PJ Harvey - Stories From The City Stories From The Sea

2012 EU Release

Year Released: 2000

Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Art Rock

Description:

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea is the fifth studio album by the English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, released on October 23, 2000. The album marked a significant departure from her earlier, more raw and experimental work, showcasing a more direct, polished, and melodic sound. It's often described as her "love letter to New York City," as much of the album was written during her time living there, with the city's energy and landscape serving as a backdrop for the album's themes of love, hope, and vulnerability.

The album's sound is a vibrant mix of alternative and indie rock with a newfound pop sensibility. The songs are more structured and accessible than her previous work, with a lush, full production that stands in contrast to the stark and often-abrasive sound of albums like Rid of Me. Despite this shift, the album retains Harvey's signature emotional intensity and poetic lyricism. The music is driven by powerful guitar riffs, a tight rhythm section, and Harvey's soulful, often soaring vocals.

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea features a number of key tracks, including the singles "Good Fortune," a catchy and upbeat rock song, and "This Is Love," a feverish and energetic track that features her signature vocal urgency. The album also features a significant collaboration with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who duets with Harvey on the haunting ballad "This Mess We're In" and provides backing vocals on "One Line" and "Beautiful Feeling." The album was a massive critical and commercial success, earning her the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in 2001 and selling over one million copies worldwide. It is widely considered one of the best albums of her career and a crucial record of the early 2000s.