Published Sept. 25, 2003, in the Kansas State Collegian

Review by Matthew Webber

There's no other way to say it: Bjork is one weird chick.

She famously wore a swan dress to the Oscars. She breaks into a bloodcurdling scream when she sings. She kind of resembles an elf.

She also is one of pop music's most versatile, challenging and creative artists. No other musician combines free verse poetry, Broadway sensibilities, symphonic instruments, computer blips and rock rhythms so seductively. She's the only artist in her genre, whatever it is.

Simply put, Bjork is a visionary.

She's the Missy Elliott of Icelandic pop: We love her because she dares to be bizarre.

We love her because of her breathtaking videos, available now on "Greatest Hits: Volumen 1993-2003."

Like Missy, Bjork makes videos that stick in your head. They're weird but unforgettable, crammed with grotesque imagery. Bjork's plush bear from "Human Behavior," gorilla dentist from "Army of Me" and dancing muffler man from "It's Oh So Quiet" are unforgettable.

But "Bachelorette" is her masterpiece. Michel Gondry directed the clip -- and six of Bjork's 21 videos, as well as the White Stripes' Lego-animated "Fell in Love with a Girl" -- an eerie, post-modern work of art as chilling as it is beautiful. Calling most videos a work of art (or post-modern) is untruthful or na•ve, but the complex narrative and self-reflexivity of "Bachelorette" elevate its artistry above most Hollywood movies.

The story begins as Bjork finds a book in the woods. As she speaks, the book begins to write itself, describing whatever Bjork is doing or thinking. She takes a train to the city, falls in love with a literary agent and options the book for the movies.

In front of a packed theater, Bjork reads from the book as actors act it out. When she gets to the part about optioning it for the movies, new actors come onstage to play the previous actors in the movie version. Later still, new actors come out to play this second set of actors, and soon there are at least three stories within the story.

When Bjork and the literary agent break up, the book erases itself, confusing and infuriating her audience, which has always included the original literary agent and other characters from her story.

I can't help thinking there's a flaw in the narrative's continuity somewhere.

I also can't help thinking I've never seen anything like this.

"Bachelorette" is probably one of the top five greatest videos I've ever seen, which probably isn't saying much. When most videos feature the same old clichés like scary-looking rock bands, bling-bling rappers and hoes, anything more ambitious seems revolutionary.

Visionary artists like Bjork -- and Missy, the White Stripes and a few others -- who push the boundaries of music video are why the promise of MTV once seemed so exciting.