Reviews (page 3 of 9)
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.
Ett av de bästa albumen någonsin. Det är synd att vi inte fick det medan det ännu var snöigt, skivans ljud är på något sätt kallt samtidigt som det är det varmaste, mest intima man någonsin hört. Jag älskar trumljuden, de låter helt härliga, jag älskar melodierna, jag älskar refrängerna, jag älskar hur uppriktigt, intimt och känslosamt Björk sjunger om det hon känner. Vespertine känns inte heller någonsin cyniskt, vilket är helt fräscht.
In most of her work, Bjork's voice takes center stage. Which makes sense, considering that her voice is the Icelandic version of a cowboy swagger. On this album, the mixing takes center stage, with perfectly placed notes of piano doing enough to offset the darker beats. I'd love to be in that mixing room. I'd also love to hear all of the parts separately. My guess is that each would be interesting on its own, but together create something greater than the sum.
Ovo mi je naprosto jedan od najdražih albuma i nevjerojatno koliko dobro zvućči dvadesetak godina kasnije.
4.5
My goodness, Bjork is an absolutely fascinating artist in every way. I really hadn't actively listened to much of her work before this project, and I'm glad it's introduced me to a few of her albums. This album might be my favorite of hers thus far. Her sense of melody and harmony, her writing and composition, and her personal style of vocal delivery all add up to such an intriguing layering and texturing of music. I don't even like hearing such synth-heavy music on a regular basis, but she makes it work so well. By the end of the album, things felt a little jarred to me but I think that's due to her use of unusual rhythms, especially in her melodic delivery.
Superhieno! 5/5
Okei mitä helvettiä ja mitä kummaa, miks oon skipannut just tän Björkin levyn aiemmin. Osuu nimittäin todella herkkään paikkaan tämmöselle 00-luvun alun olohuoneteknon ystävälle. Plus siihen päälle, että Björk vaan osaa tehdä maagista musaa. Alkupuoli on jo tosi kova, mutta erityisesti yllätti, miten loppupuolella esim. Aurora, Heirloom ja Unison pystyy vielä viemään hommaa eteenpäin. Sanoisin 4.5/5 mut pyöristetään nyt ylöspäin, ku niin kiva yllätys.
Fellow Icelander
Had not fully invested in this album at the time: it was always Homogenic and then Post. But last year Debut turned out to be much better than I remembered. And this year the same is even more true for Vespertine, the 2nd 1001 album from Bjork on the list for me.
Top tier Bjork album for me, along with Debut and Homogenic.
Valeur sentimentale pour moi cet album Un de mes préféré de Bjork. Album de tempête de neige. Les textures et les sons de cet album sont sublime. Intime et immense à la fois
Gostei muito de ouvir, músicas cheias de camadas. Adorei as melodias.
Björk is so weird. I love her.
Emotional
Does Björk have like the best discography ever? I'm not even sure this is her best.
Wow
It amazes me how she creates this mystical world where she reigns supreme.
so this was class.... ive tried to get into bjork before but i could never really get past venus as a boy, so i was a bit hesitant about this album but about halfway through i was like oh this is amazing i want to listen to this over and over again preferably while on various substances.
Very good, and an extra star just for being Björk. Hidden place, cocoon, and unity were my favourites
Bjork being Bjork.
Perfect
Deep and intimate. By turns breathy and dreamy then suddenly out-front and powerful, you hang on every note for an irresistable listen.
A masterpiece
Björk’s masterpiece. A stunning, sensual, beautiful record, delicate and stirring. Minimalist beats gently pulse, celestial chorus soar and Björk’s incredible vocals hold all together. It’s hard to think of a more imaginative artist working today, exploring her own passions, never following the fashion. But here she is, wowing the listener with an extraordinary album quite unlike any other.
I fucking love Bjork. Such interesting and moving music. Even the songs I'm not so into I respect cos its just such great music. Not on this album but Unravel is one of the best songs of all time
Bjork is fantastic. Fantastic is Bjork. Such a recognisable sound.
ну просто замечательное, красивейшее музло, с прекрасным голосом
Великолепно! Мой любимый альбом Бйорк!
An album of total beauty. Sensuous, delicate, powerful. Love Bjork's voice, the song writing, the gossamer details in the music. Would give this a 6* if possible. <3
Really enjoyed this album
Awesome
one of the best albums. bjork is a legend and bright. beautiful voice. this album is the peak of her career.
Never listened to Björk before and had no idea what to expect, but I absolutely loved it. I found her voice tantalizing and the music both relaxing and stimulating. I will absolutely listen to this and other Björk albums again. Actually, I'm going to listen to another Björk album right now.
complex layers and super production
Very soothing. love the textures and her vocals. will be exploring more of her ouvre
Really inspiring and creative
Melodic genius. Never afraid to take chances with rhythm and cadence. A true joy.
Has to be in my top ten. Made me go from a Bjork fan to an obsessive fan boy. I still get the chills listening even years later. Flawless and an essential listen
Never listen to this before but it was a perfect vibe for today.
Hasta me da miedo no ponerle 5
I liked this a lot more than the 93 album
10/10 Björks best and one of the best albums I’ve ever heard overall
Não é dos mais acessíveis da Bjork, mas a produção e muito complexa e feita com elementos da casa dela. Feito no período do "Dancer in the Dark". Assistir também o show incrível na Royal Opera House
Amazing Album
The music has a very alien and other-worldy quality, which I found very interesting.
amazing groundbreaking production and vocals. loved the instrumentation, those harps are quite nice. second half really did cut it for me though.
Pretty good.
Bjork is weird, but her weirdness works. She draws inspiration from many sources and will frequently combine many into a single song. Her style is Avant Garde with a genre range from punk to dance, though even her dance music will throw in many curve balls. This album is light and soft and very Bjork.
Einzigartig, so wie alles, was ich bisher von Björk gehört habe. Sie scheint hier auch eine ganz klare Vision zu haben, wie das Album werden sein soll. Tolle Klänge und Atmosphären. 55min sind jedoch etwas lang, da hier nicht alle dieser einzigartigen Tracks gleichermaßen funktionieren für mich, und dann zieht es sich schon mal hier und da. Unterm Strich trotzdem tolles Album. 3.5/5 - sehr gut
Vespertine is one of the rare albums where production becomes part of the songwriting. The clicks aren’t decoration. The strings aren’t decoration. The whispers aren’t decoration. The tiny beats aren’t decoration. Everything contributes to the feeling of being inside an intensely private emotional space.
This album cover is so prettyyyy I really enjoyed this!! I loved how magical some of the songs sounded with tbh what sounded like wind chimes to me and though she didn’t really raise her voice that much throughout the album, the few times she did gave me chills. I also loved the strings and harps especially the strings on the last song. There were a couple weird elements that I wasn’t sure about like some of the clanking sounds I wasn’t really fond of but that could change with another listen which I will definitely be doing. 4.3/5
Ethereal layered soundscapes with poignant imagery, very sex themed
This album is where I start to disengage from Bjork. I can see the genius, but I want to listen to it less and less with each subsequent album. I want more Post or Homogenic. That probably makes me basic, and I'm ok with that.
Beautiful, intimate and mysterious. I love the icy sparkle of that celeste.
Неплохой альбом. Может не самый лучший.
Bjork is unique. I didn’t expect to enjoy this one, but I guess I was just feeling Bjorky.
While this lacked the big hits of Björk's previous albums, it was still an enjoyable listen on a quiet Saturday afternoon. A really intimate, lush production, and with Björk's voice amazing as always, I'm inclined to rate this highly.
Weird as hell but atmospheric percussive and memorable.
J'ai l'impression que Björk fait le même album à répétition depuis son début de carrière. Ceci est commun mais dans son cas ça passe moins bien pour moi.
100% ce que jeanjean dit. Je dois dire par contre qu'elle est quasi-imbattable pour ce qui est de l'ambiance sonore. Elle a définitivement une obsession pour les textures sonores riches. Elle a quand même une p'tite voix de marde (en plus de faire le même album sur repeat) ce qui la fait descendre à 4 étoiles.
Un peu comme mes collègues, je commence à comprendre Bjork. Chaque album est différent mais ça se ressemble quand même toujours? J'aime pas sa voix non plus. Meilleur que Medulla, mais j'ai préféré Vulnicura
3.5, need to come back and relisten to this one again. Enjoyed it but think it deserves more runtime before I make a decision :)
689/1001 2026.08.27
soooooo good. loved the sounds, loved her voice and every song made me reflect on it. i was so excited to hear what happened next. want to relisten and that is the only reason it is not a 5/5
I always think I don't like Bjork, but then when I listen to her music, I always do. She has a beautiful voice.
Love the Bjork sound as always, but there were no standout songs for me in this one
#423 My 3rd successive female solo artist, and Björk is the pick of the lot. I hadn’t listened to this album before but knew a couple of the tracks already. There’s an ethereal and whimsical feel to this album that makes me want to come back again. Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Listen before you die? ✅ Fave track(s): Hidden Place; Pagan Poetry; Unison Rating: 7/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Björk uses her voice as an instrument, but it's an acquired taste. The first half actually has some really beautiful parts and soars to some high highs. The second half goes kind of off the rails at points, but it's still a pretty good listen.
weird. very cool. shimmery bjork vocals over quirky lofi soundscapes. i don't know shit about shit but if you told me this album was wildly ahead of its time i'd believe you. like i was pogging when melanie martinez was doing this bit over minecraft music disc ass tracks but bjork had her beat by a clean 20 years. i do think the scope feels a little narrow, and i can't differentiate the songs and sounds much in my head. there's a couple moments of intensity where the energy gets kicked up, but they're scattered across a longer album. still though i'm endlessly grateful that musicians like this exist and pump out off-the-wall stuff that eventually sometimes gets to me. favorite song is Pagan Poetry or Unison. very strong 4
This album is the sound of fairies murdering each other while living in a psychedelic world of paranoia, rape and borderline personality. Great stuff.
I will give it a 4, feels like weird Radiohead mixed with drugged out 40s disney
Definitivamente requiere otra escucha porque sentí que me perdí mucho. Nota: 4.1
I've mostly avoided Bjork, her appeal was lost on me at the time. However, I may have to amend that opinion. This is a really lovely album of songs that I would describe as "the sound of a woman falling in love." Extremely feminine and strong. I didn't add any songs to my library because to me these aren't songs I would listen to on an individual basis if that makes sense? A very strong ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I may revisit the album later.
This was actually much better than I thought it would be. Bjork is an odd duck, but definitely uniquely talented.
enjoyable!
I’ve heard this before and I own it. Bjork is awesome and I’ve loved her since the Sugarcubes were still around. This album was a cool departure from her earlier albums and I love the minimalism, especially on the beats which are even completely absent on a number of songs, which still manage to be rhythmically complex and symphonic. And this one is a kind of jumping off place for her later more experimental records.
This album is what it must sound like to OD in the Mirkwood Forest around the wood elves.
The voice. The production. Pure magic. Vespertine is a challenge, but the more time you spend with it, the more it reveals itself.
Soothing, gorgeous, art pop. Sneaky pick for her best album. They’re like slightly creepy lullabies that are still catchy. I miss this Björk.
masterpiece
Etherial, pleasant, haunting, Bjork.
❝… 'Cause the evenin' I've always longed for It could still happen How do I master The perfect day?❞ Until some years ago, I thought Björk was an artist not really for my liking. I thought she screamed more than she sang and I was not fan of that. Fortunately, I changed my mind after discovering Debut as a whole. What a record it is! Since then I heard a lot of good things about Vespertine and was curious to discover it. So, let's see! Well, Vespertine is definitely a brilliant album. Some songs gave me chills (It's Not Up To You, Hidden Place) by how beautiful they are. I always adore music when there is a whole orchestration behind it with so many different instruments. Definitely how I prefer music. So of course, I adore Vespertine. Some songs are more intimate, like if she is talking directly to us, listeners. This album has also a lot of different sonority. I'm sure there is one for each one of us! I can definitely feel that this album was made while she was filming Dancing in the Dark. But I highly prefer the songs of Vespertine than Dancing in the Dark. It might be just me but the songs are way more hopeful here. At least they sound like so. A lot of people think this is the best record of Björk and I definitely understand why. I haven't listen to all her works yet so I don't know but it is definitely as good as Debut! ... And yes, I STILL believe Björk screams a bit on her songs. But it's not unpleasant, not anymore. It's very melodious. You'll get used to it, you will too! Favorite songs of the record: Hidden Place, It's Not Up To You, Pagan Poetry, Frosti, Aurora. Least favorite song: Harm of Will maybe? I like all the songs.
better than expected
++: Hidden Place, Cocoon, It's Not Up to You, Undo, Pagan Poetry, Frosti, An Echo, a Stain, Heirloom, Unison +: Aurora, Sun in My Mouth, Harm of Will 8,7/10
Another deeply enjoyable album by Bjork which, like all the other Bjork records on the list requires a bit of time and effort on the part of the listener. But it's all the better for it. I'm not sure why we need quite this many Bjork records on the list, but there are certainly far worse artists to be consumed by.
This is a fine example of Bjork doing Bjork which means it is a breathy out of kilter adventure which needs the right moment to be listened to. I think at times it could be irritating but today I enjoyed its oddness.
Another good Bjork album. I'd put this towards the top of her discography.
Ethereal, gorgeous
Original
Thought it was very solid throughout. Maybe her talking-singing isn't my cup of tea, but when she wants to sing she can. I hear Radiohead and Arvo Pärt in here, which is definitely not a bad thing. The lyrics are vulnerable and insightful. I think it is a very solid effort and i respect the craftsmanship, but i doubt i will ever become a big fan of Björk. Still, closer to 4 than 3, so 4 it is.
Had some really good moments/songs but also some real snoozers
I bet this is what it feels like to hang out in Iceland
I was on exactly the right mood for this.
Packing more ideas in a single album than many artists do in their entire catalogues, Vespertine is Bjork's wintry, snowbound take on love and intimacy. It's so open and vulnerable you almost feel uncomfortable listening in on her admittedly quite explicit depictions of these themes: I mean, how else can you describe what's going on in "Cocoon?" There's a very big emphasis on an insular and personal sonic palette, which was a fairly big departure from the previous album Homogenic, which was sweeping and grandiose in every sense of the word. Here, Bjork uses small ambient sounds like footsteps in snow or shuffling cards to craft wonderfully intricate beats that grab the listener's attention every time. And that's even before she starts whooping and exclaiming and somersaulting all over the vocal lines in these songs. This is easily one of the defining performances of her career, and though I place it third in the pantheon of Big 3 Bjork Albums - my personal list is Homogenic, then Post, then this one - Vespertine is still a one of a kind experience that transports you to a world of frosted glass and warm cozy days spent out of the cold (in more ways than one...!) Key Tracks: Hidden Place, It's Not Up to You, Pagan Poetry, Unison
This is complicated. I loved the production, the sounds, the playfulness and the ambition however I am not a big fan of Bjork's voice. Unfortunately I can't remember any of the melodies. Great effort but falls on the final hurdle. 7 out of 10
Hit and miss.
Bjork’s in love! Lush orchestration and rich textures, if only it had a little more variety.
Bjork in maybe her most ethereal, happy, and horny era. I really like it but the songs are more of a mood than distinctive. Could probably remedy this by listening to it more often.
Lot of good stuff here actually. This was my first real venture into the Björk library and I enjoyed the vocals more than I thought I would from what I heard online. An experimental sound but unlike a lot of the more avant garde albums on this list Vespertine is actually really good at what it’s trying to do. Mystical and energetic sounds that often mash up very well with Björk’s falsetto vocals. Very happy with this
've never listened to this album and I don't think I'd heard any of these particular Bjork songs before. It's quite different from some of her other stuff that I'm more familiar with. Bjork is one of those artists that you either love or hate. Her voice can be a bit grating for some people and her music is definitely different. I thought this album was really beautiful. The music almost has a fairy/fantasy kind of vibe to it. Stripped down without all the electronics, so you can really hear all the instruments and Bjork's voice. I really enjoyed this one!
Björk's ethereal moon, bathed in cool hues and whispered secrets. It's a dream you're not sure you want to wake from, where she serves emotional honesty with your cosmos-themed cocktail. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Hidden Place - Cocoon - It's Not Up to You - Pagan Poetry
I don't know how to review Björk. I give it... Four puffins wearing tutus and a magical shell that knows the favourite colour of everyone who's seen you naked?
A gorgeously atmospheric album, the music is often chilling and sparse, with moments where it feels lush and expansive. It all serves the intimacy of Bjork's vocals very well.
A really distinctive, inventive and immersive electronic/art-pop album, featuring glitchy production combined with lush orchestral and choir arrangements on many tracks to create an intimate, wintry atmosphere. It has a bit more momentum rhythmically than I expected, as evidenced on opener ‘Hidden Place’, one of my highlights along with ‘Cocoon’ (whose whispery/breath vocals and crackly bassline/beat feel intensely personal) and ‘Pagan Poetry’, which has a beautiful arrangement, and great vocals and lyrics. The second half is perhaps slightly weaker than the first, but there aren’t really any weak tracks here. A very pleasant surprise. Strong 4 stars.
Wow, I don’t even really know how to properly articulate my reaction to this one. I can certainly say this is an album that isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen before. Going in, I knew that Björk was kind of an avant garde electronic artist, but I didn’t know too much about her music. This album was a very interesting introduction to her music. Technically, the music was great. It managed to combine Björk’s unique style with pop hooks and a very twinkling, almost crystalline sound. Her voice is able to reach in both directions, being able to belt out soaring highs like in the chorus of It’s Not Up To You, one of my standout tracks, and sink to deep lows such as in Undo. The soundscapes on this album are very standout, with two more of my standout songs, Hidden Place and Pagan Poetry, both containing their own varied bits of instrumentation that help to bring the music alive. However, it is not an album that I see myself re-listening to frequently, and it is a very immersive experience, so you have to be in a certain mood to listen to it. However, I do believe that the quality of the music is more deserving of a four than a three, where I lump some musically boring albums, so although it is not really my style, I’m giving it a four. Now I’m going to ride that Aurora to the next album.
Always incredibly unique and enjoyable. Certainly everyone should experience a Bjork album before they die. A great inclusion on this list even if she will not be everyone's cup of tea.
really liked: Hidden place An echo, a stain the first track is the best sometimes i am bothered by the singing - i feel like it gets "cursive" and i dont like that, but she's a baddie so i forgive her i recognized only 1 song - Pagan Poetry - from tiktok 😭😭 sounds like a ringtone honestly i enjoyed the whole album, i'm glad i got to listen to Björk can't wait for the next
Alright, I've been a Bjork hater for a long time. I never listened to this album though. Way better than I was expecting.
Me parece que es álbum bastante creativo, donde el juego de sonidos es impresionante y bastante íntimo e hipnótico, es un álbum bastante grande, diferente pero por momentos no pude conectar
I'm not a huge Bjork enthusiast and, yet, every time I listen to one of her albums I'm impressed. This is good music and she is a strong, thoughtful, creative artist. I have my nitpicks, but they are not really worth airing. Bonus points because I have a soft spot for Matmos; I actually "performed" with them in LA in 2011, but that's a story for another time.
Shocking, my first Bjork album ever and definitely will stay for longer, beautiful.
A very idiosyncratic vocalist. Very quirky arrangements to go along with it making this a very unique and interesting album
Talvi
The sound of 2001.
The art pop princess has another wonderclass of arrangements.
Not the most exciting Bjork lp. But still pleasant.
If Bjork catches you in the right mood, this album can really hit me. It did today when I listened to it. This album is pretty out there from the norm, but that's part of the magic.
Get why people consider this perfect, but not to me. Still great though
Better than Coldplay
Björk could hit me with a car and I would thank her.
Really nice introspective album from Björk that was a great listen.
This album is fucking incredible. Post was previously my favorite but this is in the running now. I love the production, it’s the right mix of electronic but intimate. Great album.
It sounded almost like I’d like it. But it’s in the category of too airy for me to get into
A estranheza musical de Björk é sempre uma experiência ótima de se viver. Celest Phoenixcall.
Björk is weird but a lot of fun and this album is pretty chill with some good music.
Never listened to a Bjork album before and clearly I've been missing out.
I’m not so behind I promise I just haven’t logged in a while. Talked about this with eli but it could be the best produced Bjork album and the sound design is magical. Some truly incredible songs but overall the songwriting is not as great as her others. She is incredible though her first five albums r kinda all at least 4s
I adore this album. Favorite songs: It's Not Up to You, Aurora, Pagan Poetry
Tbd: community diss for not rating this album higher
Not being a Bjork fan, I don't know where this album stands in her sizable catalog. It did immediately remind me that she is from Iceland and I am not and that perhaps driving through muggy Philadelphia traffic may not be the best milieu for this kind of extended dreamy electronic meandering. That said, is this the bridge from pop Bjork to weirdo electronic Bjork? The first half of the album didn't grab me, but the second half did, and given that I was wowed by Vinculcura, that seems to me where it was naturally headed. Ended on a real high note, too. I liked it. Not sure it's a masterpiece. Normally I'd give this kind of thing a 3 but I'm grading on a curve since emotionally it seems to hit that transcendent, ineffable musical feeling a couple of times and that's more than I can say for your standard 3 star album.
omaga con razón a la gente le gusta bjork
On the whole, I like her voice and style. The album was a bit too long for me but generally positive feelings towards it.
A superb find . I’m already a huge fan of post and debut but this might become my favourite
Very likeable gloss to the evolving sound of Hole on this record. Some excellent power rock, songs with massive hooks but still enough anger to pack a punch. Ignore all of the noise around the making of the record, the songwriting etc, and just give it a listen.
I'm a big fan of Bjork, but the albums chosen for this list are odd. Deep cuts rather than the more obvious and accessible ones. I like Vespertine, but it's a bit of a challenging listen at times and lacks something when compared to Homogenic or Post.
Bjork lives in her own musical world, I enjoy it
Vespertine is Björk at her best; she's still not the easiest to get into, but the lush electronica harmonies underlaying her soaring vocals is -- at the very least -- hypnotic.
My wife came downstairs this morning as this album was playing and asked “am I still dreaming?” This is how I feel listening to the ethereal quality of the album. My wife also offered to rate it a 0/5. I personally loved the album
“Hidden Place” has been in my head non-stop since the first listen—production is pretty beautiful on this album. Björk’s voice is like nothing else, so unique. I’ve been slowly getting into her stuff and after debut, which Iv listened to death, I’m loving how this one feels more dreamy and intimate. “Cocoon” is just stunning too. I’ve only listened to the album a couple of times so far, but I can already tell this album’s gonna grow on me the more I play it. Right now, I’m giving it 4 stars, but I’ve got a feeling I’ll enjoy it more with more listens.
This was a real experience and unlike most of the music I've ever heard. Experimental and atmospheric, Bjork creates soundscapes that really absorb. There's sonically some intriguing things going on here, I was trying to work out what certain sounds were, and read that some of it was just her crushing ice and shuffling cards. Fun! Not sure I'd go to 5* as I think this would need several listens to properly appreciate. It reminds me a bit of the Kid A / Amnesiac pair, which are certainly acquired tastes as well
This is my second Björk listen of the project(after Vulnicura). It is a very atmospheric record with hints of electronic music mixed in there. Lyrics are OK, but not great. The vocals, while an acquired taste, actually enhance the sound and vibe of the record. She clearly has an artistic vision, and it's one I rather like. While many of the songs run rather long, they are good songs with good writing. Many of the reviews here either hype it up as an all-time great album or diss it for being "too weird", and neither are entirely the case. This is simply a good album with its own unique character, just weird enough to avoid boredom while still being fairly accessible. It is an excellent listen for situations when an atmospheric, mildly theatrical record is the order of the day.
Bjork is one of the GOATs
Incredibly singular album drawing from a lot of influences that I haven’t heard in any other pop album. Incredibly comforting and still kind of spooky and alien. Favorite Songs: “Cocoon”, “It’s Not up to You”, “Unison” Least Favorite Song: “Heirloom” Mid 4.
Quirky and beautiful.
A love album that seems to go from beginning to end, but with the end being happy and the end not being the end, but just the next day in the journey. i look forward to revisiting in 5, 10 years to see how my feelings change towards it as i change. beautiful piece for introspection.
My favourites were Hidden Place, Pagan Poetry, Frosti, Aurora, Heirloom and Unison. Solid album! Why did I not listen to this before? I remember having seen the music video of Cocoon though.
I can't listen to Bjork all the time, but she makes very beautiful music. That album is great!
Oh Björk... Vespertine is such a quandary because it starts so strong and then it pulls to a finish. But that start though...4/5
björk is so delightful ~ this album just makes me wanna drape a swan around my neck and twirl around, you know?
Peak Bjork Icelandic weirdness
One of Bjork’s most blissful and pleasant albums to listen to. Very pleasing on the ears.
Really enjoy this record. Dark moody colors
Enchanting
If you don’t like Bjorks voice or whatever that’s fine. But the instrumental choices across this album are absolutely beautiful and so well executed. Couldn’t be anything less than a 4 in my book. 4/5
Geniaalne kõla. See muusika ei ole kindlasti igapäevaseks kuulamiseks, aga tegelt see mulle meeldibki. Muusikas tuleb välja selliseid emotsioone ja ebaperfektsusi, mida popis ei kuule. 4.0/5
4.5
I'm giving this exactly the same rating I gave *Medúlla*, but I think I'm going to put this one just a smidge higher. Probably just about the same review also i absolutely adore the passion in her voice. She's an absolutely unique artist, and is constantly sitting on the edge of an absolutely beautiful production along with her challenging songwriting. It always gets me wishing I could like it more because I think there is a huge passion and beauty that I can't ignore. There are some tracks and when she leans a little bit towards the alt music she was leaving behind at the time i enjoy this album a little bit more. But there are tracks and it's usually the slower ones. I think it's in those songs that her kind of discordal choices really kind of stick out to an area I'm not comfortable. I think actually both *Vespertine* and *Medulla*, if I ever gave it time to sink in, could become one that raises up in stature because there was a heroin beauty that I absolutely adore about the about both albums. (8.1) ★★★★
Art pop is not my favourite genre, but this album is quite good. 4 stars
4.5
Really Strong 4
I loved this. I’ve never heard an album that somehow feels very large whilst being so intimate and quiet. The tiny delicate beats match Björks vocals perfectly, and the layered vocals create a really intimate atmosphere. It all just feels so enclosed and cosy. Yeah I loved this, look forward to a relisten.
Vespertine is not really a songs record, and evaluating it as one misses the point entirely. This is atmosphere as architecture — harps, music boxes, buried choirs, and micro-beats made from everyday sounds layered into something so delicate and immersive that it almost defies genre categorization. Put it on through noise canceling headphones and it creates its own complete world. That’s not a small achievement. Björk’s voice is present throughout but often more felt than understood — whispering and murmuring at the center of the mix rather than soaring above it. That intimacy is clearly intentional, and it works. Even when the lyrics are barely intelligible the emotional presence is real, and it gives the record a human warmth that pure electronic atmosphere rarely manages. The production is the story here. Matthew Barney’s visual and sculptural influence feels audible in the sound design — there’s a tactile, almost physical quality to the textures that rewards close listening and reveals more with each pass. The programmed beats are buried so deep in the mix they function as texture rather than rhythm, which sidesteps the usual friction that electronic production creates and allows the organic elements to breathe. This sits in similar territory to Lana Del Rey’s Chemtrails Over the Country Club — atmosphere over urgency, cohesion over catharsis — but more adventurous and more original than almost anything else on this list. A generous four: immersive, beautifully crafted, and best experienced with the world shut out.
Pleasant
This felt surreal but raw. Kind of uncanny, I don't really know where to put it. I liked it, though.
Weird girl representation
Really great. Amazing vocals and atmosphere. Fav song: Generous Palmstrokes
The second Bjork record on my 1001 albums journey and she is one of the artists I underestimated. I loved this record. Ethereal, mysterious. Not looking for chart success, just an hour of beautiful music
the mother of weirdos
Not my favourite Bjork's album but still great
Younger me thought Bjork was odd and music was slow, not understanding it. Today me, is so curious on her, her music. I know what she is about, now that I have listened to all sorts of electronic-type of music. Interested in her music now. This album is pretty sweet.
This is one of those few electronicky albums that manages to be interesting without drowning in its own self-importance.
Never heard this before. Loved it
Don't think I'd listened to this one before, v good
I'll be back for seconds in this frosty little sonic cathedral
Vëry gœd
It's very unique and full of emotion, but too depressive and monotonous for my taste. There were some ultradramatic moments that I really enjoyed, Björk did an astounding job. However, I believe I need more convincing to truly understand her genius.
This is my second Björk album. I liked it. Like the last time I found it really interesting to listen to.
Best Song: Pagan Poetry The one thing I will give this project, it had turned me into a Bjork fan. Her voice is so unique I cannot wrap my head around whether is amazing or terrible. She is kind of like the female Ozzy Osbourne, my untrained ears can't tell if brilliant or if every note is off key. I think it is safe to say, after listening to a few Bjork and Sugarcubes albums that this is weird. Overall, I liked it but not as much as her 90s albums. 4/5.
Harm of Will by Björk is a quiet, reflective track from Vespertine that feels like an honest admission about the unintended harm love and longing can cause. It sits in that fragile space between tenderness and regret, where someone recognises that even deeply felt intentions can leave marks on another person.
A beautiful listen
Great for a rainy day
Me gustó mucho. Hidden Place pedazo de canción. Una obra de arte el disco entero.
I actually think this is the first pop album I've gotten so far, surprisingly. I am aware of Björk, but I've never really checked out her work. • Hidden Place is really cool, I haven't heard anything that sounds like it. The production is so layered and it feels like it takes up your whole mindspace while listening to it, but every instrument still has room to breathe and do their own thing • It's Not Up to You and Undo are also really great sounding songs. Undo in particular follows a • Pagan Poetry has very different instrumentation to the rest of the album. The harp in particular sounds beautiful` • I've not been taking too many notes for the back half of the album, but it's all been very consistent. Heirloom is another very nice song This was a good listen. It's pretty far out of my usual style, as a lot of the albums so far have been, but I can absolutely appreciate what I've just heard. Björk's voice is incredible, and I think I'd have to listen to her for a long time to get sick of it. The music was so consistently good throughout the album, with such a wide breadth of instruments used. I see that Björk has a few more albums on this, and I am now very much looking forward to hearing them. Favourite song: Pagan Poetry
Moves away from the club vibes of her first three solo albums into the more modern art installation/fashion show world that defines the back chunk of her career. This is the best handshake between the two styles that exists as far as I'm concerned. I much prefer her clubbier stuff to her conceptual stuff & Vespertine's successes are that it's got the lush, layered production work that'd she really indulge in with Biophilia/Utopia while also retaining the simpler, emotional lyrics and performance that paired well with the punchier instrumentals from her older work. There's a great balance here, you can really fall into these tracks. Not for everyone, I grant, Bjork's voice can grate on some people but she's always been a favorite of mine. Favorite Tracks: Cocoon, Pagan Poetry, Frosti, Heirloom, Unison
happy that i got this album today
Just what I needed. Bjork is a dream
Feels like listening to a fairy, love her style
Björk i sin fineste version. Den skrabede produktion sætter hendes særegne vokal og teksterne i fokus, hvilket skaber et skrøbeligt lydbillede der drager en ind. Det er et album der kræver lytteren er opmærksom.
Really cool album that rewards multiple listens. I feel like every song opens like a flower, isn't that nice? Don't we need nice things?
A damn good album. Pares away a lot of what I have found hard to connect with in other Bjork albums and leaves a starkly beautiful showcase for her voice.
So so gorgeous
Love it whimseyness
This is really really interesting. Every song is incredibly unique and is a genuinely good experience to listen to however I wouldn’t replay this often, but I would consider myself a fan of this type of sounding music.
Very very impressed. Despite personal preference against her vocal style, her talent is undeniable and the backing arrangements are produced to perfection. A monumental moment in modern minimalist music. It’s not a 5 for me, because it’s not often I would replay it, but the execution is easily up there with the greatest of all time.
A great album that I rarely play, not because it lacks anything, but because it asks for something. Some albums are like your home: you spend a lot of time there and you come back to them time and time again. This one is more like a chapel. You don’t live in a chapel. You visit. Beautiful, but not casual listening.
listened to again her voice is so weird but the soundscape is unescapable
Pekný album.
This old girl has aged well.
A beautiful album. Reminds me to listen to more Björk.
I no longer find Björk as challenging as I did when I was younger. I even began to enjoy some of her music. This doesn't really feel that way though. I think her earlier stuff is more interesting. This is perhaps 'peak Björk' in terms of finish and production, but the ideas are practised, rehearsed. If this is your first Björk album, then you'll find her voice either incredibly annoying or beautiful and full of emotion. Both are true. By album four though, the raw emotions from her voice are telling the same stories as they were in the first.
7/10 Best songs: Hidden Place, It's Not Up to You, Undo It's funny how the first repeat musician I encountered in this project is Bjork of all people - and an album I'm (pretty sure) I listened to before. At its best the songs are angelic, beautiful; at its worst its slow, overly quiet, and dull (particularly in the second half of the album). Do I like Bjork's strand of avant garde? Eh... depends on my mood, and the song.
Odd, enchanting. Feels like you’re hearing something from another world or dimension that you’re not supposed to be hearing. She has a beautiful powerful voice in the climaxes of a few songs.
A lovely, fascinating album, full of delightfully cryptic lyrics and varied textures. Bjork seems to have forgotten to add melodies which I understand is part of her objective but they're missed, nevertheless.
I enjoy this more than other Bjork albums
Very chill and lo-fi. Very glitchy music, but I still like it. It's not my favorite album, but it's a pretty quintessential pop album, but just an okay album in general
This is my favorite Bjork album, though maybe I’m in for a surprise in the next 3 Bjork albums I assume we are going to hear. I like it for a few reasons. First, she achieves a complete vision. It sounds like winter, cold and crystalline. The last song kind of hints at Spring in the offing. Second, in addition to the weird meandering you would expect, there are hooks that let you establish a toe hold. Take, for instance, It’s Not Up to You. I’m not sure I could sing the verse even with an hour of study. Then the chorus hits with the simple melody and hallucinated, layered vocals and propulsive bass line. It’s pretty great. Third, this seems very much of an era, tucked between Kid A and another Icelandic band I liked, Mum. In fact, if you swapped out the vocals for Thom Yorke, I’m pretty sure you have a Radiohead album.
4/5 - This album really took me to another place, and I was happy to be along for the ride. I thought her voice was beautiful, and the production really caught my ear. This would take some work to really sink into, because it's not really about hooks, but I'd definitely give a few more listens.
Favorite Tracks: Hidden Place / Pagan Poetry / Aurora / Unison Rating: 3.9 Listened to lossless from Spotify in my Sennheisers. Wow - gorgeous, rich, fascinating album. Haven't heard much Bjork other than radio hits. Sensual and super explicit a couple times! If you don't listen to the lyrics too much, it's very chill, moody, a lot of low-fi or trip-hop vibes. Unison is a fantastic closer.
As one half of Icelandic influenced by British based recording artists Houmous & Chutney I really appreciate the struggles Bjork has faced to get to this point. 4.0 7/12 Aurora
texture - great word
My 200th review... I have a couple of Bjork albums on my shelves, but not this. Has a very introspective and serious vibe when compared to her earlier more accessible work. It's not an instant land, demanding full attention of the listener. There's a definate experimental Radiohead style to the sumptuous production, which sounds superb in headphones. Further audition required. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ A strong ★★★★☆ (7/10) Total reviewed : 200 Already owned : 44 Purchased : 8 To buy list : 6 Nope : 142
There's no denying Bjork's voice is stunning and unique. Her vocal style however is more questionable. There was a time I adored her and her voice. The imagination on this album is fantastic, the production is tremendous, but you've got to be in the mood. "It's not up to you" has gone straight onto my hifi test playlist, that's really shows off an outstanding hifi. I really do admire this as an artwork, but will I yearn for it in the future? I'm less certain. Sigur Ros are the same for me, beautifully sounding albums but ultimately unengaging.
Some VERY beautiful bits, some not so great. Ultimately great I think. A generous 4.
Favourite Songs: Hidden Place It's Not Up To You Undo Pagan Poetry
Setting the scene for this one, it’s 1:30am and I’m playing a rougelike puzzle game about finding a hidden room in a mansion and just listening to this. Shout out blue prince, go play it. This album was a phenomenal companion to thinking through puzzles and trying to figure out what I’m doing. Bjork is extremely talented as a songwriter and both projects so far have highlighted different aspects of her creative genius. This one in particular is very orchestral and vocal and reverberous and it’s just so good and so easy to listen to. I love it, if I saw this in a shop I’d definitely pick it up. That said I’m not sure it’s sittin at a 5 for me.
originally my least favourite bjork but now ive warmed up to it
Pagan poetry is an incredible song. Album as a whole is just shy of a five
7/10
enjoyed this. i can see how bjork is important to everything i listen to these days lol
Really not my thing - and especially not for long stretches of time. It's hard to argue that this is not a wildly impressive album though.
Loved it, nice and ethereal
This is such a beautiful sounding album. I usually struggle with bjorks vocals and delivery, but the musical arrangements and soundscape of the music helped me through! This is such a beautiful album and although I remember enjoying it 20 years ago, I really enjoy it now.
I really enjoyed this album, beautiful, floating, falling and rising. Plus i'm a big fan of the harp! I hadn't listened to it before, but I'll be coming back to this album, and I loved the cover art.
I hit play on Christmas Eve, having no background on the album. I didn’t even take note of the title just that it was Björk. Just lovely. A real vespertine vibe and a beautiful untraditional Christmas album.
Production sounds great here. I preferred Debut though, it had more on an impact on me. This kind of washed over me. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
This is a lovely album. Bjork is always a little tricky to get into for me. It's pop music that you should really pay attention to? Or maybe it's because she's Icelandic? When I first started writing this, having listened to the album at work, earlier in the day, I was going to say that it's some interesting and gently experimental (it's not David Soldier's Thai Elephant Orchestra) pop music and then I started writing words like atmospheric, dark, brooding and haunting. And comparing it to Sigur Ros. And then I had to start listening to it again. I might be starting to 'get' Bjork. So: this is a lovely album. Its brilliance isn't going to slam you in the face and reinvent your conception of music but it might creep into your memories and pull you back. It's sometimes ominous and sometimes melancholy; she describes it as composed like chamber music and also as electronic folk. I think that's all true. This isn't a get-hyped listen. It will probably appeal to kids who like lo-fi, though it's much lusher and more maximalist than that. It's a soundscape, much like her countrymen in Sigur Ros. Somehow, the record feels like a warm cabin on a cold, open plain. Anyway, try some Bjork. It's a fucking trip. 4/5
Bjork creates this wonderous musical landscape for her amazing, unique voice to float seemlessly around her songs. Though the songs do run a bit long, I never felt bored. Same for the songs that sound similar to each. Her voice makes it endlessly listenable. I had heard one of her early albums but the life of me I can't remember much about it but her voice. 4
Hef ekki hlustað oft á þessa, svona er maður lítið þjóðrækinn, en hún er bæði falleg og góð, og verðlaunar mann fyrir endurtekna hlustun.
So this will be difficult one to rate, not because I don't like Bjork, but I am not a huge fan either. She is a difficult artist for me to grasp. This is very interesting, minimal, mellow record. Only listened to half of it, and feels like it deserves 4 stars, maybe even the one to REVISIT in the future? P.S. I see I alredy rated Homogenic a 4.0 on RYM and that is the one which I kind of get, but I can't imagine giving this one 3 either so f**k it - let's say 4.0 both here and on RYM, she deserves it
I tried listening to this in the car and it wasn't clicking much at all, quickly realised that similarly to Kid A,its the definition of a headphones album. Switched to headphones and the lush, weird arrangements here really sprung to life. Makes it way easier to focus on the strange beauty here, like the choral conclusion to Undo or the folktronica feel of Unison. Pagan Poetry is stunning too. Feel like I need repeat listens to appreciate this fully, but that just speaks to how carefully constructed it is. Bjork is one of a kind
Cold, dreamy sound. I think I'd have to be in the right mood to listen to it. Not a good fit for a grey winter day like today.
This is one of those albums that makes me glad I'm doing this thing. Bjork is not my cup of tea, but I can't deny that this is really good for what it is. I'll never listen to it again as it doesn't intrinsically work for me, but it was beautiful and I'm glad to have heard it once. 3.8
It makes me happy to live in a world in which Björk is appreciated and even successful. Touchingly odd music that feels both simple and painstakingly complex.
Bjork can be hit and miss for me, but such beautiful textures and soundscapes on this one.
I dunno what kinda mood I gotta be in for this, I like the music though Will I listen to again: 60%
Interesting
Like a lost Radiohead album with Björk's amazing vocals soaring overhead. I loved it. Favorite track: Pagan Poetry
Probably my fave Bjork album. Nothing too harsh/weird or shrieky. The overall vibe speaks to me. I have the 5.1 surround DVD-Audio from 2001, which sounds great. There is a 7.1 surround mix on Apple Music which is fine, but doesn’t add much to what the 5.1 did.
I have no memory of ever listening to this album, so it was a real delight to open the album page and find I’d previously liked five songs. Now I feel like I’m in for the best possible outcome: an album I like and that I get to “discover” all at once.
This made me want to kms then made me want to love life again because it was just so damn beautiful. *I am only joking I didn’t really want to kms*
Not a fan per se but I did enjoy this one.
Björk is special. She is wholly unique, completely interesting and "weird" and mildly spellbinding. She is a woods nymph but for her sexuality, which she lets out there with no holds barred. Part innocence and part luring siren is her signature. If I was not so fascinated I would be terrified. But fascinated I am and I cannot reduce her music to this song or that album... There are very few people like her on this earth and I am glad to know of her...
Weird but kinda wonderful. Björk has grown on me.
So unique
Diferente, mas bom!
Ethereal
Melancholy as fuck I really like Harm of Will
Oh joy - the Icelandic church that looks like an elf and wears dead swan dresses. Well fuck me, I actually enjoyed this. A lot. She has a hypnotic voice. Extremely unique. I’d listen to this again. I’m shocked. Thank you for including this one. Everyone seems to have heard of her but I don’t know anyone that listens to her.
Her fourth album. Pop / Electronica. I've had this album and Debut (1993) from Bjork come up so far. Both hugely enjoyable. Bjork has an other worldliness and way about her that I cannot help but be drawn to. This album sounds great. The music, the sounds, the vocals. Everything. I can't pick out a single track here. The entire album is a beautiful journey.
Lets get weird
Peak. She totally found her sound here. Shrouded in mysticism and beauty. Her off-kilter voice doesn’t throw me off as much as it did in Debut, in fact it works very well in a lot of points in this album. I also forgot that tiktok sound was pagan poetry but it’s still a fantastic song
When I was a kid I had a crush on Björk. But every now and then I found her too quirky which (for some strange reason) made me feel embarrassed. Now, that probably says more about me as a teenager than about Björk. But listening to Vespertine after all these years, that’s what’s coming back to me. I get drawn in. Her voice and the way it’s produced makes it feel very up close and personal. Then there’s suddenly a moment where I feel like it’s too much and I snap out of it. I quickly get lured right back in and the process repeats. 4/5
Hard to even rate in the 1001 albums context because of how much it feels like its own magical experience It's a very cold (experience), sort of like a blizzard in the forest, going back and forth between ethereally grandiose when the snow is flooding down and then returning to a lonely coldness when the snowfall dies down and you're left shivering surrounded by dead trees It has a very mystical sort of sensuality to it, it's a listen that feels hard to describe through words in a review alone If I had to guess, I would say it's a 4/5 verging on the border of a 5/5. Is that true? I don't know, did I listen to something? Is this an album? If it were and if I did then I think that's what I'd rate it. I think I've transcended now. Good day, people of Earth
Day 89 Classic album, one of my favs by Bjork! The instrumental is etheral and her voice is enchanting, love this album
So beautiful. Every song has a truly striking moment. Is it possible for music to sound both warm and frozen at the same time? FOUR STARS
I like how weird she is. So many minor notes where you wouldn’t expect them. Odd, but awesome. The orchestral music adds the the vibe
VA VA VESPERTINE ICELAND’s WEIRDEST SOMETHING QUEEN. That’s my interpolation of “Rasputin” by “Boney M.” Probably not my favourite Boney M track. I’m really into the deep cuts. When I’m not frantically writing bulletin updates in the Boney M fan club online forum (BonerPatrol420 - PM me), I am listening to albums recommended to me by this website. A widget on my phone that has inspired Pavlovian wincing upon each opening. Now I see the second Bjork album in two days, and I’m intrigued. We’ve crested Pearl Jam mountain and survived at least 4 David Bowie records. I feel unstoppable. Give me a soundtrack to that feeling ya artistic weirdo. Hidden Place - I live in a hidden place. It’s a cave loaded to the gills with uncooked meats and Xbox games. For those who say, “why would you bring perishable foods and how are you getting electricity?” When you ask those questions, I know that, like Bjork, I am AT LEAST 7 steps ahead of you. Pretty cool soundscapes here. Cocoon - Jesus. It’s so god damn LUSH. The sounds are making me feel like I don’t have bones. In a good way. Not in a pile of oozing flesh way. I don’t have to explain myself to the likes of you. Good day sir/madam/individual It’s Not Up to You - Who is it up to? Is there an all powerful deity, or are we in charge of our own path? Is the overwhelming knowledge that you alone are responsible for your direction through the concept known as life a completely overwhelming weight that renders you inert? The abdication of responsibility to a manufactured deity can ease that discomfort. You know what else helps? Copious amounts of food. Undo - We’re back in the insane Scandinavian gentle blender. It whirls you around slowly amongst lilacs and choral vocal passage until you firmly believe that you have died and while it’s not heaven you’ve ended up in, it’s some amalgamation of the afterlife descriptions you’ve heard from various theologians. I know you’re out here comparing afterlife notes of notable theologians. You intellectual rascal. Pagan Poetry - This sounds like a horrific nursery rhyme. That is a good thing in my books The passion is palpable, and this is somehow comforting and unsettling at the same time. Very impressive. Frosti - Hello Wendy’s, I would like one frosti. What you guys aren’t doing the Bigtime Bjork Blowout™️this year? What? I dreamed that??? I’ve been making an asshole out of myself at Wendy’s locations across the provinces. Man, I really shouldn’t have stood on the counter at the South Fredericton location and demanded the Bjorker with extra Sun sauce. At least I have some time to prepare for my court date. All just protests meet resistance. Aurora - You ever seen the northern lights? Before everything went nuts last year and you could see them in fucking Oklahoma or whatever, they were a special treat that I felt filled me with as close to a spiritual feeling as I can muster. I don’t believe in spirits, but my word are they powerful. This song has a lot of that vibe. An Echo a Stain - I love the little key stabs here. So dreamlike. If you don’t dream exclusively in terror like your dear author. Sun in My Mouth - Bjork, I thought I told you to stop eating celestial bodies. LOOK OUT RIGEL, BJORK IS HUNGRY. Heirloom - I don’t know how I feel about the recurring dream track. Wait your mother is turn of the century Edmonton Oilers forward Anson Carter? Yeah I know. That was a stretch. I’m running out of my 2025 attention span here. If you’re not careful, I might self-diagnose ADHD, and buy a vape with a screen. Harm of Will - More dreamy B-Jork tunes. Couldn’t hold a candle to the B-Boy stylings of B squared (late career Bull Buchanan). Unison - I too thrive “hermit style” with a beard and a pipe. Greatest lyrical moment so far. This is music by and for butterflies. There is a distinct insect vibe given off by Bjork and this album would go off HARD at the little sugar water dropper. Me and my butterfly bros and our Kate bloomer caterpillar friend would be consuming our daily calorie and just tweaking out bug style to the musical stylings of human adjacent Björk. This record is immense. Beautiful soundscapes, endless creativity and a truly unique experience. Am I going to listen to this regularly? No. But it was enlightening and has increased my appreciation for this enigmatic figure exponentially. It’s the creativity and dedication to experimentation that made this such an excellent experience. Not exactly my cup of tea, but when in Rome, you drink the uhh weird Icelandic tea. Or however that phrase goes. Great wjork, Bjork. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Cocoon, Pagan Poetry, An Echo a Stain, Unison
So lush. I’ve heard a few Björk albums before but this one instantly jumped out as my favorite. 4.5/5
01) Hidden Place - 9,0 02) Cocoon - 8,0 03) It's Not Up to You - 8,5 04) Undo - 7,5 05) Pagan Poetry - 8,5 06) Frosti - 7,5 07) Aurora - 8,0 08) An Echo, a Stain - 7,5 09) Sun in My Mouth - 7,5 10) Heirloom - 8,0 11) Harm of Will - 7,0 12) Unison - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,88 (79/100) Current ranking: 228/684
A few songs I liked and a few that were alright so not a 5 but I do like bjork My favorite: I love her I love her I love her
When it comes to Björk’s more experimental albums, they can be hit or miss, but this is definitely one of her better ones. It’s clearly art pop, but leans more toward the ambient, folktronica side. The production is strong, and while she maintains her experimental edge, she also strikes a good balance by keeping the music enjoyable and grounded.