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PJ Harvey "Let England Shake"


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I've been thinking about buying this, but I'm afraid of a major disappointment.

 

I was a pretty big PJ Harvey fan until Uh Huh Her came out. I haven't bought anything by her since. That album simply had no redeeming qualities for me. Any thoughts on how it compares to the new one?

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Uh Huh Her was her last real 'rock' album. Couple years ago she put out White Chalk which is all spooky piano, falsetto, cloudy day in England, pumpkin pie, Victorian demon music (that's how I hear it).

 

Let England Shake is sonically lighter but subject matter just as heavy as White Chalk. Lots of bouncy, jazzy rhythms on sparse guitar, xylophone, autoharp, brushes on a drum set with well-crafted lyrics meditating on the fall of an empire and the toll that war takes. Some post-modern sampling too: hunting party horns, 'Blood and Fire' a reggae classic by Niney and Friends.

 

I also have a weird theory about White Chalk but I won't go into that- wrong album thread.

 

In general I think she's up to some really great, unique, accessible yet rich music.

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^ very well put about the new record.

 

check out this little video piece, cool interview about the new record, and a live performance of the new song "The Last Living Rose" with just Peej and her guitar.

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Yep, this album is at the top of my list right now along with Go Go Boots by Drive by truckers. I streamed it a couple times on NPR and just kept going back for more. The album is just so unique and compelling lyrically. I love PJ's voice, it just fits so well with the music and subject matter. I love albums like this that sound like a complete work of art and not just a collection of songs. It's not just that there is a theme that runs through it, but sonically the songs just fit so well together. I have to imagine this will be near the top of quite a few best of lists at the end of the year.

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I did end up buying a copy of this album and listening to it a handful of times. I appreciate what PJ's trying to do, but I can't get past the vocals. I don't want to be one of those fans, but I miss the deep, haunting vocals from songs like "Catherine" or just about anything from To Bring You My Love.

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Album of the year for me here in the month of May.

 

Me too, top of my list right now and the one I keep going back for another listen.

 

I did end up buying a copy of this album and listening to it a handful of times. I appreciate what PJ's trying to do, but I can't get past the vocals. I don't want to be one of those fans, but I miss the deep, haunting vocals from songs like "Catherine" or just about anything from To Bring You My Love.

 

I'm sure that has turned quite a few people off but i find the style fits the songs and subject matter perfectly. Kind of haunting in a different way.

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