Medúlla

a bit too crazy for me

Garbage with a capital trash.

Meh. Not my thing.

Love Bjork, not one of my favorites of hers, but still a few good tracks.

I have no idea why anyone would even want to listen to this trash

Bjork be like here’s some noises for an hour

Björk is not a favourite artist of mine, and this album did nothing to change that opinion.

this is the type of self important wank that Cerys Matthews gets a wide on for.

What about fisting?

Un poco gritona.

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

No se cómo un álbum tan pretensioso puede ser tan malo sin darse cuenta. Parece algo que una niña de 14 años haría la primera vez que descubrió FL Studio. La única que se podría llegar a salvar sería Triumph of a Heart, pero haber pasado por todo lo demás para saberlo fue una tortura. Este es el segundo álbum de Bjork que escucho y parece que va de mal en peor.

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Vokuro

Really kinda weird.

Kind of hard to listen to. I was tempted to give it a 2 but there were some interesting bits.

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

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.

Bjork has a unique and wonderful voice, but this isn’t for me.

Interesting album overall - it’s a good one simply for intellectual curiosity but at least to me not one to return to often. It’s well paced and somehow the jagged edges that Bjork usually presents are sanded down while still retaining the good part of her eccentricity - and I especially love the vocal instrumentation and beatboxing.

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.

Uitblinker in originaliteit. Een paar heel goede songs, maar af en toe net iets te vreemd

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

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.

very artsy, using multiple layered voices and beatbox which is kinda cool wouldnt listen for my own fun but a cool experience

I would give this zero stars

I very much dislike her music and her squeaky voice - I find both very irritating.

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'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.

not a fan

Além de sua técnica vocal impressionante, a maneira como Björk transmite emoção e sentimento em suas músicas é envolvente a valer. O disco carrega um clima de tranquilidade ativa. Consegue prender a atenção e satisfaz a alma na quietude.

Not my thing, but I honestly expect this to be horrible. I was pleasantly surprised that it was okay. Still not my thing, but okay.

surprised I liked it so much

Did not finish, not my style

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

Really fascinating as an experiment in human sounds and vocals as instruments. I thought “Where is the line” was wild. Great vocals on Vokuro. I get that it’s not an everyday listen though. Will explore further.

I liked the other Bjork album, however did not get on with this in the slightest. First tune was just wailing, skipped ahead and it was screaming. Music appears intentionally disjointed, am sure it's cool and arty but not fun to listen to at all. 1

7/10 İt's a really different type of music. İ liked the new patterns and throat singing in the album but they were on repeat. İt was also confusing listening to this album and i couldn't do something else while listening, it has to be listened with attention or else it becomes like a headache.

so pretty

Weird

Interesting. Not my usual genre but I’ve enjoyed Bjork’s work in the past. Can hear Peter Gabriel influence. Loved the vocals

fun fact: beyonce was supposed to be on this album but scheduling problems got in the way and it never ended up happening. i really wish that happened but this is an amazing album. listening to all the different voices used is so interesting and it's so cool to hear how bjork combines all of them. you would think that an album like this would feel gimmicky but it is far from that. i'm very glad i got a bjork album on here because she's one of my favorite artists and i have been meaning to listen to this for a while. excellent album.

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.

I feel like when I listen to this album it puts me in a trance. Bjorks singing is just so weird I can’t help to hyper focus on it and it’s awesome how instrumentals are either alcapella or non existent. With all the shit I listen to I’m happy when I can find an album that’s this distinct from the rest

A bit too experimental for me

Alex love Bjork, but I can't listen to her. It's too weird.

Respeitável, mas não é minha praia.

This is the most interesting album from this list yet. I'm so into this. 5 Stars. The end of Ancestors guttural retching was so hard to listen to I nearly docked a star, but not quite.

Bjork heeft mij behalve in de krankzinnig depressieve film Dancer in the Dark nooit weten te boeien. Er zijn wat techno/dance tracks waarin haar stem geweldig is, maar dit album is bijna onluisterbaar voor mij.

Groot respect, maar dit is me toch iets te weird

Ik vind het ergens wel fascinerend wat Bjork doet. Los val alle kaders en hokjes muziek maken. Dit is bij vlagen iets te experimenteel om echt van te kunnen genieten, maar naar boven afgerond toch 3 sterren.

Ik zag gisteren een documentaire over Sinead O'Connor en kwam vandaag tot de conclusie dat de stemmen van de dames wel iets van elkaar weg hebben. De liedjes van Sinead vind ik wel meezingbaarder.

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.

I am determined to make it through this album. But I am 6 tracks in and it is not easy. Closest I've come to turning an album off so far Update: I've made it. My God that was painful. Favorite track: Desired Constellation

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.

What even can I say about this album? I feel unqualified to really put a proper review to it. Highly experimental, sometimes haunting, chaotic at times and borderline unlistenable at others. It includes some things you don't hear much in recorded popular music - throat singing, beatboxing - overall it relies a lot on human sounds, and that brings out a raw and mysterious property. It really felt like some found album of a fantasy or alien civilisation. Honestly I think it's kind of beautiful in its total uniqueness. Surely there are few albums quite as unique as this one. A willingness to be this experimental realy makes me see why Björk is such a revered artist.

Too avant-garde for my tastes

Hated the first two but then it gets better and it has pretty good songs. I do feel in some of them there's too much happening for my brain to process. It was... good¿ overall, but I don't see myself listening to this again.

This album is utterly opaque but yet also fascinating. Starting with the cover art. I love the woven hair helmet that trails off into tendrils. I get almost Valkyrie vibes from it. The striking medulla bone necklace (presumably a nod to the "marrow" theme) laying across her porcelain skin. Except her skin is actually mottled red and bruised making it uncomfortable to look at. And whatever her garment is seems more like binding adding to the undercurrent of violence or at least menace. The lack of color aligns well with the acapella music. What does it mean? What does any of the music mean? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What a truly awful album for me. Some songs could have been ok but she puts weird sounds over them. Harmonies were obnoxious lyrics were... odd... i finally got to a semi decent track only to find my spotify went to a similar artist after the Album was done. I am now upset because I'll never get that 45 minutes and 45 seconds back.

She has wonderfull voice, but the acapella doesn't appeal me

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

Not my favourite of hers but I do like a couple of songs.

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.

Interesting concept, challenging listen, but overall quite an annoying experience.

Hard to review. I'm amazed and repulsed at the same time. Very inconsistent - enjoyed some, hate some. Highlights: Where Is The Line, Vokuro

No nie jestem tej Pani w stanie słuchać :(

Ugh. Bjork. I cannot fathom what the draw here is. There's no structure to any of these songs. They're just weird for the sake of being weird. And her warbling baby-talk voice is literally maddening. Hate it so much. In fact, I hated everything about this experience. Everything. Zero stars isn't an option, so one will have to do.

This was my third listen of this album. I’ve heard all of Björk’s solo albums (besides the jazz one, Selmasongs, and the one she did as a child) and I think this is my favorite, although it wasn’t initially and it might change in the future. Despite that, I’m surprised that this (+ Debut and Vulnicura) is even on this list when Post and Homogenic aren’t. I don’t know if I have much to say about the album itself because I don’t have anything insightful to say about it. It’s just good. Favorite songs: “Oceania”, “Pleasure Is All Mine”, “Mouths Cradle”. (Also, by the way: would like to change my ratings for Debut to a 5, Abbey Road to a 4, and Tracy Chapman’s self-titled album to a 3 because my rating system has already changed.)

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

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.

Probably my least favorite album from Björk, from the selection I've heard. It lacks instrumentals and is way too focused on vocals. Her voice and experiments are great, but simply not enough to sustain the whole album.

Interesting, but wasnt in the mood for that kind of vocal early in the morning without my first daily coffee. She has done way more good stuff

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.

Debo revisitar este disco más adelante.

The best songs are the ones in Icelandic, because then you don't have to be burdened by understanding what she's saying (I kinda want to look up the lyrics to Desired Constellation, but I'm too young to have a stroke). Then again, they're also usually the ones where she decides to howl or something. I tried. Best track: Vakuro

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

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

There were some notes and sounds that were cool, but most of it was awful and I didn't want to hear it.

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.

No one is allowed to say that Bjork never innovated or pushed boundaries during her career. While an entire acappella album is risky (especially given the standard of quality set by her first 4 albums up to this point), I think that her execution here warrants respect. Utilizing different vocal styles throughout (choral, Mongolian throat singing, katajjaq, etc.), Bjork accesses a wide range of ambience and sound textures in order to give each song new dynamics. This avoids the obvious trapping of the album getting boring, as one would imagine using only your voice as being limiting. An easy highlight is the song Who Is It, which has long sustained notes being sung underneath Bjork's primary vox and a beatbox that makes it feel like it could be a normal pop song. It's a stunning use of vocal layers that serves as a testament to Bjorks compositional abilities. I sympathize with this self-imposed limitation as a way to sprout creatively, Bjork could have very easily found herself in a slump after coming out with four of the most innovative pop albums of all time. I do, however, struggle to think that a whole album of mostly acappella songs were viable to up to a certain level of quality. That is, these songs can only be so good. I think Bjork hit the upper limit of how well a vocal-only album can be, and that limit floats around the word "impressive!". It's impressive. It's not something you'd listen to again because the novelty of it precedes the actual content. This is a trapping that Bjork simply could not break free of, and that kneecaps Medúlla. I appreciate it nonetheless.

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?

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!

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

Entirely too slow and strange for me. Could barely get through one song

Surprised good

bjork - medulla (2004) notes: - follow up to vespertine (my fav) - didnt know going in that this was capella - thought it was just an interesting gimmick for the first song but it just kept going - never really worked for me, theyre good songs that would have been much better with instruments imo fav - oceania - the acapella stuff didn’t distract from this one - when she hits that high gritty note you can feeeeel it least favourite - grunting moaning breathing and animal noises for like 4 minutes - theres a bit in the middle that sounds like using a pump to blow up an air mattress - also kinda sounds like that korn song 3/5

love

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. 

Weird

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

0/5 This is the first album I stopped listening to because it was so bad

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

I don't mind Bjork, but I hated this.

Música experimental de Björk. Ni fu ni fa.

Sonically adventurous, and marked by Björk's ear for dynamic melody. I'm just not sure it's an album I'll end up listening to more than once.

Truly beautiful

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

Absolutely love this as an idea. And as it turns out, also in its execution. The first Bjork album I didn't pay attention to when it came out, I think after 4 absolutely fantastic albums, I felt I had enough to be going on with and checked out other stuff. Came back to this recently ahead of going to see her at Bluedot. Triumph of a Heart is spectacular (watch the video), Who is It, Oceania also excellent. This has gone from the book but Vulnicura remains, which I find harder to like and find less noteworthy really because of the unique (lack of) instrumentation here. I want to argue with people who think Bjork only makes mental music, get to the point where they're willing to listen to examples to back up the argument, then play Ancestors to them and run away.

1.5

Well, well, looks like this album features none other than ol' Robert Wyatt (of the ''nit nit folley balloley'' fame), on 'Submarine' and 'Oceania' no less, still looking for that mermaid you old sea dog? I should have known our paths would cross again, after all, it may be a list of 1001 albums, but it's only like 50 artists. But enough about falsetto Bob, let's get to the star of the show, also known as the human beatbox - Rahzel. Ok, maybe not the star, but on a mostly acapella album, his beatboxing provides some indispensable grounding. The tracks that don't feature him suffer for it. I actually think just an album with just him and the Icelandic choir would have been interesting. Bjork could play the triangle or something. Half kidding. Speaking of the Bjorkster. I've had the occasional pleasure and occasional misfortune to hear her music before, but this album is a first for me. And for the most part it's a combination of pleasure and only occasional uncomfortable squirming (Ancestors stands out in particular). But for 45 minutes of Bjork, it is pretty damn tolerable. I feel compelled to comment on the lyrics. Some are in English, some Icelandic, still others appear to be just gibberish. As I don't speak Icelandic, and Bjork's English prose is of the a million monkeys on a million typewriters variety, it's all equally incomprehensible to me. I'm not sure how to appraise it, I respect the artistry of it, but giving it a 4 would not be consistent with my rating system so far. So a 3 it is, leaving plenty of room for her to impress me with her other work. Best songs: everything with Rahzel (But especially ''Where is the line'', also featuring Mike Patton and the human trombone Gregory Purnhagen).

bgl mais artístico mas nao curti muito na real

Greatest a cappella achievement since Don’t worry, be happy? All joking aside, it is impressive how much warmth and intimicy is created on Medúlla through the use of the human voice. This is amplified by the production on Björks voice, which makes you feel like she is either whispering or screaming into your ear - a great example is on the Icelandic 'Vokuro'. Maybe a bit uneven track listing favoring the first half - or perhaps the curiosity sparked by innovation quickly wears off?

This is the most Björk album ever. A horrible start for anyone new to the singer and the perfect album to test wether or not you really like Iceland’s most adventurous musician. Claustrophobic, haunting, devastating but still stunningly beautiful. A unique album to be sure; but what a thrill. This is THE Björk album I would love to hear performed live.

Seriously impressive. It is not going to be to averyone's taste, but the vocal control and technical competence is just at a different level to nearly anything else I have ever heard. The phrasing patterns are distinctly Bjork, whether this is her or an effect of having icelandic as her first language I don't know, but it certainly is distinctive. Well constructed harmonies, with minimal instrumentation make this a vocal tour-de-force. There are moments that don't quite work for me - Ancestors is too discordant and chaotic for me, for example

Pretty much what one would expect. Was a long one, but fair play to her for creating this.

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

It's Bjork...just kind of weird.

Achei um saco, muito chato. Todas as músicas parecem iguais, nem consegui terminar...

Some amazingly bright moments on this brought down with an bit too much dull and aimless experimentation. Worth a listen for the good tracks

Siinä määrin hieno levy, että meikäläinenkin osais duunaa näin paskaa kamaa. Jäi kesken.

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.

This is doing such cool harmonic things

Finally I can dust off my hipster beret and say I completely loved this challenging, beautiful album and played it through three times today. What gorgeous, inventive use of vocal layering, and the songs underneath it all are so great! Maybe a new favorite.

À ma grande surprise cet album n'est pas classé dans la catégorie trip-hop et pourtant, j'ai ressenti tous les désagréments procuré par ce genre musical sur mon comportement : montée de stress, mains tremblantes, pensées suicidaires, diarrhées et j'en passe.

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

Respectable but not something I’d listen to very much.

I had mixed feelings when I saw that the album today is from Björk. At the same time, that is not my favorite music style (far from it), but it's impossible to say that she does not bring a great personality and a natural artistic feeling to this list. Given that this album is an excellent way to spend 50 minutes. More experimentalism than I like, but in the end, it's good music. This is the third Björk album that I got here, and I hope this is the last, but if not, I'm sure I'll enjoy the next strange musical trip waiting for me there. It's necessary to rate it with five stars because some music is far from my preference, but it's a piece of art.

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.

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.

Þessi er skemmtileg og vel gerð. Er ekki reglulegri hlustun þó, því ég myndi fá leið fljótt.

Yes

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

really good I liked Vespertine more but this was still really fun and experimental I think there were a lot more vocally oriented tracks, a cappella and whatnot but the instrumentals were crazy too it was awesome hearing just how heavy some of those songs hit amazing experience- 10/10

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

This was terrible. Fjork Bjork.

This is Björk's second album on this list. Björk found a way to make another shitty album but this time with no instruments. Please for the love of God skip this one.

Excellent artistry but I struggled for any standout tracks or moments

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

Didn't like this at all

like fuckin dreaful

My favorite Bjork album. I feel like it's severely underrated by her fans.

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.

Music of the Feywild. This was one of the coolest, most unique projects on the list, and I can't get enough of it.

I'll be frank: I didn't expect Nordic Beatboxing tonight, but it is a welcome sound.

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.

Wat een stem, maar zal het niet vaak uit mezelf aanzetten

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.

I really appreciate the concept of the album. I didn’t realize from the start that it was pretty much all human vocals. At the point that I asked myself “Is that someone beat boxing?” I suddenly became more aware of what I had been listening to. I did find quite a bit of the album a challenge, though. I was not able to embrace all the compositions even with the variety of interesting vocal sounds.

Hoots and boops, moans and growls, mewling and heavy breathing. Unlike anything else. Björk!

This album presents me with a conundrum. I was in awe of what could be done using just the human voice. Once I had admired that, the mostly slow vocal delivery of the main lyrics became tedious. I appreciated this but could not find emotional connection to it. Still, I am marveling at the accomplishment of this album. I understand why it is on this list and it is definitely something to behold which rounds up the rating half a point. But the academic attraction I felt was not enough to say I enjoy this.

Fuck that very much.

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

Struggled to get this one to two stars.

Just droned on, really not my thing

A lovely voice. The music felt like an avant garde art performance. Might have been more tolerable if I was deep into my cups

typical bjork madness

India’s Shubham Choudhary first said ‘Good things come in small packages.’ In the case of the diminutive Icelandic singer, Bjork, on 'Medulla,' things become great. I’m not entirely sure in one review how to even begin do justice to the sheer majesty of Bjork, so in its place I think I’ll simply bow in honorable recognition, and pledge my faithful service. This is music that is best experienced before understanding. So, I’ll keep this one uncharacteristically brief. Are there (m)any other artists beside Bjork who can create the cornucopia of musical sounds so aptly describing moods and emotions, while utilizing almost exclusively vocals? What does a palm full of diamond stars being cast like dice on a table sound like? ‘Desired Constellation.’ How about the glub-glub sound wine makes as its being decanted? ‘Mouth’s Cradle’ recreates that, and to the further accompaniment of a chorus of dark, mournful angels. What do you think greed sounds like? ‘Where Is the Line,’ that’s what. Or the inner sounds of a working human body? ‘Triumph of a Heart.’ Bjork’s creativity astonishes throughout this entire LP. And the strength, passion, range, and elegance of her vocals on ‘Oil Birtan,’i.e. or ‘Desired Constellation’ (possibly the best song off an LP chocked full of wonders) rivals one of 20th century America’s greatest singers, Barbara Streisand. Add to the mix Icelandic and British choirs evoking medieval monastic cathedral tones, background vocals from Faith No More’s Mike Patton and founding Soft Machine member, Robert Wyatt, the incredible Inuit throat singing styles of Tagaq, a team of talented beatboxers, all recorded and mixed by an army of programmers and engineers manifesting Bjork’s visionary arrangements, and the end result for the listener is like unwrapping fourteen sparkling, magical songs presents under the tree on Christmas morning. And great things, incredible things, come in each of those little packages, one after another. Bjork’s compositions and performance on 'Medulla' is nothing short of spellbinding. An extraordinary work of art.

I'm at a loss for words. I'll keep it simple. This sucked. Like a lot of suck. A whole lot.

Rarita como diario

I can’t tell if I like this for my principled appreciation of weird, experimental shit or if I actually enjoyed it. Either way bjork and sault are like the only two artists I’ve gotten that have made me seek out more of their music. Side note: her music is eclectic asf. Submarine was my fav and sounded like a demonic barbershop quartet

This played in a loop would destroy the soul and crush the mind. It should be used to get confessions.

Maybe this is Mike Patton's only appearance in this list, but I can't. Technically, probably an amazing album. Plus one for the cover, Patton, and Rahzel. I haaaaaaaaated it. It probably ruined my day. It ruined my mood, left me depressed and irritable and haunted.

Avant-garde is certainly accurate for this album. I don't dislike it but I have a hard time enjoying the vocals throughout all of it. If this was a instrumental album or even a limited vocal performance album I would enjoy it more. I'm confused as to how to rate this album. At times I get it and love the artistry and at other times I just feel like I'm about to be possessed.

Nah

Indulgent and slightly irritating. Not entirely convinced that this list needs more than one Bjork album.

fully textured, but quite hard work for an easy listen

“Desired Constellation” is OK (interesting that it was co-written), but the rest of the album sounds like experimental art school project. I like Bjorks voice, and she’s an interesting song writer, but it’s just too much.

I bounced off this pretty hard. Not sure what this was about or who it was for.

More boring bullshit by Bjork Seriously, WTF is this and why is it on any list, let alone a list of albums you must hear. If it was on a list of albums that should be taken out back and shot, I could get behind that.

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.

My personal disdain for Bjork is very high.

I either wasn't in the right frame of mind or this was truly horrible. Either way, did not like.

Ei nappaa

Points for being very unique. Some of the songs were an absolute no-go for me. The beatbox songs were fun.

Not my favorite Bjork album but there are some great songs here

We get it Bjork. You're a creative artsy type. Far too Indie for me. 1/5

The album is decent but her voice is starting to get to me. I appreciate the notes she can hit but it’s still getting to me.

After listening to the 1st couple of songs I feared this was one of those "accomplishment" albums that made it on to the list it was acapella (with Bjork's voice, a scary thought). Then I hit the third song "Where is the Line" and liked it. The next track "Vokuro" was great too but very different. "Triumph of the Heart" is adventurous. Some of the others are enjoyable but often followed by something annoying.

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.

Not the easiest Björk listening experience, I’m more partial to her more accessible stuff from Post. But it’s beautiful nonetheless. Oceania and triumph of a heart are my favorite. 3.5/5

My least favorite Bjork album but still a stunning achievement

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

I've laughed a lot at all the one star reviews.

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

This was interesting and experimental, some songs worked others didn’t. Really glad I listened but would I listen again probably not.

Non ci sono strumenti musicali, ho paura. Non così pessimo, ma sicuramente straniante. Particolare a dir poco, tra il 2 e il 3.

Con buena voz y sucesión de tonos, el disco destaca la buena calidad de la cantante, con influencia igualmente de coros y de instrumentación variada. Para escuchar sosegadamente

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

What the f*** is this album? I can normally struggle through most any album, and listen to every last minute. Not this one. Wandering, boring, confusing, unnecessarily disjointed. I find nothing redeeming here. Solid F

It's much better than I remember it being but it's still undeniably niche.

Fascinating album using mainly voices, Björk’s experimentation is often tricky to listen to but ultimately absorbing. Her singing ability is on a level with the greatest opera singers. Mesmeric.

Not for me. My only words.

ok

Это что-то с чем-то.

Basal greatness

A really strange and beautiful album. I can't say I am a fan of Bjork, however that is not because a dislike of her music more because I have never really heard her solo music. I don't think this is the best introduction, I presume not anyway, nevertheless I enjoyed it 3.5 stars

This is a highly experimental album - nearly every single instrument is the human voice. This is an interesting concept, but Björk manages to pull it off and still sound like ... Björk. This is a small hiccup for me. I have massive respect for Björk, but could never really get into her music. There is only a handful of Björk songs that I like. Luckily, one of these is Oceania from this album, in which Björk summons an incredibly amount of energy, which I find is lacking in many other of her songs. All in all, I'm a bit torn, but I'll give this album 3.5/5.

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

Þetta er bara ein besta plata sem ég hef hlustað á. Hljóð-heimurinn er úr annarri veröld. Einnig ekki hægt að gefa íslending hér annað en fimm stjörnur. Við kunnum þetta

Just more Bjork garbage. I will never understand how anyone could like her stuff. Such a shame how there's so many more talented people who don't even get a tenth of the recognition she does. 2/10.

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

The fifth album from Björk took an experimental turn by using mostly acapella vocals to construct the majority of the album's songs. Because of this choice the album was critically acclaimed, but left critics either amazed or confused. I was one of the latter, being confused by the direction each song took. The songs did not seem to blend well together and besides a couple of them, the songs weren't that interesting either - even when being produced entirely by a human voice. Still, this is a unique album so I understand why it's on this list.

Well, this is definitely a Bjork album. Like every other Bjork album I've ever heard, I enjoyed it. However, there's not a lot that I can say about this album that I wouldn't say about any other Bjork album. It's challenging at times, experimental in a way that often hits home, carried by her voice despite the fact that her voice isn't particularly incredible (it's good, just not super notable). The layering of different voices in this album works really well and is the biggest strength of Medulla. 4/5

Queen

I knew it was going to be weird... Just not sure how to listen to this. More drugs maybe?

Very cool experiment. Can never go wrong collaborating with Rahzel and Patton. But hardly repeatable.

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

It was just okay.

She really commands a unique space of her own, I admire and respect that.

Quite an achievement. Very brave and adventurous but still pretty listenable for the most part. Brought together an incredible crew of voices here. Makes sense that a singer would want to more fully explore the possibilities of the human voice.

The more experimental-side of Björk. I'm glad to listen to more of her different albums since I have never really heard them. A few songs on here I would listen to again but I don't love them all, still all respectable. Vokuro is like a lovely Gregorian chant and I'm a sucker for that. Who Is It starts off with a minimal choral vocal arrangement then goes into some crazy synth/beatbox drums with more uptempo vibes, kinda like it. A lot of the various octave vocals are unsettling and I'm not a huge fan of their implementation, but it's bold. The whole album feels like a progression and is essentially a narrative/play to me. I could see a whole interpretive dance performance to this. I love the bitcrushed/snappy percussion start in Desired Constellation and when the vocals amp up and the whispers come in left and right. Oceana has some really impressive instrumental flourishes that come in and out. Ancestors is kind of disturbing actually, not a huge fan. Pretty crazy for 2004, the production is beautiful as well.