Customer Reviews

Voltaic (Limited Edition) (2CD/2DVD)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The content for this release is unquestionably good. For those of us who didn't get to see Ms. Gudmundsdottir on the Volta tour the concert DVD included in this set is the next best thing. The addition of the remixed tracks, the "live" studio recordings and the disc of Volta videos is just icing on the cake that make the set well worth the money.

Where the set falls apart is in its "innovative" packaging. The outer case is cardboard that is held closed by a sticker (the colored teardrop you see in the pic is a sticker). Once this sticker is removed to access the discs, it cannot be replaced so the outer box cannot be closed again. In fact, removing the sticker removed some of the gloss coat on my package ruining the outer sleeve. Not what one expects at this price point. The interior of the package is cool but the discs themselves are held in flimsy paper sleeves (not cardboard or paperboard but plain paper) that will inevitably get torn with all but the most careful handling. While the artistic intention of the packaging is interesting it's pretty much worthless as a way to store this wonderful set. I'm planning on transplanting my discs to jewel boxes.

The half-baked idea that became the packaging for this four-disc set can not be over stressed. Listen to the other reviews: There is a definite theme appearing. The content is pure Björk, fantastic. The presentation, however, is akin to a kindergartner's mother's day art project (no offence to five-year-olds). To ensure my set will endure the years, I have transferred the four discs to a multi-disc DVD case. Ironically, I have now created more packaging and more plastic waste to protect my set. This is, I am sure, counter-intuitive to Björk's "green" packaging (and by "green" I mean "self-destructing"). I will leave a few extra lights on just in protest to this as I enjoy Voltaic ad infinitum. Ultimately, I give it five stars for pure content, but minus one star for green lighting (no pun intended) this blasphemous mass of cardboard and paper (yes, paper).

Bjork's box set is pretty good for the most part but really could have been better in many regards. First you could have the choice of buying the CDs separate but what I really wanted was the DVD concert and then Volta video DVD so you have to buy the whole box set for the highlight of the set.

Disc One Volta Live Recording
is pretty good and some of the songs sound better than the originals, All is full of love, which she sung in the beginning of her tour sounds really good with the brass touch. Declare Independence has her later voice-coder effect which was added towards the end the tour and this version sounds better than the original. But Vertebrae by Vertebrae added on this CD is just as boring as the original, that could have been forgiven if more tracks where added, what about Pluto?

CD two Live in Paris & Reykjavik
Is the highlight of the whole box set no questions ask.
Live in Paris is great and a very interesting set list like songs like "Where is the Line", which was sung first at Radio City Music Hall which sounded completely different and dropped until the very end of her tour in England and France, but other rare songs like "Who is it", and "Bachelorette", but for some reason "Pagan Poetry" was dropped but was sung at this concert and host of about three other songs including "Triumph of a Heart" rarity was dropped from DVD. I would have like to see the whole concert on here. Live in Reykjavik, I hate to say this but was a little boring. This was her last concert of the Volta Tour and seems like the production of this was rushed. It looks like BBC mid 90's quality and bjork didn't look quite that good compared to all her other shows. It might have been the no makeup and funky Medulla hair style that didn't edge well with the poor cameras. Besides that, be prepared to listen to her ballads and her decision to cut some of the songs out for the DVD as well that were sung at the concert like "It's Oh so Quiet".
If I had my choice I would have love to see a something like two live concerts back to back, maybe like the beginning of the tour and near the end of the tour with the full concert list, and a 25 min documentary of the show. Oh well I'm still hoping to see Greatest Hits Tour Released.

DVD two The Volta Video
Really her only really good music video is "Wanderlust" the rest are just okay. No 3D video included!! Why not?? It's nice to have them but they are nothing like her "homogenic videos". I don't know if it's me but "Earth Intruders" seems to be in poor quasi internet quality?

CD 4 Mixes
Most Bjork fans must already have most of these tunes from Itunes or Amazon but having them on one CD plus the one extra mix not released before, which is really horrible, was okay I guess. I would have like to see a few more remixes from different Mixes. Besides that Wanderlust and Dull Flame of Desire have the best mixes and Declare Independence has the worst mixes.

I've always loved bjork's intrinsic nature to be experimental and innovative in everything she does. As lovely as the music and images are on this box set, I have to say that the poor packaging is the worst I've ever seen for any artist's box sets. The music and videos will stand the test of time unlike the packaging which has not only come apart along the edge of the outside box, but I have had to return two box sets because of damaged CDs and DVDs. I understand that the first 20,000 copies of Voltaic were destroyed by the record company because of poor production. I'm assuming at this point that I got stuck with two that escaped that endeavor. Nonetheless, the live sessions of Voltaic are amazing and the mixes are a treat. A must have for hardcore bjork fans!

As with another reviewer, as soon as I carefully peeled back the sticker (which I was planning to stick onto one side of the cover as I did with my Volta CD to preserve it), some of the shiny gloss from the cover came with it, instantly ruining it. Now it looks bad. Thus, the "gloss" now covers the sticky back part of the sticker so now I can't even stick the sticker on the cover. Whoever designed this: You receive my award for dumbest concept of the year.
Otherwise, the set is great. Bjork is amazing.

Just great product BUT the packaging is baaaaaaaaaad Just as soon as is openned you can close it again so

Voltaic is a box with 2 disc (live in studio and remixes) and 2 dvd (concerts and videos). The contains of the four disc is increible, good for collector than me, bur i don`t like the package, then of open it, i can`t closet because the sticker is remobible. The case of the four disc is not exist, the four disc is portecte by normal paper.
I adore Bjork, But m&m paris not work good in this package.

Finally Voltaïc is out for sale, inspite of the many delays it had. I had the great opportunity to attend Björk's concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in San Jose, CA back in 2007. I was blown away by her performance then and now I have the same feeling with Voltaïc.
-Disc 1: Live at Olympic Studios. This performance has such an amazing quality that you couldn't tell it's a live recording. The remake of her classic songs Hunter, Army of Me and I Miss You is just unbelievable.
-Disc 2: Live in Paris. Having been at one of her concerts I thought I knew what to expect, but this went beyond that. Just the performances of the Medulla songs made this box set worth it, plus previous hits from most of her studio albums (no songs from Debut though).
You can tell she was having fun while singing, which made the quality even better.
Live in Reykjavik: This is a very interesting show, as you see only the choir and her at the beginning, you can't imagine what you're about to see and hear. Too bad there were only 5 songs from this show.
-Disc 3 and 4: Great bonus discs including the Volta videos (I'd rather have all "the makings" of each of them than 10 videos of Innocence). The mixes CD is good, but these are the same mixes as those released as singles, don't expect anything new here.
As for the packaging, excellent concept, not so great material. The sticker comes off completely and you can't close the box again. The Family Tree box set or the Live box set's packages were way better.

content of 4 cds and dvds is amazing...
whoever designed this to keep shut should be fired...
it really doesn't make sense in doing a set this way....
though the artwork is amazing, the packaging itself is a joke....

It's amazing how great Bjork is. The live DVD is outstandingly amazing and the live CD tops it even more. So the box isn't that great...SO WHAT???? don't take the sticker off and just use the bottom flap to open it. I highly recommend this to all Bjork and non-Bjork fans...you will have the time of your life watching her perform (and to those who have never had the chance to see her live, like me). ENJOY!!!