release date: Sep. 24, 2007
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Flood, John Parish, PJ Harvey
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK
7th studio album by PJ Harvey released on Island Records and produced by Flood [Mark Ellis], John Parish, and PJ Harvey. It's been 3 ½ years since the previous studio album Uh Huh Her (2004) and this time she has turned to a new style of folk-oriented chamber pop, and gone is her 'usual' sticker of alt. rock.
The album was well-received by critics mostly everywhere, and the album generally sold well. I just don't like it all that much - and never did. Maybe one day I'll understand why people call it great. Heather Phares at allmusic.com writes: "When she's at the peak of her powers, as she is on this frightening yet fearless album, the world she creates is impossible to forget, or shake off easily. 'White Chalk can make you shiver on a sunny day." Bob Sheffield writes for Rolling Stone and he states: "The songs aren't knockouts, avoiding the big choruses she does so well. But they have a cold pastoral kind of chill, as Harvey howls about being possessed by demon lovers and ghosts in "The Devil" and "The Piano." Well, I simply do not agree, Bob. Although, intimate, I find it long and tedious, and I don't consider this at her peaks, but yes Bob, the songs aren't knockouts, I concede on that, but having to scratch for poetic and historical bonds in English soil is not enough to make it great. She could've released the songs in a booklet 'cause the music is left without personal intensity or involvement, as I see it. Buy hey, it's PJ Harvey isn't! I find it better than a lot out there, and it's no near a mediocre album, but it may just be her least favourable studio album.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]
