Minimalism is my abyss!

[raybear]

In preparing to make myself some food, I also decided to rinse out the sticky breakfast bowl. I put the bowl under the faucet and it sounded like a shot was fired. In reality, it was the water pressure acting bizarre -- spurting out a hard and fast blast that forced the bowl out of my hand and into the sink, breaking it in two. Saying it was the most upsetting experience of my life is obvious hyperbole, but acknowledging that I thought that for a second is not. I don't like loud noises especially right in front of my face. I'm sure it didn't help that the water squirted up into my face suddenly as well, adding to the feeling of disorientation. Funny how something so small and inconsequential seems like so much more when there's a burst of adrenaline coursing through the bloodstream.

There goes my nap.

I rode my bike all the way downtown today, to Michigan Avenue and the building that contains the Artist's Cafe. I didn't like it. It was hot and muggy and drivers were crazy and upsetting. But at least I was proud of myself for actually doing it. The distance was a little tough, but it really seemed to be more a problem of setting. Next time I might just head east and ride the entire portion south along the lake. A further ride, true, but much prettier and smoother, I'd hope. Or maybe I'm just not an adrenaline junkie.

For Bjork fans, go pick up the August 23rd issue of the New Yorker for a really great profile of her and the process of her new album. Go! Do it now! I read it this morning, completely enraptured and I don't actually read many articles on her -- interviews usually come off as weird or fomulaic, but this piece was written by someone who understands music as well as artistic and cultural context. I knew it would be a good piece when the second paragraph mentions Bjork went to go see the play "The Master and Margarita" (based on the novel) and how it's one of Bjork's favorite books. Later, the writer even likens Bjork's behavior in a crowd in Brazil to that of Margarita flying high over Moscow, "invisible and free". I think I liked the piece not just for being literary, but also because I walked away feeling smarter about Icelandic culture and music and wanting to listen to Jon Leifs's "Helka" and read the book that won the Nobel Prize in 1955 that made the world aware of Iceland as an entity. I was also particularly fascinated by the writer's thread about what is 'Nordic' and what it means.

I was sort of late on the Bjork train. I didn't become a fan, probably until Homogenic. At first I didn't dig the elfin thing. I thought she was too cutesy, too weird. Not sexy at all. She shrieked too much. I don't know how it happened, probably an accident, finally I got into it. It's always been Bjork's brain that I loved in her music and this article captures her blend of knowledge of classical style and modern techonology and I love that she really really wanted Beyonce on her new album (it didn't happen because of scheduling issues) and Bjork didn't even understand why the interviewer thought that might be weird. It was simple: "this is an album about voices, and she's got the amazing voice". I still think she's weird and cutesy and I don't personally find her sexy, however I'd love to hang out and work with that brain.

But you know, it's like avocado. You like it or you don't and there's rarely any in-between or convincing one side of the other and that's all good cause that's art and music and life. And besides I'm the guy who puts Debussy on the same mix as Neil Diamond, so obviously I just get off on weird and esoteric.

Comments

[sharkysmachine.livejournal.com]

I love when people called Debussy "DE BUSSY". hahah. for some reason it makes me think of "pussy" and then I have to excuse myself to the bathroom ro something.

I was a Bjork fan from the way back, but like so many of my obsession, I don't fit in with other fans. I am not rabid. I have nearly all her CDs. I get my groove on. I think about her once in a while, but I have never understood the "either you love her obssessionally or like want to stab her eyes out" sentiment expressed by a lot of folks. I'm the same way about Tori Amos too.

[valenciamiel.livejournal.com]

oh, god, i have been crazy about bjork ever since i heard the sugarcubes single birthday from the life's tooo good album. really worth checking out. although einar, who was also in the sugarcubes, ruins most of the songs on the albums by these super annoying spoken pieces.

another really fantastic single is from here today tomorrow next week, called water... it's powerful stuff.

check out the words (sorry for this long posting, you just jolted so many good music and romance associated memories for me)...

Björk
Wait for me underneath the water,
Wait for me I have to go now
Into the big city,
She pulls me firmly towards her.

Björk
Wait for me underneath the water,
Wait for me here,
You'll be fine underneath the water,
I'll be back early next summer.

Einar
We met again at the lake,
After all these years,
You said "want a drink?"

Björk
I love you,
And you know I will be back,
Hold your breath,
And nestle into the ice,
Wait for me underneath the water
Wait for me and count to ten,
You'll look up and I will be there
Wait for me.

Einar
The lake was frozen,
You took me for a walk over the ice,
I cracked, The ice cracked, I fell into the lake,
I watched you through the eyes.

Björk
Love into you, lover, i want you,
Wait for me underneath the water,
Wait for me and singalong,
"She's coming, coming, coming",
Wait for me, I'm coming.

Einar
I watched you through the ice
I expected you to crawl for help
I smiled, you just stood there
I tried to kiss you through the ice,
You just walked away

Björk
Under frozen, over water, under, over
Frozen mountain...
Wait for me underneath the water

[cocolola.livejournal.com]

i'm in the "no thanks" camp on bjork's music, even though i think she is super cute and interesting. i appreciate her personal aesthetics, i guess, but her musical ones. her music gives me a HUGE headache, but the wierd thing is that i loved the sugarcubes in highschool and don't mind listening to her in that capacity.

[dommeyourass.livejournal.com]

me too!! i loved the sugarcubes too, so her solo stuff just sounded screechy

[queermarcus.livejournal.com]

I love Post, her second album, the one before Homogenic. In fact, it's the only CD of hers that I own. I'm not the biggest fan but I'm very impressed with her videos. I don't watch MTV-like channels anymore but I remember her Army of me video among others and it was just fantastic! I think she understands the idea that you should use each medium to its full potential... and as far as videoclips go, you can do so much more than just film yourself playing whatever instrument and singing... I admire her brain and what she can do with it. :)

[mintwaster.livejournal.com]

I loved the Sugarcubes and I don't mind Bjork. There's just a "no Bjork" rule where I live. There's also a "no meat" rule. So it's virtually impossible to eat a bucket of fried chicken while listening to Bjork.

My friend Irma got to interview Bjork in Bangkok after she went apeshit on the reporter (who, to be honest, was one of the most annoying people EVER), so I tagged along. I wasn't even really a huge fan or anything, but when she walked into the room...wow. The woman has presence.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

As much as I love her, I'm STILL laughing at your comment from the other week about the opening ceremonies about Bjork singing a Bjork song and how the future scares you.

Her new album comes out Tuesday. I will find a way to buy it, even in my broke finanical state. Then you can come over and listen and we'll play Jesus games on the PS2 and eat fried chicken.

[mintwaster.livejournal.com]

We have to do that! We have to do it before D leaves for New Orleans.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I loved that isht when Bjork went crazy on the reporter. My favorite part is how she started beating on her, then her people pulled her off and got her out of the airport and onto the bus, and at one point, Bjork fcking turned around to get off the bus and go beat her some more.

I love watching people lose their isht. Probably because I'm emotionally repressed.

[mintwaster.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is I was working at for a Thai media conglomerate and the radio section was next to the newspaper section and someone yelled out, "Bjork's hit a reporter at the airport" (imagine a sweaty gaunt pasty englishman with sleeve rolled up and a pencil tucked behind his ear...now imagine a camera on a dolly zooming in on him as he hangs up the phone an makes the announcement...that's how I remember it). And right away, four of us said at the same time, "It's gotta be JK!" And it was. I saw the video. She was unrelenting in her pursuit of a soundbite and then she tried to touch Bjork's son and that's when Bjork freaked out.