PJ Harvey is a singer/songwriter from England, and has become one of the most influential rock musicians of the past ten years. She is a very talented multi-instrumentalist, and her singing voice is very distinct and versatile. Before she went solo and experimented with various musical styles each record, she was part of a three piece alt.-rock formation (with Polly doing vocals, guitar, cello/violin). "Dry" is her debut record, while her band was still signed to an independant label called "Too Pure". PJ's big breakthrough came with "Rid Of Me", produced by Steve Albini (who fronts Rapeman, Big Black and Shellac, and became legendary for producing albums by rock bands like The Pixies). Other records are the dark, theatrical "To Bring You My Love", the concept cd "Dance Hall At Louise Point", the electronica/post rock influenced "Is This Desire?" and the most recent release "Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea"
"To Bring You My Love" is a mixture of accessible and experimental stuff...but overall this is the record where Harvey shines the most with her vocal talents. Some songs are really stripped down, while other tracks are very raw. This is definately PJ's darkest record.
01 To Bring You My Love
This song is driven by PJ's fragile guitar playing and eerie organs. The vocals are powerful as heck. It's very slow paced, raw and dark...and it goes from louder melodies too more timid ones pretty frequently and subtlely. It has a very bluesy vibe. 4/5
02 Meet Ze Monsta
This is more of a rock track with a very stomping beat...it reminds me a bit of something David Bowie would do. The vocals are very theatrical in this song. The song gets repetitive after awhile, but it's not all that bothersome. 3.5/5
03 Working For The Man
Strange, strange song...it's got a very deep bassline and eerie keyboards...and the beat sounds very artificial. The vocals are more crooning, whispering and mumbling...instead of real singing. 4/5
04 C'Mon Billy
This is a very accessible song, contrary to the last one. The vocals are great and the lyrics are easy to sing along. It's acoustic and mid-tempo...with some nice melodies. 4/5
05 Teclo
This is one of my favorite songs ever. Like the title track, it has a very dark bluesy atmosphere. It's a really depressing emotional song...and the beauty of PJ's voice become evident in the second verse when she sings "I learned to pray". It's just a very powerful heartfelt song. 5/5
06 Long Snake Moan
This is more of a straight out hard rock track...it's good, but it does get repetitive after awhile. I do like the intensity of the vocals. 3.5/5
07 Down By The Water
This is a very eerie flamenco-ish track with some cool string effects and electronica. Polly's vocals sound very clean in this song, where she usually sings more with vibrato. In the end Polly whispers a lyric over and over till the song fades out. 4.5/5
08 I Think I'm A Mother
It starts out with an acoustic guitar interlude...it's very avantgarde and simplistic. Polly "sings" with a very low voice, almost unrecognisable. 2.5/5
09 Send His Love To Me
This acoustic "folk" song is another nice one. Great vocals, great melodies. Nothing at all wrong with it. 4/5
10 The Dancer
This is a beautiful melodic latin influenced track, with guitar strumming, eerie organs. The vocals are just incredible here...it's very sexy when she lets out those little squeals. It's one of my favorite vocal performances by anyone. 5/5
Overall: 4/5
