This is an essential Bjork album for sure, but it probably won't hold up to Post and Vespertine. While it is her adult, solo debut (she had a hit album in Iceland as a child), her work with the alt-rock group The Sugarcubes is what made Debut such an iconic album because it's a big departure from that sound. EDIT: Just finished the video- definitely do the ranking, but don't be afraid to check out the other albums on camera. They're all quite unique and really creatively compelling. BUT if you wanted a shortlist of others to check out on camera, Vulnicura to be sure (the co-production with Arca as well as The Haxan Cloak are volcanic), but Medulla is deeply underrated and her latest, Fossora, will probably bring in some new viewers too.
Part of understanding the nuances to the album Debut is to consider Björk's history and intentions. Björk Guðmundsdóttir began making music as a child, first as a daughter of an activist and a union leader, living in a commune where she spent several years, and by age 6 was studying classical piano and flute. She did a rendition of a disco song (Tina Charles' "I Love to Love") which was sent to a radio station, then got nationally broadcast and, after hearing it, a representative of the Fálkinn record label offered Björk a recording contract. Her literal début, Björk, was recorded when she was 11 years old, and was an album of traditional folk songs. Icelandic folk music has been a lasting influence for her. By her teens, the punk scene hit Iceland, and she formed an all-girl punk band, Spit and Snot. In 1980, she formed a jazz fusion group, Exodus, and collaborated with other groups, too, often in jazz or punk genres ( ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NAuP1JDesJs.html ). You can hear these influences in much of her later work, too. In 1985 she became more internationally known as one of the Sugarcubes, an early alt rock group (also called "cult avant-rock"), achieving notoriety with radio-consumable tunes like Birthday ( ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-149Fln0DtUc.html ) and Hit. They had some success, even appearing on Saturday Night Live, and Björk wound up collaborating with many more bands, including such diverse groups as Gling-Gló (more jazz), Current 93 (experimental & folk), and 808 State (house); again, these collaborations affected her solo sound. When she elected to make a solo album, it signaled an end to her time in the Sugarcubes, who would still produce one more album together, with the 'Cubes dissolving after a brief tour of the last album. So this album, Debut, represents a kind of homage and mental dumping of Björk's history and expectations. It was also heavily influenced by Nellee Hooper, an early figure in trip-hop, and he had a great impact on the album's slightly schizophrenic sound. The prominence of house music made some of the tracks radio hits, which brought her to wide acclaim, and her next album, Post, was well primed for more success thanks to this early solo album having a few mass-appeal dance tunes.
Début turn 30 years now ^^ I was in the street listing radio with Sony Walkman . And the music start : violently happy . BIG shook with this voice and the music . Fall in love . Go to shop . Buy the cd . I have listen début album EVERY day during one month :) Become bjork fan ^^
Check out the single version of Big Time Sensuality, I think it's way grander and more rounded out than the album version. Also, Play Dead, which was just a bonus track but it's a huge Bjork classic and a fan favorite from this era.
By the time she was contractually able to record this album these songs were already old to her personally. These were her "Debut" songs some of which she had in her head for many years and was ready to just record them so she could move on to the "Post" phase of her musical life. She was very deliberate in naming these albums.
The Anchor Song is my favourite Björk track ever, for all her songs about love on debut- that one truly captures the sound of love in my opinion. The isolated sax colouring the breaks in her lyrics feel like the tide lapping on the beach at night. And combined with her beautiful singing i really feel a beating heart, gentle but happy. Its so good T-T ALSO IF ELLIOTT SMITH ISN'T ON UR LIST OF ARTISTS TO CHECK OUT PLEASE CHANGE THAT
Fun fact: this album inspired Madonna's album Bedtime Stories and Björk even worked on her album along with Nellee Hooper. Madonna called Debut her favorite album at that time. You should check it out, it's an underrated gem stuck between two shocking albums (Erotica and Ray of Light)
I wonder if you'll like Kate Bush more than Bjork... Definitely recommend checking her Hounds of Love and The Dreaming albums. Also still waiting for your Modest Mouse reactions, their earlier albums are incredible
You should listen to felt mountain by goldfrapp classic yet underrated artpop record And also spears into hooks by meira asher probably the most abrasive music I've listened to (with good headphones)
i mean definitely most of her albums have very different vibes so i get that it can be hard to get into it at first! wondering if Medulla is next on the list for björk!
Great album, without a doubt my favorite song here is Come To Me, it's so beautiful. I would love for you to react to Vulnicura, one of my favorite albums.
Excited to see what you think about Vulnicura and her other albums!! You should definitely check out When the Pawn by Fiona Apple or The Dreaming by Kate bush next though :))
I hope/can*t wait for you to react to her Medulla album. It's maybe the last really great one you haven't reacted to, and the whole production concept is i.n.s.a.n.e. A fully formed Björk album mixed only from human voices, so beat boxing (!), sweeping choirs, Inuit throat singing, mouth trumpet etc etc. It's just a celebration of all weird and wonderful stuff, and it actually works.
Quick backstory, She was a child prodigy in classical music/instruments. Was signed at age 10 by an Icelandic label ,who produced her 1st album (a medley of Covers of songs ) . She then joined several bands, Notably, The Sugar Cubes. Punk/ Electric/ Indi sounds and beats. Gained a ton of experience, met a shitload of musicians and producers that influenced her solo Journey that culminated in this her 1st International Solo Album , Debut. The Groundwork is being laid here for the Astronomical Hits that lay ahead. Good Job 👏👏👏☺️👊. As in my previous post, Def try to go in Chronological Order. The EVOLUTION IS 🤯🤯🤯🤯. P.S. Rankings are cool. But i think you may enjoy watching all the Music Videos that accompany each Album.
I kept thinking "How does he not love this track?!" as you reacted to various tracks. Then I remembered my first reaction, in Tower Records 31 years ago. "Either I hate this or I can't live without it!" Fortunately I went with the latter, listened a few thousand more times, bought every damned thing she recorded, saw her live a bunch of times, and became seriously addicted. I am still deep in it.
Found the Sugarcubes comment I was looking for, whoo hoo! Had to scroll awhile before I got to it tho :( It always surprises me how many people who know Bjork don't seem to know where she started from. I feel like it does inform the overall listening experience.
Im gonna keep up the Swans recommendations- Their legendary album trilogy (The Seer, To Be Kind, The Glowing Man) and Sound Tracks for the Blind are MUST listens and definite stand outs in their discography:))
You should either do Medúlla or Vulnicura next. Either of those seems like a logical next step, because the former is her 5th album and the latter is her most accessible album that you haven't already listened to.
I’m digging your thoughts and overall reactions to all these albums. Consider checking out Sticky Fingers by the bad boys of rock and roll themselves, the Rolling Stones.
Human Behavior music video was all over MTV when it was released. I remember posters hanging from the ceiling of the album cover in music stores when the album came out. It was bad ass.
The only artist I've seen twice in concert, once in New York and once here in Costa Rica. An icon and an inspiration to so many who followed her. She's my OG favorite. Followed by Fever Ray, whose debut album I think you would really enjoy 🖤
