ABC Perth have posted a review of PJ Harvey by a man who evidently knows very little about her, or music, and the Internet has responded pretty swiftly.
The review, which manages to be both ignorant, misogynist and guilty of terrible grammar all at the same time, is copping flak from Facebook and Twitter users across Australia. Sample line: “We talk about her music, and how although we as men are not massive fans, we both have great respect for her and her song writing.” Cool story, bro. Why does you having men have anything to do with it? Pretty sure there are plenty of women who like Nick Cave.
In fact, much of the review focuses on Harvey’s relationship to men; the aforementioned Cave, Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age and Mark Lanegan. It seems almost incomprehensible to the reviewer that Harvey may succeed on her own merits. He also makes comments about the music that he seems unable to back up with anything. Bear in mind, this guy may actually have been paid.
Responses from local writers and critics have come thick and fast, including:
“I’m not sure whether I’m more offended by the casually patronising sexism or the fact that this is written so poorly.
My kingdom for decipherable syntax!”
“Next on 702 perth: the cast of the footy show report back from Lilith Fair…”
“He’s not really telling us anything about the gig, but just saying “hey I deserve a medal for going to see a female musician with Wifey”. Who the hell is this guy? I hope he wasn’t paid to write this.”
“I get the feeling that he just typed up his notes and pressed send. Some of those sentences aren’t even sentences.”
” I enjoy the way, commas are used just because he, decides he want to put one somewhere.”
You can read the full review below:
I, like many of other males have been introduced to PJ Harvey by my partner. And after just two minutes of being at the concert hall, a guy and his wife pick up on our West Country English dulcet tones.
We talk about her music, and how although we as men are not massive fans, we both have great respect for her and her song writing.
After seeing PJ Harvey perform at festivals, I know this lass can hold her own with the boys. For research you only have to look at songs from the Desert sessions where she performs with the likes Mark Lanegan, and Josh Homme.
She manages to cleverly command the listener, demanding respect effortlessly against an ever-growing search of the Devine in pop stardom. Each of PJ Harvey’s albums develops its own unique style, never repeating a successful formula.
At the concert we were told by another fellow English lady usher that there would be no support band, and PJ Harvey would be starting at 8:30 sharp.
That said PJ walks in stage left dressed like an elfin goddess, with feathers in her hair like futuristic pigtails holding an auto harp. Kicking off with the opening track from her mercury awarding winning album ‘Let England Shake’.
Supported by her 3-piece band dressed like they should be sat at in old pub, all wearing white shirts and waist coats. The only thing that would have been missing from the picture would be a Lurcher dog. It felt like we had gone through a porthole back to the old country, and the concert hadn’t even begun.
As the second song began, the star herself shows the audience she is only human, by missing the start of the track, looking over at the band smiling apologetically to start over.You soon got the sense that this was a tour solely for this album with songs like ‘Last Living Rose’, ‘All of Everything’.
She strummed away on the auto harp like a mystic being, perfectly in sync and tone with her instrument. The drummer played the marching drum and used new tech bright orange brushes to create haunting sounds of days gone by. The two other band members swapped instruments between guitar, bass and piano. Singing songs as high in the mix as PJ at times, they worked as a strong team of musicians.
PJ did mix in a selected few of her early classics like ‘Down By The Water. After it seemed we just got comfortable, she bids the Perth crowd good night. Yet there was never any chance that was truly the end. One day the person turning on the house lights will catch on to that, but we all cheered and clapped until she and the band came back for their well deserved encore. Introducing the rest of the band of John Parish, Mick Harvey, Jean-Marc Butty they went in for round two. ‘Pocket Knife’, ‘Angelina’.
I can totally see why this album was so welcomed by her fans. Working with the likes of the producer Flood, and the good and bad history of old England. This tour really did have something unique and different about it. You weren’t just seeing another rock show. Can’t wait to see what she does next.
Riiiiight.
