It's a *very* well known fact over here on Ciao that PJ Harvey is indeed a singer whom I consider one of the best, talented females in the world (except for Difranco01). Polly Jean Harvey released Rid Of Me in late 1993 and it got hit by several critics calling this Polly's most raw, unsettling and difficult album anyone could listen to, which led to Polly's reputation as a man-hating, miserable bitch from hell, which to this day, some people still refer to her by, which annoys her greatly. But take a closer look at her songs and you may see a sense of humor. So, let me all introduce you to a singer who you all have been wondering about and missing out on (damn you guys!):

(note: I'm not going to cover all the songs, only my favourites, otherwise I'd be here all night writing about how great every single song is).

RID OF ME

Starts off *very* quiet, with a steady hammering guitar strum (everytime I play this in the car, my passenger thinks the car is making the noise!). PJ's voice comes in quiet, low, almost whispering: "Tie yourself to me, no-one else, no, you're not rid of me." Gulp. After a good minute or so we get to the thunderous chorus, which just hits you unexpectedly, with PJ shouting over a loud drum: "Don't you, don't you, wish you, NEVER NEVER met her!" Wow. All of a sudden the song goes back all quiet with PJ sounding desperate to hold on to her lover: "I beg you my darling, don't leave me, I'm hurting." Then she declares: "I'll make you lick my injuries." The song finishes with PJ repeating the chorus over and over, with each time her voice getting louder and more deadlier. And of course, it ends on the classic one line: "Lick my legs, I'm on fire, lick my legs, of desire."

MISSED

Starts off with an enormous powerful and addictive guitar strum, it is one of the best riffs I have ever heard, that alone will instantly have you attracted to this song. PJ's voice is really gentle and soft, filled with such grace, it really does pull you in. The song itself seems to be about something powerful, perhaps God: "Show yourself to me, and I'd believe, fall silent at your speak." Also we get to hear several references to 'Mary' in this song, so it seems PJ has been influenced by the Bible (which she admits). The chorus is much louder, with PJ's guitar thundering away like anything: "No, I've missed him!" She repeats 4 times. This song is what made me buy this album in the first place, so that in itself really does say something about this track.

LEGS

My favourite PJ Harvey song, EVER. It's hard to pick a favourite, but really, this is it. Starts with PJ letting out 2 long screams: "Ohhhhh, you're Divine." The song stops and in comes this totally mesmerising guitar hook which stops me dead. Then follows PJ's voice, which sounds sad, lonely and desperate: "Oh, did I tell you, you're Divine? Oh did I ever?" The way she sings those lyrics is really remarkably stunning and chilling. The song gets a little faster, backed by loud drums and PJ's voice gets louder and more shouty, not willing to let her lover leave, she stuns us with the lyric: "Oh, no other way, cut off your legs!" We are then treated to 2 long, lingering groans, and the thing is, PJ lets them out as if she *really* is hurting and is screaming out in pain. Remarkable. I listen to this song at least once a day...it's just great stuff.

RUB TIL IT BLEEDS

Starts with a very gentle guitar going over and over, it sounds quite soothing. After a few seconds, PJ's voice comes in, she starts singing softly and almost sweetly: "Sppeeeeeeeeeak." her voice gets faster: "I'm listening". It carries on along those lines with PJ telling her lover to believe what she is saying. Then PJ gets us more worried with lyrics like: "Lie steady, reeeest, rest your head on me, I'll soothe it nicely." Then in comes the almightly loud chorus with PJ literally shouting: "And you believe me! I'm calling you weak!" Ouch. Then the song goes all quiet again with PJ singing, very convincingly: "Ahhh, I was joking, sweet babe, let me stroke it." I love how she quickly changes her role from teasing her lover into a sinister bitch. I love it.

MAN-SIZE

This is a great track which starts with a very gentle but distinctive guitar which will get you hooked right away. PJ's voice comes in, very low and deep. It isn't until we get to to the chorus where we find PJ's voice is much clearer and louder, with the guitar roaring away. The lyrics are great fun to sing along with and may make people give you a few dodgy looks: "Got my girl, she's a wow, I cast my iron knickers down, man-size, no need to shout, let it all hang out." The way PJ sings 'man-size' is pretty adorable as she pronouces it: Man zzzzz size...she has a weird way of adding noises into her words. Great song, one of my favourites.

HOOK

This is a very strange track, I've never really heard anything like this before. It starts with a really heavy guitar rythum, which is a good start. In comes PJ's voice, very deep: "I was blind, I was lame, I was nothing, Til he came." This is song is bascially another song where she is bashing men again. It's about time we had a singer who sang stuff like this! During the middle of this song, the song takes a turn with PJ making these really werid noises backed by a springing guitar, which does not suit the song at all. Works so much better live.

SNAKE

Ohh, this is a nice shouty song where you can shout along with on those occasions you are pissed off with anything. Starts with PJ shouting over a loud, raw guitar: "You snake, you crawled, between my legs!" Eeek. She really does sound annoyed. About 1 minute into this song PJ lets out another 2 of her famous yelps/groans/moans whatever you want to call them and she starts screaming out again, but this time, louder: "You salty dog! You filty liar! My heart it aches! I'm in the fire!" If you ever see PJ play this song live you will be amazed at how fast she plays this on guitar, her hand looks like one big blur constantly going up and down...whoever her partner is, is a lucky person.

ME-JANE

Currently one of my favourites (shock). Starts off lightly with a low confrontainal guitar sturm, which suddenly stops to make way for PJ's talking/singing: "Oh damn you, beating, just to stop your screaming. Oh tarzan, move over, can't you see I'm bleeding?" Then in comes the guitar hook and drums and the song gets pretty loud and very addictive, with PJ's low voice now turning into a full sized shout: "God Lord! It's Me-Jane, Ahh don't you ever stop to give me time to breath in?" Do you get the impression that she really does hate men? PJ's lyrics get even more angier towards Tarzen: "Tarzan, I'm pleading, stop your f**king screaming!" Christ, she really does shout that one out. Great song to listen to when you are feeling pissed off.

DRY

This song is about, well, erm, her lover leaving her dry. It starts off with a nice classical guitar tune, with the strings strenching here and there. PJ's voice comes in very serious indeed: "Wet sides from time to time, but mostly I'm just dry." Now, c'mon, who said that PJ Harvey hasn't got a sense of humor, huh? I think the whole song is amusing as PJ sounds dead serious, she really does...great song.

Ok, I shall leave it at that. I don't think this album is suitable to everyone, you really must have an open-mind and a open ear to listen to the whole album, as some songs may hurt your ears (that's why I purposly sent some of these songs over to Difranco01). It is difficult at times, it will make you uncomfortable, it will make your skin crawl...I can honesly say that this is the most rawest PJ album she has ever made, it's pure, considering she was only 23 when she recorded the whole thing. This may be unsettling to people if you have only just came out of a realtionship, as you can really relate and feel what PJ is singing about.

The lyrics on here are pretty strong, werid and out-there, which only proves Ms.Harvey's talent. All her albums are different so don't trust my opinion and decide to hate her before you read about her other albums (will be posted soon!). One last thing: does Polly hate men? One listen to this and you'll be saying the same as those critics: "Man-hating bitch from hell." And I f**king love it.