Aggie87 Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 (edited) Well, I'm just starting to discover Bjork, so I'm a latecomer to her music. I've noticed enough references to her between Jason Moran and Greg Osby that I decided to nab her greatest hits disk. Found myself really enjoying it, so I just picked up her most recent, Medulla. She's definitely got her own way of phrasing things, and her own way of singing in general, I suppose, but there seems to be something of substance there. It's quite interesting, and primarily a vocal only album, with some percussion. While browsing, I noticed another album of hers, entitled Gling Glo. Based on the Amazon write-ups, it appears to be Bjork, backed by a jazz trio. Does anyone have this one, and if so, is it actually jazz? I'm almost curious enough to get it anyway. What other older Bjork (or even Sugarcubes) albums are worth checking out? Edited November 11, 2004 by Aggie87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 Based on the Amazon write-ups, it appears to be Bjork, backed by a jazz trio. Does anyone have this one, and if so, is it actually jazz? I'm almost curious enough to get it anyway. Very polite jazz for the completeist. What other older Bjork (or even Sugarcubes) albums are worth checking out? All of them! MTV Unplugged has arrangements of her Debut album for gamelan, tabla, sax qt., harpsichord...there's a tuba solo in there too. All arranged by Bjork too (2001) Dancer in the Dark (with an orchestra) and Vespertine are very nice too. I think she has an amazing voice and arranging skills, but she also picks just the right collaborators too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 http://bjork.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD45 Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 That MTV Unplugged thing is available on both CD and DVD, and features Oliver Lake & Julius Hemphill on a few cuts. I have always been into her since I heard Debut via the wife. Vespertine was a less of a favorite, and I have yet to hear Medulla. I did rent the DVD from Netflix that showed the making of the album. She did a couple of tracks for the Being John Malkovich soundtrack that were all-vocal [for the most part] and killer! I have been eyeing that Family Tree box for a while now. BMG has it for $15.99... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted November 10, 2004 Report Share Posted November 10, 2004 (edited) I've got an extra copy (used) of the Gling-Glo disk, if anybody's looking for one. Basically it's Bjork singing jazz, backed by a traditional piano-trio. (Very interesting, if one happens to be into that sort of thing.) Edit: Aggie87, FYI, I sent you a PM about this -- since you seemed interested (in your first post in this thread). Edited November 11, 2004 by Rooster_Ties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted November 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 PM'd ya back, Tom. Thanks, Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 I love "Bjork's Wjorks". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 I'm definitely a fan, she's marvelous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted November 11, 2004 Report Share Posted November 11, 2004 Count me as a big fan too. I think I have all of her solo albums, and the Sugarcubes "Greatest Hits" compilation too. I'm pretty sure Jason Moran is the primary source of interest for the various Bjork tunes he and Osby have recorded together (or at least he's been the one bringing the tunes to the table). I talked with Moran on a couple occasions about Bjork, and he's really a big fan of hers. I told him he should record with her sometime, and he said something to the effect that he would be honored to work on such a project. More trivia about Bjork when I get the chance. Gotta run... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 (edited) The one that got me hooked was Vespertine. Just a beautiful side from beginning to end. Since then I've added Post, Medulla and Selmasongs. Great stuff. Edited March 17, 2005 by Free For All Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD45 Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 How fitting that this thread got bumped. I rambled on about one song on Medulla on my blog last night. Love that album more and more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 Seems I have come late to this discussion Anyway I said on another thread I saw Bjork interviewed today, about her latest album which for the United Nations. The interesting things is that she sent out an e-mail to her fans, and asked then to send their own re-mixes of her songs and the whole project was done in less than two months. I did not always understand Bjork and her music, but I have begun to appreciate it a little more. I guess some things take time to mature Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 How fitting that this thread got bumped. I rambled on about one song on Medulla on my blog last night. Love that album more and more... I am still trying to figure things out on this board B-) Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Pusey Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Knew her way back when she sang with the surrealist punk band KUKL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 New rule: every hip jazz group must cover at least one Bjork tune. Or else Radiohead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 'Simple acoustic trio' aka Marcin Wasilewski, Siawomir Kurkewicz and Michal Miskiewicz, do a wonderful version on Bjork's "Hyperballed" on their new album. Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 Bjork's music videos are excellent, the one for "All Is Full Of Love" is a favorite. I wanted to find images from "Human Behavior" too, but came up empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WD45 Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 New rule: every hip jazz group must cover at least one Bjork tune. Or else Radiohead. And maybe Nick Drake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 I like her looks...can't say I've ever heard any of her music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest che Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 I like her looks...can't say I've ever heard any of her music. Bjork is very famous for her 'fashion' sense, and like her music to some it is a little 'off-the wall'. Che. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonguthartz Posted March 17, 2005 Report Share Posted March 17, 2005 (edited) Bjork's music videos are excellent.... ahhh... Björk Here's a link which will launch The Greatest Video Ever Made: http://link.toolbot.com/bjorkvid/8793 Gling-Glo is my least favorite of her records. It's not bad, but it's not a context which allows her to do the things she does best as a vocalist. Then again, I've not heard any traditional jazz vocal recording from the last couple of decades which does much for me. (Well, there's Steve Beresford's Signals for Tea, but... ) Her greatest recorded performances might be: 1) the version of "It's In Our Hands" on the Live at the Royal Opera House DVD (much different than the studio version included on her Greatest Hits CD); 2) the version of "Undo" on the Vespertine Live CD; and 3) the version of "Scatterheart" on the Selmasongs CD; 4) most versions of "Hyperballad" (incl. the almost unrecognizable "Over the Edge Mix Live" version). As far as whole albums go, her two masterpieces are Homogenic & Vespertine, though about half of Medúlla is as great as anything she's ever done. -Jason "Björk's pitch, cadence and enunciation are so unpredictable you could start a drinking game around them. She's the anti-Sinatra, and one weird pixie." -- D. Strauss, The New York Observer Edited March 19, 2005 by jasonguthartz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonguthartz Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 I just picked up her most recent, Medulla... It's quite interesting, and primarily a vocal only album, with some percussion. My understanding is that there is no percussion on the album - just vocals (sometimes electronically manipulated, as in "Desired Constellation") and some piano. Here's your "percussion" (link launches a brief Quicktime video): http://unit.bjork.com/specials/albums/medu...ulla_rahzel.mov If you're intrigued by the contributions of Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq Gillis, you might want to check this out: http://www.ubu.com/ethno/soundings/inuit.html -Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 I just picked up her most recent, Medulla... It's quite interesting, and primarily a vocal only album, with some percussion. My understanding is that there is no percussion on the album - just vocals (sometimes electronically manipulated, as in "Desired Constellation") and some piano. Here's your "percussion" (link launches a brief Quicktime video): http://unit.bjork.com/specials/albums/medu...ulla_rahzel.mov If you're intrigued by the contributions of Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq Gillis, you might want to check this out: http://www.ubu.com/ethno/soundings/inuit.html -Jason The percussion are vocals. Stick around Jason... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonym Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 Bjork's music videos are excellent, the one for "All Is Full Of Love" is a favorite. I wanted to find images from "Human Behavior" too, but came up empty. This link brings up clips from that vid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonguthartz Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 http://link.toolbot.com/bjorkestra/8864 For New York-based [Travis] Sullivan, the idea of turning Björk's art pop into avant-garde jazz for an 18-piece band -- brilliantly dubbed the ''Björkestra" -- manifested itself seven years ago.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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