HYPERBALLOT: ILM Artist Poll #88 -- Björk Resultsness

(That "yeah" was in disapproval, not agreement.)

for some reason i've always heard 'Pluto' as an indirect sequel to "There's More to Life Than This", even though they probably don't share much more than a four on the floor beat. the latter is a lighthearted bjork seeking refuge from a party she doesn't care about, wanting to create her own private party on a secluded island in the middle of the night. 'Pluto' IS a private party of sorts, but one of the mind, agonizing and anxious, more like a snake shedding its skin under a rock than anything you'd want to invite anyone else to. love both songs

great image for Pluto btw, Eric (and great work in general, as others have said!). i feel like it catches her in that Pluto moment

karl's posts itt are a delight

Quite out of place on Homogenic, noisy mess, clearly an inferior version of Declare Independence which at least is great fun.

― Nabozo, Thursday, May 10, 2018 9:04 AM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

at last, the worst take

In terms of Björk making a lot of noise, I was a huge fan of the Voltaic live dvd, it revealed her (then-current) vision to me, I would seal off the living room and blast it on my parents' 5.1 system. Some of these songs grew in density to scary and dangerous nuclear reaction levels, Army of Me for example.

i'd be curious to see a ranking of the post-studio albums live albums she puts out for every release.

at last, the worst take
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, May 10, 2018

Not my fault ILM makes such terrible choices :P :P

xpost <3 Brad

I would seal off the living room and blast it on my parents' 5.1 system.

i've never seen the Voltaic live dvd. ...party at Nabozo's parents house!!

“declare independence” is such a dull slog and i can’t wait to see it not place at all. great video though

It's a combination of two lives, you can see it on youtube Paris, Reykjavik). Give a listen to Earth Intruders, Where is the Line, Army of Me, or the closing Pluto/Declare since we're on them :)

I'm inviting the thread to my place for cocktails and Bjork discussion at 6 p.m.

“declare independence” is such a dull slog and i can’t wait to see it not place at all. great video though
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, May 10, 2018

Sorry I made you feel bitter about it, I'll concentrate on the songs I love and stop spoiling yours ;)

https://78.media.tumblr.com/1552d79aa710584677ac9d0b9a160deb/tumblr_ok7dbuuikp1qg2p2fo1_500.gif

lol

Declare Independence has such a strange video!

Here's that video of Lotic weaponizing the Declare Independence instrumental in a dj set: https://youtu.be/dKXnR5gE74E?t=2533

xposts i am very curious about what kinds of drinks would be found at a bjork-themed cocktail/discussion sesh

sorry i just really dislike most of volta. also as fractured as "pluto" is it *feels* fluid. it reminds me very much of, uh, mania

I haven't had a chance to comment on the roll-out yet but right now I'd just like to say good morning only to "Immature" and "The Modern Things".

Also:

Chairman Mao, beeping out to me.

xp what lotic does with that track is awesome!

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/25-aurora.jpg

25. Aurora (Vespertine, 2001) -- 550 points; 17 votes

I haven't delved into the live concert video wormhole at all but that Pluto/Declare Independence closer is immense with the brass, ty (lol @ "we're going to end with a lullabye, so we can all go to sleep").

GODDESS SPARKLE

Aurora is so beautiful and I want to shout out Frosti while we're here since i doubt it will place

Agreed. Both were culled from my top 50.

I also really love Harm of Will, which probably won't place at this point

Will anything else from Vespertine place apart from the singles?

still some room for a couple more?

I'm hoping that there are still 6 tracks from Vespertine that will show up

aurora is a beautiful song that weirdly reminds me of the soundtrack from kirby 64. i voted for it.

i've still got two non-singles on my ballot and i feel pretty good about at least one of them popping up

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/24-triumph-of-a-heart.jpg

24. Triumph of the Heart (Medúlla, 2004) -- 565 points; 16 votes

didn't used to like this song, but it's really grown on me over time!

this one does nothing for me, melody is weirdly grating

Not sure whether to celebrate all my favourite Medulla tracks placing or complain that none are in the top 20. The former, I guess.

ufo otm

The outro to Triumph of the Heart is one of her top vocal performance. Such sincerity in this track, such a fun beat. That moment from 2:20 too. And what Rahzel does just really cracks me up.
I forgot to include Aurora in my (late) ballot, which was really criminal. Among the very best on the album. Those high notes.

I mean towards the end when the song progressively slows down and fades and she keeps going, it's very subtle. I love those Bachelorette-type moments when she muses a few last words right before the song ends.

still only "come to me" and "pluto" have received first-place votes, i feel a point-jump incoming

I goddamn love "Pluto" and wish there was more KUKL-derived thrash-y stuff in her catalogue-- "Pluto" works so well because it has a kind of 'uh sure' lyrical approach that reminds me of Bowie's "Breaking Glass"-- a casualness that belies the implicit violence-- "Declare Independence" in comparison is a leaden concept and sluggish execution and easily my least-favourite song by her. When I first heard "Shaking The Habitual" I was like "oh excellent it is 'Pluto' expanded into a full-length album"

A day behind in my listening, but woah, "Domestica" is nice!

"Pluto" didn't make my top 20 but if I'm going to be honest it's my second-favourite track off "Homogenic" after Joga-- (I ranked Unravel and Hunter higher on my ballot, but should've reconsidered)

Also when I was a naive teenager I actively sought out "Play Dead" which was absent from my version of Debut-- also a track called "Atlantic"-- and was disappointed by both, sounds like Bond film music

"Domestica"'s roving synth blorts don't do much for me, the melody doesn't rule-- I think about the level of clarity and focus that Bjork would have on "Biophilia" and remain mystified by people's adoration for "Vespertine"-era production

What the fuck. "Scary" just came on my Youtube playlist after "Domestica" and who knew that Bjork presaged Joanna Newsom, never heard this track but um jesus

haha i'd never heard scary either and it's basically a björkified version of "golden brown." it's awesome.

I only discovered it going through B-sides recently, would be right at place on Milk-Eyed Mender yeah

https://cansesclasseled.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/23-5-years.jpg

23. 5 Years (Homogenic, 1997) -- 566.5 points; 15 votes

too low

ya

5 Years is one of my favorite beats of all time. The distorted one-drop thing, and the wavering between swung and straight. And the sine wave chords, the sound of this one was just hugely influential for me.