The Björk Thread

[blue]

Serves 'im right. Paps are scum.

[Elforel]

Hum, just coming late i guess, but i read somewhere that some of you didn't like Volta?
I think Volta is a great album, it is truly Björkish, not minding mainstream and more 'classical' (in an album sort of way) than Medulla (which i actually grew to appreciate a lot after many listens) and Drawing Restraint Soundtrack.
Strangely, i nearly never listen to Volta but every listen is rewardingly pleasant. And it makes me remember (in case i forgot) that Björk is still for me the leading musical figure of my lifespan: brave with integrity, humour and honesty.

[angel]

[sound world]

I'd like to hear the rest of it properly sometime.I heard about four tracks,didn't like any of them.
And I'd be interested to hear the Drawing Restraint ones.
Trouble is,Björk is an industry now.Most artists become much less interesting once they're elevated to the impossible pantheon.

[Elforel]

Hum,
I strongly disagree about Björk having become an industry!
Medulla was made in 2003, Volta in 2007. Not counting the non-commercial side project for the soundtrack of Drawing Restraint 9, that makes about 4 years, which is a very reasonable time for the production of a good album.
My point is 'an industry' would launch an album every 2 years and not care for quality.
And i really wouldn't say that there aren't qualities in any of her albums.
A deeper listen to Volta and a good look at the credits will show again how careful she was on the selection of great musicians, some chinese, some african, and managing to make a warm and strange album with not an inch of this condescendent look at WORLD MUSIC that some international artists have.
I agree it may lack of a certain homegeneity and cohesion, but it is nevertheless a strong record.
And who'd say Björk was always to please at first listen?
Her albums usually grow with time, listens and attention.
Volta is probably not her best to date, but it was a great surprise for me because i thought that all the artists i grew up with were now not much good anymore. She proved me wrong and i am still waiting to see where she'll step next.
I am not such a fan as before though, i don't look at her website nor buy the singles, but I deeply believe in her!

[d.a.walker]

My problem with Volta was that is failed to deliver the true rush promised by Earth Intruders. However, it was a darn side better than the Drawing Restraint record, which I really don't see as a complete Bjork album. My other problem is that I just don't like the sound of that guy from Antony and the Johnsons. He doesn't really blow my skirt up!

I love Medulla and Homogenic, absolutely treasure Debut as it holds so many dear memories, and worship Vespertine and Selma Songs in all their majesty!!!!

Volta is in the same catagory as Post for me, I dip in and out.

[Elforel]

Well, DR9 should not be seen as a Björk album: It is a soundtrack for a very special kind of film. Actually, it's between Video Art and Theater film, so that explains why it doesn't seem to fit within her album discography.
Agreed about Antony, although i was surprised on one thing: i didn't like much his 2 collaborations on Volta but i immediately loved the songs of Antony and the Johnsons album. How could such an incredible voice be so 'commonly usual' on Volta?
Amd you're right about that dip in/dip out feeling on volta as well.

Another thing that made me sad about Volta, it's the Cover Artwork.
First of all, that sticker idea was a very stupid idea. They should at least have used a STRONG sticker that can be reused many times.
I tried to open the album carefully and that was it. It is slightly torn and unusable. Good I loaded it immediately in iTunes because i wouldn't be able to bear the tearing of that sticker everytime i listen to it.
Then, i hate the fact that she broke the Album Cover concept she had been able to carry so far:a shoulder shot of Björk facing the camera.
Even SELMASONGS (which was not exactly an album) had been part of that concept.
Vespertine had broken the magic a little bit but could still be hooked to the concept if you wanted to.

[aermancer]

Does Volta sound Bjorkish? Sure.
Is it quality Bjork? No.

Basically she slapped a bunch of weak collaborations together so she could get on her world tour. The whole thing sounds like an unfinished piece of rubbish.

Personally, I'd rather listen to DR9 because she did put a lot of work into it, and it shows. Not that I do listen to it. Not that i ever listen to Bjork anymore anyway for that matter. She was the first real musician i got into (circa 2001) and after listening to her exclusively for three years i'm pretty much completely done listening to her until her next album comes out. Sad but true.

Also, I absolutely agree about the terrible packaging, i threw the sticker in the garbage as soon as i opened it.

And the "very very limited <multiformat>" singles box? What a very very <stupid> gimmick. So far the only box released has been Declare Independence. It includes - 2 very very <terrible> remixes, the worst of her career, on 3 formats - vinyl, CD, and DVD. So Bjork's label wants me to pay 20 quid for two mind-bogglingly horrid remixes in 3 formats in obtuse packaging designed with the most hideous font created by man? What a great idea.

[sound world]

Does Volta sound Bjorkish? Sure.
Is it quality Bjork? No.

Basically she slapped a bunch of weak collaborations together so she could get on her world tour. The whole thing sounds like an unfinished piece of rubbish.

Personally, I'd rather listen to DR9 because she did put a lot of work into it, and it shows. Not that I do listen to it. Not that i ever listen to Bjork anymore anyway for that matter. She was the first real musician i got into (circa 2001) and after listening to her exclusively for three years i'm pretty much completely done listening to her until her next album comes out. Sad but true.

Also, I absolutely agree about the terrible packaging, i threw the sticker in the garbage as soon as i opened it.

Hey,you're on form today,aermancer! You sound like me!

So Bjork's label wants me to pay 20 quid for two mind-bogglingly horrid remixes in 3 formats in obtuse packaging designed with the most hideous font created by man? What a great idea.

[rolling] Can I quote that?
Nobody's mentioned the ghastly picture on 'Volta''s front cover yet.Ms.Gudmundsdottir used to have a modicum of taste,darling. [:xx]

[Elforel]

Well, I also agree about the great sense of robbing fans out of their money strategy that they have had since the huge Boxset era (best of, family tree, live box, single box, etc).
Still disagree about Volta being rubbish and not worked on. Definitely not my feeling.
But well, we can't agree on everything!
I'd like to have other opinions from you people!
Have a nice day!
Sunshine finally showed up here!

[sound world]

Well, I also agree about the great sense of robbing fans out of their money strategy that they have had since the huge Boxset era (best of, family tree, live box, single box, etc).
Still disagree about Volta being rubbish and not worked on. Definitely not my feeling.
But well, we can't agree on everything!
I'd like to have other opinions from you people!
Have a nice day!
Sunshine finally showed up here!

That's what I mean about the Björk industry-more repackaging.That's commerce,not art.
It's bloody freezing here.

By the way,has Björk had anything to say about the late Karlheinz Stockhausen?

[RobB]

By the way,has Björk had anything to say about the late Karlheinz Stockhausen?

yeah,he's late again!

[sound world]

She's been getting into hot water again,this time with the Chinese,for shouting 'Tibet,Tibet' after a performance of 'Declare Independence' in Shanghai.
Good for her!
The Chinese Government put out this (laughably ironic) statement:- Bjork “broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people’s feelings,” .
Oh right,so the Chinese Government don't go in for 'hurting people's feelings'.

[aermancer]

It's pretty stupid how big this is in the news, it's not like she shouted "DEATH TO COMMUNIST CHINA!" or something, she just hissed "Tibet, Tibet!" at the end of the song.

[Elforel]

Well, I've actually spent a few hours yesterday wondering if that was good or plain stupid to do that.
In a way, coming to China and shout this to an audience from a culture she doesn't have a clue about and talk about such a complicated matter as Tibet Independance doesn't seem deeply intelligent to me.
Also what shocked me is to read that Iceland authorities officially admitted Tibet as a part of China, so if she wanted to do things seriously, she could have gone and do it 'Bono style' and go and talk with Icelandic government.
She's also going to make it harder for foreugn bands and artists to come to China.
But then again, it could be hard to respect her if she had been to all these Free Tibet concerts in the States and then enjoy being in China without saying a word about it.
Secondly, she often said in the past that as an Icelandic, her vision of Independance was very strong, so maybe she's just acting out of warm geyser blood.
And finally, best of all, we don't care if stars dare to do stupid things: that's real Rock'n Roll! [bday] It's cool to shake a bit all that MTV clean out of the barber/washing machine music world.
- - -

[sound world]

That's all very well,Elfy,but there is enough evidence to suggest that the Chinese have committed endless atrocities against the Tibetan people (not to mention their own people),and for an informed person from the free world to call 'Tibet,Tibet' in a song is hardly as shocking or disrespectful as the acts which led to such a protest.Is it right to just stand back and toe the line imposed by a repressive regime?
If Bjork's actions see less Western bands working in China,that's not her fault but the Chinese governments'.