#313 PJ Harvey, 'Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea' (2000)

Previously #431

PJ Harvey’s fifth album is her love letter to New York, although, she insists that it’s not her New York album. The British Harvey spent a lot of time in New York in 1998 while she starred in ‘The Book Of Life.’ She continued living there for most of 1999 too. While there, she was inspired to write several songs which would ultimately become this album. The album was produced by long-time collaborator, Rob Ellis, as well as former Bad Seed, Mick Harvey (no relation). 

The album is an alt-rock classic. Harvey exudes cool angst. The Chrissie Hynde or Debbie Harry of our generation. The album features Radiohead’s Thom Yorke on three tracks, the best of those being ‘The Mess We’re In.’ What an amazing track! ‘Good Fortune’ was the first PJ Harvey song I had ever heard. I remember it constantly being on MTV back in 2000. One of the great classics of our time. A random story: once Mick Harvey had to come and collect some CDs from my office. He arrived unannounced, as he always does, and brought a friend to help him carry the boxes. I didn’t think much of it but remember thinking that his friend looked so much like PJ Harvey. Later on in the day, I saw online that Mick Harvey and his friend, PJ, had visited my favourite record store in Melbourne that same day. She was in town doing a show that night, I just never expected her to be at my desk to collect boxes of CDs. 

#rs500albums