Customer Reviews

Homogenic

5 star:		(226)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Björk's evolution into starchild siren was pretty surprising given her predisposition for flighty, often jarring musical juxtapositions. Homogenic was arguably her first fully formed statement as a passionate, forward-thinking ambassador to electronic pop. I'm reminded of her spiritual godmother Kate Bush's 1985 release Hounds of Love, in the way Homogenic fuses state-of-the-art production techniques with its protagonist's idiosyncratic song forms and instantly distinctive alto call. The mysterious, punchy impressionism of "Hunter", spacey new age of "All Neon Like", and malleable, beatless wonder of "All Is Full of Love" are just a few examples of the album's compassionate, slightly off-center romanticism. LFO's Mark Bell produced many of the tracks and he gives Homogenic a futuristic tinge despite trading the florescence of Björk's previous efforts a wider pallet of pastels. Only on the experimental house of "Pluto" does she step out from her cocoon in a fit of rage, although even then an air of intrigue envelops the track. Homogenic, living up to its title, is one of the most perfectly formed records of any era, and it is entirely possible that Björk will never approach this level of consistently enrapturing beauty again.

Take a close look at the cover of Bjork's "Homogenic." Go on, do it. What you'll notice are outrageous alien-like hair buns, long silver finger nails, an elongated neck, slit-like eyes, tight skin, microscopic lips and an oversized kimono wrapped around the genius. It's almost scary in a wonderful way, representing a cold and distant Bjork at the time of the album's release. Bjork has created totally new genres of music that were unheard of until she hit the block big time back in 1993 with her debut album "Debut." This concept was taken further with 1995's "Post" as the acclaim and praise continued to overwhelm her. However, Bjork's shining creativity and musical genius cannot be seen better in any of her records more so than in Homogenic.

Released in 1997, Homogenic was Bjork's third studio album and saw the artist in a tumultuous state of mind. She was angry at certain people in her life, and this is reflected in the harsh and primal nature of this album. Homogenic is the kind of album that you will not like straight away, but need to give a few listens before you can truly appreciate it. The same can be said for probably most of Bjork's music, but you don't get as much satisfaction after persisting with them than you do in Homogenic.

"Hunter" opens the album in magnificent style. With supersonic beats sliding all over the arrangement and gentle sighing, it's clear from the first few seconds that this is a manic and eccentric song. The paranoid drums and aching violins work in excellent contrast with Bjork's soft vocals. She begins by singing, "If travel is searching, and home what's been found. I'm not stopping, I'm going hunting. I'm the hunter. I'll bring back the goods, but I don't know when." She sounds here like a wild animal, searching for food in the middle of the night. The lyrics here are so primal and out of control it's unreal. "Joga" manages to succeed in being one of Bjork's greatest ever songs. An old Russian violin opens the song in a depressing tone, before Bjork starts singing. The verses and choruses rise and fall to the actual sounds of Iceland's volcanoes, which Bjork recorded especially for this album. It's amazing - you get all this fresh and natural music on one song, instead of manufactured garbage. As the fourth minute approaches, Bjork starts wailing as her voice echoes before singing, "Emergency...Is where I want to be." Then she starts giggling, as if in awe of the masterpiece she's just created. Genius.

"Unravel" is one of the most heartbreaking songs of Bjork's career and a definite album highlight here. She sings a song of lost love, "While you are away my heart comes undone. Slowly unravels in a ball of yarn. The Devil collects it with a grin. Our love in a ball of yarn. He'll never return it. So when you come back we will have to make new love." Bjork's voice is so packed with emotion and this leads perfectly into the album's true masterpiece, "Bachelorette." This is easily the finest song that Bjork has ever had the pleasure to record. Beginning off with a simple violin, it spirals down and the song begins with a grand piano playing in the song. The majestic beats work so well with Bjork's euphoric voice and the strings that come in after two minutes are just complete genius overload. "All Neon Like" has a strong thumping beat like a heartbeat all the way through. The lyrics are amazing, and the way Bjork totally evolves human art into music can be seen here.

"5 Years" has an interesting beginning with a synthesizer, before beats that sound like stomping feet gradually come to the forefront. Bjork's voice is brilliantly careless and she seems a little angry and vengeful. "Immature" seems to be a little bit of relief from the last two tracks which are completely alien and strange. The song starts off with Bjork humming to her own tune, before she scolds herself for being so immature. She questions her actions and offers her most simplistic answer, "How extremely lazy of me!" "Alarm Call" is one of the more mainstream tracks on the album. It works well with the rest of the songs, however. The beat on this song is just pure joy as Bjork sings about how she wants to go on a mountain-top with a radio and good batteries and play a joyous tune. Then there's the harsh realism when she sings, "I'm no f**king Buddhist, but this is enlightenment!"

"Pluto" is the song that follows and is definitely the most challenging song Bjork has ever recorded. This song has so much energy that it could finish you off for good - the racing beat and grating rhythm is forced into Bjork's angry vocals as she sings, "Excuse me but I just have to explode. Explode this body off me." She then starts screaming at the top of her voice around the second minute, grunting, groaning, wailing, shrieking and crying her way through her torture and pain. It's unlike anything I've ever heard, and you know what? I like it. This works as a complete juxtaposition with the album's final track, "All Is Full Of Love." It finally starts after 30 seconds with some swirling strings. Bjork's voice goes from left to right on this song, and her lyrics are so emotional it will bring a tear to anyone's eyes.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

Homogenic is my favourite Bjork album because of the way she presents herself on this album. She just opens herself up and isn't afraid to experiment. There are only 10 songs on this album, but Bjork likes to keep things short and sweet and in this case it most definitely works. If you own Bjork's first two albums but not this one and are planning on buying it, be prepared for a shock! This is Bjork's most inaccessible album of her career. It's hard, frigid and primal on the outside, but if you can break the shell, on the inside you'll find your place at home with the warmth and emotion that Bjork conveys in every single song here.

I bought that record the day it went out, in 1997. I still listen to it often, and I still get the same feeling I had the first time I listened to it: complete and infinite awe. Björk is one of the most talented artist of our time, and she proved it to the world with this record. There seems to be a little something new to notice at every listen, each song is beatifully written and uncovers raw emotions with the intricate lyrics and passionate strings in background. If you have a surround sound system, the experience will be even more amazing. An essential in absolutely everybody's record collection.

Dear Ms. Guğmundsdóttir,

I'm sure that the chances of you ever browsing through the reviews of your own albums on a site like Amazon are greater than finding Paris Hilton's disseration on Nietzsche. However, I am still writing this "review" to you.
First off, I would like to give you an apology. I am so, so, so sorry that during my 16 years on this planet I had never listened to you until now. It has been less than 18 hours since I purchased Homogenic and, without exaggerating, I have listened to it at least 10 times straight through. This is the type of album where every listen, a new suprise unfolds in the structure of the music. The lyrics on Homogenic, rank up there with albums such as Astral Weeks or Ok Computer. The usage of the Icelandic String Octet in your pieces gives the album even more of a dream-like feel to it. I must admit Ms. Guğmundsdóttir that this is the type of album that will withstand the test of time and shall open doors to listeners for years to come.

I love this album! It was the third I bought from her, I started off with Post, then Gling-Gló, and next Homogenic. It is very dark, engaging, and smooth.

In the second song, Jóga, she talks of "emotional landscapes." When I listen to that song, I can imagine a panoramic view of a dark green mountain range with the burning orange light of the setting sun silhouetting each peak. I can also see endless fields of grass and flowers, perhaps in Switzerland. This song uses strings Björk's overpowering voice to create what she sings about: emotional landscapes and a "state of emergency."

The song "Bachelorette" is a strikingly toxic song, it's very dark and beautiful. Again, the use of stringed instruments is a very nice touch and it creates a classic feel. This sounds like it could be a hit from some foreign musical, because it has a foreign quality to it. It is also very, very epic in its genre and sound. It gives the sense of a grand tale being told with its bold and melancholy music.

"All Neon Like" is a calming song with an infectious beat. Björk has a nack for smoothing out whatever annoying sounds you can imagine! The beat is a techno-like pulse, but almost sounds like a drum of sorts. I can't explain it, but don't expect a techno song as in clubbing...you'll just have to listen to the sample!

I genuinely smiled after hearing "Alarm Call," it's got a very light and happy message! Björk says, "I want to go on a mountain-top with a radio and good batteries, play a joyous tune, and free the human race from suffering."

Probably the most energetic and oddly bizarre song of the bunch, "Pluto" is an intense and noisy song that'll get your pulse going after hearing the rest of the album, which is significantly slower. :) Love it!!!!

This is a very wonderful album because it's a journey through so many different musical landscapes that you'll feel like a genre-saavy person after listening! It's enchanting and entrhalling! BUY IT!!!!

Björk just gets better and better. "Homogenic" (apparently it's another term for "homozygous") reverberates throughout with amazing electronic sounds, strings, piano, and Björk's ever ethereal voice. It's arguably her best, tightest, and darkest album to date. Her two previous CDs "Debut" and "Post" had a more eclectic feeling to them (just a few examples are "Like Someone in Love", "The Anchor Song", and "It's Oh so Quiet"). This CD moves away from the relative eclecticism of her previous discs and strives for a more consistent sound throughout. Keyboards with low, low registers rattle inside your head and strings soar beautifully behind slow meccanic beats. It is probably less danceable overall than her previous two CDs (there's nothing as driving as Post's "Enjoy" or "Army of Me" here), and is more in the category of music "to be listened to". Each Björk album is a new experience, and this one carries on the tradition (as does its follow-up). "Hunter" opens the CD on an amazing and somewhat disturbing note. Björk's voice almost sounds a little sinister in places, especially on the lines: "You could smell it / so you left me on my own / to complete the mission / now I'm leaving it all behind". "Bachelorette" thumps into existence with its unforgettable opening piano riff. Listeners who aren't sure about Björk in general will likely make up their minds on the strength of this song alone. Björk continues to develop in interesting ways. She's not allowing herself to be typecast and buried in one musical style. One could argue she's getting weirder, but if the results are CDs of this quality, then just keep on getting weirder and weirder, Björk. Speaking of weird, this may be Björk's best cover art. The Princess Leia hair on steroids is a great touch. Actually, her covers are also getting stranger and stranger - hmmmmm...

Few artists manage to constantly expand and experiment with each new release, particularly in the pop genre (although labelling this record as such is pretty meaningless), so to hear Bjork radically change her sound and outlook again with 'Homogenic' is nothing short of stunning. There was always a central dichotomy to her music: the Icelandic pixy with a huge voice certainly could entice us with her fairytale songs and quirky lyrics, but since 'Post', possibly even 'Debut', there was always a dark underbelly to her music that threatened her confusing demeanour, adding tension and life to a pair of remarkable albums. Where 'Debut' was a dance pop experiment with obvious reams of talent, and 'Post' was an eclectic, to say the least, collection of songs that tested each edge of her music, 'Homogenic' sees Bjork strip away the tasteful wacky woman of pop inage and craft an incredible record that deals with a darker side to her psyche in a gritty, unrelenting way.
Perhaps it was a failed relationship, or the stress of a very public life that catalysed this shift, but whatever the cause, 'Homogenic' is a very personal, dark album. Opener 'Hunter' is a good indication of the albums sound, with chilly strings and carefully looped beats never intruding on Bjorks powerful, emotionally charged vocals. Songs like 'Bachelorette' and '5 years' run more as extended mood pieces than short pop songs, with dense orchestration and memorable lyrics. The albums final track, 'All is full of Love', is particularly uplifting, and serves as a gorgeous, sweeping, evocative way to close the album on a note of hope and redemption that reminds us that for Bjork, the making of the album has been cathartic and more than a futile exercise in self pity. Bjork offers a route to happiness and contentment through her music which , I feel, it is hard not to admire.
Very nearly a masterwork, the album suffers only from 'Alarm call' sounding out of place and, I suppose, being too short. Overall though this is cerytainly the most unique of her albums, and that makes it a rewarding, emotionally engaging, singualr experience. I dont think that I could ask for anything more, or want to.
[Note: also get a hold of her 2001 release 'Vespertine' which, yes, further updates and expands her sound. I think it'll be kind of hard to review though so I wont try, you'll just have to trust me....]

i am bjorks biggest fan.

i have every import mini bjork bootleg promo cd in the universe. i have a bjork web page, my own bjork secret stalker fan club. my girl friend looks like bjork, and i have legally changed my name to bjork. its on my drivers license. i plan on having many many children and naming them all bjork.

however, i have one regret.

if i could do it all over again, i would not buy this cd. i would spend the money on plastic surgery so that i could look like bjork. i would then kidnap myself and collect the ransom money from the record label. and then i would hijjack a plane and crash into the statue of liberty... i would buy a used copy of the cd with the left over money. only 2 or 3 songs are decent.

Ok...Firstly...This album is one of the strangest records I've ever purchased...not that it's bad. Just it's definitely unusual and certainly not for your everyday music listeners. To give you a hint what the album sounds like........remember Portishead's self-titled album ''Portishead''- now take that and strip away the thickly-based trip-hop beats and add some unfathomable-techno with strings...-and on top of that place Bjork's voice- the result would definitely be rather unheard of, most of all UNIQUE and vocally pleasant.

Not all of the tracks are techno influenced, when mentioning tracks like ''Hunter'' and ''Bachelorette'' which sound allot like ''Human Behavior''. ''Joga'' is really a great song, also one of my ultimate Bjork favorites. And ''Pluto'' is very...I don't know?-------Remember Madonna's song ''Ray Of Light'' with all those crazy beats and erratic sound effects...this track definitely sounds like that.

Her voice is so powerful and when she cries out and it soars through it's highest peak- she is fully capable of putting other grand artists to shame with her voice. There's really no other artist (apart from Dido) that sounds like Bjork.

''Alarm Call'' is a excellent song, really no other track that sounds like this, this is what I love about this SONG!!!. But...my favorite is ''All Is Full Of Love'', I like the version on this album, but I prefer the originally (Unreleased) version which was used for the video, So you might want to pick up the CD Single for the video version.

I'm glad that I have a CD with a original sound to add to my Collection.

Excellent Work!

After 'Post' no other BJork album was easy to listen, but 'Homogenic' started to delve into a much deeper and darker note that made her music outright tough to digest for a few people. A perfect example of this is the loaded "Pluto". However, while being dark in some tracks, others such as "Unravel" and "All Neon Like" are, hands down, among the best songs (by BJork or anyone else) you will hear, and "All is Full of Love", with its minimalist approach sets the stage for things to follow.

Overall, if you pay close attention, the album is a perfect continuation of 'Post' and a tribute to good music and great taste. So, where were you in 1997? I was unravelling, while listening to 'Homogenic'.