PJ Harvey, "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea"

Can you hear them? The helicopters? Well we’re sorry! We don’t have a professional podcast studio yet. At least we aren’t sitting in silence because for the second time in the last few weeks, Matthew talks us through an artist and album we were not super familiar with. This time, it’s PJ Harvey and her 2000 album, “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea.”

Join us as we share our initial impressions of Harvey’s music and bob our heads along with her subtle but frequent use of odd meters. We also dive into topics such as her elusiveness when it comes to genre, her distinct songwriting that leans heavily into dynamics and expression, debate whether we would describe this album as melodic, and look at how this record was distinctly 90s while simultaneously forging new ground and anticipating many alternative/indie music trends to come later in the decade. Because we know you love it, we also spend way more time than usual figuring out (or attempting to but failing) the time signatures. See if you can spot the 7/4 we totally glossed over. And make sure to listen closely to hear Joe and Brandon show off an alarming exuberance for Harrison Ford trivia.

Be sure to support the artists by purchasing "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" on iTunes or wherever you get your music.