PJ Harvey

[paul-pgss]

So far, I find the album a big disappointment. Although this is very logical. This year for the second time I didn't like an album by Tori and Björk. I'm growing old.

[blue]

I sort of know how you feel - the year that Tori, Kate and Bjork all had albums released (2005?), my favourite was Fiona Apple's.

I've listened through to White Chalk maybe half a dozen times now, and although I can definitely appreciate what she's going for and applaud her artistic vision, something about the execution of the very interesting idea just leaves me disappointed. It's the performance, not the idea, I have a problem with. I dunno, I'll keep listening and maybe I'll grow to like it.

[witchy]

Dunno, I put it on once only so far, last week-end and, although I didn't listen with my full attention, I had a great first impression. I found it warm, atmospheric and very intimate...

[d.a.walker]

Out of Bjork, Tori and PJ I have only bought PJ.

I think the album is an astonishing piece of work, a total concept that works astonishingly. It's simplicity is for me it's pure power, her lyrics on this record and damn well near perfect. It's up there behind To Bring You My Love, I just cannot stop listening to it. The themes of abortion, death, loss, references to Tolstoy combined with the haunting amateur piano and superb back up from long time collaberators John Parish, Eric Drew and Flood wins for me on every track.

I despise Tori's ADP, it's a mammoth miscalculated piece of self-indulgence, and Bjork just needs to quit dress up and get some new ideas as Volta was half baked. PJ's White Chalk was streets ahead of both those albums. Even artwork wise! Tori's ADP just smacked of something very very dull and uninspired and Bjork looked like she was something that came with a happy meal. Meanwhile PJ, sat in her scary white dress in the semi-darkness, was just damn spooky and actually matched the power of the record.

Interestingly PJ was very vocal about a reunion interview in Q last year, which never happened. Maybe it should still happen so that PJ can teach Bjork and Tori the art of not repeating oneself.

I'm looking forward to her collaberation with John Parish due in November!

[caaaleb]

oh my goodness.

i had no idea a new collaboration with john parish was happening. i am now a man obsessed.

(the first collaboration was -so- good. as is her latest album.)

i have a few months to try and forget about it, but i don't think its going to happen.

[d.a.walker]

Have you got the That Was My Veil single? It's got 3 fantastic extra songs on it, Losing Ground, which is PJ Harvey in Industrial Rock more, Civil War Corrospondant (Global Communications Remix) which is really really creepy and atmospheric, and finally Who Will Love Me Now from the film The Passion Of Darkly Noon, which is one of my favourite ever PJ tracks!!! I have spent years trying to find the single and finally got it off Ebay last week.

I also got the When Under Ether promo, with Wait (one of her first ever recordings from 1988), a 10 minute interview, and the full 30 minute EPK for White Chalk. It's fantastic!!

Other PJ news is that Silence is being released as a single in September, finally with Evol on the B-side, god I hope it gets released on CD as well as 7" as I adore Evol and have been waiting for it to emerge somewhere for an AGE!!

[aermancer]

Wasn't that Silence single a hoax? I searched for it one day and found out that everyone who reported on it got their information from a fake Wikipedia announcement.

I think [White Chalk] is an astonishing piece of work, a total concept that works astonishingly. It's simplicity is for me it's pure power, her lyrics on this record and damn well near perfect. It's up there behind To Bring You My Love, I just cannot stop listening to it. The themes of abortion, death, loss, references to Tolstoy combined with the haunting amateur piano and superb back up from long time collaberators John Parish, Eric Drew and Flood wins for me on every track.

I despise Tori's ADP, it's a mammoth miscalculated piece of self-indulgence, and Bjork just needs to quit dress up and get some new ideas as Volta was half baked. PJ's White Chalk was streets ahead of both those albums. Even artwork wise! Tori's ADP just smacked of something very very dull and uninspired and Bjork looked like she was something that came with a happy meal. Meanwhile PJ, sat in her scary white dress in the semi-darkness, was just damn spooky and actually matched the power of the record.

I couldn't agree more! It seems that PJ is the only of the three with any artistic integrity these days. I really have no hope for Tori anymore, I'll just have to see how Björk's next album is before I write her off as well I sincerely hope she can make something great again after the complete waste of potential that is Volta.

[Franck]

NEWS NEWS :
A new collaboration album with John Parish as a follow up to Dance Hall at Louse Point is due on march 30th through Island records. The album is entitled A woman a man walked by.

http://www.pjharvey.net/

As I consider their 1st album as a top rated one, I expect much for this one.

[blue]

I've been listening to White Chalk a lot recently - I've totally fallen in love with the title track, Broken Harp and When Under Ether. I agree that artistically it's a different world to ADP and Volta, it doesn't completely work for me but the great thing is she's still exploring her creativity, something that Tori and Bjork need to get back to in a hurry, I feel.

Incidentally, I made a mix recently with tracks from White Chalk interspersed with Stina tracks, and have discovered they are highly compatible. Who'da thunk.

[sound world]

Incidentally, I made a mix recently with tracks from White Chalk interspersed with Stina tracks, and have discovered they are highly compatible. Who'da thunk.

Chalk and.....cheese?

[Franck]

Makes me think I must listen again to White Chalk ...

[aermancer]

Wow I really can't wait for their new album. Dance Hall At Louse Point was so good, I really love the tracks City of No Sun and Taut The only way it could have been improved was to have vocals on Dance Hall At Louse Point because it's such a good song and i'm a picky bitch who doesn't care for instrumental music much. I can't help it!

[d.a.walker]

I just know it's going to be great, Taut was a fantastic nightmare of a song, I also loved their take on Is That All There Is? and the the wonderous Urn Of... track!

White Chalk is a really stunning piece of work that I think for me is still unfolding, the title track is magnificent and Silence is just so hauntingly powerful. PJ's exploration really is fascinating and she's always going into amazing directions.

[d.a.walker]

I have A Woman A Man Walk By.

Anyone else hear it yet?

I rather like it, it's totally insane.

[aermancer]

I only have the song Black Hearted Love thus far, but I'll be buying the CD and single soon.