vespertine

now playing -- "tourist" by athlete, "lilith" by plaid (feat. bjork)

i used to be a big bjork hater. i remember the first time i saw the video for "army of me" i wanted to throw the tv off the balcony. her unusual voice and seemingly constipated delivery was too much for my virgin ears. that was back in high school, where i was undergoing my hip-hop phase, so i pretty much disregarded anything that didn't have rapping or harmonious singing.

the first time i ever gave bjork a chance was about four years ago, when my friend had asked me for a copy of one of her albums, homogenic. i had also heard that missy elliot and timbaland had given this album mad props, so I decided to feed my curiousity and listened to it. it wasn't love at first listen, let me tell ya. far from it. but surpisingly, her voice wasn't as annoying as it had been back in high school, her delivery passionate, no longer constipated.

over time, i started searching and downloading her other albums. my admiration for bjork continued to grow. then came vespertine. this album was an absolute killer, brilliant in every musical sense: sweeping, intelligent, progressive. of course, it took a couple of listens, but I soon found myself immersed in the enchanting music and poetic lyricism. vespertine truly is one of the most emotionally satisfying albums I have ever heard.

i guess i hated her so much before because i didn't really understand her. Funny how perceptions change over time.