PJ Harvey- The Words That Maketh Murder

Through a calming intro of hand claps and retro guitar chords emerges PJ Harvey's voice. Although tranquil at first, passing time reveals she's pretty pissed off. The song's message of war's horrific imagery is delivered well, but past Harvey's voice is almost bland instrumentation that melts away the song's powerful demeanor. Don't get me wrong, there are some catchy parts to "The Words That Maketh Murder". The abbreviated saxophone comes to mind, and the song's strong refrain is a fantastic turn of events. She sings, "What if I take my problem to the United Nations?". It's a great line, a statement to the failure of an organization that disappoints today with the tragic deaths in the Middle East, but this segment alone can't save an otherwise dull protest.

3/5