Worth the Extra Cost for Björk Fans and Others
Sean Shannon | Toledo, Ohio USA | 04/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"_Homogenic_ stands out as one of the landmark albums of the 1990's, a triumph by Björk of musical depth and lyrical strength. But as this review pertains only to the Japanese release of the album, the focal question should be, are the extra tracks worth buying this release over the American release, or perhaps in addition to it, assuming one already owns the American release? The answer is a resounding yes. Dismissing the largely redundant remix of "Jòga" by Howie B., each bonus track is worthy of the _Homogenic_ name. Alec Empire's remix of "Jòga" elevates the bass and percussion of the original song to a panicky yet pleasing level, while Björk's own a capella remix of "Immature" lends a subtle simplicity to the track that meshes well with the minimalist yet powerful lyrics. While two of the three new songs, "Sod Off" and "Nature is Ancient," border on the coy and thus seem slightly out of place on the album, "So Broken" harkens back to the powerful intimacy displayed on previous tracks in the "main" album, and elevates the "expanded" album to required purchasing on its own. With its morose flamenco guitar backdrop and Björk's haunting delivery of painfully tragic verse, "So Broken" proves the depth of Björk's ability to deconstruct the more intricate and layered sound found on the other tracks, and still create an unforgettable, utterly heart-rendering song.For Björk's most devout fans, this purchase is a no-brainer. But even for those who don't follow Björk so closely, or even those who are new to her most unique style of music, the extra tracks on this release merit purchase above, or in conjunction with, the American release. Björk is music's best kept secret, and it's time she gets let out of the bag."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1