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.

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.

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.

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

Aggressive, bare bones rock. Fuckin great.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

doesn't sound bad but not interesting

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

I don't even like this pj harvey guy

This album isn’t just a highlight for PJ Harvey, it’s a great example of Steve Albini’s knack for capturing raw energy. PJ Harvey has always been consistent, and Rid of Me continues that streak. Albini’s production gives it a live, unfiltered feel, where every instrument gets its own space to shine. The feedback and distortion are present but purposeful, adding texture and grit without over polishing.

Went on a huge PJ Harvey kick at the start of this year. Best artist I discovered this year.

Solid heavier alt

PJ Harvey is one of my favourite musicians ever, or I'd rather say one of my favourite artists. PJ does not make music to please the masses and I get that the rawness and dynamics in this album isn't everyone's cup of tea. But I find it amazing. I'd buy the album even if it just had the opening song. Whenever I listen to PJ Harvey (any of her albums) I feel like I'm listening to a person, not just a song. There is something about her music that (when I'm in the right mood) connects straight to my brain without any resistance. Can't explain it. This is creative, raw, authentic art.

Nice

Not quite my favorite PJ Harvey album but still magnificent.

Hey I'm one big queen No one can stop me Red light, red green Sat back, I'm watchin' I'm number one Second to no one No sweat I'm clean Nothin' can touch me I'll tell you my name F-U-C-K Fifty foot queenie Force ten hurricane Biggest woman I could have ten sons Ten Gods Ten queens Ten foot and risin' Hey I'm the king of the world You ought to hear my song Ah come on measure me I'm twenty inches long Damn, this is a pretty great album. 5/5

harrowing and inspired, she sacrificed herself on the altar of the sexual revolution

5/5

Debut punk magic from a legend of the alternative scene.

my third pj harvey album and i have to say, i think this one is my favorite. loud, aggressive, biting. high energy. just really great through and through. i've heard a lot about pj harvey over the years and never delved into it and i can definitely say i am coming back to this one.

Albini elevated PJ to a higher level. The sound is far more listenable than Dry and the while it’s has a bit of polish on it it’s still rough cut enough to feel all the power. Amazing record that holds up.

Big fan of PJ Harvey, automatic 5 from me. I hadn't spent a lot of time with this album though so I'm grateful to dig into it. Faves: 50ft Queenie, Dry

PJ Harvey kicks ass. Pretty sure I heard this in the mid nineties and while it didn't click with me as it wasn't metal enough, I had to give her props. It sure lands a treat these days! Fave tracks - "Rid of Me" is a great opener. Both versions of "Man-Size" are great. "Me-Jane" slaps.

So good

It's Peej what more needs to be said. Sometime I forget how nuts some of her songs are. Possibly her least accessible album but still brilliant. Am I biased?

This is solid. It is raw. It is hard. There are rough edges. PJ Harvey was kick ass from the start.

"Rid of Me" is the second album by English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey. The album marked a departure from her debut album "Dry," being more raw and aggressive. Many attribute that to Steve Albini, who produced most of the songs. Harvey's trio included herself (guitar, vocals), Rob Ellis (drums, backing vocals) and Steve Vaughan (bass). Commercially, the album reached #3 in the UK and #158 in the US. It was critically very well-received and is frequently considered one of the best albums if the 90's. Slow guitar strumming opens "Rid of Me." Harvey is singing quietly. The song and vocals then explode and goes back quiet. It's a song influenced by one of her relationships coming to an end. Lyrics which don't mess around: "Lick my legs I'm on fire. Lick my legs of desire." A Western-style guitar begins "50ft Queenie." The drums and bass kick in quick. The vocals are full throttled and screaming. The music sounding like "X" at their best. I think she's saying that woman's parts (sexual) are no less formidable then men's. More anxious-sounding guitar strumming kicks off "Man Size." Harvey whispering again. The song builds with a rockin' guitar. She's assuming the persona of a very masculine man. The album closes with "Ecstasy." A bluesy-distorted guitar. A slower ,almost chugging and grungy rhythm section. The vocals are dreamy...is it drugs? sexual ecstasy?..it must be up to us. The vocals, lyrics and music are raw, unhinged and emotional. There's a lot of the soft-loud-soft dynamic. And when the band kicks in they really rock. Most songs build. The vocals and lyrics are sexual charged...sexual frustration, desire and attraction. The music matches the vocals. This is a fantastic album. It's unquestionably one of the best album of the 90's for me.

Great listen, definitely ahead of its time. Her voice is so buttery. Folky and alt

Love this record and celebrate her entire catalog

Goddamn do I love this album.

You know that review of Joni Mitchell’s Blue? The I now understand women one? Yeah, that’s PJ Harvey for me

I didn’t listen to PJ Harvey enough at the time. I’ve been making up for that in the last couple of years. Lots of different and interesting things going on in her music. Never boring.

I ADORE this album! Revisiting it for this was super nice. An absolute raw, heavy, unpolished alternative rock masterwork. This was the album that truly made me a fan of PJ Harvey's work, and while I've enjoyed everything else I've heard from her since, this will always be my personal favorite.

Absolute classic rock album which still slams. In the words of mitch hedberg "PJ Harvey used to rock. She still rocks, but she used to rock too." Somebody in the reviews here said "Can you imagine being as bad at your job as the person who mixed this album?" Hilarious, given it was Steve Albini, one of the greatest rock producers of all time. Dude produced gritty, raw, right-up-yer-ass rock and roll. If you're not into that kind of sound, fair enough, but to say the producer was bad their job, and it's Steve Fucking Albini? Dumbest hot take I've heard this week.

Dry pulled me in but Rid of Me set the hook. One of my favorites. PJ Harvey lays it all out for us on the title track. It's a world of conflict and desire. We're commanded to travel along with PJ, to tie ourselves to her. We'll suffer and serve. We'll regret but only after pleasure and pain. Listening advice: Turn the album up so the quiet parts are solidly audible and let the loud parts hit you as they are meant to.

It's hard not to call this one of the best "punk" albums ever made, due in fact to the absolute rawness of literally every aspect of the record. Harvey's insane vocal talent, combined with the crunchiest of guitar tones, straight up crazy time signatures, bombastic dynamics and a disgusting production sound make for a harsh, brutal, and unrelenting album that everyone should listen to at least once.

The lyrics! The production! Possibly the optimal early PJ Harvey album.

Pure, raw, emotional energy, with a good portion of noise. Completely helped by the famous minimalist touch of Albini's production, which makes the album sound claustrophobic at times and straight in your face at others. When PJ Harvey turns to storytelling, it's always injected with a lot of dark humour, but when the songs turn autobiographical the music and lyrics are seething with anger and lust. This album is incredible

PJ Harvey’s second album is a masterclass in the use of dynamics in rock music. Her use of non standard time signatures and her lyrics exploring the often dark side of relationships complement each other perfectly giving the album a somewhat dangerous and uncertain feel. Steve Albini’s production brings the album together perfectly and is integral to this album’s sound.

Wow, I really liked this one! I think the last half of the album was stronger, and I really wish that her vocals had been more forward in the mix in the first half of the album. But I really loved the vibe of this one. 4.5 stars, rounded up bc I'm now in a good mood.

Hell yeah, this music is right up my alley. Wish I would have known about this artist a long time ago.

Perfection

Paula Jean, you're a champ

Rid of Me by PJ Harvey stands as a monumental album in the alternative rock canon, delivering a raw and unapologetic sonic assault. Harvey's vocals are throaty and menacing, exuding a level of intensity and aggression that surpasses her previous work. From the opening track Rid of Me, the album grabs listeners by the throat and refuses to let go, plunging them into a visceral journey through themes of love, lust, and power dynamics. Recorded by Steve Albini, most of the songs on the album possess a stripped-down, no-frills production that amplifies their raw energy. Tracks like 50ft Queenie and Man-Size are prime examples of Harvey's ability to command attention with her fierce vocals and blistering guitar work. Yet, it's not just the instrumentation that captivates; Harvey's lyrics, often described as 'tilting toward performance art', add an extra layer of intrigue and depth to the album's visceral soundscapes. Rid of Me is a sonic rollercoaster that leaves listeners exhilarated and emotionally spent, solidifying PJ Harvey's status as a fearless and uncompromising artist in the alternative music scene. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 9 STAND OUT TRACK - Yuri-G

Fantastic. Complex without feeling pretentious. A total mood.

Straight up love PJ Harvey

Bonafide classic

Me tienta el cinco... diablos, CINCO!

On 'Rid of Me', PJ Harvey has perfected the "creepy crazy goth girl who will ruin your life" vibe.

Super Dooper

Best album she ever made. Period. End of story.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

This is amazing. Grunge forever.

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!

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

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

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

4.7/5

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.

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.

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.