longjetty7 8

I'll admit, I wasn't completely sold the first time I listened to this album. The music is a bit strange and not at all what I was expecting, I'll admit, I wasn't completely sold the first time I listened to this album. The music is a bit strange and not at all what I was expecting, but I've listened to it a few more times and it's definitely grown on me. PJ Harvey has never been a stranger to being musically adventurous, and once again she has surprised us with something new and unique. In some ways this is actually her most mature album. Her lyrics and singing are more straightforward and confident than ever, the arrangements are varied and tight, and overall the album moves along at a nice pace and is incredibly cohesive. The style is actually kind of a weird combination, with the high and low vocals, the brash saxophone, the folksy, bouncy melodies, and the rock-heavy instrumentation, but it actually works surprisingly well, and it's something I feel only PJ could pull off.



Overall this is a really enjoyable album and it's an absolute pleasure to listen to start to finish. It creates a really nice, unique musical atmosphere just as well as she did on Let England Shake and Is This Desire? Part of me wishes this album were longer, so I could get lost in this musical world a bit longer, but I do appreciate that it gets its message across effectively and doesn't overstay its welcome in the slightest.



Standout tracks: The Wheel, Line In The Sand, The Ministry Of Defense … Expand