( il gato ) bjork

So, "musical artist" is a name that gets thrown out far too frequently, I believe. Rarely does a musician approach an album as my idealized view of an artist would...no holds barred creation. There are a plenty of music crafters, but there are few artists out there now: Radiohead, Wilco, David Byrne, Beck (for experimenting), Ry Cooder, but then the list runs thin. The only person who I feel could interchangeably be referred to as an "artist" would be Bjork. She who continuously transcends any image of what development could be. From creating works of art as videos which help launch the directors (Michel Gondry "Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind", Spike Jonze "Being John Malkovich", etc), to performing as an actress for one of the better directors of our time (Lars von Trier), to continuously throwing out notions of what an album could be.

I just recently had an opportunity to listen to her new "Medullah" album, and am blown away by her accomplishment. For any of those who have seen "Dogville" by Lars von Trier, he and his dogme approach have accomplished more suspense and movement on a black set with chalk outlines then most $100 million blockbusters could dream of, all never leaving the confines of the most simple ingredients -- the Chez Panisse of movies if you will. Bjork has accomplished the same with primarily just the use of the human voice. It becomes difficult after awhile to figure out whether there is any electronics/technology incorporated in the album at all. She creates more vibrancy than people who immerse every trick of the production trade. And being a musician myself, and listening to rip-off after rip-off of un-originality in fancy clothing, I don't only respect the Icelandic angel, I bow down.