Let England Shake

She can’t sing. Or at least she’s not showing it on this album. Sounds like off key yodeling to me. Skipped the England track halfway through because I just couldn’t take it anymore.

Mediocrity at its finest. It's almost excruciating how mediocre it is. Almost. There's something about it that's still a lot better than a ton of the shit I've had to listen to with this website.

I feel as though I owe Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea and apology. I gave it a two and have since revisited it when I enjoyed it more. I found this one to be very unique. Her vocal style and the instrumentation as well as the lyrics are interesting the entire time even if they don’t always work for me. My favorite songs were The Last Living Rose, The Words That Maketh Murder, and Bitter Branches.

I always loved this album, great artist. Brilliant lyrics with a great abnd and music.

The only thing stopping this becoming a 5 is I feel there is a bit too much filler on this album.

Favourite song: Last living rose and let Emgland shake
Least favourite: England and On battleship hill
Album artwork: Brilliant

Apparently, this recently disappeared from streaming services and has yet to reappear as of the time of this review. Well, that's too bad, as I find this to be my favorite PJ Harvey album from the ones I've heard so far. It's difficult to explain why I like this album more than those, but I think the instrumentation hits a lot harder for me when Harvey slowly builds up to an explosive sound in each song, rather than starting at the climax such as with her earlier albums, or never going anywhere like with her early 2000s albums. It's the same layout she used on her prior (solo) album, White Chalk, and that plus the stripped back production with a unique sound equals something that is up my alley. I can recognize now more than ever that Harvey has a great voice, and it lends itself great to this folk-y yet powerful art rock album. I just wish the final four three or four tracks hit harder, as it doesn't really feel like a finale, especially when compared to the front half. Will assuredly be buying this on vinyl on my next trip out, it deserves better than streaming any way.

no thom yorke and wouldnt come back to it

My god this was rough. Why did this make this list? There were a few moments here and there that weren't bad, but overall it was pretty terrible. 1.5/5

dude this blows.

"Goddam' Europeans! Take me back to beautiful England", transposing this album 13 years later takes on a very strange story in the post-Brexit landscape, while Polly was influenced by classical poetry while creating some of her own, the tone of the English nationalism seeping through is hard to avoid. It can be likened to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics where its a throwback to when Britain, or England, was actually Great, now its a sad reminder of whole isolated we feel, by choice.

I had dry yesterday so back to pack PJ Harvey albums. Highlighted how different this album is, this was an interesting album, not sure I enjoyed it as much as dry, but glad i listened and it deserves its place on the list.

Listen to it again. And again.

Before today, I'd never heard of PJ Harvey. From a bit of research, I learned she is a folk rock/singer songwriter.

This is her 8th studio album, and it was recorded in a church, so it is closer to chamber folk. The reverb caused by recording in such a large open space, coupled with jangly guitars and beautiful autoharp made for a very nice listen. The weak point of the record was PJ's nasally voice. I wasn't much of a fan of her upper register, but her natural singing voice was not bad.

Overall, a perfectly average record today. Not something I would actively seek out, but not something I would rush to shut off if it was on either.

Favorite songs: The Words That Maketh Murder, All And Everyone, The Colour of the Earth, The Glorious Land, In The Dark Places, Bitter Branches

Least favorite songs: England, On Battleship Hill, Hanging In The Wire

3/5

Not quite sure what I expected, but I certainly hoped for better. As a Scot, an album of songs about England is not top of my wishlist - even if it's not complimentary!
Singing is great, but words and music less so. Maybe I'd like it more after a few more times through, but there's no time for that - on to the next!

I'm not really all that familiar with PJ Harvey. Should deep dive in a bit more. I liked a lot on this album. But there was also quite a bit I didn't enjoy as much. Solid but not great.

This is an intriguing album, I had listened to it before but never really penetrated it until now. I'd like to look up the lyrics a bit more because they seem to have some quite specific historical references. I'm wavering between 4 and 5 stars for this one, but I'm feeling generous after getting several very mediocre albums in a row, so I'll give it a 5.

I like the vibe of this. I've heard other stuff from her and not got on-board, but this has got a nice energy to it, and a really interesting sound.

Love this album. The lyrics are really powerful and her arrangements are absolutely gorgeous. One of PJ Harvey's best works in my eyes.

I've always liked PJ Harvey, but never enough to listen to her albums. This changed my mind, in a good way.

Why do I have such a problem listening to PJ Harvey?!

I don't care a bit for her, and I'll never understand her appeal. The perfect example of the kind of music that just passes me by. I'm sure it's very good for the right kind of listener.