The Powerful Performances of Björk's "Post" Era (Link Dump 13.06.21)
It's become a habit, a way to start the day
VANCOUVER – On this day in 1995, the impish sprite known as Björk emerged from the lush and mystic Nauthusagil Ravine in southwest Iceland to bestow a gift upon the world. Eleven songs spanning an array of genres, from big band jazz to trip-hop, industrial to ambient. Being four-years-old at the time of its release, I never had a chance to appreciate Post in its heyday. In fact, the album was never on my radar, until I randomly fell down a rabbit hole of Björk’s live performances from this era last year.
While the songs sound great on Spotify or Apple Music, they are somehow even better live to tape. Maybe it’s seeing Björk’s volcanic vocals in action, or watching her sway to the ethereal groove of percussionist Naná Vasconcelos (RIP) and producer Leila Arab. Or maybe it’s simply another case of misplaced nostalgia, longing for something you just barely missed. In any case, the result is mesmerizing. A reminder that truly great albums are those that translate before a live audience.
Links
Björk: Post Album Review (Pitchfork)
Lorde Is Returning To A Pop Mainstream Made In Her Own Image. Where’s She Been In The Meantime? (Stereogum)
(Four years after the highly acclaimed Melodrama, Lorde is back with a so-so single that pulls heavily from George Michael.. and St. Vincent?)
The Curious Rise of Twitter Power Broker Yashar Ali (LA Mag)
MuchMusic Is Coming Back (Exclaim!)
(This would be cause for celebration… if it wasn’t creator content driven and TikTok centric WTF)
You’re Wrong About: Cancel Culture (Podcast)
(For the past few weeks, hosts Michael and Sara have been doing a deep dive into the origins of cancel culture, starting with political correctness. The third and final episode in the series released this week. Not as good as the one about The Chicks, but still offers plenty of interesting analysis)
Books
In Progress
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King
Finished
Intelligence for Dummies: Essays and Other Collected Writings by Glenn O’Brien
(Great book; Glenn had a style unlike no other. Approachable but unapologetically intelligent)
Comments, criticisms, collaborations? Email me at ethan@humanpursuits.org, or follow me on Twitter and Instagram.