Lament wrote:Does this mean you're moving on to To Bring You My Love, Kaius? That album is a beast.
You weren't joking.
I honestly don't think I can properly express how much I love this album. Love at first listen type love. I'll give a little LAL review, but it won't do it the justice it deserves. There's so much happening worth talking about I don't know where to start. With time, I could see this someday being one of my favorite albums of all-time.
stip wrote:and meet ze monstra probably pushes just a bit too far in that direction. I like the static charge in the song, but she's a little too abrasive and stompy here.
stip wrote:C'mon Billy is pretty good. I bet I would have liked this less if it was on Stories from the City. I think the acoustic guitar compliments her better than the electric on songs like this (based on my very limited experience)
C'mon Billy is so fucking sexy. I love the tits right off that tune.
stip wrote:Long Snake Moan: I really like the throbbing bass in this one. Pretty badass begining. The music is great. This is a good song. Maybe my favorite thus far.
zeb wrote:What are your ten favourite PJ songs, Lament?
Damn, that's a tough one. There's always a lot of movement, but I'd put this as an approximation of what it'd be at this second...
The Sky Lit Up
Long Snake Moan
Missed
Good Fortune
The Darker Days of Me & Him
To Bring You My Love
Angelene
The Words That Maketh Murder
We Float
Somebody's Down, Somebody's Name
If I had included stuff from the two albums with John Parish then Black Hearted Love & Taut might have made it, but I stuck with strictly PJ Harvey stuff.
Dry is pretty accessible and on the grittier/more aggressive side. I think you might like that one, stip. Or if you're feeling really bold, you can try Let England Shake.
That's the highest compliment you could give a guy like me. Thanks, pal.
I'm trying to decide if I like side A or side B better. It's such a great album. Hot damn. I'm about half way through the mini song-by-song review I was gonna post.
It's not that it's especially elaborate I just haven't had one to listen and type in a few days. I have to do it at the same time rather than by memory or it's gonna be pretty bland. "Great track" "awesome song" "killer" etc.
It's so evenly balanced. I'd probably give the slight nod to side B just because I feel like the Long Snake Moan-Down By the River 1-2 punch is the centerpiece of the record.
Man, that album is so good. I've been playing it a lot this week, so I'm going through a phase where it's ahead of Stories as my favorite.
I can't really argue with you on that point. At the same time I just love love love the flow of those first 5 tracks. It's not trying to be bigger than itself and yet comes out like a throbbing monster from the depths of her being. It's mind-blowing stuff. It really is perfect IMO.
To Bring You My Love: I'm loving the slow ascent. It feels like the song is floating up into the air. It's as if she's set up in the middle of a cold, dark, ran-down empty church somewhere. The organ probably has a lot to do with that image. As her voice begins to change at the end of the first verse, it begins to weigh me down. She is pulling me down..down...down.....down. The rapid plucking of the strings is timely and helps to carry me through the heavy final verse and to the end of the opening track. It reminds me of some Lateralus/10000 Days era Tool. She's got me right where she wants me, and I stand by my initial reaction to this song a couple months ago. That is, this album can take me wherever the fuck it wants to. I'm going.
Meet Ze Monsta: haha. I had hit pause to finish typing, and though I've heard this one a dozen or so times, when I hit play, it startled me. Now we're below the church in the engine room. I don't know why this church has an engine room but it does and it makes scary noises. Mechanical. Crunchy. Fuzzy. It has become apparent she is not afraid to try out new sounds. From the moment the whistle blows (yes, a fucking whistle) to the end of the song is one of my favorite moments in her catalogue so far.
Working for the Man - Drop the bass. Love that voice. You can actually hear her lips move, and the air hissing through her teeth. I like how gets playful around the 2:30-3:00 mark. How heavy as this record has been so far, she doesn't seem to take her self too seriously. That's hot.
C'mon Billy - This comes at a good time. Straighten up in my seat a little. Get a sip of water. I don't think I could have sunk into my computer chair any further. A more straight ahead rocker with a nice riff and good groove. I love that growl at :37-38 & :49-50. Fucking sexy. This track is a more recognizably PJ Harvey tune. I'd say this is definitely to bring the listener back to some sort of center before going any further.
Teclo - Her voice is gorgeous here. The haunted guitars add a certain romanticism to it. From 3:15- on really kicks my ass. Let her ride, god damnit! Fuck!
Long Snake Moan - mmhmm..You're god damn right, mmhmm. Fuck yeah. This is one of those songs that you swear would make you better at doing whatever it is you were doing just by listening to it while doing it. Kicking someone's ass. Playing some b-ball. Fuckin'. Cutting grass. Whatever! It don't matter! Yes, PJ, your voodoo is working. There is one downside to this. I can't help but think of the movie Black Snake Moan, and therefore Samuel L Jackson, while listening to this. And not Sam Jackson from Black Snake Moan, Sam Jackson from Pulp Fiction. My brain can be really stupid.
Down By the Water - Now we're getting back into the TBYML/MZM/WftM zone. I love this zone. It is a happy zone. This one showcases her real voice better than those others do. There's so much going on from 2:05-on. I really dig the keys that start punching in around the 2:18 mark. Such a unique song. My daughter loves it as well. She's pretty awesome, just like her dad.
I Think I'm a Mother - The opening licks are reminding me of Tool for the second or third time this album. Although, I must keep in mind, the Tool it reminds me of came out well after miss Harvey's record did. The main riff and groove of the song is very bluesy. Not much else to say about this one. A definite continuation of those that came before it. Might be my least favorite song so far, though it's still highly enjoyable.
Send His Love to Me - This seems like the response or sequel to C'mon Billy. The often haunting or mechanical sounding organ is instead coloring in this song in a more heavenly manner.
The Dancer - This song carries itself well. It travels along at a rapid, yet relaxed pace. It seems to relive some of the moments from earlier in the album but doesn't rehash anything without variation. Her final cry at 3:40 is a great way to wrap things up.
I'm really enjoying my PJ Harvey jourey and I'm a big fan of everything so far. To Bring You My Love has moved into the top spot without a doubt. In fact, it has jumped up pretty high on my all-time list, and I don't even feel like I really know the album.
