Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Hate the techno
Since 30 years not my kind of music…
Largely a dance/techno album but it has some unexpected avant garde jazzy flourishes.
I had previously only known Bjork by reputation or as the butt of a joke on SNL, I had never taken the time to listen to her music before. And it is weird, but it is certainly not dull. There were a couple songs mid album that I didn't enjoy as much, but for the most part I quite enjoyed it.
Day61 - i can understand why bjork is on the list. her songs and her voice are interesting
Well, well, well. It finally happened. There have been 16 artists until now who have given me two albums for this generator (15 if you don't count the Neil Young and Crazy Horse album as being from the same artist as the Neil Young I've gotten). However, I have not gotten three albums from the same artist until now. The artist to first bestow three albums upon me... is Björk. I don't know how to feel about that. I don't dislike Björk. Quite the contrary. I thought Vulnicura was really good and Medulla, while not quite as good, was still not a bad album. It's just that Björk isn't really the kind of artist that I expected to ever listen to this many albums from in my life, especially before ever listening to a single full album from artists like Nirvana and Stevie Wonder. But, that's besides the point. Do I like Debut? Well, if I'm going to be honest, I think this is my favorite Björk album yet. Her singing sounds the same, which isn't a bad thing. I know singing experts would probably tell me that her voice has changed a lot since 1993, but I don't really hear it which, again, isn't a bad thing. The writing is pretty solid. She's not afraid to get weird while also remaining mostly comprehensible. One thing that makes listening to three Björk albums a potentially worthwhile experience is that she is an artist who is more than willing to experiment with each album. This is a very different album than the one's I've listened to before. This album has a lot more pop and electronic elements to it, as well as a generally more upbeat mood. That's not to say it's too positive or anything. There's still this aura of mystery surrounding each song. There really isn't a bad song on here. It's crazy to know that Björk's first album (even if technically wasn't her first) is so good. So you know, after listening to this album, I'd say that Björk being my first three-album artist is a good thing. High 4/5.
This was a difficult listen for me. I'm not a huge fan of experimental music - The most experimental album I've ever listened to and enjoyed is yeezus. I guess the more avant garde stuff isn't for me. anyways What I liked: - The beats on most of the songs were pretty okay - There were like 3 tracks I liked - Bjork tried something new What I didn't: - Bjorks voice is an acquired taste I guess. I hate her singing. - The first song - I don't like house music so this was a difficult listen
not too bad. Not really my type of jam.
I’m getting confused by Bjork. Before the 1,001 albums list I just dismissed her as a lunatic. However, this is the 2nd album so far in the list and I found lots I really like. Maybe the radio only really played the whacky silly pop tracks and that built up an intolerance. I’ve given this a second listen today and now have a slimmed down 6 track version of the album I’ll keep and listen to again. Gone are the nonsense tracks that irritate me and I’m left with a decent half hour of great music. ‘Crying’ and ‘One Day’ are the standouts, but some lovely mood, harmonies and percussion throughout. I have to give it a 3 star, as I’ve culled half of the album, but I’m really happy with the bit I’ve got left!
Great debut solo album. A low 3.
My relationship with Björk's debut is complicated. I like 'Human Behaviour', 'Venus as a Boy', 'Big Time Sensuality', and 'Violently Happy', but it's just really disjointed. Please enjoy the following excerpt from an equally disjointed review I wrote in 2012 (fed through Google translate): "All in all, the first 3 tracks promise very well for the album, and are fantastic building blocks for an innovative album. Unfortunately, one has to admit that the Icelandic singer had not yet put the 80s behind her in 1993. "There's More To Life Than This" is a completely unsuccessful terrible number. Without edge, with small-philosophical text and with a cutting vocal, the number tears the whole glossy picture apart. The number stinks far away of the 80s and disco music, which certainly does not suit Björk. The catastrophe is followed by "Like Someone In Love", which is possibly the most boring song ever played on the harp. Here, too, the idea falls completely to the ground. Well, the album is 12 tracks long, and with tracks like "Big Time Sensuality" and "Violently Happy" Björk proves that she can easily merge genres and bring aspects of 80s happy-dance music to the album. Here one must be frustrated and wonder why many of the album's songs do not show this. Here, however, praise must be given to producer Nellee Hooper for having placed the strong tracks spread over the entirety of the album - there is always a track to look forward to, right to the end. "Play Dead" is one of the best remixes on a studio album, and purely in terms of popularity, parallels can be drawn to "Left Hand Suzuki Method" on "Gorillaz". I really wanted to like the album, and I've really enjoyed a handful of the tracks on it. Unfortunately, the rest are simply so terrible that one can only rejoice that Björk has clearly become more artistically critical of her own material and now manages to create thoroughly solid albums like "Biophilia". Had the album been an EP of 5 songs, it would have received 6/6. Unfortunately, there is too much stuff, and genre confusion and unworked tracks lead to a boring experience."
There’s a lot to love. There’s a lot to hate. Björk is a divisive artist as it is, but her debut, Debut, is not nearly as cohesive as some of her later excellent efforts. There’s even a few truly terrible songs on this one - I’ll let you guess which one is objectively the worst. You’ll know.
unmemorable
bjork. interesting.
Ein Klassiker!
Lovely Music!
3.5 One of her best!
etwas zu viel Harfe und weird
She has an unsettling voice. The sound of it creates a bad effect on me. It seem to somehow always be off key. I think this album would be a lot better without the vocals.
Mediocre
The first half was AMAZING. The secound half... i didn't enjoy as much Very cool stuff overall 4/5
- Engulfs me for two tracks then loses me for two tracks. Repeat. - "Venus as a Boy" stands out and I am very entranced by the classic feel of "Like Someone in Love." - Not a fan of her British dance/electronic hits. Just not my thing.
This is my second Björk album, and I'm still not sure I like her. I appreciate her work for sure, its super interesting and unique. But do I enjoy listening to it? I don't know. I expect its an acquired taste. This earlier album was definitely more enjoyable than the last one I got. More electronica influence here. Her voice is just, jarring? Strange? I don't know. Glad to have listened, not sure I'd choose to put this on again.
Nah
I was sorry to learn that I like the idea of Bjork more than the reality, at least of this album.
I actually own a different (and much later) Bjork album, and I'm impressed at how distinctive and consistent her style and sound has been, as well as those *wild* outfits. I always feel like she took The Sugarcubes to her logical conclusion, and then just started an infinite number of variations of that theme. For me, her sound has always been a bit more background music than I'm sure she'd prefer, but I *will* say that the few videos I've seen of some of her more recent songs are amazing productions in themselves. With this album, though, there weren't too many songs that really hooked me, and a few that I found pretty grating ("Like Someone in Love" an exemplar).
What a strong debut! The music is terrific throughout; loved the drums on the first two songs especially and the layered sound in Venus as a Boy. Only weakness to me is her singing style and, at times, her voice (esp in Like Someone in Love)--I love the power of her voice just wish sometimes she worked more with the flow of the music rather than against it, and occasionally she doesn't hit her note.
I can see how it’s good but not for me
Cut out the Euro dance trash and there was something here.
Started strong. Like how eclectic it was. Latter part of the album was too eurobeat-y for me. I liked the last song though.
Interesting. I liked the first half and lost my weird appreciation a little on the back half
The psychosocial New York loft fashion show soundtrack performed by an Icelandic Fairy. 4.5/5
I saw this and was thinking Sean dresses and screaming. I never particularly cared for this Icelandic princess. I have say, though, I was pleasantly surprised by how good this album was. What I appreciated most is you can here the Gaga, Ray-era Madonna, the Radiohead, Oakenfold, Alanís and so many others, but this predated them all. Standout tracks were Human Behavior and Violently Happy. Inclusive of the historical influences this had on other artists , I gotta go 5-Star on this one!
Really liked this album too! Way more eclectic than I realized. I missed too much good music in the 90s. Still had plenty of good music but wish I had branched out even more.
It's okay, she has a good voice but just not really getting much from the songs to be honest.
Feminine, funky, plenty of range. Can see the inspiration it gave many modern artists
Really solid, weird, fun, experimental album that still holds up over 30 years later.
I just don't think she has a very good voice. The music was nice, but her voice is weak and unremarkable.
That voice is amazing. Love this one
virkelig fedt. første björk album jeg har hørt hele vejen igennem (?????)
Hvis den kunne holde niveauet ville det være en 5er, men jeg elsker den stadig
Bedre end forventet, men jeg skal lige bruge noget mere tid til at lære at snuppe hendes stemme.
Ok
I was really excited to listen to this album. Trip hop has long been a genre with a lot of real-estate in my Playlist and listening time. I know she is related and influencial to/by trip hop, but I've never really given any attention to bjork. This album is.... interesting. I don't hate it, but I don't see myself returning to this or adding any songs to my personal Playlists. Some fun and interesting instrumentation and sampling, mixed with a lot of.... meh. Maybe her voice is an acquired taste, but I have yet to acquire it. It ranges from tolerable to grating. When she goes for power, which she does a LOT, it feels like more misses than hits, with some real nails on the chalkboard moments. Some of the songs have a nice mellow lounge feel and her vocalization seems... incongrous. I feel like more sultry and smooth ala beth gibbons would have served some of the songs a lot better. Overall, some interesting sound experimentation, but not my cup of tea.
Icelandic queen with a beautiful voice and cool vibe! A great album to listen to when you call out of work to dilly dally with your man :-)
I’m not usually a big fan of electronic music but I like the vibe on this and I like Björks voice a lot. “She sings in cursive” 3.8*
Qui commence bien finit bien
très bien
Good, but doesn't grip me as much as her next few albums.
😣
high energy. off beat
Weird. Wonderfully weird. Great vibes.
One of the better Debut albums ever. The soaring vocals and beautiful oddity. I love her. She's so weird. And I love her.
I was a huge Sugarcubes fan. Bjork has a very unique and intoxicating voice. I’ll rate this at the midway point because it’s her first solo album and I feel she gets better after this one.
At first, I thought I would not like experimental Icelandic pop, but it turns out I quite enjoyed it
Most interesting to me is her singing over the bass line and percussion. It wasn’t bad.
High school years and this artist is definitely someone I remember listening to. Listening back now, I somewhat question my tastes. With that being said, it’s not terrible. She’s a pretty interesting artist.
Love!
She has an interesting sound
While Björk would soon expand on a number of these ideas and release 3 absolutely sensational records in a row afterwards, Debut serves as an enjoyable and ambitious sign of what’s to come. Björk is already an amazing vocalist and visionary on this record. What’s more is, lyrically, she’s expressing different confessional aspects of her life and love as vulnerability graces many of these upbeat and dance oriented arrangements. Her production and sequencing would get better but Human Behaviour, Venus As a Boy, and Like Someone in Love stand as some of Björk’s best songs to this day. 8/10
Up beat 90s sound. Not my time of music. Her voice is powerful and beautiful at times but a little too 90s growly and screechy.
Heard of Bjork as a quirky artist. Alternative album from 1993. 3 so far.
rating my first album in a while just because its bjork <3 human behaviour- yuhhhh. i like the drums. 7 or 8. crying- me too. oh its funky. 7 or 8 venus as a boy- yuhhhhhhhhhhhh 8 theres more to life than this- yooooooo. 8 like someone in love- harp <3 6 sorry big time sensuality- yo. 8 one day- the bass bro. 7 aeroplane- like an aeroplane over the seaaaaa. sorry. sax. im exploring a jungle. 6 or 7 come to me- ummmm 6 or 7 violently happy- the anchor song-
The Sugarcubes and Bjork BACK TO BACK. Not my cup of beer. I could listen to it, but barely! Favorite (loosely put) Come to me.
Not a fan.
My 2024 resolution was to focus on the positives on my album reviews and this was one was pretty tough. The positives - She does have a very good voice. I have a friend with the last name Bjork who has a pretty good band. ND hockey had a great player named Anders Bjork. As for this album, I just couldn't find anything that grabbed my attention. Different for sure, but just not enjoyable to this listener. Can't see myself revisiting this album. Didn't this girl go to some music show with a live goose around her neck or something like that? Interested enough to ask the question, but not enough to do the research and find out. 2
3 My first real foray into Björk’s music, an artist that I’m aware is critically acclaimed and that I’m guessing we haven’t seen the last of on this list. I’m not sure if her debut (helpfully titled “Debut”) is the best place for a newbie to start, but given it made a list of 1001 best albums, it shouldn’t be a bad place, right? I will say, for 1993, the style of electronic pop music on this album definitely feels ahead of its time, production-wise especially - if I didn’t know any better, I probably would have guessed this came out in the 2000s (or hell, maybe even today). That being said, I’ve never been a huge fan of that era’s style of pop music, and while I do think Björk does it a lot better than a lot of her contemporaries (and even those that followed), it’s still not quite enjoyable enough to have me feeling stronger than a 3/5. Honestly, what mostly makes the album for me are the vocals - I genuinely think Björk has a great voice and that it carries a lot of the music, though I may be biased because I found it incredibly similar to that of another mononymous female vocalist and solo artist whom I happen to adore - Mitski. That’s pretty high praise from me given that I think Mitski has one of the most beautiful voices in music, though I will say, while being perhaps a touch more technically proficient, I don’t think Björk has quite the same level of personality or distinction to hers (as an aside, if you’re like me and like Björk’s voice but don’t love the sound of this album, I recommend giving her former group, The Sugarcubes a listen). Song-wise, there wasn’t a ton that stood out to me here. Human Behavior is a solid opener and probably the best song on the album, but it’s quickly followed up by the cheesy and overly cutesy Venus as a Boy. After that, the only real highlight was Violently Happy, which I’ll admit has a catchy chorus to it, but that one is immediately followed up by an absolute abomination of a closer in The Anchor Song. Jesus, that song is grating - how can anyone seriously give this album a 5 with that crap on it? I’m definitely curious to check out more of her work, but I’m not impressed by the debut.
I like Bjork.
I didn't think I would enjoy this. I remembered her being Yoko Ono-esque vocalization over that airy pop electronica. While the latter was true, the vocals were odd but pleasant and accessible for a new listener.
What a different voice! I love that she uses electronica, then a harp. Her voice is high in the mix and I like that. The chords and vocals are pretty dissonant at times, a little disconcerting, but she pulls it together. Cool album! Don't think I could listen to it a lot though. Her vocals are much the same from song to song, with a limited range mostly then big leaps. Oh wait, Come to Me has a different melody! An accordion on the Anchor song! A flutey organ on Atlantic. The orchestral background on Play Dead! There's no doubt she did what she wanted on this album. It wasn't made with money as the objective.
Sometimes ok, sometimes quirkily interesting, sometimes outright bizarre, and never my style. I give it an average rating just because it was vocally unique enough to warrant acknowledgement.
Must have been mind blowing in 93. Big Time Sensuality could easily pass as a Sonic The Hedgehog 3 soundtrack.
What can I say, Bjork occupies a special place in my heart. I listened to this album since 7-8 years old. Great debut by independent Bjork, not yet her full-fledged style, but already interesting musically
That was actually very nice! It’s the first Björk album I really enjoyed. Pretty cool stuff
I like the weirdness, but a lot of the tracks have pretty standard electronica for the instrumental, and there are too many love songs.
Holy shit a 5th Bjõrk?! The music is garbage. Stay away. Burn it down. It is definitely a 90s album but not a good one. It is better than some of her other albums that made the list, but that's about it. No need to listen.
I really don't know what I'm supposed to think of this album. The songs just sound weird to me.
Bjork’s music has such a quirky, cool, likeable aesthetic. Her debut is no exception, though it is a little less interesting and varied than some of her subsequent albums (e.g. Vespertine, one of my previous albums on this list, received an even higher rating). Venus As A Boy vividly demonstrates Bjork’s understanding of musical hooks, and the instrumentation throughout the album is incredibly atmospheric and ethereal. Other highlights include Aeroplane (nifty percussion!), Violently Happy, and Human Behaviour. The tracks are of ideal length (runtime), and differ from one another enough to maintain good listener interest, particularly for a debut. (Debut albums can sometimes fall into the trap of every song sounding the same, under the guise of committing to a particular style – see Bowie’s first, self-titled album.) The only track that was a miss for me was The Anchor Song, whose hook was unsatisfying and a little grating. Still, a generally very good album.
I think Post is a better album, but Debut is a hell of a way to start a solo career.
love bjork with all of my life. post through vespertine are probably my fav of her albums but i loooove debut too. bjorks experimentalism is on full display here, and the album really does feel ahead of its time in so many ways. this album probably more than any others showed just the raw possibilities she would start exploring for the next few decades. a little bit of everything is on here and it's just so exciting and inspiring to listen to
OMG ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ARTISTS, I DON'T KNOW EVERY SONG OF THIS ALBUM BECAUSE I'M A GRADUAL ADDER, BUT JUST KEEP IN MIND ALL THE SONGS ARE 10/10 IDC, AND 5 STARS FOR THE ALBUM IN ADVANCE. I know first, third, fourth, and 6th songs, always wanted to listen to the whole album and now I can. First song, ooh soo good it is already. I love her voice, it's unique, plus uses her vocals in the best way possible. This song is about human's, I think, and their behaviour. The beats and the instrumental break is also amazing, it fills my head somehow. Her voice is softer and repeats the title. It's so chaotic now, background voice, the beat and the loud thingy. Weird instrument came in, it's giving Björk (obvi). Outro is she repeating "human". As I said all the songs are 10/10. Second song, and what a beat. WOW the piano, and that random beat in my left ear. Verse ended and even more weird the whole vibe is, I love it, so danceable too, plus catchy. Her random screams are the best, noone does it like Björk I swearr. The beat is more upbeat during the chorus. Lyrics ended but 1 or more minutes is left. It's gibberish at the end, I suppose (so Björk). Ending on a slower beat with her gibberish, now it's only her, best slightly came back and went away. Third song, I WILL RECOGNISE THIS BEAT EVERYWHERE, "his wicked sense of humour suggests exciting sex" when I first read that I was flabbergasted for no reason. Omg the gibberish after saying "necklace". I get why people dislike this, I find her unique in a way that makes me music taste unique too, sounds dumb, but I love experimental artists basically, so Björk gives me that(sounds like I don't actually like her, but I really do). Also smn said "stop giving me Björk albums, so THERE'S MORE OF HER HERE, AMAZING). lovely ending and the song is just perfect, not boring as some said. 4th song, disco and people talking?! What is she doingg, whispering noww. NO THE DISCO IS EVERYTHING HERE. Apparently I've never listened to this song closely, it's much better than I remember. Wait beat is gone and car closed, now I feel like Björk is talking to me, beat is back. Her gurgling-like sound is so satisfying I must say. The outro is pure disco for me, beat is gone ohhh and that's how it endss. 5th song, it was a fucking transition, I love her even more. Also romantic chords is in the room with us. She's softer with the voice too. Wave sounds. Instrumental break is very chill and relaxing, the wave sounds is again a nice addition. YES THE INSTRUMENT IS HARP, FINALLY REMEMBERED THE NAME, LOVE THAT. There was some people talking slightly too. Outro is the harp, and some step sound at the end. 6th song, weird beat, I like it. It has the previous mentioned disco vibe, but it's more experimental now. I repeat the beat is catchy and addictive. THE gibberish is backk. Long outroo with her gibberish, iconicc. Now I none of the songs that are left(except play dead, which I know a different version). 7th song, baby sounds hello? The guitar is quite nice here Latino vibed. Oh, the beat came in and it's fully different. She repeats the title a lot. Baby voice was actually a sample as I read. The beat vibe changed again, and back to the original one. Ended normally, nothing surprising. There should be a song "Atlantic" on the album and I can't find it anywhere, weird. 8th song, jazz plus bird sounds. It's much slower than other song, I feel like in a jungle tbh. Her voice is soft here. There is background vocals now. Outro is long, but mysterious. I forget to how much I loved the songs(before songs) because I already see them as masterpieces, this one is no different, and I'm being objective too. 9th song, piano is giving. Slow vibes, and soft voiced. Oh violin I hear, coool. I love the ongoing beat and the lyrics are simple, but fun to read, because of the meaning. This one is... I was gonna say annoyingly slow, but new instrument came in and it's better now. Outro is with that piano and violin. Piano notes were the best here. 10th song, acoustic she sings now. Oh electronic beat is slowly coming in, in the right ear then in the middle, AND BOOM I FEEL LIKE IN A CLUB, IT PROGRESSED EVEN MORE. Right ear I hear some weird short sound. The beat was not so hard, but still so enjoyable the whole song was made by it. 11th song, jazz sounds, she sang and jazz came back, that's the que here, she and jazz replace eachother. New albums of her have this vibe, but the jazz is even more experimental. Outro is long and fully jazzy. Her Voice was soft. I loved this too, it was different and would definitely listen to this while writing smth, because it's peaceful and JAZZZY. 12th song, I was right I know this one. It's louder and her voice is more powerful, she sings differently too, faster. Gibberish as alwaysss. The violin sound is so iconic and unforgettable too. Genius says the big pause after "anchor song" is connected to this song, I don't get it rn. I think first song that finished on slowing down the beat and her voice. Despite that I have officially listened to the whole album, there is still some songs left that I am not obligated to listen to, but I will definitely do it off from this app. Just listening to "I remember you" and it's so romantic, the harp is everything here, it's one of the later added songs I think, and it's as perfect as it could be. Anyway OBVIOUSLY 5 STARS FOR THIS GORGEOUS ALBUM. Everything was perfect and well thought, I loved every second of it, can't wait for more of her albumss.
Great album. She has a very unique voice and I remember some very happy times while listening to her songs.
Dreamy soundscape, found unengaging. Lyrically uninteresting. (4/10)
Unique in every sense of the word. I never really clicked with Björk all the way, but there is no denying the greatness of her debut.
Ethereal pop. I listened a full time through and it didn't catch my attention much.
I really wanted to like Björk, just for the sake of her being an Icelandic girl with an ö in her name. But these are just lazy synth pop tunes with her mumbling, shouting, slurring and stretching vocals on top.
Awful Like somebody was swinging a cat by its tail
I can see why the artists like it. But so so.
Björk’s debut is so easily one her best. This shit is so sick
Earlier this month I had a different Bjork album and gave it 2* and said I'd heard a few of her albums but none had clicked for me. This has definitely clicked for me. I've listened to this a few times now and every time I do I like it even more. The first four tracks back to back are one of the best sequences to open an album I've ever heard, especially Crying and Venus as a Boy.
1a
This is mostly just too weird for me, and lives mostly in a genre that I don't like, house/dance/electronic sound. It's not bad, but it isn't really enjoyable for me. I am glad that she leans into her unique sounding voice, rather than shying away from it and trying to create more "normal" sounding music.
I never listened to Bjork before and I'm glad I did. Solid album with some interesting stuff in it. I'll check out more.
Unique for sure.
Björk.
listened 2x. 4.1/5
This is a solid pop album. Obsessed with the diegetic break in the middle of There's More To Life Than This
If could give a 3.5 I would! Solid album but I don’t understand the hype!
infectious dance music with alluring and soothing vocals. very different, but pleasing to the ears.
My God, she is brilliant.
Although I'd argue that 'Post' and 'Homogenic' are stronger examples of Bjork's music (and not included in this challenge, sadly), 'Debut' is still a very powerful album. Bjork's voice is sensational and unique. She's long been one of my favorite vocalists. She's been a lifelong singer, releasing her first album as a child and then spending her teenage years jumping around punk bands, some of which were better than you might think. She finally found early international fame with The Sugarcubes, who produced some wonderfully weird music. But Bjork always needed to go her own way. She is and always has been a force on her own, not a mere singer in someone else's band. She would eventually leave Iceland for London where she had the freedom to do her own thing and was embraced by the emerging electronic movements of the early 90s, with an explosion of subgenres having their moment, including trip hop, drum n bass, and acid house, among others. These sounds all seemlessly made their way into the appropriately titled 'Debut', with the assistance of 808 State's Graham Massey and the album's producer Nellee Hooper. While electronic music made up the backbone of the album, it is also filled with Bjork's early concepts and demos that never fit into her previous musical efforts the right way. The saxophones feel slightly out of place at first but on multiple listens they make up an essential part of the whole recording. While her later work in the 90s may have been more easily digestible, 'Debut' is full of slow burns. I didn't immediately like songs like 'Aeroplane' or 'The Anchor Song' but sooner or later, they really clicked. It's a little harder to track it down, but the Brodsky Quartet version of 'The Anchor Song' is among my favorite pieces of music ever recorded.
Bjork is a singular talent. She is constantly innovating and taking popular music into new territory. This album, her debut, is a fascinating blend of jazz, electro-pop, and trip hop. Human Behavior and Big Time Sensuality are jams, Crying and Venus as a Boy are excellent, and the slower songs such as Like Someone in Love, ground the album in a timeless sound. It’s not her masterpiece, but it is a great start to her brilliant solo career.
This album is all vibes. Favorite track was violently happy.
It's a great first solo outing for Bjork, full of classics.
Bjork is hit or miss for me, as is this album. I respect that she puts it all out there and certainly agree Debut deserves a spot on this list. I particularly liked Big Time Sensuality; Human Behavior and Crying are cool. But songs like Like Someone In Love This and The Anchor Song are insufferable. On balance I was surprised by how much of the album I did wind up liking. My favorite of hers on this list.
4 instead of 5 because I thought it had it’s oh so quiet and it didn’t
Another artist where I was convinced by other people that they were bad. I loved this! Bjork’s ethereal voice mixed with banging music is a recipe for greatness. I’ve found a new favorite. 5/5
love this album
Some interesting songs 3/5
Icelandic recording artist Bjork's solo debut album, "Debut," is critically acclaimed on the British charts. An amalgamation of genres, Bjork produced a cheerful album. Overall, not my cup of tea.
Pretty solid album. Loved the vocals on this one. Just wished the songs as an overall were better. Only one that stood out to me is Venus as a boy
HE VENUS AS A BOY
Bjork is as mad as a bag of frogs... but this album is incredibly boring and lack musical talent, its basically just Bjork quirky singing style. Big Time Sensuality is the only track I'd listen to on the album, the rest of it was really not my thing... sooo boring.
Heard some later Bjork, mostly Homogenic and Vespertine, and the one from around 2016? Surprised by this one, very original sound and unique, ahead of her time for sure. Not a fan of Big time sensuality though, different from the tone of the rest of the album (and her catalogue), and kinda silly
I bought this album the day it came out and have listened to it countless times since. Every song if fantastic. Bjork's voice is magical, she can have a guttural growl all while sounding cute.
I already know some of the songs on this one. Human Behavior, VaaB, and Like Someone in Love. At first listen, I still like those the best off the album. I’ve also heard Come to Me before, and like that one, too. At least one song I had to fast forward bc it was getting on my nerves (I think it was Aeroplane?).
I enjoyed it, esp. Human Behaviour
Very good!
Loved the album as a whole. The vocals were stunning. Loved the avant-garde feel. The album was in my face the entire time but not in an aggressive manner.
The instrument is her voice I get it nowww. Seriously loved Play Dead. She makes strange noises that remind me of noises my wife makes. Side note, is Bjork cancelled in China? She's impossible to find on QQ music.
ooooo. I like. I have never sat down and listened to Bjork. I do know how legendary she is. Exactly what I thought. Very obscure. So good though. 3 tracks in. The track "There's more to life than this" reminds me of Daft Punk's A lot of this reminds me of Daft Punk. Very cool album.
I owned this album. I love this album! I can’t believe it’s been 30 years. I don’t know if this was the Bjork album that needed to be on the 1001 list. If they have more than 1 Bjork album I think they might be doing this list wrong. Anyhoo - Human Behavior - let’s be honest. This sound is super ahead of its time. It could come out today without a blink of the eye. In fact it does sound like today. Wild. I think the big difference is that at the time it was a huge production and now this would be done in someone’s bedroom. 4/5 Crying - good song. Nice melody. Not much more than that really. 2/5 Venus as a Boy - and here I thought Homogenic was this wildly new sound for her. But lookie here, this could have easily fit on that album. It’s not All Is Full Of Love but it’s definitely lovingly robotic. 3/5 There’s More To Life Than This - wow, I don’t remember this song being so disco, but I do remember being obsessed with it. Not bad, but didn’t age as well as some of the other songs. And then it just kind fades as half (three-quarters?) of a song. 2/5 Like Someone In Love - Funny how the songs I never paid attention to were the seeds for her future sound. Song is still skippable, though. 1/5 Big Time Sensuality - while I definitely hear the 90s here, it’s still a good song. Very poppy. Maybe Dua Lipa will do a cover. 3/5 One Day - pre-Homogenic sound again. A bit mixed with pop sound of this record. 2/5 Aeroplane - I love these ethereal songs on this album. I’m not a fan of the horns, or the chorus really, but then would it still be Bjork? 2/5 Come To Me - I just can’t be objective about this song. I love it. I always have. It’s one of my most favorite songs ever. I can’t tell if it’s a throwback to the 60s, straight genreless, or just way ahead of its time. It just is. 5/5 Violently Happy - another space age club song. I know I listen to this a lot in the 90s. 3/5 The Anchor Song - I guess horns are the weirdo signal for this album. This song is fine. Not as good as Crying but not totally skippable as Like Someone In Love. 2/5 While this is a pretty uneven album (but which Bjork album isn’t?), boy does it have vision. Was anyone making this album in 1993? Did she jump into a Time Machine to 2023, come back, and then fight a losing battle with her record company not to add some disco beats? I think it took her a couple of these releases to become the Queen of the Weirdos, but this was still wildly left field at the time. I definitely had the “what the hell is this?” reaction upon first listen. Overtime, I was won over, but always thought of it as her half-baked intro. Now? Now I finally realize why everyone was calling her a genius. I mean with the songs it’s fluctuating between 3/5 to 4/5. Really, we’ll round up for how far ahead of its time it was. 4/5
I was really expecting to hate this and was very pleasantly surprised by this album. It's much more of an experimental mix of jazz, electronica, and to a certain extent art rock than I was anticipating. After hearing the Sugar Cubes (which was horrible in comparison) I did not have high hopes, but this was quite pleasant. Bjorks almost narrative storytelling really shines here, and this feels truly transcendent. I'll be curious if other albums evoke the same feeling.
2.4 I was going into this one blind (or would it be deaf?) Not horrible, not great.
Paar coole Sounds
OK...not something I would keep in my library
Loved the weird vibe but just don’t love her voice
Never listened to Bjork, but have been meaning too. It's definitely not my average type but this was a good listen. Will I listen to again: 70%
I'm not going to be able to enjoy this album until MDMA becomes a lot more accessible.
Not really my jam.
just a super cool album, lots of neat things to listen for. Bjork!
I absolutely love her sweater. Unfortunately we're rating her music :(
I do not like this at all. I like the album cover though. She looks like a girl version of Michael Jackson.
a great debut album! Pretty tame compared to her other albums, but I suppose that's to be expected from a debut album. It has all the trademarks of what Bjork became to be associated. The gnarls, the screams. The instrumentals are pretty dated, but groovy. I love Big Time Sensuality, Venus as a Boy is awesome.
Didnt like it, too depressing and droning
The Beats sound like Donkey Kong Soundtrack, and she sings very beautifully. Amazing
This sounds so 90’s lol. Not a bad thing, just not used to it. Would give it another listen.
It doesn't suck as much as Medulla. But god it still sucks.
Kinda cool, kinda weird
So fun in headphones, this album has been a constant in my life
Haat/liefde relatie met haar stem. Enorm unieke muzikante, maar soms klinkt ze dus vals. Vond haar versie van “Like Someone In Love” heel mooi. Kon ook die disco invloeden waarderen en nummers als “Venus As A Boy”.
I enjoyed the instruments, but her voice is like listening to someone else's kid incessantly whining.
I am a big Bjork fan so it was fun to listen to her debut album. It definitely sounds very 90's and not her fully formed self. Good reminder to listen to some of her other stuff.
Solid introduction to an artist who I've heard about my whole life without ever really listening to. Hope there is more from her on this list.
Erikoista, eli Björkkiä. Tää oli kyllä parempi levy kuin aikaisemmin kuunneltu. Ehkä jopa hyviä kappaleita. Silti en oikein tykkää Björkin avant garde laulutyylistä. Parhaat: Come To Me, Play Dead, Big Time Sensuality
10 out of 10! No notes! I love Björk. I might have to get this on vinyl.
Quirky, with a mesmirising voice. My favourite track is "Violently Happy", but I also like "Venus as a Boy", "Big Time Sensuality", and "Play Dead".
She's not like anybody else. I never rode the Bjork wave when this emerged. But I did like a lot of this
alright not my cup of tea
Not a fan them or now really
Je préfère les sons variés que ce qu'elle chante. Overall, bon album dans l'ensemble de l'oeuvre, belel diversité.
Not a fan Couldnt choose a song I liked
I forgot how much I really love Björk’s voice. This album I would rate of four on how much I liked it, but I think it should be a five for cultural significance and leading the way for female singers. Brilliant.
It was ok, I could take it or leave it. Music was repetitive. Seemed like good dance music.
Ok.
Okay
My previous experience of Bjork was 'Army of Me' 👍, 'It's Oh So Quiet' 🤷♂️ and that in general, I found her a bit strange. When I got this recommendation it was not one I was excited about listening to, but trusting the process I put it on. When the first track came on, 'Human Behaviour', it immediately put me in mind of 'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane, which I like, so it gave me an in to the album. After that, I was more open to listening. I was pleasently surprised that yes I actually knew one of the tracks, 'Big Time Sensuality', and by the end of the album I had enjoyed the whole thing. She has some amazing vocal control in places and a very distinct voice. Despite this, I am not going to race out and put Bjork on again, but more open to listening to her music when it shows up.
Mooie stem. Muziek is mooi. Zang is iets minder. Niet melodieus genoeg. Wel een mysterieuze vibe.
4.0
Great album, with hints toward her future perfection in Vespertine. Sounds dated to the 90’s dance sound, so hard to give it full 5 stars, but still one I will revisit.
* Human Behavior took a bit to grow on me. Those voice cracks/whatever they're called are lovely. Can see this being used in a show like Charmed. * The instrumentation in the first 30 seconds of Crying reminds me of something specific but can't quite put my finger on it. Pops up noticeably again around the 1:10 mark. Maybe retro video games or something? Further reflection, I also envision a crowded public space, like a mall or something. * While listening to Like Someone in Love, I can't help feeling like I'm walking around Paris, France during a light snowstorm. * Love the way she says the line "The hardcore and the gentle" in Big Time Sensuality, especially the latter times. * One Day starting out with a very outer spacey vibe. * Kingdom Hearts Deep Jungle vibes from that background beat in Aeroplane * For some reason, the first lines of Come to Me brought memories of Sarah Jessica Parker singing Come Little Children in Hocus Pocus. * The moment around 2:40 in Violently Happy almost sounds like a record skipping. The background beat also reminds me of a scene in Scooby Doo Cyber Chase * Play Dead might just be the most well rounded song of the bunch. Fitting it comes at the end I guess. * Overall, very unique style to her songs. Didn't expect to enjoy the album as much as I did, but her voice really grew on me over time. -- Album Rankings -- 1. Play Dead 2. There's More to Life Than This 3. Human Behavior 4. Like Someone in Love 5. Venus as a Boy 6. Big Time Sensuality 7. Crying 8. Aeroplane 9. The Anchor Song 10. One Day 11. Come to Me 12. Violently Happy
So much amazingness on here…
Interesting. Nice voice.
I enjoyed this album. it kept me engaged with cool arrangements, instrumentation, and production. Standout tracks: Play Dead, Crying, Venus As a Boy, There Is More To Life Than This
Not the usual stuff I listen to, but very interesting in and of itself and as "background music." Will require more listens to better appreciate. Scoring with three stars for now.
First song, Human Behaviour was good. Overall, the album is a little too '90's pop for me. Good techno beats that had me bobbing my head and enjoying though. As the album went on, it got old and repetitive. I'll rate this 2-stars. Didn't hate it, but wouldn't choose to listen to it.
"I changed my mind. I like her voice... it's just sort of annoying to me." -Six year old
All the songs sounded the same.
Dreamy and wonderful
Funky aparte muziek, maar zou t niet gauw opnieuw opzetten
"Come on giirl, and sneak out of this paGGty" Begon steeds meer te klikken. Niet te zeggen binnen welk genre dit valt. Wel iets waar ik naar terug zou willen komen. Vet.
I just don't gjet it
Album sounds like my brain in a candy store. Excited, bubbly, fun, colorful....with hints of anxiety. I enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised.
pretty good. Was a lot different than I was expecting. She was very progressive for her time, some songs sounded like they were made in the last few years and a lot of dance tracks
Not a fan.
Not my type of music. Does have a calming feel to it, but in a way that makes me want to fall asleep, rather than pay attention to the music. Play Dead is the most recognisable song and the only one I really enjoyed. I wouldn't listen to this album again.
Liked it 3.5/5
After the first few songs I lost interest in the music. Couldn't keep listening.
Fand ich einfach nur exzentrisch und anstrengend anzuhören
Weird but I kinda liked it.
Imagine being a movie/ TV exec in 1993 that's developing a project about a sex driven teenager that's secretly an alien but is trying to keep it a secret. You're struggling to find the right soundtrack to convey mystery, sexy and something alien and this album drops on your desk. That whole project could be scored by every song on this album.
Rating: soft 6/10 A mix of smooth Jazz, dance music and traditional percussion instruments all thrown together on a casio keyboard, not bad just not for me "Human behaviour" is the least convincing argument that Bjork isnt an alien of some sort "Crying" reminds me of the soundtrack to streets of rage Highlights - Big Time Sensuality, The Anchor Song, Crying
Angry club electro-punk. I liked it but probably won’t listen again.
Visceral, íntimo y excitante
It’s a very good album.
Diverse album.
I can see why it’s so highly regarded but it’s not for me. Sometimes it feels like it’s trying too hard to be different but from everything I’ve learned about Björk I doubt that’s the case
Instrumental is pleasant - vocals not so great
1st Listen at work Not bad but not my cup of tea, can see where this album inspired future artist but outside of a few standout tracks didn’t really do it for me. 2nd lesson Enjoyed more, again appreciate it for how much this album changed the game.
Soooooo…don’t know how to rate this one. I don’t know much about Bjork besides It’s So Quiet which, now hearing this album, feels very mainstream. What will say that for a record that came out in 1993 to sound so individual and unique that in 2024 it still provokes a “what. the. f***. Is this” and you just strap in, Bjork takes the wheel and drives you down a high way of a very wild, weird world.
Your TV is about to explode!
Nope
Non mi è piaciuto tanto
I love Bjork and I love this album. She's one of the most original and interesting musicians of our time. I would go so far as to call her a musical genius, which is not a term I throw around often. Amazing debut solo album. 5 stars.
😍 😍 😍 😍 😍 😍 😍 😍
I have weird relationship with Björk’s music. I really want to like it, but I often don’t. I’m not even sure why I want to like her music so much. Perhaps it’s because I wish I was Icelandic, or maybe because all of the music snobs see her as a genius and I want to fit in. Then I listened to her 2023 album and thought it was awful. Songs I already knew: Human Behaviour Favourites: Human Behaviour, Crying, Big Time Sensuality, Violently Happy Maybe I have seen the light, or maybe this is just a banging album, but I loved this. It’s a bit kooky at times, but never full on wacky like her latest album. It stays within the realms of catchy music and I felt transfixed throughout. It felt as pleasant as her previous band The Sugarcubes, but much less punky and more poppy. I liked this so much more than I expected. Should I give her other albums more of a chance?
"Human Behavior" is a classic. The rest of the album's decent, but didn't blow my mind. Let's call it 3.5 stars.
Björk, you beautiful weirdo. This was another nostalgic listen with the video for Human Behavior forever burned into my brain. Venus as a Boy & Big Time Sensuality are my favorites from this album. 4.5 stars.
I would be happier if there would be more folk songs. Like "The Anchor Song". Other than that, I think Bjork wants to be odd and she does a great work doing it.
Interesting album. Musically it's very out there, a lot of dissonance between Bjorks singing and the instrumentation, but over-all it's a pleasant listen. Probably great on some shrooms or something like that, although I dunno how I would deal with dissonance when tripping :D
I’ll give this 2 because she has a nice voice and is a good singer. I do not understand this record. Pop/synth/dance is really not my style, but there are also horns at times? Tough start to 1001.
gud
First real listening of Bjork. This is something I would listen to again
Ok. Not my style of music.
Love this one. Still sounds wholly unique, still very much of its time, but that'll never be a bad thing to me. Anyway, it's a classic, it's awesome (probably not even her best imo, but I'd call it among her best still).
Meh
#87. Björk as a person is weird in the best possible way. Her music is just weird in the regular way. Honestly it's really not that bad if you can get past all the shrieking, but it's definitely not in my regular rotation. This was definitely better though than that Sugarcubes album. Her weird style definitely seems to get more enjoyable [or at least less disagreeable] the more you hear. You know what, I'm going to round it up to four stars for no particular reason whatsoever. 4/5: fuck the cops Song added to playlist: Play Dead I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
My daughter is named after her
human behaviors, like someone in love i think she’s neat
Nicht meins.
Building block debut from one of the true unique artists of their generation. Album starts off with the best song on the album, the trip-hop styled "Human Nature", then rolls through a scattershot of off-kilter-but-cluby dance grooves and pixie art pop. Too many of the club style tracks were way too mainstream sounding for my taste, but Bjork's alarm-siren vocals certainly make the album different enough and worth the acclaim. She took major steps in production and style on her subsequent albums, but this one got her moving in her own direction.
Am Björk-pilled now.
My Icelandic Queen!
This is the type of album that isn’t listened to but rather absorbed. It’s felt. You feel every moment of the journey Icelands finest pop star wants to take us on. From the snappy opener to the glistening closer this is a statement, made to the world of the ‘90s to say “I’m here and I’m staying”. She would do JUST that and more!
Human Behavior - 4 Crying - 3 Venus as a Boy - 3 There is More to Life Than This - 3 Like Someone in Love - 2 Big Time Sensuality - 2 One Day - 2 Aeroplane - 2 Come to Me - 3 Violently Happy - 3 The Anchor Song - 2 Play Dead - 3
1. Human behavior- 4 2. Crying - 4 3. Venys as a boy e - 2 4. More to life- 4 5. Like someone in love- 2 6. Big time sensuality- 3 7. One day - 2 8. Aeroplane- 3 9. Come to me - 5 10. Violently happy - 3 11. The anchor song - 2 3.09
Debut by Bjork Wednesday 5/15/2024 2:10, office S Tier————————— Play Dead Human Behavior A Tier————————— Venus As a Boy Big Time Sensuality Like Someone In Love B Tier————————— One Day There Is More To Life Than This Aeroplane Violently Happy Come To Me Crying C Tier————————— The Anchor
Gostei...álbum ótimo de ouvir trabalhando
This is magical. Her voice, her energy, the musicality, the joy all combine to form something timeless. It struck me that this is 30 years old and still sounds contemporary. If the world was more Bjork it would be a better place and this represents her youth and excitement.
A good introduction to Bjork. She's a little strange, but that's all part of the appeal. The music comes across as pretentious at times, but not overly so. She has such a unique voice. I do appreciate the unique sound, but it'll probably take me a few more listens before I "get" it.
Not nearly as difficult to appreciate as I imagined it would be. On the contrary, it was immediately evident that this was a special talent confidently showcasing herself and band. Challenging, yes, at times. But not at all in the way I thought it would be. I really enjoyed it.
After listening to debut, I can say its a really solid album with some pretty high highs and low lows. The songs for the most part had some good beats and Bjork's singing voice was definitely very beautiful to hear. It did get a bit annoying by the end but it was nothing that I disliked too much, All in all this album was definitely quite good Best Song: Big Time Sensuality Worst Song: The Anchor Song
4.5
no notes
mejor album de la historia
Another album I had as a teen. I don’t really listen to the whole thing much anymore, but there are a few tracks I still love to this day.
Her voice is to scratchy for me.
Enjoyed the first half more than the second, the perfect edge of pop
A great album from Björk, but not her best to be honest. Still, this was incredibly refreshing when it came out and still hasn't really lost much of that feeling. She definitely built on the sounds and only got better over time.
Super unique voice incredibly artsy! I can see why she is on the list for being influential.
Her voice is so unique.
...and an excellent debut it was!
Loved it
Started out so strong. But then her voice became a little grating by the end. First 3 songs are bangers though.
Quality album, need to delve a bit more into Björk if this is representative of her work
This has to be the last one right?
HL: “Human Behaviour”, “One Day”, “Venus as a Boy”, “Aeroplane” Talk about R A N G E. In the red corner, you have “Violently Happy”, “Big Time Sensuality” & “There’s More to Life Than This”, 90’s dance bops that don’t do a whole lot for me other than remind me that this is an album from the 90’s. In the blue corner, there are the sharp woodwinds of “Aeroplane” & “The Anchor Song”, the incredibly catchy “Human Behaviour” and the harp/traffic ballad “Like Someone in Love”. I think this rounds up for a 4* for going in so many neat directions, despite not vibing to a couple tracks. A cursory trip to Wikipedia shows there was a non-album single called “Play Dead”, whose cinematic elements may have overwhelmed this already eclectic record; even so, it’s pretty great & I highly recommend December 14, 2023
This is probably the best Björk has ever sounded. And it's still crap. These songs have something resembling a structure and she hasn't yet gone full fairy-baby with her singing so there's that going for it. But it's still terrible and I can't believe there are four Björk albums on this list.
v artsy, not for me
Listened Before? No Human Behaviour is a cool track centered around a cyclical bass line with overlaid percussion. Her voice is front and center and very raw feeling as she allows it to strain and break without ever losing control. Crying also hops along with a familiar sounding xylophone line that I cannot place (finally placed it, it is the same tone that Lotus uses in a few of their songs/jams). More than halfway in with this mostly in the background and I have really been enjoying the ride. A lot of groove baked in here with amazing production quality, interesting compositions, and at once vulnerable and confident vocals. Aeroplane is a standout from its ominous, almost tribal, groove. Come to Me is trip-hop in nature, and it finally clicked that Bjork's vocals remind me a lot of Portishead. Side note: I'm long overdue for a deep dive into Portishead. Can't say that I was expecting some quality drum and bass, but Violently Happy brings it. Also the intro reminds me a lot of the show Dark. The 808 line and general atmosphere remind me of Yaeji. Pretty cool to hear this as inspo from 30 years prior. I loved this album straight through. No duds. Some residual 80s cheese, but I loved the production and variedness. Listened to this about 3 times between yesterday and this morning. Soft 5 / 5 Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlists: - Come to Me (Focus Music)
Looks and sounds like a goth demon. Violently Happy was a great track because that is how I felt when the album was almost done.
This album felt all over the place while also sounding like it came from a children's TV show. Everything was super basic sounding, and I don't really care for her voice.
That was very weird. I did not like that at all.
I’ve listened to a few Bjork songs because the Radiohead sub always recommends her, but never really could get into it. Let’s see how a whole album holds up. Enjoyed human behavior. Her voice is interesting. I find it captivating yet uneasy. Wow love crying this is groovy. there’s more to life incorporates some house music into it. Like someone in love sounds like that Johanna Newsome album. Love the switch up in genres on this one. Come to me is super atmospheric trip hop love. Overall I enjoyed that more than I thought I would. Really clean production and would’ve never guessed it came out in the early 90s. This is what Kate Bush wishes she could be.
Banger
3/4
Björk has always stuck out to me as one of the last true “artists” still working in the industry today. Her voice has always sounded completely otherworldly to me. And her work in the 90’s and early 2000’s is the stuff of legends. But when I first gave Debut a listen a few months ago, I was surprised by how much I didn’t like it. But I’m pleased to say that is no longer the case. I think my issue was that I was looking for something more. I was expecting a much deeper and more complex experience. But this is probably the simplest Björk ever was. It’s more house and dance music than anything else. It still has a layered feeling, and there is some interesting experimental stuff going on with songs like The Anchor Song, Aeroplane, and Like Someone in Love. This album is at its best when it leans into the darker and more electronic sound she would explore later, like on the first three songs, which is easily the best stretch of tracks on the record. But I’ve definitely learned to appreciate the club-oriented feel of this. Just don’t expect the same caliber as that of her later work. Rating: 7/10
Love Björk, this is another absolute classic
Not as good as the following three albums but a great start, packed with personality and vocal skills. (I don't like numeric ratings, I just give 3 to anyone)
Not my kind of music.
Meistaraverk frá upphafi til enda.
I think this is the 3rd Bjork album I've had now and I like this one the most.
Human behavior ist good. The Rest ist ok
I don't really see the draw. Maybe it was new and cool at the time, but it just reminds me of the cranberries and awful "voice cracks"
please, please, please for the love of god someone give this a lower rating because I just can't.
Maybe the 5th of 6th best Björk album but still undeniable
i am in love with her but yet i hate her personality
12/6/23. These are the type of albums I like - an artist making the music they want without adhering to a specific genre or boundary. I'm glad I finally stumbled onto Bjork's work, very wide cast of sounds and melodies.
The sheer love that Bjork has for all music is ever-present here. Didn’t know that she was the force that propelled British underground electronica to its 90s mainstream heights. I’m not surprised. Human Behaviour is one of my favourite songs and the video lives rent-free in my head.
ikea furniture mf
Té un estil raro de collons però se m'ha fet bastant agradable d'escoltar. Al final sí que se m'ha fet una mica repetitiva però per escoltar-la de tant en tant m'ha agradat prou. No és gens el tipus de música que acostumo a escoltar, però bé.
This album burned down the world of music when it came out. Strange beauty, original sounds, elegant and crazy. What The Sugarcubes initiated, Bjork expanded to the limit. Hypnotic and classy.
Three songs in and my take so far is: David Byrne (Talking Heads) and Yoko Ono had a love child and the B-52’s adopted her. Playfully quirky and distinctively different.
Wow. Just, wow. A very, very difficult listen and for almost no reward. Sheeeeeite.
So I first listened to this album while on a road trip with my family. This was a common occurrence for me so I was used to it but this was the first summer I had decided to try to expand my music taste. I had heard of Björk before but never listened to her music so I decided to start with where it all started and nothing could have prepared me for what I heard. Björk has one of those voices that if you have not gotten used to it you probably won't like it the first time you hear it but on repeat listens it grows on you until they become one of your favorites. I love this album for a few reasons: the diversity in the inspiration, sound and genre of the songs, the quality of Björk's singing throughout and how different is sounds from a lot of the music coming out at the time. This is an album that came out in '93 and its production sounds at least a decade ahead of its time. The album starts out with "Human Behaviour" which is a good song and was one of the biggest on the album but to me it is just an appetizer for what comes after it. I do like the beat on it and the more I listen to it the more I like the vocals but I just think it falls a little short of the other tracks. I do think it has probably the most interesting writing on the album. "Crying" to me has one of the best most memorable choruses on the album and it has this really infectious beat behind it with these really watery sounds that make the chorus that much better. Definitely one of my favorite tracks on the album and one I come back to frequently. Next is probably the biggest song on the album, "Venus as a Boy", and for understandable reasons. I think it is one of Björk's best vocal performances of her career. The relatively simple production on the song allow for her to dominate the track which she does. It is one of those songs that I can't really explain why it is so good but it truly is a great song. "There's More to Life Than This" is kind of a weird way to follow up "Venus as a Boy". You go from a more ambient, ballady type of track (at least when it comes to the chorus to a live house/dance track. I do like this song a lot but it was just sort of shocking first hearing it. "Like Someone In Love" is one of my favorite jazz standards of all time and I think Björk starts the track off with two minutes possibly the best version of the song but when her vocals come back in she leans a little too heavily for me on that breathy style she has at times and it isn't great. That being said I still love the song and often come back to it to listen to the first verse and just skip the second half but it does kinda suck that her vocals were not as good in the second half. "Big Time Sensuality" is a much more electronic sounding song and to me is another weird sequencing choice. It is still a good track but is probably one of the songs I see myself coming back to the least. I do think her vocals are pretty good on it but the beat is nothing to write home about. Good song but not one of the strongest on the album imo. "One Day" is one of my favorite tracks on the album and I think it has the strongest, most interesting production on the album when it comes to the more electronic based songs. It is sort of trip-hop sounding but it also feels very experimental which is pretty standard for Björk. It has these incredibly addictive sounding synths throughout the song that really keep it interesting and she has a good vocal performance. "Aeroplane" is a very interesting track on this album. It has the best instrumentation on the album with great saxophone and these really strong cymbal swells. This all is accompanied by nature sounds and a very heartbroken Björk who gives what I would say is a very average vocal performance on this album with above average writing. "Come to Me" is another song with really good instrumentation. It has some really good strings, a backing cymbal that keeps this song grounded (as well as similar cymbal swells to "Aeroplane") and ends with some sort of hand drum that sounds great. It also implements more electronic sounds than the previous track which is a nice change as outside of that they are relatively similar tracks. "Violently Happy" is honestly one of the more meh songs on the album. I like the beat okay but it is just a standard sounding electronic beat with vocals that have an effect on them that to me honestly becomes very annoying quickly. The chorus is better because it provides a little more variation than the verses but the verses honestly can be a little grating to the ear after relistens. I do like the 20-30 seconds where she chops her vocals in the middle of the song but overall this is probably one of my bottom 3 songs on the album. Finally there is "The Anchor Song", which is another weird pace change but honestly at this point I was used to it. It heavily uses a saxophone but it is played in a way that I honestly don't think I have ever heard a sax played like. It feels weird to listen to so much that I did not identify it as a sax at the start. It sounds almost like there is an effect put on it, granted I am almost exclusively used to sax being used in a jazz context. It is actually a good song but the sax throws me off at times. I actually think it is a really well written song and is a much more reserved Björk verse. Overall, even as I come away listening to this album in its entirety for the fourth or fifth time, the first adjective I think of to describe this album is weird which is pretty standard for Björk. It has these incredible ballads, bouncy dance and electronic tracks and some tracks that sort of don't fit a clear genre. It is bends genre just as much as any album I have heard before. A really good album with some highlights on it for sure but very weirdly sequenced. Overall I think I would give it between an 8-9/10 depending on how I feel about it that day.
Nope
Awesome early Bjork. Has some nice dance tracks.
Somehow this is my first time listening to Björk's music -- like, ever. This album took me by surprise. It's wild and raw and sensual, rough around the edges in the most wonderful way! I love the rough timbre of her voice and had fun listening to it. Tracks that stood out to me upon 1st listen: 1 - Human Behaviour; 5 - Like Someone in Love; 6 - Big Time Sensuality; 9 - Come to Me Would I revisit this album? I'm not sure. I look forward to listening to her later albums though.
Never listened to Bjork before. first impression is that this is horribly confusing but I'm not averse to it? Would not listen to this casually though. Like it's dance music for people who want to be beamed up by aliens. like someone in love is the only like semi tonal piece, but jazzy and sounds of cars rushing pass - or perhaps extraterrestrial spaceships... this is kind of giving me a headache. violent, jubilant, overlong, pointed with a smooth landing. listening to radiohead after this is almost calming, wow... best: big time sensuality? come to me worst: aeroplane (just too jumpy - the jazz is too dissonant - too many things going on. it just doesn't mix well not even as an experiment) 4/5 but won't listen again LOL
Just not really a Björk fan. Sure, she’s done some cool shit over the years and people really love her, but it’s just not in my wheelhouse.
Kann man gut nebenbei hören, für einen entspannten Abend geeignet.
Misschien mijn favoriete plaat van Bjork, theres more to life than this is een banger. Als je het luistert zou je echt niet verwachten dat dit uit 1993 komt
Pretty good overall, little bit too loud on the voice but otherwise nice
not a fan
Venus as a boy is one of the most beautiful songs ever created Far from her best but still really great.
I know this album backward and forward and love it all. I own the limited re-release on beige vinyl (as well as most of the rest of her discography). I consider Björk to be one of the greatest artists in popular music, she is a relentless and passionate consumer of all music and her enormous catalogue of inspiration and influence has allowed her to expand the boundaries of pop and electronic music (and orchestral and acapella music, but we won't get into that now). Her lyricism is deeply felt and her voice, a trained instrument, also shows her experience singing choir, jazz, and punk rock. Every growl or scat break or whisper is part of the emotionality of the song. I truly don't understand where the "screech" that other reviewers bring up comes from, to me it seems like a lot of preconceived ideas about her coming before the actual listening experience. In this album the foundation of her future experimentation is set. In her "Sonic Symbolism" podcast she talked about how she had been ready to be the sole decider in her music after years of being in bands. I enjoy her pre-solo work but the jump from the Sugarcubes, essentially the Icelandic B-52s, to this work is staggering. She blends bossa nova, bollywood, multiple flavors of jazz, Japanese folk music, ambient music, harp and string arrangments, and the pulsing throb of London's electronic music scenes into a gorgeous thesis on what is possible if you allow yourself to do whatever you want. She's been following that course for 30 years.
I actually enjoyed this. I didn't expect to.
Her ikke lige lyttet færdig endnu, så får en midter scorer.
Surprisingly Bjork's Debut album, which obviously is her debut, sounds the most "normal" of the ones I've listened to so far. She was clearly ahead of her time as no one in the early 90s sounded like that. Totally innovating what pop music could sound like with the electro/ethereal quality that Bjork has come to be known for. It was close to two decades after this albums release where artists began drawing from this as inspiration and I can see artists such as MIA, Grimes, Robyn, Aurora and with a feeling coming through with Lady Gaga. Generally fitting into the more quirky/kooky type of female artist. Best: Human Behaviour Worst: The Anchor Song
Good stuff - very eclectic and full of dissonance. I liked Venus as a Boy and of course Big Time Sensuality.
Own and love this album.
2.5 stars. Weird and disjointed. Enough pop to keep the strange avant-garde listenable. Her voice is the worst part, singing is not her forte. Standout is "Venus As a Boy" which has a pretty string and ethereal electronica compliment.
Tämä on kyllä aivan hitsin hieno levy. Vanhoja sekvensereitä ja muuta elektro-kilinää jonka päälle sitten omalaatuista laulantaa. Osuu juuri sopivasti perille.
It was cool. Her voice is def eerie but I liked some of the songs . Nothing life changing.
I can see the strains of amazing in this album. It feels very early 90s. I think her later stuff is better. Her vocals are just.... Breathtaking.
50/100 Based on this scale: 1 star - 0 to 19 2 stars - 20 to 39 3 stars - 40 to 59 4 stars - 60 to 79 5 stars - 80 to 100 I wasn't sure about how I felt about Bjork's music when I first heard it in the 90s and today, I'm still not sure. Interesting compositions that are often cleverly delivered, but as a listener, I have to ask myself if it does anything for me, beside making me say "oh, that part was pretty cool" every once in a while. It's one of those things I can enjoy on some level if it's on, but I can't picture myself listening to her album on purpose.
I didn't care for Medúlla when it came up on here (and am still not really on board with it, on relisten), which had me worried about taste blasphemy for a while. But I really, really liked this, and the two albums are doing such wildly different things that this actually gets me very, very interested in checking out more of her stuff compared to if I'd just listened to one or the other. Really gotta go listen to that one with the album cover that everybody posts, in other words.
6.5/10
This is the kind of weirdo experimental music I really enjoy. Feels like a curious artist trying to make something unique and unusual for the sake of exploration rather than someone pretentious trying to see how annoying they can get away with being and still call it music.
A wildly original style done very well. I need to listen to more Björk.
Björk is great, but i am rarely in the mood
It’s alright, i forgot how much Venus as a Boy and Big Time Sensuality were played back in the day. Every DJ in the 90’s had a version of Big Time Sensuality.
Not for me
Nope.
Didn’t want to finish after the first song 1/55 Has some good parts but not enough to change my opinion
1. human behavior - 1.5 2. crying - 1 3. venuz az a boy - 2 4. there iz more to life than thiz - 1 5. like zomeone in love - 5 6. big time zenzuality - 1 7. one day - 1.5 8. aeroplane - 1 9. come to me - 1 10 violently happy - 1 11. the anchor zong - 1.5 12. play dead - 1
This was surprising. I am not too familiar with Bjork’s music and this was the first time I have ever intently listened to it. I liked this more than I would have thought. Her vocals are truly something special. 3.5/5 Might listen again
za razliku od Vulnicula ovaj album je jako dobar i osjecam se slatko
Not enough edibles in the world to make this album good
Honestly me giving Bjork a 3 is a bigger deal than other albums getting a 5