PJ Harvey in general

Dark and brooding is what you would normally think of Polly Jean Harvey's music, but this album has a slightly more up beat feel to it. This is not to say that it is happy or chearful but it is not depressing. The inclusion of Thom Yorke in some backing vocals and lead singer on one song has added a bit more appeal to the album for Radiohead fans like myself but Polly didn't ask Thom Yorke to sing for popularity but because he has a fantastic voice that compliments hers to such a degree that my favourite song on the album is the 'duet' with both of them singing/speaking about the same amount called "This mess we're in" I ...  Read the complete review

Pj's parents are eternal rockers. I used to have a pub in Dorset and PJ's parents were friends and customers. They used to lay on gigs locally, and I remember seeing Charlie Watts guesting in a session in a pub in the late 70's. PJ was bought up with music in her blood, and was a pupil at the same school as my daughter. Her mum and dad used to bring her into the bar when she was ten or so, and I still can't believe that sweet, intense little girl grew up to be the broody, very beautiful, talented artist that she is now...or maybe I can in retrospect. Her parents are still very cool, great people, and PJ can always be seen in our town, browsing round the ...  Read the complete review

For those of you who are sick of listening to commercial records with no hint of real sincerity, then P J Harvey is for you. An angry young woman with genuine talent and plenty of attitude, Polly's songs are clever, complex and emotionally intense. Although she frequently writes about subjects typically sung about by female artists - love and heartbreak - she addresses them in a varied and compelling fashion. Many a crap girl has had a record in the charts where they've whined on about how they'll never leave their man - none of them has managed to write a song as sinister as 'Rid of Me'. Here's a quick taster - 'You're not rid of me/ I'll make you lick my ...  Read the complete review