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Rating:  - Stellar videos get a rather lackluster presentation
I can't think of another musical artist that has really explored the potential that video artistry can provide. Other artists may have an even greater output (Madonna, Michael Jackson), but most of their videos don't really lend themselves to viewing multiple times (not to mention their music isn't as interesting either). Even artists that are more interesting musically (i.e. New Order, Depeche Mode) only occassionally put out a really good video. This is about the only video compilation that I'd watch from beginning to end without interruption. Mind you, not everyone will like every video. There's a wide range of styles, from an artificial (Jacque Demy influenced) musical dance number to a cartoon to CGI enhanced sci-fi. I won't go into the details of the individual videos, since many already have. I will, however, comment about my big gripe about this dvd: the quality of the presentation. The sound is actually very good, with stereo for all tracks or the option for 5.1 on those tracks that had originally been mastered in that format (Vespertine era). The big problem for me is that the dvd is mastered for full screen TVs. When you select the "Play all" option, it looks like a VHS tape. Image quality is nowhere where it should be. To add to that more than half of the videos are actually widescreen, so you have the black bars on the screen of your screen & bars (sometimes actually a darkish gray color) across the top, cutting down the resolution significantly (about 1/2 of my screen is wasted by the letterboxing). Because of this, I suspect the DVD was mastered from a VHS tape, though the quality is much better than many such tape transfers, so I can't be sure. The other disappointment is that the menus/extras presentation is rather poor, much more could have been done with this, hence I deducted a star from what should have been a 5 star release.
Rating:  - Worse than trash.
Okay, when I saw the title of the DVD - Bjork Live at the Royal Opera House, I expected Bjork to be a pop opera singer. I was unable to get that DVD so I got Bjork Volumen instead. Absolutely no talent! What trash! Horrible, even by pop standard! Deserve zero star -- too bad this option is not available.
Rating:  - The Video guide to bjork every fan must own
THis stunning collection, includes Bjorks very first video Human Behavior, and her last from her 3rd album called VESPERTINE. It also includes to bonus vidoes Nature is Ancient, and Its in our hands, <
Her latest 5 videos from MEDULLA are on the medullas video dvd
Rating: - Voluminous Collection that Started it All
This is the first original video collection released by Bjork, and there are many videos here, perhaps too many. This was one of the first Bjork's DVDs I bought, and I loved it simply because it allowed me to see all her videos all at once, but I think this collection would be better if it got trimmed down a little bit.
There are several gems, like Human Behaviour, the one clip that started it all. It's loopy, dreamy and predatory at the same time and the hungry look on Bjork's face when she's staring at that poor little moth is priceless. Army of Me, styled in a somewhat similar teddy bear on acid style, has a terrorist plot, mad dentist and incredible look to it. It's All so Quiet is more of a Spike Jones video that Bjork's, but it's a classic and justly famous dancerama. I Miss You, aka animated Bjork cavorting with Ren and Stimpy is mad, bad and great fun. And finally Joga, with its incredible Icelandic lanscapes and breathing volcanos, and Hunter, one of those spooky and astonishing Bjork videos featuring nothing more than half naked Bjork and amazing special effects, in this case morphing her into an antarctic animal.
However, there is a share of videos than are cool and not much more, like Ingmar Bergmanesque Isobel and Bachelorette, and good looking but rather pointless ones like Hyperballad and Big Time Sensuality and Venus Egg Cracking As a Boy. Well, that last one just might be the best cooking show Bjork ever did...
Of course, all the petty complaints aside, this set is still miles ahead of any video collection put by hapless pop stars of the regular garden variety, and a great addition to your Bjork video library.
Rating: - Great Tribute To A Wonderful Career
If you know anything about music you will know how influential Bjork is to the industry. She creates majestic music, quirky lyrics, amazing movies and magic music videos. Her music accompanies her videos so well. She uses an amazing array of themes in her videos but the main one would have to be nature.
She ropes in the most amazing names in directing to create videos that are out of this world, and not without controversy either. Some of her videos have been banned in the US because of the nudity content. However this just adds to the weirdness of Bjork.
From "Debut" there is "Human Bahaviour", "Venus As A Boy", "Play Dead", "Big Time Sensuality" and "Violently Happy".
From "Post" comes "Army Of Me", "Isobel", "It's Oh So Quiet", "Hyper-ballad", "Possibly Maybe" and "I Miss You".
From Homogenic surfaces "Joga", "Bachelorette", "Hunter", "Alarm Call", "All Is Full Of Love".
From "Vespertine" are the controversial "Hidden Place", "Pagan Poetry", "Cocoon".
There are also two new videos, "It's In Our Hands" and "Nature Is Ancient".
An added bonus about this collection is the fact that all the videos are in chronological order which makes it that more special and a great synopsis of her career.
The one thing that disappoints me though is the fact that she includes no videos from "Selmasongs" and no bonus features however the fact that this dvd is so thorough those factors really don't detract at all.
Overall, "Volumen" is a great way to get into Bjork's music but most of all her videos which are simply my favourite videos that have ever been made. This dvd is worth every penny.
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