Debut

Bjork. Never boring. She's different, and the music reflects that. Bjork sounds like this huge voice trying to escape from this tiny body. I'm going to have to listen to more of her.

Post Sugarcubes Bjork was phenomenal. There are some great tracks on here.

Co za album... Bjork zawsze była artystką, o której słyszałem, ale do której trochę bałem się usiąść. Ekstrawagancki wygląd zawsze mnie trochę odstrasza, bo mam wrażenie, że staje się ważniejszy niż muzyka. Ale ten album jest potężny. Nie ma dla mnie nic lepszego i nic bardziej wartościowego, niż muzyka eksperymentalna, która zwyczajnie dobrze brzmi. Bjork bada możliwości własnego głosu, bawi się nim, mam wrażenie jakby eksplorowała skomplikowaną sieć jaskiń i sprawdzała różne możliwości nieoczywiste ścieżki dojścia od punktu A do punktu B, często ignorując najbardziej oczywiste opcje. Muzyka jest często oszczędna, ale jednocześnie nie uboga. Osiągnięcie balansu pomiędzy artyzmem a łatwością słuchania zawsze będzie dla mnie najwyższym wyrazem kunsztu muzyka. "Human Behaviour", "Violently Happy" i "There's More To Life Than This" (w ogóle koncept tego utworu jest niesamowity dla mnie; ten moment, kiedy wychodzi do toalety i dalej śpiewa jest przegenialny) najbardziej zapadły mi w pamięć, ale każdy jeden utwór jest ogromnie intrygujący.

Q U E E N

Absolutely one of a kind!

Ein Wunderwerk an Kreativität. Das wohl kommerziellste und einigängigste Album von Björk. So eine einzigartige Stimme in bunt arrangierten Songs.

Weirdly I don't think I've ever listened to this whole album in full. Loads of songs on there that I already know and love but also a few gems I've never heard. 'Like someone in love' went straight onto my Jan playlist. I think Play Dead might be one of my favourite songs ever...?

So much to offer on this album. Bjork's voice is haunting, emotional, yearning. Creative range of instruments and sounds used. There's the slower, intense songs broken up with the finger clicking, hip-dipping, foot scooting tracks such as "There's More to Life Than This", "Big Time Sensuality". The mystique of "One Day". "Like Someone In Love" is beautiful. Feels like a love song, staring out a window in a monochrome Hollywood movie. Bjork never clicked much for me in the past, then I listened to a cover of "Joga" on Youtube by 50 or so children (her version is also amazing). The writing, vocal placement and creative use of sound in her music is genius.

Absolute masterpiece. The combination of Bjork’s wide eyed, first entering Narnia style vocals and restrained techno creates this wonky, sensual, slightly sinister and curious album that sounds both incredibly of it’s time and something too advanced to be released even now. Of the albums many highlights you have the transfixing and tense ‘Human Nature’, the bossaova of ‘Aeroplane’ and the wispy erotic day dream that is ‘Venus as a Boy.’ It’s only weakness is that it doesn’t feature ‘Army of Me’ on it.

Bjork: a pioneer, a pure soul, a dreamweaver. This record threw me around in all kinds of directions. It was so unpredictable yet so cohesive. I felt as if though I was floating above Bjork’s body as she started on her journey through a world so unknown - pouring out every ounce of passion and energy she had to better understand it. It was almost like she looked at me and said “Shhh, just let go and follow me. I will show you a new world.” As soon as I thought the ride was going one way, I was thrown into another realm. I compare it to a video game where I’m in one level and then the next. I bounced around between songs of innocence and beauty to songs that made me want to dance without caring or knowing where I was exactly. Then all of a sudden “Like Someone in Love” comes on and time slows down. It slows down enough to where I can live in the moment. I hear the waves crash and play off of the harp in the background and suddenly everything makes sense. This song serves as a breath of fresh air exhaled into a world of tranquility and freedom. But don’t get too comfortable because then I got thrown into another act of Bjork’s play. It truly felt as if though I was watching her coming of age film. When the album concluded and the opening song “Human Behaviour” restarted - I couldn’t help but picture credits rolling down the screen. What a dream this was. Thank you so much Bjork for such a magical adventure. Favorites: Venus as a Boy, Like Someone in Love, One Day

I have listened to Björk when I was younger and at the time I felt like it was more art than listenable music to me. Supposedly this her most accessible album and I loved it. Very much in an electronic music phase and was surprised at how housey some of it is. Deep, dark, fun and bright I really enjoyed the contrast in the songs too

Björk is a singular voice and her music has always reached me on an emotional level. Her live shows are truly something to behold and I believe her music will stand the test of time as one of the boldest and most innovative of her (and my) generation. She's an alien. An Icelandic angel. Debut might be the most accessible record for any Björk newcomers, but that doesn't make it any less distinct or imaginative. It's a daring first effort that will only become more refined and sonically cohesive with each progressive release. Standouts, "Human Behaviour", "Venus as a Boy", "Big Time Sensuality" and "Come to Me" each highlight a different facet of Björk's diverse collection of styles and influences on this album. It's fantastic debut to what would become a legendary career. Fun fact: Björk was the first woman to headline Coachella and the only woman to headline it twice.

Albums like these are what I’m most excited about during this project. Hearing amazing art by artists you love for other amazing works elicits such joy. Like catching glimpses of people you love before you knew them, falling in love with their past selves, recognizing and admiring that they all sprouted from the same person you find so endearing. They were always themselves. Bjork is the empress of contemporary experimental independent music. Her unique phrasing and rhythm, keen musical sense, and broad stylistic palette consistently produces eccentric, ground-breaking music. There are few artist that have an instantly recognizable sound all their own, and Bjork sits high on that council. Her debut to the world on Debut is breathtaking. I was always aware of who Bjork was, aware of her distinct voice, aware of her pretense as a real artist among artists. But I had never really listened to any of her records before 2007’s Volta. Her genius is fresh and raw on every track on Debut. Bjork notably distills the spirit and aesthetic of UK electronic and dance music of that time and fuses it with her traditional musical training and idiosyncratic, navel-gazing persona, creating a novel hybrid pop music that sounds nothing like the inspirations it draws from. She sounds as natural and spontaneous atop a thumping, trance house track (Violently Happy — that echo’d vocal and build mid song!!) as she does within a traditional jazz standard (‘Like Someone In Love’) or on the brass-only finale that is a dead-ringer for the wobbly, off-kilter style of contemporary jazzman Sam Gendel. This is a new favorite of mine, and I’ve been listening to it constantly since it popped up here. Coming in just over 48 minutes across 11 tracks, Bjork traverses an impressive amount of musical territory, and despite her nomadic instincts she effortlessly adorns her stylistic and subjective muses with her trademark, forever-foreign Bjork-ness. Few artist exist who are a genre unto themselves. Bjork may be one of the sharpest examples of this in contemporary music.

There's something about her voice, my ears just can't get enough of.

This album’s great, I get why someone would be inclined to have this. Björk’s vocals are definitely an acquired taste and all the ‘clubby’ tracks like violently happy ,there’s more to life than this and big time sensuality especially could be off putting for some. But I like it, probably my favourite Björk 5/5

Muy 90'.

Fantastic. This is better than any of her chart stuff. 5 stars! Never would i thought id enjoy a Bjork album this much.

Glorious. Not quite as cohesive as her later albums, but every song was innovative and interesting

9/10

What a voice

This was a really surprising album. I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into it, but I found myself having a pile of fun while listening to it. It’s funky, it’s tribal at times, and it’s undesputedly catchy. Bjorks vocals range from soft and gentle to almost violent, but it never feels unnatural or too much. It’s also an incredibly interesting journey of a record, which is something I value quite a bit. Looking forward to hearing this one again.

LET'S FUCKING GOOOOO!!!!!!!! i love this album. I LOVE this album. The rhythm of "Human Behavior" is such a bangin' way to open an album. HYPE. "Venus As a Boy" is a classic and one of my favorite love songs. The duality of "There's More to Life Than This" - an infectious, super-danceable electronic record about how there's more to life than dancing and parties - is so brilliant and funny. The way it goes into the slow, gentle, jazzy rendition of the standard "Like Someone in Love" is just... *chef's kiss*. The harp on this track is lovely. "One Day" is just an immaculate, shimmering track, it gives me goosebumps. The run of "One Day", "Aeroplane" and "Come to Me" is just... astounding. There is such an incredible synthesis of dance music, house, acid, pop with a strong infusion of jazz and trip hop and world rhythms on this album. Bjork's lyrics are as distinct and creative as her voice. Nothing like it had been done before and nothing really has been since (except her second, equally excellent, album). God bless Bjork, weirdo genius. A timeless, brilliant work of art. 10/10

I love Bjork. Each of her albums are so unique and this one stands out. Each song on this album could be is own album. Even has some surprises! 5/5

Love the variety of sound

I've always liked Björk and initially planned to give this four stars as I think her later material is a bit more coherent. That said, I gave this two fresh listens right now, and am giving it five stars. There's a real quality to each track, though she's a bit all over the place in this record, moreso than later albums.

Dance music (and Björk's) was never as fun and unique as in this record.

Debut is one of those records that only gets better each time I listen to it. Even as a fan of ‘90s electronica, I used to have a bit of an issue with this record, but that’s dissipated as I’ve grown more comfortable with art pop throughout my life. Side A is pretty much all consistent bangers, while Side B is more obtuse and experimental. Side A does include a strange, ethereal art pop song in “Venus as a Boy,” and “Violently Happy” brings the club to Side B, but that basic framing is why it took me so long to finally accept Debut as a great record. The length of “One Day” and the limp trip-hop of “Come to Me” still stand out as the biggest low points, but a low point from Björk would be another artist’s career high. I – and everyone else here – would’ve probably chosen Post over Debut as the album that belongs on this list; and I will say for the record, Post is one of the greatest albums I’ve ever heard in my life. But that doesn’t mean Debut is worthless. It’s also an incredible album that blends electronic pop with traditional folk in a way that only Björk could accomplish with pose and finesse. Absolutely a great album that gets better the more you sit with it.

Love!!!

Best Bjork effort.

Love this album 5

Day 61 - Nov 2, 2024 Call me Bangkok with the ways these songs hit. 5/5

ótima voz, ótimo albúm.

Bjork could sing about a garden of roses and it would still sound standoffish and weird in all the best ways. She just has such a colorful aggression in her music that I always tend to forget about and then remember as soon as I press play. There's also this sense of never knowing what is coming next- but not in a cringey "oh this is so random" way more like she is always tinkering and inventing new blends of sounds and doesn't bother with conventions. "Crying" is like Aphex Twin, "There Is More to Life Than This" is a super interesting and at times diagetic new jack swing piece that then transitions into the next song "Like Someone In Love", a beautiful harp jazz ballad.. man this album is incredible. One thing I'd love is for her voice to come up in the mix more. There's times where she is really throwing a lot of energy into her voice for a note or series of notes, but the volume feels just a little bit too much underneath the rest of the band. 3:13 on "Come to Me" comes to mind. We've had a great string of albums in a row here and this continues it. 4.7/5, enough to get the bump up to 5. It's so wonderfully eclectic. I'm really impressed and inspired and wanting to leave my work meetings behind to work on my own music after hearing this again for a second day in a row.

Onverwachtse banger. Dromerige sound, lekkere oldscool poppy trip hop beats. Heel vette stem ook, snap dat dit een iconisch album is.

Love

This is my first exposure to Björk! Omg! I am so pleasantly surprised. Her voice is gorgeous. Add that to the ethereal/electronic dance music throughout the album and I’ll be playing it on repeat.

A phenomenal listen

More Björk! I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It feels more different than Björk’s other work that I’ve listened to. It’s much more accessible and fun to listen to. As per usual, Björk is great on this album. Her singing really helps sell the album. This album is just fun to listen to, its electronic and dance elements are fun and great. Like from most of what I’ve heard from Björk, it can get a bit out there sometimes. I don’t have a problem with that on this album though. The poetic, emotional and abstract lyricism are still prominent from the last Björk album I listened to, which I appreciate. I’ve come to respect Björk and her work, and this helps me respect her more. Her music is good stuff, and I really enjoyed her international debut here. I really recommend this one! I like the other Björk albums I’ve listened to, but this might be my favorite from her so far. I hope to see more from her. She’s really one of a kind!

I remember when the singles were released from this record, it was like nothing I’d heard before. I remember going to The Muses in Rundle Mall and listening to it start to end because I couldn’t afford to buy it. Nellee Hooper production. Björk being Björk. Really enjoyed everything she did from this thru to Medulla.

Passed me by at the time but a great album lots of weird sounds and great ideas. And of course her voice which is fantastic.

This was a HEAVILY rotated album for me in my teenage years. I particularly like "There's More To Life Than This" with the live recording change with her running into another room and the wonderful pronunciation of "ghettoblaster", which I was never quite sure if it was someone's name. I like the mix of electronic, acoustic, ambient, orchestral, dance... I like the way she sings: Instantly recognisable and varied. I understand why this might bug some people (I get annoyed with Bob Dylan for just doing a Bob Dylan impression all the time. I get it.) but this takes me back to being about 15 in my room with a tape deck, bored, doing homework or playing computer games.

Excelente

I love the production, the mash up of different styles, the purely 90s electronic London vibes, her vocals and quirkiness. Also the positive energy is just contagious, you can really feel that she enjoyed herself so much while making this record. It's a great album for both - casual playing in the background during work/study and attentive listening on headphones.

If I could only take one artist’s catalog to a desert island, it would be Björk’s. Despite having favorites and least favorites across her 30-plus years as a solo artist, I find everything she’s released to be incredible. Debut embodies a sense of wonder and discovery that transforms everyday life into a fantastical experience. This wonder arises from Björk’s fearless and honest exploration of new musical territory, a hallmark of her work throughout the years. One standout moment for me is the “verse from a bathroom at a club” in “There’s More to Life Than This.” That kind of innovative sound design is a constant in her records. There are no skips on this album for me, making it hard to choose favorites. If I were to introduce a new listener, I’d recommend the singles “Human Behavior,” “Venus as a Boy,” and “Big Time Sensuality.” But these club-centric tracks, along with “Crying,” only scratch the surface of the magic in her repertoire. Songs like “Aeroplane,” “Like Someone in Love,” and “The Anchor Song” showcase her orchestral and jazzy inclinations. “Come to Me” is a trip-hop gem with strings and a vocal performance that perfectly captures the feeling of infatuation, while “Violently Happy” celebrates the manic joy that often accompanies it. Revisiting this album for the millionth time hasn’t revealed anything new—I’ve always known Björk is a creative force like no other. My admiration for her has only grown since 1993 as she continues to explore new worlds. Having attended two of her shows, one at the Fox in Atlanta, and one front row at Roseland Ballroom in NYC, I can say she’s just as captivating and mind blowing live as on her records. Hopefully there’s more of her albums on this list.

Here.We.Go. The Human Behavior music video was my first introduction to Bjork. I was blown away by how cool it was. He voice, too... I had never heard vocals like this, and still haven't. She truly is on a planet by herself. Each album is different and unique. Ever since I heard Bjork for the first time, I had wanted to go to Iceland. I wanted to see what environment could produce this art. I was able to go on my honeymoon. As I drove around ring road, I played her albums and gazed at the scenery. It was constant goosebumps and raised arm hairs. Such beauty, just like Bjork. There's beauty mixed with chaotic jazz in her voice. Every album from her gets a 5 from me. Hard to pick a favorite. I'll give it to Human Behavior, because that is the one that started it, but I also love Like Someone in Love.

This beautiful weirdo. Iceland's own manic pixie dream girl. I was enthralled when this came out; it was so unlike anything else going on at the time. I think my very first Amazon purchase was Gling-Gló, her jazz album with an Icelandic jazz trio; I had worn out Debut and I needed moar! I have a nice memory of going to the Matisse exhibit with my high school art class and listening to this album on my Discman as I walked through the museum, instead of the audio tour headphones they handed out to us. Some of the housey elements do seem of their era, but overall, this album still holds up and remains special to me.

Masterpiece. This album is Bjork at her weirdest, creative, beautiful best.

This is absolutely amazing. I now understand why Mitski is one of the only trendy pop artists I Iike. The influence on modern "experimental" pop is so clear. Can't wait to get more Björk on this list.

just keeps getting better

Beautiful at times.

My favorite Bjork album

This has been a favorite album of mine for a LONG time now. So many great tunes on this one!

What an incredible album from such an incredible artist!

I loved this when it first came out and haven’t listened to it for so so long, which is a shame because it’s still brilliant

Debut by Björk is an exceptional first album that showcases her unique sound and creativity. Songs like "Human Behaviour" and "Venus as a Boy" stand out as timeless pieces. Björk's experimental yet accessible approach makes Debut a must-listen for anyone who appreciates innovative music. I highly recommend it to everyone looking for something fresh and groundbreaking.

I thoroughly.enjoyed this album start to finish. It's going in the rotation for sure

i love it so much

Somehow very of its time and ahead of its time

Love it

Great

I'm going to take this opportunity to educate some people: it's pronounced "Byerk", if I hear one more person say "Byawk" I may just have to end the human race.

Idk if this is an evolution of me or like a de-evolution of Björk and this album is just less quirky than her later ones but I really like this

Gran disco!!! Muy innovador para el momento que salió. Un gusto revisitarlo

Always found Bjork a bit hit and miss in the past and thought her albums were a little all over the shop but really liked this one. Might be time to delve into her back catalog a bit more

Ahh, Debut. I remember when it came out. Loved it then, love it now. Joyful is the best word for this one. It makes me feel happy about the world and that is no mean feat. No brainer 5*

I remember the first time I saw the video for Human Behavior. I was a teenager shopping in the young men's area of a famous department store at the mall. It might have been Belk or JCPenney. I don't even think the music was on, just the images of super cute Bjork sitting at a table in the red-shaded belly of a giant stuffed bear. I remember thinking that it was weird and interesting. I wouldn't hear the music until later, which was in line with how I discovered a lot of new music in the 90s, when there was still a lot of mystery surrounding enigmatic artists and no easily accessible way to learn about them. Post was a much bigger deal on MTV than Debut was, and my first college roommate was a big Björk fan, so we listened to her first two albums a lot. He even had her live performance on VHS. All of that is to say that I've heard this album many times over the years and have always found it appealing as an attractively raw first effort from an artist who was on an obvious trajectory of maturity from making poppy Icelandic alternative music with the Sugarcubes to creating some of the most unique music of the 90s. Even though I connect less with her output over the last twenty years than I did with her first three bangers from the 90s (Debut, Post, and Homogenic), I had become convinced that the woman is a genius who, in middle age, has come into her full power. I don't know if it was my teenage ears, my crappy stereo systems, or potentially poor 90s loudness war mastering of any album with a danceable beat, but I have a renewed and stronger appreciation for Debut after listening to it on a high-quality track streamed through my much-improved stereo system. A good master through a good stereo reveals this album to be far more nuanced and layered than I ever realized. For example, the environmental and incidental sounds that permeate most of the tracks and link them together were always there, but are now much more apparent and create an atmosphere of presence and immediacy that render some of the more fun, but gimmicky moments, such as the bathroom stall segment of "There's More to Life Than This," as more of a consistent artistic statement. Debut might actually be a low-key concept record detailing a wild, yet intimate party scene in a European city. Even her always deliberate vocal squeaks seem more purposeful now. No matter what her image in the media was in the 90s, I've always known that Björk was more than just a quirky manic pixie, but this listen brought into focus the impression that she wasn't a talented artist who grew into a genius. She was always a genius, expressing herself in a way that was authentic at any given moment. A critical listen to this album put me in the mindset of Kate Bush's The Hounds of Love, which, to me, is the bar for female-centered progressive pop-music-as-artistic achievement and studio wizardry. And while I don't think Debut quite reaches that level of brilliance, it's still a top-tier statement, and one that still has surprises more than three decades on. Five stars.

A damn classic. Still my favorite Bjork album to date. Perfection start to finish!

Loved this. This hit me hard and swept me up and along until the end. The songs are extremely varied but all have their place. I've listened to some Bjork before but never album by album. That will change now. Standout Track: Big Time Sensuality

This album was great! I didn’t love the other Bjork album we got and didn’t have high hopes for this one. But then it was just a really fun 90s euro dance album. Madonna take notes!

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.

Very good.

Ethereal, unique, and incredibly creative.

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.

Love her

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.

Really like this, really unique to my ears

Love her voice and paired with the wonderful inventive music is a win

Like Tom Waits, Björk is an acquired taste. Her voice makes me feel good though.

Anchor song <333

Björk. Ehat an art collage sounds like! I iced her since the Sugarcubes and still love her and her solo endeavors.

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.

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!

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

Intentional and organized chaos-beauty. Did not see this rating coming. She took me in and I was hooked.

De mis favoritos!

increíble 9/10

Like an angel singing to us all.

This is what brilliance sounds like.

What a wonderful experience 4.8/5

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.

Brilliant; and the sound escaped the orbit of its age. It still sounds as unique and beautiful as it did when it was released.

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.

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.

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.

I LOVE BJÖRK ! Debut is absolutely one of her best works, and remains one of the most innovative debuts of all time

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

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!!!

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...

What a Debut!

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

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!!!

Love love love it, and have since day 1. 30 years on and it still sounds fresh.

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 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.

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).

Very calming woodland music. She has an amazing voice and then instrumentation really helps to highlight it

Excellent. Unique voice, unique sound, unique instruments.

Such a fun 'artsy girl goes to the disco' album. Not Bjork's best album but still good enough to be 5 stars.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

Feminine, funky, plenty of range. Can see the inspiration it gave many modern artists

That voice is amazing. Love this one

Weird. Wonderfully weird. Great vibes.

Must have been mind blowing in 93. Big Time Sensuality could easily pass as a Sonic The Hedgehog 3 soundtrack.

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.

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

Björk.

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.

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

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.

So fun in headphones, this album has been a constant in my life

10 out of 10! No notes! I love Björk. I might have to get this on vinyl.

Diverse album.

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?

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.

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).

My daughter is named after her

Am Björk-pilled now.

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.

4.5

no notes

mejor album de la historia

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)

Banger

Love Björk, this is another absolute classic

Meistaraverk frá upphafi til enda.

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.

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.

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.

Own and love this album.

Tämä on kyllä aivan hitsin hieno levy. Vanhoja sekvensereitä ja muuta elektro-kilinää jonka päälle sitten omalaatuista laulantaa. Osuu juuri sopivasti perille.

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.

A wildly original style done very well. I need to listen to more Björk.

excellent!

Bjork is always nice to listen to, It was good to re visit her earlier work.

9/10 fav song - Big Time Sensuality Really fun and different without being quirky just for the sake of it. Really cool vocals and harmonies. Solid no-skip album.

-club beats -ambient background noises -electronic excitement -vocal range -sparse to overwhelming -touch of the '90s A fantastic first effort after graduating from The Sugarcubesm and a small taste of what was to come.

mother of music

Yes

I love this album, always have, always will.

I have always been a huge fan of Björk's unique style and her unapologetic individuality, and her debut album, aptly titled "Debut," is a perfect showcase of her musical and artistic prowess. From the moment you start listening, it's clear that Björk is in a league of her own. Her distinctive voice, unconventional arrangements, and innovative use of electronic and pop elements create a captivating sonic experience that's hard to resist. She effortlessly combines the avant-garde with accessible pop sensibilities, crafting a sound that's both experimental and instantly engaging. What truly sets "Debut" apart, besides the music, is Björk's captivating personality. Her fearless, boundary-pushing approach to art and her powerful, unique voice make her a truly remarkable artist. Each song on the album is like a journey into her imaginative world, and you can't help but be drawn into her charismatic and enigmatic persona. In summary, "Debut" by Björk is a stunning introduction to an artist who defies conventions and embraces her artistic vision to the fullest. Her style, musicality, and personality are nothing short of mesmerizing, and this album is a testament to her brilliance and individuality.

Actual proper genius.

This is a really good album. Eclectic and interesting and at moments, like on Venus as a Boy, sublime.

I love Björk and I find her brand of weirdness sexy and fun.

Finally, it's been a while since I got something fantastic, but it makes sense that someone I really only know bits and pieces about would come and be the one to do it. This album is great, it's so cool and unique, whilst also being very honest and feeling like some of the most genuine music I've ever heard. Björk is singing her heart out here, and it's blend of jazz, trip hop, and just general pop makes this an incredibly great release. I know her stuff after this is a bit more experimental, but this certainly lays down ground work to be someone I adore the music of.

Masterpiece

Fantastic album. So many good songs and remixes 5/5

Original, unique, artist creating some of here best work in early stages of her solo career. 30 years old now and still sounds so good.

Another artist that I appreciate now and not at the time. She annoyed me when I was 14 but now I see that there is something special there.

Love this album!

Just a flawless album. Not a bad track on it.

It's mad to me how I've only really got into Bjork in the last couple of years. This album brilliantly embraces the DNA of electronic music and uses it to make an eclectic album of great song writing by a performer desperate to use their range and this is further demonstrated by the live version of the album. I think this list has too much Bjork, but this album is really worth gushing over.

It's Bjork. Sounds like nothing else. Not her best album, but some great songs and still sounds great 30 years later

The best bjork album

Fitting that Debut is my first female solo album generated. Wonderful first record from Bjork.

Bjork is phenomenal. One of the best voices in music.

For some reason I dismissed bjork as another generic pop artist, I was so wrong. Her voice and the instrumentals are amazing. The album is incredibly unique and diverse, the next track always surpised me. "Aeroplane" is a straight up jazz song, other tracks are house and edm. Going to relisten to this with a pair of good headphones.

Heard before: 'Venus as a Boy'. I adore Björk! 'Human Behaviour' is fantastic. Typical Björk alt-pop/trip-hop/God knows. Driven by an immediately obvious drum machine. 'Crying' -- great piano ostinato! 'Venus as a Boy'. No words needed to express how good this song is. I love the world influences. 'There's More to Life than This' is a... house track? I don't really know but it's good. Good segue into 'Like Someone in Love' which has a lovely harp. The singing is secondary. 'Big Time Sensuality' is yet another (very good) house track that reminds me of M People. 'One Day' is seemingly another trip-hop track. With a baby gurgling at the start? 'Aeroplane' introduces an obvious jazz influence that is hinted at in the previous song. 'Come to Me' sounds like a band that I cannot quite place. Is it supposed to be space rock? Or maybe I'm thinking of 'OK Computer'... A testament to Björk's extraordinary ability to fuse together anything and everything. 'Violently Happy' is the final house track on this album, utilising distorted vocals reminiscent of 'Hunter', the first song on her third album. The final song, 'The Anchor Song, again follows house with jazz. Jazz-electronica fusion? Also, does this album seriously end... with a tuba? True alternative music at its best. 9/10... but should it be a 4 or a 5? I would say a 5. I can definitely see myself listening to this again, due to all the excellent, and excellently different, songs on it.

отвал жопы

good album

He's exploring the taste of her Arousal, so accurate He sets off the beauty in her He's Venus, a Venus as a boy All across your lips, oh, then until Well be that, it's a little now, until He believes in a beauty He's Venus as a boy He believes in a beauty and gentle She's incredible. There isnt anyone else like Bjork, she is a truly unique voice and artist. 5/5

It was very good! It was also very different!

1993: Best year of our lives. Bjork graced us with her debut album full of sensuality and mystique. These two terms are one of the many ways to define her to this day. A fellow Scorpio making music for other Scorpios to relate to. Favorite tracks: Venus As A Boy, Human Behaviour, Come to Me, Like Someone in Love, There is More to Life Than This.

Loved her since The Sugar Cubes. Debut is a stunning solo debut.

Perfect, um... debut. I loved the Sugarcubes except for the shouty guy and like nearly every teenage indie kid in the late 80s I had a massive crush on Björk. So I was excited about it before i'd even heard a note. 30 odd years on it still sounds so fresh and exciting.

Amo a bjönk 9/10

Nada que agregar a lo que ya se dijo sobre este álbum. Masterpiece.

What a perfect Bjork album

Such a deep love for this album. Aeroplane is top 5 favourite songs for me. This is an artist at the height of their powers. Big love.

Exactly what this list was made for. Great album.

Thank you mother Bjork for inventing art pop

Amo este álbum, ya lo había escuchado antes, por eso puedo reafirmar que es uno de los mejores álbumes que he escuchado en mi vida.

loved listening to it again after soooooo long😁😊

Never has an album title become so apt. Sugar cubes dissolve into a melting pot that encompasses the sounds of danceable electronic music, pop, jazz and everything in between in this still vital album from perhaps Iceland's greatest export. Thirty years on, this remains an important first step into the wonderfully chaotic, endless inventive and wildly innovative world of a woman who does not rest on her laurels. Once immersed, regrets won't be found. P.S. I need me that fuzzy sweater.

I've really only listened to Bjork once on an airplane. I remember hearing greatness but I didn't go further down the rabbit hole for one reason or another. In "Debut" I heard an extremely innovative use of instrumentation that created unique sonic atmospheres, blending genres and styles to craft a truly unique listening experience. To start, I loved all of the gibberish singing. Just go nuts. Improvise. Let it all out. Have fun. Be violently happy. That aspect alone, to me, summarizes her vibe. Aside from Bjork herself, my ears tended to focus a lot on the impressive percussion arrangements that seemed to remain engaging without being overwhelming. Example tracks to me were "Human Behavior," "Crying," and "Venus as a Boy" which all boast STRONG percussion, along with other elements like synths and strings contributing to their distinct soundscapes. Bjork's creative recording concepts are evident in tracks like "There's More To Life Than This," which was partially recorded in a damn nightclub bathroom and "The Anchor Song," which has a minimalistic, almost poetic quality accompanied by a nice little ensemble of brass and woodwinds. Other songs like "Big Time Sensuality" and "Come To Me" demonstrate her ability to convey messages of courage, enjoyment, and love, while maintaining a quirky sound with elements like trumpets, loungey organs, and a diverse range of synths. So many silly noises that blend wonderfully with arranged string parts. In tracks like "Aeroplane" she somehow manages to combine a jazzy, nightclub vibe with elements reminiscent of a tropical jungle (the juxtaposition evoking a story in my mind of her being in that nightclub while thinking of her lover in a humid tropical locale that is only an Aeroplane ride away). I have so much to say about this album. Bjork exudes positivity and her music just feels like an old friend. It was really a pleasure to listen to this one. "Debut" serves as a showcase of Bjork's immense talent that fully 100% cemented in my mind her otherworldly level of creativity. 5/5

I think there are Bjork moments that are cool! But to my ears, they are so disjointed. As I listen, I'm constantly taken out of the experience to wonder "Huh! That was a weird choice, do I even like that?" For me, this sort of thinking *about* the piece doesn't leave much room for getting *immersed* in the piece. But I guess I do like a lot of choices, and I think it's pretty cool for being so experimental. Star ratings are not so nuanced as to capture my feelings, so I shall give 3 stars.

As a musician, it’s hard not to have exposure to Björk and not be forever changed. What strikes me is her uncompromising vision for the album. Sonically, texturally, lyrically. Björk is not one to retreat into the weirdness, the safety blanket of “cool” that the avant garde sometimes affords its participants. She is loud, brash. Fully committed, fully 100%. Listen to “Play Dead” if you doubt this. The best end credits track on any album I’ve ever heard, full stop. Symphonic, serious, intense. The weight of the whole album comes to bear on that one moment. It’s so impressive. Another artist who may be known for one thing, whose depth and complexity only reveals further on closer inspection. Björk is the very model of an artist. And not the sly, slinking, self-effacing, apologetic genius. The bold and the brash. The one to deliver a wakeup call to music. I’m entranced. She has so much tension in her music, so much unresolved emotion. I feel stressed listening! It’s compelling. Symphonic. 5/5, life changed

Classic

I like Bjork. Her music is so much different than anything else. Very creative and worth exploring more.

Wow, second Icelandic artist in a row. I've always felt Björk was weird for weirdness's sake. But the album isn't only easy and fun to listen to, it has a strong unique energy to it. I wasn't bored for one minute while listening to this, maybe a bit after 'One Day' and before 'Violently Happy' but even those two songs were enjoyable. Pleasantly surprised overall. Though I'm still convinced that she is actively trying to be weird. Songs I Already Knew: None Songs I Really Liked: Human Behaviour, Crying, Big Time Sensuality, One Day, Violently Happy

everything about this is flawless Björk is one of my all-time favorite singers, paired with these beautiful instrumentals like I just can’t put into words the incredible experience this is and to think this isn’t even Björk’s best album just goes to show how insanely talented she is - 10/10

Favorites: Human Behaviour; Venus as a Boy; Big Time Sensuality; The Anchor Song.

An inventive and fun album to listen to.

And what a debut it was

It’s a work of art.🤍🎧

This is an incredibly unique album. I wasn’t expecting the EDM influence, but it’s an integral part of some of the best songs here, especially ‘There Is More To Life Than This’. Also, ‘Big Time Sensuality’ sounds like a Mario Kart course theme in the best way possible. My favorite song is split between the beautiful ‘Like Someone In Love’ with that beautiful harp and rain sounds or the abrasive ‘Play Dead’. Björk has a highly distinctive voice that complements the music well, too. Amazing album, and, of the two Björk albums I have heard, I actually think this is better than ‘Post’.

Violent Happy. Canciones de todo tipo.

A discovery

AHH! I love Björk! Going to go spin my vinyl copy now. 5/5.

Great album

This album is all killer no filler

Violent Happy. Canciones de todo tipo.

Just excellent. As relevant today as it was visionary when it was launched. A masterpiece.

There’s more the life than this - love the moment she goes into the loos The a percussion throughout is great, shakers and tambourines just sound beautiful. Good combo of live musicians and programming.

old favorite.

damn her voice is j so unique and the songs are just such a beautiful story put together with these sick ass beats. amazing production and amazing voice what else do you need

Frábær plata, og það er ekki bara þjóðernissinn sem ræður þessu. Flest lögin mjög flott, afar töff hljóðheimur og rödd og flutningur æði. Áfram veginn bara.

I'd only ever listened to the opening track before and was only familiar with the general character of Björk from impressions of her. This was great. I definitely have to dive deeper into her material. I know she just released a new album a few months back that has been on a couple of best ofs this year.

Another album to add to the list of "perfect" albums. This record is extraordinarily good. Pretty much only Björk could get away with taking possibly the catchiest, funkiest four-on-the-floor riffs you could come up with, and then buggering off to the khazi. In There's More To Life Than This, she has some sheer Icelandic bollocks and just nails it. Some just cracking tunes on here, and the production is through the roof. Listen to it on decent headphones or a good stereo and marvel at how it all just fits together. Brilliant.

A beautiful debut, and an album worth exploring over and over again

What a debut! I love early Bjork so much.

Love Bjork, love this album.

awesome album

I love Bjork's voice. I got into her fairly recently after not really giving her much attention. This one isn't really my favorite, but its got some really good songs on it and it's just got this "aura" about it that makes listening to it such a joy. It's really good, but I'm hoping for see Post, Homogenic, and maybe Verspertine in the future. She's gotta have at least one of those on this list. I was going to award a 4, but damn if I can't help looking at that adorable face on the cover and want to bump it up. What a great artist.

Good album. Her music is really unique and even when her voice isn’t as strong or pleasant it’s almost forgivable due to what’s she’s putting out. I enjoy how she also stays away from the sad girl trope.

God, I love Bjork so much. Fuuuuck, this fucking sounds so good, I literally cannot believe it sometimes, despite having heard it so much.

Love it. Another one that's already in the collection. Just an incredible album that put her in the firmament from the start (of her solo career. Sugarcubes were pretty cool too). Every track is a highlight, from the cinematic Play Dead, to the jerky Venus as a Boy, but There's More To Life Than This is a crazed high concept masterpiece.

ISSA FRIGGIN MASTAPEEZ

Awesome. Still my favorite album of hersv

Innovative, a new sound, fantastic artist wo has started her journey

One of the best debut albums in history (pun intended), the transition between genres is so smooth is unbelievable. This album is full of iconic songs, none of them feel like filler or out of place, and they're all amazing largely thanks to Björk's breathtaking voice and energy.

No creo que haya una mala canción en este disco. Mucho más dancy y silly de lo que recordaba. Pero creo que Bjork siempre es más silly de lo que recuerdo en mi cabeza. Tiene ese feel de asociación libre tan Bjork que le da tanta fuerza a las cosas más tontas. Aeroplane me recuerda a Arthur Lyman. Lo que me recordó al maravilloso Flash Strap, que ahora es private y lo acabó de descubrir. Genuinamente con el corazón roto. Bjork es an OOO-queen. Agenciamientos y devenires. Casi una trampa. Es fantástico. Sorprendido de que aún escucharlo me haga sentir que hay muy muy poco que pueda comunicar exactamente esa alegría extrañada de este disco.

Did not expect it to be as good as it was

Heard before: no This album was stunning. So weird, so varied, so catchy. Will definitely revisit.

I know this album pretty well. I like it and I like Bjork, I am a fan. I haven't listened all the way through for a while, so let's see how it sounds now. Well what strikes me know is as well as all the music - which I always loved, the lyrics are great e.g., There's more to Life Than This, what a beautiful vibe. Surging irrepressible emotion is never far from the surface as in Violently Happy, sometimes it makes her feel like the alien outsider as in Human Behaviour, sometimes pain and pleasure are mixed up (as in the striking finale Play Dead), but the main mood is intimate and sensual in Venus As a Boy, Big Time Sensuality, One Day, Come to Me. It's got a lot of London, but also lots of Iceland too: oceans, volcanoes, fires and jumping off high things. It takes courage to enjoy it. Lovely quirky musical choices nothing formulaic or obvious, but often inspired. With hindsight it's clear that she was choosing to make something poppy and by her standards accessible. Love her unique voice, unique melodies, arrangements that mix classical with pop/dance music, She often takes an unpromising set of ingredients to come up with something entirely new but somehow delicious like a Michelin-starred chef. I think she's a genius. I got completely obsessed when this came out, and if anything the next one (Post) was even better.

Giving it her all as always, a wonderful debut album.

I listened to this album a lot growing up. Bjork remains one of my absolute favorite singers of all time. There are some great songs on this record, some serious and introspective ("Crying," "Venus as a Boy," " Come to Me") and some a bit silly and whimsical ("Human Behavior," "Big Time Sensuality," "There's More To Life Than This"). The minimalist club sound mixed with Bjork's unique soft, at times wailing voice creates an incredibly influential and unforgettable sound. The less clubby one ("Like Someone in Love") is a cute yet powerful jazz standard cover that, in spite of its outlierlyness, fits right in. It's funny -- the generator has been primarily giving me hard and classic rock music lately, all of which I've promptly been giving 4's and 5's as I feel obligated to (they're "Classics"). But none of them give me quite the same feeling that Bjork and this album give me. Every song hits. Her voice is calming but not in an easy-listening, boring, simple way. The songs build and evolve. Though not the first, the last, or the most influential in doing so, Bjork definitely brought experimental house music to the mainstream. And, like I said above, Bjork said that she pursued working on this album after the realization that traditional guitar-driven music was beginning to feel stagnant and limiting. The mix of jazz, trip hop, ambient, and house on this record definitely feels new, even listening to it nearly thirty years later.

Brill

really enjoyed this, great mix of musical styles but was super listenable throughout

Violently Happy.

bjorn apart

I love this album. I remember when I first heard it as a teenager and it blew my mind because it just sounded so different to everything else. Bjork's voice mixed with the big bad but slightly muted beats just sounds so good. LOVE IT. Human Behaviour and There's More to Life Than This are standouts.

What an impressive debut! Really unique and individual take on things. Beautiful tone and delivery with zany yet poetic lyrics. The production has aged really well, orchestral trip hop with techno and trance beats throughout. I know Björk reasonably well but would not have listened through to this with being promoted. Very glad it came up.

Siempre será mi disco preferido de Björk y uno de mis discos de cabecera. Ese Human Behaviour es maravilloso.

Početak bjorkicing prolaska five album testa bar šta se mene tiće😊

I have avoided Björk's music for a long time now because I feared that the "strangeness" that people talk about her music was much like Yoko Ono's strangeness; however, I am more than delighted that it isn't. This album is a love letter to electronic music while incorporating an undoubtedly unique sound that lands somewhere between alternative art pop and indie dance music. I can confidently say that I look forward to hearing where she takes this style and sounds in her subsequent albums (especially since I think some of these songs fall short of being perfection), but I thoroughly enjoyed this album. I lean between a 4 and a 5 for this album, but I think I will give it a five since it is years beyond a lot of this list and the mediocrity that spans it. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

I quite enjoyed the last bjork album we had too but this one was just so much more full of life and made it a lot easier to listen to

This was evolutionary when it was released. It still is!

Expectations are an interesting thing. I was expecting something weird that would probably get 3 stars. I expected her voice to get annoying. There was a bit of weird, the correct amount of weird. I found the first few songs enjoyable: quirky, clever, upbeat. But all she was doing was luring me in to the stunning finish. All of a sudden I felt so much emotion. Each song in that second side is a mini masterpiece, a combination of vocal and musical excellence. Her voice! The variety of songs, complete with a potential James Bond theme. This has made 1001 albums worth it.

I love everything about this album

I love it so much.

Did not anticipate to fall in love with a 90's electric pop /jazz / house album from an Icelandic woman but this album is amazing. I don't know how to describe it other than atmospheric, each song like transported me to a scene in my head. This song had me sitting in an old 1940s Jazz bar sitting by myself observing the other people at the bar and listening to conversations. It really feels like Bjork just went to different areas and scenes and just sung off the cuff into a microphone. I can 100% understand if this doesn't appeal to some though, the experience was to rich for though

Amazing album. I have never listened to Björk before, but now I'm very interested on diving deep in her discography.

:(

My little Icelandic princess. Björk is everything I want and need in a chanteuse. She's not trying to be weird just for the sake of being weird. She paints almost a theatrical experience with every song. What I love about this album is it's almost like each song is a different genre yet it all flows together as a cohesive album. Actual rating is probably a 4.5, but I've listened to "Birthday" so many times since I got The Sugarcubes album on here that my gut suggests I bump it up. Who knew that Björk was being held back by The Sugarcubes?

Having not delved into Bjork's music before this listen I was amazed by how accessible this album is. Not only is Bjork's voice stunning the album itself, while being experimental, has a sense of charm and innovation to it. It feels like a pop album that pulls all other genres into it (particularly jazz). Loved the album so much that it is going to lead me into a deeper dive into her music both before and after this piece. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great entry point into her music. It was a joy to listen to. Favorite songs: Human Behavior, Venus as a Boy, Come to Me, Like Someone to Love. Would give it a 4.5/5 but seeing as I can't give half points I will rate it a 5. Well deserved.

Bjork is an artist with a capital A, and her music always takes you on a journey on a unique combination of musical influences. It's avant-garde at times, but also poppy. Experimental throughout, but also simple and palatable. This is the album I'm most familiar with from Bjork and I'll have to use it as a diving board to discover more of her music over time. Debut is stunning and I'll be coming back to it for years. Fav Tracks: Big Time Sensuality, Venus as a Boy, Human Behaviour, Come to Me and Like Someone in Love

Sui generis. What a stunning debut from an utterly distinctive artist. It really feels like it lays the foundation of all of her work to follow. For a record that came out in 1993, Debut feels surprisingly contemporary. Some of the more straightforward house numbers don’t pack as much of a punch in the context of the more experimental tracks, but the highlights are absolutely breathtaking. Venus as a Boy is just so beautiful and off-kilter. Not having spent a lot of time with Bjork recently, and never having listened to this album before, I was surprised how much I vibed with this. Rating: 4.5/5 Favourite tracks: Human Behavior, Venus as a Boy, Come to Me, The Anchor Song

Great sounds, totally unique voice and composition

Iconic, still sounding fresh from ‘93

Круто!

Classic

Love love love love love.

Every piece is unique, and while not for all tastes, her love songs are where she excels. "Come to Me" is gorgeous. Added, with pleasure.

I didn't really like the Sugarcubes' music, and therefore wasn't expecting much of this solo debut. Which simply meant the surprise was even more pleasant, with such a variety of music and styles (proving that we should even allow for songs recorded in toilets, while the next song uses harps, and the following song is heavy on the electronics). What an excellent, cohesive, album! And what a voice!

All the good things

2021-12-16

The handful of Björk songs I've heard over the past few decades have always stood out because of her signature voice and always interesting and unusual melody writing. I really cannot explain why I never owned an album of hers or made the effort to listen to more of her music; my best guess is that for most of my listening life, I never leaned into much "electronica" (using the term very broadly here) so I probably had lumped her work into that category. This is my first-ever listen-through of a Björk album, and in keeping with my intention to listen openly to each album as it comes up in my rotation, I've done that with this album. It's fantastic. I am still a novice music theorist and amateur early-stage musician, but I think my studies have truly influenced (in a very positive way) how I hear music at this point in my life. It makes what she's done on this album all the more intriguing to me. Such gutsy use of melody, personal delivery of the vocals, and a powerful voice. The underlying harmonies, beats, and rhythms from the electronic music in each song work superbly with what she's doing. My only criticism is that listening to the album straight through, the music started to sound too similar to itself and kind of melded together. I will listen to her music more often now that I know I like it, but I know I'll prefer her songs to come up in a shuffle or playlist mixed with songs from other artists. Her songs really stand out a lot more noticeably in that context. An insanely talented writer, performer, producer, and artist.

Dieses Jahr schon im Rahmen der Björk Week gehört, vermutlich mein Fav von ihr.

A personal favorite.

Yes! Björk is my favorite solo artist of all time and while this isn't my favorite record of hers it's still an excellent debut

Loved it. Junk was so weird. That track with all the spacial effects was wild.

Love it when an album opens up with an absolute ripper. Still sounds fresh, quite a feat (except for some of those club beats maybe). Beautiful, powerful, creative songs an excellent album.

Masterpiece

I've had this CD since it came out in 1993 and I listened to it quite often back in the day. It was fun to get reacquainted with it after at least a decade. I love its creativity with styles, genres, instruments, and so on. I love a pop song with prominent timpani drums, and I've always loved the sound and feel of "Human Behaviour." I always liked the way "There's More to Life Than This" sounds as it's described on the CD, "Recorded live at the Milk Bar toilets." "Big Time Sensuality," though, was my favorite song on the album, if not the year 1993, and I played it over and over. It's different to review an album you've already been in love with. I was so glad to spend some time with it again today!

I have very limited familiarity with the music of Björk. This was a real treat! The variety of musical styles made for a very interesting and fun listening experience!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! This is so great! Listening to this just felt really good. Loved every track but special shout-out to Human Behavior, Like Someone in Love, and Big Time Sensuality. So good! Eleven stars out of five. ***********

I had only a vague recollection of Björk when this came up, so I was excited to check DEBUT out. I loved "Human Behavior" - especially the drumbeats that drive it. Definitely have heard this song before and liked it. "Crying" seemed familiar as well, so now I'm starting to wonder if I have heard this before, but I liked the song. "Venus as a Boy" is great! One of my favorites on the album. Such a lush and interesting song. "There's More to Life Than This" had a great beat and some fun backup vocals. I loved the live thing, then in the middle when a door slams and she sounds like she's off singing in some other room. The harp song "Like Someone in Love" was very interesting and sweet. A lush song that sounds both modern and classic. "Big Time Sensuality" sounds like a dance track, with a very unusual lyrical accompaniment. I particularly noted how cohesive the song is despite the music and the lyrics at times feeling like they are coming from two different worlds. Great song! I liked the rest of the album except “The Anchor Song”. In my worst-case scenario I feared the album might have all been like this, but fortunately this was the only one. Otherwise I really enjoy the mix of electronic and traditional instruments that this album brings together. Björk has created a unique, eclectic, largely listenable album. Amazing, fun, unique!

I always thought Bjork was hard to listen to, like her music just was just like. interesting but not easy to enjoy casually. This was really fun tho!

Love it.

A joy to listen to this album in full again after having a few on various playlists.

Brilliant debut album. Unique voice, great production and arrangement, good songs throughout, lots of variation. Loved it.

really need to listen to more Björk. she and this album are both incredible❤️‍🔥

Banger

I’d forgotten all this album. Great songs

I already knew my score for this before even listening specifically for this project... one of my favourite albums of all time. The atmosphere throughout is unbelievable.

Had no idea how comforting this music would be