Customer Reviews

Army of Me: Remixes & Covers

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This album is 20 covers and re-mixes of the same wonderful Bjork song, 'Army of Me.' Bjork did a wonderful thing and put her favorite re-mixes and covers from both fans and professional producers alike on this album. According to the Bjork website this is strictly a charity album and proceeds go to UNICEF.

This album is a mixed bag from artists all over the world--France, UK, Canada, US, Sweden--and the results range from wonderful (track 2) to kitschy (tracks 7 & 20) to just plain awful (tracks 1,4,5,18). The majority of the tracks are elrctronica, but my favorite cut on the entire album is a bossa nova version by a French duo called Grisbi.

Hardcore Bjork fans will no doubt pick this tribute to one of her best songs up without a second thought. However, the casual Bjork or electronica fan will definitely want to click on over to Bjork's official website to hear some samples before spending their cash on a mixed bag such as this and may want to just donate ot UNICEF directly.

Yes, it's all for a good cause, but this is one cute CD, too. It's Army of Me baked, broiled and deep fried in many funky ways.
At the moment, I mostly keep returning to the death metal version, ie Track No 1, but the electronic bossa nova version, No 2, and pachinko takes (complete with gaming noises) that are Track No 3 and Track no 20 are great and just perfectly mad. Especialy when rounded up by No 4, Country and Honky Tonk version, maybe with a dash of No 7, the Accordion Mix.
There's also a Judas Priest version, a techno techno one, a very creepy Portishead inspired mix, and several more heavily deconstructed, dance floor or kitchen floor Armies. If they are good enough for Bjork's approval, they're good enough for me; some are ridiculous, but they are all pretty entertaining.
In essence, this album has something for everyone, and with all the money going to charity, remember it's almost Christmas, Santa Claus is watching you, it's time to do a good deed, and getting this cool album would definitely qualify as such.

Very little bjork. Most of the random takes, butcher the song. As for Unicef I have seen what they do (or don't). This cd is for the super fan only.

Army of Me is one of Bjork's most famous and popular songs, and it's also one of my favorites as well. The fact that this effort is based on a charity is great. But the only bad thing is that this really can give you mixed opinions. Some renditions of the song were great, but many of them seemed very awkward, or just simply didn't sound too good. I think any artist tackling a Bjork song is a very challenging task, nobody can sing a Bjork song like Bjork herself. Even though i am a big fan, and i look foreward to have as many CD's and DVD's of her as possible, i think this is just too much of a mixed bag for me.

Unicef is a children's charity with a wonderful history of teaming up with recording artists to help kids in need. The music here is, like others have said, a mixed bag. Some of the covers and remixes are great. Some are passable. Some are downright bizarre. Every base is covered. Heavy metal. Hard rock. Electronia. Classical. Even bluegrass. Most Bjork fans, I am afraid, will have a hard time wrapping their heads round this one ( as would just about anyone, as it is just so varied musically) BUY IT FOR THE CAUSE. IT'S A GOOD ONE.

I love this album, very eclectik and surprising. I event made one of my co-worker, that only listen to metal musique, like it! Like Bjork it is a hole new universe to discover and appreciate. My summer album for sure! The quality is amazing and the creativity so wonderfull! I never though I can listen to the same song all day without getting bored! Bravo!