Search - Bjork :: Post

Passionate and original; this is no sophomore slump...

Andrew Ellington | I'm kind of everywhere | 02/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The one thing that could and probably must be said about Bjork's music is that it is otherworldly. Listening to anything produced by the uber-talented Icelandic beauty (yes I said beauty; her childish and slightly impish features are exotic to me) is like a slow slide into a land unfamiliar to most humans. Bjork is in a league all her own and creates music she wants to create, music she is passionate about it that resonates on every track on this album. She cannot be pigeonholed for there is nothing she won't attempt. This can be seen full throttle in her sophomore album `Post', an album rich with unique and original concepts that elevate Bjork above just about everyone else.



The first thing you'll notice about `Post' is that it possesses a little more edge than her debut album `Debut'. The first track off the album is `Army of Me' and it is sic with heavy bass and almost eerie undertones. I relish this side of Bjork, her darker more untamed side. `Army of Me' is one of the most memorable tracks here for the beat alone will get stuck in your skin. Along these same musical lines is `Enjoy', a track that is extremely `enjoyable'. This style suits Bjork magically; her voice and her style is personified by the techno laden beats.



But this is not all Bjork has in store for us.



Taking us away from the rave and into a different kind of club atmosphere Bjork takes advantage of the techno beats to create more up-tempo tracks; much like `Hyper-Ballad' which is just that, a hyper ballad. The song starts off sweet and sincere, Bjork's flaw vocals adding layers of emotional depth to the lyrics, and then it explodes hyper-intensity that is joyous and boisterous. This same energy is seen in `I Miss You', a track that almost has a Latin flare to it with the tribal sounding bongos and horns forming a sturdy back-beat. You can tell that Bjork is having a lot of fun with this song.



`The Modern Things' is a good transitioning between the up-tempo techno beats and the sensitive ballad. It's a brilliantly constructed track and leads us into Bjork's next musical adventure...



The ballad.



Two tracks; `You've Been Flirting Again' and `Cover Me', are short and to the point, graceful and delicate in their delivery and give us yet another layer to the talent that is Bjork. `Cover Me' is such a beautiful addition to the album, adding Oriental flare to the track with the classic strings caressing the track magically. It's short, but it's meaningful. `Isobel' has classical orchestral inspiration and it magnificently merges this influence with an almost tribal backdrop. `Possibly Maybe' is one of my favorite tracks on the album. It's brimming with an intense sensuality that I didn't expect. It's soft and delicate and very inviting. It feels warm; if that makes sense.



But Bjork isn't finished yet...



If anyone has been privilidged to see `Dancer in the Dark' (I say privileged mainly because the film alone is flawless) then you have experienced Bjork in full on `musical' mode. She gives us an early taste of this with `It's Oh So Quiet', a track that feels like a Broadway number. It's lively and imaginative and perfectly constructed and delivered. Bjork knows what she's doing and it shows. Not only is it technically flawless but her heart is in it and that elevates it to new heights.



The closing track `Headphones' feels in a way like an emotional crash for Bjork. This is a good thing. The song is almost stagnant, with no real shifts in pitch but it manages to display emotion quite adequately. As the song begins you can feel an almost draining on the part of Bjork. It's a beautiful effort on her part and closes out the album spectacularly.



`Post' is one of Bjork's finest albums and is a far more complete and collected album then her phenomenal debut album `Debut'. She has mastered her vision and delivers it in such a beautiful package that we can be nothing short of stunned by her growth. Like I have said before and will continue to say; Bjork is not for everyone, but anyone can see that this girl is talented beyond compare. Even if you are not drawn to her musical style you at least must admit that she is one of the most original acts in music today, and that alone is a triumph."

I weep.

Stefan Hayes | 05/20/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of tunes is an experiment with rock. I'm loving Björk's vocals, all though over-produced to an inch of her life. This LP is too eclectic to be eclectic. Post seems an effort to please mainstream goons. The LP feels forced."