Monday, June 21, 2010

PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love (CD, 1995)

If you're wondering why I didn't put this album under "H," it's because technically PJ Harvey is the name of the band, not just Polly Jean's name. Though I'm sure there's a good argument for why it could be either. I just don't wanna hear it.

To Bring You My Love is the only PJ Harvey album that I've ever fully given myself over to, and even then, it was for a limited time. I've always liked her music; I've just never loved it. Though I do enjoy this record quite a bit. I listened to it for the first time in years the other night, and it came back to me pretty quick. This really is a fantastic batch of songs, but I just have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy 'em.

The clear standouts are the immediately catchier tracks like "C'mon Billy" and "Down By the Water," but the weirder cuts like "I Think I'm a Mother" and "Teclo" are equally great once you get comfortable with them. In the end, it's Harvey's voice that really makes this thing work so well. Even though the arrangements here are a bit fuller than they are on some of her other work, her voice still steals the show.

Not sure why I could never obsess about this record like some friends of mine, but I've kept it around for 15 years, so that's gotta say something.

"Long Snake Moan"

No comments: