One of those albums that I've always wanted to love, but never really given it close attention. There was so much competition in the early 90's when it came to spending your weekly music allowance. Polly Harvey somehow slipped through the cracks. I think it was because she didn't fit into the early 90's scene as Britpop was starting to bubble. Thirty years later and the post rock sound really appeals to me. Sheela-na-gig is an absolute romp of a song.
An inauspicious, hesitant start to this album. I am never sure if I like PJ’s work or not. I think the truth that I like some and not others. I do like her voice, but find parts of this set a bit turgid. I remember when I first heard tracks like Dress and Sheila-Na-Gig and thinking they sounded very different to what was around at the time. The stripped-back rawness works on those songs, but I think I prefer her more ‘arranged’ songs, in general. The follow up - Rid Of Me - has superior songs, and more of them. Not bad, but a bit hit-and-miss for me. Which would also be my summary of her career generally.