Björk - Utopia (Album Review)

[@sensunory]

People really tend to forget that vespertine was created to mimic a small space, the home, the domestic. A lot of reviews compare or take it as an example while utopia as a concept is much more of a sister to Homogenic or Medulla. Nature, Primal, Pagan. Great review tho! really enjoyed

[@Saint_Salem]

Yesss this album was completely worth the wait. Definitely in my top 3 Björk albums.

[@xavilefevre4710]

Arisen my senses has become of of my favorite songs ever since the album released. So stunning, I just love the explosions of color in it. It's such s a visual song

I accidentally bumped into your Björk reviews and I really love them, they match my views to a great extend. Keep them up.

[@xavilefevre4710]

This is honestly one of my favorite björk albums (my favorite being Vulnicura). It may be due to the fact that I became a fan right around when this was released so I was introduced to all of this material first but I just find it stunningly beautiful. At first I had a hard time taking in the whole record but I've fallen in love with it since. I appreciate the experimental work arca did on the record and I love the aesthetic of it.

[@moty6369]

I didnt like this album at first, but now i love most of it. And Arisen my senses kicks ass. My other favourite songs are saint, loss, the gate and tabula rasa. In my opinion saint would make a great song for some movie end titles.

[@nik8099]

Body Memory is lowkey better than Black Lake :D

[@matthewcarrillo5402]

Hi Arthur. I love your reviews of Bjork's albums. I have an idea for a video. I would like to see one listing your favorite song from each of her albums. Here are my favorites. Debut- Come To Me Post- Possibly Maybe Homogenic- All Neon Like Vespertine- Unison Medulla- Desired Constellation Volta- Vertebrae by Vertebrae Biophillia-Moon Vulnicura- Atom Dance Utopia- Body Memory I'd also like to hear others choices.

[@ArthurDeaville]

That's a good idea! I do plan on making a Top 20 Favorite Bjork songs video once I go through all her albums. Here's my list tho! Debut - Like Someone In Love Post - Isobel Homogenic - All Is Full of Love Vespertine - Hidden Place Medulla - Submarine Volta - I See Who You Are Biophilia - Solstice Vulnicura - Family Utopia - Losss

[@matthewcarrillo5402]

That's a very good list. A 20 song favorites list would be great. Sounds tough to pick only 20 favorites though.😀

[@mikeofcetacea]

I think a lot of people got their hopes up about Utopia being Vespertine 2.0. But I think there are important distinctions to make between the two conceptually that may help people understand each album better. Vespertine: Heaven. Perfection, better than paradise. Small, tiny beats. Domestic bliss. Nocturnal softness. Introversion and sexual intimacy. Utopia: Paradise. It's no heaven and it's imperfect. Big, fluffy beats. Natural bliss. Misty daylight. Extroversion and sexual hunger. So, related, but very different.

[@mikeofcetacea]

If Vespertine happens in a heavenly home, clad in white, Utopia happens in a colorful, humid, alien rainforest.

[@missmayaaaaa]

Thank you so much for uploading your reviews! I look forward to seeing your new ones. This one in particular helped me put my finger on what I thought was missing from this Björk album. I realize now that it wasn't the barrage of beats and sounds interrupting the flow. It was actually that the songs themselves lacked a melodic flow. I think the album is starting to grow on me and you're right in saying that it's hard to know what to expect from Björk. Overall, great review and I will definitely be subscribed for more. :)

[@nik8099]

In interviews she called it like drawing graffiti in the sky and warned that it wasn't very pop-ish.

[@mathewbarnes1355]

Went to see Bjork last night, here's her setlist in case anybody was interested: Arisen My Senses The Gate Utopia Blissing Me Isobel Courtship Tabula Rasa Saint Human Behaviour Pleasure Is All Mine Losss Sue Me Notget ENCORE: Features Creatures It's Oh So Quiet (no not really! :D she actually just introduced the band and walked off stage, it was very anti-climatic. The concert was great but could have ended in a much better way.)

[@ArthurDeaville]

Thanks for sharing! Interesting she chose to start with the "lighter" songs and end with Sue Me and Notget.

[@helenk33]

You gave a great review of Utopia and I agree with all you say. It's taken about 9 listens to really get this to sink in. Stand out tracks for me are Body Memory-i think this speaks on so many levels.bjork reaching a certain age 'first snow of winter' also the new slightly harder less trusting, less patient self due to carrying her heartbreak. I also love Sue me, Tabula Rasa, Saint and Future Forever. Being a big Bjork fan since 93 I've accepted her music is becoming more Inaccessible but this album is much easier to fall in love with than medulla or Volta. I agree 4/5 stars, a incredible piece of musical art.

[@thbltmusic]

Arisen My Senses exists

[@brucecolemancfo5087]

My fave song is, 'Features Creatures'. Very haunting and witty. A beautiful love song. The more I listen, the more I love her music.

[@TheDreamingJune]

You nailed it with this review. I'll admit I was slightly taken aback by the sound of Arisen My Senses then i slowly adjusted to it. I agree with you on the best songs of the album. Body Memory might still be my favorite because of the enigmatic lyricism & its peculiar soundscape. Hopefully the other songs will grow on me. I do think she and Rabit should work together again in the future. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this album. Cheers.

[@ArthurDeaville]

June Asiimwe Thank you! Yes I agree Rabit was a great touch

[@erikvega1011]

Your review is spot on. My only disappointment is that arcas influence on this album is a bit too strong rather than an equal collaboration. Björk is a one of a kind true artist Though..... love her!

[@mouthmantra]

Thank you for this track by track review Arthur! ; o I found myself agreeing with so many of your analysis. Loss was also an immediate favorite of mine as well... How did you feel about the length of the album? (I know many people who have shortened and re-arranged the track-listing). And also...have your opinions changed of some songs since this review? Cheers!

[@ArthurDeaville]

I do feel the album runs on the lengthy side. Omitting Body Memory really does help in some cases make it more listenable (I'm still on the fence about that song....I feel like a condensed version of the highlight parts would be great. Claimstaker also feels a bit like a filler track I could do without. One thing that has changed is i'm becoming more in love with the FLUTE arrangements and don't see them as chaotic as upon initial listening. They're quite beautiful and now I really love the title track.

[@DerHirsch77]

the background in 'creatures features' is actually from a wind instrument and it's lifted from a track by sarah hopkins. You can watch her play the instrument in this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/npXRZndjfrCdgZY thank you for the review, i really enjoyed watching it. it's always interesting to hear what other people think of an album you're falling in love with.

[@nik8099]

Heh, kinda early to review this album. This is her least popish record and so probably needs more digestion for a lot of people. But for me personally, I really love it!

[@enriques04]

Stopped expecting melodies from her.I just accepted that her music is different and embrace Arcas penetration. :)

[@christoph_ryuge_frahm]

love björk for more than 20 years now and still do! one of my favourites: mount wittenberg orca

[@christoph_ryuge_frahm]

on and ever onward

[@veganandatheist]

Wow it felt like a 10 min video, just like utopia felt like a 30-50 min album.

[@AB-gz5tu]

great review as always!

[@gatheringleaves]

Would you say this album is on-par or as beautiful as Vespertine?

[@ArthurDeaville]

I do feel that Vespertine has something extra that lifts it above Utopia still and makes it more beautiful, mainly because Vespertine embraces melody so richly, they aren't as similar as I imagined they would be before hearing it. They both still rank high on my list of her best works.

[@herbnymph8937]

Tbh I like some of the songs but I was expecting a lot more, I was hoping that I sounded like Vespertine meets the legend of zelda. it need melodies and choruses because a lot of the songs just seem to drag on and don't go anywhere. I hope she doesn't work as much with Arca on her next record. Btw can you please Review Art Angels by grimes?

[@ArthurDeaville]

I agree too. I was worried that Arca was what I really didn't like about Vulnicura and this album has kinda solidified my view that although I appreciate his volcanic experimentation it doesn't do it for me a lot of the time. Body Memory really starts to drag for sure. Also I will review Art Angels very soon! I LOVE Grimes!!

[@herbnymph8937]

Yes on what you said about arca, I liked his production on vulnicura because it was done at the very end of the album production but this time it's very arca because he worked on it from the very beginning, ugh I wish mark bell would rise from the dead haha. And yay i'm glad you're reviewing art angels! it's a great experimental pop album with great melodies! Bjork should work with her and give us a bit of school old Bjork that we've been missing.

[@ArthurDeaville]

herb Nymph oh yes Bjork and Mark Bell were a dream team for sure! And also a Grimes-Bjork collab would probably be too godly for this universe. Imagine how freaking epic it could be.

[@slave4glue]

There’s some real gems on this album that I think will really grow on me over time and that I will fall in love with (it always takes my ears a few weeks to adjust and appreciate what new things bjork is offering). I was a little disappointed by some of the lyrical content though, all the swearing and the kind of basic, direct, unambiguous language came across as a little immature and underdeveloped. I’m used to a lot more subtlety and intricateness from her lyrically. At some points she came across as just plain bitter and man hating which I thought was kind of sad. Also some of the songs are so filled with sour notes and an out of tune cacophony it became quite hard to listen to and made quite a few songs sound very similar and a bit of a dirge. Overall though I enjoyed it and I think many of the songs on this album will be even better live.

[@nik8099]

I think this album is Bjork guiding us to 'Utopia', and there are some dark spots which reflect some of the lyrics. She doesn't really come off as underdeveloped and man hating though, I think this might be misinterpreted. She said that this album reflects the past and the current political time, so a lot of the lyrics you can say are intentional and direct. Will definitely need more listens and analysis.

[@slave4glue]

Nader Abed I don’t know, there’s quite a lot of “the sins of the fathers / men have fucked everything up” type content in the lyrics. Just seems kind of immature and I’m not seeing much personal responsibility for the breakdown of her relationship, all the blame is placed on the man. I don’t know many relationship breakdowns that are entirely the fault of one party. To me anyway she comes off sounding like a angsty teenager not a mature, emotionally fluent woman in her 50’s. A bad breakup can make you bitter and irrational though, I just expected a little more for an artist of her quality that’s all.

[@ArthurDeaville]

I can see where you're coming from...After Vulnicura I was hesitant to completely bash Matthew Barney like many Bjork fans were doing. We don't know all the details of why the relationship fell apart. The directness of the lyrics however I find just reflecting the sort of urgency of the current climate. The need to do away with the "baggage" now rather than later. I agree it is disconcerting to hear her swear so much. She's been through a lot so I kinda just take it as Bjork being fully unapologetic and more heavy metal. There is still that softness in half of the lyrics though like in Saint and Blissing Me.

[@salemengels4665]

Great review!,This album make's me feel so happy!!... I love it

[@ArthurDeaville]

:)

[@charliez077]

nice review man! I totally agree with Losss being a huge standout.

[@veganandatheist]

I agreed on everything, oh dear!♡

[@allenrpn]

Best songs to me .... Saint and Body Memory . When I listen more times ... I will tell you what I think 🤔 of the whole album.

[@olivierrabet5822]

you should review "the dreaming" by kate bush!

[@ArmandoGutierrezR]

The music and all the sound effects are amazing!!!! However, I think she's stuck with this similar melodies since biophila. Also, I think she needs a new producer. I can hear more of Arca on the music than actually Bjork.

[@ArthurDeaville]

Armando Guiterrez Yeah I agree. This is 50% if not more Arca’s project. I’m really curious if they’ll continue working together...I’d like to see her branch out more again next time around even if he still is involved in a song or two.

[@adrianadepaula9530]

masterpiece.

[@abrany_6675]

This album is awesome, probably the best since vespertine, because those first 4 albums are flawless

[@mschirmersf]

My favorite Lp is Vespertine too. Arisen my Senses seemed promising but the rest of the album bored me to tears. I miss her solid structured melodic masterpieces. The lazy vocals kill me. The monotonous cadence is excruciating and when we have the history of her past work it’s frustrating. It’s like being in a dream where you are trying to find something or get somewhere but you never get there and then you wake up. I love her. I will continue to see her live but this album didn’t live up to her hype(to me).

[@ArthurDeaville]

For me Body Memory is what you described. It just doesn't go anywhere which is a shame. Also Claimstaker and Courtship. They're the most underwhelming for me.

[@nik8099]

Body Memory is really freaking epic. Needs more listens to appreciate it.

[@nik8099]

Michael Schirmer I think some reactions to this remind me of reactions to 'Medulla' when it came out. I feel like this album is gonna be seen in much higher regards in the future. As I said for a lot of people this needs multiple listens and a right mood to get it.

[@juayitl]

I'm a huge fan of hers! I mean I don't buy everything but I've listened closely, almost obsessively, to everything she's put out. I've been to the 4 concerts she's done in Mexico (each new one grander than the last) and I've come to a point where I can't trust myself being objective with her output :V I'm not a musician and can't really understand how a melody works or is constructed (I think it's the basic musical structure that sticks in your memory right? Well I can surely identify when a Björk song sticks faster than others in me and in the case of Utopia I agree, most take their time to stick) HOWEVER my fascination with this album came a lot faster than the others, Why? 'Cause I needed it, I needed an escape from emotionally bounding stuff I'm dealing with but instead of throwing me into a complete made up fantasy where I'd be just escaping this stuff she's put me aside the problems in order for me to imagine spaces where I could recount the failings, forgive and open myself up again to act up, keep moving... kicking that body memory in... It's a really cathartic experience, more than Vulnicura in that sense.

[@kkoun]

I love your reviews. I disagree with the melody part. I think a Bjork had always been melodious, if not with instruments then with her voice alone as she said in one of her interviews that instruments can do so much but in the end you have to add soul to it. I believe Bjork has some melodies unheard of. Like one day, mother heroic, atom song, pagan poetry to name few. In utopia, Saint is very melodic song. My fav. are Sue me and Saint, future, blissing, arisen my senses and the gate.

[@ArthurDeaville]

I agree her melodies are unconventional but still strong melodies through and through. Saint and Loss have the strongest melodies for me on here along with Blissing Me.

[@FernandoRPaese]

Saint

[@rcomas9322]

Lets call a spade a spade! This album is lackluster. Sure its cute and has some beautiful arrangements, but to me it felt like hearing an Arca album featuring Bjork in an aviary. I understand that its just a progression of work in terms of where she is in her life, but I wish she went back to the bravado and ethereal sublime that her pinnacle albums (in my opinion Homogenic and Vespertine) had. Basically I would buy the one or two stand out songs to me and forget about the rest of the album. Over hyped in my opinion.

[@coolhive2941]

I abhor this album and I’ve been a Bjork fan since The Sugarcubes. Can’t stand it. In fact, her recent output is impenetrable to me. I hope she finds her way back to actual melodies and semi-coherent song structures. And enough with the flutes and birds. Geez. Such a shame. The last Bjork track to slay me was Earth Intruders. And even that was one of maybe 3 good songs on that album. If that. I even find this album artwork repulsive. I want Bjork back!

[@charlieinslidell]

"Björk, sounds like jerk." --Björk

[@veganandatheist]

Losss Gets me deep.