Search - Björk :: Family Tree

Confessions Of A Foolish Man....

G-Dexter | Lakewood, NY United States | 06/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fool and have suffered as a result of my ridiculous preconceptions. I'll start by saying that I went many years being aware of Bjork's existence, but being really oblivious to her music. I guess I just wasn't paying attention. I saw occasional pictures of her in magazines or on news reports (attacking a photographer or wearing a swan dress), and I wrote her off as some avant-garde fringe artist. But I never listened to her music!



Then about a year ago, my eyes and ears were opened! One of my best friends sent me a collection of songs on a disc, (thanks MI-2!), one of which was HUNTER by Bjork. Well, this song jumped out at me like a neon light in a pitch black room. Shortly after hearing that track, I heard a copy of the HOMOGENIC album and I quickly realized that I wasn't just listening to some edgey girl singer with a nice hook; I was experiencing true art. The more I listened, the more I loved the music. Now I'm kicking myself for all the years of listening that I've wasted.



I purchased FAMILY TREE as a sort of jump start to get up to speed with the rather large Bjork catalog of work. The songs span her career and give a wonderful overview to her work thus far. Some of my favorite tracks include PAGEN POETRY, BACHELORETTE, and VENUS AS A BOY. I also really love the alternate versions of five songs on the "Strings" mini disc, including a stunning version of the song that started it all for me, HUNTER.



At first, I found the price a little steep for an artist I wasn't all that familiar with, but I now consider it some of the best money I've spent on music in a long, long time. This is a great collection that any fan will enjoy. And if you're like I was, a little timid to explore the unknown, all I can say is don't delay any further, you don't know what a remarkable experience you're missing!

"

Beautiful, Impractical

L. Simon | Albuquerque, NM United States | 08/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The music is a must for all Bjork fans, but the small discs dont play on all players. My Mac laptop can't read them and I can't put them on my iPod. I guess this adds to their mystique in some way, they can only be experienced with my walkman on special occasions! Just a word to the wise."

Excellent Collection -- Lacking A Bit In Literature

J. Marks | New York, NY | 08/25/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I found this at a local music store in New York for 35 bucks, so I would recommend going somewhere other than Amazon for it, but I would certainly recommend getting it.



There are a few songs I never would have heard if I didn't get it and many of the alternate versions are actually quite a bit better than the originals. A lot of the tracks are taken down a notch so her voice is really highlighted and several of the tracks really blow my mind. All of the stuff with the string quartet is incredible; the Icelandic version of "Birthday" (the Sugarcubes hit) is wonderful, and even the Greatest Hits According to Björk, which could perhaps seem a bit useless, is a very interesting addition to my growing half-knowledge of the lovely Icelandic lady.



The downside to all of this is that there is not so much beyond the music in this expensive and quite small box set. The design is quite cute and at first glance when I popped open the little pink box and found a bunch of mini-CDs running around I was very excited, but then I looked around and couldn't find very many words. I was hoping for some information about the selection of the songs, why some versions were chosen over others, etc. All I got was a paragraph by Björk in somewhat mysterious language explaining how Roots, Beats, Strings, and Words make up every human. She does give a tiny little description of each of the collections, but it's so general... I'd just like a little more.



To make it simple: If you are a huge fan of hers, and you probably are if you're even reading this, it's worth finding a copy of this. Sixty bucks? I'm not so sure, but you can certainly find it somewhere for a reasonable amount. It is certainly worth it for the music."