Medúlla

One of the stranger albums in the Bjork catalog, this isn't exactly a pop album that you blast and sing along to in the car (but you could). It's an achievement in testing the human voice's limits as an instrument and (I say this pretentiously) a force of nature. Creatively, it's an example of how limiting your tools (to primarily vocals in this instance) can produce profound results. The album is at once unsettling, unique, weird, but it is still grounded and familiar, somehow-- I guess the word here is "primal". Some tracks feel like medieval Latin choral arrangements from another universe (or maybe just Iceland), some like pure pop songs with Bjork's usual electronic twist, some like what you might expect to hear as you march to a seance circle in the woods, or to the gallows, or as Charon picks you up in their boat and you sail through the River Styx. It will make you smile in its quirky choices, make you wonder how they achieved certain sounds, and make you cry in its wailing passion. This is not my favorite album, but truly something to hear before you die.

This album is fascinating and sort of mesmerizing. I’ve never gotten into Bjork because I haven’t known when the right mood/time is, but now I know this is music for starting a witchy fall drive in a misty rain on the coast of Maine.

This one really Bjorked me. At times great at times impossible to listen to at times Bjork is moaning in my ear and I liked it.

Interesting. The whole thing is acapella?

Pretty good!

Not as good as Vespertine, maybe not as good as Debut, but pretty damn great. The constant need to take risks, in a world where so many artists play it safe, album after album, is so refreshing. Definitely the highest rating an album with Mike Patton is going to get

Björk éveillait un peu plus mon intérêt dans les années 90. Elle gagne des points pour être une fière représentante de l'Islande.

I like Björk a lot… and while I don’t always like her albums, I always enjoy listening to them. Medúlla is peak Björk: almost entirely a cappella, full of wailing, beatboxing, and moments that feel more like avant-garde theatre than music. But there’s real passion and raw emotion here (fitting for an album about the human experience and named after the Latin for “marrow) which meant, even when I wasn’t entirely sure what I was listening to, I was still kind of into it.

Bjork! Where is the line? She's so cool. Somehow super edgy but purely art. She never comes across as corny. So human. So sensual. So much power. Somehow she makes it ok to listen to ancestors grinding. I've been watching Kill La Kill and she reminds me of Ryuko.

Different in a good way

Weird but good

Did I like it? Sure. Was it revelatory? Not really. Would I pick a different Björk album if I could only have one on the 1001? For sure, and obviously the author agrees with me, as this album is no longer on the list... it was only on the list for a few years, I think. It's pretty good, though. She's quite an artist.

A strange, beautiful, and intimate record using only vocals. It can be off putting, but it creates a vast world and atmosphere within its narrow confines.

Yeah she's just.... a magical creature. Her music, her voice, it's all so unique. It's all such an experience. It's so good. I have to be in the Bjork mood though. Otherwise this is perfection. I will say, some of her more dramatic songs can get... intense. They can be a lot to handle. Definitely a private listening experience preferred. I feel powerful listening to this album. It's so full, of emotion, of complexity, of newness.

I remember this coming out very clearly. It felt like a measure of your musical superiority to enjoy it beyond a track or two. For that reason, I never listened to it, because I hate when something becomes a perceived barrier to entry - you're not really 'into' music if you don't think this is the greatest album/accomplishment of the 21st century. And that brings me to today. On first listen, it felt like an art installation made out of sound that, while you're curious to look/listen, you'd never hang it on a wall in your house. It can be a little hard to digest. Confusing. On second listen, it starts to grow on you...tracks beyond the more pop-sensible songs start connecting. You start opening up to soundscapes that you aren't used to. On third listen, you think, 'I probably want to come back to this exhibit - but I still don't want to bring any friends - I still need to figure this out for myself.' On fourth listen, it feels complete. You don't quite know why. If you listen too closely, it falls apart. It's a confusing delicacy that you still wouldn't hang in your house, serve at your table, or dare challenge someone else to consume. But you've been through it, and you no longer turn away. On the more practical side - Rahzel on the beats was always my favorite part of this album (even 20 years ago when I didn't want to listen to the whole thing). It's so cool to hear the percussive sounds he provides and know...that's a dude doing THAT. Who Is It, Where is the Line, Desired Constellation, and Triumph of the Heart all stand out to me, but the whole thing is a strange and wonderful journey.

classic bjork, high peaks and low valleys, killer vibes.

Fuck yeah, bjork. Not my favorite album of hers, but I had fun.

https://media1.tenor.com/m/ZpaBJ_L7Ik8AAAAd/get-weird-with-it-danny-devito-iasip.gif

Love how she is able to make these sounds.

shit's weird as hell in a good way

I haven’t listened to this in a long time, but I was really into Björk for a couple of years around the time this and Vespertine came out. I’m not much of a Björk fan anymore. I don’t dislike her now, but it’s no longer my thing. This listen though… I don’t know if it’s just the Dolby Atmos, but it hits different this time. It’s very atmospheric and immersive. Her voice is still gorgeous to me I guess. I’m also a sucker for weird avant-garde vocal shit (i.e. Dirty Projectors, with whom she did a collab EP a few years back). I wasn’t expecting to give this much more than 2.5 or 3, but it’s a solid 4. I am, however, annoyed that there are 4 of her albums on the list but they didn’t include her actual best album, Post.

i'm not surprised the rating for this is so low - it's a strange and challenging album. but i think that's why it's perfect for this list. who else is doing it like bjork? this is a creative triumph, even if i didn't always find it pleasant to listen to.

Enjoyed, but a bit to out there for me.

Cool

The human voice is the instrument. This album certainly does not fit into standard pop music. But the experimentation with voice is engaging and is creating a new vocabulary.

This, and Vespertine, are (for me) Björk’s sweet spot.

Weird, eclectic, fun

Third Björk record in the last month, really backloading these. This was great and I really enjoyed it.

First time I've listened to Björk. I've never heard anything like this album. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful. Very weird and Avant-Garde. Interesting beatboxing and use of vocals in place of instruments.

Magnificently weird

I don't know if I'll ever listen to this again, but I'm glad that it exists.

Challenging and super rewarding. Step into the Emotional Thunderdome with Björk!

An okay album, I liked Oll Birtan and Desired Constellation the most.

Good sounds

I have no idea how to rate this album. I get the one star reviews. I get the 5 star reviews, and I've listened to it twice through so far and it's definitely starting to grow on me. Is it something I'm likely to listen to for "fun"? Probably not, but I respect the shit out of it and it was great to listen to something so far out of my comfort zone.

Great concept and wonderful performances by all of the vocalists.

4.5/5. Medulla oblongata.

“Medúlla received critical acclaim from music critics, with many calling it ‘unique’, although others deemed it ‘confusing’.” (Wikipedia) This quote sums up the album pretty well: it’s very weird and it left me confused in the end, but the production was awesome and the songs are by no means bad. The unique concept kicks it up a notch.

Det kan let vokse på mig. Hørte første halvdel med headset. Tydeligt at mærke at det er produceret med sans for detaljer. De flød lidt ud da jeg var nød til at lytte på højtalere senere. Jeg har ikke hørt Björk synge på Islands før, dét var ret fortryllende.

The more I listen the better it gets. I've always always always loved her voice, but this album is a bit of a challenge at times. Always up for some experimentation. It doesn't always pay off but I'm here for it warts and all. Gave this quite a few listens and heard new things every time. Can't review this in a single day. Bjork works on a different plane to us mortals.

Around the quality of a 3 but I’ll give it an extra star cause I enjoyed it. That being said this is most likely her worst on the list

I liked this quite a bit. Didn't feel gimmicky or anything, really compelling. Helps that her voice is amazing

erste song hani eaaasy geils arrangement vode vocals gfunde. hetmer fr fr gfalle. zweite song meh. dritte song easy weird mit beatbox und so aber irgendwie huuuere geil? slappt no? vokuro huuuere schöne chor. woaaa. und isch uf isländisch ööh. oll birtan goht etz au no hard. scho sehr speziell. aber ich bi gad easy drin. who is it. bitz nervige veatbox beat aber sie het etz halt nur stimme wölle uf dem album glaub. jo beatbox nöd miis aber dass e throat sängerin us victoria island druf isch goht so hard kanadischi inuks (ich glaub sie heissed so) so faszinierend. sie chilled afoch i dene insle obe. submarine checki null und d schnuufer findi bitz unagnehm aber scho auno geil irgendwie mit dududududud shit und so sie mached afoch so blubbere. desired constellation au no nice, sehr hypnotisch gad chli vergesse dasi am lose bin. ancestors isch seeeehr streng. uf mouth cradle stört mich ihri art zum singe wieder bitz. triumph of a heart scho au wieder recht cool, ich wür glaub alles nöd nomol lose aber es isch uuuhuere interessant.

I finally found an album tag actually let me use my ap music theory knowledge. Its experimental and wierd but really its just a choir album sounds all round pretty good.

I admit my hear sank a little when the second Bjork album in less than a week showed up but Medúlla was a surprise. I enjoyed this. It is a largely vocal album with Bjork multitracked and accompanied by choirs, beatboxers (thankfully on just enough i.e. few occasions) and, somewhere amongst this, the likes of Mike Patton and Robert Wyatt. The instrumentation is light, limited for the most part to beats and sub-bass. The songs display influences from European classical, choral, music and pagan chanting - there is even some throat singing in there. I am not familiar with Bjork's catalogue an, while this is not going to be on regular rotation, I did like it and will listen again. And perhaps I will be less reluctant should another Bjork album show up. But not this week...

spennende

Il concept è il migliore tra gli album di Björk. Aveva partorito da poco e si sentiva così legata a una nuova vita, così umana che ha deciso di abbandonare il computer e fare tutto con le voci. Bellissimo. Tra i suoi album è quello con più alti e bassi secondo me, ha i suoi capolavori e poi ci sono Ancestors e Submarine…

A light four. I like it less than the last Bjork album I got but I find the middle chunk of songs seriously impressive. Thought it was no where near as inaccessible and weird as a lot of people say about her music. It’s still very melodic.

Fractionné et éthéré

Jävligt konstigt, men kan inte låta bli att tycka att det är jävligt bra också. Öppningsspåret träffade rätt in i själen!

Det känns spännade i kroppen när man lyssnade på den

I'm not 100% sure what to make of this one. I think I really liked it lol not sure why though. Good job I think

I enjoyed this a lot more than the last Bjork album. What a wild sound, the woman is crazy, in a good way!

Konzeptionell interessantes Album mit sehr guten Ideen.

Bjork is a visionary but I can’t see myself reaching out for this album for enjoyment that often.

Brilliant - so different. I really enjoyed this, working through the layers with repeated listenings. I will definitely come back to this. I am glad that there is a Bjork in this world

Not quite in the top 3 Bjork albums for me, but still endlessly creative and interesting to listen to, with a couple songs that are some of my favorites across the entire discography.

Björk, not a big fan...album wasn't even on list of essential Björk album...read some reviews and was really mentally prepared for the worse...But what a great album!!! Truly unique, had for me a "sacred feeling"...LOVED IT!

Liked it.

I do like some Bjork. But "Post" is in my opinion the far greater album.

The voice is a human instrument, perhaps the most important of them all. People have often understood its usage but only some can truly understand its hidden potential. Björk most certainly saw to that with Medúlla, a left turn that could rival her most celebrated left turns. As always, Björk will never settle for complacency and will do whatever she can to challenge herself whilst knowing that her audience will still be there anyway. Medúlla, probably her most underrated record, can either confound or complicate one's expectations yet respect is a given. Favorites: Pleasure is All Mine, Where is the Line, Vokuro, Oll Birtan, Who Is It, Submarine, Oceania, Ancestors, Triumphs of a Heart.

I rarely choose to put on a bjork album but every time I do it’s a nice time.

Never listened to this before. Was interesting and atmospheric, but not as accessible/fun as her earlier stuff. More Sigur Rós than Sugarcubes, I guess.

Hell yeah~! More Björk. This is nowhere near unlistenable to me, but I guess tastes differ haha.

Two days ago the 1001 Gods selected Ys by Joanna Newsom which is one of my favourite albums. I said then that she was a phenomenon all on her own and nothing else matched her. But then I was forgetting about Bjork who like Joanna Newsom has a sound all of her own. Don’t think I’ve ever sat down before to listen to this album. Like a lot of her stuff quite a lot of the tracks are instantly accessible but one or two do leave you thinking what the hell was that about? But I like that challenging sound and appreciate how hard Bjork has worked to produce her unique sound. Didn’t get around to listening until late at night which as it happens is probably the best time to do so. Certainly not an album for the school run or titivating oneself up before a night on the beer. Like most Bjork albums another one to file under “must listen repeatedly and critically to understand it” section. Which I hope to do one day but which I suspect is futile as Bjork does not want it that way. Doing so would also mean seeing a glimpse of what’s inside her head and I don’t think I really want to go there. 4/5 7/3/25

If there’s one thing you can always count on from Björk, it’s that she’ll never take the easy route. Medúlla is one of her most fascinatingly bizarre albums—an almost entirely vocal-driven experiment where the usual lush instrumentation is stripped away in favor of layered human voices, beatboxing, and choral arrangements. The result is an album that feels primal, futuristic, and at times, downright unsettling. Tracks like Where Is the Line and Mouth’s Cradle push the boundaries of what a song even is, while Who Is It and Triumph of a Heart bring in enough structure to keep things from feeling completely unhinged. It’s weird, challenging, and often beautiful, but definitely not an easy listen. The genius of Medúlla is in its textures—Björk turns voices into rhythm, harmony, and even noise, creating an album that feels both deeply human and strangely alien. At times, though, it can feel more like an art project than a fully realized album. The absence of traditional instruments makes some moments feel hollow, and while the vocal experimentation is impressive, it can also be overwhelming, like listening to an avant-garde a cappella group trapped in an echo chamber. It’s ambitious, but not always something you want to put on. Still, you have to admire the sheer audacity of Medúlla. It’s not Björk’s most accessible work, but it might be one of her most daring. It’s an album that sounds like it was made in a world where instruments don’t exist—just voices, breath, and raw emotion. Whether that makes it a masterpiece or a fascinating misstep depends entirely on how much you’re willing to let Björk drag you into her strange, otherworldly vision.

A seminal work, one of Björk most difficult records. Despite being a huge fan of her work, this used to be the one album I did not return to as often, but eventually it clicked. I remember watching Björk perform "Oceania" at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens when I was a kid and at the time I didn't like at all. Of course that completely changed a few years later. Here, Björk strips music down to its primal origins, with arrangements that consist only of voices and vocal samples, and employing a whole host of famous or soon-to-be-famous collaborators such as Mike Patton, Rahzel, Robert Wyatt, Tanya Tagaq, and some japanese weirdo called Dokaka. While I don't think this album is as essential as Homogenic or Post (both not on the list), this is when Björk began veering more and more into abstract territories, effectively leaving pop sensibilities behind for the avant-garde. Key tracks: Pleasure Is All Mine Where Is the Line Who Is It Oceania Mouth's Cradle Triumph of a Heart

As I said already, my flavor of weird

Don’t ask me to explain this because I can’t: Fiona Apple, but as a space robot?

Her voice is the instrument.

Björk - Medúlla Really interesting album, yet it sounds really beautiful. I like the fact that Björk went all for it and experimented a lot of new sounds all throughout this album, mostly using voices, acapella and beat-boxing. It surprised me how out of this world this album sounded despite the fact it was just a bunch of people singing at different frequencies and tones, the fact that they barely or haven't used any instruments to this is incredible. This is great! 1.- Pleasure Is All Mine = 9/10 2.- Show Me Forgiveness = 6/10 3.- Where Is The Line = 10/10 4.- Vokuro = 8/10 5.- Oll Birtan = 6/10 6.- Who Is It (Carry My Joy On The Left, Carry My Pain On The Right) = 9/10 7.- Submarine = 8/10 8.- Desired Constellation = 7/10 9.- Oceania = 9/10 10.- Sonnets / Unrealities XI = 7/10 11.- Ancestors = 8/10 12.- Mouths Cradle = 10/10 13.- Midvikudags = 6/10 14.- Triumph Of A Heart = 8/10 FINAL SCORE 8/10

Hauntingly beautiful. Felt like I should've listened to well after dark. Last track lost the haunting aspect. Still beautiful voice and sound cool, but haunting doesn't apply

yes sss bjork my goat. this list needs more albums like this, actually interesting and unique stuff that bangs

This evolution of Bjork makes so much sense. She thinks about music and vocals differently from most, so why not an almost completely a capella pop album? I feel like her discography is like a dissertation and intellectually I love this album and the big swing it takes. I liked listening to it, but only a few tracks really stood out. I would rate as a 3.5, but bumping up to 4 for the sheer audacity of the project.

Another Bjork album I had not heard previously and another one I really enjoyed overall. A couple of real stand out tracks ("Who is it" in particular). Real drama and epicness (?) to the album - unfortunately a couple of bum tunes ("Ancestors") where the crazy gets dialled to 11 means its not a 5. Strong 4. Will return.

The multilayered acapella vocals are just gorgeous. It’s as if Björk reached into the earth and pulled out something primordial.

It's weird, but then again, it's Bjork so of course it is. It's charming, interesting, and unique. Ideal for this list.

Medulla is Bjork's fifth studio album, and recording comprised almost entirely a cappella. Her previous effort, Vespertine, involved extensive electronic tracks, and these songs are as far from that format as possible. Bjork uses voices for all arranged parts - including a pseudo-slap bass. These are interesting, challenging songs that could be called avant garde, or could be an "alt-classical." These are not songs that will appeal to all ears, but they are interesting, beautiful songs.

listened to again fascinating

This is a headphones album for sure. My first Björk album, and I'm kinda into it? It's weird, but I knew it would be going in. The use of vocalizations instead of instruments is really cool and makes for an interesting but cohesive sound.

Qué se yo, estoy re loco. Un viaje con muchísimos arreglos vocales. Nota: 4.2

This is…really great haha. It’s one of the albums on here that I’m really glad is on here. I didn’t even realize the point of it until the third track, where everything is vocal. It’s neat. I don’t think I’d ever listen to it for fun? Haha it’s a little intense. And I wouldn’t necessarily call it pretty. But I do like it a lot!

Acquired taste

Soundscape with voices alone, very creative and interesting. Some electronics. Beatboxers, throat singers. Quite beautiful and gentle.

Odd but good

Where is the line, Vokuro, Oll Birtan, Who is it, Oceania, Ancestors, Mouths Cradle, Triumph of a heart

This is a pretty divisive album in a number of different circles but I happen to like it a lot. Of course the album is creative and ambitious, but still interesting and well-executed, something that not all “ambitious” projects can lay such a prominent claim to. 5 albums in a Björk hasn’t missed. 8/10

When Bjork commits to a concept for an album she commits hard, sometimes to the detriment of the album. This isn't my favorite Bjork album by a long shot, but it's hugely ambitious, always interesting, and has some really beautiful tracks.

So far, I've rated a Björk album 5 stars and two others 3 stars each. Fact is, she's a weird artist. And this is a weird album by a weird artist. But this is one of those weird albums that works - against all odds. In general, I'm not a fan of minimalistic approaches in music. I prefer to be blasted with full-on maximalism. Give me that full, bombastic instrumentation and all of the complex, dense, ever-moving soundscapes. That's definitely not what this album is. And yet, it works. It's cool, it's new, it's fresh, and it sounds good.

Very cool! Don’t know that I’d listen to any song on its own but great sound

I've been aware of Bjork forever but never explored her music. I know a couple of the big singles, like Army of Me, The Hunter, and the newest one, Oral, with Rosalia; and I've listened to/enjoyed the Sugarcubes. But Bjork was one of those artists who was always kind of cool but a little too weird for me. I might have to change that after hearing this album. Is it weird as hell? Yes. Is it cool and interesting? Also yes. This album is kind of like what would happen if you combined Pentatonix, Imogen Heap, Nine Inch Nails, The Hu, and a classical choir — all things I enjoy (I contain multitudes, okay?). This album runs the gamut from ethereal choral pieces to quirky pop songs to just bizarre stuff that doesn't sound like anything else. The fact that this album was made with minimal use of instruments and is mostly made up of vocals is insane. Bjork's voice is probably one of the most distinct voices in recent music history — that rich alto is instantly recognizable, and few people can make screaming and growling sound so good. Who Is It? is a certified banger, as is Triumph of a Heart — I can see why those were singles. Where is The Line? is a cool kind of industrial/choral song. Submarine and Oceania are also great but completely different vibes. The songs where she sings in Icelandic are cool too. This is definitely a strange album, but it's also really cool and atmospheric. And Bjork is one of the few modern musicians who really does something original. 4/5

Björk's music is so surreal, so psychedelic and creative, that it very nearly defies logic. Medúlla is no exception. I am bumping it down a notch for the music being less accessible to general audiences than some of her other entries on this list (e.g. Debut, Vespertine). But it's still excellent stuff – really, mind-bending rather than necessarily pleasant. Mind-bending in the best possible way. Björk's overlapping vocal arrangements on this album are easily the highlights, particularly in tracks like Mouths Cradle, Where Is The Line, and Triumph Of A Heart, where she really goes all in on the weird avant-garde scatting. The music is bursting with personality, ideas, and musical virtuosity. It's insane. The music is quite minimalist, with instruments (or even non-vocal sounds in general) being used sparingly. A few of the tracks, particularly on the first half of the album, do suffer a little from this, particularly as Björk's accent makes her lyrics hard to make out at times. Show Me Forgiveness, Vokuro, and Oll Birtan (tracks 2, 4, and 5) are essentially 100% vocals-and-nothing-else songs. I worry it could get a little stale, especially upon album relistens. There's not much to glean from these kinds of tracks without dissecting the lyrics and melody, and if you're not that kind of listener, you can feel a little lost in the weird wonderland of Björk. 4/5 Key tracks: Mouths Cradle, Oceania, Triumph Of A Heart

This album is fucking sick Jesus Christ.

where is the line with you is a fucking triumph jesus. also her voice is just so unique and powerful mmm.

Is this perfect? No. Is it for everybody? Christ no. But if you're a certain kind of person (and I am), when this hits, it *hits*. Some inessential stuff in the middle, but what a start and end.

I didn't really need to listen to this again to rate it, but I was always gonna. Brilliant album, not my favourite of hers but definitely up there.

(*Icelandic breathy moaning intensifies*) Now I love Bjork and nearly everything she does, but I will say this is probably one of her most "experimental" albums, and will definitely not be for everyone! The almost sole use of spoken word and vocal noises instead of instruments definitely gives it a very specific, intimate air and basically you're listening to a group of people breathing heavily at you for the best part of an hour... That being said, still some great tunes here, and Triumph of the Heart is on my regular rotation for a reason. Faves: Who Is It; Oceania; Triumph of the Heart

An experimental journey into the avant-garde world of Björk. It took a few listens to truly dive in deep to appreciate but the creativity is off the charts.

very compositionally interesting. not bjork’s best, but a very neat album.

Un viaje, muy flashero. Con suerte hay dos instrumentos en todo el disco, es raro, va.

Björk Truly is something else

Listening to Bjork is like stumbling into a room full of people who are far smarter than you and listening in. You learn something, you feel like you are probably getting about 70% of whats going on and am ok with that and you hope in a few years it makes more sense when you've caught up. I love her independence, the absolute drive forward, the energy and production quality. At times it did sound like i was listening to a christmas album from a world filled with orcs and elves, but thats not necessarily a bad thing.

Bjork es una figura fascinante en la música contemporánea. Por muchos motivos, sus obras abarcan estilos y corrientes variadas pero todas de enorme valor y calidad. Si bien sus tres pimeros discos son más accesibles y junto a Vespertine serían los más recomendables para iniciarse en su mundo (Sugarcubes al margen), este Medulla es otra obra de arte. Sucede a Volta, un disco que no estaba a la altura de la trilogía inicial, pero no deja de ser un buen álbum. Sin instrumentos, solo voces (y un gong), con la participación de colaborades tan dispares como Mike Patton (Pleasure is all Mine y Where is the Line) o Robert Wyatt (Submarine), lejos de ser un debe se integra en el concepto del álbum. Hay de todo: techno en Triumph of a Heart, Vokuro que es una vieja canción islandesa para piano con un coro de 20 voces, Oceania un tema que sirvió para las Olimpiadas de Atenas. Un gran disco. Otros discos de 2004: Heroes to Zeros de The Beta Band, Nick Cave- Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus, Arcade Fire- Funeral, Wilco – A Ghost Is Born, Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand, Tom Waits – Real gone, Morrissey - You are the quarry. También: Sonic Youth- Sonic Nurse, TV on the radio- Desperate, Youth, Blood, Green Day - American Idiot, Bart Davenport – Game Preserve, Interpol – Antics, Modest Mouse – Good news for people who love bad news, Brian Wilson – Smile, Lambchop – Aw c’mon / No you c’mon, The Dears – No cities left, The Divine Comedy – Absent friends, The Delgados – Universal audio, Kasabian-Kasabian, The Organ - The Organ, Adan Green - Friends of mine, Ye (Kanye West)- The College dropout, Keane- Hopes and feras, Pinback-Summer in Abaddon...

Weird as shit, cool as shit. It isn't too often you hear something this weird and unpredictable. Favorites were Who Is It, Oceania, and Triumph of a Heart

One part Experimental Björk and one part a capella equals a wonderfully ethereal sort of record. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

I’m at a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4. This is the second time we’ve gotten Bjork, and this is a much, much different album than Vulnicura. I’m not entirely sure what to make of it. This is a really ballsy album to try and pull off, and frankly, she succeeded entirely at what she set out to do – every instrument here is a voice. Some of it processed to hell and back, but impressive all the same. It gives every track a uniform sound, but not a uniform style, and the versatility that she explores throughout this album is kind of remarkable given its general somber and almost spiritually driven tone. I could be misreading the album as somber though – I’m just going off the vibe of most of the tracks, a lot of which feel slow, intentional, breathy, and a bit held, as if to give everything its own space to shine. The exception to this is obviously Triumph of a Heart, and in a way, I’m glad she reserved herself from making more tracks like that – it makes that one stand out, feel special, and connect really well as the final track of the overall experience. I definitely hit the zen state a few times while listening here, but I think the album didn’t do a great job of keeping me in it – for as ambitious as this is, it does fall apart under its own weight a few times. There’s some production choices I disagree with, and there’s a number of times where the melodic structure is lost (albeit intentionally) in favor of a slightly off-beat rhythm that never quite found the balance between musically pleasing and captivating for me. Make no mistake, though – this is a captivating album. It’s 45 minutes that’ll sort of take you every which way, but you have to be willing to go along with the journey. I don’t necessarily blame anyone who could give this a 2, because it is abrasive, unnatural, and discomforting, but if you’re willing to accept that, it’s an enjoyable enough listen on the strength of its ambition. Anyone giving this a 1 is just too afraid to be challenged by music. For me, it’s a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4, if only because I respect its ambition so much, and I was genuinely really captivated by the album. It’s not strong enough to carry its own weight and its own concepts for the full 45 minutes, but when this album is rolling, it’s a beautifully layered mess that’s a treat to listen to. Even when it’s not rolling, it’s just a layered mess that’s technically sound, and that’s still an interesting listen in its own right. I liked it, what can I say?

It’s Björk. Very creative and interesting. Who Is It is a great song. Overall it’s ambitious, but it ant not my favorite of hers. Gotta be a 4/5 though.

I appreciate the vision and creativity of this album and what she was reaching for, creating these soundscapes purely with human voices. Just the audacity of the attempt is refreshing and worth a lot. Having said that, it's often a challenging album, especially compared to some of her previous works. The song structures are so...unstructured or, I don't know, symphonic at times? There was even a moment where a song began and all of these voices started layering in and it reminded me so much of an orchestra warming up before a performance. And I think most listeners are really not used to listening to symphonic music these days, so this is an album that might demand more from the listener. It really requires you to take the time and space to engage with it. I also find a lot of its themes to be rather somber. For these reasons, I don't enjoy it as much as some of her other works, even though I have big respect for it as art.

Very solid opening with the weird panting haha Have to appreciate the individuality of the artist I like the layering of all the chaos to make something beautifully terrible. Idk I kinda like it It sounds like what watching a thriller feels like

The pleasure is all mine To get to be the generous one Is the strongest stance The pleasure is all mine To finally let go And evenly flow Who gives most Good album. She has the most incredible voice, and the whole thing feels dreamy and profound. 4/5

This album is impressive just for the fact that it’s composed primarily of human voices

Listening to this reminds me of the time that alien spider/lizard hybrids invaded my hometown - really weird but ultimately sexually gratifying. I'll let your imagination fill in the details

Bjork defies words, so just - Fantastic!

Bjork is exceptional right? Just incredibly imaginative. some of it does jar with me but on the whole I'm always just wowed by how complex and fearless her music is.

This was good, very experimental and interesting. I can't say I'll listen to it much day to day but it was certainly cool. No bangers like debut or the swan one has but still good.

It’s Björk at her Bjorkiest and Rahzel for crying out loud! Not sure when I’d be in the mood to listen to this again but it was a really fun ride. This list has taken my Björk knowledge from 0-3 and each one has been very different. I think I like Björk?

That voice. I have always wanted more of that voice. And this album offers a surplus. It comes in many strange shapes and colors. Certainly any semblance of pop music has long since left building. At this point she is making art. As such - it is somethings beautiful and engaging and other times confounding and alienating. I'm not sure by what standard to rate this album - especially next to something by the Stones, the Who or even Joni Mitchell or Coltrane. It seems more like it belongs in a museum.

Not her best but still great

I really liked weird Bjork back in the nineties. I thought Debut was brilliant. Then she started getting weirder.. and I think I made an assumption I wouldn’t like it and it wasn’t for me. Well how wrong was I. I throughly enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Turns out weirder Bjork is good too.

Only Björk could make an album like this. One that feels as magical as it does, yet evokes the rawest form of human spirit.

I figured I would hate this, but I love what she did here. It's a unique experience, an album that's mostly acapella but if you stop listening to it intensely, it sounds like normal music. That's an achievement.

I like it! 4/5

If early Skrillex was a signal from the transformers, then this was an eloquent message from aliens outside our solar system. Otherworldly, gracious, delicate, tactful. Maybe not totally ‘music’ as it’s known, but most definitely inimitable art

other worldly

4☆/5 08.24.2024

Bjork is great, you don't need me to tell you this

loved all the different harmonies/sounds she used.

++: Where Is the Line, Öll Birtan, Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) +: Pleasure Is All Mine, Show Me Forgiveness, Vökuró, Submarine, Oceania, Ancestors, Mouths Cradle, Triumph of a Heart +-: Sonnets / Unrealities XI, Miðvikudags -: Desired Constellation 8,1/10

Just weird enough for me. Loved the ee cummings poem. Some bits felt too off the wall for me but I just enjoyed the journey.

Definetly a unique Björk.

Very experimental, but also very unique and outstanding, like her other work. I don’t hate it or love it but I like it very much. I really must be in the mood to listen to this whole album again, but this actually is the matter for me with every Björk album.

Bjork isn't for everyone. But everyone should hear her. Personally i think she's a genius. Ahead of her time, never confined to the constraints of pop music but always tapping into pop sensibilities. This album is weird, daring, beautiful and unique. Just like Bjork. 9/10 True art

Great stuff.

Bjork is just my type of weird.

Only Björk, I guess. I think I pegged this for a strictly vocal album from track one, and I was curious what my reaction at the end of it was. In a word, "mixed". In several, it's a well executed record where the "instrumental" vocals occasionally come off somewhere between weird theater performance and crummy a capella group (looking at you, "Ancestors"), but at certain points make for genuinely cool, robotic-ish dance music. Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Where Is The Line", "Desired Constellation", "Triumph Of A Heart"

this was a really fascinating album. obviously a lot of it is voices and altered voices (nearly all of it?) and the music can be a little bit challenging at times, but i found it all fairly compelling. it's an album that sounds cool. although i think at points it's definitely difficult to listen to. i had never listened to bjork before and often i hear her spoken in the same breath as yoko ono, and honestly i do not see the similarity between this and yoko's works (i do enjoy yoko as well) beyond "woman with unconventional voice is making weird music" - all that being said, i did enjoy my time with this one.

odd and quirky, björky

Björk is a one of a kind artist.

Something as unusual as a (mostly) a capella pop-ish studio album. A few tracks Where is The Line are quite bizzare, but also quite interesting. This is definitely not easy listening, but there's definitely depth and quality here, and I think there are more layers I want to uncover, so probably going to listen to this again soon-ish. Seems like a 4.

What a strange (in the best way) album. I don't think every song lands for me, but the ones that do are truly incredible. Even though I knew this album was almost entirely a capella, I still wasn't prepared for how innovative and different it is. Definitely worth a listen, even if you don't connect with the songs themselves. Top tracks: Where Is the Line, Oceania, Mouths Cradle

I quite like this, appreciate that it’s all vocals. Not as good as Petra Haden’s all acapella song by song remake of the great album The Who Sell Out” (well worth seeking out if you’re unfamiliar with it. I also got to listen to this in 5.1 surround, since I have the “Medulla Surrounded”, edition, a CD/DVD set with surround sound and videos on the DVD. I got it through the BMG Music Service CD club, back in 2004.

Not my favourite Björk record, as it kinda struggles to hang together, but I totally respect the commitment to artistic intent on each track.

Finishes better than it starts. Yes, it's quite challenging. Yes, it is quite innovative. It's not something I'd listen to every day, but it is something I might put on if I was bringing a woman home and she'd said that she liked Björk.

I had to wait to be in the right specific mood for this album, but then I listened twice in a row. Hunting and mesmerizing

I have to give so much credit to this album just because it’s so unique. Not a bad listen, either, what a fun surprise.

Beautiful

So I have loved the previous (earlier) Bjork albums I've had from this list, but this one is really pushing the limits of how much I enjoy her experimentation. I do not think it is bad in any way and I truly appreciate the concept of a fully human record, but it simply can be an awkward listen at times. 7/10

4/5

I like the majority of Bjork's work and this is no exception. I don't think this is quite 5 stars for me but it is really good. Bonus points for having Mike Patton involved. P.S. Homogenic and Post really should've made this list.

This list has made me a fan of Bjork

You have to respect Bjork for giving no quarter to the concept of trying to sell records or being concerned about anything other than her artistic vision. Here she produces an album formed almost entirely from human vocals, but keeping it arty and a million miles away from Glee or Pitch Perfect style acappella. Choral chanting and weird beatbox sounds feature heavily in support of Bjork's unique lead vocal. I genuinely don't know if I like it or not, but either way it's a success on its own terms and is hugely impressive. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Who Is It Date listened: 19/04/24

Why don’t I hate it? i have no idea

Because it is very interesting and I can see it being a must listen, I give it 4 For my tastes it is a 3

Standouts: Where is the Line, Who is It, Triumph of a Heart 3.75

Had this in my ears as I went outside to enjoy the 2024 eclipse, specifically Desired Constellation, and wow. I couldn't have picked a better soundtrack for an eclipse if I tried. This album is delightfully weird, wonderful, and utterly singular. It had been many years since I'd heard this album, and I definitely have a deeper appreciation for it after revisiting it.

Comme à son habitude, Björk ne fait aucune concession et explore de nouveaux territoires. Parfois brutal et dérangeant, toujours intrigant

Great stuff. Lovely clean vocals. Bit kookie but in a good way.

Wow, actually really enjoyed this one. As much as I've struggled with Bjork's music, this album clicked for me. Production was really cool, lots of great sonic choices, and some nice off-the-wall songs too. Just much more engaging and interesting to me than what I can remember of the other albums we've had. Almost makes me want to try those again, as if this flipped a switch for me. But yeah, this was pretty great. Favorite tracks: Where is the Line, Oll Birtan, Submarine, Ancestors, Mouth's Cradle, Triumph of a Heart. Album art: Bjork wearing a freaky deeky knitted Mickey Mouse/Batman kind of mask? And she's got a strange necklace that spells Medulla (I think). It's a striking cover, I think I like this more than some of the others she's got. 4/5

This was really cool. I’m generally not a fan of a cappella music, but the variety of voices and sounds on the album are used to an impressive and haunting effect. Worth revisiting. Favorite tracks: Where Is The Line, Vökuró, Mouth’s Cradle

Bjork has such a unique sound. I never know what I will get when listening to an album by her. I love everything she does.

A mature weirdness from Bjork!

This. Is. FANTASTIC! I've heard Bjork songs before and really enjoy the sounds of her voice. But the opening, and first half of this album have very discordant melodies that almost flow like am opera. I LOVE THIS and am so glad you introduced this album! I'm going to play it on repeat. OH, but there were a couple of songs that sound like pop songs, especially the very last song. Didn't like those. So I'll give her 4 stars.

After 1 Sugarcubes & 2 solo albums, we are at Björk no. 4 Unexpected CanCon with Tanya Tagaq 🚨 Though using “Ancestors” as an example, this is definitely not an album to put on at a party. Inuit throat singing sometimes induces a fight-or-flight response in me :0 Other songs give off renaissance fair vibes (Öll Birtan) Definitely pushes into a more ambient soundscape, as hinted at in Vespertine (“Desired Constellation”) Like her debut, a mixed bag in the best way. It’s too niche and strange to go around recommending this to my friends (even compared to the other 3 Björks), but it’s also a gem I’m glad to have come across. HL: “Where is the Line”, "Vökuró", "Who is It", “Oceania”, “Mouth’s Cradle” February 15, 2024

Weird ass album

Honestly, I thought this was awesome and I'm gonna come back to it. It's creepy, dramatic, and weird, but Bjork sneaks in some catchy pop moments that sneak up and grab you. The way she uses beatboxing in these tracks is also super sick; it reminded me a little bit of soundcloud rap at times. Favorite Songs: Pleasure Is All Mine, Who Is It

Loved it tbh. I think I like albums where the production feels very raw and there’s nothing between my ears and the artist’s voice. I felt that way about the lead vocals on this album, although the background / accompanying vocals were of course heavily modified. Awesome rhythmic stuff even if there were some weird sounds sometimes. 8.5/10

Bjork weird as fuck but still pretty good. Throat singing song was one of the strangest I’ve ever heard. 7/10

Not my favourite Bjork album, but still very good with a decent share of 5 star songs.

Strange and beautiful. Two of my favourite adjectives.

It's Björk! What did you expect? It's unusual, experimental, sometimes annoying, sometimes elevating. It's music you should listen to, it's not made to please you.

I started doing this project so I would be sure to always have something new to eat up a chunk of time while I’m driving at work. Since I’m at work I need to be sober. I really need to listen to this album again when I’m stoned. I prefer when she sings in her native Icelandic language, I don’t have to worry about understanding her or how weird her pronunciations are. But in all it’s very neat and haunting stuff. But it’s also not something you’d want to randomly pop up in your Spotify feed.

Whoa, this is incredible! Bjork uses the power of vocals and harmonies to anchor the soundscape. Some breathy sounds aren't my favorite but are very effective.

Unique ethereal sound

Spooky and whimsical

Singles: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) Triumph of a Heart Probably the most listenable Bjork album - with just a little bit of Bjork-weirdness. I like this one. Standouts: Who is it, Where is the Line, Pleasure is All Mine, Triumph of a Heart, Oll birtan. 4/5

🧞‍♀️

on savait déjà que tout le monde était sexiste ici

glorious execution. In the end its all about the execution.

Cool af some bangers. Tight when piano comes in, but the voice stuff is fun

I liked this way more than I should

My favorite bjork album on the list. She gets really out there

Have heard a lot about Björk, but never really explored her music. At first I wasn't that struck, but it grew on me after a while. The album is quite uneven; there are many songs that didn't really pan out that well, like 'Ancestors' with the weird breathing and moaning, or 'Where Is The Line' with strange sampled vocals that make up the bassline. I think I would describe it as more impressive and interesting rather evoking of that primal feel you can get when you hear some really good music where you just want to hear it again. Many times there are only acapella vocals and choirs, which is cool, but it is perhaps not the kind of music I typically listen to. A thing that must be said is that this must've been extremely progressive and far ahead of the curve when it came in 2004. I feel that I recognize a lot of elements in this music in some of Lorde's or newer modern music. Also, it feels fresh and sounds great for being from 2004, it might as well have been from this year for all I'm concerned. Perhaps not my favourite album here, but I am very glad I heard it and it widened my view on music!

For me, Bjork is like an acquired taste, and its impressive how she manages to maintain that album to album; I find myself having to reset my expectations and appraise each album on its own merit. I enjoyed this about as much as most 3s but I gotta give it a 4 for the amount of balls it has.

Björk can moan at me all she wants

Severely overlooked album! A lot of people get hung up on the song only ”gimmick”, when the music is as strong as any Björk album. Of course there’s a more experimental edge than on her previous albums, and the sound palette isn’t for everyone. But it is for me! Classic Björk as far as I’m concerned

Sebulba

Our favorite little swan takes to flight and abandons the dancefloor, much to the dismay of all the clubgoers, but alights at last upon a steeple, and in her sudden and unexpected flight she brings along a chorus of voices, inspired by her own natural instrument and ready to experiment with her. Take your time. Breathe. Concentrate. Or not. It doesn't matter. The song actually sings itself, and you can consciously add to it or let yourself be unconsciously swept along. Why not try both?

This album had so many surprising moments of chaos. Loved it.

This reminds me of Sonic Youth’s experimental albums. Not an album you return to regularly, but when you do it’s brimming full of new musical ideas

The first half was awesome! Love the a capella. Toward the second half, it started taking a turn for the strange. Nonetheless, I appreciate the experimentation.

She’s amazing.this is full of so many strange emotions.

This is really beautiful. It took me a minute to get into it, but this is a singularly creative, exceptionally well crafted album. Bjork's arrangements are somehow both minimalist and complex at the same time, with layered vocals doing the heavy lifting, augmented with spare use of instrumentation. The result is a sonic landscape that is both ethereal and mildly unsettling. Bjork herself is in perfect voice and her songwriting is surprisingly intimate. Fave Songs: Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right), Desired Constellation, Vökuró, Oceania, Mouth's Cradle

“Medulla”, Bjork’s wild and wonderful fifth album, is a fascinating exploration of sound and song. It’s designed to be played in the early hours of the morning, when the world is at its most unseen, its most mysterious, its most beautiful. So, as luck would have it, I came to first hear this album at five a.m, jet-lagged and wired, with no expectations. And I was blown away. I can totally accept that this will not be to everyone’s taste. Bjork’s music can be difficult to stomach even at its most accessible, and this pushes her sonic experimentation to its outer limits. But the sheer craft of “Medulla” deserves nothing but praise. Almost every sound heard on this record is a vocalisation, either from Bjork or various featured artists. From symphonic choirs to whistling, beatboxing to heavy breathing, throat singing to whatever the hell is going on in “Triumph of a Heart”, everything is stitched together into a Frankenstein-style forty minute tribute to the human voice. Every song is an ice sculpture of sound, meticulously crafted and flawlessly executed. Sometimes the vocals are crystal clear, like in the plaintive a capella of “Show Me Forgiveness” or the Icelandic, medieval-style chant of “Vokuro”. Sometimes they’re warped and distorted, like in the brilliant, unhinged “Where Is The Line” (a Disney song from hell) or the sample running through “Desired Constellation”. I particularly enjoy the combination of “glugging” noises and the choir in “Mouth’s Cradle”, a highlight of the album. But perhaps most startling of all are the singles, two songs that somehow charted and are among the most accessible Bjork tracks I’ve heard. “Who Is It” is transcendent beauty, and “Triumph of a Heart”, against all odds, is a dance track with “mouth trombone” and an exhilarating rhythm accompaniment. On the flip side, “Ancestors” pushes the format to its absolute limit: much as I’d love to be more open-minded, I can only tolerate so much throat-singing. It’s also a bit of a shame to hear piano creeping in to accompany the voices, breaking the aura cast over most of the rest of the album. And elsewhere, the a capella, solo melody tracks have little to distinguish them from each other and end up not adding a great deal of substance to the runtime. This isn’t a perfect album: it may not going into my regular rotation, and there are even other works by Bjork I prefer (“Vespertine”, probably “Homogenic”). But I can honestly say “Medulla” is beyond anything I’ve ever heard: a true work of art.

Jackson Pollock: Cool start, intimate sounds. Second track decent, third abrasive without being rewarding. I'm leaning towards a 3-4. I don't know if I would come back to this unless I proper got into Bjork. Its very unique sounding, but I think I preferred my first listen of another album of hers. The vocals actually remind me a little of one of the BCNR singers. Favs: Pleasure is all mine Who is it Oceania Least Favs: Where is the line Overall:

Aw, here she is. I love her so much. "Desired Constellation" is just what I need. A lot of this holds up beyond proof of concept, almost 20 years later. She could release it next year and nobody would blink.

Completely mad, uncomfortable and beautiful.

A wacky yet charming experimental album, she has something that just makes her craziness endearing.

Not something I'd listen to every day but you can't deny the genius

Björk's album "Medúlla" offers a diverse musical journey that ranges from moments of pure pleasure, funky sounds, and unique originality to perplexing experimentation. "Pleasure is all mine" delights the senses, "Where is the line" grooves with funky beats, and "Oll Birtan" stands out with its captivating acapella. "Who Is It" impresses with its cool sound, while "Ancestors" is a peculiar yet unforgettable experience. "Triumph of the heart" closes the album on a funky note, making "Medúlla" an intriguing and unconventional musical adventure. (Written partly by ChatGPT)

interesting sound, generally enjoyed it. Not sure how to process.

really great, love the throat singing and percussion

Brilliant concept that is just a bit too self indulgent. Bjork is one of a kind and makes the entirety of music better through her fearlessness.

I'm not big into Björk, but this is one of my favorite projects from her and "Where Is The Line" has to be my favorite song in her whole discography. Unique little island of an album!

exquisitely crazy. Acoustic beatbox.

Great album, I'm a massive fan of her first four albums and it's good to hear the next one is good also. Accidently heard it on shuffle which probably killed it but rest assured I’llbe back

Love this a lot Shows how you don’t just need to be skilled with instruments to make great music Favourite tracks: Pleasure is All Mine, Vokuro, Who is It, Submarine, Oceania

Very interesting and, in the right mood and circumstances, beautifully haunting and pretty engaging overall. Highly original and frequently quite strange.

Some incredible production but the odd song not for me

This album would absolutely send your head to the moon if you were stoned

Started out really hate-listening to this, but by the end I was glad it was on the list. Finally, something really different that I would never have heard otherwise! I haven't had an album like that in a while. An album focusing only on vocals (and electronics), it wasn't my favourite but I like that someone tried it. Hearing beat boxers and throat singers on the album were both highlights for me. The problem is I don't like Bjork's voice or style. She's a warbler and I am not. Still giving this 4 stars for the worthwhile experience. Where is the Line is where I draw the line though. That song annoyed me a lot haha.

On paper this album shouldn’t be as good as it is, but it comes together so well

Björk is life

Lindisfarne soundsystem represent. Dark techno combined with monastic chanting, complex rhythms and layer upon layer of sound shifting in and out - the music never settles for very long. Definitely more like the soundtrack to a video-art installation than radio music - but that's what she's going for. Between Icelandic lyrics on some songs and Bjork's vocal style there aren't a lot of hooks or memorable melodies to hang on to. Instead, this is about sonic textures, dissonances resolving and harmonies dissolving, poly-vocal stuttering, singing degrading into noise-making...like the voices in your head having it out on a windswept hebridean island. The album is all about the vocals, but there are some fantastic synth parts like the delicate, shimmering and fuzzy marimba-sound pulsing out the rhythm on Desired Consellation. Favorites: Where is the Line with You; Who is it... ; Desired Constellation; Triumph of a Heart

This a perfectly disorienting album. Björk wanted to make an album completely made of human voices and the result (while not completely made of human voices) is a powerful and primal statement. As always Björk's voice is so dynamic that she can move from a growl to a shout to a whisper seamlessly. Her control of tone and timbre is phenomenal making the listener hang on every syllable. Simply put, this is a stunning and arresting album. My only complaint is that it felt a bit tedious on the back half.

I dig Bjørk. And listening to her while driving through the Icelandic countryside added a whole new dimension to her music. While I think Post and Debut are stronger albums, there’s nothing like hearing her sing Ancestors while in the shadows of the mountains that inspired her song.

Iceland's finest exports in order of importance: 1. Aluminum 2. Björk 3. Fish Björk has always been an artist who, on the surface, is very easy to dismiss. Never the most accessible, her music requires the listener to be active. But if you do that, it's beyond rewarding. This album contains some of the most complex, insane, but rewarding vocals I've ever heard. If you have the luxury, please listen to this album with a good pair of headphones and block out everything else from your daily routine. I promise it'll be like a religious experience. Or maybe you’ll go insane (looking at you, Ancestors).

Björk’s beautiful, bewildering response to the age-old question: “What that mouth do?”

Ethereal.

Wtf?

Bjork is one of a few artists that I consider a true musical genius. This is a bit of a challenging listen, and sometimes I get irritated with albums that I would consider "challenging", but in this case I really enjoyed it and have already re-listened once. I've always loved Bjork's voice, so having an album that is mostly her voice is really nice. But what makes it great is the blend of voices and sounds. It's layered and complex, and ultimately incredibly beautiful and unique. 4 stars.

This was interesting. Never listened to any Björk beyond the odd hit I might have come across on the radio, but I enjoyed the oddness of this and it's mix of music. I wouldn't say it's made me a huge fan, but it's clearly interesting and an obvious sort of thing for inclusion on this list - some of the 1 star reviews are laughable and sound like frat boy/Wayne's World style reactions. It's way better than that. Would I listen to it again? Maybe. But it's still at least 4 stars,

I've gotten into Björk because of this list and love the other two albums. This was an adventure. I totally understand why people hate this album. It's weird but very unique and it just works for me. I normally hate avant-garde yet Björk just makes it listenable to me. Not that I would put this on all that often but it's weird in a way that I like.

wild album, mostly voice-based but sounds like electronica. 4 stars. weird.

I love Desired Connections and the two singles, "Who Is It" and "Triumph of a Heart". Amazing album cant imagine the production of this mostly accapella masterpiece.

2004. Not in my edition of the book! 4 stars Icelandic Kate Bush, all the weirdness without the tunes. Oddly appealing to listen to, and she has got a good voice. Not for everyone, but well worth a listen.

Bjork's a trip, man. Can't say I'd listen to this on the regular, but it's hard not to respect her steadfast refusal to adhere to the norms of the recording industry. Bjork's gonna Bjork, and I dig it.

The vocals on this album are incredible. I don't know what kind of training it takes to sing like this, but it's gotta take a lot of work for both Björk & her backup vocalists. Ethereal, surreal, soothing, and beautifully foreign. A nice rounded 4.

I love Bjork, but it has to be the right day to listen to her experimental bent towards music. Luckily today was the right day. I don't think I've ever heard his album, but one thing stuck out immediately. While listening to "Ancestors" I heard the familiar (yes, familiar) sounds of Inuit throat singing. And I had a hunch that this song was a collaboration between Bjork and Inuit recording artist Tanya Tagaq. And it was. It was a nice surprise to hear two artists I appreciate getting together to make some music.

Wasn't looking forward to this - I always felt this album was the beginning of inaccessible and unenjoyable bjork. But actually, despite it's experimentation, it still sets wonderful scenes that get me through my office day. Also, Rahzel is great. Once saw a gig of his where he brought along roses and gave one to each woman in the audience. Really casts a wide net.

Focus more on mantras than verses or conventional song structures with the vocal beats switching up in the background to keep it interesting. This is bold and avant-garde, the beat-boxed beats are enjoyable in the way human voices are, emotionally evocative in how they strain, soar, rasp, bark etc. I enjoyed this album more when I first heard it years ago, the problem being that while I enjoy this when it’s on the songs don’t stick in my mind and beckon me back when it’s over. But to reiterate I do enjoy the shit out of this when it’s on and I respect it just as much as ever.

Todella kaunis levy! 4/5

Björkin kokeellisimpia levyjä, mutta silti mielettömän kaunista. Ihmeellistä, miten voi samaa aikaa testailla äänimaailmojen rajoja ja välittää uskottavia tunteita näin suvereenisti.

Ehkä alan vähitellen lämmetä Björkillekin. Voimakkaiden tunteiden paikasta tämä(kin) tulee ja sitä on pakko arvostaa. 4/5

She is an absolutely fascinating and original artist in so many ways. This album reflects that. Wow. Such interesting use of melody and harmony, amazing compositions, and stellar performances.

Many will say that this is where Björks music started to collapse under the weight of her concepts/character and I can see why, but I think this one still has a lot to offer, both musically and emotionally. The album was made to explore the possibilities of the human voice and as such, I think it succeeds to demonstrate how strong, fragile and diverse our voice can get. It's also less catchy than anything she'd done before, but I think this one is supposed to talk to the heart instead of the feet.

I really enjoyed this Bjork album and especially the appearances of two artists that I like a lot, Tanya Tagaq and Robert Wyatt. 2 unique voices to join Bjork's string of eccentricities, it's perfect.

I really need to listen to some more trip-hop, it is aesthetically pleasing to my ears

I kind Bjork, but too many of the songs sounds the same

I thought 'Oh no not another Bjork album' but I like this. I've always thought I should like her- all the ingredients are there but never clicked. I like the capella slant though. Very well produced and executed.

Weird Bjork always a fan, go Iceland!

captivating, addictive although I still dislike Bjork's singing manners

Love Bjork but somehow had never heard this. Flashes of Low and Hounds of Love. Sweet.

I just told someone "If there is such a thing as a 'mostly the singles' fan or Bjork I am it" but this was interesting and clubby in a way that was accessible for me

This made me feel like I was a cool witch when I am a little nerd playing animal crossing on a Thursday.

A very ambitious and fascinating album that many artists wouldn't be able to pull off, let alone make the end result sound so unsettling in some places and beautiful in others

This is doing such cool harmonic things

Le concept est original, l'album est court, la voix est superbe, tout l'inverse des Smashing Pumpkins.

4.0 - I fell off the Björk fan-wagon with "Vespertine", just feeling burnt out on the weight of that album and her cringe-y "Dancer in the Dark" project. This album reminded me of what I love about her as an artist: the cocksure experimentation, the strange mysticism and the haunting melodies. Despite all the weirdness, the record feels light and human. Maybe it's the a cappella aspect, which is both boundary-pushing without being gimmicky.

Like stepping through a contemporary art exhibit. Her sound is more polished and atmospheric. Bjork takes on a more experimental approach here. Unlike her previous albums, not every song is intended to be pop-structured. Instead, we have these heavy glitch pop hits interlaced with simple a capella. It's insane when the channels are isolated and you realize it's nearly entirely a capella, even the heavy noises are beatboxing. This is meant for focused listening. The tracks are ethereal and frankly somewhat surreal that it will be found boring and distracting to listen in other means. It feels like a guide to a capella with how astonishing the producer can make a capella so recognizable yet versatile in utility. Some songs feel like a precursor to chillwave. Many of the simpler songs remind me of a late medieval choir. In terms of complaints, there's not much relistening to with so many experimental tracks. It helps that they're shorter, but you have songs like "Ancestors" which would help being half its length, but I could see how that could lose artistic effect. The album picks up and peaks in the middle, losing its momentum after "Oceania." The simple tracks don't engage me like the earlier ones. "Mouths Cradle" doesn't evolve much and ends anticlimatically, but its grand sound reminds me of the Norfair theme in Metroid. "Triumph of a Heart" is a lighthearted humorous finish. Please watch the music videos to this album.

Would I play this at a party? No. (That's a lie, but most people probably wouldn't.) This is not decorative. But it's interesting. Beatboxing and throat singing in the same work? Wow. Experimentations with the human voice as instrument. I don't know how to rate this. Some of it was intriguing. Some of it made me laugh out loud. Some was really challenging to keep listening to. Sometimes, listening on my headphones made me feel like I was possessed and had voices in my head. Björk didn't just stick to what worked before, did she? So, I'm going to celebrate her artistic audacity here.

intense and weird like all bijork almost religiously pretty. 4. maybe a 3 if im having a shit day tomorrow.

Rarita como diario

fully textured, but quite hard work for an easy listen

My least favorite Bjork album but still a stunning achievement

Это что-то с чем-то.

Beautiful, mesmerising album. There's always something new to discover in it.

Queen

My Singing Monsters vibes

This is #day777 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here's to my only second Björk album so far. The first one, ironically Debut, popped up all the way back on #day17. Crazy how long ago it was. This is my first time hearing this particular record, and all I can say is it's fucking weird, even by Björk standards. I prefer more "conventional" numbers, like, say, "Oceania," though. What I can't comprehend is the selection of her albums on this list. How on earth are Post and Homogenic not here? Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day778.

Medulla is an album I appreciate, but rarely find myself returning to in Björk's discography. Really enjoyed this revisit, which encouraged me to reconsider my feelings on it, though I still don't think it's among her top tier - more like a 3.5 for me

Raar

At times I listened to this and I was questioning what was happening can’t hate the swing tho

An interesting concept does not make for a great listen. Some gems here but not enough to justify the inclusion of THIS album over Homogenic, Post or even Vespertine. This fucking list.

Interesting concept, was generally a pleasant listen but I'm not sure how much of this I could put up with if it weren't Bjork. "Ancestors" was strange, even for Bjork. I liked "Triumph of a Heart."

Really interesting use of voices. Some beautiful bits but quite a strange whole album.

O fato de eu ter escutado esse álbum inúmeras vezes é que sempre ficava com uma impressão diferente. No início, veio a revolta e a sensação de que as músicas tinham sido gravadas num banheiro. Até o inglês da Björk eu achava horrível, e eu nem falo inglês! Depois tive a ideia de intercalar as audições com bandas que faziam uso mais tradicional de instrumentos e, aos poucos, fui assimilando melhor a proposta do álbum. Mais para frente, enfim, consegui "entendê-lo" e confesso que toda essa insistência valeu a pena. A faixa Where Is the Line foi a primeira a me convencer de que valia a pena continuar. Depois disso, percebi que o problema nunca foi o álbum. Era eu tentando escutá-lo como se fosse um disco convencional. Quando finalmente aceitei a proposta da Björk, tudo começou a fazer sentido. O que antes parecia apenas estranho passou a soar criativo, ousado e até fascinante. Medúlla definitivamente não é um álbum que tenta agradar logo na primeira audição, mas recompensa quem aceita entrar no seu universo.

Good album because of the nature of what she did. Just better ones out there

It's not my favourite Bjork album, but enjoyed revisiting this

New to me, had no idea she had so many albums to be honest. This was good though. ‘Desired Constellation’ a particular highlight. 2.5

Probably need to give this a re-listen in a dark room, or spend a morning with all the Bjork albums off this list. One of the more technically impressive records I've listened to this far.

Bjork wins the award for most interesting music that I only want to hear once. Curious about the people who seek this out on a regular basis.

It's bjork, so I got into it expecting weird, and then it wasn't as bad as I expected? That's not saying much, but I've heard way worse on this list.

3/5, fusion folk music kinda. Not bad Icelandic album.

Ok

This was fine. Not my favorite Bjork album, but good

I listened to this album two years ago. Who is it? is a song I've listened to a lot of times after I first listened to this album (as a big Bjork fan). Nonetheless, I will be like every other Bjork fan and complain that albums like this got included over Homogenic, one of the best albums from the 90s. This is just pretty standard Bjork.

Not near her best but still very good

Really unfair to give it this score rather than a 3.5 The style is incredibly unique and experimental. At times I’m in awe by how it somehow works and can easily understand why others would rate this higher

yeah man this is cute a couple dud parts but over all very interesting

Pretty sure Björk may be the only musician that could pull this off. Not saying I love it, but I respect it. 3/5

Where Is The Line had been a great test of my openness and i believe i’ve passed. somewhere between 2 and 3 for me, i appreciate the acapella and creativity but after a bit it’s repetitive and falls flat.

Love Bjork, but this is a bit of a tough listen.

Christ, that was hard work! There were some tracks I loved and some that I found disturbing (Ancestors - I'm looking at you) 3 seems like such an odd rating for something so bizarre!

I've never quite gotten Björk.

I appreciate innovation, but at a certain point music just needs to sound good. Sometimes I think Bjork is more concerned about the former than the latter. That being said it still gets three stars because the highs were really high, you just need to sit through a lot of lows to get to them.

This is another album that is at least very interesting. The use of human voices gives the album a distinct character, even when it doesn't work super well. Some songs seem to be intentionally unintelligible, and I don't really care for those. I also think the beatboxing is kind of distracting. It's a unique album and I think it deserves a place on this list, but I don't expect to return to it very often. It's interesting that the Wikipedia article mentions that the album has charted #1 in three places: France, Iceland, and Wallonia. I just find it odd to call out that the album was popular in half of Belgium, and to put that region on the same level as two whole countries. This has nothing to do with the album itself; I simply found the detail amusing. Favorite track: "Mouth's Cradle"

I haven't enjoyed any of my previous listens to Bjork and this didn't change my mind. It seems light on melodies (with a couple of notable expectations). I get why people might like it, but for me it was a bit if a chore

The Kid A of Kid As

Fascinating and a bit weird but this works on its own weird way. Definitely hanging close to line of 4 stars

#456 / 1089 Heard before? ❌ (partly) Revisit? ❌ ✅ I don't think I've heard this album at all. It was released during a time when all my time went into my own clubs, searching for new groups and going to gigs of very specific kind, but also starting a family. Pop music had no place in my life. The music is really beautiful, dreamlike at moments. Icelandic sounds amazing in these songs, reminds me of old stories from the sagas and what I've learned of norrønt language. I sort of wish it was played with more traditional and ancient instruments, instead of modern beats. I'm kind of surprised that Björk hasn't done projects with Wardruna or Heilung and the people behind those projects. Pretty music that was definitely not made for me 3/5

C‘est du Björk… pas mauvais!

I'm from the hood do i look like i listen to bjonk Interesting premise idk if fully worked, probably need to give it another listen. 5/10

While I do enjoy a lot of what I've heard from Bjork, I don't think this album is nearly as palatable as her earlier stuff (Debut and Post). This album relies too much on arhythmic noises and undecipherable singing. There's very little in this album to grip onto to be able to relate to. It's still got that typical weird Bjork-vibe, but for me, it has jumped the shark. Edit: I've listened to this a second time after reading reviews and the Wiki. I did not know that this was entirely a cappella. That certainly changes things as I am more impressed with what was achieved with vocals only. I have more respect for it now and am able to appreciate it more in that respect.

I'm glad this album exists, but I'm not sure if I liked it.

It's been almost a year since I checked out Björk's debut on my album journey, and I was curious which record I'd get from her next. As it turned out, this was quite the genre swerve. After the success of her electronic-influenced Vespertine, Björk wanted to avoid instruments and electronics altogether, opting for a more introverted approach that focused on the human voice. Thus, aside from programming and a few spare instrumental additions such as the occasional piano or bass synthesizer, Medúlla is an a capella album. It's certainly an ambitious effort, reflected in the personnel she recruited to offer a variety of vocal techniques. You have Tagaq's Inuit throat singing on tracks like "Pleasure Is All Mine" and "Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right)", beatboxing from Rahzel of The Roots, Shlomo, and Dokaka on the likes of "Where Is The Line", "Oceania", and "Triumph of a Heart", Gregory Purnhagen's mimicry of a trombone on "Where Is The Line" and "Triumph of a Heart", and the choral vocals for half the record offering a wide range of utility with the voice while keeping Björk's off-kilter delivery the central focus. Even Mike Patton of Faith No More fame and Robert Wyatt show up to offer more passionate deliveries on cuts like "Where Is The Line" and "Submarine". Stranger than that, Beyoncé almost made it on this record. Imagine the reception that would have garnered. And yet... I don't know, this record's not quite fully clicking for me. I cannot deny the bold direction that Björk went with this record, but the focus on the voice can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there is an almost earthly feel to stripping back the instrumentation and focusing on the voice, which can certainly work wonders on the more intimate cuts like "Show Me Forgiveness" and "Öll Birtan". On the other hand, when you have a collective of voices coming together and need to keep Björk's voice at the center while also tinkering with the programming to keep the beatboxing patterns in time, the mixing can get rather muddy. I'm not surprised that these songs would be difficult to replicate in a live setting, because the programming had to play a bigger role in keeping it all together without a melodic instrumental foundation, and it doesn't always pay off. Man, I spent so much time discussing the voices on the record, I hadn't even gotten to what Björk was saying with hers. Aside from the gibberish on cuts like "Ancestors" and "Miðvikudags", Björk reflected on her motherhood after the birth of her daughter with artist Matthew Barney. Some tracks like "Pleasure Is All Mine" and "Submarine" saw her muse on the breastfeeding she did for her newborn, and the intimacy surrounding it, while other tracks like "Show Me Forgiveness", "Where Is The Line", and "Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right)" saw her grapple with more complex emotions as she sought to do right as a new mother in a chaotic world. "Oceania" even saw her extending the motherly outlook onto the world itself, as the ocean is viewed as a caretaker for the countries it surrounds, with no boundaries between them. It's a bit clunky in the messaging, but I found it endearing. Really, the only lyrics that I wasn't into were the outro of "Mouth's Cradle", with the repeated lines "I need to build a shelter away/From all the Osamas and Bushes", very bluntly telling the audience that even she was emotionally affected by 9/11 and the war with Iraq. Even if her heart was in the right place, her feelings on that predicament could have been told differently. At the end of the day, I respect the experimentation on Medúlla, even if I feel it's only partially realized. I know Björk would continue with her genre-swerving, and I certainly admire her for doing so, even if it's not always gonna click for me. That's all.

01) Pleasure Is All Mine - 7,5 02) Show Me Forgiveness - 6,5 03) Where Is the Line - 7,0 04) Vökuró - 6,5 05) Öll Birtan - 5,5 06) Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) - 7,5 07) Submarine - 6,0 08) Desired Constellation - 6,5 09) Oceania - 7,0 10) Sonnets / Unrealities XI - 5,5 11) Ancestors -3,0 12) Mouth's Cradle - 6,5 13) Miðvikudags - 5,0 14) Triumph of a Heart - 7,5 TOTAL: 6,25 (63/100)

Interessantes und voll cooles Album tatsächlich. Eher weniger was für casual listening aber sonst sehr cool

Overall Rating - 2.86/5 (5.71/10). Just weird. Not necessarily unpleasantly so, but definitely weird. I can tell she's having a lot of fun with this, but it's a little far afield for me.

I’ve always appreciated Bjork more in principle rather than application. These mostly stripped down arrangements (sometimes even a capella ) are fairly interesting, as they let her unique voice do its thing without fuss. 3.5 stars

My first thought when I saw this album pop up was “Oh No”. I really liked the first few Bjork albums. But at some point (maybe this album) I just didn’t have the patience anymore and I stopped following her releases. Revisiting this was fun. The pull for Bjork for me was always the production, which on this album was more minimalist than I prefer. But after a few songs I was able to adjust well. It took two sessions to finish this album, but ultimate I am glad I did. Don’t hate it as much as before but I will likely not revisit again as a whole, maybe a song or two. 3 stars Also, the “Oh No” that popped in my head wasn’t because I had to listen to this again, it was anticipating the reaction, lol.