Post

Bjork

Elektra Records, 1995

http://bjork.com

REVIEW BY: Sean McCarthy

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 05/07/1997

The invention of the CD has killed the concept of the album. Not to state the obvious, but its true. Without the side oneand side two, releases have become a great series of songs. Very few releases since CDs have boomed have that "album" feel to it. An album feel as in you feel like you're almost obligated to listen to it, from track one til' the end.

One release in 1995 has that certain "album" feel to it. So, gather up, get mildly sedated and for God's sake, don't hit the skip or track select button for Bjork's intense, arresting album, Post.

Bjork doesn't waste time grabbing your attention. The steam venting, claustrophobic track "Army Of Me" grabs you in as Bjork's airy, but still gripping voice sings, "And if you complain once more/you'll meet an army of me'".my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

Bjork's voice, one of the most underrated voices in rock today, is all over the map on Post. Hearing the soothing "Possibly Maybe," it's hard to imagine this was the same little pixie that was screamin' "YOW!" on "It's Oh So Quiet." Her voice is matched by some killer production. The loops on "Army Of Me" and "Hyper Ballad" rival that of Public Enemy and blow away most of the weak G-funk style samples of many gangsta rappers.

With so much going on, it's amazing the album is so unified. Put on some headphones, kick back and travel into another universe with Bjork. The album is set up almost like a movie. Each song builds up to the very intense "Enjoy," which was co-produced by genre-smasher Tricky. The relatively simple low note beat is looped throughout the entire song as Bjork howls, "I'm only in to this to...Enjoy". Almost as good is "Isobel," which manages to mold both hip-hop and classical orchestra into a visual trip of a song.

After "Isobel" the album takes a dramatic slow down. With the exception of the intense club mix like "I Miss You" the last two songs are sort of like songs you listen to to mellow out after a really great party.

You can listen to this album from front to back the first couple of times. Some songs tire of repeated listens, such as "It's Oh So Quiet." After being amazed by the video and the big band production, after 10 or 12 listens, you may want to skip to the next song "Enjoy."

Still, it's great to see an artist who's not afraid to not only stand on the edge of a cliff, but fling herself off. Some people have favorite places to listen to albums. Some albums sound better in cars, some sound better on CDs, some in cassettes. With Post, it's a definite headphones listen. If you happen to find the b-sides version of this album, Telegram, don't bother picking it up. Post was an album that deserved no b-sides to it. A simple listen, from front to end, was good enough.

Rating: A-

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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© 1997 Sean McCarthy and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Elektra Records, and is used for informational purposes only.