Polly Jean Harvey is a mercurial talent. The singer-songwriter has been at the forefront of captivating and poised avant-garde rock ‘n’ roll since her debut in 1992.
While you may not have caught the incredible PJ Harvey when she first arrived, there’s no reason why you can’t delve into the back catalogue and find out why Harvey is considered one of the best in her class.
What is PJ Harvey’s biggest hit?
‘Sheela-Na-Gig’ (1992)
Taken from Harvey’s debut album Dry, there is something utterly captivating about ‘Sheela-Na-Gig’ that tells you absolutely everything you need to know about Polly Harvey.
The second and final single from the record, the song is laced with vicious intellect and a ferocious appetite for riffs. Subversive and sultry, it smacks of the kind of impetus Harvey would imbue all of her work with.
‘Rid of Me’ (1993)
Harvey sophomore record may well be her most beloved. Rid of Me announced Harvey as a powerhouse performer and expert songwriter. Musically, the album, and its titular track, is a slowly-growing familiar sound of menace and malicious intent.
‘Down By the Water’ (1995)
Of course, we couldn’t avoid adding perhaps Harvey’s most famous song ‘Down By the Water’ on our list.
The track remains one of her definitive sounds and the track, as close to classic rock as Harvey gets, is full to the brim with deep grunge motifs and darkened glitching electronics and the pluck of a string section.
