PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her

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• HARVEY PJ UH HUH HER

Music reviews of Uh Huh Her

Music Review: "ALL THAT MATTERS IS MY VOICE & MY STORY"
Rating: 4 Stars

1/ TL&TOMBM stomps away with understated vocals lending a sense of darkness, opening to a sumptuous chorus before returning to heavy fuzzed out bass- dark n heavy. Gentle vocals ensure a certain creepiness.
2/ SHAME; Gorgeous harmony against a hypnotic drum pattern & bass. " I don't need no risin' moon, I don't need no ball & chain,I don't need anything but you.." an accordian in the `distance' ensures a sad beauty with the kind of vocal delivery that stops it from being a cliché. Sad/ romantic @ same time.
3/ WTF**K? fuses typical corrosive blues punk riffs (Demos/ROM), against taut `break beat' style drums; a cheeky humorous attempt with improvisational clapping ala Demos. "Who the f**k d'you think you are, get out of my hair.. im not like other girls.. you cant straighten my curls.." Unfortunately it lacks the lyrical wit & charm evident in the likes of `Easy' or `Reelin', & seems desperately self concious in its attempt to `rock out', as a result sees one of the weakest PJH tracks to date! (the accompanying video included on this disc).
4/ PKNIFE; Intro- acoustic strumming, tambourine & percussion. VAGUELY reminiscent of the flamenco inflected TBYML. "Please don't make my wedding dress, im too young too marry yet, how the world slips by so fast.." A reflection of her age & its expectations? Youthfull distance & time `sliping' presents itself subtly throughout this album..
5/ THE LETTER; Bass heavy riffs again/ dark sleazy blues & `taut' drumming, is one of the stronger arrangements- Intriguing with an apocalyptic chorus that sees polly wailing with life depending urgency.
6/ TSDRUG; Opens with keyboard style `strings effect', that sounds like the intro to a dance track! BUT FEAR NOT, this short shimmering sad beauty with its simple harmonies, doesn't build to any precicatble chorus'- keeps a simple format (verse verse verse). Vocals at the front of the mix enhance intimacy, (hissing & breathiness). "..love the drug im feelin, got to keep this feeling, could you be my calling?.." `Blissed out lyrics- the perfect accompaniment.
7/ NCOMINE; acoustic ballad similar to Cmon Billy minus the intense vocal delivery; very short / lukewarm.
8/ COTWALL; strongest rocker here in an unapologisingly fun way not heard from Polly before. Distorted & bass heavy- accompanied by a recorder!! - Infectious garage rock, nothing angst ridden & it works!. "They play the radio in my dreams, takes me back to when I was 17, dancing in circles on the kitchen floor, I play that song till I cant take anymore!" Theres a sense if nostalgia & youthfull exuberance which im personally loving..
9/ YCTHROUGH ; Dreamy ambience built on percussion, glockenshpiel, accordian & strings; builds to an understated crecendo..& has a sincerity that sparks of the belief in friendship. LOVELY.
10/ ITS YOU; ITD? territory. Piano & drum pattern intros before bluesy bass heavy riff, (very sexy) leads the way.- Compenstates for the `clumsy' lyrics, "..my dreams are so very dark, I dream of my hair just fallin out.." not of the caliber of The Garden or The River.
11/ THE END; `atmospheric interval', acoustic strumming backing a teary folky accordian, & is `made for' Vincent Gallo.. frankly I wish she'd just outright given it to him instead. Necessary?
12/ TDKOF LOVE; Somber minimal acoustc melody, reminds me of Cohens folk songs. Whilst charming still lacks impact & gets lost in the process.
13/ SEAGULLS; .just when the album sorely needs a stick of dynamite up it's ar*e, another `interval' - seagulls with background hush of the sea. What else to say...?
14/ TDDOM&HIM; Welcome respite & fitting closure; Initially conjures up an `Eastern' feel, followed by pretty acoustic melody, "Promises promises, im feelin burned, you taught me a lesson, I didn't wanna learn.." Sorrow & hurt evident again. The `distant' backing vocals coupled with ambient effects becomes a dreamy psychadellic presence, sums up sense of dissapointment with regards to love constant throughout..

This work, reflecting where PJ is at present, does point to a possible self conscious response to prove her `non commercalism', which is what I fear may be at least partly evident here on Who The F**k. It seems of importance to her that her audience has some insight into the thought processes behind this album, with the inclusion of a large series of revealing self portraits & notes made whilst recording; "Too normal? Too PJH?" / "If struggling with a song drop out the thing you like" / "Pop hit- uh oh"/ perhaps she overworked the process?
As a HUGE fan, I hardly revel in stating that this is by Pollys standards- average. Long time fans will be divided, but I recommend you take the risk as you'll most likely appreciate at least 1/2 of whats here. I have enormous faith in PJ- 5 masterpieces in a row, & one average is still a hell of a track record. Id have prefered to hear something new, but for now im settling in to enjoy the finer moments of this, possibly Pollys most soul bearing album to date, as she "tells you about her bfief history".

Description of Uh Huh Her

Alternative Rock CDs

• Music > Styles
• Folk
• Pop
• Rock