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Post subject: Re: 50 ft Queenie: The long overdue PJ Harvey thread
Posted: Mon April 14, 2014 4:52 am
I've been POOSSTTIiiEEnngeeaahh
Joined: Fri November 15, 2013 6:14 am Posts: 11136
Well, I started the PJ Harvey trek at my go-to safe place when hearing new music, the beginning.
Dry - What a way to shoot out of the gate. It's dark, dirty, and sexy. I love it. Its the kind of debut that makes it hard for the next record to not disappoint (which I'm about to listen to). There's some very fine lines separating these songs, but I'm gonna rank em since I haven't ranked anything in awhile.
Happy and Bleeding Dress O Stella Hair Oh My Lover Victory
Post subject: Re: 50 ft Queenie: The long overdue PJ Harvey thread
Posted: Mon April 14, 2014 10:13 am
Commissioner
Joined: Wed March 13, 2013 12:48 am Posts: 11792
I'm a but surprised to see Sheela Na Gig not in the first group for you. That was one of her early "classics." I really like Water & Fountain too. Though to be fair, I like the whole album.
I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Rid of Me. That's one of those records that there's really nothing else in the history of popular music to compare to. It's stunning, but it's not an easy album to listen to regularly.
Post subject: Re: 50 ft Queenie: The long overdue PJ Harvey thread
Posted: Mon April 14, 2014 6:30 pm
Commissioner
Joined: Wed March 13, 2013 12:48 am Posts: 11792
I listen to To Bring You My Love, Is This Desire, Stories from the City, and Let England Shake way more often than I do Rid of Me, but when I do listen to Rid of Me, I find myself thinking it could be her best if I'm in the right mood.
Post subject: Re: 50 ft Queenie: The long overdue PJ Harvey thread
Posted: Mon April 14, 2014 7:10 pm
I've been POOSSTTIiiEEnngeeaahh
Joined: Fri November 15, 2013 6:14 am Posts: 11136
Lament wrote:
I'm a but surprised to see Sheela Na Gig not in the first group for you. That was one of her early "classics." I really like Water & Fountain too. Though to be fair, I like the whole album.
I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Rid of Me. That's one of those records that there's really nothing else in the history of popular music to compare to. It's stunning, but it's not an easy album to listen to regularly.
Ya, Sheela Na Gig is fantastic, don't get me wrong. It just gets a little stale for me before the others. It probably carries my favorite lyric of the album though "Look at these my child-bearing hips" I just love the delivery on that line.
Post subject: Re: 50 ft Queenie: The long overdue PJ Harvey thread
Posted: Tue April 15, 2014 2:09 am
I've been POOSSTTIiiEEnngeeaahh
Joined: Fri November 15, 2013 6:14 am Posts: 11136
Have you seen the remastered versions on youtube by user "zararity"? I prefer their version of Dry (album) to the original. He/She did the same for Rid of Me. As a long time fan, feel free to let me know if this person actually ruined these songs. (Srsly)
I just found Dry to be somewhat muted, especially after hearing what this person was able to pull out of them. And Rid of Me sounds incredible.
Post subject: Re: 50 ft Queenie: The long overdue PJ Harvey thread
Posted: Wed April 16, 2014 4:46 pm
I've been POOSSTTIiiEEnngeeaahh
Joined: Fri November 15, 2013 6:14 am Posts: 11136
Ok, so I definitely prefer Dry to Rid Of Me, but I can also appreciate RoM for the unique expression that it is. It's not trying to do the same thing that Dry is, and thank god for artists like her for that.
I especially enjoy that first run of songs 1-5, though I originally wanted to end it with Rub Til It Bleeds and decided to include Hook since it gets pretty weird after that.
The Man-Size / Man-Size Sextet relationship is cool, though I'd rather listen to the former. I'm don't think I like the inclusion of Hwy '61 on the album (not a knock on her version(which is good), just a knock on artists' including covers on albums in general).
After that, tracks 8-14 are pretty consistently good, not too low or too high anywhere. So for now:
Post subject: Re: 50 ft Queenie: The long overdue PJ Harvey thread
Posted: Thu April 17, 2014 5:22 pm
The worst
Joined: Thu December 13, 2012 6:31 pm Posts: 39849
Okay, so I've listened to songs from the city 4 times. It's made me want to be a fan of hers, but this album isn't going to do it. I'm impressed with her, but I just don't really care for most of the songs. It's hard to put my finger on what it is. It's a bit too loud, a bit too upfront and in some cases a bit too obvious. I wasn't really drawn into any of the stories. The album had a bit of a Liz Phair/Sleater Kinney vibe, and I wanted a bit more of the Liz Phair and a bit less of the Sleater kinney.
I'm not really expressing this well. It was an album I really wanted to like, but there aren't enough moments in it to draw me back in, despite the fact that she almost always sounds good. I think what I really want is something more ambitious. She felt bigger and more interesting than what she was working with her. I have to bring you my love, which I've never really listened to beyond Down by the Water (which I like a lot). I'm gonna give that shot. I feel like I could really get into her if I find the right set of songs.
My favorites were Big Exit, A Place Called Home and We Float
Wicked Tongue, Good Fortune, and You Said Something were also good. I'd like these songs more (I think) with some stronger tracks surrounding them.
Beautiful Feeling/One Line/Whores Hustle/This Mess We're In/Horses in My Dream were okay
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