The Hope Six Demolition Project
by PJ Harvey
  • Record Label: Vagrant
  • Release Date: Apr 15, 2016
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 80 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 80
  3. Negative: 15 out of 80
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  1. longjetty7
    Apr 24, 2016
    8
    I'll admit, I wasn't completely sold the first time I listened to this album. The music is a bit strange and not at all what I was expecting, but I've listened to it a few more times and it's definitely grown on me. PJ Harvey has never been a stranger to being musically adventurous, and once again she has surprised us with something new and unique. In some ways this is actually her mostI'll admit, I wasn't completely sold the first time I listened to this album. The music is a bit strange and not at all what I was expecting, but I've listened to it a few more times and it's definitely grown on me. PJ Harvey has never been a stranger to being musically adventurous, and once again she has surprised us with something new and unique. In some ways this is actually her most mature album. Her lyrics and singing are more straightforward and confident than ever, the arrangements are varied and tight, and overall the album moves along at a nice pace and is incredibly cohesive. The style is actually kind of a weird combination, with the high and low vocals, the brash saxophone, the folksy, bouncy melodies, and the rock-heavy instrumentation, but it actually works surprisingly well, and it's something I feel only PJ could pull off.

    Overall this is a really enjoyable album and it's an absolute pleasure to listen to start to finish. It creates a really nice, unique musical atmosphere just as well as she did on Let England Shake and Is This Desire? Part of me wishes this album were longer, so I could get lost in this musical world a bit longer, but I do appreciate that it gets its message across effectively and doesn't overstay its welcome in the slightest.

    Standout tracks: The Wheel, Line In The Sand, The Ministry Of Defense    … Expand
  2. paulhonet
    Apr 18, 2016
    9
    Huge PJ fan since the early days, 25 wonderful years; the first time I have listened to the album, I was not fully seduced. You need first to make the journey to the album and slowly, it captures you. It is a bit destabilizing but again a completely different record, worth to own. Not my favourite PJ one though, but still a unique record in these "copy paste" years. I had learned to avoidHuge PJ fan since the early days, 25 wonderful years; the first time I have listened to the album, I was not fully seduced. You need first to make the journey to the album and slowly, it captures you. It is a bit destabilizing but again a completely different record, worth to own. Not my favourite PJ one though, but still a unique record in these "copy paste" years. I had learned to avoid expecting something from a new PJ record, as every last record was taking another direction. I am still sometimes missing the energy and rawness of the three first records, but the creativity and renewal of the artist has to be recognized. I really don't know if had better enjoyed a “Dry 2 kind of record than this new one, but it has surprised me enough to make me want to share these lines.… Expand
  3. jimmypowder
    Apr 15, 2016
    4
    Let me first say I am a huge PJ Harvey fan and I have every album she has ever made. This album just doesn't cut it for me. What's up with all the droning background vocals? Just awful . Listen to the background vocals on most of these songs. They are weak.
    I wanna hear my Polly again but not with this group!
  4. Ricko
    Sep 15, 2016
    8
    PJ Harvey's follow up to the impressive "Let England Shake" took 5 years to come out and I'm trying to figure out why. The best moments on this album are the songs that sound like they came from "Let England Shake" sessions. "A Line in the Sand" is a direct lift of the songs "On Battleship Hill" and "The Words That Maketh Murder" from "Let England Shake" in some form. The album starts offPJ Harvey's follow up to the impressive "Let England Shake" took 5 years to come out and I'm trying to figure out why. The best moments on this album are the songs that sound like they came from "Let England Shake" sessions. "A Line in the Sand" is a direct lift of the songs "On Battleship Hill" and "The Words That Maketh Murder" from "Let England Shake" in some form. The album starts off brilliantly with the first 3 tracks grabbing the listening by the scruff of the neck and forcing the issue. It gets progressively harder to keep focus as you get through the album. While it is hard to pick holes in the lyrical aspect of the record, sonically, I expect either a bit more melody or material with a bit more substance. As records go this is good. As PJ Harvey records go, there are better ones.… Expand
  5. Mesmerize
    Aug 9, 2016
    8
    8.5
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Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Aug 11, 2016
    78
    Like its predecessor, Hope's lyrics alone spur startling awe and fierce innovation.
    Read full review
  2. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Aug 1, 2016
    70
    It's non-formulaic and filled with a sense of hope and belief. PJ Harvey singing about these things and building to reclamation and salvation is totally worth the trip. For fanboys and those who aren't. We need more of this in the world today.
    Read full review
  3. American Songwriter
    May 4, 2016
    90
    Not all of Hope Six is mired in dissonance. Harvey frequently returns to the well of pop music, but the irony of wrapping a grim lyrical message in upbeat music is that those uncomfortable truths become that much harder to overlook.
    Read full review
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