Björk

Album Reviews

Debut B+ - Upon its release, Björk's debut album was accused by Rolling Stone of falling onto the sword of producer Nellee Hooper's "cheap electronic gimickery." This was a short-sighted criticism, as Debut arguably predicted the sound of '90s electronic music. It sounded progressive then, and it sounds just a bit ahead of current now. Hooper's house-indebted basslines and pounding, sequenced drum beats hew more closely to the trends of today's pop than anything else in Björk's catalogue. Her vocal treatments and open-ended poetry, however, will probably always sound a bit beyond modern.

Post A - Björk's first masterpiece, Post is a radically eclectic work that highlights her talents for singing, songwriting, and choosing collaborators. Even in its strangest moments (namely her cover of Betty Hutton's "It's Oh So Quiet"), the album is held together by Björk's incredible creativity.

Homogenic A+ - Homogenic is a total realization of Björk's singular talent. A bristling creature submerged beneath a thick sheet of ice, the Icelandic musician's third album is profoundly emotional. It touches on the deterioration of love, frustration with boys, and overwhelming amounts of platonic love with a poetic grace that could only come from one of music's great innovators. Mark Bell's production here is also remarkable, both aggressive and meticulously gorgeous.