Rid Of Me

Why the hell have I slept on this for 30 years?! This album is outstanding. it really is like nothing else. This is the second PJ Harvey album I got and honestly, the first one was pretty much what I thought a PJ Harvey album would sound like, albeit with a couple surprisingly good songs. THIS one, however, is a goddamned juggernaut from start to finish. Is it a 5 star album? Probably not, it's a 4.5 in a world that's just, and fair. But it's an absolute rocking good time, and I would absolutely listen to it again for fun. Like Skunk Anansie, I think this gets an extra half star for the surprise factor - and the fact that there really isn't a weak song on the album.

The middle of the great PJ Harvey trilogy of albums!

People slagging the production on this one really dont understand the concept of rock. Steve Albini manages to make it sound raw and live, and at the same time detailed and focused. Great songs, great performance, excellent production. This one goes on my to buy list.

I hate that you can't save reviews when rating, just in case you get interrupted and have to step away. Goddamit. Oh well, skipping the review. This is fucking great and gets a 5. I'd give it more if I could.

Before the world had “Jagged Little Pill” the cool people had “Rid of Me”

Shoutout to women and weed

polly jean my beloved…

A Woman Under The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

Now this is the palette cleanser I needed after that fucking dross that was Adele. THIS is actual talent. Polly Jean shrieks and wails and growls and sings about a range of emotions. In a just world, this would be a multi-million selling album. Fuck. I'm still ranting about Adele's shit. Sorry Peej. Best Tracks: Rub It Till It Bleeds; 50ft Queenie; Man-Size

PJ Harvey's early albums are just great stuff.

Incredible, full of energy. Some of the songs would not work individually but as part of the album, they are all enjoyable.

Great raw sound and lots of angst.

When you’re 21 & reeling from your first break up, this album (plus Sleater Kinney’s Hot Rock) are what help get you through.

Geius

I think this is my 3rd PJ album. Solid album but I'm a bit jet lagged so I'm not in the right frame of mind for a proper listen.

A raw and ripping emotional workout. Feels like PJs most personal record; incisive, gutsy and cathartic. Love her shredding on the slide.

Really cool and unique album. Great song diversity and nice angsty tone

Goat

Yay

When this came out, I remember reading in the music press how scary and intense it was. However, as a 15-year-old girl in 1993, I found the unapologetic rawness so exhilarating. Even today, when I got to 50ft Queenie, 47-year-old me was lip syncing along while adopting a power stance in the living room. This was just such a formative album for me and I love it.

Its good some songs are grating but i think thats the point

Make PJ Angry Again

Literally the blueprint for everything I want to be as an artist, love her and this record so much

Whoaaaa!!! Amazing songs, grungey vibe, and PERFECT sound. I liked this even more than the debut, which is of course an all-time classic. I now understand why many of my old friends rocked with this girl... the name always sounded like boring 90s indie for me but once again I was wrong. What an idiot!

Brilliant. Brutal. Steve Albini's production is always raw, and PJ absolutely makes the most of it. Several of these tracks are amongst my favourite rock performances ever - Dry, Mansize, 50ft Queenie, Rub till it bleeds. It's not a 'pleasant listen, the quartet piece in the middle is harrowing, but it's engrossing throughout. A must.

Love how heavy this sounds, and how she surprises you with those moments of heaviness. Kind of like how her sound surprises you - you don’t expect that kind of music to come from someone who looks so mild mannered like her (in the best way)

...

Kinda grungy, kinda indie, and some very confusing time signatures. I had fun listening to this record, it felt almost like pre-art-rock in a way. Lots of really fun and bizarre song structures. PJ Harvey’s voice has that essential early 90’s female grunge tone to it, but far more dynamic than a lot of her peers at the time. I found the vocals to be really quite beautiful. Not just the vocals, but the tone of this record is regularly turning on a dime, going from soft gentle ballads to powerful guitar rock and back again, it works really really well. Excellent production value, every instrument sounds really nicely placed and levelled in the mix, and that only adds to the enjoyment of this record. I was entirely uninformed about this particular PJ Harvey release going into this one, and I’m glad I had no judgements previously. I haven’t really found any faults to declare here, as a product of its time I think this record is in pretty elite company. 5*

There's a very strong chance every PJ Harvey album in this project gets 5 stars from me, even though I so rarely think to put her on when I'm listening to music at work, around the house, in the car, etc. I have a weird relationship with her music, but it's almost all fantastic.

This is a fantastic record. I feel like more people need to listen to PJ Harvey and I never got why she wasn't more popular. I don't know that this is my favorite record of hers, I'd have to go back and listen to some of the others again, but it's up there for sure. My only real complaint with this album is that the dynamics are a little off for me. I shouldn't have to adjust the volume from song to song or especially not within the same song. That might have been a deliberate choice (like the first song starts playing for a minute and a half or something super quiet so you turn up the volume and then it's like 'joke's on you, now the real music starts!') but it's kind of distracting and irritating. But that's a pretty small complaint and otherwise this is an utterly brilliant album. 5/5

PJ Harvey is my absolute favourite artist, and this is in my opinion her best album. 5 stars is not enough!

Ok yeah this was excellent and I see why people rate it so highly.

Gnarly

Another banger from Harvey. I love Albini's production on this one. It's super clean and tight and allows the intensity of her performance to shine.

oh Polly Jean. Don't you wish you never met her? She is one of my favorite artists. Her voice is powerful and I love her singing... she's a classically trained opera singer which explains alot. This is one of her earlier albums. It's a little rough around the edges (brutally so). I love this album because it's very raw and seething. The guitar magic is awesome. The songs range from a throbbing whisper to a stomping roar. Everything is stripped down to bare rhythms and buzzing guitars. No fancy needed. Pure Rock n Roll alchemy.

I went through my PJ Harvey fanboy era about ten years ago and at that time I had Rid of Me at the top of the list for her best album. It’s gritty, raw and the best example of what made the early 90’s alt scene truly great. She’s not a follower, but exists in her own fucked up world. This record is solidly from a female perspective. It gives off a thick air of darkness, claustrophobia, urgency, anxiety and the sense that she’s in the process of taking full control of her life. The chorus of Dry still makes me snicker but what better slap down to a man could anybody ever possibly say other than “YOU LEAVE ME DRYYYY!!!”? 50 ft. Queenie was the hit if you want to call it that. It’s not really a household name song. Most of the other songs start off timid then explode into a thrilling chorus of full throttle emotion. Listening now, this album is still an artistic masterpiece. My ONLY complaint is that the mix was always so low and muddy, hard to hear and feel fully, but that is likely the point. This is just the beginning of PJ Harvey’s greatness, as further albums take her into completely different, glorious territories of female empowerment and rage.

Unexpectedly awesome. Will return to this often. Drums are some of the best I've heard recorded.

I’m the nicest way possible - is PJ doing okay here? Mad album, ranging from some of the horniest songs we’ve had so far to stuff that sounds like it came after the worst breakup ever. Musically & emotionally all over the place but always feeling real though out, such an interesting album. Love it. I like that Man-size Sextet sounds like something Tim Curry would do. There’s just a certain cadence to the first verse. Maybe it’s just the accent.

This was the first PJ Harvey album I listened to. It was one of the monthly albums that Columbia House sent me years ago. This album continues to bowl me over to this day. She is a force of nature and this showcases the wide array of sounds that PJ can give.

Wow. First listen- 5 stars.

Angry early 90s alternative always goes hard.

Raw and unforgiving.

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.

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!

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.

Own on Vinyl

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.

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

Raw, angry Peej. Yes

Another Queen!

Raw and uncompromising.

Grungy and full of bangers. Harvey is invincible.

Peak Peej.

Just really good. An essential record.

Beautiful aggression

PJ just knocks it out of the park every time

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

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

Oh Rock OUT girl. YES. Five Stars.

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.

Another Fave of All Time Albums!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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"

This is the third PJ Harvey album I've been recommended by the generator, and it made me wonder if the list really needs three PJ Harvey albums? And the answer is yes. Yes, it does.

Fabulous work again PJ. Absolutely stunning and raw.

PJ HARVEY NEVER EVER MISSES.

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

This is some real force of nature stuff.

True classic in every sense

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

good album

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

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.

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

Roh! Unpräzise!

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.

Nick was not a fan

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

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

Joyaza. Me alegro mucho de que exista PJ Harvey y aquí está en su mood muy rockera-digo-lo-que-se-me-pega-la-gana. No hay skips, pero entre mis favs están "Rid of Me", "Rub Til' It Bleeds" y "Man-Size Sextet". 10/10

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

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

Brilliant, I've got to go back to this

"Rid Of Me" is abrasive, uncompromising, raw, and visceral in terms of both the material and the recording choices. The album strips away any semblance of commercial polish. Steve Albini’s signature recording approach captures the band in a way that feels immediate, highlighting an excellent use of dynamics both musically and vocally. A prime example of this approach is the cover of 'Highway 61 Revisited'. Harvey completely dismantles the track, leaving it almost unrecognisable compared to the Dylan original, trading its rolling blues-rock swing for a frantic, screeching energy. For whatever reason, I no longer find this album easy to listen to. When I bought it originally, upon release, I loved this album - it was firmly in 5-star territory. However, as the years have passed, my enjoyment of the record has come to depend very much on my mood. At times, I cannot play more than two or three tracks before I can't listen anymore. At other times, I listen and enjoy it, but certainly not to the extent I used to upon its original release. Its relentless, bruising nature makes it a difficult companion over the long term. Four stars. Side one 1. "Rid of Me" (5/5) 2. "Missed" (3/5) 3. "Legs" (4/5) 4. "Rub 'til It Bleeds" (4/5) 5. "Hook" (3/5) 6. "Man-Size Sextet" (3/5) Side two 7. "Highway 61 Revisited" (4/5) 8. "50ft Queenie" (5/5) 9. "Yuri-G" (4/5) 10. "Man-Size" (4/5) 11. "Dry" (5/5) 12. "Me-Jane" (4/5) 13. "Snake" (4/5) 14. "Ecstasy" (4/5) Total - 56 /70 Average - 4.0 370/1001 196/370 albums reviewed were new to me.

Was a good album. Hadn’t heard PJ Harvey before, but I enjoyed it. Worth listening to.

an ALBUM

Polly er frábær listamaður. Góður lagasmiður og þessi hráa orka er geggjuð. Albini líka alltaf góður.

This is pretty damn good. Not listened to PJ Harvey before, but really dug the tone and vibe. Really strong ending to the album, too - Snake very punchy and short, Ecstasy a climactic finish. Only criticism is there could have been a bit more variation in tone, but it's a picky one. Will definitely listen to some of these again.

I can see why this is a top album. Very good collection of songs. Words I’d use to describe this would be powerful, raw, and for whatever reason the word exclusive comes to mind. But in the sense that this sound is exclusively theirs. Kinda sounds like doom metal, with some blues and like midwestern emo. Great album.

Блюз-панк, гранж, немного "авангардов".

nice songs sound album

Heavier and weirder than I was expecting. I enjoyed it. 3.5 rounded up

Excellent riot grrl entry from the early 90s. PJ Harvey is a total badass and this album rules.

Goes hard as hell. RIP Mr. Albini. Little fish or whatever still her best, I've heard, but this is what all the other "riot grrls" liz phairs etc should have been striving for though they never had a chance. No one does.

Polly at her angry best

Great album and the real intro of PJ Harvey to the world.

This album’s so gritty I thought I was eating sand. I’ve slammed other albums on this list for lacking soul, authenticity. This album is all soul though, so much emotion in this I found it impossible not to appreciate

My third album in a third distinct decade from PJ Harvey and I can confidently say I have inadvertently witnessed the complete decline of the band in reverse. This album is energetic, grungy, heavy and varied. It's fun, dude. It's far from perfect (Man Size Sextet can fuck all the way off) but it's solid. And it's the first time I felt the band actually belonged on this list. What the hell happened Peej? Did you grow up? Did something happen between then and now? I may never know, and quite frankly, nor do I care. In the title track she belts out a repetitive mantra; "don't you don't you wish you never never met her". I know now who she was singing about. She's singing about her future self.

Good, but not great. Not the best by PJ.

This is a 4.5 - the exact amount of feminine rage I needed to bring to this Monday morning.

Cool.

This is my 3rd PJ Harvey album in as many months, and I understand there are 4? No matter how good, I don't think any artist should get more than two (in very rare cases, at that). That said, I liked one of the former, and was pretty aggressively meh about the other. This one, I quite like. 8 appreciate the dynamics, and since that's something nobody does anymore, I was thinking there was something wrong with my headphones. No, it's just the way music is supposed to be recorded. I can't exactly pinpoint why I like this, really. It's got a very "recorded in a garage by a garage band" feel to it, which I normally don't like. Actually, there is a lot about this I wouldn't like in another album, but it works for me here. Me-Jane is probably the highlight of the album for me. Adding this to my personal collection ⭐⭐⭐.75

4/5

PJ is feeling so many things and we are lucky that she shares those raw emotions with us in this impressive way.

Another artist I know I should carve time out to listen to but at least I’m able to address that in part through this challenge. Very much enjoyed this album.

look at my girl she is a wow

Oh I really like her recent stuff from the show Bad Sisters (also great show). Grungy, raw, and it works. I dig it.

Finally I understand why people big PJH up! This is cool, edgy, out-there rock

Good album. Guitars and vocals are great. Definitely feel that 90s angst in the music and lyrics.

Raw, passionate, longing, self-hyping, grim and even dirty, this was a (somewhat psychotic) blast. Been putting PJ’s music off for ages, but i knew i’d like it, because she comes from the era (90’s) and subgroup (Jeff Buckley, Fiona Apple, Radiohead etc) that i like a ton, and i see why she’s compared to them. Can’t wait to listen to her other stuff. Standouts are rid of me, missed, highway ‘61 revisited, man-size and me-jane.

Definitely preferable to the other two records of hers that I've heard from the generator. The production is better and songcraft is better on this one. Like a hand and glove.

I hadn't listened to this in maybe 15 years. I now believe my life would've been infinitely better had I kept listening to PJ Harvey.

Uwielbiam gniewne damskie brzmienie. PJ Harvey to moja nonkormistyczna idolka. Płyta jest odważna, emocjonalna, osobista i po prostu mocna. Można tego nie lubić ale trudno tego nie szanować 8/10.

Hell yeah

This one's real interesting! It's definitely not something I'll be hearing very frequently, but I appreciate the record as a piece of art. A lot, like, I'd be absolutely smitten to have this in my collection. I think the type of rock it aims for isn't my typical sound, because it's not frequently executed so well. I appreciate how I can feel emotion on her voice, I really appreciate how the production makes her voice mesh with the overall sound, sometimes sacrificing traditional mixing expectations. I loved hearing Dylan in the middle and having it fit perfectly with the concept. I can appreciate she doesn't see herself as a feminist, because this is just raw expression, she's just making a coherent sound that people can resonate with. And yes, maybe if you have feminist views it can be easier to appreciate some of the lyrics themselves. Honestly, I really like how when I'm not completely paying attention to the lyrics, which tends to be my default for a very generic overall listen, the music still sounds like the message. This is one of the few times I can honestly say that I'm glad I heard this before I died. 4.2/5

Favorite track(s): Missed, Legs, Rub 'Til It Bleeds, Hook, 50ft Queenie

First time sitting down and listening to PJ Harvey and have to say I was impressed! Sounded like Patti Smith & the Banshees even though she still had Siouxsie vibes. Super creative album and can see a lot of influence coming from this in '92. The "Highway 61 Revisited" cover was super cool & liked "Rid of Me" and "Yuri-G" the most for songs.

RAW

A nice variety of sounds, ranging from bluesy Southern rock, high-energy punk, and some more classic “alternative” sounds. Her voice even shifts to fit the style of each track.

Damn, this was a surprise. Hard edged and energetic and...emotionally raw? It's all working together. Some great guitar work, and the moment I felt it was getting a little same-y it switched up on me. It's one to come back to, works as an album or most any song as a one-off. Tried to get into her later stuff and it bounced off, so I never gave her a shot and it turns out I was wrong.

Kismet - I met a woman at the gym today who had this album cover tattooed on her. It's an all timer and my favourite of PJ's albums. Pure Polly Jean-ius.

Great album and PJ Harvey was really something to listen to and see around this time. Has stood the test of time

Best Track - "Rid Of Me"

Brilliant, she can’t put a foot wrong.

Another totally kickass cover, and with apologies for the objectification of a very cool, talented, and beautiful woman, but AWOOOGA. Anyway, it was far, far too late in life when I started really listening to PJ Harvey. I knew "Down By the Water," which I enjoyed for its immense creepiness, but hadn't done any deep dives until a few years ago. To state the obvious: she's amazing, and her catalog contains multitudes. "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" is probably considered her opus, and rightly so, but this one is my personal favorite. This woman can really fuckin' rock, and when she decides to just let it rip it's really incredible. The odder tracks ("Man-Size Sextet" "Snake") don't quite work as well for me as the (somewhat) straightforward punk-ish songs, but they're not bad. Also the odd, long stretches of quiet ("Ride of Me" "Snake," again) are a choice that I don't quite understand. These are pretty minor complaints are far as these things go. Best tracks: "Rid of Me" "50ft Queenie" "Yuri-G" "Dry" Weakest tracks (but still ok): "Man-Size Sextet" "Snake" "Ecstasy"

Espectacular disco, pura energia

I preferred this to the first PJ Harvey album I got. The grungy alty vibe of the album really suits her voice. The songs were pretty good and although I preferred the original the cover of highway 61 was really cool. I think I’ll come back to this album in time as I do find the length hurt it a bit as it did feel a lot longer then it was but overall a pretty good album

Lowkey visceral.

I wish PJ Harvey made more albums like this one. I really like the heavy, almost Grunge like sound going on here. I think it fits her well and makes for a good sounding album. The entire loud / soft dynamic that was popular is on here as well, after the first songs build up it just barrels ahead.

Not perfect, but so close. Love her voice and the raw emotion.

One of the most violent and intense albums I've ever heard. I feel like I'm not punk enough to enjoy every track, some of this stuff is just too experimental for me. 'Let England Shake', which came much later in her career, is a more consistent and carefully crafted album, but even though I would rather listen to it, many songs in 'Rid of Me' blew me the fuck away. The title-track nears an industrial sound, and 'Snake' is as disturbing as punk can be. Gonna listen to this again for sure.

⭐⭐⭐⭐- Alternativ rock med punkig attityd, har ett visst grungesound. Rak mixning och produktion, rösten möjligtvis lite låg i mixningen. Tycker man lyckats få produktionen ganska tidlös, jag tänker iallafall inte på att albumet är gjort 1993. Detta var min första kontakt med PJ Harvey och det var en positiv överraskning och det kan bli intressant att lyssna på mer av hennes diskografi. Albumet är rått både textmässigt och i produktion. Jag gillar albumet i stort men det har några mellanspår (framförallt Hook) och är baktungt därför får det en svag 4a. Bäst är Man-Size sextet, Highway '61 revisited, 50ft queenie, Man-Size, Dry, Me-Jane.

Back in the CD era (and I suppose in the vinyl era too) you might end up with one album by an artist and never come across another. That happened to me with PJ Harvey and Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. I don’t think I was aware that she was part of the alternative scene, I just thought of her as a cool songwriter that was also friends with Thom Yorke. Between those days and listening to this album now, I learned a bit more, and I had heard a number of the tracks here. And my experience was sort of the opposite of Stories, because my attention was drawn to Steve Albini’s production and the sound over the songwriting. This really is how I want “alternative” to sound, sludgy and live, and the sound almost made it a 5 for me. In the end though I think I missed some of that clarity of focus that is there with Stories… like why a cover of Highway 61? I liked both versions of “Man-Sized” but found the repetition distracting. And there were a few other moments that made me think “What is going on here?” Perhaps if I had picked up Rid of Me instead of Stores in the 90s this would be a five for me now, but I think I’ll save it for my old friend.

Strong album. Excellent guitar sound.

3.5

I didn't want to like this, but did.

intruiging dark lyrics and punchy sound, worth revisiting

Each PJ Harvey album I encounter feels very different from the ones I've heard before, but they're always good. Highlight here: "Rid of Me," which starts off restrained until it suddenly crashes in with full intensity.

Brutal!!

Yep 👍

weird and wondrous, couragious and raw. listening to this, i felt always on the edge, being pushed around. and this without being too aggressive or negative.

I love pj Harvey

I love Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea and I did know that this was going to be a very different sort of album so I was bracing myself for that. I think this had some great moments and I really liked the first few songs and the overall ferocity but it maybe became a bit too much for me. Was going for a 3 but then remembered some of the other things I’ve a given a 3 to and had to bump it up

I love PJ Harvey and she has a great ability to reinvent her sound but for mine this gritty, grungy sound is her best. Steve Albini produces the three piece band perfectly, emphasising their simplicity. Harvey is lyrically in great form and I almost constantly have the double chorus of Rid of Me running through my head. 4.5

We need more girl grunge.

I think I had the exact same response to this album as the last PJ Harvey. Though, maybe this one felt more cohesive as an album.

Enjoyed on the relisten, not unlike pixies at times

Definitely back on track for me with this album! Alt rock is one of my favorite genres of music and PJ Harvey and this particular album are one of the groundbreakers in alternative music. Harvey really didn't break out into the mainstream until a couple of years later when "Down By the Water" was on the radio and MTV non-stop, but I actually prefer this earlier album to that. It's much more raw and I think it shows off Harvey's voice more. I've listened to this album before, but it's been awhile. It was nice to revisit it and I added some of the songs to my regular playlist so I can hear them more often.

5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Hovering between a 3 and a 4. I'm confident I'd grow to like this album with repeated listens. It's a bit much to come to grips worth on a first listen.

Was surprised how much I enjoyed this, considering I didn't like her other album on this list. Appreciated that her raw sound and emotional vocals really created a whole listening environment, 3.5/5

Really improves when you listen in higher quality than the pirated mp3s I listened to on my classic iPod in 2011. The production shines here though I don’t really feel carried along by the music itself. Could improve with more listens.

Honestly didn’t listen to the whole thing today, but will soon. I haven’t listened to it’s entirety since like 2010, but a solid classic

Very talented

Kinda good icl I’m surprised even. I liked ‘Missed” and only a couple of the tracks were pure screaming

A energia da PJ sempre chamou minha atenção e esse álbum encapsula isso, punk para caramba fechando 14 faixas em menos de 50 minutos. "Legs" e "Me-Jane" foram excelente descobertas nessa ouvida, com certeza ele entrou nas minhas apreciações recorrentes

Другий альбом Харві в списку. Цей подобаєтсья більше. Альбіні дав свого звуку, все стало гучшніше та шумніше Пару пісень мені прям не сподобались. Тому думаю 4 буде справедливою оцінкою

I love PJ Harvey and I like this album as a whole and I adore some of its parts (the title song is phenomenal! I love Dry!), and it's a great listen, but it's not my favourite PJ's album in her discography. (My favourites are To bring you my love, Uh huh her and Stories...) I'll give it a very strong four! It's a good one.

Good stuff. Not for me, but hell yeah. 3.8.

Don't know quite what to make of this. Weirdly quiet all the way through but some decent listening

I really actually liked this. Never listened to PJ Harvey before and I know she has always been critically lauded. Guess there is a reason for that.

This was a grower for me, but ended up really enjoying it

With grunge and alternative rock being all the rage by 1993, a relatively new artist from Dorset, England by the name of Polly Jean Harvey decided to put her own staple on the genre, which turned out to be a masterstroke as 'Rid of Me' is certainly one of the most fascinating albums to emerge from the early 90s. Produced by the unconventional Steve Albini (Pixies, The Breeders, Nirvana, The Jesus Lizard), 'Rid of Me' possesses that raw, guttural and aggressive sound that's commonplace with Albini-produced records, but is driven by Harvey's similarly unconventional vocals cutting through the mix like a ball of energy bursting at the seams. With songs like 'Man-Size', 'Hook', '50ft Queenie' and the title track, PJ Harvey storms through the record with her infectious presence and unpredictable tonal shifts that never fail to keep you on your toes, and she's ably supported by Steve Vaughan on bass and Rob Ellis on drums. What truly is impressive about Harvey's vocals on this record is she can turn on a dime from sweet and souful to chaotic and intimidating, sometimes at multiple points in the song. The sheer fearlessness of her vocals and incredible range prove her status as one of the 90s most fascinating musicians, and the fact she'd go from this to 'Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea' in just 7 years only highlights how unique and varied her discography is. I found PJ Harvey's music later than I'd care to admit (Nick Cave's 'Henry Lee' was the first time I'd heard of her) but I'm glad I did, because her fearlessness and desire to push the envelope resonates with me greatly. 'Rid of Me' is certainly one of the more 'off-the-wall' grunge/alternative records, but that's the genius of PJ Harvey for you: bliss in chaos. Best songs: Rid of Me, Rub 'Til it Bleeds, Hook, 50ft Queenie, Man-Size, Dry, Ecstasy

8/10

Va duuuuro. Muy buen disco. Nunca le había dado. God bless her. Y god bless a Steve Albini man, sobre todo por esas baterías que suenan a ruido de obras, suenan increíbles. Man-size sextet colándose por el medio fue una grata sorpresa. Suena increíble. Stank faces durante todo el disco. Good shit.

A national treasure. Amongst strong competition, this might be my favourite of her albums

Love this…Tom.

Some powerful stuff here. Emotion really comes through. Nicely done

Good. ★★★★

This is, for me, one of the best ever lo fi records. Steve Albini produced (same year he did In Utero) and did an incredible job of seemingly staying out of the way and just capturing Polly Jean and her band at their rawest and best. Not my favorite PJ record, but probably #2

I really liked this album! The production is intense and rough, which I think pairs very well with the overall themes of the album. Femininity is not just sunshine and rainbows, it is a lot of suffering at the hands of the world and the men that inhabit it.

jaa hartstikke lekker schoonmaakalbum. lekker boos, lekker interessante muziek

7.5/10

This was a solid album! I listened to only one other PJ Harvey album ( that was on this list) and this one was much better and more cohesive. The album experiments a lot, but with the production it somehow contains all the sounds. Biggest Hit - Rid Of Me Biggest Miss (if I had to choose) - man size sextet Underrated Gem - Missed

This was great, like a mash of alternative rock with grunge all recorded really basically. A garage band dream, if you will. I really liked the more aggressive and complicated tracks in the beginning, though it did trail off by the end. The Albini effect is high in this, making them sound like they’re not using any effects at all but not like it was recorded in a tin can like so many other attempts at “tool-less” production. The drums in particular are stellar, and I especially like it in songs like “Legs” where the cymbals aren’t individually mic’d up so you get this great sound like you’re in the same room as the band. The songs starting at “man size” started to lose me but I really liked the previous stuff. Overall I enjoyed this; the kind of stuff I missed when I was younger for whatever reason but would’ve liked then as well.

I quite like the lady version of Bukowski. She's tough but fair and we need more like her.

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/pj-harvey/rid-of-me/ More familiar with and fan of PJ’s more recent sound (Let England Shake). This slaps too, but having never really listened to it much before, it’s quite a lot. Some absolute bangers tho, so will add it to the rotation.

This is my second PJ Harvey album in a row, and my third overall. I thought yesterday’s Let England Shake was absolutely dreadful, but I went into this one with an open mind. This is undoubtedly the best so far, and I now appreciate that being versatile and reinventing your sound with each album is bound to bring some misses. This, however, is a definite hit, with some great tracks, a strong vocal performance, and Steve Albini’s production is always a treat to hear.

I love Pj but this album never really worked for me as well. It's got some good songs but seems like a very different artist to a lot of the later stuff

Enjoyed it. Probably a 3.5-4/5, will need to give it another thorough listen to decide for sure.

Hell yea

Enjoyable but would need more listens.

Great album. Aggressive and a little sultry, PJ Harvey sounds pointed and raw. Steve Albini did a phenomenal job producing this album and sounds quite a bit like In Utero.

Crunchy and noisy. Very much enjoyed this, but not quite enough for five stars. Four it is.

Steve Albini was a mad genius

7/10

Badass angsty edgy 90s girl rock. I really hated the first PJ Harvey album I heard (the one from 2000) but this is a completely different side.

This album rocks. It's badass front to back. Real good shit.

Good - a bit sparse and punky to be a five, but solid. Better than Yes.

I would have been so into this in the 90’s, had I known it existed. Weighty and unpolished, just how I like it. The weirdness really hits when she goes for it. Probably as close as an album could get to 5 stars for me before it gets the honor.

What a force! Powerful passionate and a little angry. Some serious catharsis going on here.

We support women in rock even if we never actually listen to rock!!!

Polly Jean Harvey telling us how it is.

Loud. Kind of messy, but there were some good songs on here. I’ll have to revisit to see which ones I liked the most but I was satisfied.

Had a few PJ Harvey albums here so far, enjoy a female vocalist especially over gritty rock.

Better than Coldplay

# Album Name: Rid of me # Artist: PJ Harvey # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Cracking PJ Harvey album. Very emotional, lots of rock with a tinge of grunge. Take a dip in the middle which knocked it down from a 5 # Top Tunes: rid of me / missed / rub / queenie / me jane / ecstacy # Would I listen to it again? yes

Much preferred this to the previous PJ Harvey album, songs sound much fuller and heavier, lots more going on. Started slowly but got much better as it went on. 50ft Queenie had a big riff and there were a few other standouts, will need another listen.

First listen, honestly I am not entirely sure I get it, but I can totally see it grow on me. Sometimes it just sounds like she's making cool sounding noises (that is meant as a compliment). I suspect she may have been influenced by Patti Smith in her vocal delivery.

Good Oll’ Rock, I like! 4 Bäretätzli

Of all the PJ Harvey albums the generator had thrown at me this is pretty easily my favorite. The first half is good, but the second half just turns it up to another level that just has this really manic and raw energy. Any album that features a Highway 61 Revisited cover is also appreciated. Favorite songs were Rid Of Me, Rub Til It Bleeds, Highway 61 Revisited, 50ft Queenie, and Me-Jane.

Steve Albini's engineering contributes to this wonderful sound.

Very gritty - really enjoyed the second half of the album in particular

Very raw and emotional.

This started playing again after my first run through and I let it run. Such a varied and raw album but what an impression. A future 5 with more listens. Me-Jane the initial highlight.

I enjoyed a lot of this. I think it's one I'd like to come back to. It feels like something that'll grow on me with a bit of time. There were some really cool bits that I don't think I gave enough attention to.

This slaps. Really solid music.

This is an interesting album. I've listened to it maybe five or six times in my life, and every time, I quite enjoy the experience while listening ( I love the way it sounds), but it never sticks with me. I'm left with no desire to return to it, and when I do, years later, it feels like I've never heard it before. I think this one sits between 3 and 4 more so than any album yet. I bad about giving it a 3, because it's better all the threes I've given out, yet it doesn't really deserve a 4 either. In the end, I'll round up for the concept of PJ Harvey.

Much more creative than a lot of the grunge/alt rock of the time.

Way better than I was expecting, I love the raw energy of this album and PJ Harvey’s voice is soooo good. Definitely recommend this one. Standout Songs: Missed Legs Rub 'Til It Bleeds Man-Size Sextet 50ft Queenie Man-Size Dry Me-Jane

Very interesting sounds there PJ

In the end really good album. Like I don’t really remember the exact moments when I was like wow but I definitely had those moments where I extra ordinarily enjoyed some tracks while some are just there. First track definitely got me Solid 6.5/10 might even increase on next re listen

Raw and energetic, much better than I remember. Patti Smith on steroids

She's quite good!

it good but stories gooder

Love the hair

Light 4

Was about to write this off as a “meh” representation of female-led punk from the early 90s. But her “Highway 61” cover kicked things up a notch for the second half. Rounding up from 3.5 because of that strong finish.

Super raw! I had heard of the Steve Albini legend and the drums on this album definitely make a good case for his style. It sounds live and raw and in your face and just rocking. I had “Let England Shake” by PJ Harvey earlier in my album generator and I can’t believe this is the same artist to be honest. That was a 2/5 snoozefest and this actually rules.

3.5 - Good

The random number generator of this project seems kinda fucked. I got PJ Harvey’s Dry the day before today. I notice that it does this kind of a lot. I don’t really mind in this case though. I liked Dry pretty good. And Rid of Me is shaping up to be pretty solid also. Might’ve been nice to spread them out though. Oh well. I think what I like about PJ Harvey—more than the actual songwriting itself, which can be kind of hit and miss for me—is the actual sound she's getting out of her instruments. The studio production for this record is top-notch, sure, but it all sounds great together. It's a little bit weird at times (intentionally so, it seems), but her sound is big and unapologetic. To me, she expresses a ton of confidence, which probably helps when some of the songs aren't as catchy; they're still interesting. I'm not sure which record of hers I like better so far, Dry or Rid of Me. But this one is a bit more..."experimental" is maybe not the right word, but maybe "creatively less restrained"? It's a pretty solid record. 3.8/5 - rounding up

Considered giving this a 5, but decided to grade on PJ Harvey curve, and there are definitely some other of her albums that I like more. Still this is like a 4.75 rating. It's probably her most raw sounding album (and Inappreciate that), which may have to do with Albini producing it.

There's something pretty raw about this album. I liked that that "raw-ness" was in both the lyrics and the in the instrumentation. It caught my interest enough that I'd like to really sit down and listen while completely focusing on the album to be able to take it all in.

PJ is such an interesting and talented musician. I love that her songs inspire thought and reflection. Really good album. The only thing that might improve it is some more variety in the track listing with style and tempo. 4/5

Good album.

Lovely stuff

V good album

Pj Harvey is the queen and I'll forgive her for supporting fox hunting

Fuckin great stuff, made me want to punch the sky

Interesting one. I can't say I love Harvey's voice, there's a lot of deep talk-singing and jarring falsetto, but it is sort of captivating. I like the transitions between the open, loud, chugging guitar and drums to the quiet palm-muted riffs almost like you're waiting for the songs to pounce on you out from the dark. I also love off-beat instruments and you'll hear things like snare hits and vocals swerve off the main path quite a bit on this album. Shout out to the fuzzy bass. Makes for a cool sound. Some of this actually is reminiscent to me of early Tool. The guitar sounds great on this album. Standouts were "Missed" "Rub 'Till It Bleeds" and "50ft Queenie." The Dylan cover was kinda cool. I hope Harvey sought out therapy after this album. Or perhaps recording this was the therapy? Either way, it's dark and gritty and raw and I kinda love it. It's a strong 4/5 for me, I don't love the vocals all the time but this album has such a cool sound, it's really close to a 5.

Kinda reminds me of Tom Waits. Also pretty grunge-y. Sure sounds like 1993. Doesn't resonate with me -- partly because the lo-fi recording sounds a little raw. Normally that's my jam but this is a but unfinished-feeling. On the other hand, if you were an alt listener in '93 and were sick of the testosterone and mediocrity of the Afghan Whigs, this would be the perfect antidote. This works better for me when it's heavier (usually true of grunge and garage). I don't love the textures they picked but it feels very DIY. 'Rub It 'Til It Bleeds', '50ft Queenie' and 'Me-Jane' all landed for me (plus the loose Dylan cover) and I can hear just what folks like about Harvey. There weren't many prominent women in this genre and her presence is vital and noteworthy (as is her Englishness, in a highly American grunge wave). Well worth anyone's time: this is a pretty singular voice with what seems like a clear vision. It didn't blow my hair back but maybe it'll be your favourite thing! An album like a plate of good olives. Another 4/5 because it's mostly not for me but I'm pretty sure it's for someone out there!

Her second album. Rock / Indie. Raw, emotional and, I think, most important of all l, authentic. The album is produced really well. Rid Of Me is a nice juxtaposition of whispered and in your face vocals. Rub 'Til It Bleeds is a really good track. I also like 50ft Queenie. Yeah, a good album.