by Björk
Released September 27, 1997 via One Little Independent / Elektra Records
Reviewed September 22, 2022
Top tracks (based on community voting)
Joga (74%), Hunter (45%), Bachelorette - Family Tree Version (45%)
Homogenic, the third studio album from obscure pop sensation Björk, turns the 25th page of its incandescent existence. Björk’s ingenious blend of electronic soundscapes and heartfelt string sections speaks to the psyche in unnervingly beautiful ways. Ice-cold and calculated percussion finds its serene counterpart in breathing, ebbing bouts of bowing bliss. Place Björk's ever-unique sound and bold style over these described pieces and you have Homogenic, an album which revels in captivating fluidity and finds cavernous space within the relentless world of technological advance. You won’t find an album with a more enticing relationship between classical and modern instrumentation. It's as fascinating as it is effective. Coming to terms with the fact that the blizzard isn't going to end anytime soon is a cathartic one; don't fight it, feel it. Step inside the eye of the storm and realize that it can't harm you. You are the storm. It bends to your will. Take notes, Homogenic is a masterclass at this specific intersection. – Peter (9/10)
In what was somewhat of a trajectory shift for Björk at the time, Homogenic is one of several career-defining records for the Icelandic artist. While Björk’s first two albums—Debut and Post—certainly pushed the boundaries of pop music in their own right, it’s her third album that was the most deliberately experimental. Produced with the intention of creating something that sounded distinctly like her home country of Iceland, Homogenic delivers a sound that is equal parts sleek, beautiful, and lush as it is rough, unpredictable, and cold. At its core, the album centers around the combination of stuttering, trip-hop beats and orchestral string arrangements. As spacey electronic beats form the rhythm of each track, strings come in and add a dimension of contrast that makes for a sentimental atmosphere as spacious as it is dense. Björk’s songwriting similarly lends itself to this sense of longing that permeates Homogenic, with much of the narrative centering around love and relationships lost. There’s sadness lingering throughout, but more importantly, there is passion in every word out of Björk’s mouth. Whether delivered in the form of traditional choir singing, primitive screams, and spoken word, put her heart and soul into every word. You can call it art pop, trip-hop, glitch pop, electronica, or whatever else you think fits; but however you define this genre-defying record, make sure the word “classic” is right beside it. – Dominick (8.8/10)
Hadley: 10/10 | Cam: 9.8/10 | Jared: 9/10 | Peter: 9/10 | Dominick: 8.8/10
