Uh Huh Her

A clear departure from STORIES FROM THE CITY, STORIES FROM THE SEA, 2004's UH HUH HER finds Polly Jean Harvey forgoing the poppier touches of the relatively refined former album in favor of a stripped-down, no-frills record. Aside from the presence of longtime drummer Rob Ellis, this is essentially a one-woman show, with Harvey playing all other instruments and producing every song.
Many tracks on UH HUH HER are so spare that they might be mistaken for demos, and this minimalism works in the album's favor. "Shame" and "Pocket Knife" both consist of little more than a steady beat and subtle instrumentation, but they allow Harvey's bold, emotive voice to come to the fore. Harvey's signature sense of menace shows up on a number of songs, including the lumbering "The Life & Death of Mr. Badmouth" and the dynamic "The Letter." However, the album's most notable track may be "The Slow Drug," which floats along on a faint keyboard line, fading in and out like a half-remembered dream. Though it may seem like a sonic retreat, UH HUH HER reaffirms Harvey's status as one of rock's most unpredictable artists.