3 2x in airplane from BZN to ATL and Marta
That was weird. Heavy subject matter expressed through airy, distant vocals that are incongruous with the music. But then, I came to understand that it was intentional. The album is an artsy lament about the horrors of World War I in the trenches of Gallipoli and a cry against English pride and nationalism and the tendency to romanticize war in the aftermath of victory. It's not an easy listen.
Ok
Really creative. Artistic and inspiring.
I don't listen to a lot of folk, which is perhaps a surprise as my Dad loves the stuff... maybe that's why! This was a solid and enjoyable listen. Nothing that I didn't like on here, and a few in particular that I thought were good and offered something a little different (_Pink Moon_, _Know_, _Free Ride_) . It's not really in my wheelhouse though and whilst I wouldn't have any issue listening to this, I can't see myself choosing to listen to it again.
Really beautiful vocals, and there are some cool samples throughout. But the whole thing was just a bit too sleepy for me.
I liked it, but was expecting a powerhouse, a very intense record? This was nice, good voice, good songs overall.
Probably not one I would come back to but I thought the vocal performance here was really solid and I was really interested to read that the album was inspired by poetry, because I felt like I needed a second listen to really get behind some of the lyrics.
This is a pretty fun album. Strange for sure, but fun. "The Glorious Land" had me chuckling at my desk. It kinda falls off in the middle though. All and all, its pretty good.
Pretty cool
I was underwhelmed
It honestly surprised me to find out that PJ Harvey has four albums on this list. How I'd always thought about her — and I'll admit it was never terribly often — I would've sworn she would've only had... Y'know, two: 'Rid Of Me' and 'Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea'. Those are the only two I ever remember seeing show up on "greatest albums of all time" lists, particularly the various editions of the Rolling Stone 500. And I've got the kind of understanding like, "If it ain't on the RS500..." But obviously I'm willing to give these other two albums a chance, even if they're not on that list. I mean the Rolling Stone 500 is as much an authority on "the greatest albums ever" as this list is on essential albums. It's always more about whether I like an album than whether or not I think Big Important Critics™ should find the thing more notable. Still, though, it **does** leading me to wonder why all of her other albums are excluded from lists like that, and there's not much I can do to help having a line of thought like that. So, I tried to be fair, honest. I get where this thing is: it's an indie folk album about war, primarily through the lens of England's involvement in the first World War, though she also gives the "war on terror" some time as well. PJ Harvey, from what I've read, put in a lot of effort doing research for this thing. I don't think she was looking up the history of conflict and reading testimony from civilians and soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan just for fun, y'know? She spent 2.5 years working on this record. Just as well, actually listening to the final product, I can accept the Björk-y kind of thing she's doing with her vocals. It was a little off-putting at first, but I came around to them. But with all that granted, by the end of the album, I just didn't know. It nearly left with as much a loss for words as I had when I listened to 'Dry'. And, seriously, I did try: I even read along with the lyrics for most of the album! And I am **not** a lyrics person most times! But at some point, I just had to face up to facts and admit I just... Really did not have much interest in this album. Like, I'unno, the actual music on this thing just flew right by me. This whole indie folk thing, it's not my style. I sort of felt like I spent nearly the entire runtime waiting for it to get interesting. There were maybe one or two songs in the back half where it did, but by that point it was far too late. I wasn't even reading along with the lyrics by then. Whatever I'd heard and liked so much on 'Stories From The City'... It's just not here. And it wasn't on 'Dry', either, so... I guess I can see, at least from my perspective, why neither of these showed up on any lists like the Rolling Stone 500. I wouldn't call either of them bad, per se... Just the kind of "whatever" that does do a small number of how much I like PJ Harvey. Her standing with me is a bit shaken, let's say. And if 'Rid Of Me' can't prove **its** placement to me whenever it shows up... Goodness. But for the right now, with this album... I'unno. War. Good God, y'all. What **is** it good for?
Had high expectations for this one but musically it doesn't go anywhere for me, this leans more into folk which I've always struggled with.
I really like PJ Harvey. I should listen to her more often, except when she veers into Kate Bush territory, which happens a little here.
Decent
There's some hate for this one. Seems like Marmite, but for me it was middle of the road. I didn't love it, but I didn't dislike it.
3.5
Fine. I like PJ Harvey, and they have some great albums, but this one didn’t grab me on first pass. Maybe it would grow on me after repeated listening?
75% Best: Let England Shake; The Glorious Land; In The Dark Places Must-Hear? Not quite
This album left me feeling a need to listen to some 90s PJ Harvey. It didn't make me want to listen to "Let England Shake" again, in fact I found it a little disturbing, with the strange vocal delivery and the autoharp. I'm not sure whether I even liked it or not, so I'm going with a three star rating.
Wanted to like it more but it's just a 3
pa ovo uopće nije loše, al ima neke čudne momente i dijelom je zaboravljivo, stoga trojka
It was fine. R.I.P to E-Dubb...
Bit slow for me
Being introduced to PJ Harvey for this project has been interesting. I like a lot of her stuff but don’t love it. May with more listens is will. 3.5/5
I know her. I don't listen to much of her. Not my style.
Interesting listen but never completely pulled me in. Ran through this twice and it became background noise about halfway through both times that would pique my interest at times.
Better than expected and an artist I've never heard before. You do get some corny indie lyrics on occasion but as a whole, not bad. 5/10 (2.5/5)
It’s just alright. Nothing overly interesting, and she has better stuff on this list. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again
3 góð, 5 ágæt og 4 glötuð lög. Lagið England lét mig berja sjálfan mig í andlitið með kaffibollanum. Away from my arms, oh lord.
Like, not love
Amazing but not something I'd listen to again.
This seems like a perfectly professional album and I will never listen to it again.
I owned a PJ Harvey album, I think, at one point? I don't remember a single song from it. This makes me a misogynist.
PJ Harvey is cool. This was interesting. 3.65
I like several of the song quite a bit - however not a love. It does tempt me to look back at some of her earlier albums.
I don’t know much of the PJ Harvey catalog, so I assumed this was from the 90s. Feels very much of a different era. Did it.
Why are you praising England 3.89 stars down to 3.
PJ Harvy delivers a pretty timeless album - her style of weaving incredible lyrical prose with unmistakable vocals is solidly achieved here. The album is poetic…an exploration of history, war, and national identity. Tracks that stood out for me: “The Glorious Land” strangely upbeat and almost celebratory sharply contrasts the unsettling lyrics. “All and Everyone” is hauntingly beautiful, carrying the weight of war while also feeling deeply personal. “On Battleship Hill” carries an old-world folk tone, opening gently and with a surprising brightness. Yet the lyrics are stark and brutal. Then, the piano rises and transforms the sound into something pretty transcendent - I got chills both times I listened to this. Overall, this album is edging with sorrow and Harvey manages to transform the subject matter into something profoundly moving.
Inoffensive. Kinda boring
kinda underwhelming if I'm being honest.
PJ Harvey is one of those artists that I like quite a lot of their stuff. However, over an album I’ll maybe only like 40-50% of the tracks. The same is true for this offering
3.75
I always want to like PJ Harvey more than I do, but I don’t. This album is like the others (apart from Stories) in that I find it pretty average. This one is a bit more pretentious than her other efforts, and I wonder if it needs a few more listens to get really into it because the concept of the collection is quite interesting. PJ is channelling her inner Björk on England, and her voice is quite annoying throughout, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever listened to. It’s all fine, but I’m unlikely to revisit this.
Some kind of folk album by Mrs Harvey. The stripped down song arrangements are pretty nice, most of the time (well, not the trumpet. I know what she wanted to say, but it's hard to endure). Unfortunately, I do not like her singing on four or five songs. That is a pity, when the voice is clearly the most important thing on a Lo-Fi record. The lyrics...well, they gave nothing to me. I don't wanna say, they are bad, but I really feel no need to dive deeper into war themes and countries invading other countries, right at this time. But this is not Mrs Harvey's fault. So I am conluding with the old british saying: Make tea, not love! Fav: The words that maketh murder
Definitely not my favorite album from the fantastic PJ Harvey. Probably because it's quite far from her early work, she didn't use to be that "folky". I will only give a 3 / 5 cos I didn't listen much to that record compared to "To bring you my love" or "rid of me" that I still consider today as masterpieces. Pj Harvey remains on my top list of artists I had the luck to see live several times and that have blown me away (big up to the 90's!)
Good album, not overly stand out, but would listen to again
Some alright tunes on here bur pretty mellow. 2.5 rounding up.
ainda não comprei a pj harvey... a sonoridade não é ruim, mas só não me pega nem um pouco
definitivamente um album nao fede nem cheira. tem umas boas, mas não o suficiente pra convencer!
I enjoy the concept more than the album but I can see why it's on this list.
It didn’t really grab me, but I’m feeling like I missed something so I’ll listen again and (if PJ is lucky) upgrade my rating.
I feel that a lot of these lyrics are very direct and on-the-nose. (The Glorious Land and The Words that Maketh Murder.) I don't disagree with them, but this lacks cleverness for me, these songs are bald statements, adolescent and underdeveloped. Hanging In the Wire got some special praise from other reviewers, but to me again seems very straightforward - have these people not heard a song with subtext or imagery or metaphor before? The Big Guns Called Me Back Again: looking this up, it's cribbed from Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful and just seems like a wise and less clear version set to music. Overall a nice concept, but disappointing lyrics and instrumentation: I just don't enjoy the presentation. Giving this three stars because it's definitely a cut above the bland, idea-less albums and artists which populate the two-star strata of my ratings, but given its source material it should be better than it is.
Listens: 4 Standout Tracks: All And Everyone, In the Dark Place Second PJ Harvey album on the List. There's a recurring theme topics ranging from the UK, America, war, death, exceptionalism, exploitation, country, patriotism, pride, etc. These are valid and interesting topics, in the 19 and 20th centuries, 2011 and certainly now, 14 years later. I would speculate then that this is a concept album detailing the country's (UK) past, imperialistic, exploitative, and rich history. As far as the music is concerned, I found that the lyrics on some songs have some depth and richness, while others, are thin and often repetitive. It's a mixed bag. Likewise with the backing vocals or simply background loops. I could easily do without the Bugle in The Glorious Land. It ruined the track for me. Same problem with Written on The Forehead. The vaguely African/Caribbean "Blood Blood Blood and Fire" feels very out of place. All this being said, there were a few tracks that I did like, and overall I was pretty satisfied with the instrumentation present: All And Everyone and In Dark Places I found to be pretty beautiful pieces. I am torn on giving this a 3 or 4. Does my dislike of several tracks outweigh my enjoyment of the rest of the album? I might add a few of the tracks I liked to my rotation, but not the whole album.
Enjoyed this album, like the pared down nature of it and some great tracks on it. Her vocals & lyrics are interesting too.
good, nothing to highlight
It’s decent, liked a few songs but a majority just didn’t click w me
Not my favorite PJ Harvey album. It seems that she wanted to talk about politics, which doesn't really suit her.
Meh
I enjoyed this. I need to listen to more PJ Harvey
Pretty good. A little shriek-y at times.
I'm a PJ fan for sure but this isn't my favorite album of hers. Not bad by any means but doesn't have the same catchiness as other albums. 6/10
Hmm. I liked aspects of it but I didn't find myself wanting to find more. I can appreciate what she made, it seems like a genuine expression of herself and taste. I feel like I can hear her sounds in other modern bands (Arcade Fire comes to mind).
Interesting, don't really recall anything about PJ, though for whatever reason I was aware of her before. This isn't bad, and she seems sincere in her message, but somehow this very musical offering has a bit of an anemic sound to me. It's not bad, has some decent moments. Definitely talent here, and it has that weird quality where if you're listening and you turn it off your ears kinda want to turn it back on. I guess that's good enough for me.
Don’t hear a single but performances are good. Sings like Melina
Some songs are great, some are not
why not 'stories from the sea'?
it's nice but not particularly rocky as i expected
Pretty good
Well, this album gives me a different impression of PJ Harvey. Interesting.
I've listened to this a few times, trying to get a grip on what I think about it. So, as a PJ Harvey fan, I want to like it. Has a lot of emotional depth, the vocal character that she's known for is fully present. But I think it lacks a spontaneity that most of her other stuff has. And the melodies are at the mercy of the themes, it's all pretty forced. A little too poetic to make a concrete statement, too. I struggled to understand the lyrics at some points (and this is an album that is all about the lyrics) because I'm not English. A great effort, just disappointing for me. Of course, she has set SUCH a high bar tht if anyone else made this it would be a masterpiece. And maybe it is. Respect to the artist though for doing something completely unexpected yet again. Please stay away from Nick Cave though.
I liked the vibe and the stripped back sound, but couldn’t get on with the singing. Still, there was some cool progressive sounds and moments here. I reckon I could enjoy more with more listens
My first time listening to PJ Harvey. An interesting album- if not a little one note. Harvey's voice is nice and the sound is very fitting for 2011. It was pleasant overall, but no real standouts for me.
Quite interesting.
I'm quite sure my ancestors fought and possibly died so that I could live in an England where it would be possible to both respect PJ Harvey's efforts here but also not massively enjoy it. Bit too twee, bit experimental, fair play to her for making a project out of it but it's not my favourite work of hers.
Weird but fun. The fucking trumpet tho. The trumpet.
#635. The only other experience I have with PJ Harvey is the album Rid of Me from this list, and that was truly awful. So this one, being not awful, exceeded all expectations I had going into it. 3/5: decent.
Loved her 90s albums, this one had the same spirit, but less of the Bjorky experimental ness, so was less exciting but still enjoyable. -mitona Not for me -sc
This may have gotten me on the wrong day but I just don't understand what I'm missing with PJ Harvey. There are other things I like a lot that are apparently the same vein but an album like this I just can't find the depth I'm apparently meant to.