10 studio albums, two John Parish-collaborations, four entries in 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die, four Mercury Award nominations with two wins, and an MBE...you need to listen to PJ Harvey.
Its hard to find a female whos had as much of an influence on the musical world in the last 20 years as PJ Harvey. Sure youve had Madonna and Britney Spears in the pop world, Bjork in the alt-rock world and Lady Gaga from whatever world she came from, but in my mind none top the Goddess that is Polly Jean Harvey. In her musical career, shes released 10 studio albums, two of which are collaborations with John Parish, had four albums in the book 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die, been nominated for the Mercury award four times (twice of which shes won, making her the only artist to have), and been awarded an MBE. She is a legend in the rock world, so much so she was considered by the surviving members of Nirvana to fill Kurt Cobains shoes at a reunion concert. So it is my pleasure to be ranking PJ Harveys albums from worst to best, revelling in her fantastic musical legacy, from the punky Dry to Let England Shake, the album that left a former Prime Minister quivering in his suit.
10. A Woman A Man Walked By
Harvey and Parishs second collaboration in 2009, A Woman a Man Walked By is perhaps one of Harveys more traditional alt-rock albums. While many of the tracks on the album are enjoyable, most notably Leaving California and Sixteen, Fifteen, Fourteen, there isnt that force of nature that is present on so many other PJ Harvey releases. Its by no means to say the album is bad, but feels restrained. Its clear this was produced before Harvey took the drop and went for something completely different; that would eventually become Let England Shake. Until then, A Woman A Man Walked By stands as one of Harveys more tame releases.