PJ Harvey

[TPmahone]

I'm a fan of hers, wandering what people's thoughts on her were. Her most recent album 'Let England Shake' contains some musical and lyrical influences from The Pogues and from Irish Folk songs in general. The I believe she also sighted Shane's lyrics as being one of her inspirations when writing the album and both she and Shane were guest vocalists on The Nick Cave and the Bad seeds cover of Bob Dylan's Death is not the end.

[firehazard]

Ms Polly Jean is an extremely talented musician and writer, and much loved in the firehazard household. One of my daughters reckons she has everything that she's ever released.

Her connections with Mr Cave are well known, but I hadn't really thought much before about influences from Shane on her writing. Interesting to consider. Found an interview with her around the time of the release of Let England Shake in which she talks about it:

There were some artists I paid close attention to. One of them was the Pogues. Shane McGowan is a great writer, a great lyricist and also the Pogues perform a lot of very traditional, very ancient folk music. A lot of folk music is very political and wonderfully balanced, wonderfully poised in the way it delivers the words that it's saying, so that would be one person I would cite. Neil Young, throughout his career, has dealt with political issues and often done it very, very well within song, Ohio' being a prime example or 'Southern Man.' I can name many more. Then I looked to the poetry of Harold Pinter. I really admire his work as a writer and an essay writer, as well as a playwright, but particularly his poetry. I was very drawn to his work at this time.
http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/28/pj-harvey-let-england-shake/

She's also an excellent live performer, if you ever get the chance. And I'm pretty sure that there are a number of us on this raft that are secretly in love with her.

[Low D]

And I'm pretty sure that there are a number of us on this raft that are secretly in love with her.

I'm pretty sure it's never been a secret!

[TPmahone]

Thanks Firehazrd.. I'd read quite a number of interviews with her about LET England Shake but hadn't come across that one before. What she says about Shane and the Pogues there is great and pretty much spot on in my opinion. Would love to see her live at some point, I have yet to experience that treat and yes I think a lot of us are in love with her, secret or not