Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea - PJ Harvey

This is going to be a sweeping generalisation, and a potential inflammatory statement but here goes; Female artists are much more innovative and adventurous than their male counterparts. Long silence? Gobsmacked that I could be so misguided or just plain wrong? At least give me a chance to put my argument across...my theory goes something like this;

The music industry, despite being involved in an art form, is male dominated; from label bosses, promoters, producers, radio station controllers....the list goes on. So naturally it is quite easy for a male artist to find some outlet for their work and they can follow the template laid out by the aforementioned people. Female artists, though, find it more difficult to be taken seriously so have to really stand out from the crowd....or rather those that are more unique stand out. Either way the net effect is for those female artists that do come to prominence to be much more innovative and creative.

Female artists are also more likely to be unique because they don't feel the need to fit it - be one of the boys as it were, as a succession of identi-kit plastic male performers are churned out for the waiting masses. Yup the most interesting music of recent years had been produced by female artists. Wow another bold statement, so let's look at some examples;

Kate Bush - Since starting her career at the age of 17 she has done things on her own terms. No influence from producers, record labels or agents. And what a rich body of work. Peerless and unique.

Aimee Mann - Since leaving the band 'Til Tuesday she has released a succession of strong solo albums to critical acclaim.

Bat For Lashes - Natasha Khan is very much in the same mould as Kate Bush. Truly unique, odd and interesting music.

Bjork - Need I say more? There is simply no-one like her. She strives to push the boundaries of pop music and with often fantastic results. Sure there have been misfires but these are far, far outweighed by the successes.

And the brings me nicely onto PJ Harvey. Another individual talent and one that has continued to challenge and excite in equal measure. This album, perhaps her most accessible, delivers a powerful collection of off kilter pop songs. Mesmerising. 'Big Exit' and 'This Mess We're In' being two great examples.

So what is there on the other side of the sex divide? Sure there was Zappa, Zevon, Bowie and Gabriel. But where are their current day equivalents? Did inventive, explorative male music dry up in the 1980s? It would appear so. I for one don't mind - I have enough PJs, Bjorks and Bushes to keep me interested.