Is This Desire? is probably PJ Harvey’s least appreciated album. Parts of it sound dated, even by 1998 standards, and as the years go on more tracks fall into that particular abyss. And then there’s the dark and minimalist atmosphere. For example, if you’re not in the right mood, “Electric Light” is practically doomed to failure. It’s doubly unfortunate, then, that the ideal way to experience “Electric Light” is to string up a 20-watt light bulb in a coffin and bury yourself in it. Recommended only for the diehard PJ Harvey fan.

Too bad, because if you are in the right mood, “Electric Light” kills. It slowly buries its tendrils into your head, and does the ominous and creepy schtick better than most songs. Is This Desire? is full of tracks like “Electric Light”—obscure and occasionally off-putting, but worth the effort. And the more accessible tracks like “Angelene” and “The Garden” share the same aesthetic while offering a bit of respite. If you’ve held off on picking up the album, it’s worth trying to find a used copy to see how it strikes you now.