2x 200-gram LPs
Half Speed Direct Metal Mastering (45rpm)
Audio Quality: 5 / 5
Song Quality: 4.25 / 5
Packaging: 2 / 5
So, when I went into my local record store one day and saw that they had just received brand new copies of almost every Björk album, reissued by One Little Indian using glorious DMM, I nearly died. Then, I looked at the price tag, and I actually did die. These records retail for a staggering $45 each. I'm a pretty tremendous Björk fan, but that's also a pretty tough price tag to swallow. Prior to these re-issues, I only owned a copy of Homogenic (my favorite Bjork record) that I found by chance at the Union Square Virgin Megastore. So I bit the bullet and picked this one up. I also had a 10% off coupon that let me justify it further. Let the reader note that I would have actually picked up Vespertine or Post before this record, but alas, those were the only two that the store did not have in stock. Debut it was.
The best way for me to summarize how I feel about this album (and the whole series of DMM re-issues) is that, after spending an hour in the store debating whether or not to buy, after I got home and listened, I went online and immediately bought Vespertine, Post, Selmasongs, and Medulla. I also just sold my copy of Homogenic so I could justify buying this re-issue. Yeah. It's that good.
The sound is absolutely tremendous. Some of the biggest sound I've ever heard come off a record. During particularly rambunctious songs like Big Time Sensuality and Crying, the entire audio spectrum explodes out of the speakers. This is a true audiophile experience, with crystal clear high-end articulation and phenomenal stereo imaging. It simply needs to be heard to be believed. Björk produces some of the best drum sounds you can find, and this record presents them better than ever... they are the highlight of the record as far as I'm concerned. Really, there's just not enough I can say about how great this record sounds. Even through a crappy set of speakers, it really is worth the price tag.
While I couldn't imagine anyone familiar with Björk's full catalog would say this was her best work, this album has plenty of terrific tracks, most notably the singles Human Behaviour and Big Time Sensuality. Comapred to the tremendous artistic achievements that followed this Debut, some of the tracks on this record feel almost trite in comparison. But, like any great artist, there is something truly rewarding in seeing how they have evolved over time. Though, perhaps then you should be picking up the DMM re-issues of The Sugarcubes' albums. I have yet to make that plunge.
The packaging for this record is the only thing lacking. One Little Indian mentions on the front sticker that only the original artwork is used. This means that the two records are held in separate generic white sleeves, within a slipcase of the original album front and back artwork. That's it. I understand using the original artwork to make it authentic and true to the original vision of the artist, but for the price tag on this album, the packaging really felt thrown together. Please note that this packaging issue is not applicable to all of the Björk re-issues.
For die-hard Björk fans and audio purists, all the records in this series are worth a serious listen. If you're a more casual fan, they are selling a DMM re-issue of her Greatest Hits that might ease the financial sting. I'll continue to review all of these records in the coming weeks with more specifics, but for now, just know that they rule.
Buy the vinyl from One Little Indian
Buy the vinyl from elusivedisc.com
Tomorrow: The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (Capitol Re-Issue)
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