Björk: Volumen

As I watched MTV the past months I've noticed that you can classify 90% of the videos into 3 categories: Dance coreographies, "funny" videos (the silly funny type) and your typical slow motion, dark background with the band singing and....well...you know what I mean. In fact, sometimes it seems as the only really creative videos that have been released in the past few years have been the clips for Radiohead's Kid A and the "test specimen" and those aren't even videos!!!

Fortunately there are still very few bands and singers that know that the creative factor in the video is just as important as that of the song. And such is the case of Björk. Anyone that has ever heard her music knows that it's unique and unlike anything in the market and only unique videos would suit such music. Volumen collects 14 videos from her first 3 albums and every video is unique and wonderful. It kicks off with the well known video of "Human behaviour" and also includes other great videos like "It's oh so quiet" and it's great change of speed accompanied by musical-type scenes, or perhaps videos such as "I miss you" which is directed by the same guy that made Ren & Stimpy with R&S type cartoons. Not to mention the beautiful video "Joga" which isn't as long as the original song but is nevertheless outstanding. And that's just to name a few videos of this great collection. It's a shame though that it doesn't include the video of "All is full of love" from Homogenic which I regard as one of the best ever made, but Volumen is still worth buying......particularly if you're a Björk fan.

Highly-stylized music videos from Icelandic pixie Björk, several of which have become staples of 1990s alternative rock. Covering musical ground from Björk's three inscrutable albums ("Debut", "Post", and "Homogenic"), the singer is enabled by her talented directors in expanding a sometimes off-putting penchant for twisted, troubling aural landscapes; her internal visions are given wings by these filmmakers, but that doesn't mean Björk takes flight like an angel. Mountains open up, big white moths escape, a cacophony of musical panic ensues. Certainly "Bachelorette", with it's nifty visual hook, is the highlight here--and director Michel Gondry shows an uncanny grasp of irony (and dark humor) through repetitive image. Occasionally, the music and the video-concept do not match up (as on Stephane Sednaoui's Day-Glo colored "Possibly Maybe"), although the mercurial songstress appears to be game for whatever is thrown her way. Her face takes the camera like an eerie sprite, and yet there's a sinister undercurrent to both her music and her appearances. I sense a wizened old lady behind those eyes...and a hanging judge in her smile.

Musical genius and innovator Bjork has always been at the fore-front of the music video art form, and Volumen is an excellent showcase of her groundbreaking videos. Bjork always chooses the most interesting people to work with, and her videos are no different. The most notable in this collection being Spike Jonze who directed her most famous video, "It's Oh So Quiet," which was reportedly the inspiration for Bjork's feature film "Dancer in the Dark". Spike Jonze is probably the best music video director of all time and "It's Oh So Quiet" ranks with his best. But every other video in "Volumen" is also fantastic. From the black and white kookines of "Big Time Sensuality" to the lush computer generated landscapes of "Joga" to the eerie "Hunter" where Bjork morphs into a bear...the inventiveness of Bjork's videos never stops. Any Bjork fan, even fans of film, should own this collection!

WOW this is a really cool video. Its like Björk went to ren and stimpys for the weekend to hang out and rip the arms and legs off a guy, and take a bath and stuff. Definetley, 3 of the best minutes you will spend for a good long while. basically, any Björk video is great, and anything John Kricfalusi does is great. its like gummy coke, you can't make a better combination!

I wanna start by saying that I love Björk as an artist. She is incredible, and this collection of music videos just proves me right. It's a fantastic ride, with lots of frighteningly beautiful pictures. The short tales that are told through these videos are as good as any movie I'd go to the movies to watch. I can't say anything else but get a hold of the DVD and watch over and over again.