PJ Harvey (Official Thread)

[Chromefox]

I've been listening to Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea by singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist PJ Harvey, born out of England and known for somewhat of a low-fi alt rock sound. Now, I'll be honest, I was pretty jazzed about Stories until I took a peek in some more of her discog and decided it all sounds pretty samey, but I'm totally open to being wrong on that count, because I'd love to love her and what she does. I do love her voice, even if her songs tend to be a bit repetitive for my tastes.

If you need a reason to check out Stories, Thom Yorke guest starred on the album playing keyboards and lending vocals to a number of tracks, which, no lies, is what brought my interest to her work in the first place.

PJ? Y/N? Anyone?

[kearn1tm]

Big big fan. To Bring You My Love and Rid of Me are among my favorite albums of the '90s (and I loved her appearance on Nick Cave's Murder Ballads).

I hate the fact that she's often grouped in with the Lilith Tour acts from the mid-'90s.

[Chromefox]

I take it you'd recommend both of those to me, correct? I'll definitely take that advice.

Stories is a pretty polished album, especially compared to some of the songs I've heard from her earlier albums, but I like that it still maintains some grittyness. This Mess We're In is my favourite track because I'm biased, but it's definitely not the only one I love off of this album.

How do you feel about her work with John Parish? Is that equally worth checking into?

[kearn1tm]

I take it you'd recommend both of those to me, correct? I'll definitely take that advice.

Absolutely. I haven't heard the last three, but of all the albums from Dry to Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, I find Rid of Me and To Bring You My Love her best efforts.

Stories is a pretty polished album, especially compared to some of the songs I've heard from her earlier albums, but I like that it still maintains some grittyness. This Mess We're In is my favourite track because I'm biased, but it's definitely not the only one I love off of this album.
Stories is a really good album and a return to form of sorts to the pre-Island sound.

How do you feel about her work with John Parish? Is that equally worth checking into?

Well, he produced a number of her records with Flood. TBYML has his fingerprints all over them.

[Chromefox]

Right on. Definitely going to check into those. Would you say her sound tends to diversify from album to album, or is it all in about the same vein?

[IWasaCamera]

Decent.

[TachyonEvan]

Don't listen to, but one time, I heard a song, and I was impressed. This was a while ago, though- where do I start?

[kearn1tm]

Right on. Definitely going to check into those. Would you say her sound tends to diversify from album to album, or is it all in about the same vein?

Diversity? Music pundits will claim she "matures" lyrically, but no, not really.

Don't listen to, but one time, I heard a song, and I was impressed. This was a while ago, though- where do I start?

With the best (and arguably most indicative of her sound as a whole): Rid of Me and To Bring You My Love.

[Chromefox]

Listening to White Chalk right now, and I'm pretty surprised by it so far, since I was expecting a more guitar based album. I like this though, it's interesting. Good melodies, I just worry the album will feel like it was to much the same throughout, like Stories was, but we'll see.

[Troggy]

New CD is out this week (On sale for 7.99 at Best Buy). I have only listened once but I thought it was very good. A little more accessible (poppy?) than usual, but there has been a lot of praise out there for it. I'm a little surprised no one has bothered to bump the official thread at all!

[highfidelity203]

I listened to her Rid of Me album and wasn't a huge fan. But I can see why people are passionate about her stuff just not my jam.

[chipdip18]

Shoot son. I think that A Man, A Woman Walked By is better than Rid of Me.

[Troggy]

Rid of Me is well...not that accessible. I can appreciate it, but it's not something I would listen to frequently. I do like To Bring You My Love a lot, though. Meet Ze Monsta...amazing.

[chipdip18]

Which one is the new album? How was the new album?

[Jaded87]

Let England Shake is great. I haven't really listened to her earlier stuff.

[Troggy]

Which one is the new album? How was the new album?

New album is very good, and very accessible...at least sound wise.

[chipdip18]

New album is very good, and very accessible...at least sound wise.

Alright, I'll be sure to check it out.