Reviews (page 10 of 15)
Not for me. I recognized Human Behavior from the weird video that was all over MTV in the 90s. I’ve never been a fan of Bjork’s voice and most of these songs were too poppy for my taste.
I wasn't sure what she was singing about and couldn't get into this album.
I very much respect Björk’s work and sound, but I do not enjoy listening to it very much. She has such a unique sound and voice, so I am glad it is made, but it is not something I would revisit. Not to say it is bad, but it is exactly the sort of thing I would listen through and remember without ever feeling the urge to seek out more.
Eclectic mosaic of music that’s beyond genres as a pioneering piece.
No. 225/1001 Human Behavior 3/5 Crying 3/5 Venus As a Boy 4/5 There's More To Life Than This 2/5 Like Someone In Love 3/5 Big Time Sensuality 2/5 One Day 3/5 Aeroplane 2/5 Come To Me 3/5 Violently Happy 2/5 The Anchor Song 3/5 Average: 2,73 I expected this record to be more experimental. More so it is a whimsical pop album. Didn't have a lot of songs that really excited me.
Björk is one of those artists that I think I respect as an artist more than I love their music. While I’ve never regretted listing to any of her albums, I don’t find myself coming back to them on my own volition. While I’ve heard most of her catalog I don’t think I had listened to Björk’s Debut before this, and although I feel the same as described above I do think this is my favorite release of hers. It’s one great song after another, never sounding the same but also never feeling out of place. The first threes songs are particularly strong, but there are no weak tracks to be found. It reminds me of a cross between Fiona Apple and Kate Bush, which makes sense as Björk’s equally as legendary and innovative as those two.
01) Human Behaviour - 10,0 02) Crying - 8,5 03) Venus As A Boy - 9,5 04) There's More to Life Than This - 9,5 05) Like Someone in Love - 8,5 06) Big Time Sensuality - 10,0 07) One Day - 9,0 08) Aeroplane - 8,5 09) Come To Me - 9,0 10) Violently Happy - 10,0 11) The Anchor Song - 8,0 12) Play Dead - 10,0 TOTAL: 9,21 (92/100) Current ranking: 17/263 Bjork in the nineties was a big star in my eyes, later her music became too abstract and too innovative for me. One could conclude that I will probably like her "Debut" album. The album starts with the perfect "Human Behaviour", whose music video is still one of my favorites, just like the song itself. The album continues with a journey through genres, from Bollywood in "Venus As A Boy", to weekend parties in the surprisingly good "There's More to Life Than This", to covers of jazz standards in "Like Someone in Love". "Big Time Sensuality" takes us to the dance floors of the nineties, while "One Day" takes us back to a slower ambient-pop atmosphere. "Aeroplane" is a mix of exotic, ambient and jazz, while the series of slower songs continues with "Come To Me". "Violently Happy" brings us back to the dance floor, while "The Anchor Song" presents us with that "weirder" experimental Bjork that will come to the fore on later albums. It would be a shame to skip the excellent "Play Dead" that was added to the reissued edition. All in all, a great "Debut" album by a musician who definitely deserves to be on this list several times, because there is no one like Bjork and there never will be.
Good, quirky album
Idk this one kinda missed the mark for me. I felt about it the same way I’ve felt about other Bjork songs I’ve heard in the past. They’re weird and sometimes it works but sometimes it doesn’t. Some of the tracks here came off as though she was trying a little too hard to be weird. It wasn’t unenjoyable, but I just found it ok. I probably listened through this album 4 or 5 times seeing if maybe it would start to pay off, but it left me feeling about the same each time. Just meh. 3/5
Not good then, worse now.
Weird but i actually quite liked it.
Not quite my tempo.
I like the part where it sounds like she corners you at a party and starts speaking tongues. There's absolutely no question what decade this album came from. It sounds like the music at a rave in a Sci-Fi movie. Like a classy rave for the elites in society. I really enjoyed the first track but they're all basically the same. I actually really like her voice.
Somebody’s probably going to hang me for this, but I found the whole album boring. I just don’t get the point of it. I’ve heard some of her newer songs, and they were good, but this debut didn’t do it for me. After doing some research, I saw that even her fan base isn’t too fond of this album and ranks it at the bottom of their tier lists. I’m definitely expecting more from her other albums and will be sure to listen to more, because this can’t be the Björk everyone’s hyping her up to be.
3+ Stars (9/15)
Debut is a very special album. It certainly has a feeling of Bjork finding herself after the Sugarcubes era, exploring a number of styles and genres. The result is a bit messy, but certainly prevews the incredible talents that would make Homogeneous, Vespertine, Biophilia and Vulnicura (albums closer to a 5). For this one, 4/5.
Very good.
A crazy album from a crazy woman! Actually, I found this album ok. Each track is unique and different, there are of course her very famous tracks, not a bad listen.
it’s very interesting and i like it
Ethereal, unique, and incredibly creative.
Please never again shocking
weirdos being weirdos
Play Dead, Violently Happy, One Day
i knew her a little from later work, and a little from her time with the sugarcubes, but this is my first proper introduction. i was surprised at big time sensuality - that sound definitely existed in 1993, but it wasn't at all what i would've expected, based on the rest of the album. it was a fun change of pace. her voice is, of course, super interesting, and the fact her accent comes through so strong only adds to that.
Excellent album. It was great to go back and revisit it.
Mildly interesting and inventive.
Pretty impressive for a debut album, now that I think about it. (Yes, I do realize I mean debut solo album omg.)
Fire, inventive, bold. Amazing debut
This is probably my favorite Bjork album yet. It is weird and artsy but in no way self indulgent or hard to get into. Some very good instrumentation and production throughout. Also some surprisingly funky tracks which were fun.
Actually surprised Bjork popped up, given how much classic rock focus the list had. For how unconventional her style of singing gets, Bjork is a very comfortable listen. She enters this album knowing the style she wants to go for, and she nails it pretty damn well. My only hangup would be the instrumentals: none are bad, but it can feel just a bit too campy for me at times (Aeroplane being the best example of this). For the more typical 90s dance that you hear on the album, though, it sounds fantastic, and Bjork knows how to work it. Bjork has another record on this list that I definitely prefer, but her first outing still remains a great one.
Love her
Björk is, and effectively always has been, one of my favourite artists. But this album has always evaded the ability to fully justify that. Yes, the three albums from her that followed this are undeniably excellent (particularly Post and Vespertine, which I believe to both be masterpieces), but Debut is also often lumped in with those releases, albeit to a slightly less exaggerated degree. I can see why, but I just find it dated in a way that for me, someone born over ten years after this album released, doesn't fully click. The synths sound like music you'd hear on a PS1 demo disc. There's More to Life than This, while the shift during the second verse is genuinely a really cool idea and adds very specific imagery that I don't actually hear in very many songs, just sounds kind of dire outside of that. It feels like parody of 90s dance music, but without any irony. There's also something like Anchor Song, and while Björk would go on to make some really beautiful minimalist closing songs on the next few albums, Anchor Song just feels quite empty. All that being said, Human Behaviour and Venus as a Boy are excellent songs that set an early precedent for Björk's talent as a musician and composer. I know I've spoken about things about this album that I dislike more than like about this album, but I do want to make it clear that for the most part, this album is perfectly fine. It's just difficult to talk about "perfectly fine". This album is very clearly overall more good than bad, but as a debut from an artist whose album streak after this would be consistently 9/10s at worst, it does feel underwhelming. 6.5/10
finally listening to bjork LETSGOOOOOO i didnt know her first album was in the 90s i thought she started out in like the 2010s im so uncultured lord mitski and bjork are two different people mitski and bjork are two different people mitski and bjork are two different people mitski and bjork are two different people mitski and bjork are two different people mitski and bjork are two different people mitski and bjork are two different people i love her voice it scratches my brain so good the album is ok but it is too slow for me my favorite song: crying
Much better than her more recent stuff. Listenable!
A bit more electronic-y than I typically enjoy, but I could see this one growing on me if I give it more listens.
It's experimental, yet has amazing pop hooks. I feel that it might be a little dated with the for its time dance hooks, but I feel like every pop star that is interesting right now is ripping off her sound. It's great.
Not my absolute favorite Björk but still pretty great. At the free jazzier interludes I kept thinking my music player had started a new album, but no. Human Behavior is so good I can't give it less than 4 but it's a 3.5.
Are all Björk albums one long song? This one and the other one we've had felt that way, but it isn't a bad thing. It was weird and mostly enjoyable which is about what I'm after from Björk
I loved this! This was definitely her best album that we have listened to so far. I especially liked the final track. There was less weird, drawn-out phrasing (although it was present) and it all seemed more purposeful.
i like her taste in samples, for the most part, but really dislike literally every other part.
Apparently I gave our previous two Björk albums 3's also, which is a real shock to me. I thought I liked this one more than the previous ones and was planning on giving it a 2.5-3, but I guess I just have to do 3 and then this message. The danciest of the tracks were fun. It's still a lot of Björk.
It switches between not bad and a bit exhausting to listen to.
Wasn't very attracted to this one which was disappointing because I really loved the Sugarcubes album I got a little while ago and I was looking forward to hearing some of her solo work. There's still many of hers yet to go, so I'm looking forward to that. 2.5/5
Interesting album. I enjoyed it. Not something I would go back to though
i totally spurned björk all this time. how could i?!
Really like this, really unique to my ears
I enjoyed the whole album. Very complicated and original. I'll listen to it again to understand it better. But I don't know that I will listen to it much more than that.
Very good voice, music is too experimental and weird for my taste. 2.7 stars
Her best album for sure
Love her voice and paired with the wonderful inventive music is a win
Este álbum me sorprendió. Me pareció hermosa la voz de Björk y muy arriesgada la propuesta para haber sido un primer álbum. Me gustaron mucho Human Behaviour, Crying y Play Dead
Best Song: Human Behaviour. Björk does a lot of the lilting, rolling, and growling that I find so enchanting about her voice. Worst Song: The Anchor Song. A not altogether bad, jazzy song, but it feels more like a performance than a song. Overall: I'm once again struck by how powerful and diverse Björk's music is. That being said, this album has less passionate, revelatory music when compared to the previous ones on this list, and sometimes degrades to relatively standard club music.
Not my jam
Rock, 1993 -> 3
Interesting album, very different from much other types of music. In general I was not a fan of the dance up-tempo tracks. I think the rest was decent, but those felt out of place and didn't add anything since they weren't really any good. I mostly like Björks singing, it could as well have become too much and too weird, but it stays just on the right side of the line. Very melodic and exciting. I didn't really find any particular song that really stuck with me, which was what I was missing.
Like Tom Waits, Björk is an acquired taste. Her voice makes me feel good though.
Weird, as Björk is known to be. I think this is the least weird thing I have heard from her Not bad. Not enjoyable either though 2.75
Maybe my favorite Bjork album so far. But that’s not saying much.
venus as a boy makes me really sad for reasons i hate to get into but this album is good regardless.. frst time i heard it years ago i didnt really appreciate it but now i get it.. that being said, i don't think every song carries its weight.
Sorry to say, but I don't understand how this noise could possibly be enjoyable for someone to listen to.
Björk is the perfect example of what alternative pop was in the 1990s. Hauntingly and beautifully melodic. She paints an incredibly fantastic audible dreamscape. This was my first listen through of any of her studio albums from beginning to end and it was just as fantastic as her Greatest Hits I’ve had for 20 years.
I went into this only marginally aware of Bjork's musical style. I was pleasantly surprised by this album and its eclectic sound. I enjoyed it much more than I would have expected.
Bom
I liked the jazzy stuff a lot better than the trip hop stuff. Clearly shows promise but I’m not likely to revisit
Crying Play dead
Anchor song <333
closer to 4 probably could i write poetry to this? n
Wow...tough one here. Bjork is a challenging artist and certainly not for everyone. Jimi was spot-on when he said that you have to be in the right mood and frame of mind to enjoy her work.
I can take Bjork in small doses
Human Behavior is such a good song. I listened to it on repeat after I finished the album. Bjork's voice is amazing, but unfortunately the stars rarely all align like they do on that song. Lots of meandering with little structure to the rest of the album.
Enjoyed the nostalgia of this - from a time when you had to listen to your CDs over and again. But by god the girl still sounds a few shillings short of a full bag
This album contains some of my favourite songs by her and I feel like generally it's very underrated in her discography. I'm a big fan of this particularly that first half is spectacular.
Björk. Ehat an art collage sounds like! I iced her since the Sugarcubes and still love her and her solo endeavors.
Bjork é um estilo próprio de música. Não consigo pensar em algo parecido. Inovadora, sem medos, faz como quer e manda ver. Porém, apesar de muitas músicas terem uma sonoridade agradável, não é o tipo de música que eu ouviria do dia-a-dia. Gosto muito de Army of Me, especialmente o contraste com a versão que o Helmet fez para o álbum MOM Music for our Mother Ocean.
good but not my thing
Out of all the electropop albums on this list, this one is really solid. The first track is pretty epic and the ones that follow are solid as well. Björk has a really strong singing voice and shows it off really well here. Also the album is a reasonable length which I appreciate. I can't imagine going back to it, but it was a fun experience nonetheless.
Bjork is an acquired taste.
Un pò particolare....
Einu sinni þekkti ég stelpu sem elskaði Björk og ég skildi ekki af hverju því mér fannst hún svo leiðinleg. Líf mitt hefur litast af þeirri skoðun síðan en þetta er samt bara alveg mjög góð plata, segi éf þótt ég sé Íslendingur
Eh, kinda boring
VIOLENTLY HAPPY
Debut marks Björk’s arrival with a bang. She would refine and perfect the formula throughout the decade but this album is undeniable. Fun and singular. Big Time Sensuality rips.
Bjork does not mess around. A pleasure to listen to.
I remember when she came on the scene. I was a music-loving teenager who was starting to understand and value what was weird, different and singular. Björk was already all of these things and more. She was unrestrained, and sang with a freedom and abandon that I had never heard before. She did what she pleased, and sounded like someone who approached art, and life, without judgment. I still find that extremely inspiring, and she remains one of my musical (and life!) heroes. These days her music may not be as commercially viable, but it remains utterly hers - interesting, unique, sincere and exploratory. She is someone who to me exemplifies the joy that can be found in creativity, and a learning mindset. After all these years, she is still growing on me.
It was better than I was expecting, but it wasn't for me.
Initially I struggled with this album and I would still say it isn't one I plan to just put on and listen to. That said, I thought the album got better as it went on and the music grew on me. Definitely an interesting album.
Weird album. Some songs I really enjoyed, like the finale, but others were barely listenable. Initial rating my not reflect how I feel if I give this album a couple more chances.
Besides the two songs that sounded more like club music I liked every song; worth returning to
I hate to admit it but this album was actually quite enjoyable. The same can’t be said for her later albums unfortunately though I did enjoy her work in the sugar cubes.
Bought this album on spec as someone I knew kept banging on about the Sugarcubes. What an impression it made. Plugged into a emerging trend and flipped it. Still sound bright today.
A bit too electronic at the end
This is like the third album i heard (this one being more acceptable than the others) This feels like if that eccentric colleague who say that they are a great singer and when you hear it you internally go "for the love of god make her stop" got a music carrier. sometimes you hear her voice clear to then jump to a shrieking dissonant note,then to a monotone and finally to a random screaming note. I don't get Björk. it feels like it's one of those artist that live of the "You just aren't an art critic, like me"-people. To me this just sounds like "Weird for Weird's sake". Instrumentations are okey to pretty decent just drop the vocals and it would be fine.
Not her best. But not her worst either.
Björk is queen. 4/5
Ah, this is so good. Like the Kate Bush album I recently listened to, another example of pop that manages to be wildly original and unique, with a good amount of variety in style and instrumentation. 4.5 rounded up - looking forward to more from Björk!
Enjoyed it
Very interesting!
Out of all the albums I’ve heard from Björk, “Debut” stands out the most to me. What makes this album my favorite is its ability to balance a variety of different elements seamlessly. It’s innovative and forward-thinking, incorporating experimental sounds with lush elements like trip-hop and house music. This balance makes “Debut” the album I return to the most, as it is easier to absorb in everyday moods or environments. Since “Debut,” it seems Björk has focused more on the experimental route, putting all her eggs in one basket. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it does require a specific mood and mindset to fully appreciate. I love experimental music, but sometimes it feels like artists are just throwing random elements together and calling it experimental art. However, when someone like Björk approaches a project like “Debut” with an innovative mindset and uses unconventional tools and methods within a more structured framework, it creates something that’s more easily enjoyable for the listener. This balance of innovation and accessibility can be more challenging to achieve than pure experimentation. I will end on a high note by saying Björk has always pushed the boundaries of music, so you have to give credit where credit is due. For personal enjoyment, though, “Debut” is my favorite album.
Nellee Hooper. Is. A. Fucking. God. This entire album has an aura all of its own, a dance album yet so unlike any other dance album I have ever heard. It's so much fun picking out every instrument and sound and sample on every track. The production is unreal. The beats are mezmorizing, just take "Violently Happy" for example, with its build up of loop after loop, then when it sounds full Hooper adds a SICK ASS FUCKING BASSLINE out of nowhere. Total perfection of a beat, and Hooper still doesn't drag it on the whole song, it switches it up quite a lot And I haven't even mention Björk. This album would have been legendary even without her vocals, but she pulls it straight to space in terms of greatness. A wonderous and fun, soothing voice. It produces total relaxation throughout my body. This is easily a top 5 album of all time, and Björk would somehow overshadow this Debut with her even more experimental future. But for me, this is her best album. Everything comes into place perfectly
Did not listen
Intentional and organized chaos-beauty. Did not see this rating coming. She took me in and I was hooked.
Stream of consciousness gibberish. Lame low effort digital music production. Not for me. Did Lorde listen to Bjork? Similar singing styles.
Best thing to come out of ireland since the perogi
De mis favoritos!
increíble 9/10
Not my mug of milo. Some good sounds, but very eclectic and weird.
I liked when she pronounced “ghetto blaster” with a soft g
I feel like one day Björk is going to click for me but she just hasn’t yet. I think this album is a good starting point though and I may return to it and give it another chance some day
Her voice is super unique and the songs all have different sounds. but still not my cup of tea. i’ll give a 3 tho bc it def belongs on the list and i respect it
Some standout tracks on the album, but would be interested to hear some of her later albums to get more of an appreciation
Electronica-pop overlaid with lyrics.
Конечно альбом Debut by Björk это мастхев, но на кобузе в сд качестве прямо чувствуется потеря в тональности. какой-то запредельный/ватный и отделенный от основной линии музыки бас - не дослушал до конца. ОБЯЗАТЕЛЬНО ПРОСЛУШАТЬ НА ДРУГОМ ИСТОЧНИКЕ!
Although not the best Bjork album, we enjoyed this.
Cccooooome tttoooo mmmeeeeee
Very interesting solo debut. It doesn't sound like the rest of her discography, but it still manages to be Björk-ish. I like it a lot. What can I say, she's my favorite artist.
Absolutely timeless until a baseline hits and it’s dated instantly. I like Björk. Her voice is pretty incredible. So individual. But some of her music (most of it?) is objectively difficult to enjoy. Clever for being clevers sake. This isn’t too bad, though. Mostly pretty straight, with nice 90s house low key bangers.
First song, Human Behavior: not loving it. It's just singing and drums. Overall, didn't like it much 2/5 I guess because it's not bad music, just not my style.
Classic Human Behavior
A great album to listen to, excellent headphone album. Unlike anything else out there.
High 2
very fun and unique was crazy, not all my taste but swag album
Not a Bjork fan. That has remained unchanged!
Quirky album, lots of variety. I enjoyed the disco aspects on a lot of the songs. Bjork's voice is definitely unusual and a little off-putting at first but once I got used to it I enjoyed her style. Favorites: Venus as a Boy, One Day
Honestly, I've never heard someone mix so many dissonant musical genres before without it sounding weird. On the contrary, it sounds fantastic. Her voice sounds like magic. Even though it's not really my type of music, I was impressed. I've proven that she really is what people say she is and this is just her first album... I can't wait for the others!
I was surprised to like this. Her unique voice and pop melodies made this a good one to keep around for when you just want to feel violently happy. 4/5
By far the most enjoyable work by Björk that I've come across.
3-
It's alright. The big hits are great and "Venus as a Boy" is a genuine 10/10 song, but it sort of feels like something's missing. It's a bit too generic art pop for me. This was before she went insane and decided that one trillion bleep-bloop sound effects = good music (everything past Vespertine), but also before the Post/Homogenic golden period where she really hit that artistic sweet spot of "just weird enough". And wanna know the evil fucked up thing? This isn't even her debut. She's a liar. Re-release the album where she sings Beatles and Stevie Wonder covers as a 12-year old - Bjonk you coward.
One of the greatest voices of the last 30 years. Interesting and exciting. 4*
👍
Like an angel singing to us all.
In general I'm not a huge fan of Bjork, but this album is pretty good. She's really a remarkable weirdo, and I love weirdos.
Personally I like instrumentals that are connected in some way with the vocals.
Enjoyed Debut very much
This is what brilliance sounds like.
What a wonderful experience 4.8/5
è poco Bjork, ma rimane comunque molto caratteristico, non per questo particolarmente interessante.
Kind of meh to me. Not bad but not something I’m interested in.
A Debut solo album from the unique and influential singer. Highs and lows within but always interesting.
This is my first Bjork album and it contains songs in a variety of styles that don't sound too bad. Some songs are calm and some songs are upbeat.
This may have been cheating from me, because i know this album so well. It still amazes me. The voice and the artistry. Love it.
Hard to rate this on one listen (though have listened many times). Entirely enjoyable, perplexing, and otherworldly. 3.5
Brilliant; and the sound escaped the orbit of its age. It still sounds as unique and beautiful as it did when it was released.
Really glad for the push to deep dive into a whole Bjork album experience and it did not disappoint. It's clearly got some 90's house production influence but has no issue transcending the genre, firmly remaining true to finding her own voice. And what a voice it is! Whether she's singing over stripped back compositions or lush multi-track arrangements, her vocals take precedence. Nobody sounds quite like her while she works the recording booth like a stage, furiously telling the next story needing to be told.
Second Bjork in the same week? I respect her being out there and enjoyed the instrumentation (harp?!), but this wasn't for me. 2*
Björk on the road to Björkdom. A solid Debut.
This record legitimately changed my life. During the summer of 1993, I would stay up late every night to watch 120 Minutes and Alternative Nation, hoping they would show the Human Behaviour video (directed by Michel Gondry!!). Bjork was so cool and weird and I had such a crush on her. Everything about this record blew my mind. Up until that point, I mostly listened to rock and metal and this album opened my brain up to what pop music could be.
Björk clearly has and amazing voice and a flair for the unique and dramatic, but the phony electronic sounds on a lot of the album really detract from the experience.
Thought I'd never heard a bjork song before, only to be extremely familiar with Venus as a Boy from the chill playlist I listen to on repeat.
She made better albums since!
Good, but not as good as her later albums.
Unbelievable record really, from a true one-off mega-talent. Sounds like it should be too weird to go mainstream but somehow it's crammed with hits. Sheer charisma.
Amazing
An exceptional and complete album. It feels like a night out. The first half is full of dance floor beats and the second half is calming.
I remember, late one night in '94, bumping into the lovely, slightly crazy guy who lived down the street in east Oxford, just off the Iffley Road. He was a little wild-eyed. He confided to me that he was in love with someone, but hadn't told them yet, and that he was worried his mental health problems might get in the way. Do you think I have a chance with her? he asked. Why not, I said. Who is she? You might not know her, he said. It's Björk. Anyway, great to return to this. The 90s production is so noticeable now, but it's all good and interesting and serves the songs. Proper songs too, nothing wilful in the experimentation, just great music. 4.5 🌟, rounding up in memory of my old friend from down the road.
i’ll give anything she makes 5 stars; yes even the super weird stuff ❤️
Bjork is so creative. It's very interesting to explore her work. She always escapes the conventional. What a debut album! I love the way she sings.
She's got a cool voice. Not my type of music though.
How did this get on the list
I had heard bits and pieces of this album but never listened to the entire thing. It's hard sometimes to get through an entire Björk album in one sitting. Another very unique voice finds its way to this list and there may be no other voice that is more unique than Björk's. It's abrasive and scratchy and delicate and wistful all at once. She screams into whispers and whispers into screams. I was caught off guard by the pure dance beats some of these tracks are backgrounded with, but that's actually why I am rating this so highly. She has since shifted to a more symphonic sound, but the 90's dance music here is actually perfect for her voice. I think I enjoyed every song on this album, which is not an easy feat for a Björk album. A very good Debut indeed.
Truly sublime in practically every way. A great introduction to the masterful work of Björk who will only become better and better with every album. An absolute must-have.
Well I'm glad I never have to hear that again. Painful. I have no idea how this passes as music. It's not artistic, it's just not.
Whispered lofty voice Between a night lounge and club Strange pop, space worthy
This is better than the other 2 Bjork albums this site has given me. Being her debut, a lot of it sounds like the Sugarcubes, who I liked a lot. I gave Medulla 3 stars, but I can't go to 4 with this one.
I feel as if a lot of artists want to make a big philosophic or thematic statement on their first major artistic statement, and this is definitely the case with Björk’s Debut, which kicks off with Human Behaviour, which so screams being 22 that it kind of hurts. Debut settles down into a respectable little Euro-Pop-Art album pretty quickly after that, which is probably less resonant nowadays because of the Euro prefix on that description than it would like to be. I am reviewing this album about three weeks after I got it, and after my second listen, and I must say that I am being much, much kinder to it than I was initially intending to be. I know this should be a wake up call, I should listen to all of the albums multiple times to properly get them. I would love to, but I genuinely physically do not have the time, especially with all the catching up I have to do. What I do have to say, especially after having listened to Medúlla in the time between this review and my initial listen is that I feel as if I know more what Björk is about now and that certainly helped my listening experience. Debut may not be the best interpretation of her vision, and is certainly not the best way of get someone into Björk, but once it clicks, it clicks in a good way
Never been a fan and this hasn’t converted me. I don’t get her popularity.
This has some trippy electronic beats that I could see being enjoyed in an altered setting. This is the first time I have EVER listened to Bjork. I feel like I am not cool enough to really appreciate this. So not really for me but I can appreciate that she is talented.
I like Bjork and this album is no exception.
A combination of 90s dance beats and Bjork's strange, twisting vocals made this album an intriguing one. I don't think I've ever listened to a Bjork song so I had no idea what I was in for but I found this a pretty fun experience and it had my foot tapping along. I've no doubt it was pretty innovative for 1993. I'll be interested to see what her other albums on the list offer.
she’s just amazing. her voice is so incredible.
The most mainstream of her albums. Very nice, but still Bjork-sounding. Always good.
It’s not often that a truly singular talent comes along who remains so for their career. They are rare finds. Though I’ve never been a huge personal fan, I can respect her musical and artistry. She’s clearly operating in another league. Hints of the avant-garde Pop experiments to come on her debut.
For the two songs that were ok
I LOVE BJÖRK ! Debut is absolutely one of her best works, and remains one of the most innovative debuts of all time
I think it’s gonna take a few more listens. I hear Japanese Breakfast and Bon Iver
One of those artists I want to like but just can't seem to get in to
My favorite Icelandic singer. Human Behaviour is an obvious hit. Didn’t Madonna go through a Bjork phase?
Take all my money Björk. 1993! She was breaking the mold and making it stronger afterwards. I can see how this sound influenced countless artists
It's Bjork. You either love her or hate her. I fall in the latter camp. I see why this is on the Must Listen to list, though. It is to ensure we get exposure to the best of every kind of genre, or non-genre, out there. Bjork is a non-genre, which means I need to be completely out of my mind to enjoy her. I'm not, so she gets a three for being really good at what she does. (She's probably the only one doing what she does).
Bjork has a great voice, but this was a little too experimental and dissonant—the club-y electronic tracks too.
I love Björk, and would happily listen to all her work on a loop for days on end. Such variety and confidence for a Debut (solo) album, showing what she learned from her previous band as well as skills well outside of anything The Sugarcubes could or would have done. Was always likely to get five, but the chance to (properly) listen again reminded me why I fell for her in the first place!
IVE LISTENED TO THIS BEF9RE!!! I don't remember it being this good though! Love the sounds and her vocals are very nice! Love it very nice!!!
Cool album but I couldn't listen to it regular
I feel like I grew out of my Björk phase (which overlapped with most of my Radiohead phase), but this album is still good. It’s not so artsy as to not be enjoyable. It’s artistic, but it’s also just a good listen.
It's a bit unconventional of course. Some songs are great, but it wasn't always feeling it totally when passively listening.
Had to skip the second to last song as it was just too irritating. A generous 2/5 Bonus review off Tom "I imagine this album is very popular with the deaf community"
Love this album. XXXXX
I love this album. I don't really need to listen to it again to give it 5 stars but I will. Arguably, this is more for sentimental reasons rather than musical. But it's also an interesting mix of pop, dance and experimental music. Some of the electronic sounds are rather dated now, but I'd argue that just means they are "tied to an era" rather than "bad". I love the bit in "There's more to life than this" where Bjork leaves the club for a moment! I love the horn section on "Aeroplane" "Violently Happy" is a bit of a "banger," as they say. I also love the horn section on "The Anchor Song". Some of my favourite moments are the least played songs! Typical! Yeah, maybe this album should be 4 stars but I don't care...
A classic from my formative years….
What a Debut!
Unfortunately only got about halfway through, three times due to stuff going on. Thoroughly enjoyed what I listened to though, and will stick this on again at some point.
Not a fan, but could listen to most of the tracks.
don't think I've ever actually listened to Bjork. Can't say I am a fan. "One Day" was ok but "Like Someone in Love" was an especially painful listen.
I thought this album was just okay it had some interesting melodies and it is definitely the perfect album for a club night but I just didn’t really connect to it. That’s not saying it’s bad but I think it’s just average.
Good debut
Very weird but very good. A stunning debut album.
Tää on kyllä yks mun lempparilevyistä! Hieno levy joka outoa kyllä on kestänyt mun mielestä paremmin aikaa kun aikalaisensa 5/5
Kerrassaan upea soolodebyytti ja Björkin house-biisit iskee edelleen lujaa. Tuntuu toisaalta hieman raakileelta verrattuna Postiin (jota ei ilmeisesti listalla ole). Tällä levyllä veto vähän loppuu BTS:n jälkeen ja jotkut soundit ovat vanhentuneet. Sanoisin 4,5/5 mutta pyöristyy ylös, kun en saa antaa vitosta Postille.
Yksinkertainen hyvällä tavalla, ja samalla kuitenkin kiinnostava. Hallittu kokonaisuus. 5/5
Starts out with sitar and turns into wacky japanese pop and turns into some weird...this is only the third song. This is just crazy. Now, Fool On The Hill? It sounds like little Orphan Annie if she were an 8 year old boy. Bjork - Bjork 2/5 What I picture in my mind when I listen to this is a young “cute” child actor singing jingles for things like Oscar Myer, or national pride songs sung by some kid. I don’t really care for this and it was a struggle even to listen to it a second time.
Loved
Not for me
A real treat! She shows her artistic prowess with a haunting voice. I know, so much is made about here"quirkiness" but she is a talent musician. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
# Playlist track - Big Time Sensuality # Notes - There are some fun beats and interesting explorations, I'll give her that. Also hard to imagine how would have been to listen to this back in 1993. - Having said that. - Bjork has awful vocal range and the higher notes and screams are often incredibly annoying. - "Anchor Song" is boring. "Aeroplane" is insufferable. - Nice to listen once, for its uniqueness and variety, but no longer than that.
Icelandic mitski, only giving a bit more than 3 for uniqueness
Very Chill
I've never listened to Björk before, so I didn't know what to expect going into this album. I just got one thing to say: wow. This was a fantastic listen. Consider me a fan! 9/10 Would I listen again? Absolutely
Bjork is really odd. The music is a bit obtuse. But that is what makes it interesting. Not many others like her. I can't say my rating is equivalent to other 4-stars. Most of them, I'd be very happy listening to. I'm rating 4-stars because I'm pretty sure that with enough listens it would be at least a 4-star album, possibly 5-stars.
I had only known Björk via parody but man that parody was on point. I feel this is the music of a girl who would intimidate me in high school half because she's alluring and unique and half because I'm just so genuinely confused as to what's going on. This is odd but makes sense to be on the list.
Interesting for sure, inoffensive, tho I understand some are put off by her vocals. I don't think I will be convinced that this belongs on the list. I like what's happening, but I'm not of fan of these synths, I enjoy her voice. Okay, I changed my mind, this belongs. But still a 3 for me.
I'm torn between a 2 and 3 for this. I might just have a boring taste in music, I don't know, but for the most part this album did nothing for me, at times less than nothing. I did like "Like Someone In Love," and I do like Björk's voice, but I think the purposeful discordance and electronica vibes in many of the tracks just doesn't work for me. I was also bordering on liking "There Is More To Life Than This," for the lyrics primarily, and one of the other reviews talks about how this album sounds like Björk guiding you around and is a better image of her than you'd get from an album about her, and this one exemplifies that for me, but I still just never managed to step over to just liking the song.
Baby babble nonsense.
I like this, but don't connect to it as much as I had hoped. Very good album, but not doing quite enough for a four from me.
Björk felt like the future in the ‘90s and they still feel like the future today. Human Behavior is a five star song, but the rest of the album is also strong (although some songs have aged better than others).
Another Bjork so soon! When this popped up I thought, Oh no, this is going to suffer in comparison because of timing. But not really! I still love this one.
Another Björk, another 4
i like the way the boopy sounds feel in my brain if that makes sense
“You shouldn’t let poets lie to you”
Felt like an 80’s disco record
A true classic! Was in my rotation and I have listened to this album many times. Still sounds great! Favs: Human Behavior Big Time Sensuality There’s more to life than this The Anchor Song!!!
I like Bjork, but I like her in small doses.
I really dislike bjork
This album was not very good, I’m not sure how it has such high ratings
Really wanted to give this a 5 but I don’t want to become a 5 slut
Love this album, but I had friends who were fanatical about it when it was released. Bjork is like a vocal unicorn. Doesn't quite hit 5 for me because I have to be in the correct mood.
We used to own the Sugarcubes debut album, so I'm very familiar with Björk's vocal sound, but have never listened to any of her solo albums. I guess Debut is the right one to start with. Most of the album is too electronic and experimental for me.
I liked this album, but didn't love it. Several of the songs started to click in for me on my 3rd listen, but it generally felt like a less fully relaxed version of Kate bush. The harp work, however, was awesome.
mad cunt
Some good, lots of meh
Love love love it, and have since day 1. 30 years on and it still sounds fresh.
Mmmm, ok I guess
I really like "Human Behavior", "Venus as a Boy", "There's More to Life than This"(Recorded Live at the Milk Bar toilets) , "Come to Me". Sounds pretty dated but in a good way that I dont normally feel about early 90's electronic. It feels comfortable even though it is strange/"out there" . Not much to say but I enjoyed listening to it, would listen again.
2.5
1.5
I don't know how that prior review ended up here. That was for an entirely different album by Linkin Park. What I have to say about Björk is... I don't think you need to be gay to like Björk. However, I feel like the part of me that appreciates Björk without being fully immersed by her, the part of me that feels detached and bobs my head along and says "oh, interesting that she did that here." That part of me knows that in some shadow world a .03% gayer version of me has wallpapered his existence with Björk's music.
Well that wasn't for me but I get why people enjoy / respect it. 2.5 stars
very good, I liked it, probably the main one I have liked of hers so far.
Human Behavior - I like the instrumentals, but the way she sings it... I just can't stand it. It doesn't fit AT ALL Crying - it's better bc of the outro, but no lyrical content and forgettable. The instrumentals are okay. I don't like how she sings it. It's so unpredictable and off beat. Venus As A Boy - Doesn't stand out for me. I hate the glass falling sound, but I like the violins There's More To Life Than This - I have never heard a song like this. It's kinda fun Like Someone In Love - So boring. Big Time Sensuality - I love the beat, but she ruins it. It's just like she tried to sing this all in one take wihtout hearing it back to see if it actually sounded good. One Day - this is alright. Stands out for me. Aeroplane - her voice gets me so mad. She's singing in cursive and decides to scream at the most random moments. Come To Me - I like this, cuz her voice sounds nice on this song. it feels a bit like a fairytale Violently Happy - I loved when the beat came in. It's a little bit boring, but I like it. The Anchor Song - boring, atleast her vocals were a little bit better. Overal thought: Such a shame that you have such nice beats and instrumentals and that you sing over them so badly. Not for me. It's funny that I said on the album 'the score' that they could sing with a bit more emotion. This is the exact opposite: please sing with a little LESS emotion. Debating If I should give this a 1 or 2, because towards the end there were a couple songs that I didn't find terrible, but I think I'm staying at a 1 for now. Ranking: 1/5
Interesting album, for me it is too 'alternative'
Not my thing
I have this on CD. Haven't listened to it in some time, but it still holds up really well. I really like Venus As A Boy, but the whole album is good.
I liked this album some, kind of different 3 stars
Not for me
This was an experience. The use of unconventional sounds and ambient noises makes it otherworldly. I was transported to a dance club, a jazz club, a city, a garden and god knows where else. The style is all over the place and the transition between the songs were cool.
I had only ever heard a couple of Bjork songs and never in a dedicated session prior to this, and that is simply a shame. This whole album is so inventful, playful, and just flat out fun. It was a great listen with many songs that stood out to me, particularly Human Behavior, Crying, Venus as a Boy, and One Day. Truly looking forward to more Bjork on this list.
Couldn’t finish it….
Before listening: Goddamit, I don't wanna. 'It's Oh So Quiet' isn't even on this album so I must ask, what the hell am I doing here? I'm hoping this would be a bit more poppy, or at least more digestible, than her other work. Otherwise, I'll have one finger poised over the skip button, and my other finger poised over the 1 star. After listening: I don't take back anything I said, other than the 1 star thing. There were actually a few tunes here that were listenable, so I'll give her that. Otherwise, pretty forgettable and barely a decent melody in sight.
This was awesome. Can't say I've listened to a full Bjork record before but I've been aware that she's been at the forefront of avante-garde type pop for decades. Hoping for more of her discog on here as this was a treat of new and interesting sounds that I've been lacking with this list lately..
I wish I could give 6 stars. This album is so good. With most albums I count the songs I especially like, but with this album that's basically all the songs (maybe I'd skip Violently Happy).
I wanted this to be a 5, but there are a few songs that drag and make it less than perfect. Still, I love it for Nostalgia alone.
Realized that I remember this album so fondly partly because of 1) how much 'Human Behavior' is still such a great song, and 2) my general love of Bjork. Otherwise, was shocked to find how thoroughly 90s a lot of this sounds, even with Bjork's always amazing vocals - and doesn't necessarily hold up all that well. To my ears, Bjork really let go of trends with Post, Homogenic and Vespertine, while staying within the parameters of typical song structure - (before she got really esoteric & jettisoned things like instruments entirely) and those 3 albums are much stronger for it. This one, while good, didn't really stand the test of time.
Very calming woodland music. She has an amazing voice and then instrumentation really helps to highlight it
A very unique voice, that's for real. Besides of that i didn't find anything that makes this album special, but it good for a debut album.
First listen Saved 5/11 Top track: Venus as a Boy
This isn’t normally my type of music but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed listening. It’s pop music but you can definitely hear influences outside of that genre. I would listen again if I was feeling in the mood.
Bjork has a hauntingly beautiful voice. She makes odd songs. They are not all pretty - some are even uncomfortable. Some are strikingly beautiful: melodic, rich, and well orchestrated. This album ranges from incredible songs, to the odd side of avant-garde. It is certainly memorable, and interesting, but may not be great...
Excellent. Unique voice, unique sound, unique instruments.
Weird works wonders.
Mellow
The better known tracks (Human Behaviour, Venus as a Boy) stand out as quirky but interesting pop, while the rest of the record is a bit dancier, and relies on electronic drums and keyboards to push things forwards for the most part. Björk's unique voice with it's huge melodic jumps and quality of sounding like it's permanently about to crack is the key defining feature of the album. Pretty good overall. Not the first time I've heard this, but I enjoyed it.
Iceland’s very own was far ahead of her time in 1993. Probably too far ahead, but nonetheless this record still carry’s its own weight in 2024 with songs like “Venus as a boy” and “human behaviour”. Listening through this album at times I felt like I was in a grimly lit back room of European warehouse waiting for an interaction with a Slovenian drug lord, and yet at other times I was just on the other side of that warehouse in an early 90s dance club dancing my worries away high on mescaline. Either way, this album is a bit of an anomaly for me. Not quite 4 stars because of its weirdness, but not quite 3 stars because it’s got these pockets of opal and excellence. 3.5/5 if I could vote it, I would
Really enjoyed her performance in Robert Eggers’ THE NORTHMAN (2022)
Such a fun 'artsy girl goes to the disco' album. Not Bjork's best album but still good enough to be 5 stars.
Dumb
Björk is a bit of an enigma with her bold and unique arrangements. I've long desired to get closer to her music but have struggled to maintain a deeper connection. Debut blends together several genres with memorable lyrics and a passionate voice. Certainly worth revisiting to bring out the true genius of her work.
4.5 This is my first time actually listening to Bjork and what an experience. Complex, but fun to listen to. I finally understand what the kids mean when they say “mother is mothering.”
Wow. First time really listening to Bjork. Blown away. That voice is unreal, utterly captivating. Music is phenomenal, blend of UK rave, IDM, jazz, pop, all blended into one. 4.5*, rounding up for the surprise factor
I liked this better than I thought I would. Eclectic and quirky with some interesting lyrics, it was a fun listen. I would listen to it again. Bright spots..."Come to Me" and "Violently Happy".
listened to again vastly artistic and still hard to listen to sometimes due to asynchronous composition techniques
Musik meist ok, Gesang nervt schnell
Not my thing
It’s club night at the fairy-glen. This album is at its best in techno-mode with big house grooves and driving uptempo beats (Big Time Sensuality, Crying) where Bjork plays the role of the disco diva-vocalist over the top, taking that role into spritely and unpredictable elfin directions. The vocal performance is amazing, lines that start as guttural growls rise and rise to soprano fluttering climaxes. The darker slower tracks (One Day) combine moody synth beats with more layered rhythms moving slightly away from the 4 on the floor sound to achieve a kind of bleak trance effect. There’s some cool jazz borrowing (Human Behavior, Aeroplane) with organic horns sounds to cut through the synthetic textures. As wide ranging as this is, it pretty much all hits, the only one that doesn’t work is the really sparse harp+vocal track (Like Someone in Love). Totally unclassifiable, but probably the best electronica with an experimental rock sensibility hybrid stuff to come out of the 1990s.
It’s cool
I will start off by saying that I do enjoy electronic / experimental / trip hop (Poison Girlfriend & Portishead are some of my favourites.) As long as it's good music — I'll rock with it. Here in lies the problem: Björk's music is genuinely not good. Her over-reliance on digital tool, paired with her mediocre-at-best voice (Björk fans find her jarring vocals "endearing", I do not) makes Björk's albums feel more like an art installation than music intended for enjoyment. In addition, her albums lack cohesion and focus. Unless you're big on avant-garde, I recommend you to skip today's album.
it is okay i need to give it more listens but sounds interesting
Honestly just chill and calm. Sweet voice that was enjoyed as background music for internet browsing.
Very interesting. She has a great voice but uses it in strange ways.
Unique voice, and music. Not my genre.
I like it but and its very replayable.
There were some good instrumental vibes here and there but nothing that really stuck. She can sing but she kinda just yells pretty.
Good vocals but the ramblings lyrics on a synthboard can only go so far
sure was a björk album. actually enjoyed this more than i thought i would, v vibey
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background I enjoyed this more than I expected.
I know, I know... she's cutting edge. Her own sound. Trendsetter, feminist, a swan wearing visionary. But, also ear-bleeding vocal dissonance and random melodies that make my brain hurt. Not today, Björk. Not today.
some strange stuff, couple jams. not too bad. rating system: 1- really bad 2- meh/boring 3- good 4- pretty good 5- all time
Fun but also kind of boring at times.
Really great debut and one of my favorites from her discography.
It's great for sure, but nothing really exciting there. Bjork would do really better in the future.
I’d heard hits from this album like ‘Venus as a boy’ and wasn’t too keen. However I was pleasantly surprised when listening to this, Debut is just so creative. I particularly enjoyed ‘Human behaviour’ (the hit I didn’t know) and ‘One day’. It’s not usually the sort of thing I listen to but it was rich and memorable enough for a future revisit. As I’m going to listen again I think Debut warrants a full five stars.
Unapologetically inventive.
5/5. I sure do love diverse albums. Throw every genre at me, make the listening experience a chaotic display of uniqueness. Bjork's singing is also so powerful and creates an interesting dichotomy of art pop and a voice that might fit better in rock music. Her growls are a highlight of her vocals, so fun and exciting. I feel like I barely scratched the surface of the album from each song but I did very much like what I heard.
How many times have I really wanted to like Bjork...more than I can remember for sure. While this album is perfectly fine, it doesn't really strike me as being all important the way it is typically revered. 3/5
It was certainly my debut with her all those years ago. A couple of tracks are still nostalgic a bit and make me remember one particular season. Otherwise, I'm a no-go on Bjork. She had so much promise, and she delivered something important to someone, it just wasn't me.
We reach the end of the list’s Björk. Or do we?? Some debuts are hard to top. Some bands and musicians come out of the gates with the fire and inspiration of youth, and even beyond a sophomore slump can never quite find that peak again. Björk’s “Debut” isn’t her peak, though. It’s a great start for an artist clearly willing to pursue bold experimentation, but much of “Debut” is oddly too safe. She took her unique voice and wrapped it in electronica, but as daring as her vocals might be, the house beats push no envelopes. Those vocals are best when they really crest and break loose, and I wished for more of that here. But “Debut” was only Björk’s debut as a solo artist. I had forgotten that, but something here reminded me to look up where she got her start - with the pop rock band Sugarcubes. I checked out a couple songs, and was immediately taken by the pairing of Björk’s voice with a rock background. So I checked the list, and it turns out we are not at the end of the list’s Björk - the Sugarcubes' debut awaits us.
Intriguing. Evocative. Boundary busting. Perplexing. All things Björk.
Off-key noise 2/5
Good album - not exactly my music. Anyway: safe 4 stars
Yayyyyy Bjork!! I never owned this album but I am definitely familiar with 3 songs on here. I'm excited to hear this all the way through.
Not Björk's best or most focused work but this must have been so refreshing when it hit the industry.
It was really good. I liked it better than the other björk album I’ve heard, homogenics.