Björk's new album 'Biophilia' was just released on Tuesday, but it has already become one of my favorite albums of the year.  I previously chronicled the enormous scope of the Biophilia project here, but in essence she is taking music as we know it and turning it into something interactive and new.  The passion this woman has for music is something that I have never seen, and what she is doing in the world of music is nothing like anything any artist has ever done before.  This woman understands music in a way that the average listener could never fathom, and I think that this is one of the intriguing facets of Björk.  She actually creates music, and with 'Biophilia' she is taking us on a scientific journey through music itself.  This is an album that every music lover should own and takes notes from.  I will definitely be listening to this for the rest of my eternal existence.

1.  Moon - 8/10


Björk could not have picked a better way to start off the album.  'Moon' feels like a sweet lullaby that will lull you to sleep at night when the Sandman doesn't get around to visiting you.  It's really a very simple song, but so intriguing at the same time.  She's only giving you a small taste of what is about to come...


2.  Thunderbolt -  9/10


One of the darker and more interesting songs on the album, 'Thunderbolt' starts off very slow and very sinister, and abruptly comes to a silent halt only a few seconds in.  As the song progresses the synthetic beats continue beating on and even does a hand-off between an organ.  Björk's ethereal voice continues on in a very sinister way, and lures you into the depths of the song.  Very interesting.

3.  Crystalline - 8/10


While the first single off the album, 'Crystalline', may be a bit overplayed it still is as fresh as ever.  In terms of the overall album it definitely is not one of the standout tracks, but the last minute of the song is one of the craziest things I have ever heard.  The song is a mixture of so many different sounds and rhythms that at times it is hard to keep up, but it's all building to that last minute of pure epicness.

4.  Cosmogony - 9/10


When I go to heaven this is what I want to be playing as I enter the pearly gates.  'Cosmogony' sounds just like its title; it's a hauntingly beautiful and ethereal sound backed with a choir and brass instruments that takes you out of this world.  It's just too beautiful to even put into words.

5.  Dark Matter -  5/10


It's the invasion of the organ!!!  Basically this song is just Björk's "creepy" vocals and an even creepier organ.  That's it.  It was an interesting route to explore, but I don't feel like it really adds to the album in any way.  But of course it represents its subject matter in the most perfect way.


6.  Hollow -  6/10


This is another strange song because it features a pipe organ, lots of strings and the choir.  Her vocals on this song are very intriguing and the song overall really reminds me of Sweeney Todd.  The final third of the song however gets interesting when the digital beats are added, and suddenly the song is transformed into an entirely new song.  Again, it's not one of my favorites but it is an interesting song nonetheless.

7.  Virus -  8/10


One of the more beautiful songs on the album, 'Virus' is a more pop-ified version of 'Moon'.  It's a simple lullaby, but at the same time its got some great beats and an entrancingly beautiful Björk vocal.  I absolutely adore the little xylophone outro at the end.


8.  Sacrifice -  8/10


This is one of those songs that I love by Björk because it is her vocals layered on top of each other, something that is total chaos but at the same time is amazing.  Halfway through is when the song really hits its stride for me.  We have a very Asian-esque sound to start off with, but then we traverse into dubstep territory.  It's a very unusual combination, but just as with everything else that she does, it works like a charm.  One of my favorites simply because of its unusual twist.

9.  Mutual Core -  10/10


Hands down the best song on the album.  Again we start with just the pipe organ and the vocals, but then we move into some very interesting waters.  Dubstep in a start and stop motion with vocals swelling in the background; freakin' blew my mind!  You have to listen to it to believe it.

10.  Solstice -  6/10


Again, we have another oriental influenced song on the album.  It is a much more stripped down and simplistic song than 'Moon', but it's just a simple melody with simple vocals.  Nice way to end the album.


Overall Rating: 9/10
Songs to Check Out: 'Thunderbolt', 'Cosmogony', 'Virus', 'Mutual Core'


In short, the album is Sweeney Todd meets dubstep meets gregorian chants meets Björk.  And thus we have 'Biophilia'.