And you thought Medulla was a polarizing record...
I got it. It took a minute, but I got it. I walked into Best Buy all eager and excited to get my hands on the bright red packaging with the Now and Later/Kool-aid man looking shaman plastered on the cover. Unlike the countless other times I have ventured into this Best Buy for a new release, I had no idea where Volta was. This disc literally had me going in circles. I began to freak out. Could this disc indeed be sold out? Did this store only recieve ten copies of Volta because Bjork is no Mims, Jibbs, or Fall Out Boy? NO! This can't be happening. Round and round I went checking every kiosk as customes passed me with copies of Volta positioned safely in their hands. I began to sweat. I started to get dizzy. Had this been Cost Plus World Market, and I was a Sales Associate, I would have approached the wandering, confused looking customer [me] asking if he was finding everything okay today? Yes, that's how confused and lost I looked. Finally I gave up and did something that startles many a casual customer in stores across America: I approached the pretty young lady in the sun dress with a copy of Volta in her hand, startling her with my low and heavy excuse me, asking where she found that copy of Volta.
The B section, she replied.
She even led me to it. How nice. Of course Tauwan. Duh. And the store had tons of copies. Thank god. But I couldn't help but get angry at the fact that this album was not prominently displayed with the other new releases and -GASP-was NOT on sale. Oh word? Whatever. Buying it anyway.
I'm so excited.
I'm an iPod man now, but if you were to catch me pre 2003, I would have ripped open this disc and placed it in my Sony Discman with a quickness enjoying it on my ride home. Nowadays my non-driving ass must remain content with gawking at the CD booklet and packaging until I'm off the bus and within the comfort of my own home.
Home again jiggity jig.
Open. Press play. Smart move putting Earth Intruders first. Got my attention. I'm liking this. But then something strange happens. I have to turn the volume up. I have to pay attention. I think I went into this with too much excitement. At the moment said pre-release excitement is not being met. I'm having more trouble wrapping my head around this than I did when I tried to get my hands on the disc in Best Buy or when I attempted to pull the CD booklet out of its cardboard case. [Seriously please tell me that I am not the only one who had difficulty pulling that booklet out and putting it back in]
I just gotta know what other people are thinking.
I mean this disc has been hotly anticipated in many circles, and I saw at least six people, including myself grabbing copies at the Best Buy, so obviously I am not the only one who was waiting to get their hands on it. But upon first listen it seems many people are as up in the air as I am regarding their feelings for this album. Pitchfork gives the album a 5.8 out of ten, while Idolator rounds up a couple of high profile opinions on the album [including Pitchfork's] under the headline "Did Bjork Mar Volta?" [haha! Get it?] This of course led to a war of words on the message boards, where even I took the time to say a few words on the matter:
"...Look I love Bjork as much as the next man, but many times I found myself looking up to see when a song was coming to an end, only to find that the beat was set to vamp and play out for another two to three minutes. It's not bad, but after getting through it once I only went back to Earth Intruders and Innocence. I also popped in Medulla just for old times sake. Guess I just need more time with this. I am sure I will come around."
And that's where I stand right now. Some albums need more time, and yes, I have played this album a couple times without skipping tracks [cause really I feel Bjork albums are made to be listened to in their entirety even if you have some tracks you like more than others], turning up the volume to listen more carefully when it is needed, sitting through moments that baffle me, and let it sit with me. [boy Earth Intruders ended abruptly, but wait the track's not over? But I don't here anything? Wait was that a sound? Whatever. Next track please]
I've been here before. I had to do the same thing with Arcade Fire's Neon Bible, Kings of Leon's Because of the Times, and Bright Eyes' Cassadaga, which, much to my dismay [especially when you consider how much I adored I'm Wide Awake It's Morning], is still a work in progress, as is the case with Volta. But Bjork will be happy to know that after four or five listens I am slowly coming around, letting the record stick, enjoying it's ebb and flow. It's taking some time, but I am getting there.
1 comment:
don't worry, it took me a good 5 minutes to get that damn book out, but only because i'm really anal and didn't want to rip it. it fits in a standard jewel case, though, which is where i put it and the cd because i don't want to mess with that sticker-thing whenever i take the cd in my car.
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