So why is PJ Harvey’s Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea on this best 1,000 albums ever thing?
The research process for this here best 1,000 albums ever was pretty fascinating for me in a number of ways. I made an effort to be open to some artists and bands that are revered by many but had never really done all that much for me. And therefore I was able to conclude, for example, that on the whole Bruce Springsteen just ain’t gonna happen for me.
I also carved out time to explore music I’d only had cursory knowledge of – or that had been sitting on some long, unwritten list of things I ‘should really check out one day. The best 1,000 albums ever project compelled me to take the time to check all of them out (and so much more!), and for that alone I’m extremely grateful.
Part of the gratitude comes from being able to figure out that songs like PJ Harvey’s “This Is Love,” off of Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea, make me ecstatically happy.
The guitar tone alone is simply phenomenal, with song production that heightens the excitement and intensity from the jump and never relents. PJ Harvey’s voice is commanding and great, and also shows off how well she’s able to shift from alternative rock star to a much quieter, pretty mode as well.
As I’ve mentioned a number of times, I’m partial to music videos that focus on the artist/band and performance and overall do so in a way that meshes well in support of the song. “This Is Love,” the music video, does just that: it’s minimalist and effective, showing off PJ Harvey as sexy and powerful – just as the song is.
“Good Fortune” is really its own thing, but I hear hints of Nirvana’s “About A Girl” and 10,000 Maniacs. Good company, indeed. It’s so cool, too, that PJ Harvey is able to operate in this relatively quieter space alongside the powerhouse intensity of “This Is Love.”
“This Mess We’re In” is a moodier, more eclectic changeup. It also notably includes Thom Yorke of Radiohead fame.
Pop culture stuff that has something to do with Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey talks about her songwriting process, and how she separates the writing of the lyrics versus the music.
Some stats & info about PJ Harvey – Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
- What kind of musical stylings does this album represent? Rock Music, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, British Bands
- Rolling Stone’s greatest 500 albums ranking – #313
- All Music’s rating – 4 out of 5 stars
- When was Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea released? 2000
- My ranking, the one you’re reading right now – #702 out of 1,000
PJ Harvey’s Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea on Spotify
Some stats & info about The Von Bondies – Lack of Communication
This is love, this is love that I’m feeling.
What does the “best 1,000 albums ever” mean and why are you doing this?
Yeah, I know it’s audacious, a little crazy (okay, maybe a lot cray cray), bordering on criminal nerdery.
But here’s what it’s NOT: a definitive list of the Greatest Albums of All-Time. This is 100% my own personal super biased, incredibly subjective review of what my top 1,000 albums are, ranked in painstaking order over the course of doing research for nearly a year, Rob from High Fidelity style. Find out more about why I embarked on a best 1,000 albums ever project.