A Woman a Man Walked By.

Even if my life depended on it, I wouldn't be able to write a good review for an album, ever. But I am going to try, anyway.

P J Harvey & John Parish - A Woman a Man Walked By.

(Damn. I just realised P J's expression is the same as the chicken's!)

1. "Black Hearted Love" – 4:40 - First single. The lyrics are quite suggestive in that do-me-anally kind of way. Makes sense that her voice is very sexy in this one. The video is just OK (she looks simply gorgeous and vibrant, though!), but who even bothers to make music videos anymore? Guitars!
   
2. "Sixteen, Fifteen, Fourteen" – 3:35 - Shit!! -Not the song, just an expression- Love the barking!! This one, at first listen, reminded me of Driving. As the timer walks on, the listener erases first chrod impressions and is strangely reminded of The Sky Lit Up (especially towards the chorus) - As the chorus kicks in, you find yourself jumping around to it (if that's your thing, that is). Erikaahh!!!! There is no laughter in the garden - spooky-perfect for one of those blackout nights. What? Those are only for latinamericans?
   
3. "Leaving California" – 3:56 - Take that, Welcome to England! This one shows us what she's learned from White Chalk (which I absolutely adore), and matured since Is This Desire? (personal life-long favorite), haunting vocals! How could I believe that I could live and breathe in you? - haha! What is that instrument being used towards the end? Gorgeous. 8) - For some reason, it reminds me of Daddy, only it's actually quite different.
   
4. "The Chair" – 2:29 - If you were looking for something that is unlike anything she's done, this is it. Strident and hard, which we know she can do very well! I definitely need more time with this one. Might be the hardest to listen to.
   
5. "April" – 4:41 - Is That All These Is?'s bitter, old, unmarried, catraising sister. AWAMWB's Hulga, if you will. Need I say more? Beautiful!
   
6. "A Woman a Man Walked By / The Crow Knows Where All the Little Children Go" – 4:47 - Ho.ly.Shit. I still can totally see Flannery's influence in P J's lyrical skills. This one not only's got P J rocking, versatile vocals, it also has that taking-the-piss kind of humor, which P J has mastered. Hilarious and great when you want to freak your friends out. The "The Crow Knows..." instrumental is stunning. Definitely takes you off the I-want-to-bite-your-fucking-head-off vibe from "A Woman a Man" right into that "pass me my margarita, Felipe!" kind of soothing afternoon feeling.  I wasn't expecting something this great on the album, quite frankly.
   
7. "The Soldier" – 3:55 - Very beautiful lyrics- I am suspecting this was an actual dream she had. It sounds like it could've been a b-side from the White Chalk era. Who knows, maybe it is! There was no new material in the White Chalk b-sides, only songs writen/recorded in the early 90s, before she even was famous. The piano during the chorus is mesmerizing. What else is there, a synt? If I were to choose the weakest track on the album, though, this would be it.
   
8. "Pig Will Not*" – 3:50 - Now this is a Hot Mess™ (unlike 500 Miles - that's just a sad mess); I love the barking/screaming- The piano towards the end, with the rocky instrumental in the background, just makes me want to grab a joint and smoke the shit out of it. Or do it while I press "repeat", or do both over and over until I pass out. This one, even when having that RAW feel to it, shows how much both John and Polly have matured, musically. 
   
9. "Passionless, Pointless" – 4:19 - This is the slowest song on the album, I've mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, it's very dark, on the other...I'll just have to get back to this one later on.
   
10. "Cracks in the Canvas" – 1:54 - I think it's the perfect album closer. The backing vocals remind me of the Is This Desire? days, which is good. Especially since this song reminds me of Nina In Ecstasy. There is despair, doubt and fear in the lyrics, yet, the song sounds reassuring; it makes you feel like there is more to music than instruments and lyrics. "Life is about pictures, look at the biggest one", it tells me.
    

I'm giving this album 984.7 out of 1,000. Not over-produced, not under-produced. Not dated.

Thank you, Polly and John, for fucking like animals while making this album, and for being and staying cool. And for keeping on making wear-me-out music. Just what the world needs! More babies,  guns and music from you! <3

Now, where are the b-sides? April 6th can't come fast enough!

Full lyrics (transcribed by me, so there might be some mistakes in them):

Click <--- Still working on these -help appreciated!-

*Pig Will Not inspired by Charles Baudelaire's poem Le Rebelle**:

Falling abruptly like a bird of prey from the sky, 

A furious angel seizes the sinner by his hair 

And says, "I will teach you to behave, do you hear me? I 

Am your good spirit!" And shakes him angrily in the air.

"I will teach you to be kind — to love, without making a face, 

The poor, the deformed, the depraved, the uncivil, the dirty, the dumb 

That you may help with your charity to prepare a place 

Here upon earth for Jesus when he is ready to come.

"Such is true love — the only virtue that exists,

The only happiness that endures. Take heed, before

Your heart is completely petrified and your senses rot."

And pounding upon his victim with his colossal fists 

In love and in fury, the angel cannot cease to implore — 

Nor the accursèd one to answer: "I will not!"

**Translation by George Dillon from Flowers of Evil (NY: Harper and Brothers, 1936)

OK. There ya have it. I know that, if I were a journalist, I would be one of those "Tori Amos? The poor man's Kate Bush?" type of lazy journalists, but at least I didn't use the word "nice". Credit where is due!

Allimamashte.