Reviews (page 5 of 9)
Love Bjork, somehow hadn't really listened to this before, loved it too.
Honestly, Björk can do no wrong imo. This is hauntingly beautiful.
It's easy to make the mistake of over-attributing Vespertine to Matmos. From the sound of it, Björk built most of the edifice, and it shows. The most danceable bits are insanely abstract, and they fade in and out to the other instruments. Vespertine sends the listener on a journey. Something about the eccentricity of Debut simply can't be matched, but this is fine, fine, fine as well.
A bit background-y, which makes it easy to drift out while writing reports but good stuff. A few years ago my sister gave us Xmas presents of a gift vouchers for some VR place in East London and we did the Vulnicura VR thing and it was mental. I couldn't stop laughing at how good Stonemilker, the first track was, with Bjork singing right in my face on a deserted beach on Iceland. https://hypebeast.com/2015/6/bjork-unveils-virtual-reality-video-for-stonemilker
This was better than I expected, I'm pleasantly surprised that I could enjoy this album as much as I did. Going into this I already liked the song hyperballad from her other stuff but that was the extent of my bjork knowledge. It felt very magical and fairylike and very unique.
Me encantó. De Björk sólo conozco Debut y Post, pero nada de lo que ha hecho más tarde me ha cautivado. Supongo que este era el momento de escuchar Vespertine. Es un disco que fluye, pero que me ha dejado al menos dos canciones que quiero volver a oír repetidamente.
I've had a fascination with Bjork ever since she showed up on Space Ghost Coast to Coast. This is a lovely album full of haunting melodies and complexly layered compositions. I want to marry Bjork and live in her weird Icelandic castle and wear bizarre clothing with her.
It's something I have to be in the mood for but it is beautiful music.
Enjoyed this! 4.1⭐
I love Bjork, vocals, production...everything is great. However for mě it lacked the emotional value needed to be 5. Maybe one day.
Another really solid entry from Iceland's crown jewel. This album is a lot more accessible than some of Bjork's other work. There are a lot of beautiful string arrangements mixed with electronic elements. Counterbalancing these grand pieces are a lot of very minimalist moments, which works quite well. All of these are tied together with Bjork's unique voice and lyricism. Fav Tracks: Cocoon, Pagan Poetry, Heirloom
Twee might in the twilight.
bjrötica, not bjömbast
The turning point between Bjork's earlier 'fun' material and becoming more experimental. This is very good and requires multiple listens to unlock all aspects of the songs.
Bjorkey
10/10
Dromerig maar intieme muziek om even mee te zweven in een speciale sfeer
With “Vespertine”, Bjork pulled a “Kid A” after scoring an “OK Computer” with 1997’s “Homogenic”. Like “Kid A”, “Vespertine” marks a sharp left field turn to something a little more abstract and introspective. It’s also denser, more complex and perhaps more rewarding than its predecessor. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it at first, but the first thing to know about “Vespertine” is that it’s a treasure trove of arrangements and production, so intricately woven together. Knowing Bjork recorded “microbeats” with a series of household objects (crushing ice! Shuffling cards!) and then used music program Sibelius to write up all the string, harp and music box parts puts it even further up my street. Right from the get go with “Hidden Place”, “Vespertine” is elegant and rich. The combination of beats, Bjork’s acrobatic vocals and especially the lush choir and strings makes for a gorgeous sound. “Cocoon” is also beautiful, and almost uncomfortably intimate: “when I wake up, gorgeousness- he’s still inside me”, followed up by some veeery heavy breathing. Of the remaining tracks, the most breathtaking are “Pagan Poetry” and closer “Unison”. The brief instrumental “Frosti” deserves a mention, and the only discernible traces of the earlier, danceable Bjork are “It’s Not Up To You” and “Heirloom”. The rest is still working its charm on me, slowly but surely… but at the very least, it’s intriguing. I have enough confidence in Bjork’s genius to know this is at least a four star and will only improve with time.
Takie dziwne, oniryczne, tripowe, nie znałem zbytnio artystki, ale chętnie posłucham jeszcze więcej. Z jednej strony chillowe, ale z drugiej czasem angażujące - dziwne połączenie. Solidne 4
Layered, complex, unique, difficult at times, I can see repeated listens bearing multiple, complex tasting fruits. The opposite of background music this album demands attention. We will see if the rewards are worth the effort of this listener. To be continued. 3.75 🌟
Lyssnade på det åter idag fö ja så att alla gav det en femma….. förlåt mig … men det blir trots det en fyra…..
ja det är ju ett av de bästa albumen som hon gjort
i like this bjork
Vaikka onkin siisti levy ja fiilan erityisesti perkkoja ja rytmejä, en voi sanoa vieläkään että olisin päässy sisään Björkiin. Ehkä sit kokemuksen karttuessa menee mut toistaiseksi vielä \"ainoastaan\" 4/5.
Loved this. Some of her best vocal performances, beautiful production.
No words can describe how beautiful this album is. Flawlessly written, produced, orchestrated, and mastered album. There's tremendous songwriting over the entire album. And it's sounds so minimal while atmosphere is so magical and ethereal. Multi-tracked harmonies elevate that atmosphere splendidly. Most favourite tracks from the album: Cocoon It's Not Up to You Undo Aurora Sun in My Mouth Unison 9/10
My only exposure to Bjork before this was her alt-rock band The Sugarcubes, "Birthday" is one of my favorite songs. And I'm happy to hear her vocal style in still here 13 years later. Dramatic and beautiful, before in the Sugarcubes it gave off a wistful and mysterious vibe, but here we have something much more stunning, carefully arranged with intricate electronics that serve to construct an ambiance for the audience and support Bjork's vocal style and lyrical subject matter. I can tell how inaccessible this could be for most listeners. I mean, the second track "Cocoon" is characterized by moments of silence, light ambiance effects, and a mostly static whisper that rarely breaches its boundaries. This is an aesthetic that contrasts with most pop music out there. For many people, this abstract aesthetic combined with the cryptic lyrics could come off as pretentious. However, her one-line lyrics project brief images that build the subject matter, allowing the audience plenty of time to focus on everything going on, from Bjork's storytelling to her emotions to the production's environment. Major issue is that the second half is significantly weaker than the first. Not bad by any means, but they don't blow me away until the closer "Unison." There are many things I love about those tracks though. "Frosti" leading into "Aurora" sparks images of mythical ice kingdoms. "An Echo a Stain" is a fest of industrial anxiety. "Sun in My Mouth" has some of her prettiest singing. "Heirloom" is straight up trip hop, probably the most accessible, even her vocals are more traditional here. I have nothing notable to say about "Harm of Will," just another decent track, but at this point I'm tuning out until "Unison" snaps me back into a dramatic operatic finish. Favorites: It's Not Up To You, Pagan Poetry, Unison
Björk’s work is always clearly and uniquely Björk, but beyond the vocals and the off-kilter experimentalism it has actually evolved a lot over the years. Since I had listened but never written reviews as we encountered her albums, I’m now going back and re-listening with more of an interest in trying to make sense of the variety. “Debut,” her… debut, was backed by rather bland and unchallenging electronica. But that was no longer the case by the time of “Vespertine.” The arrangements are sparser, swelling and fading, building tension and emotion. The harps and tinkling percussion found in parts of “Debut” are still here, but the violins and strings that were so prominent on “Vulnicura” had not arrived yet.
Enjoyed listening but it was exhausting, very Jazzy and lacking in structure.
Un somptueux album de la part du second artiste islandais de ma journée. En effet, vous n'êtes pas sans savoir que je suis en possession de plusieurs générateurs pirates, et aujourd'hui mon générateur pop m'a proposé l'excellent groupe KALEO. Une journée donc placée sous le signe du grand froid, que je compte compléter en me jouant quelques chansons du dernier album d'Ed Sheeran, figure de proue de la rayon surgelé pop.
Toujours inventif et différent. J’aime sa recherche ne nouvelles façon de concevoir de la musique. Par contre, c’est pas son meilleur (je préfère post), un peu linéaire, quelques tounes qui vieillissent mal (Frosti par exemple).
Björk is always weird. This is her being weird and in love. Fillerish songs make way for the epic repose of the scattered three or four single worthy exceptions. Still. It’s an interesting and musically dense piece of art pop.
Got into it after a few tracks. Not bad
Well, this album is all about sex, baybee. It lacks the variety of earlier albums but maybe it's better for that.
Starting with "Hidden Place" it seems to pick up where her previous album, "Homogenic," left off, but then "Cocoon" takes the album in a more intimate direction. Definitely lends itself to headphones. Really like the textured beats, especially as they mesh with the string and vocal arrangements.
Strong interesting start. This coming off Homogenic is interesting, it feels like it could have been released in the last year. Love that instrumental oddness going on. First track has it all, orchestral Björk, weird beat Björk, instrumental oddities swirling around Björk, etc etc. Second track has some nice little poppy-sounding-beats along with interesting acoustic touches, lyrically it's interestingly explicit but pure in its intention. Oh man the Bass contrasting with the music boxes on Pagan Poetry is so fucking good, the push-pull of heavy/raw/powerful instruments with delicate twinkling of other touches+vocals is very powerful and what makes me really like Björk. This is definitely a winter album. Interesting Wiki tidbit: "With the rising popularity of Napster and music downloads, she decided to use instruments whose sounds would not be compromised when downloaded and played on a computer, including the harp, the celesta, clavichord, strings, and custom music boxes. Assisted by the duo Matmos, Björk created "microbeats" from various household sounds, such as that of shuffling cards and ice being cracked." Honestly there is a lot of interesting found-sound tidbits in the Wiki article that for a nerd like me make me happy. Sounds like the laptop was the studio for most of it, and apparently Björk does not get the credit for her work on it. Bummer. I'd say maybe a 4.5 or 5 but I will go with a 4.5 since not every track was unique enough to grab me compared to some others.
i really loved just relaxing and letting this wash over me and i think it might be 5 stars if i listened to it a few more times! ive never listened to a bjork album before but now im definitely intrigued
I enjoy this album and it's so soothing to listen to. Her other albums are even better, though.
I like a bit of Björk, but wasn't really familiar with this album. I'm also a fan of that early oughties faux-vinyl-crackle glitchy electronica, so this was right up my street! Fave track - "Hidden Place", maybe - loved the harp on "Pagan Poetry" too....
Need to listen to more bjork. Reminds me a lot of radiohead
Not as to my taste as yhe albums that came before, but still i love her sound
Perfect
Time has mellowed me, I suppose; I enjoyed this more than I expected to. I don’t think it’ll be a regular repeat listen for me, but it’s pretty good
As I am listing now I am remembering why this album doesn't rank higher for me. Musically - it's a brilliant & extremely complex album - that is apparent. It definitely isn't as easy to just put on and enjoy as Debut or Post. I think it's clear that she was in a certain headspace after doing *Dancer in the Dark* and Vespertine stays a bit more somber and subdued and doesn't reach the more manic highs of the previous 3 releases - and that's what I always loved most about Bjork.
More subdued than most of her work in a way that complements it well. I tend to overlook this album compared to her more bombastic ones but I'm really appreciating her work crafting the beats and melodies here.
She is goddess
Beautiful album
Good bjork album as usual
Enjoy Bjork, maybe wouldn't listen regularly but every time I do I enjoy. 3.8
De moeite waard om naar te luisteren. Zeker voor 2001 klinkt dit heel modern
I really love Bjork, and her song It's not up to you actually hit me in an emotional way that I needed.
Absolutely Fantastic
byorck
Its what you expect from a Bjork Álbum, ambient, uniform and great
Loved it's Not Up to You and Pagan Poetry
Very nice, weird Bjork music album.
This album had a very interesting sound. Lo-fi mixed with epic orchestral. Lyrics were ok.
Loved it
Absolute weirdo
I liked it.
Yuhu
Clearly one of auroras influences, and I completely get down with it. Industrial dream pop is most certainly it
At first I hated this... but as the Bjork set in I kind of started to like it. It's like being in a kind of depressing ice palace. I can't imagine singling out a song (besides Frosti which I love) but I found myself nodding along and getting into it in the second half.
Tripppppy!
Powerful and ethereal, but better in small doses. Not so much for playing in the background while working lol
Pure magic. Such a treat. Mesmerizing.
This album is pretty sick. Ethereal, unique, and much more than a unique voice with an accent you can't quite place.
Hay muchas opiniones encontradas con éste Álbum al parecer... Definitivamente estoy del lado de los que piensan que es un pinche discazo.
That audio mix... Very unique... I must deep dive into that music.
This sounds like it could have come out last week. Bjork was truly revolutionary. Fun listen.
freaky. really cool, enjoyed uqite a bit
1. Opening track is great. Her vocals sound so enticing and then break into a childlike taunt. 2. Second track is sooo breathy. Combined with that drum machine with the suppression it's super haunting 3.
Much less “weird” than I previously thought. Reminiscent of Massive Attack and lo-fi. For the first time I feel like I “get” and like Bjork.
Weird but good stuff. More like 4.5, will definitely listen to this again
Made me think of the calmer Chris Christodoulou songs, but with added intresting vocals.
Mysterious sound! I like it. Will definitely listen to her other albums.
Fucking amazing, this artist knows full well what she wants and does it wonderfully
Have not listened to this before, quite like it. Sprechgesang, but with nice melody.
She's a genius.
I have never listened to Bjork before. I was pleasantly surprised by the album. Heirloom I found particularly resonating.
Very chill-core, great experimental chamber pop music. I love that she has pushed some boundaries and I can appreciate this as art. Through the 1001 journey I have come to appreciate more experimental music, and Bjork definitely pushes the boundaries here. Kudos to her! She has a very interesting throwback voice and it goes well with this music. It has a beauty to it and I picture it like art, I am glad there is a museum for me to go and see it but I won't be putting it up on my walls.
Like a Radiohead album but less interesting. Not bad though it felt like a slog to get all the way through.
sounds great but can't be higher for me because i can't imagine myself coming back to this one, just like i didn't in 2001.
No private session used for Spotify. I like Bjork, but I haven't listened to this album. It's mellow, melodic, with a lot going on.
i always love what they have to share
I've listened to it a couple of times, and it might be external circumstance, but I can't get my head "into it". Will jeed to revisit this in the future. Listened to the live LP for context and it helps.
It’s kinda more the same here. Good but not great.
I appreciate this in theory. But she ca be soooo hard to listen to. I love her sense of music and creativity, but small doses please
I wanted so much to rate this highly but unfortunately it is really not Bjork's best work.
oh neat... a fourth Bjork album in this list. wtf? At least this one seems a little better. Though I didn't really like Cocoon.
Bjork reminds me of Wes Anderson’s films: child-like, precious, fairy tale and a degree of pain. I did not look up the credits for Vespertine, but the musical minimalism puts Bjork’s voice from and center making the record truly a solo album. My first listen unwisely occurred strolling through the city on a Sunday morning. I only heard Bjork’s voice above the gurgling and tinkling of indiscernible electronic accompaniment. That voice provides the Wes Anderson quality of someone peaking their head above plastic flowers and living in a dollhouse. Further sittings with the album did not dispel this impression. In fact the strings arrangements, back-up vocals and programmed music added to the quality. Not enough joy exists in the material to make the record a musical, but I still felt like an audience at a high-quality as well as depressing school play. Bjork has created a new model for a singer. She has taken the approach of a great jazz singer who expertly knows how to use her voice to emote. Meanwhile, she modernizes the genre with the threadbare digital elements. Too many songs lack memorable hooks, melodies or startling instrumental moments. I would have to pick my spots to listen to this record. Having an asterisk on timing limits how high I can rank Vespertine.
It’s not up to you is good Very ethereal albulm
This is really well-made, and certainly influential. I like it. I could see myself getting into it more if I really dove in.
I can’t decide if Björk makes music thats ahead of it’s time or just left of the concept of time itself. There’s no way this came from 2001. There’s an insane amount of thought out into the production and vocal arrangements. I really respect this. “Undo” and “Harm Of Will” were highlights for me, especially how the latter track crescendos with some of the best vocal work on the album. I think I personally like her debut a little more, but that’s completely subjective. What’s objective is how strong of an artist Björk always has been, this is one of many examples 3/5
I really do love some of the parts of this album, some of it is just a bit much. 3.5 stars, rounded down.
Mixed feelings about this one. It’s the first album from her I did not fully like. And from then on, I stopped listening to her new albums.
The sounds and effects used on this album were cool. Not really something I can see myself listening to outside of an art museum though. As an album it was fine
Not my favourite Bjork album. It's all quite slight, and slow, and deliberate. Her vocal delivery grates a bit more in this one, although the musical delivery and experimental elements work. There's a good atmosphere across some of this. It's a low three.
Listening session: august 10th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: not really my cup of tea but I can see how some people enjoy this Favourite tracks: It’s Not Up to You & Unison
Ok, I don't normally like Björk but I think I had a trippy experience this time around with this album. I was walking my dog and watching a thunderstorm in the distance at 930 pm while listening to this. Straight up ethereal vibes and I think that made the art more palatable.
Jag har insett att man kan få en överdos av Björk. Lyssningen av detta album till exempel. Jag tillhör dem som gillar och uppskattar Björk, hennes kreativitet och nytänkande kring musiken hon gör. Hon är cool i ordets rätta bemärkelse. Detta album är en liten besvikelse för mig dock. Ingen låt står liksom ut och fastnar förutom Pagan poetry. Det kanske handlar om fluffigheten i musiken och att hon är kär och låter det höras i alla texter. Kanske blir just detta lite tråkigt för mig? Jag vet inte men jag är inte helt förtjust i detta album.
I prefer her earlier work that featured percussion.
3.5
On the whole, this was really good. I maintain that there's no way anyone can claim that Björk is anything but a freaking genius. That doesn't change the fact that this is weird as hell. Her voice has never really worked for me, and that's still the case here. Certainly a number of very, very beautiful songs though. For the most part her music flies over my head or out my butt, but there were a couple tunes here that seriously resonated with me. Almost cried. Didn't. But almost. And that says something. Fave tracks: - Hidden Place - It's Not up to You - Undo - Heirloom
Í rauninni bara fínasta fínt. Ekki alveg fjögurra stjörnu virði, en nálægt því.
Enjoyable
interesting
Was quite keen to listen to this as it’s not one of hers I often put on. Now I remember why. No reason to put this on when she has so much better albums. It’s ok, but nothing near some of her others.
Didn't get on with this - it gets a 3 as I feel it has artistic merit even if I'm not keen.
It was ok but it’s Bjork and she screams a bunch so not as enjoyable
Wasn't the biggest fan. Felt kind of like an enchanted forest. Felt like I was forcing myself to get through it towards the end. Didn't feel like an album with a lot of replay ability for me. Pretty disappointed ngl. Biggest redeeming factor was the highs were really enjoyable Fave song: It's not up to you Rating: 5.1
Out of the other experimental albums I got recommended here this was the most well put together so far, in the sense of it being an experimental album but not just a mess, more like a talented discovery showcase, and it also was the first album from Bjork I listened to. I heard good things about her music, and that this was approaching another style, so I’m curios to see her other works. This was not really my style, as I’m not really into sexual poetry, but I liked: Heirloom, It’s Not Up To You, Pagan Poetry so I can say that I tried, but I’m sure the usual crowd loves Unison and Hidden Place
This might be good, but I was not in the mood for it yesterday.
Yeah, it's pretty. I don't like it. Pretty sure my age of being into Bjork passed into memory 25 years ago.
Vespertine Björk 2001 Genres: Pop, Electronica Styles: Pop Rock, Trip Hop, Abstract, Experimental, Ambient 1. Hidden Place (★★★★★) -Contexto: Habla de un refugio emocional secreto donde dos personas pueden mostrarse vulnerables y conectar lejos del mundo exterior. -Fav 2. Cocoon (★★☆☆☆) -Contexto: Describe una relación amorosa y sexual desde la intimidad absoluta, enfocándose en la confianza, la ternura y la vulnerabilidad compartida. 3. It's Not Up to You (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Invita a aceptar que no todo está bajo nuestro control y a confiar en que la vida puede traer momentos de felicidad inesperados. 4. Undo (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Trata sobre dejar atrás el miedo y las defensas emocionales para abrirse al amor y a la transformación personal. 5. Pagan Poetry (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Expresa un amor apasionado y casi sagrado, donde el deseo físico y la devoción emocional se mezclan en una entrega total. 6. Frosti (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Breve interludio instrumental que evoca un paisaje invernal y funciona como un momento de calma y contemplación. 7. Aurora (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Inspirada por la nieve y la naturaleza, habla del deseo de fundirse con el entorno y encontrar una sensación de renovación espiritual. 8. An Echo, a Stain (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Explora heridas emocionales profundas, el dolor psicológico y la dificultad para desprenderse de experiencias traumáticas. 9. Sun in My Mouth (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Adaptación de un poema de E. E. Cummings que reflexiona sobre el cuerpo, la naturaleza, el deseo y la belleza desde una perspectiva contemplativa. 10. Heirloom (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Habla de los sueños recurrentes y del inconsciente como una fuente de conocimiento y emociones difíciles de explicar racionalmente. 11. Harm of Will (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Retrata un amor sereno y protector, basado en el cuidado mutuo, la entrega y la confianza entre dos personas. 12. Unison (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Cierra el álbum celebrando una unión amorosa madura, donde dos individuos logran convivir en armonía sin perder su identidad. -TOTAL = ★★⯨☆☆ (2,83)
Weirdo music for a head shop in a beach town
Not my favourite bjork album
Pre Listen: I've heard of Bjork, but I don't really think I've heard any of her stuff knowingly. Based off what I do know about her, I don't think I'll enjoy this album, simply by genre. Still, going in with pretty much no expectations. Notable Tracks: Pagan Poetry - Oh hey this is that song that's used in various TikToks, Reels, and YouTube Shorts. I recognize this one, only by its intro. Frosti - How unique. I actually like this. A mix of a Music Box with other sounds is something I haven't heard done before for a whole song. I like the transition from this into Aurora as well. Favorite song on here. Sun In My Mouth - A high point of the album, but it solidified how much I dislike Bjork's vocals. The instrumental behind the singing is incredible, the musical equivalent of a movie. Bjork's voice though sounds terrible, like hearing your Mom singing in the shower. Post Listen: I liked that more than I anticipated, but it still wasn't my cup of tea. All the instrumental contributions were quite solid. A variety of strings, percussion, synth, and after effects, were all superbly done. This album sadly falls under the category of "I really wish the vocalist stopped vocaling!" Her breathy singing, slanted lyrics, and jumps in volume were terrible. Despite how unique every song sounds, her vocals sound the exact same from song to song. You could isolate her vocals from one track, layer it over the other, and I wouldn't know it. I now understand that one Family Guy bit. https://youtu.be/6Bc75EImLh4 I can see why this album is on here compared to a lot of the others, but as said, I'm just not that in to it. Quality was high, but it was a tough listen for me. I will try and find an instrumental version of the album, cause without her voice this may have been a 5 for me. There wasn't a single song I really disliked, I just disliked her vocals. 3/5
The Björk album is good. Very interesting, experimental.
Ambitious Instrumentation and arrangements that are interesting but it took getting past the first 2 tracks before it felt like anything was working. I applaud her risk, but often her vocal arrangements and performances don't work for me. This goes for most of her career. In my opinion, there way, WAY too many Björk albums on this list. DEBUT is really the only one that deserves to be here, with maybe one additional album, and to be fair, after experiencing most of her other albums, VESPERTINE might me the most deserving after DEBUT. The album grew on me slowly, but the concept album really explodes with orgasmic delight on "Unison". Favorites: "It's Not Up to You", "Undo", "Pagan Poetry", "Unison"
Björk is a real vibe. I can tell that this would really hit in just the right mood
Screaming. Why is it always screaming
Correcto
Admission: I’m officially a Bjork fan. There was something about this album that grabbed me. It was like Bjork birthed this album from a binge night with Radiohead “Hail-to-the-Thief” era. …and it finally explains the whole Goose-outfit thing that made so much controversy years ago. Her voice is less cutting and Yoko-Ono than normal. An Echo A Stain was definitely Radiohead-inspired. I also appreciated the Dead Can Dance influence of Pagan Poetry. But the key tracks for me was Hidden Places, which set the stage for the oddity to come. Ty’s is not a night club album. This is a headphones and mediation album. Yeah, this is a return for me.
Random thoughts: * What the hell was that? And I mean that in a good way. * Opening track was awesome. Radiohead style. This was the same year as Kid A. Released almost at the same time. * This is an album that definitely requires multiple listens for it to get under your skin. * I would definitely check this one out again. * This was so much better than Vulnicura and maybe my hesitation gave me a more positive review but I'm re-listening to Hidden Place and that song slaps. * Probably not as good as Debut but worthwhile addition here. * Also, do we need 4 Bjork albums. Two, sure but four! C'mon man! * I'm sensing we should have just listened to the Rolling Stone Magazine 500 Best Albums of all-time. Maybe we need to ask for that site to be created instead.
3.5
No doubt she’s an innovator.
Mysterious and quirky. I like it in the same way I like negroni, quite occasionally and in small doses
Bjork is always good, but I prefer her more beat driven songs. This album is lovely, but too swoony for me.
Liked the not run-of-the mill effort and the creativity. Won't come back but I can apreciate the artist.
A very welcome change from the usual type of music on this list
I really enjoy Björk, this isn't my favorite album of hers, still a fine thing.
could be 4 star, was lowk much better than expected. I think I get Bjork now, I feel like a lesbian alternative woman
5/10
A solid 3/5. I'm a big Massive Attack fan and originally expected more of that classic 90s trip-hop vibe from Björk here. The electronic micro-beats were a bit too fragile for my personal taste, but the production is undeniably great. Not every song was for me, but I still found 3 or 4 really good tracks that I saved for my playlist
183. its not up to youuuuuuuu
There’s a lot in interesting things happening here musically. Bjork is really talented, no doubt. Her singing style wears me out over the course of a whole album though.
If Debut was way too restricted, this is way too weird. 3/5
Again, Bjork is in her own genre of music. Was surprised to see another one of her albums so soon after the first one on this list. But, liked this one a bit more. More electronic pop than experimental, and her voice is stronger providing a nice counter to the electro atmosphere she creates. Highlights: "It's Not Up To You" and "Pagan Poetry"
Du Bjork, c'est perché, un peu éthéré, pas forcément ma came tous les jours mais pas son album le plus désagréable à écouter
Je trouvais que ça allait par rapport aux autres C’était moins perché
Plutôt sympa, je connaissais que Pagan Poetry en son tiktok ahah
кажется довольно красивая музыка но я не могу концентрироваться с её вокалом
Okay. I’m gonna have trouble ranking this one, and I think it’s cuz this is clearly a grower. But it’s not as catchy or as in your face as the other bjork stuff I know. And yet it might be the most beautiful and well produced. And yet. It’s getting a 3.5 for now but I foresee it being a 4 in the future.
Felt repetitive and overall strange
I still don’t get her or her music. It is a funky, interesting listen so that is a positive. But does drag on a bit too long
She’s so awesome but this is not my fave
I unfortunately can’t get accustomed to Bjork’s sound in general but I really liked It’s Not Up To You. Especially because I’m currently extremely anxious about some flights I have to go on tonight and a big life switch and I keep getting overcome by fear of what could happen and this song is like a reminder to just let go of expectations. I don’t control this shit man. So that’s special to me. Also the chorus is pretty digestible. Love Bjork and her ability to be fully authentic no matter what. Also I LOVE the album cover. It’s so her!
I’m not a fan of Bjørk’s music, but I’m à fan of the person and musician. I’m intrigued by her song structures and soundscapes. So, even though I won’t put on an album of hers to entertain myself, I find her albums interesting. So I guess it’s somewhere in the middle, rating-wise.
Initial reaction: oh go on!!... love Bjork, don't know this album, should be fun! Hmm, disappointing! This wasn't doing it for me - maybe I wasn't able to give it enough attention or something... there are other albums of hers that I would choose over this one.
I'm sorry I just don't get it If you like experimental pop stuff then this is perfect for you, it doesn't click with me though honestly
Wall of sound - had some good moments and some weird ones, but honestly Bjork is not as weird as I thought, maybe she was ahead of her time.
eccentric, of course, but enjoyable
Bjork has grown on me the deeper I get into this list. And by “grown on me” I mean I went from rating her music 2 stars to 3 stars. But honestly? Her biggest problem is that her songs are often tedious. But the vibes? Immaculate. Or maybe I’m just sad, and all her songs have vaguely sad vibes. Whatever it might be, I still don’t love her music, but I’m kind of into it at times.
I think I need to know this one better. It’s my first acquaintance with Bjork and I don’t know quite what to think. I added “Heirloom” that my playlist.
goed in dosissen van 1 a 2 songs... anders is het teveel
I really want to like this more than I do. I appreciate the artistry but it’s not something I would put on of an evening while doing the dishes. Maybe it would repay more in depth listening but that’s not really what I want from music most of the time. If I’m honest this is where Bjork starts to go a bit out there for my tastes
No one does it like Björk. I mean that in the most literal sense, she's a genre unto herself and not only does she not really sound like anyone else, but each album sounds different also. Vespertine's sound is an icy one achieved by minimal instrumentation and electronica-inspired production. In contrast to that icy sound, Björk's lyrics on this one appear to be about the power and eroticism of a new relationship, though it can be hard to tell through some of the more oblique poetry and her often whispery delivery. I think this is one I'd have to sit with and relisten to fully form an opinion on, but I like the overall sound a fair bit.
Second Bjork album I've gotten in this experience and one that sounds like the music that would be playing as I wondered through the fairy forest I discovered in my backyard. It didn't make me a Bjork fan (and to be honest I don't know what will at this point) but I can appreciate it for what it is. Also shout out to the Callous Daoboys for their interpretation of the "I Love Him" part of "Pagan Poetry" on their most recent album. I now know where the original comes from. 3/5
I haven’t listened to much Bjork, but I feel like this is an accessible one to break into her work. I have no idea though. Super well-produced. Her voice is great and she does a lot of minor chord progressions. It had me wondering what her first language is and how that would sound over a few songs. Maybe she already does that on other albums.i have no idea. 3.5/5.0
Intimate microbeat electronica and chamber pop built on glitchy clicks, harp, strings, and whisper-soft, layered vocals unfolds with delicate, inward focus. Listening feels like moving through a quiet, snow-covered interior where every small sound is magnified and time slows to a hush. The result is immersive and finely detailed, though its hushed restraint feels insular.
If I listened to this in the winter I think I would have liked it more
In a strange realm, pink bunnies cuddle on candyfloss clouds while minotaurs eviscerate each other in a river of blood. Welcome to the world of Bjork, the tapped but brilliant sub-arctic pixie activist. Oftentimes the quest for high art and new sonic vistas results in the song being left behind. It's hard to hear her extract 17 syllables from a word that typically yields one, without cracking a wry grin. Yet when she gets it right, as she does on It's Not Up To You and a few others, it's very special indeed. Patchy, with moments of excellence.
I like the other worldly nature and feel of the album. I just didn't want it for the length of time I got it
I could never give our Icelandic queen less than three stars, but there's really not much going on here at all, tbh. I had to listen to the Sugarcubes immediately afterwards to cleanse my palate.
An interesting listen
Can’t say I like this, but it’s interesting and weird
Good
вот это музыккка, вот как можно подойти к выражению и творчеству. Этот артист и этот альбом расширяет музыкальную картину. однако не нравится мне вокал. Да мелодичный, но приедается. Как назвать эту манеру где слоги разрывают, рубато или мелизмы. Не нравится короче Сам альбом целостный, приятный. 3.3
This was good. I probably should listen to more Bjork.
I’m pretty neutral on this album. Some of it was pretty good
Me sentí un hada en el bosque
Björk being Björk Fave track: Pagan Poetry
3 stars I don’t know how to rate Bjork albums like I don’t know how to rate jazz albums. I’ll say that I enjoyed the minimalist beats and appreciated the music, but I’m unsure how much I would return to this. It could be a lot or never again.
3.5
Good chill
The—admittedly very fitting—soundtrack to one of the most uncomfortable nights of my life. I would be lying if I said that experience hadn't prejudiced me against Björk, but I have tried my best to give the album a real chance. Honestly, it's better (or, less bad) than I anticipated. Björk is very clearly a talented musician, and a master of atmosphere. The album feels off... and that's exactly how it's supposed to be. That being said, there is something about Björk's voice that makes it hard to listen to for me personally. DNF'd as a result, but can't give it any lower than this in good faith.
sexy intiem maar ook hoog gehalte achtergrondmuziek als je er niet met Goede audioapparatuur naar luistert en alle kleine geluidjes kunt horen
Sorry Bjôrk, I don't have the gas in the tank today to give this the attention it deserves. I'll be back.
This wasn’t for me.
Meh. Sometimes appreciate how ephemeral it is
The 'swan dress' album and easily the least annoying of the 4 Bjork albums I have endured.
Not my first time listening to this album. And although I think that the initial score of 4/10 I gave it was way too harsh, I still don’t think it’s for me. It’s definitely very unique and artistically interesting, but at the same time, it’s just not that fun. I can appreciate the creativity that went into creating this, but the whole experience felt like a bit of a slog. The atmosphere was too relaxed for me, and although there were some parts I liked, there was too much repetition and not enough progression and emotional peaks, which ultimately made this album hard to get excited about.
Za nju treba stvoriti naviku. Teško ko to može čini mi se. Ja sam došla do nivoa da tolerišem i cijenim umjetnost ali ne uživam.
A surprisingly un-Bjork like Bjork album
It’s not up to you , Harm of will, Unison are good songs. No doubt she has an amazing voice especially when belting. The instrumentals are great too. Her delivery does come off as a biiit pretentious and overly artsy sounding at times. Just not sure I’m at a very Bjork time of my life. Perhaps down the line I’ll revisit this and it’ll hit me even more.
3/5. A really odd album that sacrifices accessibility for experimentation. Lots of genius here, but it's hard to listen to at times. Björk's vocals are quality, but can be grating at with how much dressing she puts on her delivery.
Björk is an artist I’m aware of, but find to be a bit bizarre, and this album delivered just about what I expected. I can appreciate her unique voice and style, and there were some of the electronic aspects of the music I enjoyed (the tones and sound in Heirloom and a couple other songs gave me Postal Service vibes) but as far as the lyrics or style resonating with me as a whole I cannot say I cared for this album. What I will say is it felt very artistic, and I can respect and appreciate that.
I’ve heard better Björk - Worth a try during a late night listen session.
My least favorite of Björk's classic albums, although the music isn't bad by any stretch. This album scratched a number of itches she had at a time: coming off the brash, in your face Homogenic, she wanted to go in a quiet and introspective direction. She was currently acting in Lars Von Trier's Dancer In The Dark as well as composing an album of songs for the film, and was exhausted. She had just entered into a romantic relationship with artist Matthew Barney (we already covered the breakup album, Vulnicura) and her feelings were reflected here as well. Oddly, another goal was to have the album be listenable for people who were downloading it from streaming sites like Napster. I won't get into the technical details of how she made the album, but I do think the results are impressively cohesive given everything she was trying to accomplish. In regards to my own personal music tastes, the slow, minimalist style is practically the opposite of the sort of music I prefer. I still find the album interesting even in spite of that and don't mind having it on, but it doesn't quite hit the dopamine receptors for me the way her other albums do.
Zone out a fair bit. It's meh
I never got the hype on Bjork, I had friends that I felt like were obsessed with her. Don't get me wrong she's decided and I liked the album but its not god tier... its like Disney princess music on acid...
Love an occasional Bjorking
This was much better than the other Björk on the list. Very nice lush, etheral melodies, really unique almost Shakespearian poetry in lyricism. I think I'd appreciate this more if I were the target demographic. I bit of the "sirens call", icelandic paganism is lost on me. Thus at face value I rank it higher than the last but still in the middle.
Much preferred this to Debut which I only got seven albums ago. It's still a bit odd but that's kinda what I'd expect from Bjork. I liked the more chilled plinky plonky vibe
No my cup of tea, but she is talented.
⭐⭐⭐ Atmosfäriskt och vacker men för mycket av ambient för min smak. Känns mest som filmmusik i ett enda långt spår. Lyssnade på det två gånger när jag sprang. Kanske skulle behövt lysna mer koncentrerat
A decent Björk album. Not once did I stop what I was doing to look at the stereo in disgust and say "What the f***?!" It came close once with the "I love him I love him I love him" part, but we got through it.
kinda fire. added the first track to my playlist. bjork just does her own thing and i love it
Björk – Vespertine (2001) On Day 68, Vespertine was a project I admired more for its technical execution than for personal enjoyment. The ASMR-like production is incredibly detailed, creating an immersive atmosphere that really takes you along on Björk's artistic journey. Her vocal triumph here isn't about power, but about the range of emotions and micro-details she manages to capture. The overall production is immaculate, allowing you to pick up on layers that most records would miss. While I didn't explicitly enjoy it enough to push it into the 4 or 5-star range, the sheer level of craftsmanship and the way the vocals lead the journey earns it a warm 3/5.
Some of Bjork's best, but its exactly what you expect form Bjork. No surprises, no disappointments.
fun and ethereal! 'its not up to you' is delightful. good time but also couldnt fully take it seriously lol
I have a lot of respect for Björk. I think she should be allowed to do whatever she wants forever, up to and including killing all the men on this website who make an entire bit out of hating on her in performative and frankly rather misogynistic ways at every opportunity they’re given and at many they aren’t (if I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen out-of-nowhere Björk dunks in highly-rated reviews for albums she had absolutely nothing to do with… I might not be rich, but I’d have more than two). All that being said I don’t think many tracks from this particular album are going to be entering my usual rotation. Neat to listen to once though. Some cool atmospheric stuff happening
It's been so long since I listened to this, I forgot that I've listened to this. But when "Hidden Place" first came on it was instant recognition. There's a lot to like here - Hidden Place, It's Not Up To You, Pagan Poetry, Heirloom. There are some points where it sags a bit - An Echo, a Stain being the main one. Honestly, in the 1001 list I'm surprise Post isn't in here, I prefer it to this honestly. This lacks that boombastic aspect of Post. Still really good though and a tough rate. It's a 3, but a really high 3.
Et album som kræver ro, rum, og tid for at kunne værtsætte. Alle tingene har jeg ikke meget af for tiden, men oplevelsen blev prioteret sammen med mellemste barn som nat musik. Der er ikke nogen store hits på albummet, og måske derfor sidder jeg tilbage med følelsen af at jeg ikke fik helt det Björk som jeg forventede. Det er dog lyden af Björk, men hendes stil her er næsten instrumental vokal... 3 pil op^^
Bjork’s always been pretty weird in my book. I can’t say I’ve spent enough time with her music to know if that’s a good kind of weird or a bad kind of weird. So, I guess I’m kind of looking forward to this record. I like the music pretty good. It’s textured and kind of pretty in its own right. I’m not sure I love Bjork’s voice or her sense of melody. It’s definitely not conventional. As I listen, sometimes it seems like she is doing something completely distinct from the music, but then it all coalesces to a place where everything makes sense together. And then it’s gone again. And back again. Repeat. I don’t hate this, but I feel like I have to work for it a bit as a listener. 6/10
Beautiful, just not for me.
Bjork has such a unique approach to writing music. I think I've said this three times now for the Bjork albums I've reviewed here. Maybe two was enough?
I didn't really get this album at first, I think it was too experimental and ethereal for the tasks I was doing when I was listening to it, but then I went on a walk through the woods and it suddenly clicked. I think this music was meant to be enjoyed in an outdoor environment, or at least not while you're packing. It also feels like an album that I would need to specifically pay attention to the lyrics, which I was not able to do this time around. Perhaps another, more focused listen through is in order. 6/10
I've always just told people I'm not a fan of Bjork but my goal with going through this project is to be open minded and flexible in my listening. I'm a huge fan of Regina Spektor and drew comparisons between the two on several songs. Bjork's over all delivery and style are vastly different than Spektor in a more experimental and almost jazzy kind of way, which just isn't for me.
Wish I could rate 3.5
I appreciate the originality, just not my jam
My second Bjork album in a week and my initial thoughts still stand. This one maybe a touch more accessible and i want to love this but i still cant
In my rating I fall victim to only listening to an album once. The production is obviously amazing, I would need some time to get used to Björk's vocals. Looking forward to her other work on this list, we'll see if exposure makes me rate her higher.
a bit weird but pretty good, i like (the horse of approval and reassurance nods its head enthusiastically)
very good but also put me in a weird mood idk...
I've seen Bjork live and she's an amazing performer. I love quite a few of Bjorks songs, but I've really got to be in the mood for her. I thought this album was good, and I'll listen to it again. It's just a little too ambient for me, but I think it will grow on me if I give it repeated listens. For now, it's a 3/5. Great voice, great production, but just too ambient and slow for me at this moment.
Very moody and interesting, but the melodies are a bit too long and sprawling in places, needs more hooks and a shorter run time for my tastes
Good stuff crazy for 2001
Listened making tea Latte disappointed, was expected more fireworks
boring ethereal shit
I feel like I like this more than the last one? I don't know. Maybe it's just my mood. Anyhow, her singing is fascinating and engaging, but the bubbly drip-drop electriconia grates on me. So in the end, it's a mixed bag.
Whelp, here we have it: another Bjork album, another chance for me (like Charlie Brown kicking a football) to finally understand and enjoy what Bjork has to offer, and another chance for Bjork (like Lucy, yanking away the football) to deliver yet another disappointing collection of songs involving xylophones, whispering, harps, mewling, synthesizers and assorted lyrical oddities. I remain barely a fan.
I like the idea of art-pop, it gives the feeling of "wow, this is allowed in music?", so yes, it expands the mind. But, it often doesn't land. If it landed consistently, it'd be a pop recipe, not art-pop. This is what makes listening to an album like this a big challenge for me: The experience is inconsistent, it requires a lot of attention, and there's more "doesn't work" than "works". I can appreciate the artistry of Björk, but as a listener I don't really connect to what she's trying to do.
Somehow sounds totally alien despite using human language and man-made sounds
Like Kid A but horny It’s Not Up To You is a great song
Bjork could have scored Fight Club. I liked Hidden Place a lot. I like her music more than I should, something about it just works sometimes. She reminds me of David Bowie, sometimes his experiments really work, sometimes they fall flat. I bet Billie Eilish loves Bjork. Her music isn't catchy exactly, but there's something I like about it. An Echo a Stain is creeping me out. It's like a noir-thriller soundtrack. The less music in each song, the less I'm liking it generally. Unison is a good song to end on.
Chaotic
A quiet, contemplative, womb-like album. The songs are nice but there’s not much to grab on to, although when Björk’s voice rises from the whisper it carries you away with it. Maybe you need to be in the right mood and the right place to listen to this album and give it justice.
I think this is a horny album, but its a bit too weird for me to be sure. Favorite track was harm of will
I'm bisexual, but occasionally I'll have moments that make me think "huh, maybe I'm not attracted to men after all". Hearing the line "to inhale a beard" was one of those moments. Anyway, not a bad album by any means. I definitely see the appeal. It's just not really my thing. I didn't mind listening to it, but I don't think I'd listen to it more than once. 3/5.
Magic elf sex techno-baroque dream-hop beats that last all of late September and through October.
Ok, but looking forward to her debut album!
Oh, THAT'S the origin of the swan dress
Schön aber nicht mein Geschmack
’ve never really listened to Björk. I know nothing about her except that she’s Icelandic, or Nordic, or something like that. She also appears to be one of those you call true artists. You know, artists that are really weird and they create art you just don’t really understand, but critics and “smart” people do, and they love her. So, I was a little excited to get a Björk album to listen to it just to see what the fuss was about. I’m two tracks in, and I don’t see it. I mean, I see how she might be looked upon as a true artist, but her singing is quite weird, even annoying at times. The music is spare, electronic, and at some points it sounds like she might have hired a foley artist to play on the album. On track 2, it sounded like a dude was just in the background dropping some chopsticks into a barrel, while another “plays” a skipping record. Track 3, It's Not Up To You, kind of sounds like a song that could be heard on college radio around 2:36 a.m. on a Sunday morning. There are some instruments on the track, and it’s quite cinematic. However, it has a constant drip-dropping that sounds like what you might think an android's leaky kitchen sink faucet might sound like. Otherwise, best song on the album. Oh, and a choir, now that's beautiful. Track 4, Undo, has a bell from your car that dings when you don’t have your seat belt buckled as one of the main "instruments." God bless people who can create music like this, and more importantly, God bless people who can stand it. I know I sound like a hater, but as I get older and society gets dumber, I find that art is more and more important in our lives. If for nothing else than the help ease the tension and stress. The choir is back and is again very beautiful. I think I might be softening on Björk. I’m not starting to get it, but I’m at least falling for it. From Wikipedia, “Björk composed arrangements with thin-sounding instruments, including the harp, the celesta, clavichord, strings, and custom music boxes. Assisted by Matmos, Björk created ‘microbeats’ from various commonplace sounds, such as that of shuffling cards and ice being cracked.” Yes! I was picking up what she was laying down. Foley artists are creating music out of shuffling cards, that kind of crap. Well, maybe not foley artists, but apparently, Björk and others were recording ordinary sounds, like walking in the snow, to make beats. I’m not crazy, it’s just Björk. You know the old saying, there's such a thin line between clever and stupid. She’s beaten me down. I loved Frosti, an instrumental, leading into Aurora. Beautiful singing, both by Björk and the choir. I’m pretty sure I hear the shuffling cards as part of the musical accompaniment. Great song. Track 8, An Echo A Stain is weird, almost foreboding. It also sounds like they used a mechanical hoot owl in the creation of this song. It’s creeping me out. Even the harp is giving me the pee shivers. I’m getting out of here. As I finish up the album, I can appreciate what Björk was trying to accomplish. I get it. Sometimes I get tired of the same old same old, and I search out a band called Melt Banana to feel something new and different. It seems like Björk got tired of what she was doing and wanted to try something new and original. Even though I may never listen to this album again, I’m glad I listened to it at least once. I could see this growing on me the more times I listened to it. I’d recommend checking it out if you want to hear something original or you’re just bored of what you're ingesting now.
An interesting album to have listened to once
If I could give this negative stars I would
There is much difficulty in rating this since the character of the artist and the cultural dynamics around her are inseparable from, or may even overshadow the reception of the work from a musical standpoint. It has always been this way with cultural signaling relating to appreciating art considered difficult or esoteric, and carrying that as a badge of a sophisticated taste. I think the sound sculpting by this performance artist is quite nice in moderation.
Björk Björk Björky Björk Björk.
I'm finding it really hard to make my mind up on Björk. Sometimes I'm enjoying her music, sometimes it gets on my nerves. I think she's one of those that you have to listen to when you're in the right mood and atmosphere, and this album isn't much different. Another query I have with this is the length. Just short of an hour, so it doesn't seem all that bad, but because it meanders along it makes it seem longer than it is. To be clear, I like the meandering of Vespertine. Perfect meandering album. But meandering can only go on for so long.
I enjoyed it as background music, but this album didn't have many songs that really had any umph.
Weird but not bad background for cleaning
Reminds me of college.
I like Bjork's vibe, but her music is just meh.
Experimental, veel interessante soundscapes voor bv voorstellingen. Achtergrondmuziek
A magical listen that begs the question, "Is this weird music for cool girls, or cool music for weird girls?"
Starting to get less song centric and more ethereal… but I do love Hidden Place.
Experimental but more listenable than later efforts. I put it on as background. Every time I paid attention I was rewarded. Soaring voice.
Too much Björk in one week. It’s very very ethereal and floaty but not captivating or engaging.
As interesting and fully realized as she is, I just don't connect to her music. Also feels like a lotta Bjork recently. I liked this better than the last one.
This one didn't send me into reverie the way the other one did. It's still good, but I think I'm a little Bjorked out at the mo.
It's a beautifully produced album. I like the calmness of of it all. But I want to like her music more than I do. I like experimental albums but Björk's albums are not easy to get into. The songs have no melodies and kind of flow from one to another. I gave a 4 for one of her albums so I will stick to 3 stars.
This was a hard one for me to rate. I have always liked Bjork and there are some very good songs and arrangements on this one. However, I listened to it in the car (on shitty car speakers), not the right environment for really hearing it. Some of the songs seemed to lack focus and floated on aimlessly. This is the quintessential headphone album and I should have listened that way. Even so, songs like "The Hidden Place" and "Its Not Up to You" worked regardless of listening environment. If I listened again on headphones this would rank higher.
Yeah, I don’t get it.
Heard it before. Not my favourite from Bjork but she's just so special you can't get bored listening to her 3/5
Beautiful electronic art. The Typical Björk Synth sound and arrangements. I was hoping that it would hit harder though. maybe 3/5, I like the Synth atmosphere.
I liked this but I didn’t care much for the production. It’s very lo-fi
Musically interesting, she’s a really good singer
I had never actually listened to Bjork before. Some of these songs were really beautiful instrumental tracks!
Sounds like some fellow Iceland music from Sigur Rós but not as good. It's melodic but a little sleepy and repetitive. Top tracks: "Unison," "Hidden Place," "It's Not up to You"
--Hidden Place...lush --Cocoon...I like the sounds, not much of a song --It's Not Up To You...I appreciate a good harp --Undo...much like "Cocoon", some interesting things happening but it doesn't quite grab me --Pagan Poetry...my elfin queen finally erupts. this is my shit --Frosti...love the opening sounds here. glockenspiel? whatever. sounds like pagan christmas --Aurora...again I like the lush production, but it's more of a sound collage than a song --An Echo, a Stain...same as above. there's a lot to like about this album and a lot I just don't vibe with. I've decided that everything I don't like is Lars von Trier's fault --Sun in My Mouth...can an album be both experimental and constantly plagiarize itself at the same time? --Heirloom...I like the lower end on this one --Harm of Will...great voice, meh song --Unison...sure
- Although it’s not my favourite Bjork album - I had it for decades and never reached for it - I listened to it three times today, and it’s definitely growing on me. I can say that I like elements of every song on the album. - I still prefer Debut, Post, and Homogenic (and that remix of Virus from Biophilia!) because the later stuff is a bit more cinematic, ambient, and atmospheric than I gravitate towards.
First song is a banger but I just don't connect with her work
I grenseland til litt for sært til tider, men syntes det var ålreit å ha på mens jeg jobber.
Ganske nice, chill stemning. Hadde det på mens jeg programmerte. Funket bra. 3/5
This record was most definitely weird, but very creative. Favourite Track(s): Unison Least Favourite Track(s): Frosti
At least she’s not KD Lang. lol or these other 90s women who all sound the same
I didn't mind this one, but I've liked other works of hers more.
fave track: aurora i went into this already knowing i don’t really like björk, because she gives me a headache and her words are always too drawn out. four songs in and im not a big fan of the lofi vibes i’m getting (though i’m sure it was a big deal in 2001). very reminiscent of other scandi artists i’ve listened to but without the otherworldly lyricism i prefer. NEVER KNEW THE INTRO TO PAGAN POETRY WAS WHERE THAT TIKTOK SOUND CAME FROM?!? i do like the low intensity of the whole album but that’s kind of it, besides that not a huge fan.
I think I want to love this but not quite there.
I want to like Bjork. I think she’s good. I just can’t get through her albums.
Kinda monotonous, but was enjoying this for a bit, but at 55 minutes, it overstays its welcome. Cut it down to 45 minutes, and it's a four star album.
3.5 stars
Lowkey textural.
Based on what I’d heard about Björk in the past I thought this was going to be weirder than it was. I mean I guess for a pop album (is Björk pop?) in 2001 this was not the norm. It has some experimental tendencies, I think the albums sound owes a lot to artists like Aphex Twin and Autechre. To me it sounded like those artists but more tame. Her voice isn’t bad, but I don’t love it either, and the songs were a little too melodramatic for my taste.
Musikaliskt är det riktigt bra. Stämningsfullt. Men sången är fruktansvärd. Tyvärr. Det är så synd. Men det sabbar helheten. Spelade skivan på högtalarna hemma under helgen, reaktionen var "är det dagens skiva? Måste alla lida?" Så illa tycker jag dock inte det är. Men det går inte att sätta höga betyg.
Alltid tänkt att antingen så hatar man eller så älskar man Björk, men nu vetefasiken asså. Jag tycker att hon blandar och ger på den här skivan, både lyckas och misslyckas. Exempelvis en låt som Pagan poetry (singel) tycker jag funkar kanon, medan en låt som Cocoon (också singel) är direkt usel. Mycket handlar det om att hennes sätt att sjunga fungerar på den förstnämnda men inte alls på den sista. På totalen landar det här en trea för mig, vilket är synd för när det är bra så är det riktigt bra.
Dreamy. The last song, "Unison" was a favorite.
I like Bjork. I do, really. Keeping that in mind, I still can only take her weirdness in limited doses. This album is her quintessential sound. Moody and offbeat emo electronica. I guess I like it....in a mildly indifferent and won't think about it much again kind of way.
Pretty and stange. Not my thing.
I don’t hate this but I don’t love it. Kinda feel like I respect the music more than I enjoy it, so a difficult one for me to sit through. I think it’s mainly her vocal I don’t get on with, a bit too theatrical
Definitely my favorite of the albums I’ve heard from her so far. Id have to go back and relisten to homogenic, but this kinda takes everything that one does and makes it better. Favorites: Hidden Place, Heirloom, Unison
Enjoyed - pleasant sound, distinctive voice, no real standouts, but hangs together as a decent album
it's ok. nothing i would listen to on a daily basis but i can listen to stuff like that every now and then
I like 90’s Bjork better
I am obviously aware of Bjork but this is the first time actually listening to a whole album. I am glad that it was Vespertine as I feel it is an accessible album that blends well the eletronic beats to the orchestra. The melody and instrumental are beautiful, however Bjork voice and interpretation ruin it. I know I know, "you don't get her art", but honestly, she is not a good singer, and although her poems are above average, she still tries shock value to ger her message. It is an ok album, I can see why it's on the list but it is 3/5 . I genuinely think at this time she was maybe ebetter than nowadays which shock value with weird art speaks louder than her own songs.
Woah nice keep it up
Album was ok.
Love her. I need to dive deep into this and Sugarcubes
It's very relaxing And cool to listen to
Hidden Places might be the best album opener I’ve heard since Stinkfist from Tool. Some great tracks sprinkled throughout but some not memorable tracks bring it down a bit
She's phenomenally creative. And the production is amazing. But for 25 years I've had a hard time getting all of the way through it. I just get bored about 20 minutes in, and there's no rebound.
I can't help but feel like I am being sucked into a nordic worship ritual where the high priestess beautifully sings about her problems and dilemmas until I don't feel like worshipping any more. Great voice, though. Great voice.
Interesting lyrics backed by a totally unique sound, but a bit too experimental for my tastes.
Björk told me I fell off, ooh, I needed that
#699. As weird as you like. Maybe even a bit weirder. I don't think anyone could pull off the witchy forest nymph vibes better than her. 3/5: good
Capital E experimental but it works so well, it also has way higher replay ability than one would expect
Another overrated album from lizardqueen
I really like Björk. She has one of the most unique voices in popular music. But this one doesn't do much for me. A little too spacey and unfocused. Maybe another listen will go me. 3/5 #171