How To Buy...Bjork

11:51 AM GMT 01/04/2008

Who else apart from Björk Gudmundsdóttir gets mad props from Missy Elliott hip-hop royalty *and Sir John Taverner? No one. Defiantly unmainstream but globally celebrated, her expressive, unearthly voice is unique in music.

After releasing her first, self-titled, LP aged 12 in 1977, she came to international notice as siren of indie eccentrics The Sugarcubes in 1986, before moving on in 1992 to a solo career that’s taken in techno, classical orchestration, big band jazz, experimental soundtracks and more.

But what of her recordings do you need to own? How does Debut compare to Volta? Medulla or Vespertine? The Sugarcubes’ Life’s Too Good or Stick Around For Joy? You tell us. As ever, the best comments and recommendations will appear in the magazine.

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 11:51 AM GMT 01/04/2008

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To truly and utterly understand Bapsi's music you have to try all its flavours. Like in 'Wanderlust' from latest 'Volta', she feels at home whenever the unknown surrounds her. Bjork is a synomym of exploring new artistic fields, crawling into a cave full of bats to find this special song. I've come through her albums step by step, and every time I was astonished. Sincere in every genre she has tried, Bjork has a gift to unite people from different musical universes. Is it Icelandic techno mixed with strings from 'Homogenic', triphop impressions of 'Post' or a capella gurgles from 'Medulla', I don't really care. All is full of her talent.

Posted by Maciej at 7:37 PM GMT 02/04/2008 Report Abuse

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I would say that it depends on the personality you have: if you are extrovert: choose Homogenic, introvert: choose Vespertine, kinda both: Volta.

If you are down to earth then you need Medúlla!

Posted by Bijoruku at 9:48 PM GMT 02/04/2008 Report Abuse

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Bjork has had a pretty consistent career. I personally think that she keeps on getting better and that she's currently the most exciting artist of the twenty first century.

How to buy Bjork is like saying how to buy Miles Davis: it's just not so cut and paste.

Posted by minguslover at 5:00 AM GMT 03/04/2008 Report Abuse

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Bjork has a pretty high standard of quality control,so you could pretty much pick anything and find something of value-however for me i would have to say that ther best places to start are the first Sugarcubes album and Post.Probably best to leave Kukl etc last though

Posted by c jones at 1:47 PM GMT 03/04/2008 Report Abuse

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I'd say that Vespertine is a must-have for any cd collection. And maybe the greatest for the twenty first century. I can't remember the last time I was more excited listening to a cd. Oh that's right, it was Medulla.

Western guitar based music is only a small, small percentage of music that's out there. Yet bands that try to sound like Fleetwood Mac or Joy Division are hailed as the best in music.

It makes me appreciate someone like Bjork so much more.

Posted by drmahler at 8:28 AM GMT 04/04/2008 Report Abuse

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YUM YUM give me both. Different days different sound track....

Posted by Surealneil at 8:27 PM GMT 05/04/2008 Report Abuse

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Goodnight to all
I confess: I've never read Mojo, that's my fault, I don't know what is its "musical orientation" but I have the feeling it's an alternative rock-oriented magazine.Isn'it the majority of music magazines and critics who write on newspapers and magazines (here in Italy, my country, and anywhere else).
Anyway, I mostly like pop-rock and I loved "Debut" and "Post", that have the right mix of avant-garde and pop.After these albums, Bjork has become an icon and now I find her music terribly boring.Many free-jazz musicians I know have discovered Bjork now and they love her current experimental approach.

Posted by Lester at 10:45 PM GMT 06/04/2008 Report Abuse

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Bjork.... is one of the few artists that will stop staff in there tracks where I work. When I put one of her cd's on the sound system.

Just goes to show what people like.

Posted by Surealneil at 7:04 AM GMT 08/04/2008 Report Abuse

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1. Vespertine (her Masterpiece)

2. Homogenic

3. Medulla (her Meredith Monk album)

4. Greatest Hits

5. Volta

Posted by Walter Nervik at 4:51 PM GMT 09/04/2008 Report Abuse

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