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Vulnicura

Björk

2015

Buy At Rough Trade
Vulnicura
Album Summary

Vulnicura is the eighth studio album by Icelandic musician and singer Björk. It was produced by Björk, Arca and The Haxan Cloak, and released on 20 January 2015 by One Little Indian Records. Björk said the album expresses her feelings before and after her breakup with American contemporary artist Matthew Barney and the healing process. Vulnicura was originally scheduled for release in March 2015, in conjunction with the Björk: Archives book and an exhibition about Björk's career at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City; following an internet leak, it was released digitally two months early. No singles were released to promote the album but a series of innovative music videos were created, culminating in the 360-degree virtual reality exhibit Björk Digital. Vulnicura received widespread acclaim from critics, with many considering it one of her most honest and personal albums as well as her best output in a decade. The companion album Vulnicura Strings was released on 6 November 2015. It features strings-only interpretations of the Vulnicura tracks and utilises an instrument designed by Leonardo da Vinci called the viola organista. By October 2015, the album had sold 250,000 copies worldwide./nVulnicura was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 87, based on 40 reviews. Many critics have referred to it as her best work in the last decade and the boldest move after 2011's Biophilia. It has also been compared stylistically to her critically acclaimed albums Homogenic and Vespertine. Praise has centered around the "emotional honesty and musical daring" used to portray the album's deeply personal themes. The lyrics have been described as some of her "strongest and most moving" and Björk's voice "miraculously expressive". On the less positive side, longtime music critic Robert Christgau claimed, "I always thought she was too lifelike for him anyway." He cited "Stonemilker" and "Atom Dance" as standout tracks.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.78

Votes

11697

Genres

  • Pop
  • Electronica

Reviews

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Jun 30 2023
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5

Poor Bjork, just want to give her a cuddle and a cup of tea.

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Dec 02 2023
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5

Bjork has always passed me by - I recognise how talented and individual she is but nothing has ever reached me emotionally. It's sad to see though how poorly she has done with spurious 1/5 votes being handed out left, right and centre. For that reason I'm giving her 5/5 in an attempt to partially redress the balance.

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Jul 14 2023
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5

This gave me so many chills. Literally made me forget to breathe once, haven't experienced this in a long time. Wanted to pick favorite songs at first, but after another listen I can't, they're all amazing.

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May 07 2023
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1

cannot be arsed with byork at all. i get the vibe that anyone who is in to bjork is so far up their own arse that they've become a mobius loop. actually quite impressive.

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Jul 14 2023
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5

Had to listen to this a few times to make my mind up on the rating I had only heard notget before going into this but yeah I still love Björk if my mood was aligned I would like it even more but its still amazing

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Sep 28 2023
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2

While I can appreciate Björk as an artist, I can't say this album did much for me. A few of the songs were interesting, but it felt like it belonged more as background music for a film or something - not great listening on its own. I ended up skipping the last two songs because they were just a little grating.

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Oct 29 2023
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5

Whoa... It has the experimentation and weirdness that I've come to expect from a Björk album, but it's not quite as weird as Medúlla (The one other Björk record the generator has given me so far). There's a recognisable structure here for the most part. I loved this. It's a cinematic, emotional blend of orchestral and electronic elements, making one hell of a breakup album. I'm such a sucker for good electronic sound design, and this proved itself to be absolutely amazing in the sound design department, especially going into the second half of the album. I'd imagine much of that is from Arca's involvement? I'm certainly going to have to look more into her work. Honestly, I think I'm really going to have to look more into Björk too. I'd imagine the generator will give me more of her work before it's done, but I'm really loving everything I've heard so far. Favourite: Notget

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May 11 2023
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5

It's hard to deescribe the inteeresting musicality of Bjork. It was well worth the listen whatever the hell it was

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May 10 2023
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5

A stunning achievement - you get the sense we are hearing exactly what the artist wanted us to - a mix of digital and classical, enhanced by Bjork's incredible voice - soundscapes foreboding and consuming the listener as we are absorbed into Bjork's warped world. A work of art.

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Aug 21 2023
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5

I love Björk, even her weird stuff is brilliant. I reckon anything she does will get 5 🌟 from me. The world is a better place because Björk exists.

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May 31 2023
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5

The second Bjork I listened to on this list and another one that's blowing me away. But where Vespertine is about the beautiful sides of love, this Vulnicura is about heartache. So dark and melancholic instead of romantic and tender, but just as mystical, intimate and strong. And it's the lyrics on this album that make it complete. We follow and listen to the story of a relationship that's failing. Björk is taking us from the months before the break-up to the times after. And some of the lyrics felt like a gutpunch, where the music is amazingly orchestrated around the parts of the decaying love in every song, whether we go from melancholy to pain to anger to relief. If I regret us I'm denying my soul to grow Don't remove my pain It is my chance to heal We carry the same wounds But have different cures The album grows and shows more with every listen. What a discovery.

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May 24 2023
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5

j’écoute Björk en rentrant chez moi avec un kebab délicieux dans mon sac à main girl i am LIVING

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Feb 16 2024
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5

my first björk outside of her iconic 90s trilogy of albums. stunning.

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Dec 18 2023
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5

I know Bjork rubs a lot of people the wrong way but if you look past the perceived "weirdness" of her style, she really is a brilliant artist. 'Vulnicura' may be her most mature release to date. In her early punk and electronic releases, she was recording in toilets at clubs. Since then she's grown and explored classical structures, world music and the avant garde and brought all of that experience into this release. This is a break up album unlike any you've heard before, particularly notable as it comes from an older woman, rather than the likes of Taylor Swift. In some ways it's a shame that this challenge doesn't have more of Bjork's early work, which is more fun to listen to. But this is definitely an impressive work of art.

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Dec 14 2023
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5

The vagina on her chest represents the gaping hole where her heart once existed. A fitting image for an album tackling multiple layers of emotional loss, gleaning from the experience, and moving forward. Having an idea of what to expect, I still was very surprised by this album's depth which does not fully reveal itself requiring the listener to take some time and peel it apart. Vulnicura is definitely a slow burn that works very well as a whole to the point where I couldn't tell you which song would be my favorite as all of it is excellent. I was most impressed by the arrangement of strings and synth in which Björk seemingly conjures and bends to her will, while managing to be relatable, conversational, and yet very alien. I would seriously like to know how some of these songs look on paper, how they were conceived and measured out. In all, I want to embrace the poor woman but stand in fear that she would devour me like a terrifying monster.

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Dec 01 2023
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5

Björk's divorce album. Incredibly somber and intricate. Every sound, vocalization, timing is purposeful. More than just a mere breakup album, Bjork examines the more complex emotions surrounding divorce. Overwhelming grief and betrayal surrounds each song like a whirlwind. Goosebumps just experiencing this for the first time. How is she able to create such incredible works of art like this? Does the depths of her creative talent know no end? For all the Björk albums on this list, it gets hard to argue each one. Maybe Medúlla could've been cut, but having such a recent release be so impactful is such an impressive feat. Vulnicura earns it's spot easily.

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Sep 30 2023
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5

Another great Bjork album, and I almost like it just as much as Homogenic. Initially was on the fence as there are some songs that were hard to get into. This still holds to some extent, but other tracks like Stonemilker, Lionsong and Blake Lake are exceptionally strong and compensate for a 5-star rating.

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Sep 30 2023
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5

For some reason, I lost track of Bjork's endeavours after Vespertine, but I'm glad we got this one to check out. The sweeping production has echoes of Homogenic, which I like very much, and the songs are all engaging. Terrific album.

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Sep 14 2023
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5

My last Bjork album (I think Post should be on the list too but what do I know) and this is a difficult one but it's about a difficult time in her life.

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May 07 2023
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4

This record makes my knees tremble. I wanked so hard that my helmet came off.

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Jan 03 2024
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1

The first song starts out with the following lyrics, choked out syllable by syllable, over seemingly random meandering synthesizer strings: “A juxtapositioning fate / Find our mutual coordinates / Moments of clarity are so rare / I better document this / at last the view is fierce / all that matters is this / who is open chested / and who is coagulated” I’m just not sure how I can take that seriously. This is the second Bork album I’ve received in the 1st 75 days. I rated the 1st at 2/5, with the comments “I thought the first couple of songs were pretty good. Sort of an ambient, ethereal feel. But with each passing song it held my interest less and less. Just not really my ‘thing’. 2/5….” Well, the second album jumps straight into the bit about each song holding my interest less and less. This doesn’t offend me, I don’t hate it. But I sure don’t like it either. As with the prior Bork album, it’s just not my thing. I’m bored by this, and that’s disappointing. Frankly, as I get further through this, it’s starting to kind of irritate me. I’m taking a break at about 1/2 way through, but I’m not expecting it to improve…. - - - - It didn’t. I admit, I gave up somewhere in the middle of the 7th song. I guess I’m just not cool enough. 1/5

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Jun 02 2023
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1

Album by Bjork in the pretty specific style of Bjork. It might be a hit or miss at times, but oh boy, it was a massive miss on the occasion of Vulnicura. Maybe my musical taste is down in the gutter, but I just couldn't listen to it at all. I'm sorry Bjork, you are a better actor than musician.

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Dec 06 2023
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4

It's Bjork, never know what your going to get. Liked not loved it

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Oct 05 2023
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4

Near paralyzingly brooding, but I feel like it had a hair too much bloat to earn a 5th star. But hey, Bjork really knows how to get you thinking no matter what.

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Sep 24 2023
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4

Well I braced myself for yet another Björk album but thankfully it was one of the good ones. With Björk it has been either good or terrible - you don’t know if you’re going to get food or an uppercut to the chin. This one is actually one of the better better ones - cinematic - almost conventional - and a semblance of recognisable structure - so I actually enjoyed it. It’s still Björk mind you - unmistakable - but if one can tolerate her - one would like this one - and actually find reason to return to it.

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Jul 07 2023
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4

This is a rather beautiful album. I can't go 5 because it's really iis an album that you have to be in the mood to hear. A solid 4 for sure.

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Jul 06 2023
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4

I remember the hype this album received when it was due to come out: "this is Björk's breakup album", "this is her most personal album ever", yada yada yada. And while most breakup albums become tedious, maudlin and vapid at times, Björk always finds a way to make things interesting. It's as though you're right in front of her as she belts out about the pain experienced in her family falling apart and you have next to no choice but to immerse yourself in her sadness that's aided by her ever reliable collaborative spirit that combines orchestration and electronics. Overall, not an easy listen but one can hope that things turn out for the best. Favorites: Stonemilker, History of Touches, Black Lake, Notget, Atom Dance, Quicksand.

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Jun 22 2023
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4

So, it turns out I'm a Bjork fan

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Jun 02 2023
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4

Lionsong is cool. Bjork songs are so hit or miss to me, always these huge swings and their either connect hard or miss the mark. Atom Dance is cool.

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Oct 10 2024
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3

This really started off like I was really going to like it. First 3 (and maybe 4 songs) had me invested. Then it kinda just went a little too hard off the deep end and being artsy. Had a Radiohead feeling in some of the tracks. 3/5. I’d say I liked this more Stylistically then I did song wise

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Sep 26 2024
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3

Tough one to rate. I liked this a lot better than Medúlla, which is admittedly a low bar. This one has some good hooks and interesting orchestral parts. I might actually like it under the right circumstances. Weirdly reminded me of the Hollow Knight soundtrack (which I loved). Unfortunately, this isn’t universal throughout. Not sure what “Family” or “Notget” were. I do think it was intentionally uncomfortable though, even though some of it id just weird for weirdness’ sake. I’ll give Björk this, though: one thing she definitely isn’t is boring.

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Aug 24 2023
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3

Surprisingly accessible given her other efforts, but maybe that’s just my fatigue from the last round of singles being played constantly at the station. I will give credit to Björk for carving a niche that is unmistakably her own - while hard to nail down, the instrumentation and arrangements she builds on would be recognizable immediately in any context. This LP definitely suffers due to tracks running longer than the ideas that fuel them remain interesting, but for such an out-there album I found myself jamming along decently well. Given the fatigue that comes with listening to 1001 albums (some seemingly identical to one another in their blandness), I appreciate any artist who doesn’t give two fucks about respecting Western arrangements or ideas of what music should be, even if the execution is not always my thing or their name sounds like a lamp from IKEA.

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Oct 09 2024
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2

Man orkar med några låtar men sen blir det för ostrukturerat.

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Apr 05 2024
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1

I like the versatility and vulnerability of her voice, but I don't understand her music.

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Jan 03 2024
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1

As tedious as it is to have Bjork on this list so many times the one quality of her work is the string arrangements. Otherwise, please stop.

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Jan 03 2024
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1

I have no idea why she's on the list so many times.

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May 10 2023
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1

Too many Bjorrrrk albums on herrrre. This isn't one of the betterrrrr ones. 🏴‍☠️

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Dec 16 2024
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5

прикольно, вайбово, необычно, альбом добавил. напомнило аврору. подойдет для вечернего чилла))

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Dec 06 2024
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5

Siempre tuve miedo a escuchar a Björk, sentía que no me iba a gustar o que no iba a ser de mi estilo. A pesar de que es un álbum que no creo qu vaya a escuchar mucho, me pareció impresionante. La habilidad que tiene de transmitir tantas emociones tan complejas en muy pocas palabras es de admirar, nunca antes me había topado con una artista que tenga ese don tan marcado. La producción también considero que es increíble, porque no busca hacerte cantar o bailar, busca transmitir, contar una historia. Fui capaz de escuchar a muchísimos artistas que me gustan que tomaron inspiración en ella para hacer música y eso es tan hermoso. Tengo ganas de escuchar más de ella.

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Dec 02 2024
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5

Multi-textured strings orchestration and a devastated Björk, battling with the precursors and the aftermath of a breakup. Arca's production fits Björk's one-of-kind voice perfectly. Standout Tracks: Lionsong, Black Lake, Family, Atom Dance

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Nov 24 2024
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5

The first 6 songs on the album are presented in order of when she wrote them and subtitled on the album’s liner notes with the actual timeline they were written before and after her divorce. This is such a raw and personal inclusion and really adds heartbreaking context to the songs. Stonemilker (9 months before) – “And if one feels closed, how does one stay open?” The opening track is admission that the relationship is fraying and a plea for her partner to be open with her and match her effort in their partnership. There is a reference to the Biophilia track “Mutual Core” which is about tectonic plates and volcanoes but also certainly about friction and fighting in a relationship. The strings on this song give me goosebumps every time. Lionsong (5 months before) – “Maybe he will come out of this loving me, maybe he won’t… somehow I’m not too bothered. I’d just like to know.” This song is almost word for word a conversation that I’ve had with a friend who was a few months away from her own divorce. That feeling of will he let me leave/admit that he wants to end it or is something going to change to keep this thing together. The frustration and exhaustion gives way to just wanting a little bit of closure. History of Touches (3 months before) – “I wake you up in the night feeling this is our last time together” – She still has love for her partner, but knows that the relationship is ending. She reminisces about their passionate past. Black Lake (2 months after) – This 10 minute track is just grief and fury, starting and stopping, it’s like she was talking it out in the shower “You fear my limitless emotions, I am bored of your apocalyptic obsessions” sob, thought, “Family was always our sacred mutual mission which you abandoned” shampoo, rumination, “I am a glowing shiny rocket, returning home, as I enter the atmosphere, I burn off layer by layer” This is a pure musical exercise in getting it out, it’s basically a diss track at her ex and moment of self assurance. The stuttering freezes and shifting movements and musical punctuation add to the sense of long suffering giving way to that “AND ANOTHER THING!” sort of emotional release. Family (6 months after) – “Is there a place where I can pay respects for the death of my family?” A reflection on the end of their family unit and how the need to protect and love their child even though the love between mother and father has ended. Notget (11 months after) – “If I regret us, I'm denying my soul to grow. Don't remove my pain, it is my chance to heal” – this song sounds like a future version of a song from Homogenic in its aggressive composition - marching beats and stabbing strings and distorted declarations of the endurance of her capacity to love and survive after heartbreak. That ends the “Divorce Suite” of Vulnicura, the final three songs do not have the timeline laid out but are thematically linked both in the musical composition (strings and beats!) and personal connection. “Atom Dance” was a song that was initially conceptualized for Biophilia, sung here with longtime friend and collaborator Anohni, it becomes a swirling tribute to connectedness. The tempo and strings on this song are so peculiar, and I love Anohni and Bjork’s voices together. “Mouth Mantra” is about recovering from vocal chord surgery after Biophilia, and the introspection that came with not having access to her voice during that time. “Quicksand” was conceived before any of the other songs on this album, in 2011 after Bjork’s mother suffered a heart attack. Here it becomes a reflection on complicated family relationships and how they permeate generations. As a closing track I think it so interesting – lyrically it ends with long reaching thoughts of the future, while musically it ends abruptly in the middle of the string coda. To me it gives this cinematic feeling of “this is the end of my story, but also this is a story that has happened and will happen and is happening to people everywhere right now too” Love starts and ends, families grow and change, daughters become mothers. If you struggle against the reality, you will only get more bogged down by it. I love this album. I’ve been a Bjork fan for a long time and have experienced all of her eras over the past 2 decades. My first thought when I heard this was excitement that she had returned to some of the musical motifs from the “Post” and “Homogenic” eras, namely using string arrangements with her signature experimental electronic beats (shoutout to Arca taking the place of previous Bjork collaborators like Mark Bell etc.). My second thought, and it is one that she has said herself in interviews, was that it was interesting to hear her take on a break-up album. It is such a convention of pop music but something that she had never really done before. In true Bjork fashion, it is not a typical break-up album, and in the way of her more recent albums I’m tempted to refer to it as a piece of music rather than a pop album, especially the first suite of songs. I really enjoy her more avant garde style compositions (like Black Lake) they eschew the norms of verse chorus verse bridge pop structure to develop a rich emotional language and tell the story in a new way, the slow burn and development of movements across that song are very rewarding for me and I’m glad she leaned into that more free structured music on the following albums, Utopia and Fossora.

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Nov 06 2024
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5

5/5 and it’s not even her best album

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Oct 09 2024
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5

Certamente a lista foi acerta para eu superar o preconceito com Björk. Outro disco com clima envolvente com o uso impressionante das camadas eletrônicas.

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Oct 03 2024
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5

Absolutely amazing. This quavering, intense voice combined with the experimental song compositions has me stopping me what I'm doing to listen. I have heard some of her songs 20 years ago, but it's clear with how prolific she's been I have a lot of catching up to do.

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Jul 24 2024
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5

With some artists, I devour their discography as soon as I discover them. With others, I wait until the timing just feels right and select an album at random, like a treat. It seems the timing was right for Vulnicura, truly. I'm in a stage of life where I can really relate to and absorb the story. It may not be my favorite Bjork album (so far), but her expression of heartbreak is just so visceral I can feel it in my own chest. It's beautiful and difficult and unlike anything else I've ever heard.

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Jul 22 2024
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5

Love bjork but haven’t listens to this one looking forward. Great album emotional and just majestic always a treat to listen to Bjork. 9/10.

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Jun 25 2024
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5

This grew on me so much! I love how concise and vulnerable the lyrics are. I love how the album goes from luscious string arrangements to haunting electronica over the course of the runtime. It's up there with Blood on the Tracks as an all-time great breakup album. Best Track: Lionsong Worst Track: Notget

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Jun 19 2024
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5

An element of weirdness but great

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May 10 2024
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5

I felt in love with Homogenic a long time ago, but I'm not very regular to follow Björk's work & career. But I'm generally happy to hear something from her: her universe is very distinctive and personal, and I like the way she intertwins her peculiar vocals with the music. Vunicura is a solid album, perhaps calmer than Homogenic but all the ingredients I like in her music are there. And it was refreshing to listen to her after a serie of pretty "meh" records... I even listen to it twice.

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May 04 2024
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5

Can understand why many don't like this but few artists can fuse this level of experimentalism with accessibility and emotional power. This still sounds like the future close to a decade on.

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Apr 17 2024
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5

I love Bjork. She's almost certainly an alien. And I just love her work. This is such a heartbroken masterpiece. I hate to see others in pain, but I'm listening to the art recovered from the aftermath.

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Apr 11 2024
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5

Gut-wrenching, took me back to my past breakup. Cool IDM elements, I wish there were more! 5 stars to boost the average rating.

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Jan 18 2024
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5

For a first Bjork album, I'm not sure how this compares to her other work, though from what I've heard so far, It's absolutely gorgeous. I can't really quantify it but oh my GOODNESS it is beautiful.

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Apr 03 2024
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5

Already looking forward to giving this one another spin. It does seem to hark back to some of her earlier albums but with a modern spin I guess. Faves for now: History Of Touches, Atom Dance

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Mar 24 2024
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5

Björk's my favorite artist, so I was obviously very excited to get this album today. Her music touches me like no other and this especially has got me through some shit. One of my all time favorites.

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Feb 23 2024
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5

This is one of those album you need multiple listens to fully appreciate. However on first listen I can tell this is very good, not perfect, but it has some very good arrangements and I really like the sound of the drums. Currently a 4.5 but I could see it becoming a 5 on future listens.

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Feb 23 2024
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5

Really enjoyed listening to this! This LP combines some absolutely stunningly gorgeous orchestral and ambient synth moments with energetic, creative, dark techno sounds (courtesy of Arca, who is perhaps best known for producing on the off-the-wall production showcase Yeezus). The hectic back-and-forth between beautiful/mournful and manic/abrasive moods, along with Bjork's powerful vocals, makes this a compelling breakup album. 5 stars!

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Feb 23 2024
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5

One of her best. This one was a return to form, especially after putting out a series of albums that weren't bad by any stretch, but had seemed kind of formless. She sounds reinvigorated here, more emotional and ambitious than she had been in years.

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Feb 20 2024
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5

This album is Björk at her most vulnerable. Written and recorded in the wake of a breakup, this album ruminates in the heartbreak and healing process showing the whole process. I found this album to perfectly show the cycle of grief which is not a cycle at all. It waxes and wanes, gets caught in though cycles, and has breakthroughs before falling back into sadness. The music is stark, jagged, and lush at times and perfectly complements the lyrics. Björk’s delivery commands attention and is halting, drawn-out, and forceful.

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Feb 16 2024
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5

prrr prrr ptts, uuuhooo pptt ptttss rrttss

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Jan 22 2024
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5

Enjoyable experience. Wonderful album. Beautiful.

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Nov 27 2023
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5

Calming and weird. First album of hers I have liked.

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Nov 25 2023
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5

Once again, I'm gonna need some more dimensions in my scale. I can't compare this in any way to, say, Snoop Dogg or The Electric Prunes. This is abstract art, which I see after listening is appropriate since it was created for an exhibit at MOMA. Listening definitely feels like work. But it’s musically complex and emotionally deep and maxes out the uniqueness dimension.

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Oct 27 2023
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5

Heel Emotioneel. Mooie teksten. Experimentele muziek. Top!

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Sep 10 2023
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5

Voce straordinaria, melodie straordinarie, 1 ora volata 5/5

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Aug 01 2023
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5

I listened twice, i think it might be her best. Not everyone’s cup of tea of course.

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May 31 2023
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5

Great album, love the instrumentals and the vocals.

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Dec 19 2024
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4

Bjorks work post Vespertine has been largely off my radar. Gave this a couple of listens. Musically I am rating this a 3 but an extra star for the raw emotion on display here....

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Dec 10 2024
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4

3.7 2x similar to other Bjork albums still quite good

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Dec 09 2024
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4

I’m really glad this album chose a quiet Sunday when I could lie in bed and do nothing but pop in my earbuds and *experience* it. I suspect there are other artists who create music like Björk’s work but they aren’t as famous or successful and she’s doing this while holding her own in the mainstream. Reminds me of Bowie in her ability to innovate and push boundaries while also remaining fiercely confident and individual in her style. There are also a lot of shades of instrumental post-rock in her soundscapes and mournful strings. All exacerbated and punctuated by her breathless surrealist and distinctive vocals. You can only respect the hell out of her as an artistic force. Is Vulnicura something I’ll now put into regular rotation or go out and buy? Probably not. But is this listening experience exactly the reason why I am excited to open the app and take on this challenge every day? Abso-bloody-lutely.

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Dec 06 2024
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4

As I've moved toward the end of my twenties I've got more and more of Bjõrk's music. It's great, feels like appreciating fine wine. This one might take a little longer for me to really get but I'm glad I gave it a couple of spins. Stonemilker has always been a favourite.

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Dec 04 2024
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4

Gefällt mir einerseits. Man muss aber hinhören, das ist keine Musik zum im Hintergrund laufen lassen.

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Nov 25 2024
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4

Bjork is a wild talent. This particular album wasn't what I love in her work but it is still really, really good and interesting and pretty fun. Maybe just a bit more somber than I was in the mood for?

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Nov 19 2024
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4

Again, this is a Björk album that is very different from the previous ones. Here, she uses string arrangements in nearly every track. There is even a version of this album that only has strings. As always with Björk's music, this is meant to be listened closely to. You may not enjoy some parts, but that's how she works.

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Nov 10 2024
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4

Black Lake (all 10 mins of it) was my favorite track on here, but the whole thing is to my taste. Bjork is a true original. A strong four, I'd expect this could reach 5 territory with a few more listens.

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Nov 08 2024
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4

It’s kind of mad that we’ve had Vespertine and now Vulnicura in less than a week Björk is amazing, every era of Björk is amazing, she has such a unique sound but still manages to reinvent herself every few years and put out some truly special and original music. This album combines some of the fuller orchestration of Homogenic (though that orchestration also makes more use of extended techniques and is spliced up and used in more diverse ways - the range of sounds Arca can get from a flute is insane) with the thin and creeping textures of Vespertine, the heavier industrial elements from the back end of Biophilia, and some truly mesmerising and inimitable vocal lines and harmonies. All these elements fit together to make a record that’s often beautiful, sometimes unsettling, and constantly immersive and impressive. It’s also probably her most personal record lyrically, drawing heavily from her break-up with the long-term partner who much of Vespertine was written about 14 years earlier. Not quite a 5 for me, and once again I don’t understand why Homogenic isn’t on the list, but it’s a fantastic album and one of the most enduring and ahead of its time from the 2010s (which you can’t say about many artists who debuted decades earlier). I would also highly highly recommend checking out the Live and Strings versions of this, they are nuts

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Nov 06 2024
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4

I mean look, for all the hate she gets Bjork's voice is strange in a beautiful way and this album is pure vibes. It's more art than music, and has a time and place. Worth experiencing

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Nov 06 2024
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4

Oh, nice. Haven't listened to much of Björk's later work at all. Very sad and beautiful and unnerving.

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Oct 31 2024
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4

Surreal and beautiful. Gets maybe a little too out there at times, but for the most part I really enjoyed it.

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Oct 30 2024
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4

It's Bjork, so it's different of course, but it has a very distinct aesthetic of loss. The mix of strings and synths is pretty amazing throughout.

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Oct 24 2024
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4

Sonically beautiful. The strings are great. I'm also fascinated by her lyrics, they feel very sincere and raw. I wasn't expecting this to be such a vulnerable and emotional album

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Oct 18 2024
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4

Bjork is an artist who fascinates me and who I have tried and tried to get into over the years. I was’t expecting this one on the list as I know two earlier albums are on it. In my attempts to see the light I have bought a few of her albums including this one. This and her next Utopia (discounting the different versions of Vulnicura) I bought on vinyl second hand but in immaculate condition. The record shop manager told me that he had bought them from someone who apparently struggles like me with Bjork. So a very common theme and I suspect that Bjork herself would approve of the reaction to her music which she gets. I actually think that this album and certainly Utopia are a lot more accessible than some of her earlier stuff. I do play these albums more than anything else of hers. The problem I have with Bjork is that I love a melodic song and she often comes up trumps and traps you momentarily before she goes off in a direction I don’t want her to go. So I can listen to half of her albums quite happily but a full album listen is not for the faint hearted and very much a challenge. But as I say I can normally better that with this album and get to the second side before I crave for something more normal. Bjork is out there on her own and trying something new every album. For that reason I applaud her and long may she continue. And who knows one day she will serve up an album full of beautiful melodies but I doubt it. The other versions I talk about with strings and live are well worth a listen and stand out on their own. 4/5 17/10/24

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Oct 17 2024
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4

7/10 light and meandering soundscapes as a mad women sings at the moon. What isn't to like? 10-16-2024

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Oct 16 2024
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4

I think this was more interesting than enjoyable. It definitely achieved what it was trying to do.

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Oct 09 2024
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4

Very intriguing album and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. The app has it down as pop/electronic but pop hardly seems appropriate, it's as experimental and avant garde as you'd expect from Bjork. The strings are really beautiful and the lyrics incredibly personal and affecting. Not totally on board with the vocals, she doesn't really do catchy melodies, but clearly Bjork is an amazing singer Don't think this is an album I'd listen to repeatedly but it certainly got my attention so 4/5

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Oct 09 2024
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4

Ah, Björk. This is a weird yet intriguing blending of classical and electronic music. The string arrangements are great, and the same goes for the electronic stuff. The real highlight though, as expected, is Björk’s performance. Her lyrics are striking and emotional, and her recognizable and amazing voice adds to the emotion. While there’s good things to be found here, to me the songs can feel a bit same-y sometimes, and some parts aren’t really for me. Still pretty good!

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Oct 05 2024
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4

I haven’t loved the other Björk. Albums on this list, but I’ve always admired her creativity and willingness to defy convention. This album retains those qualities but is significantly more emotive and, at least to me, more accessible.

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