Medúlla

A little too abstract for me. Not bad though.

The album is impressive as an intellectual and conceptual experiment. The human voice is truly a magical instrument. However, it’s also a challenging listen. I’ve never been a fan of Bjork’s music and this album isn’t going to change my mind.

Really enjoyed her first 2 albums, and the reminded me why I stopped listening to her. Just a bit screechy vocals in too many of the songs. Gave up half way through.

Very strange album. Listened to one of her other albums before on this list and really liked it, this one not as much. 2/5 Won’t listen again

Medulla... Oblongata? Bjork always had weird albums, but this may be the weirdest. It's almost borderline inaccessible.

I can get behind some ethereal sounding stuff, and I get the intended vibe, but man Björk is weird af and not in a good way sadly. Tough listen for me, weird moaning, whatever. 2 outta five

Challenging

Too avant garde for me. It felt like vines were wrapping around me - 4/10

Pretty weird, which was expected. Glad I listened to it though.

4/10 - It was absolutely insane but in kind of a bad way. Some of the songs but most were crazy and I could not vibe with. Where is the line and Who Is It both grew on me as they played.

I appreciate Bjork's work, even this record, but I did not have much fun listening to it and nearly developed a headache.

I get the ambition. I feel the talent. I appreciate some of the vocal achievements. I do not intend to listen to this again, by choice.

Damn that actually was pretty awesome. I really liked the voices and stuff

Interesting and innovative but not fun or cool in any way for me. I guess this is too avant garde for me to appreciate properly I guess. The vocal techniques showcased are impressive... but also a bit off-putting for me personally.

Some cool stuff - her voice is amazing overall and I’ll definitely go back to “Who Is It” - but in general, I’m just not super into it. Very cool concept and arrangements, though. 2.5/5

I hope this album wasn't included to ensure continental equality. This was a tough listen. Part goth rock, part Gregorian chants, part experimental throat sounds. I was expecting to hear "bud" "Wei" "ser" somewhere in there. But don't worry, I'm not going to complain. What would I actually say if I met her? I don't think you ever want to ask a musician to explain themselves, do you? "What's the track that has the greatest meaning for you? Which songs do you hum when you're doing the dishes?" I just don't know. I guess I don't want her to ask me why I'm giving this album the rating that I'm giving it. Who Is It is pretty good.

Sure it's adventurous, but when have i ever felt like "sure, I'm in the mood for Medulla!" It is generally strange, but then there are several cringey moments, well featured in Ancestors and Triumph of a Heart that just make you go "WTF?" Who Is It and Oceania are the closest to traditional deliveries and I'd be a lot more engaged if the rest wasn't as artsy/experimental. To each their own... this one isn't mine.

I appreciate that she was trying to do something different. It just wasn't for me.

Ailishin pilli.. Hehehe... Billy.. vai... Hehheh.... Billy ailiiishi... hehehe. islanti valtaistuimella seisoo.. länsimaiden valokeilassa nautiskelee... remote island not like boring finlan mainland... ei viikinkifantasiaa.. hollywoodfantasiaa suomessa tarpeeksi... björkki kuulostaa erikoisen epäerikoiselta... yrittää tehdä jotain.... jotain mitä kaikki muut tekee... ja annettu valokeilaa koska politiikka, islantiulkopolitiikka.... where is the line

She's definitely talented. Just not my cup of tea.

weird pero nice voice?? idk not for me rn

Not my style, didn't like it

Aldri heilt forstått meg på Bjørk

Not fun to listen to. Bonus star for Rahzel beat boxing making it SLIGHTLY tolerable.

Have to hand it to Bjork, she is very good at gasping, panting and breathing. I can appreciate the concept of the album but did not enjoy.

my first björk album!!! -of course i have heard of her but have never listened to her music -the noises in the beginning of this song are……interesting -this is definitely weird but im waiting to see if its my kind of weird or not -WOAH THOSE SOUNDS IN WHERE IS THE LINE -this does feel a little like something that would play in a fight scene in a game of thrones type show -like its giving warrior music -who is it is the first song i actually kinda like -this is something i would not listen to again -BUT! it is very interesting to listen to -her voice is very mystical and i like that -overall this is a 2 star album for me just because its a little too strange weird for me Not in a good way

You can put all the Björk you want on here but it doesn’t mean I ever have to get into it

2.3/5 Like 20% of this was pretty good, 60% was whatever, and 20% was barely listenable. Weird af lmao Best track: Vokuro

Interesting lol

An Björk komme ich nicht ran.

14th female artist on the list out of 159 albums... Not really for me, honestly I welcomed the change of pace from the rest of the list, but it was a bit much for me at times. I would say I probably wouldn't listen again.

I like Bjork. She's experimental and weird. This is not her best album. Too experimental and weird for me. 2/5

For this dumpster fire, Bjork decided to make a completely a cappella album, so there are no instruments at all. Just voices making ungodly noises. I feel like I should like Bjork's music, but I just don't. Like for this album she paired up with beat boxers, Mike Patton of Faith No More, as well as Inuit throat singers. It should be good, but it just isn't. Bjork just ends up layering too many voices on top of one another, and it just ends up giving me a headache. In a few songs, she uses heavy breathing as a "musical instrument" of sorts. Fuck off, I don't need to listen to wheezing. I think what drives me nuts is when she constantly switches time signatures, or starts into a really fucking weird time signature. It makes my brain itch. Overall, a few tolerable songs, but for the most part, just hot garbage that hipsters would love ironically. This was better than her other album I reviewed (Debut). Let's hope this is the last of her albums on this list. Favourite songs: Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right), Where is the Line, Vokuro Least favourite songs: Ancestors, Oceania, Oll Birtan, Show Me Forgiveness, Desired Constellation 2/5

Having never listened to Björk before I didn't know what to expect with this album. Norwegian throat singing/beatboxing was definitely a surprise but what's more of a surprise was that I didn't hate it. While this album is almost certainly one I will not return to it was an interesting listen so it gets a 2 out of 5.

That's Bjork alright.

oerhört busigt album. består nästan bara av mänskliga ljud

2.5

i mean it’s interesting but it just doesn’t sound good

Good God. Can people handle a full album of this sound? This guy can't. Kooky little Eskimo had the weirdness dial cranked to 11 on this one.

Kokeellista ja erikoista, mutta niin on myös Björk niin ei yllättänyt. Aika pitkälti acapella Ei kauheasti miellyttänyt musiikillisesti, mutta ei kummiskaan vituttanut suunnattomasti niin 2 tähteä. Ymmärrän kyllä 1 tähdet kanssa

Third Björk album and I can definitively say I don’t get it - the instrumentals hit some notable highs and scratch the experimental itch, but the vocals kill me every time. The repetition, odd rhythmic delivery, just all of it. I get this is her thing but as someone who is an instrumental listener first I just cannot digest what sits on top of some stellar electronic backing tracks.

Who Is It // Sonnets / Unrealities XI //

Didn't have a desire to get through the whole album. It started alright, but not for me.

I’m not a fan.

A bit much for me. Had a few cool songs, though.

- very interest free form avant garde pop - lots of different noises used - feels like I’m being cursed by a witch at some points

It's B jork, not really my musical tastes but it was nice to try something new.

Not for me. For how great Bjork can be, this feels like an atonal mishmash of sound.

I want to love her because she's so weird and cool, but I don't find anything that makes me think I'd like to have this album in rotation. There was a brief moment, and definitely not with this album where I fell in line with what she was doing, but every track here just is not approachable to me now. I feel some pang of regret to rate it so low, but here we are.

The problem with Bjork’s music for me is that it gets old very fast, you listen to a few songs and then it feels like it’s the same with minor differences

Definitely interesting, but overall not something i would listen to again. An alright experience, but that's about it.

Todo muh lindo con bjork pero no terminan de entrarme los temas ni los discos. Perdon bjork 4/10

What is left to say about Björk after the other albums of hers that I've already reviewed? She's a nutcase weirdo marching to the beat of her own drum and I respect that. But I don't like her style of music. Electronic experimental bullshit isn't my bag, baby. And now she's serving pure human vocal a cappella this time? I mean, c'mon. I'm so disinterested in this and it's just not working for me. Nothing about this album has changed my overall opinion of Björk. It's cool that she exists and does what she does, but it's not for me.

Every song is her just holding a note between words

wholeheartedly agree that it's significant enough to be on the list, also absolutely not my cup of tea. sorry bjork!

Huorailee enemmän kuin edellisessä... Täsmälleen sama taso.. Pitäis parempaa tehdä...

2nd June 2023 Listened on the journey back from Italy. Delayed flight so got back around 10.30 then chilled weekend doing house bits and axe throwing with Oscar. She’s one of a kind and her music comes from a unique, sensual place. 2.5 if I could.

Weird. Nope

BL: know of Björk. The few things I’ve listened to I’ve not been a massive fan of. I’ll see how I find this. AL: I can appreciate what Björk was going for here. Having an album which is 99% acapella is definitely a good idea, and it creates some very interesting sounds and is unique but it just doesn’t stick with me. It just sounds a bit bad to me, I can appreciate Björk I’d always gonna be avant garde but yeah this pushed it too far for me. 2/5 just for the concept, 1/5 for my enjoyment FT: “mouths cradle” 2/5

Not for me, acapella and beat box i guess with some piano

Not my type but it was a really good experience to see the range of the human vocal chords

Another Björk album I thought I'd be more into

Meh

This is my second Bjork album that I've gotten on this list, but I didn't care for this one too much. It was pleasant to listen to, but no particular track stood out to me. Bjork's vocals and arrangements are generally really great, but something on this album just didn't click for me.

a bit too crazy for me

Well developed sounds but not my cup of tea

- Listened to other Bjork albums before but not this one - Don't really get Bjork, maybe her music would grow on me if I went back to it - Appreciate the idea of using a capella but I didn't enjoy listening to it

Idk this one was pretty out there I'd have to be in a pretty weird mood to want to listen to this again Found Debut by Bjork which I got as album #39 to be a lot more accessible

Really kinda weird.

It was not what I was expecting. The acapella was cool in some parts but sounded dumb in others. Favorite was Pleasure Is All Mine. It has a weird creepy tone that is interesting.

A very experimental album, that, almost by definition, should have never been counted as an album to die for; the fact that was a one off is all we need to know. As for me, while I applaud Bjork for going where no human has gone before, music-wise, I cannot say I like this album.

I can admire the goal of this album, but this just wasn't an enjoyable listen for me at all.

Hemsk platta. Ruskigt nära bottenresultat men det är inte sämre än hip-hop.

Not my thing really, but interesting! I can see why people dig it. 2.5 stars

Not as strange as I would have expected for a Björk album. It's unusual, but listenable. Still not my cup of tea, though.

Bjork is cool. This is fine but won't likely come back to it.

Weird

Groot respect, maar dit is me toch iets te weird

I had already listened to Björk’s first album. It was interesting to hear how much she’d progressed from then to this fifth album. I can confidently say that she grew from that first awful album to this mediocre album. The growth really showed in that several of the tracks sounded like an attempt at a song was made. I would go so far as to say that several tracks could count as songs. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - It was ok to listen to it but wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.

Intense and passionate! A little too obsessive to my taste. Do not listen in the morning. The mood is agressive and self centred. On the other hand, one can enter with her in that state of psychological intensity where she appears to dwell. Not my cup of tea.

Niet de leukste van Björk

I cant do it

The exact point that Bjork's music became a theoretical construct: an idea about making music, rather than making music. There are other good albums later in her work, but never again the quality of her first four.

Bit much for me at points, but I’d rather listen to this than some other albums on this list.

I honestly feel like I'm being generous giving this 2 stars. I didn't understand the point of any of it. There's probably an artistic angle I could take to justify it but if I'm being honest it doesn't feel like there was anything worth listening to here.

Un dels artistes més sobrevalorats de les últimes décades. El que hom pot veure d'interessant en ella és quelcom que se m'escapa. Es pot valorar la seva valentia i les seves ganes d'explorar nous territoris... però és que no arriba gairebé mai enlloc

More like, "Where is the line with this list", am I right?

En algún momento de mi vida mis gustos se encontrarán con Bjork y la entenderé, pero por ahora me resulta que se pasa de "experimentar por experimentar". Siento que el disco gira en torno a una misma idea con variantes en cada canción probando a ver dónde atina. Entre todo ese mar, rescato Oceania, donde la experimentación cobra algo de sentido; pero en general no es tanto un album como un banco de pruebas para un artesano

Medúlla doesn't do anything for me that the other Bjork records didn't do either. I do not get or like her. An eternal 2.

This is a bit mad. Very funky sounding, a lot going on from all sorts of different directions, and some clever layering. But, for the most part, the sound that comes out isn't something I actually like that much. It's not unpleasant, but it's not something that I find particularly memorable for anything other than 'that was a bit weird'. Top end of the 2 range. 

Her vocal talent is the only thing saving this incredibly hard to listen to album from only having a single star. Vocal loops and irritating movements in the instrumentals, made this feel like work and and not entertainment.

Nice idea to explore things like throat singing but honestly the result of it didn't sound appealing at all so I cant even give this extra points for effort

Left this for a few weeks as I wasn’t really in the mood for Björk’s voice only experiment. Turns out it wasn’t so testing. Not great, but interesting effort. Only the last song with obvious beat boxing stood out to me. A little too much choral-styles. Worth going on this list for the interesting experiment nonetheless.

A little too raw for me. 3 2

bgl mais artístico mas nao curti muito na real

Koko levystä kumpus mieleen kohtaus Boogie Nightsista ku ne meni myymään huumeita jolleki rikkaalle ja siellä oli räjäyttelemässä papatteja joku aasialainen poika.

This really has done nothing for me. Cannot get beyond my indifference to her style of singing. Not for me

A capella. Aburridísimo.

I can't name the coherence-beyond-formal missing from Medúlla, but as much as I'm glad I listened to it, the record is certainly missing it. Shaw's Partita seems to be in the same vein, but I didn't have as much trouble following the thread of that work. I love Matmos's more abstract projects, but bounced off the surface here. Right now, I can only identify the obvious: It's all voices! There are lots of great collaborators! All true, but where many seem to see strengths I see only descriptions. I hope my opinion either moves or sharpens in the future.

Dear Bjork, First of all, congratulations for having another record on the list of 1001 albums. For me, this is the second record I've reviewed, as previously your debut album was presented here. Clearly, your talent and your critically acclaimed works have taken your career through several decades and I expect many more releases in the future. That being said, my opinion of your work hasn't changed. After listening to the first couple songs on this album, it was apparent to me (again) I'm not a fan and was hoping the album would end soon. I don't know if it's because your music is getting weirder or more complex, which is unlikely, because your music has always been weird and strange. It was a difficult listen, but I listened to the whole thing! Sorry, it's not for me. I still have several hundred more albums to go and I have a feeling we'll meet again. Sincerely, TDIT

This is some weird shtuff. Not for me.

Felt really bad that I did not like this. might revisit, could just be it wasn’t good music for taking a bath.

Too experimental for me

Only managed a couple of tracks so not really fair to score this album. Bit Bjerk- y, as you’d expect so 2*

I appreciate what Bjork was going for, but for me it didn't translate on paper well enough. Kind of got lost and disengaged througout. Bit of a shame because I've really liked Debut and Vespertine from this list, and Post is one of my favourite albums from that era.

typical bjork madness

Unique and strange, but interesting strange! I personally believe it could have benefited from being a shorter album, as in my opinion, less is more for "different" music

I don't have access to the substances required to enjoy or understand this album.

Ei nappaa

Kudos to her for being brave enough to release an acapella album. She gathers an eclectic mix of artists including human beat-box Rahzel and Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagac. She references many styles including Gregorian Chants and Bulgarian women's choir music. Overall its a pretty impressive and ambitious project, but in all honesty I would never seek this record out for listening pleasure, its just a bit too inaccessible for me.

I was not the biggest fan of this. It was a little out there for me.

I don't understand this but it's artistic in its own way, I guess?

oooh everyone look, it's Björk and she's being weird again! Isn't she just so WACKY? 2/5.

Ouff pas certain de cet album. Certaines chansons sont pas si pire mais en generale c’est vraimemnt pas quelque chose que j’aime. Je comprend les bruit de bouche/gorge, c’est quelque chose d’original et ca vaut la peine detre enentendu mais l’album est vraiment juste boff. Je ne vois pas quand on peut ecouter cela pour le plaisir. 2.5

First time listening to Bjork, Not sure what to make of it,Might give it another go

Meh

Det her album rammer en genre, som er totalt det modsatte af, hvad jeg kan lide at lytte til. Jeg forstår virkelig ikke appellen

Never heard of or listened to bjork before so not sure what to expect. I really don’t like this. Some cool moments but most the album is unlistenable.

I've listened to several songs by Bjork, and now five different albums from her. No matter her style, no matter her era, no matter her age, and no matter the theme of the album, there is just one thing to say about her: she's, oh, so boring. Favorite Track: "Where Is The Line".

bjork is shit

A little too out there for me on this one. Feels very ritualistic

TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE! DONT BOTHER LISTENING!

It just sucks.

What a shame: in this album Björn has tipped from brilliance into absolute pretentiousness. I do hope that any of her earlier albums are on this list as they are far, far better. Listening to this was hard work.

In the past year and a half, I have somehow made it through three Bjork solo albums and one Sugarcubes album. I think that’s enough Bjork for one lifetime.

Tiresome winnying masquerading as a concept album. The only thing I would like to do with this record is break the world javelin record

I guess maybe she just isn't for me, but I feel like once you've heard one Björk album you've heard them all. Seriously, does this list need 4 Björk albums? I think not.

I did not enjoy this

Schlimmes Gequietsche!

I don't think I'm a huge Bjork fan after listening to this album. Found myself more irritated than enjoying.

Wat is dit oprecht misschien wel allerkutste album tot nu toe

I don't "get" Bjork. "The pleasure is all mine" is the first track and would have to hope it is hers because I sure as hell didn't enjoy it. I never quite understood the fawning over her that triple j here in Australia did. Perhaps I was too overexposed from that. I didn't see it then and having struggled through this don't see it now. This was a hard listen for me. Visionary some call it. A 4 letter "c" word that rhymes with claptrap is what I would call it. I kinda liked the background singers on Vokuro if only could tune the lead singer out. Only 3 albums of hers to go (and one user submitted entry). Sigh. I really want to give it one star but Desired Constellations (track 7) was almost ok, but also a minute too long. Ok one star as the next track annoyed me senseless again. Having listened to the album I have worked out one thing that annoys me. It is all very different and avant-garde but feels also very overproduced. To me the two don't mesh and it is this discordance that means I can't enjoy it. Maybe her other albums won't be like this and still annoy me but I was listening to this and just trying to work it out.

I have tried several times to listen to this album. It has come to the point where I dread having to come back to it. I take that as a low score and I will move on...

Heel eery Soort pratende harnoniën? Word er heel naar van. Nvm tis verschrikkelijk

It took me from early July to mid September to actually be able to get through this album. I love Björk, but I HATED this. At one point I was like oh thank god I actually don’t mind this, and that’s when I realised it had finally finished and it was playing a track from another album of hers. This was painful.

Some great elements but she habitually goes way too experimental and corsses into childishly anoying. I think 95% of her songs shouldnt make it out of the studio.

The instrumentals were actually pretty neat at some points, but the vocals were genuinely unbearable. The problem is that this is a vocal centric album, so it completely falls flat. I never want to listen to this again.

This album made me feel like I had done something wrong and was being punished for it. Entirely unenjoyable.

once gain, fuck bjork

Muy limpio el sonido pero no entiendo la vibra, tiene como algo experimental (?

Why is this on here?

Borderline unlistenable

A: ... lät stundvis som dom sämsta delarna av Fiona Apple. 1/5 D: Det märks att hon hade redan blivit känd och kunde göra lite vad hon ville. Blev lite besviken på henne, men tbf är det fullt i karaktär för henne att göra lite vad hon vill utan att bry sig. Stor respekt för det och ställvis fanns det, öh, intressanta ljud, men märkte inte på säkert 10 min att jag inte hörde låtarna, så jo. Men de e Björkkkkkkk 2/5

Bjork had a beautiful voice but her music is so far out that only a small number of people can understand it. I'm not one of them

Jesus Christ this was weird. I did not enjoy a single part of it.

Painful

This album stressed me out. It was grating and irritating and put me in a bad mood.

I am not a Bjork fan.

I have been trying to approach these albums with an open mind. After all, every one of these has something to offer, but with this one I just don't understand. I spent the entire time lost in the various seemingly random sounds. Every time a new song began I felt disappointed that the album wasn't over yet.

I like Björk but I got no enjoyment from this one, I think it actively made me anxious. Challenging the listener does not always equal good

Perhaps that’s art and perhaps she’s an alien. Either way, not for me. (0.94*s) I’ll look for Bjork next time I’m in Iceland.

What the hell? Bjork goes off the deep end with Medulla. Either she is trying to stimulate that part of the brain or conjure up some evil spirits. Songs like "Ancestors" sound like she is attempting to revive dead relatives with a cultish ritual or having creepy sex. Not into throat singing. She is just too weird and I think the praise is only coming from stuck up, artsy critics. How this album charted in several countries and sold millions of copies is beyond. Amazingly, I'd rather listen to some lame country or big band,..0.6 stars.

Pretty heavy rotation of Bjork over the past few months. While I welcome the exposure to an artist that I know is a polarizing (both musically and otherwise), the schtick is certainly starting to wear thin. I think I understand what she is going for on Medulla by developing an album that is primarily vocals, but I can't say the results do anything to back it up or make me feel like I have any reason I needed to hear this before I died. She's certainly a character, but that doesn't automatically make anything she does good. Last song was the best and most interesting but I was fully over it by the time I got anywhere near that point in the album. This one reeks of critical arrogance and hipster douchiness trying to seem like they somehow "get it" despite it mostly being nonsensical Icelandic chanting. The fact that the critical reviews are overwhelmingly positive does little to give me confidence in their ability to actually criticize anything. It's fine to call the album interesting or fascinating as it is trying something different but not everything needs to be heralded as "brave" or "groundbreaking" just for being unorthodox, especially when sometimes an artist deserves to be called out when something didn't work. I'd be fine if the reviews were mixed as the album is clearly not for everyone despite the fact that stuffy critics across the board don't have it in them to admit it. 0.88 stars

She's talented and unlistenable all at once.

No.

no banque nada una re poronga

It boggles the mind that people enjoy this

Did I really need to listen to this before I die?

i procrastinated listening to this album for weeks after hearing the first track. there's nothing i like about any of the songs in this album. idc if this is harsh. weird music.

There are no McDonald's in Iceland and they banned dogs. This album is probably why

Day 46 — Björk — Medulla (2004) Listened: May 19-21, 2026 Genre: Avant-Garde / Acappella / Experimental Electronic Vibe: The human body as the only instrument — voices, beatboxing, throat singing, and choral layers replacing every conventional sound, an album built entirely from the inside out. Highlights: ★ Triumph of a Heart Impression: Not my thing but I can appreciate what it is. Once I understood it was all a cappella and beatboxing it clicked a little more. Björk has a remarkable voice and the talent involved is undeniable. Could groove slightly to Triumph of a Heart on the last listen — that was enough to find one favorite and move on. Rating: 1.3/5 Keep songs? Yes Revisit album? Maybe

?? que es esto

Not every idea Bjork has is a good one. Someone should have stopped this before it was made.

I had low expectations based on the cover. Even lower seeing it’s another electronic album. Hate the opening. Don’t need moaning in songs. I just don’t really like this song. Show me forgiveness is weird. Very interesting production on where is the line. Lyrics lack substance. I actually do like the vocals on vokuro. Idk what’s she’s saying but good voice. Production is fine. Lots of bad sounds on oll birtan. This song also sucks. Who is it is better. Whack beat but better vocals/lyrics. More weird breathing/moaning on submarine. Hate this song. Production as a whole is really lacking. Expected much more from an electronic record. Constellation is fine. Again lack lucter production but I like the vocals. This is the longest 45 min album of all time. Enough with eh fucking beat boxing man it’s so cringey and not good beats. Oceania sucks too. Beat didn’t suck on sonnets. Also not electronic at all. More moaning on ancestors nice. Another terrible song. Really cool beat on mouths cradle ruined again by unnecessary moaning. Not going to try to spell the last song. It’s more of the same. All in all, this was a trash album. No good productions. No substantial lyrics. I want my time back. .5/5 for trying.

Starts out with Pleasure Is All Mine, and it must be, because I get no pleasure listening to this. It's strange light airy singing, and some...grunting? Show Me Forgiveness doesn't even have music, it's just weirdness through the whole thing. Oll Birtan is just her saying "han too too" over and over. Submarine is more weirdness. Ancestors has weird sex noises in it. Triumph Of A Heart has some crazy chicken singing through it. Who Is It is basically the only one I could call a real song. Thank god this is over. Best song: Who Is It

No thank you.

The hell is this!?

Bjork is very experimental but I just couldn't get on with this album.

I like some Bjork, but not this Bjork… I wanted to give this a higher rating because I appreciate the creative/artistic vision and risk taking, but wow, was it ever hard to listen to.

i know she's a genius i just couldn't enjoy listening. im so sorry

Is that even music? I'm only halfway through, and Harness reckons it's going to get worse. FML.

Yeah, no, this is just grating.

While I respect what she tried to do with this album. It just isn't good.

Woof.

Thank you, 1001 albums generator for the periodic reminder of why I don’t listen to Bjork

Pretentious as all Björk albums, but somehow even worse

I actually like some Bjork songs from the 90’s. I absolutely hated this. It was a lot of noises, moaning, and bad singing. Everything was super slow and boring.

What a load of rubbish, wish I hadn't named my d&d character Bjork now.

Bjork is just not for me.

Demasiado indie para mi gusto, buena voz pero lento y ritmos raros. Me aburrio mucho y me saturó los oidos, no pude terminar de escucharlo.

I think this process is a bit like Tracy Island on Thunderbirds. Dimery and his politburo are sitting in front of their massed computer screens, watching for any revisionist thought. I recently bagged Ms Bjork in reviewing some other dreadful record, and since then there's been an avalanche of Bjorkabilia. I'm going to stay a dissident refusnik, deviationist Trotskyist reactionary Dimery and your apparatchiks, damn you!

Listen I like beatbox, that being said just because you can doesn’t mean you should. This album sounds like crap, like it’s done in someone’s basement. it’s just you can tell it’s somebody beatboxing in the background it’s not even good beatbox it’s like really really low level. It’s just so distracting it’s just like it is that kid doing that in the background like did you just find someone on the street. It’s hard to take this album seriously or even enjoy it when it just sounds so stupid

Didn't finish it was painful

Felt similarly as I did about the last Bjork album. Interesting, but I'm not sure I understand. I felt like I was intruding on something that wasn't for me?

It's giving Maude Lebowski, the quaternary protagonist daughter of Jeffrey "Big" Lebowski and stepdaughter of Bunny Lebowski. She is responsible for the thug who knocked Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski unconscious. She is a feminist and avant-garde visual artist.

i fkn hate bjork

I sometimes take a dislike to someone maybe for their behaviour, then that clouds my opinion on their art. Such as this little gremlin, after she attacked that journalist in Bangkok. However on this occasion that has no influence whatsoever on this album. It’s just dire, like a long long funeral dirge. Utter shite

I hate Bjork.

Aside from the fact that there are too many Bjork albums on this list, this one is at least risk-taking, unfortunately I found the (mostly human) centric vocals only concept of the album to be unentertaining. I get it, it supposed to be challenging, but challenging to me is something that is difficult to understand or is uncomfortable for some reason other than boredom. This album is neither. I understand what the album is trying to do, it is just gimmicks and cringy, not necessarily artistic. Also, let's be honest, there far too many Bjork albums on here. 6 of them, if you count The Sugarcanes record as well. I am convinced that only 1 solo and 1 The Sugarcubes are actually essential. It is unfair to other artists on the outside of this list looking in that deserve a spot. Most bearable tracks: "Where is the Line?"

alright what

Zo Björk, ik word er gek van

This is legitimately one of the worst albums I’ve ever listened to. For most of the album, the “a cappella” just sounds like industrial noise. The singing is awful and the stupid lyrics make it even worse. It didn’t help that parts of the album weren’t even in English (It’s Icelandic apparently, based on the other reviews here). It actually made me laugh because this album was so bad. Felt myself cringing most of the time it was playing.

Not gonna lie I actually hated this

Terrible. Just terrible.

First track is just the sound of Shambalas healing field More sounds from the obstetric yoga yurt Beat boxing never sounds good on a track

Definitely unique, which I usually try to appreciate in art, but this is just so bad. Most of it sounds like it’s being made up on the spot, so I can’t imagine there was much thought put into the compositions. If these songs were carefully constructed and THIS is what she came up with, then I don’t even know what to say.

What am I listening to?

I just really didn’t like it not my style of music and that’s OK. There was no song that would draw me back to this album and that’s that so we’re starting off with a one out of five.

Pre-listening thoughts are "fuck me, no, not another or her albums", and that is not a healthy starting point!! I'll bravely plough ahead and try my best to rid myself of any pre-conceived ideas. Track 1 was awful, just white noise, and fucking bad white noise at that. Not relaxing in any way, shape or form. Track 2 was worse, and the accompanying video on youtube was horrendous. I just can't do it. Her music is abysmal. How do people like this?

Ja ne

I have to respect the craftsmanship on display here, as well as the bold decision to make something like this, but as far as personal enjoyment goes I will never touch this again.

If it was possible to rate it 0 stars out of 5 I would definitely do it. It more art than music. Absolutely blunt, sometimes even cringy, record was torturing my ears more than it’s allowed to. This woman is very brave to be exposed to the public with this sort of music.

i tried to get this, but i don't really understand bjork

Ugh, Weird for weird's sake. Pass

Super not into it. The sound quality is great and if you're into it, probably a hell of an experience with good cans. But this one not for me

Ass

Not even gonna finish it. This avant-garde wannabe trash is a waste of time.

Un par de veces he defendido a Bjork diciendo que no son tan malas sus canciones, nunca más la defiendo. Es terriblemente malo este álbum. Como si lo hubiese hecho para irritar al que lo escuche. 1

I found this so jarring sorry. I actually felt like I couldn’t finish it. Maybe I’m tasteless but can somthing be too experimental for the sake of it?

This is really terrible and I say that as a fan of Debut. It seems like a bunch of single-take improvisational vocal overdubs. I can't believe this is on the list. It almost sounds like something someone would put out soley to fulfill a record contract

Wow, bad back to back with Doves. I like Bjork. I've seen Bjork. But this album was not for me. I pride myself on being able to "find the music" and stuff like Panda Bear/Animal Collective, Radiohead deep cuts, & Sylvan Esso are 3 of my top 10 favorites. But this was just like practice noise and layered nonsense. It reminded me of Andre 3000's flute album that was super boring not because of the flute, but because it was super boring. I need more for my "music" than this.

At last I'll be able to convince my cat to record their debut album. There's plenty of precedents.

I dont get why its all mine, show dont tell but cmon. What is this why is there sound lab incredibox bollocks in my ears now. What is this trying to be? A biblically accurate clusterfuck?!? Ive seen terrorist attatcks which are less gorey than this gathering of toddlers mashing buttons. Can we get an actual DJ on please? please

so ein bischen wie bei Wagner, ohne Stimme wäre viel besser...c

I'm so sorry I wanted to turn this off as soon as I started listening

The music is so strange and not cohesive - weird pulsing sounds, random singing or wailing sometimes - strongly dislike.

I keep trying because I want to be cool but she just isn’t for me

not for me

Not my taste.

Wack

First two Björk albums were ace - this was a tough listen.

Man… 7am is way too early for listening to Bjork.

This couldn’t be worse. I do not get the fascination with this girl and her music.

Wanted to reach on myself and love this album to its essence but just couldn’t get there. I could hardly wait for it to be over.

Depressing, crap, pained wailing. Lasted 2 tracks!

Day 106 Interesting but not enjoyable 2/10 Highlight Where is the line

The first Bjork album I listened to, I liked. It was “my kind of weird”. But this one is another level of weird. I don’t hate it, but it’s too much for my taste. I can see why people would appreciate it, but I’ll never go back to this one.

Since this project, I have grown to dislike Bjork more and more. Production quality sounds great but that's just lipstick on a pig.

Literally music you hear while getting ritualistically sacrificed by a pagan cult.

Ever see an album cover on here and just go "Yeah, that's a 1." Probably like a lot of people, I first heard/saw Bjork on MTV for the video for Human Behavior, which was a cool song and a great video. Can't say I've listened to her since. Actually put on Human Behavior before listening to this album to see if I liked it as much as I remember and it's still great. But this isn't like that. This sucks. And it gets worse as it goes on...the track "Ancestors" is one of the worst things I've heard lately. As an aside, I'm seeing people marvelling that this was done with all vocals, minimal instruments...as if that's some sort of monumental artistic achievement. This isn't new or original, Todd Rundgren did the same thing back in the 80s.

If her "Debut" for me is divided into great songs and songs I don't like, this album is dominated by the second kind. Sad to say so, but all the vocal extravagance is too much for me. Nonetheless an unique album with iconic cover artwork. favourite: "Vökuro", "Who Is It" worst: "Ancestors", "Midvikudags" 1,5

Nope.

I really want to like her music... but I just don't.

What exactly is this?

👎

Sure. Whatever. Not a fan of electronic anything. And this is some "art" for people who want to be "artist" and their fans wanting to be unique. Do your thing. Fortunately it was only about a 45 minute listen. Bjork is lame as hell IMO and always has been. Try hard shit.

many calling it "unique", although others deemed it "confusing" is the nicest way of saying this was a tough listen

Ich bin allergisch auf Björn. Kann man keine Sterne vergeben?

Would not listen again

Couldn’t wait for this to end

Pretentious and annoying.

I don't even know what I listened to. I have heard of Bjork before but I never listened to a full album by her. I disliked listening to many tracks on this album, it just delved into weird rhythms and nonsensical lyrics. Comparing this to the last album that I reviewed is a such stark contrast which makes this album look way worse. I just couldn't find a single redeeming quality to this album. Going to have to give this a 1-star.

A lot of people absolutely love Bjork, most of them deeply entrenched in the many worlds of music. So entrenched that they've worn out the art form's familiar concepts so significantly that they fall into some sort of delirium that tells them that attempts to shatter those concepts are the same thing as "good" or "listenable." At least that's what I get when I listen to stuff like this album and see a ton of people fawning over it. "An album without instruments" strikes me as some sort of satirical concept from a Spinal Tap-like movie. If someone could sincerely pull it off, then sure, that might be fucking awesome. I don't think Bjork did that here, even though I respect and admire the attempt. When the hell am I supposed to listen to this? It's most certainly not, driving-with-the-windows-down music, and it would almost certainly get your aux privileges indefinitely suspended if you threw it on at 99% of parties not populated by edgelord music nerds. Maybe you listen to it on headphones while you walk through the forest on a gloomy day? If I test that theory, I'd just have to make sure the forest didn't have any sheer cliffs to dive off of.

This was quite a struggle to get through, I really tried to enjoy it. The vocals don't always seem to match up to the rest. Also, the vocals and lyrics are just not pleasant, which is a shame because she's got a great voice.

What is it with this chic? I get she’s an artist but her voice isn’t great, her arrangements are not appealing, the songs aren’t even fully fleshed out. She isn’t some unorthodox genius and this album is hell to sit through.

Sounds like having a panic attack in a crowded bus

It's just... Not for me

Ooff. Impressive that it's all with vocals but a tough listen.

This is not music. It is torture.

In which the thought of the reaper's scythe turns from a cold abyss to a warm light Each track felt like it constricted my cerebral bloodflow, even the ones that should've felt more digestible (not ancestors) That might just be a "today thing" and maybe I'm dying but if this just happened to be the album I died to then I think a 1/5 is fair play That all being said, this is also my first Bjork album, I respect it, and I'm looking forward to her other works on the list, if I am, infact, not dying

Album 873 of 1089 Björk - Medúlla (2004) Rating : 1 / 5 I really wanted to find something here, but honestly, this one just didn’t work for me at all. It felt messy and disjointed, and I couldn’t connect with it in any meaningful way. I hate to be so blunt, but it’s one of the few albums in this project I can say I truly disliked - a mess right down there with Trout Mask Replica. Not one I’ll ever revisit, but I respect that Björk has her own bold style that clearly speaks to others, even if it doesn’t to me.

Terrible

Acapella album is een leuk idee maar ik vind het resultaat niet leuk om naar te luisteren, het is me net iets te experimenteel.

Even without the vocals this album would be trash!

Total experimental cappella album. Not for me, I could not finish 1/5

This was bad. Not much to say. I didnt even add a song as "Liked"....sometimes it just feels like noise. The songs never go anywhere either. Bleh. What the FUCK was "Ancestors" ????

This is the first Bjork album I hated. Listened to it twice upon release and once again now.

I can 100% say I can see why, and agree with why, this has been included. Unfortunately it's just not my cup of tea.

Oh Björk. What have you done. I was pleasantly surprised by some of her other albums on this list. So I was keen to see what this one would bring. But, I’ve worked out that playing a Björk album for the first time is a complete lottery. You know it’s going to creative and diverse, some of it is stunningly beautiful, some of it you just don’t understand, some of it is not recognisable as music and some is plain irritating. Unfortunately, this didn’t give me much of the beautiful. She has such an incredible voice but for me it’s showcased so much better on other offerings than this one.

Life is too short for whatever this was. Bjork's voice is like nails on a blackboard at the best of times. This is made far worse when it is being used as the main instrument, then sampled to create layers of silly vocal noises. Then add in some of the most basic and jarring keyboard noises, rendering the whole thing an unlistenable mess. If this was a piece of physical art, it would be in the Tate Modern, sitting comfortably between the painting of the spatchcock lady and the three crows nailed to the wall. 0 stars. But I'll give her 1 as Iceland is such a beautiful country.

To quote Moe Szyslak, "Weird for the sake of being weird." The synth beatboxing is terrible. Where is the Line is more like a collection of sounds than music. Not odd that she'd sing a song in Icelandic, but it is not adding to my enjoyment of this album. I bet David Bowie listened to this right before he made Blackstar. The best things that can be said about this album are that it represents Bjork at her Bjorkiest and that it is unique, literally no one else would make this album. More beatboxing to close out the album on Triumph of a Heart.

Unique. But not for me.

How do you say shit in Swedish

Uææh bare ubehagelig å høre på. Blir bare verre og verre jo

this is the weirdest shit i have ever heard… literally wanted it to be over with ngl

Way too abstract at points that it just doesn't seem to have any structure or direction. Only good song really was the last one.

This album marks, very precisely, the point where Björk lost me. Everything before this, I truly enjoy. This album and everything that has followed, I don't. I remember all the reviews about how daring she was here, what an achievement this was, and so on. None of which is wrong, strictly speaking. I just found it to be absolutely unlisteneable. And the interveninh 21 years (dear God, TWENTY-ONE YEARS?!) have changed nothing about that.

Not sure how I would pick a track off of this one to one come back too. Sorry Björk, not for me.

I don't mind dissonance as long as it eventually coalesces into something tangible. Chalk that up to my limited engineer brain, I guess. I can only wonder at the mind that conjures this, puts it to tape, and shares it confidently with world. Truly impressive artistic IDGAF, just not something I'm going to find enjoyable, really in any way other than maybe as a joke on friends that I don't want to keep. It makes me happy that the Björks of the world exist, because what a drab world it would be without artists putting out unlistenable art for us to enjoy.

Previously rated: Vespertine (2/5) Vulnicura (1/5) ******************** I liked her singing in The Sugarcubes, but I wasn't a fan of her solo work before hearing this. And my opinion hasn't changed after hearing it. What a load of crap from one of the biggest enemies of good music. So many unpleasant mouth sounds, spitting into the microphone, moaning, groaning (see Ancestors). Sod off, Björk.

One of those weird albums that is clearly for someone out there, but certainly not me. Brutal listen. Firmly in the 1's.

Pretty terrible

i just hated it. idk maybe i’m to less intellectual for that…

Wat een *Insert Haags Scheldwoord* muziek. De tandjes, gwn niet naar te luisteren. Geen melodie, geen ritme, kak stem. Hoe kunnen er meerdere albums van deze artiest in staan? Had dr lekker op dat eiland gelaten daar en nooit van af laten komen. Mijn god. 1 ster is al te veel. En dan ben ik pas halverwege het album. Who Is It is dan nog wel redelijk.. Eindelijk afgelope, wat een bagger

Eeeeeeverythiiiing isss muuuuuusiiiic!

Horrendous

If we're being honest, Bjork is boring and too weird 95% of the time. When she nails it, she nails it, but this album isn't it.

The displeasure is all mine. This list has made me learn a few things about what music I enjoy and what music I don’t care for. Now I know that Björk is an artist I can’t stand. I do appreciate that she tries something new but I don’t appreciate how much I hate it. If singing slowly and powerfully about stupid shit in an avant-garde manner is your thing, then this is the album for you. If you like melody, rhythm and pleasurable harmonies, then you won’t care for this album because it doesn’t have any.

Not one for me!

I wish I could say, I loved this record, but oh man, it wore me down. These avant garde singers/albums are just not my vibe. I'm sure if I were depressed or in a vulnerable position, I'd love it, but I'm not.

Such a weird way to start the morning during my walk. Did not enjoy this album at all, I have never listened to Bjork before so was excited to give her a try. Was not a great start, but if any of her other albums come up I’ll give them a try

bizarro

Can't listen to Björk without being filled with rage because of that travesty of a musical Dancer in the Dark. Such is the power of Lars von Trier.

In the words of my other half - I rapidly grow tired of this pagan poetry.

1.5 - Bad

Not a huge fan

The people who sit back and actually choose to listen this are very interesting people to me.

Not for me at all. She makes me anxious and irritable while listening to her music. I can't put my finger on why, but it makes me very uncomfortable trying to listen this album.

Un viaje de drogas, pero malo. Entiendo lo adelantado que estuvo, siendo que si le pones una linea de batería programada sería una canción de hoy o en algunos casos podría ser parte de un soundtrack de un material medieval. Pero la verdad que no es de mi gusto y estoy lejos de poder disfrutar algo así.

warbling.

Uhhh. I don’t know what I’m hearing. Weird

When I was in high school, some of my friends who were mostly into heavier rock like Deftones or System of a Down, were inexplicably obsessed with Bjork. I couldn't stand it. I thought it was terrible music and hated every second of them playing anything by Bjork. Fast forward 25 years, my tastes have changed. Perhaps I was wrong about Bjork and she was the immensely talented musician my dear friends thought she was. I made it two and a half songs. I am now convinced that my friends only pretended to like Bjork because she was alternative and weird. She was artsy and unique. And, I think they thought she was hot. The reality is, this IS art. It IS unique. But that doesn't make it good. Bjork is the equivalent of walking into a modern art museum and seeing an exhibit of a looping video with a man smoking a cigarette. Ok, maybe that's art, and maybe the artist had some sort of meaning for it. But, why the hell is it in a museum? Let's stop pretending Bjork is a good musician. This album is unlistenable.

Pretentious, eccentric bullshit. No thank you.

Really really difficult listen. One thing is to not vibe with a track and another is when you are compelled to skip many.

Absolutely awful and unlistenable. An album for critics rather than listeners.

I’m honestly not really sure what the fuck I just listened to.

You have to be a fan of Björk to like this album. I'm not a fan. I think it's really shit. 1/5

Nope. I’m sure she’s talented; but she must have left that talent at home when she recorded this.

I could not get my AirPods out of my ears fast enough for this album. I’m not sure what all the fuss was about.

Nordic beat boxing? But it would crush the soul and mind