Rid Of Me

There aren't enough stars in the sky to give this album the recognition it deserves. I love the raw emotion that the music breathes, the live feel of Albini's production, the occasional odd time signatures, and of course Polly Jean Harvey's impressive vocal performance.

This is the best case for dynamics in rock I've heard yet. It's produced well enough to overcome my dislike of some of the grungier stylings, and doesn't fall into indulging itself proggishly. After the fifth track, things get more experimental and, for the lack of a better word, sketchy. To the album's benefit. The attitude is immediately catchy, and the return of "man-size" is the formal cherry on top. Easy to see why this is essential, harder to figure out how to move from appreciating it to loving it.

5.0 + With stewardship from Steve Albini, this album fully realizes PJ Harvey's explosive potential. Her vocals punch like a fist as she expounds on sexual frustration and deviance, bending genders with violent abandon. The recordings feel raw, like they can come undone at any moment, from the dramatic interplay of soft-loud-soft on the title track, to the jagged string ensemble on "Man-Size Sextet." This album simultaneously defines and typifies an early-90s alternative/grunge sound with more balls than almost all albums of that or any other era. Truly a highlight in an incredible string of albums from her early career.

Can you imagine being as bad at your job as the person who mixed this album? Best track: Rub 'Til It Bleeds

A strange, sexual and raw album. Uncomfortable in parts. Loved it.

Noisy indie-rock/punk-rock album. Well mixed, but could benefit from being even noisier/bordering on industrial music. 8/10

Like a cat slowly dying from eating a rat that died from consuming rat poison.

It’s stunning. So raw and powerful. There isn’t much to it, yet it’s everything.

The transition from near whispering quiet to in your face loud really works on Rid of Me. This is reminiscent of the low to loud technique the Butthole Surfers used on their Locust Abortion Technician album. I hear that in the late 80s PJ worked as a mantis abortion technician so it's no surprise that she would be drawn to that B Surfer's album for inspiration. It's great that the App sent us her albums in order. Rid if Me is better than Dry. The only real personnel change is that Albini produced it. I thought this really worked but Albini never produced for her again and she had a wholesale change of bandmates for her next album. Not sure why such major changes were needed but her third album is even better than this one.

This bitch crazy band the music matches her energy. Really enjoyed this one, punky grunge with a really great thread running throughout

Album screams early 90's. Everything fell flat for me. Sounds like it was recorded in a garage and mixed by someone learning how to. Thought I would like this album but by the end was left scratching my head.

Dry was shockingly frank in its subject and sound, as PJ Harvey delivered post-feminist manifestos with a punkish force. PJ Harvey's second album, Rid of Me, finds the trio, and Harvey in particular, pushing themselves to extremes. This is partially due to producer Steve Albini, who gives the album a bloodless, abrasive edge with his exacting production; each dynamic is pushed to the limit, leaving absolutely no subtleties in the music. Harvey's songs, in decided contrast to Albini's approach, are filled with gray areas and uncertainties, and are considerably more personal than those on Dry. Furthermore, they are lyrically and melodically superior to the songs on the debut, but their merits are obscured by Albini's black-and-white production, which is polarizing. It may be the aural embodiment of the tortured lyrics, and therefore a supremely effective piece of performance art, but it also makes Rid of Me a difficult record to meet halfway. But anyone willing to accept its sonic extremities will find Rid of Me to be a record of unusual power and purpose, one with few peers in its unsettling emotional honesty. [Source: https://www.allmusic.com/album/rid-of-me-mw0000096498]

Surprised on how much I didn't like it. Seemed like atonal rock music with no melody whatsoever. Seem to remember trying to give PJ Harvey a try in the past and having a similar response. 1.5/5

Rid Of Me fait une très belle entrée dans le Top 10 des pochettes les plus moches du générateur. D'un point de vue musical, tous mes espoirs étaient concentrés sur le titre éponyme, apparemment plébiscité par sept millions d'abrutis sur la plateforme Spotify à l'inverse de la suite de l'album quant à elle complètement anonyme. Dans ce premier morceau, PJ Harvey n'a qu'une seule obsession : agresser nos oreilles avec des changements de volume absolument insupportables. PJ aura beau essayer de me récupérer avec la suite, en vain. Le mal était fait. Et ce n'est certainement pas cette punkerie des plus dégueulasses qui aurait pu me convaincre de ne pas accorder la pire des notes. PS: Dans ma critique de Lady in Satin de Billie Holiday, vous avez été nombreux à remarquer la faute que j'ai commise dans le nom propre du premier président de notre Vème République. Je vous prie de m'en excuser.

This one has a special place in PJ Harvey's discography, thanks to Steve Albini recording it. He hates the term "producing", you know, and for fans of his unmistakable drum sound, it's one of his best work ever, iconic in its own right. But all that would be useless if this record wasn't *also* one of the greatest collections of tunes PJ Harvey has ever assembled for an album, and, even more importantly, one of her best studio performances ever. Raw, pure, unburdened by studio production shenanigans (the ones Albini hates so much). You can't beat the emotion that comes out of albums like that when they're good. And this one is very, *very* good. Part succubus, part hysterical wench, Polly Jean teases you with opener "Rid of Me", displaying those nineties quiet-loud-quiet dynamics in quite an extreme understanding of them, and relentless in its obsessive, clearly sexual thump. Then, after that terrific introduction, she piles on inspired swampy blues riffs like it's only a second nature to her, shredding them one after the other until her hands bleed. It's as if the great African American bluesmen of the past were possessing the spirit of a white middle-class British girl, her body shaking with the tremors and emotional scars they left inside her innocent soul. Don't call the exorcist, please, because it's a treat listening to this young woman moaning, yelling, grumbling, hushing, shrieking, or just simply lulling or singing those admirable tunes--that some people complained that the voice was buried in the mix has always seemed mind-boggling to me: actually, given what PJ Harvey sometimes does with said *outré* voice, it would probably have been very awkward to listen to had it been louder. Here, it's just perfect, especially if you add the fact that the lyrics are one of a kind too, filled with suggestive innuendoes, more graphic details, and Freudian slips of the tongue. Check out "Man-Size", "15 ft. Queenie", "Dry", " Legs", "Snake" or "Yuri G" for examples of that. There's an understated S&M / bondage mood hanging over those lyrics and music. But even if you don't get kinky that way, it's a treat, lyrically and musically speaking. To put it in a nutshell, Polly Jean puts on a hell of a freak show here, and yet she is so inspired, and sounds so entranced, that the results are actually nothing short of blissful (see closer "Ecstasy", for instance). Through mud, she digs gold. Through a sense of the grotesque, she reaches sublime skies. This here is the mark of the true Romantic. And it doesn't hurt that said Romantic is also such an insanely great singer and guitar player. One that's raw, pure, unburdened--except by that delta devil whispering devilish things in her ears. You still haven't called that exorcist, I hope. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: less than 780, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens:  approximately a half so far  Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter

What a fantastic album. Incredibly tough and uncompromising. PJ'S absolutely drips with anger and attitude and ultimately strength and determination. Her emotional range is matched by her vocal range which never hits a wrong note. And the dynamics on this record are incredible, especially on Man Size and of course The title track which absolutely explodes when the full band kicks in. This album is not an easy listen, but once it gets its hooks in you it's impossible to set yourself free. 5 🌟

Holy shit, this was recorded at Pachyderm in Cannon Falls! Another masterpiece recorded there by Steve Albini. This album really has room to breathe and feels very natural and three dimensional with some nice production touches in the right places to punch up the drama. Her semi-unhinged performance is breathtaking. Quite a thrill ride and it brings me right back to that era, although, I'm ashamed to say, despite being peripherally aware of her, I slept on this in its time. I regret that now. If this came out today it would still sound as fresh and relevant as ever.

RoM is my favourite PJH LP, a knock out, a rocker, a total demon of a record. Grabbed this on release, already a noise-head going through an extended William Burroughs-phase, so I was an easy mark for this body-centric drama wrapped in the sound of a electric band pressed up against the ears. “Warts and all” was a description that I read when it came out, which I take to refer to how you can hear picks scraping on string, that sense of all the instruments being very close. As others noted, the stark B&W body photos on the sleeve are of the piece. The original CD was strangely quiet; a recent remaster appears to have fixed this while maintaining the acrobatic dynamics that entranced me back then.

The album that made a 19 year old me build a Chu Moy headphone amp! A raw & abrasive almost-masterpiece that is only let down (IMHO) by the unnecessary and jarring Man-Size Sextet. The OG PJ Harvey trio always sounded great, but Albini's production (not always my cup of tea) is truly fantastic here and elevates the music and lyrics fantastically well (as anyone who's heard the interesting but somewhat lacklustre-by-comparison versions on 4-Track Demos can attest to.) I'm giving it a bonus point for the uncompromisingly dynamic mix that is a giant middle-finger to the loudness war. Crank it fucking loud.

Only knew of later PJ Harvey stuff which I liked, but dang this album is punk as fuck, really raw in the best way. Live this would vibe so hard. Rid of Me is great. Legs is intense, love her raw screaming. Hey, another recording at Pachyderm Recording Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Guess I know where to go and keep it local if need be in the future. The albums starts to drag a bit as it goes on though and never manages to reach the heights of the first tracks as well as going maybe a couple songs too long. Still very good, I never knew this side of PJ Harvey and I'm keen to listen more. 4.5 to 4.

Aggressive, bare bones rock. Fuckin great.

One thing I appreciate about Harvey's artistry is how undeniably 'her' each album she makes is. This sophomore effort has all the classic PJisms - gnashing guitars, looming interludes, creeping voices in the background. Things do tend to get a bit homogeneous and too blandly 90s grunge in the middle, but some discordant interludes snap things back into focus sharply for a strong finish.

A powerful, raw, emotional experience. Her voice is otherworldly, and I love the abrasive instrumentation.

Didn't like it when it came out, and it's still a disappointment after the first album but sounds great today. Glad to hear it again

Trying to rate this album without knowing the trajectory of her career. Filthy, grungy, garage rock at its core. Unrefined sound. Glimpses of creative risk with Mansized Sextet. This is music that a local band who used to play at the barn at the end of the dirt road is now playing at all the nearby dive bars.

PJ doesn't mess around. This is raw, dark, edgy and straight up, like she decided, ok I got my guitar, some songs I gotta get out, I need a bass player and a drummer. Let's go! The songs sound more similar (to each other) than other albums of hers and there isn't one I want to hum along to after listening. I'm giving a half-point bonus for the album cover and the fact she played violin and cello on Man-size Sextet.

I discovered PJ Harvey over the summer and have listened to several of her albums multiple times. She's a critic's darling. And I think if I had been just a bit older in the 90's I'd have had a massive rock crush on her. She just has such an exotic vibe. Still, I don't know how to rate this album. Tons of grit and ferocity, all done in a minimal, tortured, lo-fi style. So it's kind of repetitive. Like her strumming that sounds cut-off and unusual tempos/timing - it starts with Rid of Me (including soft to hard) and it's in many songs. And I really do like that song and many others (Missed, Rub Til it Bleeds, 50ft Queenie, Yuri-G, Man-Size, Me-Jane) but I wonder if the rest are too similar or if I'm not appreciating their nuances enough. It's for sure a 3 and not a 5 for me. After a few listens I found myself adding more to my "really like" list, with differences in what I liked about them (some muted sound, some wall of sound). So I talked myself into a 4.

The first third of the album is swamped in the dirty muddy guitar and falls into the habit of sounding too similar on each track, which ultimately makes all of the songs blend into each other. Using the contrast of quiet and loud for verses and chorus quite a lot, it can sound quite sparse and thin in places. But the choice of chords and solid back beat keeps it interesting. Really like how raw it is, but fuck me the riffs drag on. The songs are quite linear, built around one riff or idea and expanded upon and dragged out for 3 minutes. Wasn’t sure of the album at first, but by the end of it I was a fan. 4/5 - quite liked it, might listen to more PJ

PJ Harvey casts a long shadow, and for a long time from listening to her later work, I never quite got it, but it comes through loud and clear on here. I've put four stars now, but given what this is making me think — that you can put the music on this record up against most of the angriest, noisiest, most cathartically chaotic music of the 90s and it'll win most of the time — it'll probably be a 4.5 to 5 star someday. Great first impression.

Raw as the uncooked chicken it feels like PJ is slapping me across the face with.

Don't know what to think....I like the Albini production and the quiet/loud dynamics. Needs a few more memorable hooks. It probably needs more listens. I like how she puts everything into the lyrics... 3

Remarkable musician and the production is amazing and sounds modern, but the songs are just not there for me.

What even is this. It's the morning after the 2024 election, and this is not the hangover cure I need for that shitshow. 2*

Signature Steve Albini production, but the album isn't good. Monotonous, repetitive, whatever you want to call it. I get why people could like this but I don't. It's like they're trying so hard to sound a certain way but failing to do so, because I don't think anyone would want to sound this bad. This rating may be too harsh but I don't think it belongs with the three-stars.

doesn't sound bad but not interesting

She's talented and unique, just not my favorite. She just came and played at the Met here in Philly so good for her to have this kind of staying power.

OMG! Amazeballs! Almost as good as Fiona Apple! Love love love! Perfect for singalongs and sleepovers! fuck you PJ Harvey reclaiming my time

Irregular time signatures and raw power of rock and roll, what's not to love?

Onhan tämä nyt rautaa! Sopii mainiosti tähän maanantaihin 5/5

Fabulous work again PJ. Absolutely stunning and raw.

Gave this a good few listens and enjoyed it more and more each time.

Tajuton levy, aijai. PJ ja Albinin soundit lienee ysärirockin kovimpia ellei kovin kombo.

Me gustó mucho. La vibra oscura de muchas letras, la variedad entre rock movidón, dramático y otros shenanigans experimentales. Sin skips, pero me gustaron sobre todo: Rub til it bleeds, Man-size Sextet, y 50ft Queenie. Mood: When I'm fucked up, that's the real me

for me this is my favourite album so far. vocals and instrumentals fit , experiment alt rock mix between kimya Dawson and Sharon van eton two of my favourite artists

trop bon, je mA,ttendais pas à ca surtout 2eme album, j'avais iamé le premier beaucoup mais l'autre moyennement. Celui ci est top 5

Amazing, beautiful, personal, hard rockin. Five stars.

First album I'm going in blind to, that got 5 stars. She's brilliant! Gosh, I wish I'd tried her out long ago. All I knew before is her track on Batman Forever, and her duet with Thom Yorke (both lovely). Dynamics in grungy rock? Sign me up. She's got provocative and brain-testing lyrics, unique delivery, a tight band that sounds like it was recorded live (maybe some overdub voices). Range of tempos, fantastic guitar tone, a great drummer.... this is a keeper. Love it.

Very nice. I really liked this album. I wasn't so sure at the start of it. But by the end I was really enjoying it and it made me really want to check out more stuff from PJ Harvey.

4.7/5

An electrifying early release with great vocals lyrics and guitars.

intimate and brooding and then animal howl. sexy sensual and rocky angry artistry packed into a small space. she has a voice and does a lot with it. Putting it on the energetic workout or gardening pile, work out some angst on this soundtrack.

10/10 I’ve heard some of PJ Harvey’s other stuff, but I’m so glad to be getting around to this there is some fantastic stuff here; I’d say my favorite song is Man-Size Sextet I’m a huge fan of experimental/avant classical music

Such a thrilling record, full of raw energy, vitality and vigour. PJ Harvey is a true artist, unswayed by fashion or trend, willing to experiment and create these full on experiences on record. The title track is a statement of intent as we enter this menacing pulsating energetic sound. Brilliant.

PJ HARVEY NEVER EVER MISSES.

Raw, angry Peej. Yes

Another Queen!

Raw and uncompromising.

This was a great listen. It’s dark and distinct, really benefits from the raw production. Even the cover of “Highway 61” was great, I usually balk when covers are included on albums but PJ really pulled it off.

I think the best thing this list has done, some 900 plus albums in, is make me an avid Polly Jean Harvey stan. She's the Gen X Joni Mitchell, not quite as appreciated as she deserves to be but destined to achieve legendary status. Bonus points here for doing whatever the hell she ended up doing with that beautiful head of hair of hers. This is probably my third or even 4th favorite PJ Harvey album, but it's where a lot of fans popped their cherry. God I love her.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Krachtig rock album, met een dijk van een zangeres en muzikante

Just really good. An essential record.

Beautiful aggression

Nunca fui fan de PJ Harvey, no porque no me gustara, sino que más bien nunca llegó a mí (?) pero supongo que la PJ de este disco es la que la gente iba a ver al Corona y así.

I often complain about the woeful under-representation of women on the 1001 albums list. It can be a bit of a sausage-fest. But today, happily, here is an album by a great artist, and an album that absolutely belongs on this list, which happens to be by a female artist. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, I worked at Scratches Records in Newtown, which specialised in female artists. So we were very aware of PJ Harvey when she appeared. Having a wide back catalog of female artist (including lots of alternative artists), I was not surprised by the emergence of a powerful, gritty female voice like PJ Harvey, but 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 really love her first three albums, which are all packed with memorable and moving songs. This album has a particular punch. Steve Albini's production approach is raw and immediate, which suits the material really well. He often says that all he really does is record what's there and stay out of the way of the performances, and he does that perfectly here. The performances are full of grit and bluster, and it really sounds like you are there in the room as they blast the material out. It's nearly 30 years since I first heard this 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), emotional, dark, funny, dynamic, exciting and powerful. Five stars.

Grungy and full of bangers. Harvey is invincible.

PJ just knocks it out of the park every time

Somehow, I don't think I'd ever listened (or at least known I was listening) to PJ Harvey before. What an interesting album and interesting musician. Absolutely unafraid.

Nick was not a fan

Brilliant, I've got to go back to this

This album kicks so much ass. I love how raw and live some of the songs sound; Steve Albini produced, so no shock there, and I've read he caught a lot of shit for it, again no surprise. Even the Bob Dylan song on this record is good!

Grungy chick rock. Reminds me of against me a bit.

This is amazing. Grunge forever.

This album is a staple of 90s alt/indie rock. I love the way Harvey uses references from old folk tales and myths to give the album an eerie and provocative feel. 4.6/5 Fav: “Highway ‘61 Revisited” or “Yuri-G” Least Fav: None

A stunning album, that I was just too young to understand and appreciate at the time. She is a new stalwart of my music rotation, and someone I hope to hear more from on the list.

Own on Vinyl

This is some real force of nature stuff.

PJ Harvey is a source of contention in the imrichb household. While I absolutely love everything about PJ, my wife can't stand her. I can sort of understand - PJ isn't for everyone. She can be weird and dissonant, but man she is also so talented. She's made a lot of really interesting music, but for me this album and her debut album Dry will always be her masterpieces. So raw, raucous, dark and noisy. 5 stars.

My first PJ Harvey album (I've only heard a couple of her songs before this). What an excellent album! Some of the best 90s alt rock that I have heard. Excited to check out the rest of her discography

I eagerly bought this album when it was released, awestruck by the songwriting power on PJ Harvey's debut "Dry". Absolutely floored by the raw emotion on the title track, the intensity rarely lets up - it is a very difficult listening album. Coming at a dark period of my life, it must have been just what I was looking for, as I recall it being on heavy rotation on my CD player for a couple of weeks. I even got the companion disc of the 4-track demo versions - also good for an evening of catharsis. Music to burn a hole in your soul, for when you need it. Highly recommended!

Another Fave of All Time Albums!

I feel like I'll really like this after a few more listens. It was already rad the first time through. Needed this push to get me to listen to her after hearing about how iconic she is.

5 stars. This is the first PJ Harvey I owned and the only thing I don't like about it is that it was mixed so low and every mixtape I ever put it on, all the energy just dropped out as you futzed with the volume. But then that just led me to listen to this whole album many times. She some other very good stuff, but this is by far my favorite. Rid of Me, Man-Size, 50 Ft. Queenie, Yuri-G. And all the rest. A great album.

amazing. front to back, beginning to end. yes.

Roh! Unpräzise!

Peak Peej.

Was familiar with the name but had never listened to this. Was totally my jam and a great entry into the indie rock catalogue.

Genre: Rock, instrumental Review: Really enjoyed this album. Powerful voice, great guitar that reminded me of some other really good female driven rock bands (Heart, Evanescence etc). The opening track started out slow but picked up pace and never let go until the end of the album. Rating: 9/10

Toll. Bisher nur am Rande wahrgenommen. Das erfordert eine intensivere Befassung

Why haven't I heard this before? It scratched all my dark, brooding itches. 5/5

She’s a genius. Hard to think of any solo artist with such a diverse and brilliant back catalogue without hitting those absolute all timers (Bowie etc). It’s raw and uncompromising and thrilling. PJH doesn’t get anywhere near the credit she deserves for her influence and her staggering consistency.

Before listening to this album, I think the only PJ Harvey album I've listened to is "Let England Shake," but I really enjoyed "Rid of Me." I thought the sound was raw and energetic, and it sounded like nothing else that was being released at that time. I loved how well this album was produced; even though the sound was raw and full of chaos and emotion, it was clearly well arranged to create its unique sound. I really enjoyed the lyrics as well. I'm not sure if any of the things talked about were autobiographical, but the sexual energy contained in them is something that I don't think anyone else was doing at this point in time. I know PJ Harvey has said that she didn't write this album as a feminist manifesto, but the way she discusses sexuality is still edgy and brilliant, event 30 years after it was recorded. I can see this album becoming a part of my regular rotation.

Great songs and blistering performances highlighted by Steve Albini's engineering.

Calling PJ Harvey a singer songwriter somehow doesn't seem right. It pigeonholes her while being entirely accurate. But her direct, often brutally honest lyrics paired with often raw instrumentation is at the core of her work. This is wonderful and challenging music. Props to the UK fans that put her on the top of the charts. Steve Albini's production is minimalist as usual, which, while polarizing, puts an edge of the music. All of the tracks are strong, although Legs and both versions of Man-Size are tremendous.

I saw the PJ Harvey trio live in May 1992 (some months before this album was recorded), and they opened with the title track extending the quiet but menacing intro even further than on the record. Blew me away then and still does 30 years later.

I can't believe I missed this record when it came out. Added bonus, has Steve Albini's recording "style" all over it.

riotous, intense, visceral. More familiar with PJH's 00s albums, but this one is superb

Near perfection. Exactly my taste. Will revisit over and over I’m sure.

Excellent Album I really enjoyed. Cover of Highway '61 Revisted == FUCK YESSSSSS

Album #3 from PJ Harvey for me and... yeah, it kicks so much ass. Surprising, seeing as how her other entries on this list haven't been anywhere near as memorable (to me, at least). Raw, incredible use of dynamics... Just blown away, really. Favorite tracks: "Rid of Me", "Missed", "Rub 'Til It Bleeds", "50ft Queenie"