I'm pretty sure everything of mine placed.
HyperballadStonemilkerHeadphonesBacheloretteUnravelPossibly MaybeAll Is Full Of LoveEnjoyIt's Oh So QuietAll Neon LikeArmy of MeI Miss YouAlarm CallIsobelImmatureJogaModern Things5 YearsPlutoI've Seen It All
― incel elgort (cryptosicko), Saturday, 12 May 2018 13:35 (five years ago) link
I agree, that Top 10 is pretty much wall to wall gold. Sleeve, enjoy your FP.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 12 May 2018 14:31 (five years ago) link
Thanks for doing this Eric!
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Saturday, 12 May 2018 16:11 (five years ago) link
I'll add myself to the Unison of praise for Eric's rollout and images. So many Björks! I spoke of being Björked out on the voting thread, only to start listening to her again almost immediately thereafter. It's been a turbulent relationship! I'd say I've been like a killer whale trapped in a bay, but I might be more like Meester Fly who, having gotten lost some time around Volta, has since emerged from the ointment and started buzzing against the screen in the darkness.
― eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Saturday, 12 May 2018 21:15 (five years ago) link
Re: All is full of love
I've never figured out what string instrument is featured in this, it sounds like plucked harpsichord strings.
Dan - that’s A harpsichord my friend
I don't know for certain what it is, but I'm fairly sure it's not a harpsichord. Sounds much more like a hammered dulcimer.
― Hans Holbein (Chinchilla Volapük), Sunday, 13 May 2018 06:40 (five years ago) link
It’s a harpsichord according to wikipedia:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Is_Full_of_Love
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 13 May 2018 07:07 (five years ago) link
More accurately: according to whoever wrote the paragraph on this song for a Slant best 90s singles list. No hard evidence in that wiki article.
I still disagree. I can't claim to be an expert on the harpsichord, but I have been listening to harpsichord music regularly for about 15 years, and I've heard recordings of dozens or hundreds of different harpsichords - and the instrument in AIFOL just doesn't sound like one to me. The strings sound as though they're being struck, not plucked, and the inflection and variation in volume I hear are impossible to achieve on a harpsichord. As I said, sounds like a hammered dulcimer. Or a cimbalom. If I'm wrong and the strings are being plucked, then I think it must be some kind of harp, zither, psaltery...
― Hans Holbein (Chinchilla Volapük), Sunday, 13 May 2018 08:37 (five years ago) link
Anyway, all this doesn't matter really but the harpsichord comments upthread caused me to listen to this for the first time in years and I felt compelled to inscribe my opinion as a harpsichord enthusiast on this thread.
― Hans Holbein (Chinchilla Volapük), Sunday, 13 May 2018 08:40 (five years ago) link
It is a sampled kora
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:25 (five years ago) link
It is absolutely not a harpsichord. It may be a harp played near the table but I doubt it. It is such a specifically kora-esque sound that I think it’s almost certainly that instrument
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:27 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmFY97JlHk8
THE KORA IS FUCKIN DOPE
― 21st savagery fox (m bison), Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:29 (five years ago) link
The next 17 tracks, if it had been a full 77 poll:
Pleasure is All MineYou've Been Flirting AgainDeclare IndependenceI Go HumbleFuture ForeverNew WorldHistory of TouchesI See Who You AreSo BrokenFamilyEarth IntrudersTabula RasaIt's in Our HandsGate, TheStormCharleneAtom Dance― nourish nourish your turtleheart (Eric H.), Friday, May 11, 2018 5:11 PM (two days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
would've loved to see "family," though i'm sorta relieved i didn't have the chance to unload on "declare independence" at length
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:39 (five years ago) link
don't let them do that to you
― 21st savagery fox (m bison), Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:46 (five years ago) link
five of my votes were in those 17 tracks!
― Dan S, Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:52 (five years ago) link
I already unloaded on it in the polling thread
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:55 (five years ago) link
I can't tell what is uglier. When a successful musician writes a song that betrays their corny political views, or the fact that successful musicians will tend to have corny political views in the first place
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:56 (five years ago) link
would pay american currency for a corny political album by successful icelandic musician Björk Guðmundsdóttir
― 21st savagery fox (m bison), Sunday, 13 May 2018 14:59 (five years ago) link
There you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holidays_in_Europe_(The_Naughty_Nought)
― nevertheless, he stopped (flamboyant goon tie included), Sunday, 13 May 2018 15:04 (five years ago) link
Declare Independence is my least-favourite of all her singles.
― Gavin, Leeds, Sunday, 13 May 2018 16:40 (five years ago) link
A side poll I had no intention of doing. Though my answer to that would have been "The Dull Flame of Desire."
― nourish nourish your turtleheart (Eric H.), Sunday, 13 May 2018 21:20 (five years ago) link
Poor Volta. The singles, or most of them, are probably the least successful things on it. A brassy mini-album based around "Wanderlust" and the somber middle section etc would be great.
― Maximum big surprise! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Monday, 14 May 2018 02:11 (five years ago) link
a long time lurker (well, i did post briefly a few years ago), finally signed up just so that i could submit my ballot but couldn't manage it in time. so before i go back to lurking i just wanted to say how stunned i am that no Mark Bell / LFO mixes were mentioned at all, especially considering how well loved I Go Humble seems to be.
Possibly Maybe Lucy mix which is more devastating than the original (and the original is devastating enough, didn't she say it was the most difficult song for her to write?). then the trio of Bachelorette mixes, Blue/Optimism and this one, which would be my #1, probably:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8TpCBmpn8s
and Hyperballad, Stomp mix / Disco Sync mix and 3am mix is just so achingly beautiful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifSYpW6tLEE
also Come to Me Black Dog remix >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> anything else on The Best Remixes for People.
and sad Charlene and You've been flirting again didn't make it. the turn and the swell of violins in the latter when she sings "give her some time, give her some space", and the anticipation that something wonderful is about to happen, and when you hear it for the first time you're so afraid you'll be disappointed and then Isobel starts...
― scanner darkly, Monday, 14 May 2018 03:11 (five years ago) link
damn it, i forgot Verandi. i'm totally in the "vespertine b-sides" camp. the way the voice counters the falling bassline...
surprised (and glad) to see Enjoy and Crying make it - for whatever reason i also always thought that they were neglected and not widely liked tracks (and both were the first tracks i liked on both albums). funny it seems to be a shared perception.
― scanner darkly, Monday, 14 May 2018 03:18 (five years ago) link
Last-minute ballot so v.short.
Singles (ranked):
Hidden PlaceCrystalline (Omar Souleyman Remix)Pagan PoetryHunterPlay DeadVenus As A BoyDomesticaAmphibianHuman BehaviourVerandi
Remixes (ranked):
Crystalline (Omar Souleyman Remix)Human Behavour (Speedy J Remix)Hyperballad (Tee's Freeze Mix)Dull Flame Of Desire (Modeselektor's Remix for Girls)Stonemilker (Forest Swords Remix)
Albums (ranked):
Vespertine
― etc, Monday, 14 May 2018 08:09 (five years ago) link
Yeah I do quite like the album (particularly that stretch in the middle) but Wanderlust is the only one of the singles I can really get behind. Dull Flame of Desire is a slog, Innocence is OK but just feels like an inferior retread of Alarm Call.
― Gavin, Leeds, Monday, 14 May 2018 09:52 (five years ago) link
My normie ballot, except for my questionable volta stanning --
4 / Bachelorette1 / Hyperballad20 / Big Time Sensuality9 / All is Full of Love2 / Joga8 / Hunter18 / It's Not Up to You3 / Pagan Poetry12 / Who Is It46 / Where Is the LineEarth Intruders54 / Lionsong7 / Venus as a BoyPleasure is All MineThe Dull Flame of Desire48 / It's Oh So Quiet5 / Unravel30 / Enjoy49 / Violently Happy10 / Hidden PlaceMoon50 / I've Seen it All15 / CocoonStígðu MigDeclare Independence44 / Wanderlust22 / All Neon Like26 / Pluto13 / Undo25 / Aurora
― challops trap house (Will M.), Monday, 14 May 2018 13:17 (five years ago) link
also thanks for running this eric h! not often i feel knowledgeable enough to jump in on an ILM poll but this was one of them :) and the pictures were BEAUTIFUL!
― challops trap house (Will M.), Monday, 14 May 2018 13:18 (five years ago) link
tbh I don't think the top 5 remixes we collectively chose were actually the top 5 remixes; they were just the small handful of remixes that people had heard. IF we all did a deep dive and actually assessed her massive collection of remixes we'd I think certainly have more Mark Bell/LFO stuff.
― the masseduction of lauryn hill (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 14 May 2018 15:28 (five years ago) link
yeah i only managed to get through the debut/post/homogenic remixes before voting
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Monday, 14 May 2018 15:30 (five years ago) link
i love the black dog remix of "come to me" but it's like... the most unsettling version of that song and i think rating it significantly over "anything else on The Best Remixes for People" is a curious choice to say the least
then again i love cheap euphoria
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Monday, 14 May 2018 15:32 (five years ago) link
just kinda shortchanges what the other remixes are going for i think
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Monday, 14 May 2018 15:34 (five years ago) link
That Mark Bell "Bachelorette" remix is sheen.
― nourish nourish your turtleheart (Eric H.), Monday, 14 May 2018 15:36 (five years ago) link
ok so maybe i was a bit too dismissive of the rest of The Best Mixes (and didn't realize Ned wrote the allmusic review for it, just saw it)
but the Black Dog "Come To Me" is the one i immediately turn up when it comes on. if the original is being enveloped in this warm, glowing (yet almost suffocating) blanket of safety then the black dog version is the other end of it, the person to whom the song is addressed, completely surrendered, in a trance of not worrying. which could be seen as unsettling - but that's what the Sabres version is to me, it's the person realizing the suffocating aspect of it.
as for Human Behaviour it's nice but just feels a bit too "Underworld remixes Bjork" by numbers. i'd actually prefer if Sabres remixed it instead! just think of what Weatherall could do with it.
i really wish she had a follow up to The Best Mixes / Telegram, or a singles box set..
― scanner darkly, Monday, 14 May 2018 20:09 (five years ago) link
I like the Speedy J remix of Human Behaviour more than the Underworld one. Reminds me of The Shamen, oddly enough.
― Siegbran, Monday, 14 May 2018 21:51 (five years ago) link
My ballot; Isobel and Hunter might have placed too high, but Hyperballad was an easy pick for #1.
1. Hyperballad2. Possibly Maybe3. Isobel4. Hunter5. Enjoy6. Venus as a Boy7. History of Touches8. All Neon Like9. Army of Me10. Pluto11. New World12. 5 Years13. It's Oh So Quiet14. Like Someone in Love15. Unravel16. Immature17. Human Behavior18. Bachelorette19. Aurora20. The Gate21. Joga22. Black Lake23. Arisen My Senses24. In the Musicals25. The Modern Things26. Come to Me27. Big Time Sensuality28. Stonemilker29. Violently Happy30. Alarm Call
Albums
HomogenicPostVulnicuraUtopiaDebut
― octobeard, Tuesday, 15 May 2018 07:45 (five years ago) link
i thought i'd never want to hear her voice ever again but i listened to Black Lake because of this poll and I liked it. i still don't want to hear her singing ever again though.
― Heavy Messages (jed_), Saturday, 2 June 2018 00:48 (five years ago) link
AHAHAHAHHAHAHAH omg you guys Mark Bell made a fucking Miami Bass remix of "Bachelorette" I am SCREAMING!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtYVgansNlA
― the masseduction of lauryn hill (Stevie D(eux)), Wednesday, 6 June 2018 01:10 (five years ago) link
@BradNelson
have been listening to the Spotify, great job as always ILM.
― Bee OK, Friday, 15 June 2018 00:58 (five years ago) link
my ballot
Tracks:
Come To MePlay DeadEnjoyHyper-balladPossibly MaybeIsobelImmatureMy Snare/Nature is AncientPagan PoetryUndoPleasure is all mineSo BrokenSod OffStonemilkerTabula RasaTriumph of the heartWhere is the lineUnisonvenus as a boywanderlustwho is itit's in our handsyou've been flirting againjogaunravelbachelorette5 yearshidden placescaryone day
Albums:
#1 Homogenic#2 Vespertine#3 Selmasongs#4 Telegram#5 Utopia
remixes
#1 pagan poetry herbert mix#2 plaid all is full of love#3 soft pink truth it's in our hands
music videos
#1 joga#2 bachelorette#3 isobel#4 human behaviour#5 i miss you
― sunburst N snowblind (Ross), Friday, 15 June 2018 04:05 (five years ago) link
hey, i voted Come to Me #1 too! *high five*
such a lovely song
― obviously DLC (Karl Malone), Friday, 15 June 2018 04:17 (five years ago) link
Debut turns 25 today.
― ˈʌglɪɪst preɪ, Thursday, 5 July 2018 17:50 (five years ago) link
listening to "come to me" with the most respect
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 5 July 2018 17:54 (five years ago) link
Been listening again to this ranking and I love this poll’s results.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, 26 May 2022 06:45 (one year ago) link
Aww, me too.
― Eggs Benedick (Eric H.), Thursday, 26 May 2022 18:21 (one year ago) link
Funny, I was listening to this as well yesterday.
― LeRooLeRoo, Friday, 27 May 2022 02:54 (one year ago) link
I found myself here just the other day because I had "Scary" swimming around inside my head and wondered whether it got an appropriate amount of love here. (It was on a few ballots, at least!)
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Friday, 27 May 2022 10:57 (one year ago) link
TTL has all the old Bjork vinyls in stock, FYI
https://www.turntablelab.com/search?sort=best-selling&type=article%2Cpage%2Cproduct&q=bjork&_=pf&pf_v_artist_manufacturer=Bjork&pf_v_artist_manufacturer=The%20Sugarcubes&pf_st_stock_status=true&goal=0_8b218d7604-bbb69b2476-31345977&mc_cid=bbb69b2476&mc_eid=365684acc9
― Indexed, Friday, 8 December 2023 22:57 (three months ago) link