Reviews (page 4 of 14)
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
Legendary
Loved this. Not listened in full before despite seeing her live twice and moaning about the lack of early stuff.
for some reason I was obsessed with this album when I was like 15 and forgot about it until now. really fun to listen to and honestly sounds timeless. 9
bueno, pero a ratos muy ecléctico, así que en dosis pequeñas está muy bien
Great stuff, side 2 especially
always three steps ahead
Smart, if moderately pretentious.
Play Dead is such a powerful song. Loved every minute of this album. My first 5 star rating!
Stone cold classic. Bring on the new shit!
my mam bought me this album for my 14th birthday! it's incredible
One of the greats
Fantastic solo debut!
Very interesting, I liked it more than I expected
It's 1993 and I'm not listening to metal... It's on the shelves, and has been since release. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆(8/10) Total reviewed : 425 Already owned : 95 Purchased : 21 To buy : 5 Nope : 304
I said in a previous review of a newer bjork album that perhaps it would be better to start earlier in her discography. Well I guess the universe listened, and served me her literal debut album. And wow man, this album is really something. It’s so bold and unapologetic. Fiercely unique. It’s rare to see that especially in a debut album. To be honest, the faster songs with dance type beats I was not particularly fond of. Where this album truly shines for me is in the slower songs. It fits her voice well to carry over a sweeping melody. And the way she can drag or rush her vocals to change the dynamic of a moment is what makes her a great vocalist to me. Fav tracks: Venus as a boy, Come to me
peak bjork faves - venus as a boy/crying
very different than what i typically listen to. actually banger
Bjork may well be an alien. Such a chaotic, beautiful, unique sound.
I think Bjork found the sounds that I most prefer a bit further on in her career. There are other of her albums that would be better off on this list, but I do not begrudge her on the list, simply because she is so unique in every way.
C'était génial j'avais jamais écouté aucun de ses albums malgré tout ce que j'ai entendu de bien sur elle. Apparemment c'est le plus accessible et je me le suis vraiment pris Hâte d'en écouter plus 1) The anchor song 2) Like someone in love 3) Big time sensuality
put this one on the back burner as I was pretty busy today. Still going to give it a listen though!
Fun
80s experimental electronica.
Happy and optimistic
My first time through this album, it didn't do much for me. As with the Sugar Cubes, I tended to appreciate Björk as an artist more than I liked listening to her. But Debut did much more for me the second time around. While "Big Time Sensuality" remains the highlight, "There is More to Life Than This" and "Play Dead" hooked me this time, and the boundary-pushing went down easier too. Maybe it's the headphones?
Forgot all about her. Great album.
I’m confused to why this works but it’s very good
What a breezy, easy listen. Delightful.
Great listen! I always enjoyed the Sugarcubes and it was Björk's very unique voice in such juxtaposition to the rest of the sound that really made it for me. I feel similar here. Without her vocals, this is just sort of lackluster. The music is simple repetitive melodies over sparse rhythms. Not boring, so to speak, but just nothing that really pulls the listener in. The addition of her vocal changes ALL of that, instilling an ethereal power that seemingly does not fit but ultimately provides everything needed for this to become cohesive and engaging. While I feel like this is probably the most approachable music I've heard from her, it is still experimental in that there was really nothing else that even sounded close to this upon its release.
This album reminds me why I appreciate this project. My first time really listening to Björk, outside an occasional song or SNL impersonation. Loving this album. It’s not something I’m going to blast in the car or sing along to, but it’ll be perfect when I need to be in a creative space. It’s inspiring and beautiful, and feels almost like a soundtrack…
4.65. Awesome. I thought I knew who bjork was. How wrong and ignorant. She is not just some weird pop fashion singer. Amazing album. Will spread the word. Almost want to give it a 5, but am being more discerning.
Fav song: Human Behaviour
Innovative, extraordinary voice.
Wow. Solo Bjork I can actually get behind. This is pretty awesome. I found Medulla and Vulnicura almost unlistenable. 4 Boolean: True
This album changed me at a cellular level when I was 14.
fun and i love her voice
dit album is zo cute ik heb nog nooit echt goed naar een album van haar geluisterd gnw liedjes hier en daar en ook clips gezien van haar outfits
In a weaker artist’s hands this could easily be vapid and tedious. In Bjork’s hands it’s a minor masterpiece of weird pop. Only downside is a couple weak tracks.
Joyful noise. Bjork has such a unique voice
Äußerst spannend. Nach 2/3 war es gefühlt etwas auserzählt, aber grundsätzlich sehr spannende Lieder. Da muss ich doch mal in die Diskografie reinhören. Da müsste dann ja auch noch etwas Entwicklung passiert sein.
Ich war mein Leben lang überzeugt, dass ich Björk nicht mag, vermutlich weil ich irgendwann mal einen Song gehört habe der so künstlerisch wertvoll war, dass ich ihn furchtbar fand. Aber das hier ist richtig gut, macht richtig Spaß
I love the idea of Björk more than I actually like Björk's music. When she hits, she hits hard. When she doesn't, I still enjoy the quirkiness. This album cover, her sweater...a 5.
30+ years later and it still sounds so unique. Some of the dance music aged but Bjork is an enchantress. Sone with a harp? Sure! Music video with a stuffed bear? Why not! Music and the world is richer for having this music in it.
This along with Post are my favorite Bjork albums. They have more structured melodies than her later work and just jive with me better. Good stuff for sure.
violently happy that this album is on the list
3.5. Good overall album with nice instrumentation
My Björk intake has been pretty spotty; I'm never sure whether I really like her voice or not, but she's always interesting. I was so sure I'd heard this album before, maybe piecemeal, but maybe it was just the hits. Either way, I enjoyed listening to it properly. It distinguishes itself less in the latter half and the 90s electronics get pretty samey, but it's still a good listen overall, with a sweetly weird and enchanting atmosphere. Besides the big singles, I was delighted by There Is More to Life Than This and the immersive ambience it gains from being recorded in a club toilet. There's a non-toilet version but I don't want it.
Great to have an album with nothing bad about it. Pleasant time hearing this but just wish Play Dead was on this listing. It is on my own CD and is probably my favourite track. Prompted me to play Post as well though which I think is maybe my favourite Björk album.
one of the most unique and idiosyncratic artists you can find a heterogeneous collection of influences ranging from house music and trip hop to pop ballads that, despite being identifiable, do not give the feeling of having listened to a mixture of different genres, but rather a different experience that can only be reached through the personal vision and the artist's own voice the vocal performances are the most recognizable and perhaps most groundbreaking aspect of the album, not only because of the timbre of the voice, but also because of the unconventional way of accelerating, stopping, and breaking down the structures of the melodies organically in favor of the emotions they try to convey
This might be the first time I’ve consciously listened to Björk. The first 3 songs are great and I like how the album doesn’t have a strict pattern and yet seems to flow really nicely. She lost me a bit at Big Time Sensuality but the eeriness of Come To Me brought me back in. The Anchor Song might be my favourite of the album and I can really hear where BC,NR are clearly inspired from.
I became a Björk fan in ‘92 when I saw the Sugarcubes support U2 on the Zoo TV tour with Public Enemy. I liked the Sugarcubes well enough, but the singer was charismatic, ultra-unique and weird. When Debut came out I had no idea what to expect and I was correct. Björk made a spectacular debut seamlessly blending music styles to create the music perfect atmosphere to hold her sweet, lilting, growling and sometimes chaotic voice and continues to be a singular, musically mercurial dynamo. 4.5
not like an easy listen, but surprisingly enjoyable every part of it was music!
Björk's kind of weird just works for me. It's not a perfect album, but I enjoyed everything quite a lot.
I don't know why, but I love Bjork. She's unique and talented and weird (so weird), but I'm surprisingly drawn to her. She has gravitas.
I was very pleasantly surprised. I really liked the sound, it sounded very modern, in a way? Which I guess means it sounded REALLY new for 1993. Anyway great album I especially loved the Chet Baker cover.
bjork? more like WEIRDO in all seriousness, i think this was pretty fun. its dance music, but with orcestration!! it gives a lot of texture and uniqueness. i think her voice is a little too much for me but yeah like some of these are bops. like conceptually, this is the perfect blend of familiar and new.
I’ve always loved this album. It was released when I was a sophomore in college so brings back so many good memories. It’s been awhile since I’ve listened to the entire album. It won’t be long before I do it again.
Wow. What a banger. Definitely want this on vinyl Going from Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bookend’s” to Bjork’s “Debut” was definitely a switch up lol
Bjork fan here
Bjork's Debut!
grew on me
Kule vibber
Love this album!
love it
An eclectic collection of songs that coherently work well as an album. Likes: Human Behavior; Venus as a Boy; Like Someone in Love; Big Time Sensuality; Come To Me
Probably my favorite Bjork so far, a little more reserved but still esoteric in all the right places
Icelandic goddess.
This was one of the albums that my parents had when I was growing up. So I forget just how "out there" and experimental Bjork was in this album. As I heard it a lot. Bjork has an intensity that many poets would kill for. No matter what she is singing, it sounds like she is singing to save the lives of her, her children and the lives of everyone in the town or city she is in. And that is a bit much for some people. But I quite like it. The sound is a fusion of pop/jazz/traditional band playing. And all of this is arranged in such a way as to make it all feel new and a little bit disorientating. Again, I know that this might not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. (4.125)
"Debut" is the fantastic album by Björk. This is the breakout album of Björk with awesome tracks like "Human Behavior", "Crying", "Venus as Boy", and "Big Time Sensuality". This album is produced beautifully and all the tracks are consistent. This album may not be her strongest or masterpiece album compared to other well known album but it is still her great album. Overall very good album that sounds fresh and unique even in today's era.
Björk has never really meshed with me in the way that she has with many of my friends, and the way other artists have with me. Her voice is great, but I don’t know. I much prefer her standing as a legend of art pop than whatever this site thinks of her. But she doesn’t really have a huge masterpiece (her closest two are Medúlla and Vespertine). This is good, though. “Human Behavior” is a gem, and so is “Crying” and “Big Time Sensuality.” That being said, the best thing that this album does is its building of aesthetic and character: the rustic, sepia-toned, androgynous cover photo, the touches of vocal jazz and down-to-earthiness across the album really helps elevate the work from something small, interesting, but not thematically noteworthy, to something seminal, masterful even, at least in the context of sequencing and characterization. Unmistakeably impressive, and an outstanding starting point for such a career. 8.7/10
Damn good album that gets a little dated in spots but has some monumentally great tracks. For a debut to sound this polished and put-together reminds me of her enduring genius. "Human Behaviour" is extremely bouncy and catchy, "Venus as a Boy" has so many insanely earwormy sounds that come in and out of the mix, "Big Time Sensuality" should have been a hit with its radio-friendly sound, "One Day" has a lovely interplay between her vox and the synths, and "Come to Me" is one hell of a sexy serenade.
Listening to this unlocked memories from a very specific period of my life, a very bittersweet time and a really bittersweet album. Songs about loss, longing and desire that cover jazz, soul and dance music. Even on the most hands up dance style tracks there’s a real human quality because of her voice. It’s extraordinary but it’s always deeply human and her personality gives everything extra energy
J’avais jamais pris le temps d’écouter cet album en entier… quelle surprise!
Not listened to this in years, it's great. Bouncy dance tracks as well as intense ballads. Very good
It sounds like the experimental/electronic music that Bjork is known for. It's not as quiet or experimental as an album like Vespertine, but it has its own unique style. It's a pretty good album, overall.
Bjork is great, brings so much energy to her songs
I love that Bjork exists in the world but I’m also glad that I don’t live in a world of many Bjorks. This is a really good album, unmistakably her, even if it explores genres largely away from my standard
There's a beautiful sense of taking on the whole world in Björk's first proper solo album. Perhaps I'm more of a sucker for house than the majority of people who listen to this album, but I deem this to be a more consistent album than some people give it credit for. Some would argue Venus As a Boy is enough of a heavy hitter to bury everything else, but as cute and sweet its lyrics are, I don’t find it that different from the two tracks that precede it (and it sure as hell isn't remotely her best, but that's more of a testament to her later efforts). Björk already shows perfect understanding of her own work from start to finish - this is an album meant to really blur the line between sensual pop records and dance music, and it should be treated as such. It ultimately doesn't matter much to me that Violently Happy isn't as obviously catchy as the triple-hit this album begins with, it manages to infect my brain just the same. And where all other instruments fail, Björk's voice carries, making even a more generic beat like on There's More To Life Than This way more memorable than it has any right to be. Her voice is particularly young here, lively and a bit cocky, encouraging you to dance to the rhythm of the album's heartbeat, which can somehow be felt even in the non-dance numbers (except for the Anchor Song, but by then the album is coming to a close). As a result, I always feel obliged to listen to the entire thing, and I am still surprised by how much the incredibly minimal Like Someone In Love and Anchor Song managed to get stuck in my head. Which is very important, because neither her vocal range nor choice of instrumentation have as much variety as her subsequent efforts, instead keeping the focus on minimal and catchy tunes, many of which gain extra boost in memorability by not only her already beautiful voice, but also the little touches sprinkled all over, already hinting at what else she will do once she's finished warming up. It's not just a display of raw pop talent already blooming, but a worthwhile album to own by any disc jockey. Some of the creative decisions get way less impressive once you listen to more art pop albums, including Björk's own, but at the same time, this type of sound is something she would never quite channel again, and it still stands out in her discography all these years later. Considering her portfolio, that's something worth celebrating.
I enjoyed it browski.
I was aware of this album in 93, but mostly the hits that got radio play. After listening, I really appreciate the ambition of this album with the wide variety of genres. I definitely wasn't expecting the jazz standard Like Someone in Love with harp accompaniment— but I think it works. Bjork doesn't have the greatest voice, but I feel like she uses every bit of it to evoke feeling in her music. I think my favorite tunes were the dance electronica like Big Time Sensuality, There’s More to Life than This and Violently Happy. Very impressive solo debut album!
This was an excellent introduction to Björk for me. Her ability and willingness to blend and attempt different musical styles all on her debut, no less, was impressive. She is an incredibly talented and avant-garde vocalist on top of this, breeding a fascinating combination. I find her passionate, intense vocals and unusual phrasing to keep me consitently engaged and invested, especially when she’s messing with so many different genres. Some of the production is just so lovely and fun. There was even more jazz and dance-pop than I expected, but oddly she’s plenty capable working with both. It’s not a seamless pairing by any means, but it could have gone much worse. Venus as a Boy is the clear standout for me and I’ve been listening to it all weekend. I’m really pleased I finally got to hear some of her music and I’ll be excited when her name appears again. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Venus as a Boy, Human Behavior, Come to Me, Big Time Sensuality
Human Behavior is one of my favorite songs. The rest is also very good
La obra maestra de cualquier otro artista pop es el trabajo más mainstream y suave al público que tiene bjork... y aún así no deja de ser increíble. Amo este album porque es un pop bailable y enérgico que le gusta a todo el mundo, pero con la condición de que no hay nada que no sea experimental en el trasfondo musical del álbum. Realmente se disfruta mucho y lo elijo siempre que puedo, canciones como venus as a boy o big time sensuality no crashean con crying, violently happy o come to me, porque el contexto auditivo abraza toda la atmósfera... CINEEE 10/10 Además mira esa portada icónica, ya la ves y sabes todo
debut is a great debut album
Venus as a boy is one of the best songs of all time
I enjoyed this album way more than the previous bjork album I had. I really like the sound she went for here!
Her voice is really like broken glass.
No one does quirky, electronic music like Bjork. From her, it’s believable. She embodies some sort of fantasy parallel world and it comes through in her vocals.
I love her retarded little voice <3
I think this is a great album. She gets a little cookie at times and often people hold that against her but I like that it’s a little off kilter. The tracks have breadth and whilst some don’t quite land often the music and vocals are amazing and it’s always interesting. The collaboration with David Arnold Play Dead with its massive strings and soaring vocals is a fantastic song…. Regardless of the Vauxhall Vectra being a shit motor. 4.2
I didn’t know what to do with this when it was originally released. Re-visiting it this many years later I really enjoyed it. Lots of genres colliding here without detracting, which makes it more listenable. It could be argued that Björk has created her own weirdatronica genre and this debut laid the groundwork.
I enjoyed this one. Human Behaviour is such an awesome song. Not even sure what instruments are being played. Love how it builds and the vocals are amazing. I also searched for the video and got a Beavis and butthead clip and that put me in a good mood. 3.75
Björk can be a challenging listen but there’s something undeniably captivating about her. This album could have been released today and still sound unique. Pretty timeless and creative stuff here. 3.75/5
앨범 자켓 넘 커여움 이런 앨범으로 등장했으면 정말 센세이셔널했겠네요
Wow. What a surprise! I’ve listen to homogenic and Vespertine which I wasn’t a fan of and my hopes were not high for more Björk. This is great. Her vocals are amazing with some rock music instrumentation which again surprised me. Didn’t love everything here and thought the second half dragged on a little
She had her own voice from the beginning. Eclectic and beautiful. 3.7/5.
Completely new to this album, and Bjork (beyond knowing her name). This was pretty great! She has a beautiful voice, and the album is pretty unique (to my ear). Some decent beats, too! 8/10 Most Excellent
I like how she carves out a musical space for her voice. Listenable and singular style.
I didn’t realize I’d like this album so much. I’m gonna give it a few more listens.
Not as experimental as her later stuff..but still 100 per cent Bjork..bouncing from club sounds to torch songs.
A terrific solo, uh, debut from Björk. Fun, interesting, daring, engaging, art-pop that’s still danceable. She took her sound to outer space from here, but still great to be reminded of the building blocks.
While none of these will end up on my regular playlist, I do appreciate the uniqueness and was interested the whole listen.
nanan
I never gave bjork a chance back in the '90s, too interested in jam band music at the time to give much else a shot. But this stuff is lovely, engaging, unique and enjoyable.
I love Bjork. I think she's still finding her voice here - literally, I mean, in terms of how she can sing with that Mother Nature-esque volcanic quality that she develops in the middle of her career - but production-wise it's already got that unique hyperpop bombasticisty that she's known and iconic for. Fav tracks: Venus As A Boy, Big Time Sensuality, Aeroplane
I am always happy to have an excuse to listen to this. An brilliant album.
Been a long time since last listened to this but was great to revisit
This could go of two ways love or hate. Listening to the first track and its oddly hypnotic. Dont like the last song its all a bit jazzy.
yea this album is peak
A classic album that has aged much better than I expected. I was actually not a big fan when it came out, but it grew on me over the years, and I thoroughly enjoyed it this time over. For some reason, I really like the (relative) simplicity of her early works, before she went full space alien. There's at least half a dozen beautiful songs here that I could absolutely come back to. "Experimental pop" has never been my cup of tea, but Björk's charisma, enthusiasm and outlandish voice are enough for me to overlook a lot of imperfections. This album managed to capture a very specific part of the 90s zeitgeist, but also brought a ton of interesting experiments to the table. It's an amazing mix of styles and genres, from EDM to pop, jazz, early trip-hop and traditional roots, glued together by a unique personality. The production is also extremely good for a first solo album. Not my favorite Björk record, but one I definitely have a soft spot for. 7/10
Ce n’est qu’un début … mais quel démarrage !!! Au delà de l’innovation de faire de l’électro pop il y a la créativité, la mélodie, la beauté et la belle voix de Björk !
I was quite skeptical going into this, but I've got to say I enjoyed this quite a bit, her voice is really powerful and the music is certainly unique, though having said that, this isn't something I can see myself listening to as part of my regular rotation, I'd have to be in the mood to listen to this again, I'll give it a 4/5
Excellent
After already getting her newer albums first on Herr I wasn't looking forward to this, but it was actually quite nice
Puts the art in art pop. Really enjoy the choice of 90s synths throughout. Will be giving this repeat listens soon. 8.5/10.
Weird and wonderful
I for one (and once) enjoyed a Björk album!! Huzzahh!! Really awesome debut. While the whole of American was going through musical puberty and lashing out against the world. Björk dropped a delightful little debut project ripe with pop and electronica influence. Exploring the beauty of the city, nightlife, falling in love and other areas of the human condition. Warm vocal melodies and unique icelandic dialect enhance this and make is sound oh so much more unique. I think if you wanna listen to björk more start here and work chronologically. Reverse chronological can make you despise her.
I like the way she sings
I knew a few of her songs, first time listening to a full album. I liked it, it was nice. Good that I got the first album first also!
This album is way better than expected, love so much of it.
Alternative dance, art pop, electropop, house.
Excellent
Wasn't sure what to expect out of this one as Bjork has been all over thr place. There's moments that feel like early 90s pop but overall its a dreamy adventure. Her voice really hooks you into the songs.
lowkey good
quiero mucho a mi novio y lo extraño entonces me gustó mucho este álbum y su diferencia de sonido entre canción y canción. ya veo por qué björk es la madre de todas las indie girls
my first listen by her. i really enjoyed this album and it really reminded me of janelle monae who no doubly took inspiration from bjork
Björk such an interesting critter. One of the best voices of all time but she uses it to be a quirked up white girl. Good album, couple boring songs but most of them were bangers.
Overall: 4.09 (rounded to 4) Consistency: 4.36 Originality: 4 Enjoyment: 4 Virtuosity: 4 1. Human Behavior - 5 2. Crying - 5 3. Venus as a Boy - 5 4. There's More to Life Than This - 3 5. Like Someone in Love - 4 6. Big Time Sensuality - 4 7. One Day - 4 8. Aeroplane - 4 9. Come to Me - 5 10. Violently Happy - 5 11. The Anchor Song - 4
Kinda dancey but I'm not complaining
Pretty good but not enough for 5 stars. Knew a couple of the songs on here and those are great but I also quite liked some that I’ve never heard or even seen the titles mentioned before.
I liked this. A lot of dance music influence which I enjoyed. Experimental without being too avant garde. Björk has a good voice and a unique singing style.
A magically enchanted electronic album fuses folk and jazz.
4*
Nice Album
Made for a very enjoyable morning drive
Ok here we go, going in with an open heart and mind. Ok, super awesome, so dancy and fun. So much more approachable than I expected. Think I'm basing too much of my Bjork take on "oh so quiet". This album was not screechy and manic like I expected. 4+, 5? Such awesome and original sound even for today, loved it
Bjork must have the most unique voice, right? It’s like a child’s but is also massive! And who knows what genre she is, she’s in a league of her own. Some times can be a hard listen, you have to be in the right mood, but when you are, oh boy is she good.
Kinda think its great. Shes in a league of her own aint she. Human behaviour is otherworldy
Weird and wonderful! Cant catgorize her Very unique 👌 I liked the more tender softer songs rather then the dance songs but still a solid 4 great debut 👏
I like Bjork, Got this album. Great start to the album, first 3 songs, The remix of Bigtime Sensuality is a way better version than one on here. Play Dead at end stands out too If you dont like her voice u understand it could get grating, mind.
After listening to and liking songs here and there of Björk since the early/mid 90's, this is the first time I've ever listened to a whole album. On my review of Superunknown by Soundgarden I said something along the lines of "I've always enjoyed when one of their songs came on but never felt the need to listen to a whole album. Now having done so, I feel validated in that belief". Soundgarden are a band I like in small doses but in larger doses they aren't as engaging. I always thought Björk was the same. Ah well, I can't be right all the time and sometimes being wrong is nice. Very solid album, much enjoyed, will listen again, and looking forward to more from her.
Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: Playful, intimate, and emotionally fearless. It moves between club music and vulnerability so naturally it barely feels constrained by genre. Feels curious about being alive. Favorite Track: “Hyperballad.” One of the greatest “functional sadness” songs ever made. Beautiful, anxious, and strangely comforting at the same time.
Perhaps not quite as fully realized as later albums, but many of the essential Bjork elements are in place here, with lots of genres represented, unexpected melodic turns and instrumentation, and of course, her unpredictable but always compelling vocals.
I'd argue that this is the most accessible Björk album, as it only gets weirder from here. This is more dance/house based at points, but also takes time and slows down with some dreamier sequences. Björk's odd voice has always been strangely enchanting, and it shines even on her debut here. Both her pleas for love and cries of pain are equally convincing. Start here if you're even slightly interested in Björk's catalogue, and stay for the inspired genre fusions that use an electronic foundation.
My mom loves Björk
I listened to this album while driving around on my lunch break, reflecting on my city council's recent vote to expel one of its members. I came into Debut expecting the grander and more organic compositions and orchestrations of Björk's later career, so I was completely caught off-guard by just how energetic this album was. Bjork's distinctive breathy and deep voice was still immediately recognizable in her gorgeous and expressive vocal deliveries, but the driving drums and electronic house beats were a welcome surprise. I was also treated to one of the most interesting and ear-catching production tricks I've ever heard on There's More to Life Than This (Live Version) when the song seemingly cuts out as our narrator moves between rooms. As the album continued, I only grew more surprised by just how much dance and house music was here, all balanced incredibly well with gentle guitar ballads. The ocean sounds which rest underneath these more natural tracks were yet another example of one of countless production flourishes which breathes life into this album. I was also impressed by the incredibly smooth song transitions, even between completely opposite sounds; some of the songs even reminded me of my melodic dubstep Monstercat days. Seeing such a wide array of sounds and instruments melding together seamlessly will always impress me, and this album has made me even more excited to hear more projects from Björk later on in this list. Highlights: Human Behaviour, Crying, There's More to Life Than This (Live Version), Like Someone in Love, Big Time Sensuality, Come to Me, The Anchor Song
I didn't really enjoy Bjork too much when this was released, but appreciate it a lot more now
I actually quite liked this. There are some catchy tunes (Human Behaviour stands out) and it is quirky.
Absolutely have never heard of Bjork before, not even a clue as to the genre this will be going in. 1 song in, and I can't explain why but its kind of a vibe, kinda fun to listen to. The vocal range is impressive that's for certain. I had a lot of fun listening to this album, which is strange becuase this is definitely not the type of genre I gravitate towards. I may honestly seek out more music by this artist.
Siempre he recibido opiniones positivas acerca de Björk, ¿y para qué negarlo?, es muy buena. Logra un sonido nuevo, a partir del House y el Jazz, que, a pesar de no otorgar una idea original, sí ofrece auténtico gusto por la buena música. Es, en sí, el sonido de Björk. Poco más que decir. Hay dos canciones que me vencieron: Like Someone In Lova, por la voz desnuda de ella que cautiva hasta al más duro, y Aeroplane, que me aterró. Sí criticaría el uso desmedido de lo alternativo, lo experimental, que, no obstante usado con tino, por momentos distrae y hace perder el hilo al oyente. Obviamente, sólo he escrito floro. Ja, ja. Pero, en serio, me gustó; espero escuchar más de ella. Y, aunque por momentos me pareció un 4.5/5, en otros fue un 3.5.
An enjoyable debut featuring eclectic and trippy stylings
My third solo album from Björk and by far my favourite so far. While I’ve enjoyed some of the other ones, this is the first of hers that I can see myself going back to. Top Track - Play Dead
Love this.
Right from the start, the first thing I noticed was how raw and passionate the vocals are on this album. They're really beautiful. I think that the opening track is perfect for this album, because it shows off both the vocals and the weirdness of her sound. I really, actually don't have much to say about this album other than I enjoyed it. I found some of it quite strange, but it was all really lovely at the same time. I've never listened to this artist before, so I suppose her debut was the perfect place to start, and I feel I may listen to some more stuff by this artist later on. Favourites: There's More To Life Than This One Day Human Behaviour Crying
She is such a unique performer, but some of the instrumentals feel a bit of that era, excited to get vespertine one of these days
From her rep I was expecting much weirder. Loved it!
Bjork certainly is never at a loss for creativity. I'll admit that on this particular album, I grew to find her breathy whisper-singing grating, so Debut loses some points there. But when this album shines (usually in its instrumentation), it is spectacular. The saxophones on the final track, "The Anchor Song," were inspired.
This album was a surprise with the breath of various musical sounds with jazz influence. I was aware of Bjork as a personality but never knew her music. Glad I did listen
Haven't played this in years. Adventurous but still accessible. Some really nice tunes mixed with some tracks that miss the mark.
8/10
Wow! Wonderfully innovative sounds!! Artistic!!
About 100 albums in, this is my third Bjork album. I was familiar with the hit songs that featured in MTV’s rotation back in the day. Good times. The rest of the record mostly didn’t disappoint either. I am a bit sorry I never gave Bjork a chance before
Not my most listened to Bjork album, which would be homogenic (Somehow not on this list despite their being 4 Bjork albums). But still enjoyable.
Weird pick to put this on the list and not Homogenic or Post. But still…. Even an average Bjork album is better than most music not by Bjork.
Interesting. Didn't expect this kind of music. I liked many songs. 3,75/5.
Jamais écouté avant. Je suis toujours passé à côté de Björk, sans doute intimidé par son aura d'artiste culte, à la fois excentrique et intello. Je dois bien admettre que cet album me donne tort. En dehors des beats de forain kitschissimes sur certains morceaux (on dira que c'est l'époque...), et l'impression, parfois, qu'elle cherche encore sa voie, Debut est un voyage atmosphérique d'une beauté étrange, porté par la voix envoûtante de son interprète. Une très bonne surprise. Top : Venus As a Boy Flop : The Anchor Song
I heard while walking through the Prado, great expirience :)
ethereal динамично слышно что она отлично владеет голосом. и тембр приятный. и музыка классная. но че то не торкнуло, оставило ощущение, что я как будто лишена точки, на которую эти звуки должны воздействовать для получения удовольствия от прослушивания. хотя возможно удовольствие от прослушивания не главное в музыке. отчетливо слышу звучание 1990-х. Like someone in love - темный ловелас female version мой пинтерест если бы был альбомом шикарный опыт, открыло мне какую-то новую грань в музыке, пусть я и не до конца могу её воспринять
7 - GOOD
Incredible voice. There are 3 different genres of music here, showing her range.
Geil wenn mer siis erste Album Debut nennt und weiss, dass mer damit berühmt wird. Love Björk! Nöd nur will sie heisst wie en 14 Jahr alte Bulldog vomne 75 jährige, dicke nazi-isländer, sondern vor allem will sie krassi musig macht und e krassi stimm het. Git vjör pjöntos vom Gjörki Gjörkson
Loooove. It’s fun and exciting but also pretty weird and you can see the hints at how much more experimental her work will get. I love the ending of the album honoring her heritage and leaving off on that experimental note — a cliffhanger to see what she’ll do next!!
4/5
Taking inspiration from the dance music that was coming out at the time, Bjork's debut record sounds like nothing that came out before it, even if it is reasonably accessible. Some of the more dance leaning songs such as 'Big Time Sensuality' almost feel dated due to their beat, but they are saved by Bjork 's voice keeping them interesting. Her voice is unmistakably her and she channels so much emotion when she vocalises. The blending of electronic music with Indian music is the key to how Bjork got such a unique sound on here, but I'd argue that the highlight of this entire record is Bjork's take on jazz standard 'Like Someone In Love'. Her rendition is so powerful, even if it is largely carried by her gorgeous voice and the whimsical plucking of a harp. I know Bjork wasn't a newcomer to music when she popped out her debut solo record, but this is an exceptional record to introduce the world to her solo offerings.
Ground breaking album still sounds fresh today. Varied and original
Liked it more than I thought I would. Kind of positively surprised after I didn’t like the sugarcubes much.
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that. I am pleasantly surprised and honestly this is a great album. Her voice is so weird and interesting that it actually benefits the house music in the background. Genuinely glad I got served this today, this is such a cool listen. 8/10 "Bjork" is the sound my dog makes when she sees a cat in the back yard.
Whimsical and mysterious but not sinister and originating from the shadows- more created and elongated by a wonderfully weird art student that’s about to fine tune her work.
A stunning debut by an artist who had been recording and performing for years in Iceland. Only this time, it's the adult Bjork announcing herself. And this album really made it auspicious. Such a unique voice, a unique style, a one of a kind artist. She picks up where David Bowie left off with pop experimentation, only it's simultaneously more personal and danceable. I have never heard this one before. But I do own CDs of Post and Vespertine, which I think are superior. But there's no denying that for a first album, Debut set the pace for all musicians of her stripe to come forth, from Lorde to Lady Gaga. 1993 was a good year, after all.
Favourite Songs: Human Behaviour Big Time Sensuality Come To Me Violently Happy
Best wel vibe 7.5/10
Quite imaginative while still being pretty grounded most of the time. Not a fan of the sparser tracks since Bjork's voice can't sustain a song on its own.
Ambiance agréable assez spéciale
4/5 I'm always surprised at how good the music is, not justbher fun weirdness.
Far better than I was expecting. 4.2/5.
The moment I played the first song, björk just pulled me into this new world I had never seen before. This music was very new to me and I really liked it.
Not exactly a debut, having fronted The Sugarcubes and her own Gling-Glo, but probably the first time the mass public got to hear her amazing voice. At the time it was totally unique in the pop charts and still sounds fresh today. Better came later with Post, Homogenic and Vespertine, but a great opener for a truly unique artistic talent. 4
It's really fun just not for me
Super debüüt Björki poolt. Väga palju lahedaid kõlasid ning avant-garde mõtlemist ning helidega mängimist. Tuleb välja, et mulle meeldib selline kiiksuga muusika. 4.3/5
My son's girlfriend just bought me this on vinyl
Great body of work
An acquired taste for sure, not always what I want to listen to, but a truly unique and always interesting artist.
Gostoso de ouvir
Loved it!
My wife loves Björk. I don’t, but I did very much enjoy the soundtrack to dancer in the darkness. I guess I’ve never listened to Björk, this album specifically on my own terms, but when I did, I really got into it.
Batshit but good
It’s a great Album, her sound is so unique, you can tell in the first seconds, that a Björk song is coming. Maybe her housiest Record, but that’s okay. I don’t give 5 points, cause her best albums are to come. Fav: Venus as a Boy
Fue una gran sorpresa descubrir a esta artista, una visión muy distinta de la música que te transmite sus emociones y forma de ver el mundo
Bjork is such a beautiful artist. She combines jazz with a unique sound that... well, isn't jazz. And that fits over it with a soft feminine voice. What's the opposite of her voice? Maybe like deep and gravely? Anyway, stellar artist.
Björk is a vibe that you either are into or not. The record is all over the place musically and somehow it works.
Another one from my collection (so far 20/48). I have always admired Björk and I really like "Debut" but I haven't ever truly loved any of her albums. So I guess it's a strong four stars.
Abwechslungsreich mit sehr schöner Stimme
Diverse and delightful. 3.5
there is more to life than this sounds like I am in the club; I am obsessed.
I like this more than I want to.
Fraud or Fantastic? Con or cool? She does know what she’s doing so I think the latter options. The atonality and arrhythmia will jar some. But she’s not playing it for those. It’s not an easy listen and you mightnt need to hear it more than once but actually I think you do need to hear it.
Met haar bijzondere stem zorgt Björk met dit album voor iets dat ik vooral met aandacht moet luisteren om van te genieten. Op de achtergrond gaat het anders al gauw wringen. Dat gezegd hebbende, als ik dan wél goed luister, hoor ik een album wat veel mooie lagen heeft en goed doordacht is. En vooral een gepassioneerde en krachtige artiest.
Boy, my generator REALLY likes Bjork. Already on my third album of hers and I'm not even 100 albums in. So far, every album of hers I listen to I enjoy more than the last. I can't tell if that's because she's just growing on me as an artist as a whole or if certain albums are just genuinely better than others.
Some of the tracks are fantastic, others don't have enough music to distract from Bjork's "singing". Overall though the world is a much better place with this album in it.
Amazing record, lovely songs and an ethereal voice. It changed music forever with only this to start. So good.
I didn't expect to like it at all. I did. Very much.
I really like 75% of the choices she makes and then 25% I don’t like. Mostly dislike some combos of vocal and melody at random parts.
Some great songs interesting vocal arrangements and melodies really enjoyed it
3 on here I really don't like but the rest are top notch.
It’s messy and the production can sound a bit dated but bjork is creative enough that it doesn’t really matter
Först. Inte riktigt min kopp te. Men jag tycker att låtarna för det mesta håller rätt hög nivå. Det är intressant, varierat. Inget som egentligen får mig att tända till dock. Men jag uppskattar konstverket. Kanske måste lyssna in mig mer. Men därför förtjänar det mer än bara tre.
Riktigt riktigt bra skiva det här. Hade det inte varit för ett lite segdraget segment i mitten hade det kunna varit en femma, men landar i en stark fyra nu. Här sjunger hon fantastiskt och det excentriska och variationsrika är enbart något positivt. Venus as a boy är verkligen en fantastisk låt.
Var meget skeptisk over for dette album før jeg startede, men jeg må sige, at jeg er meget positivt overrasket! Mega fed produktion af "There's More To Life Than This - Live At The Milk Bar Toilets" :P
Some stone cold bangers (Human Behaviour, Crying, Venus As A Boy, Big Time Sensuality, Come To Me). Starts off pretty cooky electro/dance-y and gets cookier.
Lowkey effervescent.
The tracks with weirder, quavering, arrhythmic vocals are really great. The more linear house tunes not quite as much, but mostly this is pretty weird and wonderful. This was in the category of "I never heard it all together," and I'm glad I have now. Not typically my thing, but it feels like something I should have room for. 4.5, rounding down. But definitely belongs on the list, I think.
it had some weird electronic songs and her accent was interestnig but the good songs were good like really good also first time hearing bjork
Much better than I thought. I saw Bjork in 2015 and didn't fully get it, but think I'd appreciate seeing her if it was 2026 not 2015
Lately the connections between house music and jazz have been revealing themselves to me in a way I'd never considered before. Bjork obviously has understood this much longer than I have. In response to critical praise her debut, Bjork basically said, "Yeah it's alright but I can do better," and I think she's absolutely correct. This has charm but it's definitely an experiment, stretching out and discovering space that she'd more successfully explore in the next few years.
Interesting alternative music that is always intriguing if not completely spot on. Worth a listen from time to time.
This was my first time listening to Björk (besides 'Life Is Good'), and I MOSTLY liked what I heard (side-eye at the sax). Like 'Siamese Dream' (another newly discovered 1993 album from this list), I think this would have hit a lot harder if I had first heard it upon its initial release, though. Reviewing the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles for 1993, this is FAR better than 80% of the garbage on that list. Seriously... this Billboard list is so bad... no wonder I was still hiding in the 80s... maybe this album could have helped me transition into the 90s... if only... Anyway, I regret missing the Pumpkins' 'Siamese Dream', and I regret missing Björk's 'Debut'. I wouldn't say the latter is quite as good as the former, and I do prefer The Sugarcubes' formula over Björk's solo sound, but even with its few rough patches, this album is still pretty decent.
Björk's vocals are stunning. I've heard her before but hearing her talents back to back for an entire project really expresses how dynamic she can be. And this is her debut. The instrumental aspect is also well thought, innovative (still today) and refreshing. It doesn't assume its listeners are musically inexperienced, which can be a turn off for people who don't appreciate unpredictable compositions. The philosophy behind the effort makes me appreciate her more. 3.7/5
I very much enjoyed this debut album from Björk! I feel like she has such a unique and distinct sound and vocal quality that makes her music very recognizable. I just find her music to be eclectic and strange in such a cool way. Overall, this was a great alternative/trip hop album that I would listen to again in the future!
Different but real good!
Highly original, great pop music
Superballt och ändå inte så svårlyssnat trots att det är rätt experimentellt
Väldigt glad att Björk och vad hon gör finns, även om det kanske inte är något som jag faktiskt lyssnar på så ofta.
Weird, välgjort, spännande, bra - exakt vad man förväntar sig från henne!
Det er sgu møj fint
I've haven't had experience with Bjork outside of her amazing album of Post. It seems to be eclectic-ness city, which seems to something inherent with her, which I love. Lots of the music seems to be centred around electronic music - both experimental and straight-forward stuff. That sort of music is also complimented by some pop (i.e. "Venus As A Boy") and folk (i.e. "Like Someone In Love") which have unique twists and takes. One track that just 'wows' me is "There's More to Life Than This." Its concept and idea is just wonderful; Just so immersive! I wonder how an album of like-minded tracks would've sounded; in my opinion really good if executed properly. I enjoyed this one thoroughly! Highlight Song/s: "Venus As A Boy", "There's More To Life Than This", "Big Time Sensuality" and "Come To Me"
Listened Before? Y BJORK! She'll kick your ass! But seriously - passionate, intense, awesome stuff here. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Venus as a Boy
I resented this album for a long time for not being a Sugarcubes album. My bad. A solo career with many many highlights now across three decades.
I think i like it a bit, a lot of interesting melodics and beats and also vocals. Rate 8/10
Man, this was huge back in the day. Four big singles with four fittingly idiosyncratic videos made Björk a fixture on MTV, and propelled Debut into the upper echelons of charts all around the world - selling five million records in the process. Such was the level of the album’s success; it was like the Sugarcubes had never existed and Einar Örn Benediktsson’s vocals were just a half-remembered fever dream. Returning to Debut thirty-plus years later, it sounds just as remarkable as it ever did and operates on a charm level that’s difficult to resist. If there are doubters, stick on “Venus As A Boy” or “The Anchor Song” and assume they’ll come round to your point of view. Debut rode the musical zeitgeist here in the UK, and its quirky playfulness still sounds fresh and full of joy. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed hearing it again. 9/10
classic
7/10
Loved the indian influence esp in venus as a boy - overall a good listening experience because of how unique Bjork’s sound is
This is the only Björk album where we can say she sounds like other artists of the time, but it's still distinctly her. Who else but Björk would record a song on her debut album in a public toilet? Well, Weird Al.
This album is very 90s but also very bjork. Eclectic, off kelter and compelling. Some tracks didn't capture me but I still really wanted to follow and see where it was taking me. I want her to scream in my ears.
BJORK MY GODDESS