"The Wheel" - Lead Single (apparently)

[Kuk91]

...unfortunately she is repeating herself. <...>

I think a lot of people, who doesn't look close enough, would say the same thing about "Dry" and "Rid of Me" (and it's more valid comparison in terms of this talk, I think, because during "LES" interviews she was always talking about how it's a "fresh start", she feels like that's a beginning of a new way of writing for her, etc).

I feel like the subject of the new album is not the war itself - it's war's aftermath, like in Seamus Murphy's photographs (that's probably why she didn't include a certain songs on the album - like "Guilty", which is about unnecessary drone attack). And not only about war's aftermath - it's also about long-term "polite genocide" of Native Americans ("Medicinals"), "Homo Sappy Blues" (I'm pretty sure it's gonna be a B-Side) was about living in ghetto. Plus, her language is different now - Polly using a lot more metaphors ("The Orange Monkey" for one is very heavy in the metaphors department). Like could you honestly say what "River Anacostia" is about war, or even about stuff I just wrote about?

And about the same ingredients as on "LES" - for example, "Near the Memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln": lyrics are quite neutral - she's just describing her surroundings, the only metaphor is about the "underworld", and at the result that's the music that gives the song this unsettling quality. I guess in some respects you could say the same thing about "Chain of Keys" or "The Ministry of Social Affairs".

I also think it was a pretty bold move to have a song this long as your first single. Some might say it's a bit repetitive, but I really enjoy that repetitiveness (as well as in her previous works), and I also think it was done on purpose - the song should literally transfix you and put into trance. The ending part is so long because it supposed to give you some sort of comfort - assure you like it's gonna last forever, and then this sudden end (like human's life, really). And the guitars in the intro are great. And the drums are fantastic. And the album is gonna be fantastic.

[Kuk91]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wheel-VINYL-PJ- ... 018V5MGUC/



Seems like there's not going to be a B-Side:

Spoiler! :

Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. The Wheel - PJ Harvey

As far as I know it's called a "picture disc".

[Pluton]

Even if she tried to repeat herself she would sound different, but that is kinda basics for any artist (and they generally get a worse output when they try that), but the thing is, there is a distinct, refreshing difference between albums like TBYML/ITD, ITD/Stories or, the most extreme of all UHH/White Chalk, just to quote the most vivid and eye popping examples. The person who did White Chalk sounds completely different and unrecognisable from the persona of Uh Huh Her. I don't see it all here from LES to Hope Six.
Polly is a specialist, almost in a Academical level, on what she really is into now: geopolitics, so it is obvious that switching the landscape from England to global is a huge difference, for a specialist, but artistically and thematically speaking is not at all, specially because we have all the LES ingredients back again: war, death, uplifting melodies wrapping up quite dark lyrics, she is just sounding more abrasive and modern, departing from her highly folkish sonority from LES, but it still sounds quite reminiscent and I'm not really impressed.

That doesn't mean the album will be a bad one, but I really don't see it being as remarkable as LES and most of her catalogue. I like very much all songs I've heard so far and judging by the differences between The Wheel live and The Wheel in studio, we won't get anything that different from the production/mixing of the album, just something sounding way better. Polly never does bad songs, but just because they are good doesn't mean she did excel herself again or is sticking to her plan to do not repeat herself, unfortunately she is repeating herself. I just hope we don't get a trilogy on this subject because, even though these songs are beautiful and touching, I'm getting indifferent and tired about the theme, not to mention she is getting musically stationary insisting on it.

Well said. I was about to write the same thing, I completely agree with your analysis. The Wheel is a really good song but repetitive one. We get use, since years, to Polly's challenge to not repeat herself, so, it's a small disappointment. Hope VI will probably be a good album but what makes Polly better than others is her eclectic discography. As many noticed, it seems she focused more on the lyrics/poems than music.

I'm pretty sure that I'll listen a lot to that album because, from what we heard, it seems very catchy, but with that 5-years-long-awaiting, I was hoping for something very innovative, less "radio friendly", more experimental, and dark, like a LES Nemesis.

[Black Hearted Love]

Seems like there's not going to be a B-Side

how could this be? a vinyl has two face

[Kujjj]

I don't think every album has to be a complete 180 from the previous one. For example dry and rid of me are more like a 90 degree change. Still distinct from each other but not complete turnarounds. More like a progression than a transformation. And sometimes that's great. Maybe this album will turn luttl be a 90 degrees and I think that's lerfectky fine. I think it'd a good thing, that she didn't just dabble in the more political materiwl but she's really digging deep into it. I think itd be a strange thing if she started singing about her washer now or her love life. tbyml and itd have much the same subject matter, but written in a very different way. Just because both these albums have a political theme doesn't make them replicas. I mean, it's very telling just the album titles.

[protocols]

Great post, head's_bullet. I completely agree.

I will be disappointed if The Wheel is a picture disc without any b-sides. Picture discs tend to have poor sound.

[Kuk91]

Seems like there's not going to be a B-Side

how could this be? a vinyl has two face

I meant "B-Side" as a second song - Amazon UK shows only 1 track, and the second side, apparently, is just the picture.

[Shadowboxer]

http://store.hmv.com/music/pj-harvey/the-wheel
HMV doesn't list a B-Side either. Bummer!

Also, I remember Polly herself saying that LES might have a part 2. This seems like a progression instead of repetition.
It's also too soon to compare anything without hearing the full body of work.

[Kuk91]

This seems like a progression instead of repetition.
It's also too soon to compare anything without hearing the full body of work.

Agreed on 100%.

[Simon1994]

I was pleasantly surprised with "The Wheel", but like others have previously said, I was however, surprised that the two songs briefly played in the teaser video were incredibly catchy, and for me, too catchy, personally. I just hope the new album does move on from the heavily folk-influenced sound of LES, especially instruments like the Autoharp - which for me, at times grew a bit repetitive and boring,
dare I say! Don't get me wrong, I think LES is some of Harvey's best work - I just hope her new work showcases a slightly more alternative rock sound, which left me hooked when I first listened to her work.

This is just my personal contribution to how I felt listening to the song.

[somme]

Apart from the fact we've only heard one studio version I think certain people are forgetting the process it she undertook to make this album. That was certainly not repeating herself. Inviting fans in to actually see her record the album, be a part of the process was very innovative and rare.

And yeah we've only heard the lead single. And with regards to it being repetitive and mainstream; there's a surefire way to make people listen; make it catchy.

[brownbrown]

I remember the time when Written On The Forehead was played on the radio and the song was very strange and interesting. At first, people started to say what kind of song is that and then it's been catchy song for many people. Also, the song was just the one song, and when album was released, obviously, each song has its own style considering The Glorious Land, WTMM, LES, England, All and Everyone, On Battleship. I think, it seems that this new album has heavy sound but I don't have any other predictions. She is always good at surprising the listener.

About the long intro of The Wheel, I guess it might be a reaction to all trashy mainstream pop songs with long intro with just beats. I totally prefer this long intro to any other trashy intros I hear on industrial pop songs. Also, considering there will be a documentary and seeing the album trailer video that very synchronized with the myusic of The Wheel, the intro might be done on purpose to support the visuality of the film. Or easily, they just thought that melody is very catchy and strong so they wanted to make it that way. I am looking forward to hear live version of the intro with nine member band.

[Blackie]

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[Kuk91]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PJ-HARVEY-THE-W ... SwXshWq9xl

[Blackie]

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