Debut

Really cool album. Dope soundscapes.

3- I've listened to this 3 times and I still can't decide if I love it or hate it

Honestly, would have rated higher if enjoyed this music more! If I could I'd give it a 3.5 because this album was really well made but it's just not for me. All the songs fit well, they have a clear vibe and style, and they Bjork's style is really unique! She samples cool stuff like pots and pans, and makes really catchy beats with it, though I think her vocals fall just a little flat. Enjoyable for a listen or a dance to, favorite track was crying. Fun take on a sad emotion with a piano lick that makes me feel like death!

This is my first full Bjork album, and it definitely won't be my last!

I really liked the sounds. will need to relisten for an overview of the lyrics but the anchor song really does feel boat-like.

She is so incredibly talented. Tying together so many music genres in every outing. She never ceases to amaze me. And her voice just gives me chills and thrills of delight.

Not for me

I guess it was the right time and the right place to get this album today... I was out walking in the rain at 5pm after an almost 2-wk dry spell. It hit just perfectly.

As far as Björk goes, may be her most accessible albums of hers, that I’ve listened to at least. Debut still got a good dose of quirk to it and that is really what makes Björk great. This album changes the pace really well, flowing between dance jams like There’s Something More to Life to Like Someone in Love and it’s not jarring, it’s great. This album is trippy, it’s pretty, it’s a dance party, it’s really good. 5 stars

I’ll call this experimental music. Meh

I wasn't too crazy for this. A song or two in this album were enjoyable, but it honestly felt all over the place

It's unique, I'll give it that. Do I want to listen to it? No really.

I wasn’t sure if I liked the album at first. The first’s songs weren’t my style, but in the middle part I kinda liked it more because it reminded me of Madonna

Not a bad album, a bit odd and not quite up my street ordinarily but still a fairly pleasant listen.

My second of Bjork's 4 albums on this list, not a fan, but this is her debut, so maybe there is something a little more raw in there that will resonate with me... Well, that hour was the longest week of my life. I can see the appeal of Bjork in this album, but I will be happy if I never hear her music again (which if I complete this list will not be the case). Her voice is grating, there is no tempo, rhythm, or beat to her music - it is jazz that was brought up in the cold dark winters of Iceland, hung out with Kraftwerks, took ice plunges in the North Atlantic all while smoking salvia. I can appreciate the uniqueness of her music and style and can see why people like her, but this aint for me. I will grade it on it originality and avant garde approach. Side note, the next 2 Bjork songs that Spotify played after the album, were actually pretty solid. 5.2/10 138/1001

Very very cool. I actually think I liked the non-singles better than the singles. She shows off some impressive range already on her first album. I don't think it's perfect, but after Vespertine got five stars, and this with 4, I think it's safe to say I'm a Bjork fan. Must-listen #192

Cool and fun!

Out of chaos, the universe produced Bjork. What are the chances! Is Bjork proof that an underlying cosmic plan exists, and that the goal of that plan is for happiness and beauty to proliferate? I knew a few selections from Debut, but despite being a Bjork fan, I was unfamiliar with this as a whole. I fully expected to underrate this, maybe as a four, as there’s no way it could be as good as Homogenic or Medulla. But, I was blown away. This is totally a five out five for me. I can’t wait to listen to this again and again. Thank you, Bjork!

43/1001 :: Björk - Debut Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ➖ Rating: 7.5 Fav Tracks: Venus as a Boy, Big Time Sensuality This is a really interesting album. I’ve heard songs from it but never sat and listened to the whole thing. To me Björk is a true artist. She comes at these songs from a totally different plane. Totally unique and I applaud that. Couple of songs on here I was like “holy shit this is amazing” and other songs were just not my speed. I was jamming to them but maybe a little too club for me. Good chance I won’t revisit this again but again this is why I love this exercise. It’s a must listen.

brilliant album and no one has produced anything like it before or since. stands the test of time beautifully and yet has the sense of nostalgia that makes listening to 'good' music from early 90s so enjoyable.

Yeah still as annoying as I remember

Lekkere plaat, inventief.

Uniikki, mielenkiintoinen, luontevaa kuunnella

Dad- 4 Mom- 4 Mike- NA Lori- 5 Michael-7.5 Miles-5 Cole- 6.5 Avg- 5.33

Bjork's first post-Sugarcubes album...it's OK, a bit of its time.

Okay listen. Her voice did not annoy me as much as I thought it was.

Pretty good.

I think it's a masterpiece. The production is somewhat dated, but the vocals are out of this world, the songs are varied and condensed, and the overall atmosphere is mesmerising.

Mad, great.

Björk entra por la puerta grande con su primer disco en solitario llamado "Debut" donde, sin miedo, nos muestra quién es. Este disco nos hipnotiza entre los cantos de sirena, tan característicos de la artista, y la evolución de los ritmos. En algunos momentos tranquila y en otros incluso bailable, Björk nos da un mensaje claro: ha venido a cambiar las reglas del juego. Con total libertad mezcla estilos y crea sus propios con una elegancia exquisita. "Debut" pone punto final a esa Björk más roquera que podemos ver en Sugarcubes y le da alas a reinventarse para volar hacia un pop electrónico con toques de house y trip hop.

Reminds me of my time in Iceland. A lot more poppy than I thought it would be

Another Björk album. Why so many? She really isn’t that good. So original. So unique. Might be a hot take, but I don’t think anything she’s doing is that innovative. Quite annoying. Quite boring. Quite uninterested if I’m being honest. Not the worst thing I’ve heard, just cannot comprehend the hype. 3/5

Like it, not what I expected. Electronic but indie and jazzy as well.

re-listen! just as good as I remember it. so fun, so different, so many different tone shifts. very poppy but also experimental, especially for this being her first album. favorite track: big time sensuality or come to me

Very unique approach to singing. Very enjoyable

It was ok, expected more. 3/5

First listen

I really wanted to like this album but while it has many styles I found it wasn't resonating with me at all.

I like it

2.6 - Much prefered her other stuff, her voice really is something you need to push past to like I think

Venus as a Boy is one of the greatest bits of music ever made. The rest of this album has some moments but also can sound derivative at times, like the house beats on Violently Happy or the 80s sounding instrumentation on Crying. Nonetheless VaaB and Bjorks unparalleled idiosyncrasy still carry this album to a 4 for me. Fave Tracks: Human Behaviour, Venus as a Boy, Big Time Sensuality, The Anchor Song 4/5

Some of the songs were ok (Aeroplane and Big Time Sensuality stood out), but overall I was not a big fan. 2.5/5.

Weird, but not in a bad way

Liked it! Very early 90s.

5 sterne

I’ve never listened to Bjork. Really enjoyed the music. Her voice was cool at times and at times gave me a headache. Overall a cool album.

Really enjoyed the music and instrumentals. Def some songs I'd circle back to!

I recognize that this had a lot of varied and interesting sounds throughout, but this was a little too weird and out there for my personal taste.

I don’t mind admitting that I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I thought I would have to sit through airy fairy wailing songs, but instead there were fantastic 90’s dance beats, strong vocals and top production and arrangements. Started strong and got better. Really struggled deciding between 4 or 5 star rating.

Very good

I have never been a big fan. I think Bjork has an interesting voice, and I like the style of the music, but somehow it just doesn't line up well in my ears. Very talented, but not a favorite of mine.

I was in college when this album dropped. I listened to it a fair amount, but haven't heard it in many years until now. I think I had forgotten what an overall strong album this is. It's not something I want to put on all of the time… I would definitely need to be in the right mood for this one, but there's no doubt that Björk was a trendsetter, and if this is an incredibly strong debut album. Is her voice a little bit weird? Yes, but pleasantly weird, if that's a thing.

Just like with the Sugar Cubes, I appreciate Björk for than I actually like her music. She's a singular artist across the board—her voice, her art, her personality, all of it. There's no mistaking her. It's just not my thing on an album level. I'll pop "Big Time Sensuality" on a playlist & be good. (That said, I started listening to 1995's Post after this one finished.)

Bjork is great. Fascinated to learn she put out an album when she was 11. I did love the last song, and Human Behavior was definitely an MTV staple of yesteryear, but chilling out to an album of Bjork just makes me nervous, bro.

not bad i liked this more than the other bjork album i got on here but still not my thing

This is my 3rd bjork album from the project and it’s definitely the best one, but I think I just don’t really like bjork

björk just not 4 me

Strong solo debut.

Bjork - debut 1993 Жанр: авангардный поп, электроника. Мое мнение: когда сегодня я зашел и увидел этот альбом я был приятно удивлён, потому что этот альбом был давно в списке на будущее прослушивание. В итоге послушал я его, после первого прослушивания я поставил альбому 5, но после трёх переслушиваний я понял что это 4,5/5, не больше, потому что альбом прям интересен только впервые, дальше все предсказуемо. Альбом очень разный от трека к треку, а так могу сказать только экспериментальщина. Мне понравилась музыкальная часть 4,5/5. Продакшн: для своего времени вообще офигенно, но сейчас просто ок, за него поставлю 4/5 (чисто за there's more to life than this плюс балл, это шедевр продакшна) Смысл: хэ, знаю тему пару треков, НО так не вчитывался. Влияние: для своего времени (начало 90) это было революцией, вроде она пела полсу, но зато какую, ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТАЛЬНУЮ 4/5 Плюсы: крепкий ровный альбом, слабейший трек почти невозможно выбрать, крутой звук, разнообразие. Минусы: одноразовость, (субъективно) мне не нравится когда она хрипит. Лучший трек: there's more to life than this. Худший трек: все треки хороши, но Venus as a boy для меня слабее всего. Итог: альбом на один раз, он максимально крутой при первом прослушивании, а так хороший альбом. Итоговый балл 4/5

I think rated a Sugarcubes album and one of her other solo ones quite highly, but I just found this repetitive and annoying

It was alright. Simpsons: No

Personally I didn't like it. I did like some of the music but I'm not a fan of her voice.

I’m so happy Björk exists and is able to do her thing. That being said this was too out there for me. But this is what this list should be about, give me the weird shit!

Is Björk one of the weirdest and most experimental artists to ever occupy the mainstream? Yes, and I love her all the more for it. Her "second" debut is a slightly peculiar inclusion in the 1001, however, especially in favour of POST or Homogenic, which I would argue are the superior albums, and have aged a lot better than this one. Nonetheless, this album did provide a very measurable impact on release, launching Björk into the public eye, and that is likely what has resulted in its inclusion here. Debut has an otherworldly and alien, although somewhat dated feel to it, with the opening track "Human Behaviour" nailing that detached vibe both sonically and lyrically. "Venus as a Boy" would be my other highlight for its ethereal, almost trip-hop like qualities. From there, it's definitely arguable that the first half of the album contains its more interesting numbers, with the latter half settling into some relatively conventional house music of the time. I wouldn't quite describe this album as "testing the waters", but a greater ambition and consistency would be realised on the following POST. Still, a very enjoyable time revisiting this.

As far as art pop goes, Bjork really is a generational talent, and that shines through on this incredibly well formed "Debut" (she *did* have quite a bit of recording experience prior to this, but Debut is still very impressive). What most people know Bjork for is being "weird" and I can tell what they are picking up on, but honestly, I don't think "weird" is how I would describe it. It is more that she has a way of building a really vivid world in her music, but honestly, a lot of the components are pretty familiar. Like here on Debut, if you've listened to some '90s electronic (house in particular), and trip hop, you can see a lot of the components here on songs like Human Behavior, Crying, Venus As A Boy, Violently Happy and more. Although the components are used differently, a lot of this album is like hearing these genres filter into a dream, it's more ethereal and impressionistic. And honestly, a lot of this is helped by Bjork's vocal presence. She Is easily one of the most distinct vocal presences in all of popular music. Some of the most interesting moments here are on songs like Aeroplane, The Anchor Song, and Like Someone In Love, where all of the ties to the physical world through electronic and trip hop are severed and it feels like you are just floating through the void with Bjork and some *extremely* minimal instrumentation. The Anchor Song does feature some percussion, but Like Someone In Love and The Anchor Song are just backed, respectively by a harp, and a couple of brass instruments, and the effect is extremely stark and bold. I will say that while Debut is really wonderful, I do think Bjork has gone on to make greater, and more daring albums. However, if you haven't heard any Bjork, this may be the absolute best way in.

Very solid album, might be better than homogenic to be honest. Favorite songs: Venus as a boy, there’s more to life than this (love the bathroom part), and violently happy. Some great party music.

This is one where Björk takes you to the club. It’s astonishing how fully formed Björk’s artistic vision was already on Debut. While she would go on to elevate her craft to sublime heights on the following three albums, this one - even though not as stylistically cohesive as Post, Homogenic, or Vespertine - contains some standout tracks: Human Behaviour, Venus as a Boy, Big Time Sensuality, Violently Happy or the closer, The Anchor Song. With Debut, Björk laid the foundation for one of the most inventive and unique bodies of work in Western pop music. Over these 11 tracks, Björk channels genres and styles (Acid House, Drum and Bass, Trip Hop and Jazz included) as if it were the easiest thing to do and her vocal performance is simply out of this world. Nellee Hooper, Björk’s producer on Debut, built her a fitting and brilliant hybrid of analog warmth and digital crunch (Roland TR 909 and sample based percussion/processed beats) to deliver her idiosyncratic vocals on top. Oh so brilliant.

I can definitely hear how this album and Bjork's sound pushed the genre in some new ways. There is definitely a depth and a real artistic creativity you can hear through the whole album. She blends jazz, ambience and melodic vocals with dance music that definitely sounds like the time and place this album is from. I do get a little tired of some of the more techno inspired stuff which feels like is meant to be listened to in a sweaty dance club more that on a casual Friday morning walk with a cup of coffee- my chosen setting. Lots of intrigue and lots of respect with a few jams but a good chunk of this album isn't really my style.

Generally, I am not a fan of electronica or mainstream pop music because it can be so bland and repetitive, but this is definitely not that! This is the kind of album that I immediately started playing a second time after it was finished because I felt like I had more to discover. She has such an iconic and unique voice and I appreciate mixing various genres and instruments with electronic music.

It's funny to get Debut right when I'm getting more into 90s downtempo/dance stuff currently, this era of Bjork's fits that sort of vibe to a tee and I was hoping that I'd enjoy Debut more than I had before, it's among those albums of hers I kinda neglect, not because it's a bad album but it doesn't stand out nearly as much as what she did only a few years later. This album feels like an authentic debut to the world from its most whimsical pop-star, but it's not entirely fully what I and most people think of Bjork when they see her name. It's her and some electronic or dance beats (mostly 90s house) but they are also kinda weird and cooky all the same, you aren't really gonna get a Human Behavior or Venus as a Boy out of too many people, which is what makes her so unique, but at the same time it's not quite AS distinct as some of the ideas from Post or Homogenic which just are just so unique production wise and cohesive sonically, while here you may have a house song, or a little electronic thing, or a vocal jazz thing, it's all those things but it can feel at odds with itself. I love some songs off of this album, but I don't think I'll be coming back to it again anytime soon, but it is an interesting look at how Bjork started and many seeds of where she would go from here.

The live version gets 5 stars so this has to settle for 4.

No es mi estilo de música. En mi opinión, es demasiado ruido y cosas extrañas mezcladas. Es música rara, su voz se vuelve molesta. Tiene algunos elementos psicodélicos que no son de mi agrado. There's More To Life Than This es sencillamente terrible.

Decent. Interesting beats

Great.

Pretty good.

Pleasant but not super memorable.

This record is just so good. It’s a surprisingly groovy pop/dance record. Surprised no current DJ/producer has remixed any of these songs. They still hold up to today’s house tunes and could fit in any set.

Its Bjork, so its ethereal and weird and eclectic and pretty good.

Too avant garde for me

I’m sorry Finn, I’m sorry Iceland, I’m sorry Bjork.

She was pregnant with me when she made this 🫀

Не так плохо, как последующие альбомы, но тоже ничего хорошего

One of the best debut albums. And or amazes still.

It is just...a beautiful work of art... It combines some electronic music vibes with emotional (maybe playful) vocal and some instrumental things. As not really advanced listener, I found this album really unusual. 6/5!

Have never liked her — but maybe I’m beginning to start. Weird thing, taste. Björk’s always been a bit much for me — too squeaky, too kooky, too… Icelandic goblin queen. But Debut caught me off guard. It’s gentle, glitchy, and not nearly as impenetrable as I remembered. Tracks like ‘Human Behaviour’ and ‘Venus as a Boy’ have a curious charm, like someone whispering riddles through a lava lamp. I’m not all in yet, but I’m peeking through the curtain — and it’s starting to make sense.

Out of Bobcat or Bjork, this is definitely Bjork

Całkiem fajne. Takie różnorodne. Mocne 3

this shit is good but some of these songs sound too similar

Human Behavior 2.8 Crying 3 Venus as a Boy 2.9 There's More to Life Than This 2.7 Like Someone in Love 2.4 Big Time Sensuality 2.5 One Day 2.3 Aeroplane 2 Come to Me 2.3 Violently Happy 2.1 The Anchor Song 2 Score: 2.454545455

Kind of cool but her voice quickly got annoying

Best album ive heard in a long time. 5

A 3.5 I’ll round up to a 4. It was quirky and airy and weird and pleasant and dancy at times and just a very strange but generally enjoyable experience.

meh

There are some interesting elements here but I find her vocals a bit grating. The Anchor Song is kind of cool.

Good

It’s good but not my cup of tea

66/1001. Loved it when it came out, but now seems a bit aged. Hope more Björk to pop up.

First impression pre listen: I've enjoyed every Björk record I've heard and this one is no exception. While I've never done a full deep dive, I've heard the more critically acclaimed/popular stuff, this album included. "Debut" isn't the record of hers that has stuck out the most, but I'm excited to listen to it again. Perhaps it's as good as "Homogenic" or "Vespertine" which are both albums I return to semi-regularly. Individual track notes: Human Behaviour Love the verse melody, catchy and unique. Fantastic eletronics. Her voice and accent is as captivating as ever. Great rhythm. Love the ethereal vocal layering. Unique piece of songwriting. Hypnotic and infectious with amazingly memorable production. Fantastic. 5/5 Crying Love the synths and the fun tempo. The lyrics contrast with the dancy instrumental, it's an interesting juxtaposition. Great chorus. Awesome delivery. The additional vocals are perfectly placed to keep the track fresh. Fantastic. 5/5 Venus As A Boy This song gets stuck in my head every time I hear it. Love the intro to this song, very interesting instrumentation. Sounds like an entirely different world. The addition of Icelandic in the lyrics is really fun. I love how much texture the strings provide. Cute lyrics. Love how the outro sort of just lands the track back down to earth. Fantastic. 5/5 There's More To Life Than This Fun clubby atmosphere. Catchy and danceable. Still has that patented weirdness. There's so much storytelling in the production. Feels like a real "lived in" experience. Clever use of space. Fantastic. 5/5 Like Someone In Love A quiet peaceful moment with some classic composition and a sweet performance. Love the harp and the background ambience. Sweet and simple. Comes at a great time in the album as well. Fantastic. 5/5 Big Time Sensuality Love the mixing here. The distant echoey vocals stand out against the thumping electronic beat. The most "Björk" lyrics ever. Love the gravitas she brings to the chorus. Catchy groove. Fantastic. 5/5 One Day Strange and alien soundscape. Deep and enchanting electronics. Wonderfully weird. Works extremely well with the nature imagery in the lyrics. Entrancing vocal performance. Fantastic. 5/5 Aeroplane Love how the ambience carries over from the previous song, then is immediately "woken up" by the horns. Very cool effect. Desperate and emotional lyrics. Frantic and askew instrumental. Pairs well with the themes of the song. Fantastic. 5/5 Come To Me Cloudy and distant atmosphere. Has a layer of ethereal beauty to it. Alluring lyrics. Great. 4.5/5 Violently Happy Strange intro. Sets up the rest of the song pretty well. Sounds dark and muted, very much a contrast to the colourful palatte of the rest of the album. Love the imagery of roaring back at the ocean. The self-destructive themes is a cool twist. Great. 4.5/5 The Anchor Song Very direct instrumentation. Very on theme, reminds me of an old seaman's dirge. Has a solemn beauty to it. Poetic lyrics. Very emotional. Amazing closer. Fantastic. 5/5 Final review: Even better than I remember. Such a rich and layered album with a huge diversity of ideas all executed brilliantly. Björk's unique voice and delivery (as cliche as it sounds) truly brings you into an entirely new realm, that's relatable with an additional sprinkle of magic as well. It's strange, but familiar at the same time. This also extends to the production, which balances bangers with artsy sonic landscapes and tasteful reimagineings of classic compositions. It can be subtle, it can be powerful and it can be catchy. It's delightfully weird, with a list of quirks and nuances that keeps it special and still sounding fresh more than 30 years later. 5/5

Okay. She gets weirder on future releases. Not sure if that is a good thing or not.

Pretty much everything from Bjork in the 90s was perfect. Her debut album would’ve been a shock to fans of The Sugacubes but a welcoming one. Although popular in Pop, it’s very artsy and even house music at several points. A fantastic start. 1. VENUS AS A BOY 2. HUMAN BEHAVIOUR 3. CRYING 4. BIG TIME SENSUALITY 5. COME TO ME 6. LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE 7. ONE DAY 8. VIOLENTLY HAPPY 9. THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS 10. THE ANCHOR SONG 11. AEROPLANE

assustadoramente, isso tocava na minha casa quando eu era criança nada melhor do que memórias de uma infância nem um pouco saudável DITO ISSO anos 90 no talo, mas num é ruim não

nunca tinha ouvido nada dela por livre e espontânea vontade achei normal, nada demais nao, bem um pop eletrônico anos 90. um pouco menos bate estaca e mais ""organizado"". até que eh bonitinho e dançante, vai

Not something I would listen to again. The last two songs were the best.

## In-Depth Review: Björk’s *Debut* – The Birth of an Iconoclast **Release Context & Background** Released on July 5, 1993, *Debut* marked Björk’s departure from her alternative rock roots with The Sugarcubes, embracing London’s underground club culture. Produced with Nellee Hooper (Soul II Soul, Sinéad O’Connor), the album fused electronic beats, jazz, trip-hop, and house music into a visionary pop framework. Despite initial U.S. skepticism (e.g., *Rolling Stone* criticized its "cheap electronic gimmickry"), it defied sales expectations, moving 600,000 copies in three months and peaking at #3 in the UK . ### **Music & Production: A Sonic Revolution** **Genre Fusion & Innovation** *Debut* shattered 1993’s grunge-dominated landscape with its audacious blend: - **Electronic Foundations**: House beats drive "Big Time Sensuality" and "There’s More to Life Than This" (recorded live in London’s Milk Bar toilets), while trip-hop textures color "Crying" and "Come to Me" . - **Jazz and World Infusions**: "Venus as a Boy" features Talvin Singh’s Bollywood-inspired strings and sampled broken glass, creating ethereal sensuality. Oliver Lake’s saxophones weave through "Aeroplane" and "The Anchor Song," grounding Björk’s Icelandic folk roots in avant-garde jazz . - **Unconventional Samples**: Timpani from Antonio Carlos Jobim on "Human Behaviour" and harp-driven minimalism on "Like Someone in Love" showcase Björk’s disregard for pop conventions . **Vocal Artistry** Björk’s voice shifts from childlike whimsy ("Human Behaviour") to guttural euphoria ("Big Time Sensuality"). Her delivery—whether whispering intimacy or soaring vibrato—acts as the album’s central instrument, elevating electronic backdrops into emotional landscapes . ### **Lyrics & Themes: Alienation, Joy, and Identity** *Debut* explores humanity through a lens of playful outsiderism: - **Observational Wit**: "Human Behaviour" frames human logic as "irresistible" yet chaotic, adopting an animal’s perspective . - **Urban Isolation vs. Connection**: "Crying" masks loneliness with danceable beats, while "Venus as a Boy" celebrates erotic transcendence ("He believes in a beauty / He’s the one who shines"). - **Existential Freedom**: "Big Time Sensuality" rejects future anxieties for present ecstasy ("I don’t know my future after this weekend / And I don’t want to!") . - **Roots and Belonging**: "The Anchor Song" closes with oceanic metaphors for Björk’s Icelandic identity, juxtaposing club-ready energy with introspective folk . ### **Influence: Rewriting Pop’s DNA** *Debut* pioneered art-pop’s mainstream acceptance: - **Genre Democratization**: It validated electronic music as pop currency, prefiguring artists like FKA twigs and Arca. Critics credit it for dissolving rock’s 1990s hegemony . - **Cultural Blueprint**: Its fusion of club beats, jazz, and global sounds inspired trip-hop (Portishead, Massive Attack) and alt-pop eccentrics (Kate Bush comparisons abound) . - **Enduring Relevance**: Named among the "Best Albums of the 1990s," its experimentation remains a touchstone for genre-blurring artists . ### **Pros vs. Cons: A Balanced Critique** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | **Innovative Production**: Hooper’s fusion of house, jazz, and world music created a timeless sonic palette. | **Inconsistent Depth**: Tracks like "Aeroplane" or "Violently Happy" feel underdeveloped compared to standouts . | | **Vocal Originality**: Björk’s expressive range transforms simple lyrics into profound statements. | **Dated Elements**: Some synth patches (e.g., "One Day") echo early-’90s digital limitations . | | **Thematic Cohesion**: Explores alienation, love, and self-discovery with whimsy and wisdom. | **Flow Issues**: Pacing wobbles between dance anthems and ballads ("Like Someone in Love" disrupts momentum) . | | **Cultural Impact**: Redefined pop’s boundaries, influencing decades of avant-garde artists. | **Overlooked Jazz Roots**: Later albums (*Vespertine*) refined the jazz elements hinted at here . | ### **Verdict: The Dawn of a Visionary** *Debut* is imperfect yet revolutionary. Its strengths—Björk’s fearless vocals, Hooper’s genre-alchemy, and lyrical explorations of otherness—far outweigh its minor flaws. Thirty years later, it remains a masterclass in transforming personal curiosity into universal art, proving pop could be both cerebral and visceral . As *The Guardian* noted, it "broke the mould of what it means to be a new, exciting artist"—a legacy echoing in every artist who dares to fuse heartbeats with harp strings . **Key Tracks**: "Venus as a Boy," "Human Behaviour," "Big Time Sensuality," "The Anchor Song".

Very nice, not as interesting as Vespertine, some of the lyrics were a bit bare.

Very unique pop and she has a great voice aswell. There was a clear focus on electronic beats (which were so well made and produced) and a bit of a divergence with like someone in love which showcases Bjorks more gentle instrumental side (I know she didn’t write it but I mean the amazing harp and the decision to add ambient noises in the background). Favourites: crying, like someone in love, big time sensuality, one day and come to me. Overall, 7.5/10.

When this album ended, I said, "Oh thank God." out loud. This was a slog for me. It's not the kind of vibe that I look for in anything. It's wispy and laissez-faire in a way that just feels so dead. The music is upbeat and as the songs would start, I'd be bopping along, then the singing started and I just kept checking how long the song had left. Not the worst thing I've ever heard, but still a one for me.

Love this album.

Cool Dance bops. Feels like being in an Icelandic Igloo Speakeasy

Did not enjoy it

I never got Björk. And I’m still not sure I do. That’s my Björk haiku.

I always thought that Matt and Bowen on Las Cultch had a lot of reverence for Bjork but couldn't understand it with the other album that we got. This one makes more sense with the more euro dance pop genre. I had fun

Still don’t like her singing but this dance music was more enjoyable than the whiney other one we had.

I was excited for my first Bjôrk album and I think it lived up to it. It’s pretty cool and whimsical. Not something I would listen to all the time but I do appreciate it.

It's oke. Too alt for me.

i woke up this morning and just got bjork'd. some might say that bjork rhymes with jerk. but im not good at icelandic. every single of her album cover looks creepy with homogenic being my childhood nightmare. "but its still a 4 for me cause Homogenic and Vespertine impressed me too much and this album didn't impress me much apart from Human Behaviour and Venus As a Boy, although i know debut albums are always weaker than later works." -- Modified from my review of Talking Heads '77 4/5

i didn’t come into this project as a bjork fan, but she’s the first artist so far that has two albums on my five star list. i tried to resist it, but i failed to consider big time sensuality. something about her music just really connects with me. i lack the vocab to describe it, but i feel it! idk! IT TAKES COURAGE 🕺🕺🕺 TO ENJOY IT 💃💃💃

Been a minute since I last heard Debut. It's much more electronic than I remember. It's a great first outing for one of the greatest to ever do it. Venus as a Boy especially stands out. *heard before.

It shows a tremendous amount of promise with some highly enjoyable tracks,

I just don't get Björk, this is fine, but towards the end I was very ready for it to be over, it just a bit much for a morning listen

My ears do not like her voice. 2

After all of the albums she has released this is still the only album of hers I like. Sure, I enjoy a song here and there from the others, but this is the only album I enjoy as a whole. Her later releases are so experimental that it feels like they keep me at an emotional remove, not allowing me to emotionally connect. As an American, being around when this album came out it is difficult to convey to younger audiences just how mindbendingly groundbreaking this effort was. It was truly one of the first albums of the decade that felt like it could only have come out in 1990s. Don't get me wrong, many artists over the years had released avant garden and art rock albums over the years, but few were as accepted by the general American audience as this one. Which, to me, even this day is surprising given how quirky her lyrics and delivery are, as well as the wildly eclectic choice of instrumentation choices, song arrangements, and genres.

A great debut album. Bjork is growing on me, and I love her voice.

The 3rd Bjork album. And my favorite so far. What a wide variety of sounds in this album. Very pleasant

Amazing Björk album. IMO she gets this style even more refined in Post, but this is a really good representation of early Björk. On her first two albums she was considered very forward thinking, incorporating a lot of electronic instrumentation into her songs. Also bonus points she is a big fan of Aphex Twin. Never let a poet lie to you.

Not quite mine

genius

Finally I got to listen to Björk and She sounds the same all the time...

ITS a good album, but the pronunciation is sometimes terrible

Not a huge fan but interesting and original

A truly unique album that’s all over the place and yet it seemingly flows very well together. Hearing lots of pop, synth pop, electronic, jazz, etc. I loved the jazzier parts of the album, but not too big on the club music part of it. I can see people jamming this at a club back in the 90s and having a good time. Overall I enjoyed listening to this album, but likely would not revisit. I’m curious to see if I can pick up on a song or two out in the wild.

Amazing album with some of her most iconic tracks. Although its not my favorite album of hers, I still come back to it with regularity, it really stands solid as a debut.

Weird. But like, good weird.

Really couldn’t get into this genre

This is a very interesting/ unique album with the way it tries to blend a variety of styles. Initial thoughts: I respect it and honestly purely for how stand out it is the actual first listen was more fun than other albums that I'd say are better. Unfortunately I just didn't really mesh well with most of it, often feeling here voice didn't suit the songs very well. There were a few songs that I enjoyed and might come back to but overall I didn't like it that much. After flicking back through: now that I've heard it all coming back to previous tracks is giving me much more enjoyment, maybe because the album is so different I just needed time to adjust. I still don't think this is too great, I'm not going to be itching to listen again any time soon but it is pretty good. Human Behaviour - Weird, not in the best of ways but a pretty good way, liked her voice a decent bit. Like the guitar that comes in for the final instrumental section too. Crying - I think I prefer this, I really like the synth and her vocals here, especially at the end - even with the music cutting out. Venus As a Boy - this just doesn't work for me, the vocals feel like they're at odds with the instrumental in a way that doesn't work - it does have moments which sound beautiful but in general not great. I re-listened to this and its actually better than I was giving it credit for, I actually like this quite a lot. There Is More to Life Than This - the music cutting out was nice, again I like the way she uses her voice, it's interesting. I also like the sentiment of this song but not so much the way it sounds. I just don't like how the music sounds much. Like Someone In Love - a slow song, unexpected, although I don't know what to expect with this album. Can't say I love it, another case of her voice seeming out of place at times given the instrumental. Boring at times. Big Time Sensuality - a much more fun song, vocals work well here. One Day - decent, kinda like the baby sounds in the background at times. In general though its too long, it got boring. Aeroplane - I like the instrumental, makes me think of a jungle. Don't love the song overall though. Come to Me - I liked quite a bit of this. Violently Happy - enjoyed the repetition of baby but not much more to say honestly. The Anchor Song - love the horns, this song is actually decent, not one to come back to necessarily. Play Dead - such an epic song, really like what she is doing here, this is the highlight of the album for me - her vocals are so powerful and the instrumental complements it perfectly. Best - Human Behavior, Crying, Venus As a Boy, Big Time Sensuality, Play Dead Worst - Like Someone In Love, One Day, Aeroplane, Violently Happy

fya

So interesting! Human Behaviour is a remarkable song and there are moments in many others that struck me a lot too. I can’t say I particularly love the overall effect but she is certainly very creative and unique and I will be listening to a lot more, as I have always intended to (being a fan of often compared artists like Kate Bush and Aurora). (3.5 stars)

Great!!!

Her voice is a bit annoying/grating, but the songs overall are not bad.

Sure, the lyrics are a little simple like they were taken from a lovesick high school girls diary, but the tribal beats and orchestrations and Bjork’s one of a kind vocal shouting make this Debut a pitch perfect…err…debut!

What can you say about Björk that hasn't already been said? She's fantastic and that's it

I hate Bjork

Gets a little wishy-washy in the middle, but brilliant and stunning otherwise.

Saw her at a music festival. The youngsters couldn't understand what was happening :-)

Interesting, but not for me.

decent

Odd, but very good. Makes me want to go furniture shopping

What noise does an Icelandic dog make? Björk Björk. Anyway, this is day 3 in a row of having wildly different female artists, and all 3 of them have been tremendously enjoyable. This is the first of 5 Björk albums I’ve rolled, and it’s a great start. She just sounds very unique and friendly, and anything even remotely electronic is typically going to get high praise from me. I think this is the third day in a row stating that a unique album is pretty refreshing compared to the mediocre or generic kind of sound some albums provide, and this is definitely very unique. My favorite songs on this album are “Human Behavior”, “There Is More to Life Than This”, and “Play Dead.” Curious to hear the evolution of her musical style over time. I am entirely unfamiliar with Björk, and I’ve heard her later albums are quite different than this one. Luckily I started with her first solo album here. Björk Björk.

Fav: Venus As A Boy Least Fav: The Anchor Song 50% experimental electronic bangers, 50% saxophone, 100% chance of enjoyment for me

OK

Hsks

I wasn't really in the mood for this - been listening to a lot of Iron Maiden and Sepultura - but I absolutely loved this entire album! I love the way she growls! Total freak in the best way possible. Quirky, crazy genius! 5

If someone scoffs at Bjork, have them listen to this album. It's creative, primal, beautiful, and infectious.

This album shows how creative Björk was even when she wasn't at her peak of creativity. It is not as experimental or serious as her later projects, but it is still very charming. I had a lot of fun listening to this one. Very enjoyable, uplifting and full of beautiful melodies.

Not my jam

not my cup of tea. Her voice has no meat to it and I find it annoying after awhile

What a banger. Love all the later Björk, too, but this is euphoric, fun, sexy, silly, everything, etc. So great.

Another album I should sit with for a long time and break down but probably won't

I have this one! I find this one quite accessible by Björk standards. Difficult to choose a favourite song because the quality of most songs is about the same. They're very good! I don't like Aeroplane and The Anchor Song very much though.

Some very cool and original songs. A few misses that sound a bit dated but a great sounding album overall

High 3, this is what H&M store music wants to be

Olha como ela é doidinha, gente! Tão diferente, tão galera!

Is it shallow to refer to the attractiveness of the artist in an album review? Because Björk is interesting, expressive, amusing, deep and fucking gorgeous. So if millions of pubescent 13 year old girls can objectify hundreds of boy-bands just because they want them to….well just ‘because’, then surely I’m permitted to as well. 
 But she’s more than that. She has such a beautiful expressive voice. I love the way she moves it around a tune. You can hear all the emotion and feeling she’s trying to put in. And it helps that I love the dance music vibe and the great production. This is a perfect amalgamation. Such a good album.

björing

Neutral

Chill vibes from Björk

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Furchtbarer Müll…

Excellent album. Very unique. True artistry. Magical. Lots of interesting and great songs

It's not for me

Clearly some phenomenal work but inconsistent

Weird girl music, let’s go!!!! I’m a fan. “There is more to life than this” sounded a lot like Coco Rosie.

Very good blend of genres. Production choices could’ve been better

I am not a fan of most music with dance beats, but her voice makes the album. I did not like Sugar Cubes, but man I dig her solo vibe.

What an incredible record!

It is interesting and unique, love the innovation but not something I want to listen to all the time.

An amazing album that will always remind me of high school, coming of age, discovering new music and the alternative genre.

Honestly, I thought I'd like it more. It totally didn't get to me. Not a single song caught me. I think I was open, trying to like it, but just didn't happen. It's a bummer, such an iconic album and album cover. I guess it isn't for me.

Not my favourite, i probably won't listen to it again, but the atmosphere is really good

Solid

I always have love for Bjork

I was 13 when this came out, was intrigued by the video-clips and sort of liked the songs but couldn't get it...at 44 I am old enough to understand and feel the "magic" of Björk...Truly unique artist!

Not for me.

Pretty good

멋진 음악이긴한데, 내 스타일은 아니다.

Spacy with lots of thumping. I enjoyed this more than expected, the vocal gymnastics are interesting, some songs sound incomplete

Favorite track: Big Time Sensuality Good groove, and I like the weirdness, but not much stuck with me.

Not quite my style but very a interesting listen.

Must have been a simpler time when sample libraries were much smaller.

Love Björk, one of her best here, love the dance elements here and there. Big Time Sensuality so good

It's Björk. It sounds like Björk. She's okay for a few songs at a time, but not really a whole album.

The goat

Great album I listened to the other day. Her voice is really distinctive in a great way and the songs are an expansive look into what pop music could be in an avant garde way.

This is such a cool album with a lot of influences. Very interesting sounds from 80s pop to jazz. Love it.

One of the most incredible albums of its time. Sounds like nothing else out there. Bjork is just incredible at whatever she does.

Bought this when it first came out. Great album a continuation of the sugar cubes

Musically it's really great and good for background while working. Vocally this is not it for me.

I have never done a deep dive in to Björk before, but have every expectation that she's interesting and relevant. This album was just that, still 30+ years later.

Transcendent - fave part where she ‘leaves the room’ for a few seconds in a weirdly engrossing but of in-song narrative

Loved this. Surprisingly poppy and oh-so nineties! Also want to give a shout out to Bjork's pronunciation of "ghettoblaster".

Not that good!

not my style, but doesnt sound bad 2/5

VENUS AS A BOY!! That's it.

3.7

Необычный альбом, интересная манера исполнения, но всеобщих восторгов я не разделяю, возможно надо лучше ознакомиться с творчеством

She is always a bit out there but this was good

Listened when it came out. Twice I think. But no desperate need to listen again

Not as bad as I anticipated. Voice has range just not the genre for me.

Surprisingly good melodies.

Who and what the fuck is a Bjork? As if you couldn't tell from the music, she grew up on a commune.

Excelente álbum. La voz de Bjork es icónica e inconfundible. La combinación de música electrónica, jazz y pop es muy sutil y divertida. En cuanto a gusto personal prefiero algunos de los álbumes consiguientes. Pero lo considero un gran álbum debut. El tema final con los arreglos para saxofón acompañando su voz es muy hermoso y relajante, me parece un buen cierre para un álbum bastante enérgico.

not a bjork fan by any means, but this album must have been the next new thing when it came out. such a variety of sounds and styles put together!

very emotional, touches on different aspects of human feelings

I've always mostly like Bjork, but thought she was a bit over rated. Hearing this album and not just the radio edit made me understand the appeal even more

Weird at times but good.

I love this album. Bjork makes me uncomfortable sometimes. Like when she sings about sensuality. Weird and beautiful. Art pop.

I can't stop picturing Kristin Wiig acting as Björk in that Being Quirky with Zooey Deschanel skit with Abby Elliot. Big Time Sensuality is not bad. Definitely some weird songs though. Not something I would want to listen to again.

Gosh, I’m not sure about this one. I like later era Bjork, but this dance-forward effort isn’t her best representation.

Really enjoyed this one- moreso than previous Bjork albums. I think it does a good job of showing Bjorks vocals and covers a lot of genres. Both Human Behavior and Play Dead are powerhouses and a great start/end to the album. Overall- great album

Really enjoyed it, songs were more varied than I expected. Some were really beautiful

Bjork arrives with a major statement record and establishes herself as a creative force to be reckoned with. An incredibly visual and emotional record, brought most to life by the visceral sense of being inside a dance club. It’s less cohesive than some of her subsequent albums, but is nevertheless an astonishing debut.

får a puste eller?

Not bad.....not that great but i didn't hate it.

"Her high notes remind me a little of Sia. The music production also sounds like early 90s with house beats and drums which is fun. I love ""Like Someone in Love"" for the harp and slowly floating music over the live theme. There were different styles and a lot of range. Better than I expected. "

Very dreamlike, in a number of different ways. Not my favorite overall (i think the minimalism just doesn't catch me), but an intriguing album

Decent, too much looping drumbeats with dance music vibes. Like Someone in Love and Anchor Song were good

The composition is in many ways still fresh enough to let the mixing and texture sound charming instead of dated. Some tracks do just feel like cheap euro-dance, but all in all an interesting listen

jaarlijkse poging om van bjork te kunnen houden weer mislukt. ik snap niet hoe het me niet lukt favs: human behavioir, venus as a boy, crying, big time sensuality

It was fine but not for me

Okay cool, I think I'm finally getting on the Björk train. I was surprised at how dance-y a lot of this is. Her ear for experimentation mixes well with the structured beats. I could see her voice being an acquired taste maybe, but I like that I could recognize her singing anywhere. And she always sounds like she means it, you know? I'd like to go back to the other albums of hers I've gotten so far and see what I get out of them now. Her discography seems like it's most rewarding to listen to chronologically.

Glad to see this pop up and ashamed to say I haven’t listened to it before. Hopeful about it and been meaning to do a bit of a deep dive into Bjork. Great start - really nice groove, interesting elements and got the head bobbing already. Yeh, this is 🔥. Love the originality, instrumental elements and layers to it all, with a great groove throughout. Nice variation too. On repeat all day, looking forward to next albums. Easy 4*

I like some songs a lot - they have a classic sound, but others are forgettable. 3/5 #musicsky #albumsky #musicchallenge

Meh

What the hell is wrong with me? Why didn’t I listen to Björk from the beginning? This is great! Different, engaging, interesting. Plus her otherworldly voice and interesting (ESL?) take on lyrics. She pronounces ghetto blaster Jetto blaster. 😂

there was a year where I regularly left the house with tiny gems glued under my eyes bc of debüt

the little people playing this album in my phone popped tf off

I've listened to this before and liked it but have never loved any Bjork I have listened to despite everything about my music taste pointing towards me having her as one of my fav artists. It's strange! I feel like it's weird to be lukewarm on Bjork but here we are. Maybe the issue is I need to listen on my "jetto blaster" Fav song: Venus as a Boy tbh :pray emoji:

I have developed an appreciation for Bjork because of this list

Forgot how much I loved this album

i like bjork. bjork is good.

Much vibier than I had given Björk’s other work credit for! I first became aware of her circa 2007 when I was in my “rip music off my friends’ older brothers’ laptops” era, but I never really connected with Björk as an artist until now. The Debut album is full of passion, much more emotional than the other early-90s Euro dance stuff I’ve listened to. I enjoyed it.

A couple songs were bops, but not a huge fan overall. Influential for sure, and you can see where some later artists were inspired, but don’t think I would listen again

Forgot how good early Bjork is, particularly love the beat on there’s more to life that this. Definitely some moments that aren’t as successful but overall a great time

not really my thing but I actually enjoyed some things about it. the music was varied and interesting. I wouldn't listen to the album all the way through, but it was interesting for this project.

Strong Debut album, a bit experimental which I would expect no less from Bjork. The singles are the highlights and Human Behavior is on my favorite lists from this time period.

128/1089 - Cool! Still in chronological order for Björk. Let's see how long that lasts. Strange in a good way. I like that the pitches of the percussive instruments come first with the harmonies built around them. Lots of different genres represented with a focus on more "out-there" harmonies like add 2s or diminished chords.

I'm not that familiar with specific Bjork songs, but this album was exactly what I expected.

Album 787 of 1089 Björk - Debut (1993) Rating : 2 / 5 Meh. Not really for me. Seems way overproduced. Maybe I'm missing something.

Did not like. Liked one of the pop songs. Violently happy.

Classic. 3/5

I love this album, Björk is one of my favourite artists of all time, I know this from front to back, in fact this is the first album on this list that I can listen to on vinyl, because I have it in my collection! I haven't listened to the full thing in a while, so maybe my mind will change, but this is one of those records that I instantly liked at first listen. Dance music from the 80's and 90's is right up my alley. Let's gooo Human Behaviour immediately sets the tone for what to expect. I know that there are some people out there who can't get on board with Björk's voice but hey, I'm not one of them. Love the background vocals on the chorus, and love her little shriek after the first chorus. Yeah, I just love this. Crying was a favourite of mine at the time. Lyrically it's extremely simple, but hey who says every song had to a poem. I don't know what is responsible for the percussion here but I love that too. I especially like the delivery of "Only if a ship would sail in, or just somebody came, and knocked on my door or just, or just something", and way she screams "care" towards the end. Yeah, good track. Venus as a Boy was one the first song of hers I listened to, and I specifically remember watching the video and loving it, and then hating the comments rationalizing it. This is one of the best songs about sex to ever be made. Or at least sexual compatability. It is also the first song that shows that Björk will sing about whatever she wants, and often that includes details about her sexual life. It's also one of the most notable appearences of her nonsense singing, which people have overanalyzed, and which I love everytime! Yeah, not much to add here, the lyrics speak for themselves, I just love this song, and the different sounds it brings to a 90's house record. There's More to Life Than This is just about feeling it man. Is it the best song of all time? No, but who cares? It's a good time, and it's a fun time. I love the little bathroom interlude too. Good message too. Yey A cover of Like Someone in Love is honestly the last thing you'd expect in an album like this, and yet it works! And it shows Björk's willingness to surprise and think outside the box. She's never let others' expectations dictate what she does with her music. I love the background noise too, it was present in There's More too, and it adds a layer to already good songs. And yeah, this song is beautiful. Can you tell I'm a fan of hers? The complete mood change from that to Big Time Sensuality brings us back to some dance music. I love this song. It's an ode to going out, having fun, and embracing the dumb things you say when drunk. And yes, it does take courage! Lovely. This second half of the album is a bit less about good accessible dance music and more about... some experimentation? Yeah, these middle tracks are more about setting a sonic landscape and exploring it. One Day is pretty straight-forward when it comes to lyrics, but I love the sounds that are added to it. Aeroplane is, for me, the stand-out in this second half. It has the same feel as its neighbouring songs, but something about it speaks to me on an extra level. Love it. Come to Me reminds me of some later Björk tracks (Possibly Maybe, Heirloom), songs that go on for a while, and don't immediately click, but then you hear them that one time and it just makes sense. I love her vocals here. This just transfixes me. I used to really like Violently Happy, but I quickly got tired of it. Probably my least favourite on the record nowadays. It's weird, because the longer it goes, the more I like it, but I feel like it shouldn't be so long? Maybe this makes no sense. The beginning is my least favourite part, definitely. Once the drums kick in I start liking it much more. Then the "breakdown" (?) after she sings "baby" happens and I don't love that. I really like the ending though! The Anchor Song is a weird place to end things on. i feel like it's hard to be indifferent with this. I like it, but it is for a specific mood. I do love the fact that even when doing a balland, Björk is never really typical. This is also the most metaphorical song in the album, and it starts showing something that will be explored in more detail greatly: Björk's tendency to be stubborn and rely only on herself (can't wait for you Vespertine). I love this album. I was expecting to not like it as much after not hearing it through for a while, but I still love it. Altough, I will say that the fact that the last two songs are my least favourite doesn't help the album. Now, I know that I am writing this mostly for myself, and no-one will ever go through my profile and see what ratings I gave to what albums but hey, I'm defending myself anyways. I love this album. Is it the best album of all time? No. Is it the best in Björk's career? No. Is it experimental and life-changing? No. But is it good? Yes! Do I like every track? Yes! Am I giving it 5 stars? Yes! Hey, I never said I was a serious reviewer. Besides, it was never a fair fight, putting a Björk album here. Love you grandmother. Bye

not my jam at all, even annoying at times

25/05/2025 Wasn't really a fan of it. Too wishy washy.

Absolute perfection for a debut album. Bjork brings her unique style and begins her slow domination of the avant garde and eclectic. Opening the album with human behavior is the ultimate chef’s kiss. 6 out of 5 stars.

I wasn't as struck by this, though I appreciate that for a debut album it is remarkable. I think it is an excellent album, just is not to my personal taste.

What a unique artist back then and now. At first I’m captured by her voice and great singing, but then I start to question her voice and style. It’s as if she recorded her vocal performance for half the album or more with no music written and afterwards they wrote music to underlay what she already sang. There’s a disturbing disconnect between the rhythm being played and what she is singing over it. It kinda makes me sick to my stomach honestly. She lags behind the beat so much and I find it really grating. She is a talented singer for sure, but her style grew stale for me after 3-4 songs. Shes a one trick pony and all of her music sounds the same.

One of the GOATs

This is actually decent. Not my style, I'd say, but not bad. I'd go 6.5/10, so 3/5.

On the fence on this one, I feel like everyone knows her music though

I thought Björk was like smart and innovative, so I found this album a little surprising in how safe it was. Everyone I've ever dated had been a Björk fan, so I've heard a lot of her stuff but without context. Ok, so I asked my wife for her thoughts on the album: "A good bridge between the Sugarcubes and her later stuff, mostly cute but nothing compared to her awe inspiring later work." Can't disagree! I think there's a few good songs on here but overall pretty much just ok.

So prior to now, I haven’t heard really anything from Björk. I’ve obviously heard of her, but never really heard a song from her. Now, after being on this earth for 29 years, I’m wondering why it took so long. Truth be told, I thought it would be some kind of soft avant-garde album that would weird me out and not really be my thing. I wasn’t expecting a good mix of 90’s dance with some other moods. And above it all is Björk’s vocals. I don’t know if her voice is polarizing, but honestly consider me a fan. It’s this nice, sort of angelic voice that feels like it’s always on the verge of going off key, but never does. I never considered how such a voice can coexist with some dance music, but it’s a great experience. Honestly, this makes me hopeful that there’s more Björk coming up on here. I would like to see how she’s evolved over time and see if she captured her full potential. But as of now, it’s easy to see how she made a name for herself off her debut. Favorite track: Come to Me Other hits: Crying, Venus As A Boy, There’s More To Life Than This, Big Time Sensuality, Violently Happy, Human Behaviour, One Day

Locura de albuuuummmm re único re divertido re variado. Tiene un estilo como ochentero pero mas moderno no sé como explicarlo, tipo en la producción y todo. Re playful y out there. Y ta la voz es espectacular y expresiva y todo. Tentado a ponerle 5 estrellas pero nop. 9/10. AMO human behaviour y crying, y el último tema tmb.

ALBUMAZO. me gustó que sea como bastante distinto

Wonderful record.

Я хотел поставить Бьорк пять, учитывая тот факт, что ее лучшие Post и Homogenic не здесь. И это хороший, даже отличный, альбом, но не настолько впечатляющий, каким я его помнил. Лучшая песня - Venus as a Boy.

Wildly creative and genre-bending. Pretty cool to see that the more eccentric parts of Björk's discography is present from the very beginning. Not all of it landed for me personally, but there is more than enough for everyone to find something they like in here. Top tracks: Human Behavior, Venus As A Boy, Come To Me

Objectively, this is a very good collection of songs. Bjork's voice is her own, squeaky, childish at times, playful. She croons and yells and is the constant that holds these songs together. But, for me that is not enough. I like most of the songs, or at least can find something interesting in them but other than Bjork's voice there is little continuity. The songs vary in style from dance to pop standards to experimental noise to another style of dance. As an album it can be jarring. It's like she hasn't decided in which direction to go and so tries them all. I don't know her music that well and perhaps later albums find a definitive direction.

I was excited to see this album and listened right away (although I have over 100 albums to catch up on!) The only song I was familar with is Big Time Sexuality but I enjoyed the whole album and would listen again.

Bjork is quirky and unique really. Probably a little Marmite. This is an amazing album with the obvious stand out tracks all being singles. She has a really strong vocal and style. Really enjoyed this

Was hoping to find this better than I remember at the time and to a degree it was. Favourite song was clearly Venus as a Boy if for no other reason than reminding me of one of my favourite films, Leon.

I have the misfortune of suffering from migraines on occasion which is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. I can only describe listening to Bjork as the nearest comparison. The music is disjointed, jagged and unpredictable and her voice just cuts through it all like a cat stuck in a tree. I tried to find positives and was quite liking one or two songs and then that last one had me craving to be lying down in a darkened room!

Well compared to the more contemporary and all far too challenging Vulnicura album we’ve already had on the list, accessibility wise this is like listening to Right Said Fred. Actually I quite like albums like this which are an artist trying a few styles which keeps you guessing what’s next. The more elec dance tracks are the winners for me. The more jazz based stuff, which I think is where she heads more in the future, certainly is not. Hit and miss but it’s OK, and definitely feels like a 90s nostalgia trip.

Great album, she has an amazing voice, Really enjoyed Big time sensuality

Great stuff

Not listened to this before but this is seriously incredible

Yeah, fair play. this is absolutely incredible.

Really good

Such a banger of an album

Bjork is an artist I don't often listen to and every time am so impressed with. Her voice is haunting, the beats are sometimes danceable, sometimes melancholy and then there is surprise jazz. Fucking love it.

Bjork has quite a few perfect or damn near perfect records, but this is probably the one I’ve been re-visiting the most lately. This record came out in 1993, which is shocking, because it does not sound dated, at least compared to the majority of other popular records released this year, the Collective Counting Pearl Pumpkins Fumbling Towards the Ecstatic Verve in Guyville’s Last Splash on the River of Dreams of Flaming Lenny Kravitz. This is Bjork with the least amount of artifice and affectation, the most genuine. She’s curious, playful, sweet, and even seductive at times. When she sings about sneaking off to an island and bringing her little “jetto-blaster”, it kills me. Bjork goes on to experiment further, push the envelope, get wonderfully weird(er). It’s great, don’t get me wrong, there’s just something about this one. Maybe it’s that sweater.

Fucking incredible. Venus as a boy is such an incredible song wiw

a me and gideon classic. fun dance music mixed with weird icelandic princess singing. fuck yeah.

I liked the Electronic tracks the most as well as "The Anchor Song". Overall the album is too discordant and intellectual for me. I think I get what Bjork is putting down, but it's more challenging than I like my tunes.

Holy shit, this woman is turning her flesh prison inside out while pulling at the thread of her own weird artistic impulses. I've never heard anything like this. Absolutely a must listen for anyone before they die.

One a kind genius sprinkles creativity left, right and centre like it's nothing, hopping from jazz club to night club, honking her big old horn of a voice that comes all the from the tips of her toes. It has aged a little bit - especially some of the very early 90s beats - but even the 90s-est, beats-iest track There's More To Life Than This has been produced in a left of centre way, moving between rooms in a noisy bar, that you wouldn't get from anyone else. Can’t wait for her later stuff to pop up.

I’ve always loved Bjork. Her first album is a real gem. Beautiful music and lyrics.

Fantastic from start to finish.

Bjork is definitely a 'love her or hate her' kind of musician. Even scanning through reviews for this album, they are mostly either 5 or 1 with little in between. I love Bjork and this album is fantastic. I typically don't like electronic/house music but this works for me for some reason. I love her voice and I know that's a bit of a debated opinion. Like Someone In Love is really the only slow part of this album for me, the rest of it is brilliant. I don't know that I would give this five stars, it would be a strong 9/10 if I could do that. 4/5 seems too low though so 5/5 it is I suppose.

Okay not terrible but not sure i would ever go out of my way to listen to her again. All i can picture is her dressed like a swan Marv: whyd you take your socks and shoes off Harry: why are you dressed like a chicken

I can see how this was big when it came out, but now it is meh

- Human Behaviour is one of my fave Bjork songs...I didn't realize that it was the first song on her debut album. - I haven't listened to this album in forever, I kinda forgot I enjoyed so much of it. Bjork isn't on many of my playlists, some of her stuff I don't like, but this album is enjoyable to me. - I haven't heard Violently Happy is so long, another song I love.

Excellent debut. Really pushes the boundaries of pop with only a little stumbling.

3 out of 5. There were some fun tracks and I'm starting to see why people enjoy her music.

I don't hate it. It actually started to grow on me by the end. It still sounds incredibly early-90s; perhaps you had to be there (I was 5) to get the most out of it. Might try again one day with a side of MDMA.

Complete trip down memory lane. Loved it

There are tracks I'll skip next time, but better than I expected.

So interesting and unique.

I liked this way more than I expected to. I only knew the song “Human Behavior” Ang don’t care for it, and I was very pleasantly surprised by the beats and rhythm and fun of the sound of many of the songs.

Björk’s Debut opens with Human Behaviour, questioning the chaos of mankind with tribal beats and wide-eyed wonder. From Crying heartache to the sensual sigh of Venus as a Boy, she dances through moods like a glittery emotional gymnast. There’s a party in a toilet with There’s More to Life Than This, a dreamy detour in Like Someone in Love, and full-throttle joy in Big Time Sensuality. One Day offers calm, Aeroplane soars, Come to Me seduces, and Violently Happy spins out in euphoric madness before The Anchor Song gently tethers you back to Earth. In short: alien pop perfection, one drumbeat away from divine.

bjonk

point3.