Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Only managed 3 songs. Didn't really like anything about it.
I feel like I need to brush my teeth again.
Awful
Not a fan of this type of music!
I hate it
The 3rd Album in 3 weeks, I just cant stand her voice.it anoys the hell out of me.
Tout bonnement insupportable, svp j'en veux pu
Not my kind of sound at all. Tried to listen to the whole thing but made it 3 songs in before I quit. Appreciate the singers different style and sound, but did not sound good to my ears.
Every song sounds the same!
I just can't get into her voice and her weird infantile fairy thing.
What is this shite? There is no way to dance to this crap. At least not vertically with your clothes on. And if I was dancing to this horizontally and naked, all I would want to do is finish as fast as I can so I can turn it off, roll over and go to sleep.
The industrial sounds of the music is ok, not brilliant, but palatable. The lyrics try to be deep but combined with the melody and vocal, just jar. Her vocals though are really off-putting by and the main problem, sounding really forced and contrived. Final verdict: an awful mess.
I don't get Bjork.
Not my favorite. Not even a little bit.
Could not get through an album faster Hate her voice
Bjork be like here’s some noises for an hour
An insult not only to music, but to mankind.
Vind hier eigenlijk gewoon niet zo veel van. Ergens misschien leip voor die tijd, maar heb ook het gevoel alsof ze graag 'andere' rare muziek wilt maken
Echt niets aan dit album spreekt me aan. Het is al weer album nummer 2 van haar dat we moeten luisteren maar snap écht niet dat het zo gehyped wordt en hoop dat het niet nog een keer komt
It's delicate and intricate, which you don't always expect from an electronica album. And Björk has a voice that's much bigger than her body. I always come away from one of her albums a little calmer. This one might not be essential to hear, but I'm glad I did.
beautiful
2000s electronica. Beats made up of everyday sounds. Cool and pretty sexy. Gentle and floaty.
Déjà dans ma collection. Un album que j'écoute du début à la fin dans une ambiance intensément calme et presque en apesanteur.
Took me years to get on the Björk Bus, but over the past few years I've been Björk-pilled and now I'm a happy passenger. This is regularly heralded as her best album, alongside Homogenic. For me, this isn't a great first album to start with. I climbed Björk Mountain starting from the sea level: The Sugarcubes album "Life's Too Good", which I love. From there, I took the linear path of her discography: Debut to Post to Homogenic to Vespertine. All of which I've loved. Sometimes you have to follow an artists trajectory to really appreciate them. She's a glorious, beautiful weirdo. This is an incredible album.
OMG Hell yes! I love Bjork so much. Her newer stuff was super weird but this album is pretty amazing. I remember her at some awards ceremony, maybe the academy awards and how controversial her swan dress was. I think it was the same event the Matt Stone and Trey Parker showed up tripping on acid. lol The year Jade was born. I love the way GPT described this album. This is Björk going inward. After the huge, bold, explosive sound of albums like Post and Homogenic, Vespertine turns everything down into something intimate, icy, sensual, and microscopic. It’s not minimal in the boring sense; it’s more like she zoomed in so close that tiny sounds become enormous. Music boxes, harp, choir, soft electronics, little clicks and glitches, breathy vocals, snow-globe textures — the whole album feels private, physical, and sacred. The reason it made the list is that it’s one of the great early-2000s art-pop/electronic albums. It takes electronic production away from the club and turns it into chamber music for headphones. Instead of beats that hit your body, you get rhythms that feel like they’re happening under your skin. That was a huge part of the album’s identity: digital sounds made warm, intimate, and human. This is obviously a big 5 for me.
Bjork is different and amazing. One of the kind musical and visual artist.
love me a synthetic experimental album, no known flops
Een van de beste, if not de beste plaat op deze lijst
Bloedmooi. Beste Björk plaat en dat is een hoge lat om overheen te wippen. Volgend jaar BKS?
richtig nice, hab gedacht ich kann björk wegen ihrer speziellen stimme nicht hören, aber wenn man sich auf björk einstellt und björk erwartet ist es geil. besonders das letzte lied war ETHEREAL. göttlich.
A slightly qualified five because Harm of Will is so much worse than anything else on the album, enough that I had to stop and look it up to figure out why. Made all the sense in the world when I saw Harmony Korine’s name. What an unpleasant stain on an otherwise nearly perfect album.
Ich glaube es gibt keine Künstlerin und keinen Künstler vor dem/der ich mehr Respekt habe als vor Björk. Was sie schafft darzustellen und den Weg den sie gegangen ist, nicht einfach als Musikerin sondern als Künstlerin ist insane und dieses Album ist eines ihrer Besten Werke. Natürlich ist es bisschen eigen es ist eben ein Kunstwerk von Björk aber jeder song, ist eine Moment Aufnahme von Björks Seele und es deine Entscheidung wie du damit umgehst.
one meme song, everything else is bliss for ears, whimsical, strange, luring. I was drawing in the sunset while listening to it. many birds were learning how to fly in the sky, there were so many of them and the track Aurora and timing were so perfect that i had goosebumps
Ethereal. Beautiful. Inspiring. Enchanting. Simply incredible. Can’t imagine how much work it takes to get this talented. No further notes.
Biork genia
Ephemeral, beautiful, loved it.
I always thought that Medulla was my favorite bjork album but damn this is so good. My favorite album to nap to. Like a warm heavenly auditory blanket Bjork nap
This is my 4th Bjork album and I see that I still have another one to come. I wrote glowing reports previously largely trying to convey what an enigma she is. An exceptional musician who is capable of taking me to a wonderful place but also the very next second somewhere that really shouldn’t exist. The only thing I will change now in my appreciation of her is forget trying to think deeply and wondering why her music is so complicated. Instead let it wash over you only paying slight attention. I’ve found playing Sudoku on hard setting is an ideal way to enjoy Bjork. Saying that I think I’ve stumbled over a way to describe Bjork. Hard Sudoku is never easy to solve. You spend hours trying to do so. It sometimes scrambles your brain. Very often an answer is well hidden but also in plain site. Extremely satisfying when done. Yes that’s Bjork. 5/5 25/4/26
already did a good semi-recent writeup of Probably The Literal Best Album Of All Time, but somehow after all these years im only reading today for the first time about how this record was equally shaped by the draining experience of filming Dancer In The Dark as it was her love life. it lends a dimension to these world-swallowing songs that ive never felt before, even after feeling like i know all of them up and down and all around. homogenic could be considered healing by expression of control and dominance, but this is inverted...a perfectly maintained introverted world, away from expectations and the feelings of being watched, accessible only by you and whoever you consciously decide to invite in. honestly feels like a revelation that will not only inform future listens, but that explains better than i ever had so much of the draw ive felt towards this. my go-to album to lose myself in Forever. some of these reviewers need to be strung up in town square for all to see. hearing an album this full of vivid and obviously intentional decisions, and telling yourself theyre all just to be Weird and nothing else, is a perception of the universe i hope i never relate to in my life. awful how many people are so averse to basic curiosity that they will write off anything they dont immediately understand as being some kind of Trick, instead of just one of the practically infinite ways humans can choose to express themselves. i dont think i could breathe if i genuinely thought the world was that tiny. and im not sure anyone has ever opened me up to all the possibilities that make the world feel big and free the same way that bjork has.
Magisch album, de productie, zang, en nummers zijn allemaal geweldig.
Oooh I kind of love this
The best
Bjork has this unexplainable way with songwriting.
This is a Bjork at her finest.
Björk is one of those artists I have to be in the correct mood for, since she makes that sort of ethereal dreamscape music with an extra helping of eccentricity... but when I AM in the correct mood, it's a delightful experience. Mellow weird goodness.
Might be Bjork’s best maybe just behind Homogenic.
Just play Pagan Poetry again. And again. And again.
Easily one of my favorite bjork albums of all time
I love experimental music so so much. This album cover in itself is art, the swan hidden, this is so cool. I will have to sit and listen to the lyrics, but this is artistic and beautiful. The production on this is off the charts, all the sounds and noises. The songs are long, but they know exactly when to leave and how to start the harps on pagan poetry. The repetition of "it's not up to you". I love how weird this is. This is an album and an experience, hell yeah, even the interludes bridge into each other. Frosti is so, so beautiful. The use of chimes just feels like I am a siren on the sea. The harp on this record is just nuts, man. I loved listening to it so angelically, and the last track really feels like a victory lap. You have to be in a Björk mood to listen to it, but once you let it take over, you are in it, and she is singing all around you like a nice hug. It really feels like she is next to me on a stage performing all of these songs. I am sitting in awe. The album is ending, she is screaming for me to stay, but she knows she has to go. The angels are leaving. I am being lifted away from this ethereal forest to go back to where she left me. The harp is the only thing that is left, the final memory of what has become the repetition of it until it stops and I am left in the silence of having to be back in reality. Nothing I have heard so far has felt quite like this on this 1001 5/5
I'm just gonna cut to the chase, this is incredibly beautiful. This may be the best Björk album. It is the first project where she really embraced her later era's experimental sound in a big way. And it's her best executed album in this style. She has a really synthetic sound palette that she uses in a really organic way. It's an album that has both a metallic gleam, and a rubbery stretch. It sounds like a field of alien flowers. This organic streak is so prevalent that the chorus of Undo got interpolated on a Mount Eerie song and I didn't know until I heard it here. Speaking of this refrain. This album's incredible aesthetic is constantly anchored by amazing songwriting and deeply human performances from Björk herself. These songs are abstract, but never formless, there's always something to latch onto. Pagan Poetry is probably the catchiest moment here. It operates more like a pop song than anything else here, albeit on it's own terms. And Björk's vocals are the vehicle by which these hookier moments slip in. She sounds warm, emotive and earnest. And the contrast against the soundscapes is incredibly compelling. I'll leave it here. This album is an incredible realization of the synthetic and the organic, anchored in beautiful songwriting and a super dynamic presentation. Vespertine is incredible.
Can my review of this just be that .gif of Danny Devito saying "Oh my God, I get it..."? No? Anyways, I always thought Debut and Post were fine albums, but everytime I tried out her more experimental stuff, I always bounced off it no matter how much I tried to Stockholm myself into liking her music. But its pretty crazy how much not having the vocabulary matters as far as enjoying a record or hating it. I can't remember if I ever tried listening to Vespertine before, but I've definitely heard Cocoon and Pagan Poetry before. Last time I heard those was years and years back, before I got into trip hop, so not having that vocabulary likely hampered my enjoyment of this music. But now, having delved into trip hop quite a bit in the intervening years (Portishead's Dummy is my second favorite album all time, and Mezzanine by Massive Attack is an all timer), I'm enjoying Björk way more. And this album in particular is amazing. Ethereal, sensual, gorgeous, and filled with a million tiny little bits that are an absolute joy to listen to. On my third listen as I'm writing this, and each time a new song jumps out at me. First it was the aforementioned Cocoon and Pagan Poetry, this time its Aurora and An Echo a Stain. Lots of very chilly but beautiful songs. So yeah, beautiful, gorgeous record. If you had asked me prior to doing this project if I'd be rating a Björk album a perfect score, I'd emphatically say "absolutely fucking not". But its a wonder how exposing yourself to a ton of music can get you to eventually like stuff you previously couldn't stand. Amazing album.
This isn't my favorite Bjork album, but it's her most beautiful. The way the layers of vocals, beats, and strings swirl around each other is just stunning to me. I feel a bit sorry for those who can't get past the style of Bjork's delivery and lyrics to hear that this is some really special music.
No. 133 100% absolutely beautiful and unique music. But, I'll probably never listen to it again.
me hizo concha, termine pensando en todos los errores que cometi en mi vida
best album oat
I knew today was going to be stressful so when the generator gave me Vespertine, I thought I might not be in the right headspace for it. I was wrong - it's gorgeous and I feel better for having heard it.
Very unique!
Klikkað stöff. Góð vinnuplata. Frumleg, enginn eins og Björk. Flott beat og alien soundscape. Einstaklega mikil Björk þessi plata.
Klárlega einn mesti listamaður síðari tíma. Með sinn eigin hljómheim, sífellt í þróun, skapandi og á undan sinni samtíð. Og svo er hún íslensk.
One of my favourite albums of all time. The way this album explores sensuality in an electronic, glitchy form is amazing. Songs like Cocoon are a perfect example of this with Bjorks soothing voice over this ambient instrumental gives me chills everytime. Absolutely breathtaking album 10/10 Favourite: Unison Least Favourite: None
My fave bjork album, her crowning achievement. Top 10 art pop record of all time has an easy argument to be considered the best of all time in the genre. We don't talk about Bjork enough
абсолютно великое
Franchement, c'est un vraiment bon album et je vois difficilement comment le classer autre part qu'en 5/5. La coté expérimental est extrêmement bien géré avec un vrai mélange des sonorités et des influences parfois techno ce qui est vraiment particulier mais qui marche bien. Après je sais pas si elle s'est faite influencée pour la réal de l'album mais ça ressemble énormément à Kid A de Radiohead à certains moments notamment dans les sons très compressés et les beats très courts et électroniques. Ensuite, j'ai bien aimé le coté mélancolique de l'album qui s'exprime avec de nombreuses nuances de sons, passant d'instruments très rudes à de la harpe ou des sons très legers et volatiles ce que j'ai trouvé très interessant notamment pendant le passage de Aurora à An Echo, A Stain qui marque vraiment une césure de ton, l'un plutôt "positif" et l'autre beaucoup plus introspectif et deep. Nan franchement c'est un très bon album, très particulier mais vraiment très bon album qui en tout cas me marque personnellement
This is an absolutely gorgeous record. I love pretentiousness, I love soundscapes, I love odd vocal delivery and unsettling harmony. This is totally up my street.
оч крутой альбом, ещё не дослушала, но очень понравилрсь
This album sounds absolutely incredible. Some of the most beautiful production I’ve ever heard. The vocals are so delicate and the way they’re recorded right up to the mic gives this a very intimate feeling. Despite sounding so gorgeous and lush there’s a raw openess that gives the album an edge too. Brilliant.
I don't even know what to say... 5 stars.
Heirloom, Sun In My Mouth, It’s Not Up To You
Any album that closes with a song like Unison is an immediate 5/5.
Incredible album and one I’ve never listened to before. The production is immaculate, such a cinematic feel with tons of ear candy. Bork has a new fan for sure.
YEAH BUDDY!! 🗣️🗣️🗣️
This is a very interesting album. It’s kind of giving me the vibes of magical corruption in a fantasy book. I feel like this would not be out of place in a movie or other piece of visual media. Hidden Place in itself is a very enjoyable, dark, piece of music. I feel like Cocoon is just the right amount of dark and weird for the subject matter it’s trying to portray. The vocalist has a really unique way of singing which really adds to the vibes of this album. I have similar feeling about Its not up to you. Undo has a really cool percussion section in the background. That’s all! Pagan poetry was a gorgeous track! This is one I’m definitely going to be coming back to. The chimes in Frosti are absolutely mesmerizing! This album is all over the place but I love it. Aurora had some amazing vocals. An echo, a stain: the swelling music in this is awesome! I also love the vocal effects that are thrown in there. Sun in my mouth was another pretty track. Heirloom and Harm of will were honesty great! The swell of the music, and the almost christmassy vibe of some of Harm of Will. It was nice to have the drumbeat back in Unison. Even though it was slower, it had some urgency to it. Again, just the way the music swells is beautiful. It closed the album wonderfully. Even though the album was almost an hour, it did not feel like it. Y’know what? 5/5 ⭐️, 10/10. This album was weird and wonderful in all the right ways and I couldn’t get enough of it. 27/1089
This album is a beautiful masterpiece. I absolutely love the way Björk uses her whole creativity and her personality and creates the most beautiful and interesting songs ever. This album is definitely on the top best albums from her. I just love her so much, her music makes me feel so inspired and her lyrics are so poetic.
I love Bjork and that is all
Björk creates a highly personal and intimate record on Vespertine. By personal, I do not mean anecdotal or revealing. Rather, she curates an atmosphere so wholly delicate that you feel the human touch in every texture. From beautiful harp plucks to trip hop beats, everything feels so very loving. Vespertine is the an intimate masterwork. Despite the restraint and softness of the record, it is gargantuan in its design. I really can’t deny the perfection of this record and Björk as an artist. I’m unsure if this is even her magnum opus, and that says a lot about her talent.
Ts was fire
This is good.
See my last Björk album review. Also, I was blown away the first time I heard Undo and learned that Mount Eerie had interpolated it!
ya i mean... come on... its literally perfect
I’m so sad that I missed out on this when it came out. It truly is one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve heard in a long time. Crystalline, ethereal, and emotional, but never precious.
I've enjoyed every song I've heard from her in movies/shows, but have always been too afraid to give her music a proper listen. I listened to this album all the way through and loved every second of it. Very beautiful!
Bjrilliant
Björk is one of my favorite artists of all time. This is also one of my favorites from her this and Homogenic are tied for me. Might be one of my favorite albums of all time. Beautiful lyrics, incredible production, and breathtaking vocals.
I get why she’s polarizing but I just find Bjork’s vocals and arrangements so mesmerizing. She is a singular force, no one else like her (although she does have her imitators) This album doesn’t let up in it’s beauty and wonder. It makes me feel like I’m canoeing down an Icelandic river with the snow and mountains all around. 10/10 Favorite tracks- “It’s Not Up To You” “Undo” “Pagan Poetry”
This woman can do anything and I’ll love it
Her best album
I love the Sugarcubes but have never listened to a Bjork solo album. This isn’t as vocally energetic, but more musically adventurous.
4.8 This is such a glorious album, her magnum opus easily. I got into it after getting lost down a Bjork rabbithole after this list introduced me to debut what was now a very long time ago. It's such a unique album - simultaneously sounding so full of love yet with a tinge of impending doom, a vulnerability about it, as though she knew what was to come. This was the last of a great run of albums imo, after the first 4 she never got anywhere near those heights again. What a way to go out though. There is only one weak point on the album - An echo, a stain. It feels a bit out of place and honestly the album flows so much better when skipped. I also don't care for Cocoon so much, I'm not usually prudish but for some reason that song seems to make me feel uncomfortable. But other than that, wow. So many absolutely gorgeous songs on here. It's not up to you. Aurora. Heirloom. And the absolute pinnacle, the closer Unison. Possibly one of the most beautiful songs ever. After 50 minutes of minimalist beats, with a lot of eschewed rhythm, this songs just seems to burst into life with such passion. Her voice throughout this album, the microscopic beats that litter every track, the absolute minute details everywhere, just listen to the quiet complexity behind the opening 10 seconds of It's not up to you which didn't even register for me until about 20 listens in. All perfect.
I might not want to listen to Björk all day every day, but this album is one of the most butiful collection of songs I’ve ever heard
Infinitely a lot better than Debut, the instrumentals are key and match Bjork's voice a lot better. Bjork doesnt belt randomly here its like she's got it figured out, and her voice plus the chill instruments are calming yet can take you on an adventure. 9/10 im really proud
It really is amazing music. Passionate, effervescent, richly textured...
Incredible production on this
Psychedelic af Vocals were absolutely wild, how does anyone sound like that!
It’s honestly like being taken to a mystical world, this is magical
I'm Björkin' it.
I used to wonder if Björk was some kind of practical joke the universe was playing on me. As I've grown older, I appreciate her far more.
Perfection. As the name implies, this album is best listened to at night (or at least in the dark). Get a nice pair of headphones, no distractions, and let the sound envelop you.
Wow. This album is basically a masterpiece based on just the sound and production alone, it genuinely sounds like no other album I’ve heard. It’s so ethereal and rich sounding with amazing electronic elements making every single song sound unique and fresh. To top it all off it also has angelic backing vocals to go with the already amazing main vocals from Bjork. I also just love how each song feels so well crafted and weird (in a good way), it’s definitely one of those albums that feels like a piece of art rather than just a bunch of songs put together. To top it off even further, the amount of instruments used in the songs such as the strings, harp (I think) and the the music box sounding parts (which probably are just straight up from a music box) just really develop the ethereal, enchanting sound this album does so well. Favourites: pretty much all. Overall, 9/10 (maybe a 10 but not quite).
Love this one, although it took me a while to come around to. I think Homogenic is a better album overall though, surprised that isn't on here. The style of this is very intimate and cosy, in a wintery sort of way. I never knew until now that Matmos are collaborators on this album, I recognize them now though! Their style is really evident on Aurora and Unison especially. 9/10
One thing to keep in mind with Björk is that her music often isn’t immediately accessible - it tends to reveal its depth over time. When this record first came out, I listened to it but mostly gravitated toward the tracks that clicked right away rather than the whole album. That voice remains absolutely incredible to me, and the production here is gorgeous - from the intricate electronic percussion to the lush choral passages, it’s truly stunning work. Favourite tracks: Hidden Place, It’s Not Up to You, Pagan Poetry, Frosti, Aurora, Unison.
masterpiece. best album ever. destroy the world
Björk is absolutely one of a kind. The soundscapes she creates in this album are so interesting and beautiful… sometimes strange, sometimes warm, sometimes unsettling. And then her voice… oh that instrument. It is wild and passionate and incredibly unique. And I love it.
Is there another album as intimate, as sensual as Björk's Vespertine? Somehow Björk manages to draw real warmth out of what could have been some very cold, emotionless synthesisers. Vespertine is the sound of a long frost thawing, of warm bodies melting ice.
Bjorks 4th in a run of 4 amazing albums!
ok, here we are, you won, five stars
First Listen: May 03 2023 3 5/5s back to back, this album treating me right. literally have this vinyl in my dorm imma spin this rq 3.17 on this site, i want hurt the people on this site sometimes (im jokinggggg). this is such an otherworldly project, i really can't think of anything else like it. its for sure bjorks best work. love this album and her stupid ass swan dress
Oficialmente, a fin de mes. Y qué mejor que cerrar con esta artista hermosa y este trabajo monumental. Álbum íntimo, bellamente personalista, ayuda a que uno baje un cambio (o varios) y quede en un estado de mayor tranquilidad, ya sea guiado por la nostalgia o melancolía, ya sea por la paz de la felicidad compartida. Claramente, marida con un clima frío y nublado y una situación de intimidad. Muchas gracias y hasta mañana, ya octubre.
Going with 5 on this because while I understand how polarizing Björk is, this one deserves better than a 3.17 average.
Maybe I’ve grown or maybe it’s just that the world is an even weirder place than it was back when I first listened to Björk, but I remember thinking this was too far out there for me back in the day. I’m grateful for an excuse to give it another spin because it’s great!
-here it is. my favorite album of all time. to me, it’s the absolute best on this list and it genuinely changed my life and how i listened to music when i first found it years ago. crazy to finally get to it -i just fucking adore the themes and concept behind the whole album. hits soooo much harder now that there is someone i am devastatingly attracted to and getting to know. Björk is the coolest woman ever -Favorites are Hidden Place, Cocoon, Pagan Poetry, Aurora, and Unison
Woah, I've been looking forward to this one. Didn't disappoint. Super lush & atmospheric.
𝘝𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 is, to me, the björkiest album that could possibly exist. Every detail — icy microbeats, whispered vocals, harp arpeggios, and ethereal choirs — feels intimate and otherworldly, as if Björk had built a fragile winter palace out of sound. The swan imagery on the cover matches perfectly: elegant, strange, and unforgettable. I’ll admit I have a positive bias toward Björk, but even so, this album remains one of the most delicate and singular works in modern music.
Her singing and composition are so unique. I Homogenic was always my go to Bjork and never really listened to this one. It’s really cool texturally with the music box’s, harp, glitchy beats and choir. Interesting how it shifts and simultaneously can be really beautiful and kinda disturbing sometimes. Favorite tracks: Unity, Cocoon, Hidden Place, Heirloom
Super cool. Maybe not something id listen to super often but he songwriting and production was really unique and interesting. Really enjoyed it
The album is full of those sultry electronic bass lines upon which Bjork has built a lot of her career. That's never unwelcome. Bjork's vocals are always going to be divisive, but that's to be expected when you have one of the most singular voices in modern music. The album itself builds and crafts a wonderful atmosphere, edging on the surreal and ethereal. Just a fantastic sonic experience.
The top review at time of writing says "She tries too hard to be weird for the sake of being weird", which I take issue with for two reasons: " This is not "weird for the sake of it" - I think Björk just does whatever she feels is interesting. * It's not even that weird. This is pretty accessible stuff as far as Björk goes. Anyway five stars from me.
Loved this! Can listen to Björk for days on end!
Fuck yeah. Good and Björky. Straight Björkin it. 9/10 7/09/25
Bork's masterpiece. This became my favorite of her albums from awhile ago and is probably one of the best albums from the 21st Century. Homogenic belongs in the book!!!
If you think Björk is trying too hard to be weird you haven't heard some of the crap knock offs on this list. She's been an artist I've found consistently rewarding for giving the time to understand and settle with. The emotion and craft in her earlier works is amazing. It's such a good demonstration of what I've moaned about in so many of my reviews here - I'm able to get all the emotional context without really taking in the lyrics.
11/10 Religious experience
An impossibly beautiful album. I finally found a space quiet enough to listen in full and it was worth the reward. Low 5
Expansive sound world and vocals that are strong and vulnerable at the same time. Especially good from Aurora onwards
🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
Oh, Björk. It has been too long! This is my last Björk album of the album project. I got the other 3 pretty early on, with Björk even being the first artist to give me a third album back in March... of last year. I've waited about 16 months or so for this final album and have gotten 4 artists up to 5 albums in the time since. So, is Vespertine a good album to get as my final Björk album of the 1001 albums project? Well, it might just be the best. This is, without a doubt, my favorite album of hers that I've listened to thus far. I enjoyed all of the other Björk albums well enough, but Vespertine is a straight up masterpiece. The thing that really makes this album work so well for me is the instrumentation and production. Vespertine has this very unique style to it that's deeply intimate and captivating to the senses. The wonderful opener "Hidden Place" sets this up perfectly. The electronic sounds are equal parts pleasing and chilling. I love it. The writing is also a key part of Vespertine's appeal. If I had to describe the album in one word, it would be "intimate." This is partially due to the sound, but also due to the sensual nature of the lyrics. Lyrics that focus on sex don't always work for me (I'm looking at you Neil Hannon), but the writing on Vespertine is great. They're clearly sensual, but also vague enough to feel more emotional rather than animistic. It helps that the songs are great. "Pagan Poetry" is easily the highlight for me. God I love this song. I'm going to be relistening to this song frequently. The rest are all great. There's not a bad song on the album. Of course, Björk's singing is as Björk-y as it's ever been, with her unconventional nature making the songs feel as unique as always. I could go on and on if I wanted to. I've always liked what I've heard of Björk, but this is probably the first time that I've felt a sense of adoration for one of her albums. An album like Debut is great and all, but Vespertine is on a whole other level. This might just be one of the most enchanting, beautiful, and engaging albums I've ever heard. I love it. 5/5.
This is probably the prettiest Bjork album I've hears so far. It is great but a lot of the songs do sort of start to sound the same by the end. They are great but there isn't much sonic variation. Low 5.
this album is astonishing, it’s sonically beautiful, the production is amazing, my favourite björk record i’ve heard so far, amazing
I'll have to revisit it, there's no way I'll listen to this only once
Great mix of spectral and ethereal sounds and orchestral grandeur. This album succeeds in every way in it's uniqueness. It's loose, slippery, and feels weird to listen to. It's a magical experience that is unlike much else. My favorite Bjork project.
the best.
love it. so so so good
Y'know, I think I've had a pretty good track record with Björk records so far. Between VULNICURA, MEDÚLLA and DEBUT, the only one I can say I couldn't feel was MEDÚLLA — just wasn't 100 on its experimentation. Other than that, I felt like VULNIURA was a beautiful album, and DEBUT oddly ended up being my favorite for not being too much more than a good-ass dance album. Thusly, I think it's only fitting, then, that my group's last Björk album should end up a combo of the two. I will tell you first, it did take me a second to get used to this thing off the top. I'm actually pretty familiar with the album opener "Hidden Place" thanks to this mashup with Jimi Hendrix's take on "Born Under A Bad Sign", and as a result, it just sounded... Odd to me, in its original trip hop context. Following that, "Cocoon" didn't do me many favors either. I've seen this thing's beat described as "fingers tapping across skin," which, y'know, is a weird way to describe a beat to begin with, but I'unno.... To me it sounded way more like a CD skipping and I was not that huge on it. I was starting to wonder, and maybe worry a little, if this was too "artsy electronica" for my tastes. Luckily, things quickly turned up on "It's Not Up To You", and from then on things were just fine. Like... Goodness me, the strings on this thing. Not since VULNICURA have I listened to an album and thought, "Damn, those are some pretty-ass strings." Combine that with the choir vocals and music box stuff that show up... Oh, it is so darn wonderful. With the occasional light beat under it, it can be even better. Highlighting some songs... Well, there's "It's Not Up To You" as I mentioned, but where that mostly just clued me in, "Undo" is where things were confirmed for me. I also like how it ends, dissolving into digital mess. Then you've got "Aurora", which sounds like you're taking a walk in the snow under the Northern Lights — honestly... And "Sun In My Mouth" sounds like Björk's resting on the floor, singin' next to a music box as a string section plays behind her. In fact, speaking of Björk's voice, I wanna bring up "Pagan Poetry" real brief for helping me to finally get a grip on her style of singing. For the most part before now, I was... Fine with it. Not 100% of the time; it's all warbly and wavery, in this cutesy, twee way that can kinda grate if you're in the wrong mood... But for the most part, I accepted it for what it was. Though, at the same time, I couldn't help but wonder if that was the only trick in her toolbox... And nope! Once I heard her put some force behind her voice on "Pagan Poetry", it became clear to me just how much control she's putting on that thing. It does not sound like it if you're paying attention on a surface level, but dig a little deep... Yeah, goodness. Honestly, if there's anything on this album I can say I don't really like... It's probably the more electro-leaning songs? This excludes "Hidden Place" since it's more wack-o trip hop than straight electro, but tracks like "An Echo A Stain" and "Heirloom"... Not my jam, to put it in short. I mean, with the strings and choir absent, it just doesn't hit in the same way. They're kind of boring, honestly... Besides those small songs I just don't jive with, however, this is truly a wonderfully pretty album. In fact, take DEBUT down a spot, this is my new favorite. And ain't it nice the randomizer saved the best for last, huh? Subtract the electro, it's near 50 minutes of gorgeous strings, chilly music boxes, and amazing choir vocals. The gooooood stuff... And neat swan dress y'got there, by the way. I wonder if other people liked it? Eh, they probably did...
Shame this is the last Bjork album my group is getting, cause once again, she delivers a hauntingly beautiful album. Solid 5 Stars.
I think I’m at a 10. Perhaps it’s the slight tear welling up in my eye after finishing out on “Unison” talking, but I adored that. Oddly, I have a comparison that might not fit at first glance, but I think it works here: “The Downward Spiral” by Nine Inch Nails. That album is about the carnal feelings of depression & the inner pain that slowly builds up to a breaking point of suicide. It uses sound design brilliantly to portray that pain, and it all comes to a head with screechingly violent guitar tones, an utterly shattered vocal performance, and a beautiful kind of honesty that succeeds at making you *feel* it, once the album is all said and done. This album is about the carnal feelings of love & the inner happiness that slowly builds up to a blossoming point of marriage. It uses sound design brilliantly to portray that happiness, and it all comes to a head with beautifully gliding orchestration, an optimistically strong vocal performance, and a beautiful kind of honesty that succeeds at making you *feel* it, once the album is all said and done. I’ve quite literally spelled it out, but to my ears, this album is to love exactly what “The Downward Spiral” is to that sense of pain. Bjork portrays it with some of the most sensational lyricism I can remember – obviously, a lot of it is about sex & lust, but the language she uses brings out something deeper. It’s not like she’s hiding what any of these songs are about, but she still manages to “disguise” it while still being absolutely implicit about it, and portraying a sort of primal beauty to it. It feels like poetry. I could also just be really easily impressed by flowery language being used in this sense, but regardless, I adored this album’s writing. The lyricism wouldn’t mean a damn thing if Bjork couldn’t sing them well enough, and her vocals truly shine here – if you’ve heard the album, then you know. Whether she’s belting or going softer, her vocals match the mood the instrumentation brings every time. I especially love the moments that sound like errors, as clearly intentional as they are – things like the vocal hesitations on “It’s Not Up to You” & “Undo” are perfectly done, and give the album an air of authenticity. For as much as those vocals shine though… it’s all in the instrumentation & sound design here. We are so far ahead of schedule for 2001 that it’s honestly ridiculous. Even now, for 2025, this album still feels like it’s doing stuff that nobody wants to touch in a modern musical landscape. The orchestration is beautiful throughout this whole thing. I wish I had deeper notes on it, but when you’re in the moment, the last thing you want to do is ruin the serenity of those moments washing over you. When this album isn’t giving off world peace-inducing orchestration, it’s going for a softer, more intimate form of electronica, marked by rather small but present beats. It’s extremely effective, and anchors every track in a way that melts downward, back into her vocals, and back into the lyricism, all working together in harmony. Overall, the production is remarkable here, full of nuances that I’m sure will reveal themselves further to me on any subsequent listens, and layered beyond belief for something that came out 24 years ago. As a whole, I wish I had enough of the words to dive deeper into the whole thing, but much like “The Downward Spiral”, I’m blown away. It is as good as advertised, and for the last Bjork album we’ll be getting on the list, it’s a wonderful way to go out. Bjork has proven her versatility is a superpower, and the order in which we got her albums is probably perfect. Consider me a fan. As far as this goes, to borrow from what I wrote about “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”, it’s a seminal album for 2001, and probably the whole decade. It’s a 10.
First listen, loved that!
Album totally knocks my socks off — love the Aphex Twin-esque glitch-pop instrumentals beneath each track, and Björk’s incredible vocal presence is almost too iconic at this point to even need mention. Hadn’t heard this one before but will be coming back to it!
3 5/5 albums in a row! I haven’t heard this album in a while and forgot just how amazing it is. It sounds so alien yet so natural at the same time and Björk’s voice is unreal as usual.
This a great reminder that I should listen to more Björk lol. It’s such a beautiful & brilliant album. Curious and sensual songs realized by romantic electro production with wonderful recurring hallmarks: fizzy beats, luxuriant keyboards, baby-cooing synths, ghostly kids choir, and Bjork’s magnificent swooping, crackling vocals tying it all together.
Un disco alucinante. La producción es excelente. Los suficientemente experimental y pop al mismo tiempo. La voz de Bjork es increíble. Los arreglos para orquesta son hermosos. Un nuevo favorito para mí
What a masterpiece. This album is so out there and yet so so enthralling. This album has nothing but bangers and yet "Pagan Poetry" stands out in a huge way, even when it's surrounded by all time great songs. This isn't even my favorite Björk album, she's just so talented and musically adventurous that she deserves all the praise in the world. I love Björk
1. Hidden Place - 10/10 2. Cocoon - 9/10 3. It’s Not Up to You - 10/10 4. Undo - 10/10 5. Pagan Poetry - 10/10 6. Frosti - instru 7. Aurora - 8/10 8. An Echo, a Stain - 8/10 9. Sun in My Mouth - 8.5/10 10. Heirloom - 10/10 11. Harm of Will - 9/10 12. Unison - 10/10 9/10
Minimal and intricate music.
What can I say about Bjork that I haven't already said? I've had 3 of her 4 albums that appear on this generator before even hitting 50 albums generated, and I'm sad that the next one I get will be my last. Bjork has a gorgeous voice and a unique sound that you can't place into a genre. This is yet another fantastic album by her. Some of my favorites were It's Not Up To You, Aurora, and Unison.
Este album es muy raro. Muchos de estos temas suenan un poquito al soundtrack de minecraft y me recuerdan tmb al worm del spelunky. Pero con bjork arriba de forma medio mágica majestuosa así y con las strings que acompañan de la misma forma. Una vibe muy específica q a la primera listen no encajó mucho pero al final me gustó. Mucho replay potential. Puede ser que si no estoy en el mood me parezca algo aburrido pero es worth. Temas favoritos: it's not up to you, pagan poetry, sun in my mouth, unison. Y hidden place me deja pegada el lick ese q hacen las strings. Maybe es un 9 eh. hmmmm 5 star
The best Bjork album and in my top 5 albums of all time, not sure where it falls in that top 5 but it’s in there.
YES YES YES!!! Probably my favorite from her, although that is a tough call. Every song is a 5, but Pagan Poetry is the best. Easy 5.
Beautiful.
It is my first listen of this album and it is fantastic. Just brlliant.
Already a 5/5 , then I read the wiki and wished I could raise it.intentonally choosing a sound that wouldn't lose fidelity over Napster downloads is a fascinating piece of history, and it makes me wonder about all the musical choices catered to the most likely medium it was to be played. Tom Sawyer by Rush sucks on Spotify, but is an otherworldly experience on an imperfect cassette
2001 was a great year for music with Vespertine the clear winner. Heavenly choruses and Serge Gainsburg inspired orchestration create a musical euphoria. Currently it’s one of my top ten albums of all time.
It's a state of emergency. I love this album.
Wow! This was incredible and easily the most I’ve ever enjoyed Björk. I’m going to tell people to start with this one if I ever get a chance. I’ve made a few passes at her discog over the years, but somehow never hit play on this one. You can really see where Thom Yorke got inspired for his own solo career. Anyway, the whole thing was beautifully produced, melancholic but also rapturous in its own way. Beautiful and interesting all the way through. M-L #121.
9/10
## In-Depth Review of *Vespertine* by Björk Released on August 18, 2001, *Vespertine* is Björk's fourth studio album and a landmark in her discography. It represents a shift from the confrontational and dramatic style of her previous album, *Homogenic*, to a more intimate, introspective, and intricate soundscape. Below is an extensive analysis of its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its pros and cons. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Vespertine* are deeply personal and poetic, exploring themes of intimacy, love, eroticism, and self-reflection. Inspired by Björk's relationship with artist Matthew Barney and her experiences during the filming of *Dancer in the Dark*, the lyrics often delve into vulnerability and sensuality. Songs like "Cocoon" feature explicit yet tender imagery of physical intimacy ("He slides inside / Half awake, half asleep"), while others like "Undo" offer reassurance and emotional healing ("It's not meant to be a struggle uphill")[1][4]. Björk draws from literary influences such as E.E. Cummings and Sarah Kane to craft lyrics that feel confessional yet universal. The first-person perspective dominates much of the album, creating an immersive emotional experience for listeners. Tracks like "Pagan Poetry" express unrequited love with raw honesty ("I love him, I love him"), while "Hidden Place" speaks to the creation of a private sanctuary between two people[1][4]. --- ### **Music** Musically, *Vespertine* is characterized by its intricate arrangements and minimalist approach. Björk aimed to create "modern chamber music," blending organic instruments like harps and strings with electronic textures such as microbeats crafted from everyday sounds (e.g., shuffling cards, cracking ice)[1]. The result is a delicate interplay between acoustic warmth and synthetic precision. The album incorporates elements of electronica, ambient, glitch pop, folktronica, and art pop. Tracks like "Frosti" use music boxes to evoke a fairy tale-like intimacy, while "It's Not Up to You" combines soaring strings with glitchy beats to create an uplifting yet melancholic atmosphere[1][4]. Björk’s vocals are often recorded close to the microphone in an unstable whisper or falsetto, enhancing the sense of intimacy[1][4]. --- ### **Production** The production on *Vespertine* is one of its standout features. Björk collaborated with producers such as Matmos, Console, Zeena Parkins (harpist), and others to achieve a sound that feels both intricate and ethereal. The use of microbeats—created from unconventional sources—adds texture and depth to the album's sonic palette[1][5]. Björk’s meticulous attention to detail ensures that every sound serves the album's overarching mood of introspection and domesticity. For example, the static loops and white noise evoke analog warmth while complementing the digital elements. The production balances fragility with strength; moments of hushed awe are juxtaposed with lush crescendos[4][5]. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Vespertine* revolves around intimacy—both emotional and physical—and the magic found in everyday life. Björk described it as an exploration of "the universe inside every person," focusing on internal landscapes rather than external ones[2]. The album transitions from domesticity (its working title was *Domestika*) to themes of love-making and connection. Winter imagery permeates the record; muted beats resemble footsteps in snow, creating a cold yet comforting atmosphere[5]. The idea of cocooning—retreating into oneself or into a relationship—is central to tracks like "Hidden Place" and "Cocoon." This thematic depth makes *Vespertine* one of Björk’s most emotionally resonant works. --- ### **Influence** *Vespertine* has had a profound impact on electronic music and art pop. Its fusion of acoustic instruments with glitchy textures paved the way for artists exploring similar hybrid styles. Critics have hailed it as one of Björk’s most influential albums for its ability to imbue electronic music with soul[3][5]. The album also set a precedent for deeply personal storytelling in pop music. Later works by Björk (*Vulnicura*, *Utopia*) build upon the emotional vulnerability introduced in *Vespertine*. Its timeless production ensures that it continues to resonate with listeners decades after its release[2][4]. --- ### **Pros** - **Innovative Sound Design**: The combination of microbeats with acoustic instruments creates an otherworldly atmosphere unlike anything else. - **Emotional Depth**: The lyrics are raw and intimate, offering a deeply personal listening experience. - **Timeless Production**: The album avoids sounding dated due to its meticulous arrangements and experimental textures. - **Cohesive Themes**: The focus on intimacy and internal landscapes gives the album a strong conceptual unity. - **Influence**: It has inspired countless artists in electronic music and art pop. --- **Cons** - **Density**: The intricate production can feel overwhelming or overly complex for some listeners[3]. - **Pacing**: At nearly 56 minutes long, the album’s slow tempos may make it feel monotonous or overly drawn-out for certain audiences[3]. - **Accessibility**: Unlike earlier albums (*Debut*, *Post*), *Vespertine* lacks immediate hooks or pop appeal; its beauty reveals itself gradually[4]. --- **Conclusion** *Vespertine* is a masterful exploration of intimacy through sound. Its delicate balance between organic warmth and electronic precision showcases Björk at her creative peak. While its density may alienate casual listeners, those willing to immerse themselves will find an emotionally rewarding experience that continues to influence music today.
Beautiful songs, and so what if they are weird and unconventional. I've never listened to anything from this artist apart from her hits. I think I will listen to a lot more now.
very good album, every song on here has great textures and the rating on this website is criminal
There was a period of my life between my late teens and early 20s where I had Bjork on heavy rotation. I haven't revisited in probably at least 10 years so. No reason in particular, I just drifted away to newer music and haven't revisited most from that era. When I saw Bjork was on the list a few times I was excited to revisit. I was initially a bit disappointed by the inclusion of "Vespertine" on the list over "Post" or "Homogenic" because I remember liking those a lot more (especially "Post") whereas "Vespertine" was always one I liked a bit less of what she had released at the time. Revisiting it I am more impressed by it than when I was younger. While I think "Post" in particular of the ones I mentioned is more "listenable", "Vespertine" is more interesting musically. There is a lot of texture to the music you can get lost in. It has a certain feeling about it that makes me think of the seasons. It starts with spring and rewinds slowly back into winter, then fall, summer, and to the previous spring. Like watching a time lapse video of the forest in reverse. Anyway, lovely to revisit this. Even more wonderful to like it more that I remembered. 5 stars, would let her take me on a fae journey through the woods again.
This was such a unique listen. Poppy, trippy, eerie, and a whole lot of creativity. No weak spots, and every song is so captivating because you have no idea where it's going to do. Very fresh sound and has aged remarkably well
"Vespertine" marked a major departure from Bjork's previous work. She'd previously been the punk Icelander who found a new home in the London club scenes (including recording in the bathrooms there). Her previous album "Homogenic" (criminally omitted from this list) had been a maximal and aggressive exploration of (among other things) dramatic landscapes. "Vespertine" however was the opposite of everything that Bjork had ever been. It's a deeply introverted album, evoking feelings of wanting to stay at home and perhaps hide under the kitchen table when the doorbell rings. It's not a lonely album though. It was inspired by her relationship with artist Matthew Barney and feels like a celebration of love between two people who need to shut the rest of the world out for a while to be fully together and simply be. Fittingly, the music is also a major change from her previous works. Whereas "Homogenic" was filled with full bodied synths, distortion, and strings, everything on "Vespertine" is much more intimate. The string quartets are replaced by much more personal harp performances. The earth-shattering electronics are replaced by microbeats, largely built from recording and manipulating everyday options and actions. Microbeats are something of a forgotten art. The effect is like a having a small mouse climb over your arms. It's gentle and lightweight in a way that's exceedingly rare in popular music. Bjork will forever be dogged by the idea that she's being weird for weirdness' sake. It's a deeply unfair characterization of a passionate artist who finds beauty in such an unusual corners of life. "Vespertine" is not my favorite album of hers, but I think it may be the most unique and beautiful of her career.
how does she do it? i am still trying to wrap my head around how Bjork decides which sound she's going to pursue one each project. if an artist says "this is my album where i make sandwiches" or "this is my mushroom album" you're likely to say "pff, these artists say the craziest things to sell records". when Bjork says it, she means it, and you trust her. she makes an album full of plucky strings and found sounds and skittery, ear-flipping beats, and it makes sense. there is no mainstream, there is no underground, there is simply Bjork. i would also like to say that i appreciate not only how sexual the album is, but how the sex is equal parts sacred and casual. honestly, isn't that how it is in the real world? like religion, sex pervades our lives, whether its in comfort, in violence, in ritual, in affirmation. there are those who use sex as a tool to control others, and those who use sex as a form of celebration. like the little clicks and whistles in your ear, it is still a part of you and your experience as an elevated being, whether in presence, absence, or disinterest. we pray to our gods, gathering orgone, but also feel impulses of inspiration, whether it's bouts of arousal or desire for your other part(s). even when not in devotion to it in this way, most of us still feel love in erotic or platonic ways, and dissolve into it with sheer joy. that is what this album is about. one enters love like a swimming pool, the nip of the cool water against your skin almost frightening as you wade in; then, breaking fragile hesitation, you plunge underneath and let it surround you.
One of the greatest albums of all time. Had the entire album in my Spotify wrapped one year. There's nothing I can add about this album that hasn't already been said. It's perfect. Fave track. Hidden Place, Cocoon, It's not up to you, Pagan Poetry, Heirloom, Unison Least Fave track. N/A
An absolutely stunning album by Björk. Everything about it vocals, production, writing, mixing, and arrangement is just incredible. It’s the definition of ASMR in music. The album never dips in quality, not even close; it's pure peak art pop from start to finish. Overall, a fucking masterpiece.
It’s not up to you is one of my favorite songs ever, like top 20 probably
she’s a genius
OVERALL: I was kinda putting this album off because I was really sick, but after listening I realize that I had to have listened to this earlier. Every single song is absolutely phenomenal, and I have to nitpick in order to find something slightly bad about them. Björk has some of the best vocals I have ever heard, and her production is basically perfect if you ignore the occasional worm tunneling. The only thing that I might not like is that it is very much about sex, which is pretty weird but is used surprisingly well. This album is maybe the most beautiful one I've ever listened to, except for maybe blond. SONG AVG: 9.485/10 PERSONAL RATING: 9.87/10 Hidden Place: I like the sounds at the beginning, but the melody that follows is pretty weird. I find Björk's voice to be pretty bad at the start, but it quickly becomes very good. Absolutely incredible production, I cannot describe how incredible it sounds. Absolutely incredible choirs. I can't really understand what Björk is saying, but it sounds pretty good. I will say that the music video is weird as hell. 9.5/10 Cocoon: I have no idea what is happening. It sounds very unsettling, but the vocals are pretty good. The production is overall pretty good. Nice percussion, and the mystery instrument is pretty good. I don't really like the ASMR whispering. 8.65/10 It's Not up to You: Absolutely incredible chorus. I love the production when it isn't playing a worm tunneling-like noise in my ears. Excellent vocals and choirs, quite literally the only thing I don't love about this song is that I sometimes don't really know what she's saying and the worm tunneling noises are kinda weird. Also the outro is pretty weird. 9.87/10 Undo: Once again, the production is amazing in every single aspect with the exception of the worm tunneling. The last half of this song is absolutely angelic. Love it. Also the vocals are pretty good. I guess the ooh-wahs might be a little annoying and the outro is kinda weird, but that's it. 9.92/10 Pagan Poetry: This is just overall perfect. I can only nitpick so hard, and I can only come up with: the lyrics are kinda hard to make out. That's it. Listen to this immediately. 10/10 Frosti: The intro is kinda weird, but I really like it. The instrument (most likely a music box or glockenspiel) is used incredibly. I love how well it transitions into the next song, but it does kinda end abruptly. Also, no vocals. 8.75/10 Aurora: Fantastic vocals, maybe my second favorite on this album in terms of vocals. The production compliments the vocals very well, and they are really well excecuted. The only thing I don't really like are the worm tunneling, which is (unfortunately) brought back. Also snow crunching is here, but that is actually used really well. 9.88/10 An Echo, a Stain: Had to go to genius to confirm something, this is about sexual assault. So other than that, the vocal performance is absolutely incredible. It sounds very ominous and unsettling, which matches the theme of the song. The production matches and makes the song much more intense, and is overall just really good. I guess the only "bad" thing is that it's very ambient and uncomfortable, but I find that to be a good thing about it. 10/10 Sun in My Mouth: Apparently this is an excerpt from a poem, which perfectly matches the theme of this album. Fantastic vocals and incredible production, but it is the second shortest song on this album. It does lose some points since the lyrics are just from a poem, but it's still really good. 8.75/10 Heirloom: The percussion at the start made me think this would sound much different. Anyways, the vocals are just as good as everything else on this album. The production is very nice, although it can sound pretty weird at some sections. As much as I like this, I will say that the lyrics are kinda basic and aren't anything too special. I guess the metaphor and the recurring dream have nice imagery. The outro, although I think it sounds good, is definitely weird and is not for everyone. 8.25/10 Harm of Will: It sounds absolutely incredible, and the vocals are unbelivably good, but I cannot figure out what Björk is saying. The production is incredible, especially the massive orchestral build up. Anyways, I do not know what the lyrics mean. I know it means something about sex, but I am super confused. Just know that it sounds good. 9.25/10 Unison: Potentially a perfect song. I am struggling to come up with anything I thought was mediocre. I guess it's really long and there are sometimes some weird synths, but that's about it. Björk has her best vocal performance on this album (imo), and everything in the production are worked perfectly. Everything from the choirs to the percussion to the strings are not only used perfectly, but are also used in a great way that perfectly captures what makes this album special. It does end abruptly, but that works and adds to the overall atmosphere of the album. Fantastic example of both a perfect song and a fantastic album ending. 11/10
goddddd this is just so beautiful it almost makes me feel nauseous—there’s some music that just makes me react in that way. it’s sort of like anxiety, the sensation of something collapsing on me. i don’t know how else to explain it! it takes a lot of energy to listen to this but i don’t think that’s a bad thing. strange and exciting sounds, blindingly beautiful lyrics. also “unison” is on my sam/frodo fanmix hehe. fav tracks: cocoon; it’s not up to you; an echo a stain; sun in my mouth; heirloom; unison
Mommy! I want milk! Favourite Songs: Hidden Place, It's Not Up To You, Pagen Poetry, Sun in my Mouth, Unison. Least Favourite Songs: Forsti.
I mean, what am I going to say that hasn't been said before, it's Vespertine. I'd never actually listened to this as a whole album before, so thanks for that, but yeah - it's sumptuous, it's ethereal, it's incredibly horny in a surprisingly wholesome way, Björk's vocals are exquisite, and it turns into Wintergatan in the middle. What's not to love?
I love this album.
I love how bare Björk's emotions are when she performs. This is a joyous, sexy album, lush and layered.
Ethereal music. Great for any situation when looking for low energy chill
Jacked off
Ethereal and beautiful from start to finish.
It's so rare to get an album where it feels like the artist is just completely baring their soul in it, but Bjork does that here. It's so personal, sometimes even feels like she's singing right into your ear. Beautiful album.
I had to search back through 1031 previous albums as I was sure I'd reviewed this before. Seems like I've had 5 Bjork albums before but not this one (if you count Sugercubes as well). They are good, touched by the same zany unique personality and sound and despite wondering if they are all a bit samey who am I to deny their genius.
Bjork is a little weirdo and I love when little weirdos make music.
This album was gorgeous. I very much enjoyed it. I have found Bjork's voice a little too high pitched for me in the past, but didn't think that at all about the songs in this album.
95/100. Truly remarkable. This is my favorite project from Björk. The songwriting, vocals, and instrumentation—this is what music is all about.
Experimental and ethereal as always. I love it.
Initial thought: I LOVE Bjork! the day after OK Computer - I'm in heaven! So, I love Bjork. I know she's not everyone's cup of tea, and I understand why. But there's such delicacy in her sound that never seems to get overshadowed in her powerful moments, or the times where she's most creative or experimental, which allows for such beauty in her sound that it can get overwhelming. This album leans hard into that delicacy and beauty, as it sounds like a girl in love - the gauzy, exhilarating first moments of love where every sense is heightened, every moment is forever, and all the pieces seem to fit. I love this album. 5 stars.
so floay, I own the CD
I am shocked. I love this. I have no words to describe but it makes me FEEL . Perhaps if Radiohead and Tori Amos and Kate Bush all went to an active volcano and peered in they’d see Bjork staring up at them…. I don’t know. I am flabbergasted. I almost skipped this one assuming that I wouldn’t like it…
Lovely, mellow, contemplative. It’s possible I’ve unfairly discounted this album for several years, as I don’t think it’s as dynamic or exciting as her first three efforts. I have to appreciate, though, that an artist can’t just always keep making the same thing again and again, no matter how much I like that thing, and even if newer material speaks to me a tad less on a personal level, it still may be incredibly rewarding. By revisiting this type of material, being willing to engage deeply, I not only see how she grows as an artist, but I see how I grow as a listener.
Gorgeous vocals, minimalist and experimental production. If you don't like this you're probably a nonce 9.2/10
Bjork: Beautiful, delicate, and intimate music made of odd electronic rhythms and bizarre melodies. A truly one-of-a-kind artist that carved out a unique sound and style, both on this album and on basically everything she’s done. Not every song stands out, or has a memorable hook. But the album stands as a full piece with a cohesive sound that will sweep the listener away, if they allow it to. The album as a whole stands out and is memorable. It’s got a mood, feeling, and atmosphere to it - it feels like cooking dinner with a lover in the wintertime.
I enjoy listening to it and I’m glad, it shows my tastes are expanding
Perfect album! Very interesting style and sound! I like it.
Classic
Best álbum ever
Eccentric, unpredictable, yet easy to listen to. Synth heavy, but also has extensive use of acoustic instruments. Sounds like something that I would put on my playlist if I was going to the Moon or Mars. She is IMMENSELY talented as a writer, arranger, and performer.
A beautiful, organic, lush, warm, lovely hug of an album.
the average listener often feels that björk's music is surreal, strange and even alien. the icelantic musician's experimental songs have sparked discussions about music as a whole and how it is deconstructed as an art form. david attenborough has perfectly summed up how I feel about the artist; björk's music isn't simply background music that you can just turn on, to fully enjoy her music you need to sit down, think, and analyze every word and note. and this album really does make you think, with thought-provoking sonnets in uncommon cadences, ambient soundscapes and sparkling bell instruments, calling this album a raw musical exhibition barely even gives it enough credit. wow.
YIPPY highlights: hidden place, it’s not up to you, pagan poetry, aurora (jun 11 2024)
One of, if not the most, tender, intimate, whole, and blissful musical experiences in the twenty first century.
Love this album.
So good!
Il 5 più veloce di tutti i tempi, amo Björk e Vespertine è forse il mio album preferito di sempre, è perfetto. Tra i fan è considerato il suo capolavoro e sono d'accordo al 100%, è irripetibile. Ogni volta che lo ascolto è un'esperienza sensazionale, passare dall'arrapatura iniziale al travagliato riconoscimento dei propri sentimenti in Pagan Poetry per poi chiudere in un epica proclamazione d'amore e devozione con Unison...Arte. Amo l'arpa, amo i carillon e i tintinnii, amo i cori (cazzo raga che cori), la strumentazione dell'album è incantevole, fatata, trascendentale, cosmica, tutte cose che adoro. Non ho assolutamente nulla di negativo da dire, grazie di esistere B-jörk, non vedo l’ora che tu esca di nuovo
Superb album - lush and endlessly interesting. Unique voice and a unique talent.
I've always loved Bjork's unique blend of sensuality, sadness, anger, and experimentation. This album has it all and some.
Beautiful. Hard to even quantify or find words to describe this album - At its most simple definition it is a pure representation of Love. 5/5
Incantevole. Björk è una ninfa che vive in un bosco innevato, non me lo spiego altrimenti.
Il 5 più veloce di tutti i tempi, amo Björk e Vespertine è forse il mio album preferito di sempre, è perfetto. Tra i fan è considerato il suo capolavoro e sono d’accordo al 100%, è irripetibile. Ogni volta che lo ascolto è un’esperienza sensazionale, passare dall’arrapatura iniziale al travagliato riconoscimento dei propri sentimenti in Pagan Poetry per poi chiudere in un epica proclamazione d’amore e devozione con Unison…Arte. Amo l’arpa, amo i carillon e i tintinnii, amo i cori (cazzo raga che cori), la strumentazione dell’album è incantevole, fatata, trascendentale, cosmica, tutte cose che adoro. Non ho assolutamente nulla di negativo da dire, grazie di esistere B-jörk, non vedo l’ora che tu esca di nuovo.
Just wonderful. Bjork's music and voice transports me to a different world.
one of the greatest to ever do it
Her best album probably
Love this album. Probably overall my favorite Bjork album, even if it's a little samey. It just shimmers. 5/5
Breathtaking album that is the one and only Bjork. This album withstands the tests of time, and is mysterious and wonderful.
The emotion was palpable and so so so beautiful. Relaxing yet invigorating. Strangley I loved every second of it. Definitely going to listen again
As always. Like nothing you've ever heard before. Arresting and wonderful.
Best Bjork by a long shot fo sho 👌
очень воздушная, почти прозрачная музыка алкоальбом: чистейшая чача
Младшая (или старшая?) сестра PJ Harvey. Ну вот не могу избавиться от сравнения с Let England Shake
This is a prime example of an album being more than the songs on it. There is not a single song on this album that I would listen to individually, but as an album experience it was amazing and I immediately wanted to play it again.
Ich liebe Björk. Ich bin ein großer Fan von Björk. Auch wenn mir nicht immer alles gefällt von ihr oder sofort ins Ohr geht. Doch dieses Album ist so gefühlvoll, intensiv, atemberaubend, voller Intimität und Sex. Wie sie die elektronischen Instrumente mit Harfe, Spieluhren, Knistern vermischt, zeugt von soviel Feingefühl und Liebe, dass es einem den Atem nimmt vor Begeisterung. Ja, dann ist da noch der fantastische Chor, der so gekonnt und unaufdringlich zum Einsatz kommt. Eine feenhafte, wunderschöne Ohrenweide. Mir kommen die Tränen. Verspertine.
relisten. talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before
Very good, and an extra star just for being Björk - which takes it to six!! Hidden place, cocoon, and unity were my favourites
A magical universe of sound
All the songs have such thick texture. I really enjoyed the production of the songs, they all seem kind of simple at the top, but when you really listen you start to see all the complexities of them.
Bjork is so talented and creative. This is a good one. 5/5
Great! Amazing production and lyrics. I applaud.
This album is stunningly beautiful. Bjork barely rises above a whisper throughout, but it's just a mesmerizing sound. It's layered, a bit fuzzy at times, there's this awesome harp on a lot of the songs. Honestly I'm generally not a huge fan of music where the electronic bit is a big part of it, but this just works so well, and her vocals tie everything together so perfectly. It's builds to such a big sound at various points and just left me wanting more. It's like an awesome mashup of Kate Bush and Joanna Newsome and Mitski and something even better maybe. Her singing style is super unique, it's like it's slightly off-beat, but somehow in a good way. The lyrics are really strong on this one too. A lot about love (and it's pretty sexually explicit at times, but it feels really understated somehow with her singing style). This one kind of blew me away a little bit, I didn't see this coming. I'm definitely a sucker for music that's a bit odd at times, but this was just a perfect combination of a little weird but really gorgeous at the same time. My one complaint is that the sound on "Heirloom" (3rd to last song) just felt a little out of place to me. It's not a huge deal to me, but something about it felt just a little off. The album finishes really strong though, so you forget about it quickly. I'm not sure that I've resonated with the lyrics of a love song quite like I'm feeling for "Unison". It's hard to pick a favorite song since it all comes together so well as a full album. Favorite song: Unison Other: Hidden Place, Cocoon, It's Not Up to You, Undo, Pagan Poetry, Frosti, Aurora, An Echo a Stain, Sun in My Mouth, Harm of Will 2/20/24
Incredible voice, yet another artist I mainly knew from general culture rather than their music until now. Lovely work
One would have been content on never having to reach a higher bar after crafting some of the most innovative and exciting pop music of the late 90s, reinventing the wheel and ultimately ripping up the rule book in the process. Björk has never been content and thus aimed to reach higher as the 2000s emerged. Vespertine could very well be her best effort, crafting her now trademark expressive musings with the chilly yet no less effective instrumentation that never ceases to lay bare its beauty as Björk's voice swirls around it as though it were snow caught up in the wind. Overall, the best thing one can do with this is to not overthink what's being heard and just surrender.
high 4
This album is a whirlwind of surprisingly congruous ideas, beautifully executed and (at least to me) wildly ahead of their time. Bjork is clearly a master of her craft, which incorporates heavy, ethereal textures and a smooth blend of modern, electric sounds and more "acoustic" ones. These tracks seriously make me want to ascend to the heavens and live the remainder of my life as a mythical air spirit. Best tracks: Cocoon, It's Not Up To You, Undo, Sun in My Mouth
Haunting and beautiful and amazing, Pagan Poetry is still a song that calls to me and makes me feel everything. So beautiful.
Never listened to a Bjork album in my life. Have really liked some of her singles (Play Dead as an example), but always put off by her weirdness, her portrayal by the media and by the dreadful ‘it’s oh so quiet’. This album was a complete revelation. Sure, I still hear some weirdness but either it’s below my gag-reflex trigger point, or I’ve evolved! The album is just beautiful. Her voice is distinctive and is a huge part of her art. And the music behind her voice is incredible on here. Fantastic arrangements with a wide range of instruments with a lovely flow from track to track, creating a hypnotic dreamy mood. Listening to this an experience and I bloody loved it.
Until starting this project, I hadn't heard much Björk. I'm finding that I'm continuously wowed by this woman's music. Very absorbing, dynamic, and in places, intense. The second half feels like it floats (but not aimlessly) along a bit before coming to a strong close. It only askes for deeper listening.
It was really nice
Absolutely incredible, especially the first half. Didn't think at all that it would be better than Post but holy shit. Love the celeste and harp and production.
if lucid dreaming had a soundtrack 10/10
simply lovely frosti a personal favourite
wow i first discovered björk about a year ago - only listening to her most popular songs (from this album namely "pagan poetry") from the likes of alternative 90s and 00s charts, playlists and compilations. it is only after listening to a full album with this now that i feel the ethereal and magical style has really hit me. one personal connection i have to her music is that only after falling in love with her musical style on my own, i found out that my mother too used to be a big fan of björk's work in the 90s - around the same age that i am now. fascinating to me as i always had only heard of more popular western music that came to influence post soviet countries to be of their tastes, but my mom at one point used to delve into alternative culture herself in the 80s-90s, (first into punk and later into art-pop/avant garde with this album). another way i feel my upbringing leads me to connect with this album is björk's connection to pagan and biophilic ideas throughout her work, where like icelandic paganism and its nordic counterparts, latvian paganism also is built around the idea of naturism with forest and mountain deities alike. other than a few titles and lyrics, her work is not explicitly built around this idea but i like to interpret it as such, a "modern-take" on paganism and its ideas. my family is mostly atheist so old sayings about folklore regarding trees and forest creatures is the only spirituality i feel i have had in my life. björk's has let me feel a deeper connection to that. lastly, björk's other albums are definitely not very accessible but i feel other than the longer song lengths, this one is a great first album and is one of the ones i feel more comfortable listening to (yet - possibly could change as i get acclimatised to the weird world of björk). listening to this the full way through was an experience that I will be repeating.
The last in a run of four incredible records. Everything she's done since has brilliant highs on it, but nothing consistently reaches the heights of these albums. Each with a very clear, distinctive style. I can't pick between them really. Gorgeous.
Great vocal range. This is an interesting album. I liked it a lot more than I expected to for sure.
i am in love with this woman!
This album is nothing short of incredible. It is a sweeping and simmering masterpiece that manages to feel deeply human despite its electronic substrate. The experimental electronics remind me of Aphex Twin and Radiohead (Kid A came out one year prior to Vespertine) yet Björk infuses an arresting sense of melody and lyricism that demands a close listening. I hung on every line of this album.
Euphoric and anxious, this album is a masterpeice of unsettling texture and rhythm. Beats drop in and out, strings swell from nowhere, bells and chanting synthetic vocals echo across vast open spaces, dense synth/drum machine disonance packs in and in and in to create some claustraphobic chaos. Bjork's voice is mostly wispy (breathy, intimate, inviting) but occasionally titanic (powerfully belting out big crescendo as the music swirls around). Quiet tracks like Cocoon crackle and click along with ambient Eno-style synth bedding. Poppier (lol) songs like It's Not Up to You hover in major keys, resolving the album's pulsating tension into blissful choruses. Mesmerizing, absorbing, and stressful - this is an incredible expression/exploration of isolation and romance.
My absolute favourite Bjork album Her voice never sounded stronger whilst also sounding so delicately fragile. The backing vocals (a chorus of angels?!) are extraordinary throughout. One of the ultimate headphone records that just envelopes you in it’s soundscape.
I love this album from start to finish.
Beautiful, dream like music that still seems futuristic even though it's over 20 years old. AI couldn't write it better. Bjork really is one of a kind and this is album has some of her best work.
Yet another really strong Björk album
This album is so atmospheric that it genuinely felt like it was a colder season, not summer. Then I went outside and instantly caught on fire. I screamed for help and some people luckily came to my aid with a fire blanket. However, the damage was done. As I laid in the hospital, writhing in pain, a doctor came and gave me some anesthetic before telling me they were going to have to remove the melted cotton from my skin. I blacked out soon after. When I came to, I was in a lot of pain, and they told me it would take three weeks to recover. So I hate you, Vespertine. But it’s a pretty good album that I’d have given a 5 if it hadn’t nearly killed me, so I guess I’ll give it that.
Yea! Love Björk, and this is probably her best album. Definitely a 5. Love the warm fuzzies of Cocoon, and the string instrumentation, thumping beat and vocals of It’s Not Up To You. Undo has this wonderful build to it. Overall, the cohesion, the textures, the dynamics. This one is a masterpiece!
Eurythmics to Slipknot then to Björk sure is some whiplash What a glorious winter album that I’m discovering in summer. Going back to individual tracks to decide on a rating was… odd, as the album does a good job of introducing the samples, the glitchy fuzzy beats & the glockenspiels. Well actually “Hidden Place” throws you in the middle of it all in the 1st 60 seconds, but does it *gently*. HL: “Hidden Place”, “Unison”, “Pagan Poetry”, “Aurora”, “It’s Not Up To You” June 16, 2023
I loved earlier albums but hadn’t heard this one. The music transports me.
El disco lo tiene absolutamente todo, es reconicible que es pop y que es art pop. Que es sumamente complicaos que suene bien y tenga exito. No me gustan los proyectos de bjork pero este me volo la cabeza, tal vez es un poco largo y por el 9,50/10 pero es un disco sobresaliente que no tiene puntos debiles.
Phenomenal record. One of the biggest and best voices in music.
My face looked like the middle letter in her name through the whole album experience.
I love listening to a biblically accurate angel.
Lovely album, Bjork's ethereal voice and haunting tones make for an unusual and dreamy feel to this album. Well worth listening to.
Bjork is an amazing artist beyond just the music. There was a lot of care and thought put into making this album, and you can really hear it. Lots of subtle sounds, and evocative music. Not my normal jam, but definitely worth a few listens.
Absolute pure bliss. The instrumentals are immaculate with tons of interesting sounds and textures and influences which make this thing just beautiful. Then Björk’s delicate and intimate singing fills each track with mysticism. It feels so organic and surreal at the same time. I loved the dance pop of Debut but this is another level. 10/10
good instrumentals
There is something so inherently beautiful, and haunting about this album that just stays with you. The love, fear, vulnerability, lust and joy that Bjork weaves into these songs makes it a one of a kind experience. This is my pick for the best album of all time.
How many other albums end with an orgasm?
I loved this, great record!
I fucking love this???? More like Kid A+
every song feels like you are a small fairy floating on a leaf in winter and it's magical.
Ah, another Björk album! This one is wonderful too, though I never really got Pagan Poetry. 5/5.
Dreamy, would hear again
I like that Björk tries something completely different when she gets bored with what has worked for her. Despite being very different from other albums, this is absolutely, unmistakably Björk. This was the swan dress as music. It was a bit challenging to listen to at first, but once I just started flowing with it, it took me on quite a lovely journey. It has a consistently dreamy mood throughout. I like her apt description of it as a "winter record." I had questioned having a third Björk album in this project so far, but now I'm hoping for another.
Warm and magical. I wanted it never to stop.
I’m never quite sure how Björk‘s albums are going to go down. This one proved quite enjoyable. I felt like I was traveling through some enchanted land. The harp and chorale parts were great additions. Lovely!
An old favorite xoxo
Vepsertine might just be Björk's Magnum Opus. Where the albums before fell on occasion more into clubby style electro, this album is organic, warm, subdued, dreamy and mysterious. And every time I hear it I'm amazed at how beautifully everything falls into place. The sudden background chorus in Undo. The incoming bass at Pagan Poetry. The strings that come in to enhance things very tastefully. So there is more than enough to hear. And with every listen I pick something new up. A musical detail or even an atmosphere some song will make me float towards. Details, but also a beautiful tranquility in the songs, even though the electronics simmer happily under the skin. Exciting and restful at the same time. Björk uses her voice in line with the songs as well, so with a lot less reverb. There's no miss on this album. 5*
Really lovely soundscape
Just a few days ago I was saying I need to dive deeper into Björk's discography and lo and behold I get another album from her. I understand why people don't like Björk. I totally get it, but for me it just works completely. This is such great music. I'm sad I didn't dive deeper into her work earlier.
damn this bitch horny
A masterpiece I’ve long relished from start to finish!
Wow, why haven't I listened to this before. SO good.
good
Beautiful and sublime. Epic
I found this one difficult to get into on first release - I'd loved Homogenic and this was an abrupt turn. Over time I've grown to love it and all its quiet intricacies. It's one to be actively listened to (not background music) and when I'm in the right mood it's magnificent. Hovering between 4 and 5 stars... and I'm in the right mood for it today.
izza friggin mastahpeez
Björk!
Wau.
Nakon što mi je Homogenic, njen album iz '97 dugo vremena bio najdraži, ovaj album je to potukao jednom zimom prije 3-4 godine. Jednostavno na zimu ove instrumentale slušati na ovakav glas, podsjeti te na neki kristalni zvuk, na led, na magiju neku ledenu? Kakav Frozen, samo Vespertine! P.S. Do yourself a favor i ako ti ne bude pasalo sada, poslušaj kad zazimi, tokom dana onak. pogotovo Frosti. mhm.
Bjork and this album are both magical.
Beautiful, weird album
Beautiful
Amazing!
Belleza y poesía.
I love this 4 Like one long, dreamy thought of sorts. 5 And still enjoyable. Oh what a pleasure.
While it initially appears less aurally confrontational than her other work, the layering on this thing is just incredible. A real grower, and still sounds fresh.
https://youtu.be/p3iDtps7dL8
Ethereal and otherworldly, of course, because it's Bjork. I have a strange fascination with her and her works. They poke at a part of me I didn't know was there and they make me feel exuberant. 'Debut' is the standard she set, and she set it high. I've listened to some of her other albums before, not this one, and felt like they didn't completely live up to the expectations of her first. However, 'Vespertine' felt like a return to exceptional form. There's a purpose to each of the songs, and you can feel the emotion and time put into each of them. Some people might just dismiss the songs because of how she manipulates her voice, but that doesn't give Bjork enough credit. Inventive, strange, and exceptional, I loved this album.
This is my favorite Bjork album.
There is truly no one like Björk
Love this. Just needed a reminder.
Love this album. Instant 5 stars.
Superb album. Unique and wonderful.
Not my favorite Bjork, but the album I’d play for anyone who wanted to understand Bjork (if that’s possible). Varied, ambitious and overflowing with ideas and strategies.
I've only ever heard of Bjork because of her - shall we say - out-there dress at the Oscars in 2001. So it almost comes as no surprise that she is donning that exact dress on the cover of Vespertine. This album was an overall nice surprise, as what little press I'd heard of Bjork was all about the swan dress, and how strange it was. Of which I then formed a pre-conceived notion of what her music sounded like, and that it wouldn't be something I would enjoy. The ethereal like quality to her music, draws you in with her understated beats and unique voice, of which I would liken to someone like Norwegian artist Aurora, paired with the sensuality of FKA Twigs. Best: Aurora Worst: Heirloom
I've already heard it, love it <3
Oh fuck yeah, this is one of my favorite albums Really captures that surreal, dreamy experience Incredible album - 10/10
listened to while high, i was floating through space and time letting the stars guide my way
Amazing never listened to bjork before
Such a beautiful sound, classic and timeless. Faves. It's hard to go past Hidden Place and Pagan Poetry, and it's a great album overall.
My favorite Björk album. From the intimate ”Cocoon” to the sprawling ”Pagan Poetry”, the album combines orchestral strings, choir song, assorted twinkling instruments, electonic production and Björk’s umistakable voice into a cohesive, enveloping and deeply personal expression. The ticking and shuffling electronic percussion used also appeals to me personally.