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CD Review by Mark Hamilton PJ HARVEY STORIES FROM THE CITY, STORIES FROM THE SEA (Island) · After half a decade, PJ picks up her dusty guitar The streets of New York City have always had a cathartic effect on the minds of artists. Ground zero for the truly groundbreaking in film, visual arts and music, NYC's imprint on the work of those who live there is undeniable. The result of a six-month sojourn to the Big Apple, Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea is alive with the spirit and defiance of the New York vanguard. Combining elements of Patti Smith's snarl, Sonic Youth's dissonance, Television's guitar interplay and the Velvet Underground's tunefulness, PJ Harvey has created a sound rooted in the best of past innovators but always with an authentic personality all her own. With 1995's To Bring You My Love, Harvey retreated from her earlier guitar-heavy work for subtle grooves and bass-heavy blues. Stories expands on the raging albums Dry and Rid Of Me, and she’s harsher than ever on tracks such as "Kamikaze" and "Big Exit." It's obvious, though, that Harvey has great affection for the so-called City of Dreams, with lyrical content involving walks through Little Italy, epiphanies in Chinatown, and spotting all five bridges from the top of the Empire State Building. Of particular interest is the collaboration of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, who backs Harvey on "One Line" and "Beautiful Feeling," and truly delivers on the stunning duet "This Mess We're In." The track combines the considerable powers of two of the most vital musicians working today – Yorke, who recently turned away from his guitar, and Harvey, who has just re-embraced hers. 5/5

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