PJ Harvey : Classic or Dud

Wow, sounds great!

PJ Harvey - The Hope Six Demolition Project (2016)

It already has its own thread

After years of avoiding her music I finally listened to Rid of Me today and I'm terribly sorry but it was one of the most tedious listening experiences I've had in a while, it took me 3 listens to get through the thing and I'm usually very patient with music. No idea if she's kind of a 'you had to be there' artist but I'd burn this idol down.

And yeah I also don't like Patti Smith.

4-Track Demos version is better.

Maybe I started with the wrong album? I don't know.

A nice thing about PJ Harvey is that if Rid of Me isn't to your liking, she has several albums that sound nothing like it.

Don't really want to keep searching... there's several albums and I found almost no redeeming qualities on Rid of Me to keep listening... which ones would you recommend?

I'm actually rather pissed re:PJ ATM, because dates for her '17 U.S. tour just came out, and she's playing Houston for the first time on her own in about 20+ years (she opened for U2 15 or so ago), and tickets are about to go on sale, and I'm already broke AF.

Moka - "Is This Desire" probably captures Pj at her most diverse stylistically.

Is This Desire is a good pick--really that whole PJ era--To Bring You My Love through Stories From The City...--is good place for those turned off by the shrieky early stuff (which she never really returned to, outside of parts of Uh Huh Her). Of course, there is also Let England Shake.

Ok thanks! I will try to give those a listen but maybe other time... enough PJ for a day for me haha.

Once again, US dates, no Chicago ...

After years of avoiding her music I finally listened to Rid of Me today and I'm terribly sorry but it was one of the most tedious listening experiences I've had in a while, it took me 3 listens to get through the thing and I'm usually very patient with music. No idea if she's kind of a 'you had to be there' artist but I'd burn this idol down.

― Moka, Thursday, December 8, 2016 7:07 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

And yeah I also don't like Patti Smith.

― Moka, Thursday, December 8, 2016

well, that's two. One more woman and you're rid of them.

For what it's worth, I love Harvey and loathe Patti Smith, so the two don't have to go together.

this is the first time i can remember disagreeing with moka

i found rid of me almost unlistenable when i first got it, but i think that's more to do with albini than PJH. i love it now but i think it's a good one to find your way back to after getting into the rest of her work.

my list of the best PJ Harvey songs.

my list of the best PJ Harvey songs.

rong

No My Beautiful Leah or There Will Never Be a Better Time (with Desert Sessions)? Wicked list anyways!

she wants wicked

Anyone going to see her live on this tour?

i am. this album seems like kind of a blip. it never really settled with me, I resisted it, and when I lsiten to it it doesn't do much for me; whereas I loved Let England Shake (and everything prior, pretty much). It's been several years since I've seen her so I'm hoping live I feel more invested in these songs.

Agree with you on all points akm. Glastonbury 2016 set made these songs come alive a little more, but yeah "Hope Six Demolition Project" is the only retread in Pj Harvey's catalog it seems.

vs. uh-huh her's detread?

Guess that's a retread too, but a much better one IMO

I saw her last year on the UK portion of the tour and it was an incredible show, way exceeding all my expectations. I'm lukewarm on the album, but loved it all live. The show was like a piece of theatre or performance rather than a gig, but musically her and the band were astounding, and it all totally worked.

she is a monster live, i saw her around 1998/99 in munich and she rocked the place like crazy. a whirlwind with guitar.

She doesn't move too much in the new show, but has a great stage presence regardless.

That's reassuring to hear, krakow. Saw her on the Stories tour which was great but I have a feeling I'll appreciate the live band more this time.

I'm seeing her in Boston because why not. But yeah, the new album was such a nonevent.

Does she play guitar, or just, like, hurdy gurdy?

iirc she only sings in the current setup

Mainly she sings, but she does also play sax and guitar in the current set.

Just announced two nights in Edinburgh for the International Festival in August. I'll definitely head over for one of those.

Going to the Brooklyn show. Not a fan of the last few records but she's always been great live and her band will probably be top shelf. Plus, looking forward to seeing the new venue.

Saw her in the last Primavera Sound. Didn't like last album either but the tracks sound great live. Her performance makes a difference

The band is absolutely first rate. Some jaw-dropped performances. The saxophone solos from the main guy in particular I could barely believe, he was awesome.

Saw her in Seattle. Thought the new songs fared better live, especially "The Ministry Of Social Affairs" with the jazz skronk solos. So awesome to see PJ playing sax as well. Highlights were "Written On The Forehead" and "The River" from my favourite album, "Is This Desire?".

gonna drive to LA to see her in a few days. she's prob my favorite living artist that i've never gotten to see live.

Awesome, JD. She's insanely inspiring, hope you enjoy the show.

My "definitely" became a "sadly not" and I didn't make either Edinburgh International Festival shows because of work/life. Did anyone go?

Guys, back in around 1993/4 someone I knew had a demo of four or so tracks that PJ Harvey had recorded with the horn section from a then current group, the name of which eludes me.

I've looked through her discography and haven't seen anything that seems to fit this description. Any bells going off?

maybe the March 1993 peel session?

Yeah, the Peel session where she did Claudine the Inflatable One, Primed and Ticking, Wang Dang Doodle and Naked Cousin has a horn section, but I don't know who they were.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw5QXwuQgcs

Ah, cool. If not the same recordings then it's presumably the same setup. No horns credited on two tracks releases on Peel Sessions it seems.

My recollection is that the tape was manufactured and had some basic artwork. As in, not something recorded off the radio. Maybe there was a release mooted at some point.

*the two tracks released on Peel Session 1991 - 2004

Did some digging – the horns came from Gallon Drunk.

Iirc Gallon Drunk may have been the opening act on some or many dates of the tour?