Considering the emotional intensity and uninhibited energy of Polly Jean Harvey’s music, the idea of capturing her raw power on an intimate radio show does not at first sound entirely plausible. But PJ Harvey’s close friendship with late DJ John Peel is what makes The Peel Sessions not just enjoyable, but an especially personal addition to Harvey's catalogue, playing as equal parts career retrospective and heartfelt tribute album.

The collection compiles five radio sessions dating back to just before the release of Dry up until late 2004, shortly after Peel’s death, culminating several album tracks as well as a few B-sides and covers. The first half documents PJ Harvey’s former trio, and their performances here hold the same tightness that made Dry and Rid of Me so impressive. Both the drum-and-bass-heavy “Victory” and 5/4 blues romp “Water” stand out thanks to the trio’s strong rhythm section. But the collection’s second half proves just as impressive; Harvey’s take on “This Wicked Tongue,” a Stories from the City-era rarity, is dense and polished, sounding like somewhat of a more grungy take on “This is Love,” and “That Was My Veil” as well as “Beautiful Feeling” sound far more restrained and poignant here than on their original recordings. The album appropriately ends with the sole track recorded after Peel’s death, “You Come Through” from Uh Huh Her, as an emotional Harvey repeats the song’s refrain of "you come through for me" to the late Peel.

Like most collections among the series of Peel Sessions released since Peel’s death, PJ Harvey’s Sessions are surely more her own way to pay tribute to Peel than anything, but to fans and casual listeners alike, the intimacy of these recordings stands out as the album’s main attraction. It’s certainly no new broken ground for Harvey, but hearing her music remain as electrifying in an entirely different setting is just one reminder of what a dynamic artist PJ Harvey is.