The PJ Harvey Appreciation Thread - The Original 50 Ft. Queenie

[Harbinger of Kali Yuga]

Who else really loves this uber-creative alternative rock goddess?

She started off a bit as a hairy angry punk feminist, then she matured into fuller sounds, with no two albums sounding quite alike. Though her career started in the 90s, to me she has the creativity and variety of an 80s artist. She's the direction indie rock should have gone--there's a reason PJ Harvey is so well known and everything she does gets immediate attention.

 

[Twinkletard]

I liked her stuff BITD. She's a weirdo.

 

[Pissapottyhippygirl]

https://youtu.be/QzmMB8dTwGs

 

[Weeb Slinger]

The earthy libido of a delta bluesman in the body of a waif.

[EDIT - Found a video that better illustrates my point and that hopefully will be accessible in the US]

 

[Zyklon Ben's Poison Pen]

 

[Harbinger of Kali Yuga]

The earthy libido of a delta bluesman in the body of a waif.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=6JpgTkgrceY

This is showing as "Video Unavailable" for me. Do you have another copy to link to?

I liked her stuff BITD. She's a weirdo.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RzwG3r9_L9o

Weirdo creatively, but she doesn't seem like an oddball as a person. She seems like a very intellectual woman, and not one that has just swallowed the stupid political fads we've seen today. Yeah, I'm totally simping for her now.

Not music, but it's about Polly Jean -- she has a book coming out in April.

Nine-year-old Ira-Abel Rawles lives on Hook Farm in the village of UNDERWHELEM. Next to the farm is Gore Woods, Ira’s sanctuary, overseen by Orlam, the all-seeing lamb’s eyeball who is Ira-Abel’s guardian and protector. Here, drawing on the rituals, children’s songs, chants and superstitions of the rural West Country of England, Ira-Abel creates the twin realm through which she can make sense of an increasingly confusing and frightening world.

Orlam follows Ira and the inhabitants of UNDERWHELEM month by month through the last year of her childhood innocence. The result is a poem-sequence of light and shadow – suffused with hints of violence, sexual confusion and perversion, the oppression of family, but also ecstatic moments in sunlit clearings, song and bawdy humour. The broad theme is ultimately one of love – carried by Ira’s personal Christ, the constantly bleeding soldier-ghost Wyman-Elvis, who bears ‘The Word’: Love Me Tender.

Orlam is not only a remarkable coming-of-age tale, but the first full-length book written in the Dorset dialect for many decades. Orlam also reveals P J Harvey as not only one of the most talented songwriters of the age, but a gifted poet – whose formal skill, transforming eye and ear for the lyric line has produced a strange and moving poem like no other.

 

[WebLurker]

Oh shit, I thought I was the only one who still remembered PJ Harvey! I've adored this woman since I was a young teen! I've been collecting her music since then.

Thanks for making this thread, I'm going to be stealing so many videos from here!

 

[Harbinger of Kali Yuga]

Oh shit, I thought I was the only one who still remembered PJ Harvey! I've adored this woman since I was a young teen! I've been collecting her music since then.

Thanks for making this thread, I'm going to be stealing so many videos from here!

I listen to PJ Harvey all the time. She has a great voice and she has that, I dunno, avant garde or "experimental" (ugh) mindset. I think that's the missing ingredient in a lot of music today.

Here's a delightful tidbit I found in an old interview with PJ Harvey, regarding feminism:

I don’t ever think about it. I mean, it doesn’t cross my mind. I certainly don’t think in terms of gender when I’m writing songs, and I never had any problems as the result of being female that I couldn’t get over. Maybe I’m not thankful for the thinks that have gone before me, you know. But I don’t see that there’s any need to be aware of being a woman in this business. It just seems a waste of time.

Although PJ Harvey is often portrayed as being feminist, her lyrics seem downright feminist at times (Man-Size) yet she rejects the label and curiously rejected that being a woman got in the way of her success. That's amusing, as I've seen woke PJ fans assert she didn't get enough radio airtime due to "sexism" (what a load of bullshit). This interview was about 20 years ago, so who knows if her opinions changed, but she has every motivation this day to blindly repeat the rhetoric since that's what helps your career. I feel like she's old enough and smart enough to know the identity politics stuff is utter toxic horseshit, and also smart enough not to comment on it publicly. (I know her once-lover Nick Cave is not a fan of contemporary wokeness). I just pay attention to this stuff because I love it when artists don't bludgeon you with partisan politics.

Bust: So then wouldn’t you want to offer your support to young women who look up to you?

PJ: No, I don’t offer it specifically to women; I offer it to people who write music. That’s a lot of men.

And this is why I found this interview funny, Harvey out-feminists this person by being gender neutral.

 

[WebLurker]

Could you delete the double post?

I listen to PJ Harvey all the time. She has a great voice and she has that, I dunno, avant garde or "experimental" (ugh) mindset. I think that's the missing ingredient in a lot of music today.

Here's a delightful tidbit I found in an old interview with PJ Harvey, regarding feminism:


Although PJ Harvey is often portrayed as being feminist, her lyrics seem downright feminist at times (Man-Size) yet she rejects the label and curiously rejected that being a woman got in the way of her success. That's amusing, as I've seen woke PJ fans assert she didn't get enough radio airtime due to "sexism" (what a load of bullshit). This interview was about 20 years ago, so who knows if her opinions changed, but she has every motivation this day to blindly repeat the rhetoric since that's what helps your career. I feel like she's old enough and smart enough to know the identity politics stuff is utter toxic horseshit, and also smart enough not to comment on it publicly. (I know her once-lover Nick Cave is not a fan of contemporary wokeness). I just pay attention to this stuff because I love it when artists don't bludgeon you with partisan politics.



And this is why I found this interview funny, Harvey out-feminists this person by being gender neutral.

Opps, my VPN glitches the Farms occasionally and that shit happens.


I remember back in the 90s PJ Harvey was one of the Queens of Alternative music along with Bjork and Tori Amos. I love the other two as well, but there's something gritty and dark about Harvey that's always attracted me to her. Maybe it was her upbringing but there's something oddly beautiful but eerie and morose about her. Some of her songs can be so somber and grieving - while sung so sweetly - like a memorial service for a broken soul. That really spoke to me in my gothic-schoolgirl days lol

I've since lost them, but the images in the booklets from her earlier albums were filled with strange and avant-garde photos. Wish I still had them but an ex threw away a lot of my stuff because he decided that it was "junk" and a box of album covers/booklets - I'd transferred the discs to a CD holder - was one of the casualties of his "clean up"

 

[Consider Lizärds]

She's so talented. I saw her when she toured "Uh huh her", cracking gig. She's lovely to behold.

 

[Harbinger of Kali Yuga]

Opps, my VPN glitches the Farms occasionally and that shit happens.


I remember back in the 90s PJ Harvey was one of the Queens of Alternative music along with Bjork and Tori Amos. I love the other two as well, but there's something gritty and dark about Harvey that's always attracted me to her. Maybe it was her upbringing but there's something oddly beautiful but eerie and morose about her. Some of her songs can be so somber and grieving - while sung so sweetly - like a memorial service for a broken soul. That really spoke to me in my gothic-schoolgirl days lol

I've since lost them, but the images in the booklets from her earlier albums were filled with strange and avant-garde photos. Wish I still had them but an ex threw away a lot of my stuff because he decided that it was "junk" and a box of album covers/booklets - I'd transferred the discs to a CD holder - was one of the casualties of his "clean up"

Yeah, and I like darker music and Harvey goes there a lot. Another reason she's right up my alley.

Bjork reminds me a lot of Kate Bush. Haven't listened to much Tori Amos but I know the hairy armpit feminists love her so I'm really wary.

Sorry about the loss of some memorabilia. I have a friend that lost a lot of her Nick Cave stuff from an ex, that does not feel good.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=tLwrbX5A1vk
She's so talented. I saw her when she toured "Uh huh her", cracking gig. She's lovely to behold.

This video isn't showing for me either. Region issue?

 

[Chaos Theorist]

is that sally hawkins

 

[WebLurker]

Yeah, and I like darker music and Harvey goes there a lot. Another reason she's right up my alley.

Bjork reminds me a lot of Kate Bush. Haven't listened to much Tori Amos but I know the hairy armpit feminists love her so I'm really wary.

Sorry about the loss of some memorabilia. I have a friend that lost a lot of her Nick Cave stuff from an ex, that does not feel good.



This video isn't showing for me either. Region issue?

I never focus on politics when I listen to music or it ruins the music. I can still enjoy Rage Against the Machine despite knowing they're massive hypocrites because I'm just there to enjoy the sounds. I can still listen to Marilyn Manson despite the abuse allegations - mostly because I read his autobiography decades back and I already knew he was a piece of shit, so I don't know why everyone was so surprised. I especially don't give a shit about the political opinions of other people who listen to the same music because I sincerely don't care. Never been part of a fanclub so I've never had to be exposed to any of that nonsense - I just listen to music on my own in the comfort of my own home and ignore everything else.

The only thing that turns me off a particular artist or band is if I find out they're groomers or kiddie-diddlers. That shit's a deal-breaker.

 

[Harbinger of Kali Yuga]

I never focus on politics when I listen to music or it ruins the music. I can still enjoy Rage Against the Machine despite knowing they're massive hypocrites because I'm just there to enjoy the sounds. I can still listen to Marilyn Manson despite the abuse allegations - mostly because I read his autobiography decades back and I already knew he was a piece of shit, so I don't know why everyone was so surprised. I especially don't give a shit about the political opinions of other people who listen to the same music because I sincerely don't care. Never been part of a fanclub so I've never had to be exposed to any of that nonsense - I just listen to music on my own in the comfort of my own home and ignore everything else.

The only thing that turns me off a particular artist or band is if I find out they're groomers or kiddie-diddlers. That shit's a deal-breaker.

Oh, I know, my fear is more that it will sound like shit. When all the fans are weirdos it makes things suspect. For example, I can look at Juggalos and infer anything put out by Psychopathic Records is garbage, a priori. If the music is good I don't give a shit, though if an artist has a sober take on something I respect like I'd respect anyone else with a rational head on their shoulders.

 

[WebLurker]

Oh, I know, my fear is more that it will sound like shit. When all the fans are weirdos it makes things suspect. For example, I can look at Juggalos and infer anything put out by Psychopathic Records is garbage, a priori. If the music is good I don't give a shit, though if an artist has a sober take on something I respect like I'd respect anyone else with a rational head on their shoulders.

lol I get it. A shitty fanbase can ruin anything.

With Amos you got to understand that she's on the other side of the spectrum to Harvey; kinda the yang to Harvey's ying. She also grew up a weird, nerdgirl from before it was a cool thing to be a weird, nerdgirl so a lot of her stuff is weird in an off-the-wall and whimsical kinda way. As apposed to Harvey's weird darkness. Lots of reflection on childhood/teen stuff; which is probably why a lot of perpetually womenchildren like her. Her lyrics tend to use a lot of allusions and metaphors - rather than stating opinions point-blank - so if that's not your jam you probably won't like it much.

Not too keen on some her recent stuff, but her classics are still some of my faves back when she still played piano. I personally love the way she'd play the piano and her voice, so I can pretty much overlook the navel-gazing because the cadence fits well with the music and I just float away.

 

[WebLurker]

I wrote too much about Tori Amos so please allow me to double post just to make things right.

Some of my faves from 'To Bring You My Love'

From 'Dry'

From 'Rid of Me'

EVERYTHING from 'Is This Desire' because that album is perfection.

From 'Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea'

Duets:
Nick Cave

Josh Homme (in The Desert Sessions)

 

[Harbinger of Kali Yuga]

Can you believe Nick Cave dated PJ Harvey and fucked it up?

 

[eDove]

Can you believe Nick Cave dated PJ Harvey and fucked it up?

He was asked about it semi-recently and gave his side of the story. It seems like it was more complicated than that.

His answer on his website.

As much as I love Harvey, I always felt like she screwed herself over in the long run. He's happily married now, a family man, and she hasn't been married once (to my knowledge). I'd buy that he fucked up the relationship if she settled down too, but it sounds like she is wild mare, so to speak. She attributed her singlehood to never meeting anyone she'd want to spend the rest of her life with.

I'm being Autistic, I know. I just love both of these musicians and there're numerous points where their music is feels so entangled.

 

[Harbinger of Kali Yuga]

He was asked about it semi-recently and gave his side of the story. It seems like it was more complicated than that.

His answer on his website.

As much as I love Harvey, I always felt like she screwed herself over in the long run. He's happily married now, a family man, and she hasn't been married once (to my knowledge). I'd buy that he fucked up the relationship if she settled down too, but it sounds like she is wild mare, so to speak. She attributed her singlehood to never meeting anyone she'd want to spend the rest of her life with.

I'm being Autistic, I know. I just love both of these musicians and there're numerous points where their music is feels so entangled.

Yeah, I read it. Nick Cave notoriously had a bit of an ego and it's hard to take him seriously that it was partially PJ's fault when he was shooting up heroin and couldn't remain faithful. Reading Nick Cave's words, it really sounds petulant, like he can't just admit he truly fucked up. Of course, we're not privy to their personal details, so maybe Cave is being a gentleman and just not mentioning the specifics on her end--I could see that too. But... again, he was shooting up and cheating. I actually know a little bit of personal gossip between JG Thirlwell and Nick Cave, particularly, JGT sort of skewered Cave in his song "Sick Man" which is sort of a send-up of Nick Cave. What I've been told is that among other personal things, allegedly JGT was sick of the shitty way Cave was treating his girlfriend at the time (was it Anita Lane? I can't remember). Nick Cave has probably matured a bit by now, especially now that he no longer does drugs. But from what I have been told, Cave was just a shitty boyfriend in the day. I highly doubt it was Harvey that fucked up.

I'd unironically date PJ Harvey even though she's almost 20 years older than me. I've never impressed by celebrity, the only time I have been is when I first saw Amigo the Devil and realized this guy is a rising star (I will make a thread on him sometime soon), and if PJ Harvey spoke to me I'd probably be unable to respond since I have the hots for her that bad. I bet if she met me back in the day, she would have wanted to spend her life with me. I'm really cool like that.

Seriously though, I do have a type, and PJ Harvey is exactly within that type. I hope none of you can fault me for simping for her.

 

[trailcamwhore]

I doubt I'd think to name PJ Harvey if someone asked my thousand favorite musicians, but she's been making records for thirty years and hasn't made one that's even slightly bad. That's amazing.