Customer Reviews

Peel Sessions 1991-2004

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you like PJ Harvey, this is quite an essential collection of sessions she did with the late John Peel between 1991 and 2004.The Cd is very simlpy packaged with a hand-written note by PJ Harvey on the inside that is quite nice as a tribute to the man Peel.Musically it is also quite exceptional. The spound quality is of course very good with that slightly rough quality that all these radio session records have. There is also that typical live-in the studio feel that has a little bit of everything to it and PJ Harvey' s style is quite suited to it.

The waif with the mouth that roars, P.J. Harvey is both the thinking person's feminist, and a smash-mouth rock and roller. In my book, that makes her one of the most exhilarating performers on the planet.

This cd nicely recaps P.J.'s career, with tracks from her debut, "Dry"and most of her projects since then, with the exception of "To Bring You My Love" and "Is This Desire?". All songs were drawn from performances produced by John Peel for the BBC, which gives them a slightly different luster, and a rock solid punch.

P.J.'s songs can be described as little expressionist dramas writ large in black and white, and wonderful balancing acts of dynamics and minimalist sound. She sometimes combines huge shards of grunge rock with absurdist lyrics. Check out "Naked Cousin" , an off-the-wall ditty that paints a picture of a Bacchanalian madman running through the fields in abandon. Sounds weird? Well, it ROCKS like crazy. Her Rainer Ptacek cover, "Losing Ground" is another delight, matching switchblade edginess with Captain Beefheart dissonance. The best track from "Dance Hall at Louse Point"--"That Was My Veil" , is here, along with the prettiest song from "Stories From the City..."("Beautiful Feeling") . The album closes with "You Come Through" done beautifully and sincerely as a tribute to the late John Peel.

This cd is sure to please longtime P.J. fans, and it's a good sampler for the uninitiated.

Five stars.

Among my Polly Jean CD's this one stands out as a quintessential expression of her long collaboration with drummer Rob Ellis. The key for me, is to listen to his terrific timing and how pj's guitar and voice fits against his framework. Ellis has over the years become my favorite drummer; here's why.

As for the collection, and songs therein, these are as terse and honest as her live performances. As you listen, you can place the songs in the context of her major releases -- here's Rid of Me, here's Is This Desire? and so on.

I like this one a lot.

PJ Harvey has been one of the most interesting musicians of the past 15 years. The records have been hit or miss. But there have always been great songs. John Peel was an early enthusiast. Remember when Polly Harvey came on the scene, we were recovering from heavy metal, rap, and rave, and just at the beginning of grunge. This is probably the greatest female music done after Patti Smith and The Pretenders. There are early bits like "Oh My Love" and "Victory" from 1991. Some stuff she did with John Parrish. Not a lot of hits here. A few cover songs. One by Willie Dixon. PJ Harvey has a lot of records out there. This is another one for the pile. More a tribute to John Peel than a showcase for rare tracks. Pretty good anyway.

While most of the songs on the disc are available on PJ's back catalog, this collection gives you a nice sample of live developement of her work. The standouts for me were the somewhat rare tracks like "Naked Cousin" and "That Was My Veil." Not to mention a really cool version of Willie Dixon's "Wang Dang Doodle." Most of these songs should be well known to devoted fans but for you newbies, it's a good selection of her art and poetry. Always great!

Although all of these tracks are terrific, my two favorite PJ Harvey/John Peel tracks were NOT included! Where are "Claudine (My Inflatable One)" and "Primed and Ticking?" Those are two of her best songs ever, and I was extremely disappointed to find them missing. Definitely detracts from what could have been a perfect (and more complete) collection. Now I'm waiting for the sequel!

Fantastic collection of songs from her back catalogue. You can get all the sessions through trawling the web, but this distills all the songs in a nice neat package. If you enjoy her, you'll enjoy this. A great tribute for PJ Harvey and John Peel.

Just A Great Album With The Sessions, From Recording with A Great Man-Mr.John Peel...All the Songs Are Classics...What can I say about the Lovely Voiced and Multi-Talented Pj Harvey, except That She Never Ceases to Amaze Me!