PJ Harvey

Rid of Me

First released1993

Rid of Me, PJ Harvey's second studio album, was recorded in 1993 at Toe Rag Studios in London and other locations, with production handled primarily by Harvey herself alongside Steve Albini, who served as engineer and mixer. Albini's production approach emphasized raw, live-sounding recording techniques that captured the album's abrasive and visceral sonic character. The recording sessions were notably intense and brief, reflecting Harvey's desire to maintain the spontaneity and aggression of the material. The album featured a stripped-down instrumentation compared to her debut, with emphasis on guitar-driven arrangements and Harvey's distinctive vocal performances. Released in March 1994, Rid of Me represented a significant artistic statement that established Harvey's reputation as a challenging and innovative alternative rock artist, with Albini's engineering choices contributing substantially to its distinctive, unpolished production aesthetic.