Album of the Week: Björk - Lolita (2016)

Ashley Grant66 said:And they're bringing it up here too, and they say: The root of all existence and the universe's starting point? It's the vagina. We should really stop talking about "original sin" and start calling it what it actually is: the original hurt. That initial wound and the subsequent physical toll—like the agony of childbirth and monthly cycles—is just the fallout from that first strike.
Hang in there, guys. 😁

No worries, three hours of Fight Channel and five episodes of Abdominal workouts totally brought me back to my senses. 😁

Honestly, one of the best things about her writing is that I didn't run into any of that pretentiousness I was talking about earlier. Most of her stuff actually feels really well-crafted. It’s got this subtle poetic vibe to it, plus some great moments of self-deprecating humor. You get a much fuller picture when you dive into the interviews and the other clips she includes—it brings in a whole lineup of different performers alongside Whale.

Honestly, without even trying, it’s just way easier for me to stick to the men's concept. Switching over to women's shoes is a whole different ballgame for obvious reasons.

Lisa Davis46 said:Just wanted to follow up on this one—what was the actual intention behind it? If anyone has a solid example...
Oh yeah, I actually saw an interview once where Vangelis was mentioned as a huge influence
(I might be off, let me check... okay, found it, here).
🙂

Certain synth pads, modular sequences, and leads definitely give off those 70s and 80s electronic vibes. You can hear bits of that on Great Undressing, for instance.

I checked out the new album too, and it’s honestly great on the first listen. To me, it sounds like a long, extended version of Madonna's "Justify My Love" reimagined as some kind of goth-art piece. Really cool execution.

Lisa Davis46 said:It’s actually pretty interesting, though. In some of her interviews, she was pointing directly at that specific genre. You see it all the time in Norwegian Black metal—all that explicit stuff about slaughtering women, vampires, violence, and blood. It’s just totally normalized there, like it's some standard, easy-to-digest trope.

Look, I don't mean to be a jerk, but this sounds exactly like something straight out of The Council Voice. If you aren't into a certain genre, then whatever—just say you don't get it and leave it at that. Simple as. 😉

Honestly, the real magic happens in death metal. If you're looking for where the true soul of the genre lies... well, it's right there.

I honestly can't see how anyone wouldn't find some kind of pure satisfaction in it. Everything about it—from that raw energy it packs and just how much it hits you, down to the lyrics and finally that core message—it’s all just there. It's impossible not to feel it.

Death metal Music inspires joy not violence. Seriously. People act like listening to heavy stuff turns you into some kind of monster, but they couldn't be more wrong. It’s actually therapeutic. Honestly, it's pure joy.

Look, this is just one recent study, but honestly, there are plenty of others out there reaching pretty much the same conclusions. Plus, if you actually look at the scene, it’s not some black-and-white issue. Some of the most respected figures in the whole genre are women, and you've got entire all-female death metal bands that have basically achieved cult status. Even Morbid Angel—one of the absolute heavyweights—actually started out with a female vocalist. So yeah, it's way more nuanced than people make it out to be.

It feels super aggressive on the surface, right? But once you actually listen to the lyrics, the whole vibe shifts. It’s a totally different tone than what you usually hear. Whereas When you go to a lot of Norwegian Black metal or rock music, everything is just about dominance—being "strong," killing women, rape, all that dark stuff. Honestly, I found it pretty refreshing to find something this intense that isn't just about stepping on someone else to feel big.

Those Norwegian fans didn't fall for her whole breast obsession, so now they're just talking nonsense. I honestly don't know what kind of Norwegian black metal bands she’s been listening to... probably zero, because if she actually knew anything, she would've realized this:

Natassja, my beautiful satanic witch,
There's just this raw, undeniable power sitting right there in your eyes and deep within yourself. It's real.
Worked for The noble in man.
Pass the bottle, pass the knife.
Lay your unholy crafts on me.
I’m never gonna forget you. Seriously, you're the absolute best.
of All There is , i lick Your cold lips , i embrace Your coffin as i sigh in woe
of All There is , i lick Your cold lips , i embrace Your coffin as i sigh in woe

Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail

Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail
Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail
Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail
Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail

Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail

Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail
She was such a stunner.

Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail
Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail

I admire her beauty, and the madness that she brings.
Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail
Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail
Hail to the new witch on the block.

Enslaving eyes of a wistful darkness Calls me as a silent prayer She is The One of nocturnal beauty Force me to become Her slava ili with eyes of lightning , raven Black hair She was a beauty She came here to Rul US All with Her cruelty i Admir Her beauty , and The madness that She brings Singing in awe Hail

My Old English witch with that freezing look.
She, whose desire bends to my will.
Our mark of pure darkness shone bright during those epic rides.
Over those rolling hills where the Old English spirit just lives on.

So, maybe people prefer witches over housewives or whatever, but hey, it is what it is... Honestly, I think the only other person who ever poured out that kind of obsessive love for witches was probably Michelet.

Look, I get why the album isn't hitting for you, but honestly? It feels like you've had a thing against Björk for a while now, just for some reason.

It’s nothing personal against her, I just can't stand anything that feels overly precious.

on her album, she offers this soft, gentle, and delicate response to what blood is actually supposed to represent.

To me, the whole thing just sounds cheap and vulgar, y'know?

That's my two cents...

Sandra Clark88 said:Don't get mad at me, but this sounds exactly like something straight out of The Council Voice. If you aren't into a certain genre, fine—just say you don't know anything about it and leave it at that. I guess. 😉

Sacrifice is most prevalent in death metal, and as far as that goes...

Look, no hard feelings here. I’ll be the first to admit it—twice over, actually—that I don't have a clue about this genre or the music scene in general. That’s exactly why I'm asking questions. 😁
Jason Mendoza already went halfway through explaining the difference between black metal and death metal on the previous page... I guess.

Maybe I’m just being overly sensitive. I guess.

As for the stuff that’s actually somewhat well-known, I don't know, a lot of it just feels tacky and vulgar to me. Not even the good kind of gritty, vulgar—just cheap.
I don't think it's just about the music...

Sandra Clark88 said:Death metal Music inspires joy not violence. I guess people just don't get it. Maybe they're too caught up in the noise to hear the actual feeling behind it. It’s not about aggression; it's about release. Honestly, it's more about finding peace than causing chaos.

Look, this is just one recent study, and there are plenty of others out there reaching pretty much the same conclusions. Besides, it’s not like it’s all black and white. Some of the most respected figures in that scene are women, and certain all-female death metal bands have basically achieved cult status. Even one of the heavyweights, Morbid Angel, actually had a female vocalist back in the day. So, I guess it's more complicated than that.

On the other hand, I’m actually pretty happy if that’s really what happened. I guess I believe you. 🙂

Sandra Clark88 said:The Norwegian crowd didn't fall for her breast act, so now they're just talking nonsense.

The reason is... naked.

I still don't get what you're talking about. That isn't Björk on the cover.
But wait, that person with the short hair in the top corner on the back of the album cover? I guess I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking. Maybe I'm being too blunt, but someone has to say it. It's pretty obvious, really..

Lisa Davis46 said:okay, maybe I'm just being too sensitive.

but out of the stuff that's somewhat well-known, a lot of it feels super tacky and vulgar to me (not like, that good kind of gritty vulgar).
and I don't just mean with the music...

Look, I'm sensitive too—total cry-baby status, honestly. I'll tear up over things most people wouldn't even notice. But I don't think it's about being sensitive; it’s more like this music either clicks with you during puberty or it never does. My mom used to blast Iggy Pop, and my neighbor was all about thrash metal, so naturally, I "leveled up" to heavier stuff back in middle school. As I got older though, a lot of stuff just started bugging me. Nowadays, there's almost zero chance I'm gonna sit through some death metal band I'm not already used to, so I think what you're feeling is totally normal. Don't sweat it if you aren't feeling certain stuff.

and I still don't get what you're talking about, because that's clearly not Björk on the cover.

Gosh, I didn't mean to drag this out, I just wanted to say I've known Björk for ages and for totally valid reasons. Let me try to explain my point quickly: I know it's not her on the cover and it doesn't matter who it is, it's just that there's this whole tradition in the rock/metal scene where they try to sell albums or grab attention using "boobs and butts," which is pretty pathetic, to put it mildly. (I mean, sure, there are a few bands like that I actually like, so I'll look past it if it isn't totally degrading... though I still think they're idiots. 🤣)

The cover is tied to Björk because it's her band, and they made a choice to go with the "sexy" vibe; nobody held them at gunpoint to do it. By your logic, if you shoved this disgusting cover in front of the Scorpions, they could just claim they have nothing to do with it since the band members aren't on it. 🤷I don't think that would fly...

Anyway... You think Björk is great, I wasn't impressed (again), and that's that. It's not the end of the world. 😉

Sandra Clark88 said:Anyway... You think Björk is amazing, but she didn't really do anything for me this time around. That's just how it is, I guess. It's not exactly the end of the world. 😉

Everything looks fine on this end, don't worry about it. 🙂

Look, let's be clear: the author isn't even the main issue here. What really bugs me is people passing around unverified info like it's gospel. I guess it just gets on my nerves.

Sandra Clark88 said:The cover art is directly tied to Whale, since it’s her band and they basically just decided on this look themselves. It's not like someone showed up with a gun to force them into it or anything. I mean, if you ask me, maybe even the Scorpions would fold once they actually get hit with this. That cover is just disgusting. I don't know about you guys, but I can't stand looking at it. It's honestly revolting.I mean, they could just say they have nothing to do with it, since they aren't even members of the band. 🤷 I don't think that would work.

No, I wouldn't see it that way. Honestly, I don't have any issue at all with seeing bare breasts or bodies on album covers. It’s not something I focus on, and I definitely don't hold any prejudices against an artist just because they choose to do that. As long as everyone involved is of legal age, let people strip if they want to. I don't think it's disgusting, and it's certainly not illegal.

Here's the thing about Whale—I'm trying to tell you that maybe that tacky, cliché nudity wasn't exactly a collective decision made by everyone in the band. I'm pretty sure about this, honestly. It just doesn't align with her views or her overall aesthetic, especially since she spends so much of her work seriously deconstructing and questioning the whole concept of the body.

Look, she was just the vocalist for some trashy band twenty years ago. I don't know exactly what the circumstances were or why she ended up looking for work there, but it feels stupid to imply she wasn't acting on her own accord. I just wanted to clear that part up so we aren't spreading misinformation around here. This thread should be about information, plain and simple.

Hey Mark Cruz15, I'm posting this here for now. But since Steven Newman50 is starting a new thread later tonight, we can probably just pick things up there if we need to...

Lisa Davis46 said:People should be able to strip if they want to, provided they’re of legal age, obviously... what we're seeing here isn't just disgusting, it's bordering on illegal.

Minor frontal nudity isn't illegal, otherwise all those movies featuring it would be banned outright. Take the cult classic Brazilian film Pixote, for instance, or that scandalous Icelandic movie The Castle... or even a better example, like one of the Scorpions' album covers.

Lisa Davis46 said:Look, what I'm trying to get at regarding Whale is that maybe that whole tacky, cliché nudity thing wasn't actually a democratic call made by everyone in the band. I'm pretty sure about that, honestly, because it just doesn't line up with her personal views or her overall aesthetic—especially since she spends so much of her work seriously deconstructing the whole concept of the body.

I appreciate the effort, really, but I've been hanging around Norwegian music forums for over a decade now, so...

That's all.

Sandra Clark88 said:I don't think it's about anything else; it’s just music that either clicks with you during puberty or it never does. My mom used to blast Iggy Pop, and my neighbor was always listening to thrash metal, so I basically "leveled up" to heavier stuff naturally back in middle school. As I got older, certain things just started grating on my nerves. These days, there's almost zero chance I'll go out to see some death metal band I haven't already grown accustomed to. I think what you're feeling is totally normal—don't sweat it if some stuff doesn't hit the mark for you.

It's also interesting how music eventually becomes an "acquired taste." The odds of me actually diving into something completely foreign are slim; I'd much rather stick to what I love and what I'm used to.

The only time I can really absorb something new is when I'm in a particularly good mood.

Okay, let's talk about this. Reading through some of these posts, you’d almost think we were talking about something super aggressive or angry. Based on how people describe it, I was expecting maybe an industrial vibe or even something more gothic, but it's not quite that (maybe that's a good thing, though!). It feels ambient, electronic, chilly, yet really atmospheric at the same time. That’s my first gut feeling...

Honestly, the whole thing feels pretty experimental to me, which is probably why it won't be sticking around on my daily playlists for very long.

It definitely tells its own story, though. The tone is sad, but I can't say it totally sucked me in...

That being said, it doesn't sound bad at all.