Music: All is full of mediocrity

Bj”rk's unique brand of insanity and masterful pop sensibility has given the music world a wealth of exceptional artistry over the last ten years. So, the time has come for some sort of tribute to her career -- her new Greatest Hits. But does the collection do her oeuvres justice? The task of track selection was left up to the fans, who voted on bjork.com for their favorite singles. For the most part, they did a good job. All of the old favorites appear with the addition of the lesser-known "Play Dead." Unfortunately, however, more upbeat songs like "Violently Happy," "I Miss You,"and "It's Oh So Quiet" went overlooked. One new track, "It's In Our Hands," performed at the end of each show on her last tour, makes its way onto the list. In all honesty, Greatest Hits seems clich‚ and largely uninspired. Given her diverse portfolio, including the lush "Joga," the playful "Venus as a Boy" and such oddities as "Pagan Poetry," one might fear that track order could be a problem. To my surprise, it was handled gracefully. All in all, the release appears a nice enough introduction for newcomers. For those who know Bj”rk better, however, it might seem a bit shallow. Not only the songs, but each of Bj”rk's past albums have been skillfully put together, creating a synergy that gives each of the tracks more depth. Greatest Hits seems shallow and more commercial, lacking that sort of greater design. For those fans, Bj”rk has created Family Tree, which is comprised of her own choices. A more compelling selection, including a full insert and a number of three-inch CDs, it seems almost excessive -- characteristically Bj”rk. My opinion would be that Greatest Hits is the fault of Elektra/Asylum, her label. It might be good for newcomers, but somehow it misrepresents her. Family Tree is Bj”rk's way of proving herself to us after this mistake.