Vulnicura

I love Bjork, and I loved he music - Post, Debut, Homogenic, .... but then the love faded. Sure the albums were intriguing, unique and fascinating....but the enjoyment was lacking. With Vulnicura, the feeling remains. It's still Bjork being Bjork, and the innovation is still there, but .... Yeah...whatever.

I love her debut album. I still like this one, it just doesn’t compare. But it is still her, so a 3.

This is my introduction to Bjork?? The fuck?? Not one of these tracks are in her top 10. Blind album and only know her by name. Her other albums on this list better be better than this... this album dragged so much and almost put me to sleep behind the wheel.

Yeah, ok

Musics nice at times, but her voice goes right through me

3/5

Around 15 years ago I spent months OBSESSED with Björk. This album felt wonderfully familiar to me, even though it's first time listening to it. I can't really judge this based on her previous work, because Björk always requires several listens to fully get it (yes, I'm one of those obnoxious people who claims to 'get' Björk), but I really enjoyed going down memory lane while listening to this album.

This album was a back to form album for sure. Bjork’s heartbreak after ending a marriage became a gift to rabid fans like me. It’s almost uncomfortable at times as Bjork goes into detail her feelings of betrayal and loss. While Vespertine is my favorite Bjork album and a top 5 album of all time, this album, Homogenic and Post all tie for 2nd place. But I’d still give it a 5.

This is a beautiful album with interesting, spacey string arrangements. Somewhat "back to normal" for Bjork after some pretty strange sounding albums before this one. I use strange to mean awesome. This one is a more somber album. Cool production here. All of her albums are a 5 to me. She is truly one of a kind. Three favorites are Lionsong, Family, and Notget.

A Björk breakup album. Musical expressionism rather than straight-up songs. Sad, cold vibes. Layers of strings and short vocal phrases swell, growing in tension, passing from emotional breakdown to full panic attack. Sonically interesting but not a world most will want to visit often. 3.5

I love Bjork's artistry, but I personally find it hard to resonate with her music.

Nope. Just can’t bring myself to it. Sorry bjork. Not my cup of Joe.

Highlight: Stonemilker In a nutshell: the sound of breaking up. One of the magical things about making and listening to music is experiencing incidental catharsis. This album is a good example of it. Björk was in fact going through a break up at time of recording Vulnicura. It was a healing experience for her. The title itself- when translated from Latin to English- explains it all: vulnas (wound) and cura (cure). Therefore "a cure for wounds". The mix of electronic beats and an orchestral arrangement might be off-putting for some. That's Björk's jam. BUT there is an alternate version for those who don't like the breakbeat/glitchy noises. Look for "Vulnicura Strings". It's a challenging listen if you're only used to Post. I didn't mind it but I don't think I'll go back to it in a hurry. Overall: 5/10

Categorically not my style. Very synthy/experimental with weird vocals. I can see the appeal, but don’t care for it myself.

Some really cool orchestration and production but I feel like you have to be in a certain mood to listen

This is possibly the most unoriginal take but Björk has such a beautiful and unique voice that mixed with the intense music is spectacular. I need to be in the right mood for it but when I am it hits perfectly.

This series is souring me on Bjork, sorry to say.

Well, at least this is the last Bjork album for me in this collection. It's gotten hard over the past four albums of hers to distinguish between a lot of them (although the earliest stuff and her Sugarcubes album are definitely much less Bjork-sounding than the others), and this album is no exception, despite being the most recent one of the collection. I'm hard-pressed to call out any particular track (except maybe the many-layered "Atom dance"), and even the videos for this album weren't as compelling or otherworldly as earlier albums; "Lionsong" and "Notget" are in some ways the most creative (and pretty wild costumes, plus creepy Alienesque scenery in "Notget"), while "Stonemilker" and "Black lake" seem pretty tame by Bjork standards, although they showcase Iceland's harsh landscape well. Overall, this felt like a soundtrack album more than most of her albums in this album--perhaps a soundtrack to an arthouse film, admittedly. Until I read the extensive Wikipedia entry for this album, I hadn't realized how extensive her work on this album was, nor how many (often VR) videos she'd produced for the tracks, nor how many variations and strings-only versions she released. I suspect those were all manna for her devoted fanbase, but I just couldn't go there. Now that we've overloaded on Bjork in this collection, I just hope that I can reclaim my occasional enjoyment of her music and creative spirit.

omg I can't handle it. I still have one song after this and I feel as if someone's been lowkey screaming at me for ten hours. Bsorry Bjork.

I mean, it's Björk so it's going to sound different. Parts are interesting, parts sound like they should be on a movie soundtrack, parts sound experimental, parts are annoying bordering on unlistenable, it's a Björk album. Another not really bad yet not really good album on this list.

It's a difficult album to describe. definitely not my cup of tea, but i appreciate the work

Björk knows how to do emotions. This is one of the saddest records I have ever heard-- in a good way.

I'd not listened to this one before, but it's good. Whilst it isn't my favourite Bjork album, it's solid and interesting.

OK, Bjork, I’m impressed.

Annoying AF

Add to albums to avoid for eternity.

Standard Bjork fare. Really interesting and engaging but not a lot of fun haha

Feels like being in a small boat in a big storm. The music is sparse and dark, swelling strings and washed out synths, scattered with bursts of electronic noise, it creates a feeling of a vast windswept encompasing expanse battering and moving you, hinting at but not reveal an abyss below. But the voice is intimate and intense - itself highly manipulated and textured, filtered through effects to distort and chop and rework itself, but still direct and inescapable, extremely proximate.

Another Bjork album. Started off alright but the songs were too long which made it hard to get through.

I listen to Bjork only for this list and I think it's the right amount. what a weirdo.

4/10 - I think I could have really liked this album except for the singing. Like she had a lot of good instrumental parts and the backing tracks are nice but I cannot with her singing. Lucas said that maybe she would be better if she sang in Icelandic and I might agree.

Another Bjork album that has some super interesting and beautiful moments but a bunch of parts that are a little too out there for me to truly love it. Think this one is on par with vespertine and a little better than medulla and debut, but not quite good enough for a 5

ну такое

not really interesting to me. not unpleasant to listen to but i didn't feel much with this one. sorry björk i still love you

more like Bzero. boo

It was only a matter of time. Although two Icelandic artists in the span of a fortnight or so is pretty alarming. That has to be some kind of record considering the population. I kind of wish this randomizer kept things chronological, as I’ve never heard one second of Björk’s music. I’m aware of her as a general popular figure of course, but having zero context besides knowing that she’s weird is going to be interesting. Hoping it’s a good weird. Hey Björk. Take off that headgear and fire up the turntable. If you wouldn’t mind. That accent is STRONG. I really thought this was in another language. I am ashamed. Hey. I must be in a good mood because this isn’t that bad. The vocals are horrible, but the soundscape is lush enough to distract me from that. And she has some interesting inflections. This is pretty cool. I wouldn’t say she got milk from a stone, because that sounds like I’m over here “B Jorkin’ It” to the music. *THUNDEROUS BOOS.* What?? It was a good song. Will this get tired? Perhaps. The avant-garde vocal delivery is so weird. It’s so weird that it falls into the charming territory. It’s somehow still keeping me entertained. A history of touches? Yeah that sounds about right. Vocals weren’t working for me here. This sounds like a song that might end up on the catatonicyouth instagram feed. Women fresh off of an intimacy seminar hopping into garageband. Predictably terrible. I feel dirty after this. Meh. This one is cooler, but not a lot going on. Not hate-able albeit the same amount of silliness. The vocals are ranging from artistically inspiring to right out of a parody track. I can’t hate it, but I certainly can’t love it. WE ARE FAMILY. Oh god. This family is aboard an alien spacecraft. They are being dragged into the ventilation shaft one by one. Ripped into the vacuum of space. Silent terror frozen into eternity. This is COOL. The violin part makes me feel like I’m about to be executed by Bjork herself. I’ll occasionally criticize songs for sounding like lame montage fodder. This actually sounds like a great cut from a soundtrack. Movies aside. This was cool. A little long in the tooth, but the best effort thus far. Will we “Notget” a good album soon??? Nah we’ve had quite a few now. Usually at least one a week. I’m liking the psychotic carnival tone to this one. Conjures the image of a beleaguered mechanic attempting to repair a carousel. He wonders why this Pennsylvania corn maze bought the Björk merry-go-round package. The music is one thing, but the children don’t seem to enjoy the obsidian warthogs with kaleidoscopic third eyes. Nobody ever rides the supine man, displayed in his gluttonous excess. Nor do they enjoy the single sugar cube that appears to be riddled with tumours. Björk explains over the loudspeaker that this cube is the earth, and whilst sweet, there is an inherent addictive quality to life and moderation is necessary although in many ways impossible, thus destroying the very host. Next to this carousel, is the Dunk tank! I prefer Adam Dance. Or Adam Bomb. I just wanted to talk about mid mid-90’s wrestling sensation, Adam Bomb. From the bomb family. Ugh. This sounds like Sims music. When something happens at your job or whatever. Maybe the building sections. This song was kind of mid. Big shout out to ANOHNI (isn’t that a kind of tuna?) who actually picked up the song halfway through. A little insane, but a little insanity is good. This is a mix of a late 90’s video game menu music and some violin concerto. Which sounds pretty rad. Oh, throw in some electronic bass stabs. I don’t like this song at all. I’m becoming quite fatigued with this whole thing. This is a big step towards that. Not to say there aren’t interesting moments, but the interesting moment per minute ratio is getting worse and worse as the minutes melt away. Like a candle melting over days and days. I am sinking into the quicksand here. My head is throbbing. I am nearing my limit. Take me back to my regular Wednesday morning musical input of Pissgrave and Slint. Now that’s a winning combo. Well we did it. I persevered through some Björk, and you know what? I’m relatively unscathed. This is not something I’d regularly listen to at all, but it had an insane appeal that I couldn’t shake. It’s bizarre, off putting and often completely off its rocker, but that made it an interesting 60 minutes or so. Again, this verges on parody so often that it was hard not to treat it as such, but it also never made me laugh. Vulnicura has moments of intensity, beauty, and emotional poignance which make this thing fascinating. What drags it down is some of those more silly vocal stretches and the length of the dead sections. I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll see of this particular Icelandic weirdo, but next time I’ll bring my chalice and ornate headgear. This first voyage was an esöteric one. 2.5-3 HIGHLIGHTS: Stonemilker, Family, Notget

Björing.

Mourning tunes

She’s always been such a slay.

I think the first Björk album I heard was Fossora, and I really disliked it. I remember thinking to myself that so many people love Björk, and I didn’t understand why. Since then, I’ve listened to more of her albums and found myself enjoying things more and more. This album is one of the more recent ones (2015 was only like two years ago, right?), so I was a little apprehensive, but I really did enjoy this. The orchestration of it all just comes together beautifully, and the vocals amplify how nice it all sounds. I still think Debut is my favourite, but may be a close second.

Siempre me golpeó la música de Bjork e Islandia que viene a ser otro planeta, pero de aquellos enigmáticos vientos. Musicalmente es un reto constante y misterioso.

Histronical. (Is that a word?) Thing is, Vespertine and Medulla, both more than a decade before this, covers the same ground with more warmth and … dare I say it? Feeling. (All opinions author’s own etc.)

No

Very good. Will be giving her entire catalog a listen soon.

I actually liked one of her songs before. But this album is confusing and so long. My first thought after listening: global warming is a big problem. it can affect people’s mental health now.

If you gaze long enough into the Bjork, the Bjork gazes also into you.

so, i've actually never listend to Bjork before and well... its an experience. I'm not saying its bad. but, you know when you watch like an Oscar nominated film and its like suuuuper artsy and you walk out of it and go "its not bad, I just didn't understand it". thats this album for me. her wikipedia page is super fascinating and I really would like to learn more about her, and sit down with the lyrics as I listen again. I am sure there is tons to this artist and album under the surface, but it requires a bit more work to listen to and understand. it gets two stars because I am a goober who doesn't understand art. hopefully I can bump up that ranking in the future.

I actually really like her for moments, but most of it isn’t super listenable. I’ll give her a hesitant 2 stars. She’s obviously talented, but the album expects way too much of the listener. Like some of Kanye’s shittier albums. Too arrogant and trying to be too artistic.

Hadn’t really ever listened to Björk. Now I know why. Thought about a two because the composition and instrumentation is at least interesting, but let’s be real, there’s no way I’ll check this album out again. I’m afraid that a 2015 release from Björk implies there will be more albums ahead of us. Also, this gives me the urge to go back to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums.

When the first album started, I was really interested. Her voice was pretty mesmerizing, and I was excited to see where it would go. The answer unfortunately is that it goes nowhere. What started out as an interesting intro quickly turned into an annoying droning. I wish she wasn't singing in English. It was more interesting to me when I thought it was another language. Instead, it just sounds like someone singing with a speech impediment. The first letter of each word is dragged out in a unique but difficult to listen to way. I respect Bjork's style, but I just cant listen to it.

It gets a bit repetitive…

Wildly interesting and very complex. I do like a bit of Drum and Bjass. Njot bjad

not really my thing but not awful i see what she is trying to do here but it just didn’t do much for me

Enough with the Bjork already.

Beautiful Islandic weirdo songbird

Breakup with Barney Björk is not my favorite Björk and it's not all bad just dreary. But when choosing which Björk to listen to I'd go back in time to Vespertine.

Nice instrumentals and pretty devastating lyrics. It was tough to get through and I’m sorry to say that

I’ve tried so many times to get into Björk and she’s never stuck for me. Frankly, I find her music pretentious and unenjoyable. It’s almost as if she’s gone so far off the experimental end that she’s lost all listenable elements and ended up with a mumbo-jumbo of weird cadences, rhythms, and noises. Music for people with artistic PhDs basically (no offense to those folks, but to a common peasant like myself it’s garbage)

0/9, 0%

Bjork has a great voice, but not my kind of pacing or structure. Still an enjoyable one time listen.

Pretty good, I generally like bjork but this one has never blown my socks off. Stonemilker is a great song and there are a few other good moments. Quicksand is a pretty underwhelming closer. But all around not bad. 3/5

This is one of the few times that I hear string arrangements in pop music and I don't cringe a little bit. I find that strings are well suited to the complex arrangements found in classical music, and when they're used in pop music, it's often to give the aesthetic of depth without actual providing any. However, this album felt like it mostly really used the string section to great affect. Other than that, the production was really top tier, but some of the lyrics were far too on the nose for my tastes. Overall, the album was really great at its best, and slightly cringe at its worst. Favorite Track: Atom Dance

Adventorous album.

Fine enough I guess. But unless there are four (4??) Björk albums in this list, this should’ve been “Post” instead. It’s significantly more important to her sound imo, and is just a better album/listening experience. Listen to “Post”, please.

As the album continued, I enjoyed it more and more. Definitely a 'moods' album (not sure if 'moods' needed quotations, but I'm leaving them there anyways).

Certainly an interesting album, don't think I can call it enjoyable

I’ve tried bjork before and she’s just not for me

I had guessed that I wouldn't enjoy Bjork without ever listening to her. Listening then confirmed it

Squawking

heartbreakingly beautiful. I love those string arrangements, let alone her unique voice.I won't claim to know much about Björk's music and the album took some time to grow on my ears but I feel it's worth it. “Stonemilker” is beautiful from start to end. worth a 4-4.5/5.

A bit too avant-garde for me I think. Or maybe it just needs more time to dive into than this format allows me Standouts Black Lake 2/5

Ouch.

It’s Bjork.

Bjork is more human than all of us. Who could leave Bjork? Who’d want to make Bjork feel all the things she had to transmit on Vulnicura (because this felt more like a cathartic need than an artistic opportunity grab)? This one is sparser than her other material and feels so private and so painful, it doesn’t go down as my favorite Bjork album, and I’m sure returning to this state of mind wouldn’t be her favorite thing to do either. Still, this is a shade of Bjork, and therefore magic is contained within.

There came a point after her first 3 or so albums that I just couldn't take the out-there-ness of Bjork going avant-garde that everything just became an unenjoyable listen, and, sadly, this is a continuing trend...

Imagine watching a movie with a character who thinks she's the greatest singer, but she's actually really terrible. I imagine this music is exactly how Hollywood would depict that scene. It's very strange, and I don't see the musical value.

It's too avant-garde for me

when i listen to bjork, i do genuinely appreciate her music. it's really cool and, although challenging to listen to, it's a bit fulfilling to listen to for me. that being said, i don't know if i would really listen to this album on repeat. it's cool, no doubt, but the replay value here for me is very minimal. i rode the ride. it was neat. that's about all.

I’ve never heard anything like this (derogatory). Way too out there and avant- garde for me. First album I struggled through in this experiment.

I've already rated a Bjork album with 5 stars in respect for her influence in music history (and it was her best in my opinion) so for this one I'll keep my old friend 3 that represents pretty much well this album.

I really appreciate her weirdness and production, but i probably wouldnt put her on for myself or at a function

Were they running out of picks like I don’t hate Björk but it feels like dimery was like oh i’m missing an album for 2015 [INSERT RANDOM BJÖRK ALBUM HERE] Cover art is seriously awesome though I love her costume

Я знал, что в списке "1001 музыкальный альбом, который ты должен услышать прежде, чем умрёшь" сразу несколько альбомов Бьорк. И я с ужасом ждал того момента, когда они начнут мне попадаться. И вот этот момент настал. Всё, что я знал о Бьорк до этого — то, что она пришибленная, поёт какую-то лютую дичь и ведёт себя странно. В целом ожидания оправдались. Бьорк — это чисто иностранная версия Жанны Агузаровой, только более серьёзная и депрессивная. А поскольку Жанночку я люблю, то и импортный аналог вполне себе зашёл. Песни на самом деле тяжёлые, если не сказать мрачные. При этом саунд, с точки зрения звукорежиссуры и продюсирования, очень качественный. Не могу сказать, что я был прям в восторге от этого альбома, но по крайней мере никакого негатива и отвращения он не вызвал. А, помятуя о том, что мне попадалось в последнее время, это уже вполне себе неплохо.

Enjoyed this

Once it was simple One feeling at a time It reached its peak then transformed These abstract complex feelings I just don't know how to handle them Should I throw oil on one of these moods But which one? The joy peak Humor peak Frustration peak Anything peak For clarity Maybe he will come out of this loving me Maybe he won't I'm not taming no animal Maybe he will come out of this Yeah, Bjork is pretty good. 4/5

First time listening to a full Bjork album. Very atmospheric. Very slow. Interesting sounds and layers.

Björk/Matthew Barney divorce album. So good.

I'm a big fan of Björk but this doesn't really do it for me. She's just basically doing that thing that great singers sometimes do where they are reading prose with a sort of singy voice. This whole album felt like one long boring song. She has much better and more compelling albums that I'd rather listen to.

When I first heard this, I didn't know what I was expecting. I've never heard anything like this, and it's definitely a unique sound. But I didn't really enjoy this one, so I'm giving it 2 stars.

Interesting…some lovely soundscapes on here and some fascinating insights into the mind of our favourite Icelandic pixie but not one to revisit too often!

More "lush strings" than one would normally associate with Bjork, and if her "pixie spending 6 months of the year without daylight" vocals don't do anything for you, then this isn't going to change your mind. Can't honestly say it did enough for me to warrant inclusion on this list, but an hour of Bjork is never going to ruin my day either

I had never heard Bjork until now vut of course heard the name lots in the past. I really like the music, kind of all over the place isn't it. The lyrics are very hard to listen to, I think English is difficult for her. I would listen again

für mich manchmal schwierig einzelne songs zu erkennen, erschafft Björk doch einfach vielschichtige klangwelten .. spannend, aber auch anstrengend.

Schwierig. Vielleicht bin ich zuwenig intellektuell um diese Art von Musik zu hören. Vielleicht war ich zu voreingenommen als ich sah, dass es Björk ist.

Difficult but never unpleasant - self-parodying on occasion unless you're into that sort of thing. Lots of highlights in this listing, ecofuturist, cerebral sound scape but I listened to it cycling up a hill in india so I can't point to any really

An alright album that doesn’t lend itself well to this format. I think you’ll get more out of it with listening a few times.

Wasn't my favourite of the Bjorks but nice

Ah, my final Björk album, and also my final album from 2015. The three Björk albums I’ve reviewed so far have run a pretty wide gamut. Medúlla was 2 stars, Debut was 3 stars, and Vespertine was 4 stars. I think that Björk makes some incredibly unique music, but it doesn’t always land with me. I have no idea what to expect on this album, but I’m excited to see what it has in store! I thought Vulnicura was really great, and easily the best Björk album that I’ve gotten to review. I loved that the sound was really consistent and cohesive throughout the album. Having the string arrangements as the dominant sound on this album worked really well. Björk knows how to create strange and beautiful arrangements, and in my opinion, the music on this album is her most accessible work that I’ve listened to. I really loved that the album was thematically tied to a breakup that she went through, and there was such a wide variety of emotions that Björk explored over the course of these songs. I didn’t really have a favorite song on this album. Granted, I didn’t really take a lot of notes as I listened to it, but one of the few things I wrote down about an individual song was that I liked the lightness of the strings in contrast to the deep bass and percussion on “Stonemilker.” I’d normally go back through an album to snag some more notes on individual songs, but with this album’s length, and the length of the individual songs, I’ll have to pass on that this time around. Even though I don’t have a ton of notes on this album, I’m giving it five stars because I think it really stuck the landing from its bold vision. While this album isn’t the sort of thing I’d actively listen to again, I thought it was incredibly beautiful, and full of rich, meaningful songwriting. What a way to wrap up Björk’s albums on this list!

Big, bold, dramatic, emotional, moving

Artiste connue par l'album 'Life's Too Good' des 'The Sugarcubes', découvert dans la liste et plutôt apprécié (il m'avais donné envie de découvrir d'autres albums avec Björk). Ce premier album solo de Björk proposé dans la liste est une grande déception. Même si j'apprécie toujours sa voix, l'instrumentation sur les premiers morceaux (arrangements de cordes, pas vraiment créatifs ni originaux, mais longs et ennuyeux) n'est vraiment pas à mon gout. Par la suite (Family et suivants), c'est un peu plus original (+1). En tous cas je préférais l'approche plus rock de Sugarcubes. =>2/5

Vulnicura is one of those albums that you should put on your best set of headphones, turn off all the lights, light a few candles, smoke a little weed and just relax to. It's peak Björk! Weird, tranquil, moving, stressful, abstract, soothing and more. The majority of her catalog is something everyone should listen to at least once, but I confess I'm more of a "Post" fan, which upsettingly is not on this list anywhere.

Electronic pop. Interesting vocals and electronic arrangements. Quite emotional. But just a bit too weird for me. Can appreciate it from an artistic standpoint. Quite annoying in parts.

Oh, it's another Bjork album. I've heard three solo records and a Sugarcubes album but it turns out that I get more Bjork. This appears to be the final Bjork album, but quite possibly not, because you can't ever really appreciate Bjork until you have been subjected to every single one of her albums. There are good songs on here and they are all fairly weird, which is a given for Bjork at this point. I would recommend: Stonemilker A History of Touches Family (the right kind of weird for me) Atom Dance felt interminable to me. Still, I don't know if I could recommend this album to anyone. It's Bjork, so if you like her music then you will possibly like this. I just find it hard to connect with the music since the intent appears to be weird.

I don’t know why but I wasn’t expecting to like this at all and ended up enjoying it much more than expected. 3.5 rounded down to 3.

This was pretty decent Bjork that I wasn’t familiar with. I like her, but can’t take her in large doses.

I remembered not liking this, but I really do. I think I just don’t like it *as much* as Post, Homogenic, and Vespertine.

Björk is Björking but I have nothing to add here!

Is there no way to give zero stars?

I genuinely understand why Björk is an artist you should hear before you die. She is unique and worth checking out. I just don’t understand why I need to hear most of her discography. When you’ve heard one of her albums you basically get it and her stuff is about as inaccessible as it gets. A fascinating woman/creature but not for me.

Sorry, but I just couldn't listen to this entire album. Made it through 3 songs and then gave up. She's just not for me.

I couldn’t get through this. I’m sorry Bjork.

Really well recorded. Lots of interesting stuff happening in the record. I wouldn’t land it in the 1001 must hear. That doesn’t take away from the record. It’s just that I feel the other Bjork entries certainly belong as they pushed music forms forward whereas this one seems a progression from those as opposed a new step. I guess I’m really saying probably one too many Bjork records on the list and the slot could have been used for something else. I think that’s the issue with a number of the more recent records (relative to edition release dates) you just don’t have enough time to judge if a cool record has enough to stay in the 1001. Still I really enjoyed listening to this and it does well on a good sound system. Happy to have heard it.

01) Stonemilker - 7,5 02) Lionsong - 7,5 03) History of Touches - 7,5 04) Black Lake - 7,0 05) Family - 6,5 06) Notget - 6,5 07) Atom Dance - 6,5 08) Mouth Mantra - 5,5 09) Quicksand - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,72 (67/100) Current ranking: 311/446

listened to again love the chamber strings

A difficult listen at times, but I respect the vision. May revisit one day and give it another shot

No thanks, Björk.

Björk is weird but not in a fake forced way. I appreciate the artistry but it doesn’t always work for me but this album deserves repeat listens

Ok, Björk. Hmmm ... lost her in the 90s. Had followed her music since Sugarcubes and loved it. But "Human Behaviour" was more or less the last album I intensively listened to. Have of course heard "Post". That was ok. But the real heights were the Sugarcubes. When listening to Vulnicura it is clear to me that I didn't really miss much. Yes, the music is creative, it is special, it is innovative. But the problem is, I don't really like it. Thus, it doesn't mean anything to me. I love Deus, Regina and Chiuahua. But these are not today's Björk, these are the old Björk (or to be exact Sugarcubes). Sorry, therefore it won't be more than a 2 here!

Stonemaker, the strings are gorgeous. The drums feel very nostalgic to me, this is the 2010s tbf. The melody is simple but rythem is everything. When it opens all opens up when she says “Show me emotional respect” it really feels like she’s asking as kindly as she can. “Like milking a stone, To get you to say it” I feel this very deeply. It’s such frustration and yearning mixed together. And this soundscape captures that. “A juxtapositioning fate, Find our mutual coordinates” it won’t be easy to get there but if they do it will mean unison. Ends how it began with beautiful strings. This did not feel 6 minutes long at all. Lionsong, woah the harmony work is so crazy, very cool. Somewhat uneasy. Strings again. A stronger drum beat. “This wild lion doesn’t fit in this chair, Maybe he will come out of this loving me” then morphs into “These abstract complex feelings, I just don’t know how to handle them”. There’s no need for a metaphor when you understand what is happening. I’m assuming this is about the same relationship in the first song. She really uses rhythm as her melody?? if that makes sense. She really follows her story. Ends by saying “Somehow i’m not too bothered, I’d just like to know.” Fatigue for the situation has set in. You can feel that with the strings they’re strong but somber. History Of Touches, a synth to begin with and just her voice. “I wake you up, In the middle of the night, To express my love for you”. This is deffo about sex. “Every single fuck” confirmed my hypothesis. This does feel intimate and close. It’s just her and a wall of synths really. It’s very interesting. There’s sadness too, it’s the last time. Black Lake, this feels very sad. The strings. “Our love was my womb but our bond has broken”. Is this about falling out of love with the father of her child?? :( The drums sound like a heart beat. wow all of the lyrics are truly heartbreaking, and the vocal performance is simple and raw. “You fear my limitless emotions, I am bored of your apocalyptic obsessions” two very different people have finally come to the end of their commonalities. “Did I love you too much?Devotion bent me broken”, wondering if you pushed them away with intensity. The music begins to speed up, still sounding like a pounding heart from the drums, the intense strings could be a panic attack. Then it settles as she says “I did it for love, I honoured my feelings” feeling safe again that this was not her fault. Again it begins to speed up, the melody becomes higher and more chest focused when she says “Family was out sacred mutual mission, Which you abandoned”. There’s a lot of space almost hinting the need for a response from him. The production come together again for her to finish by saying “Returning home”. This is a haunting masterpiece. Again somehow did not feel 8 minutes! Family, the drums are demanding. She’s in pain for sure. This is a heavy album. “No triangle of love, So where do i go” Feeling incomplete after the break down of a relationship. There’s so much space in the production, close harmony and call and response. Echos, making it feel like she’s in a void. “To mourn our miraculous triangle, Father, mother, child”. A complete change happens to staccato strings. She’s mad but also trying to “build a safe bridge for the child” out of this trauma :(. It ends with her saying “this location of solutions” she has to carry on through the pain. Notget, this feels more upbeat but still tense. Then she says “Once you fell out of love, Our love couldn’t carry you, And I didn’t even notice, For our love kept me safe from death”. She is shattered by it. “If i regret us, Im denying my soul to grow”. The drums are carrying her along to heal through it. It’s horrible but it has happened. She’s fighting on. There’s a synth that is incredible, gives some light. She is singing very openly in her chest voice, reaching high in her range. It’s haunting and hopeful. “Love will keep us safe from death” is a beautiful sentiment, delivered in a painful way. Atom Dance, this features ANOHNI. “None is a lover alone, I propose an atom dance.” This feels lighter, she has realised that “love is the ocean we crave” and she is not alone. It feels like an alien waltz. “Enter the pain and dance with me” she welcomes all of us with broken hearts to join her to heal :,). What a little fairy nymph she is. “Atoms are laughing at last”. Mouth Mantra, I think this is a song about being silenced. Within her creativity and her voice within her relationship. Again it’s very airy. Strings adding tension. A consistent drum. Echos and lots of synths. “This tunnel has enabled, thousands of sounds”. Her voice mixed with the void she is moving through. Ends very cinematically. The final song, Quicksand. “our mother’s philosophy, fells like quicksand, And if she sinks, I’m going down with her”. I feel this song is to her daughter. It’s fast and fierce. Whatever happens she will be right by her. “When we are broken we are whole” understanding pain can bring people closer together, especially if it’s shared. “And my continuity and my daughters”. I hope I never need this album, but i know it’s likely I will have big feelings to get through that this will aid well. She so interesting as a vocalist, she creates her own rhythms I can’t really explain it, at first it feels a little clunky but then you get drawn in. This album is devastating, but hopeful in some ways and strong in most. She makes it through the pain. I love that she had creativity as an outlet in this time. It has to be a 5, no one else could dare to create/recreate this. The artwork is gorgeous. She stands in all black radiating spikes of yellow and blue and silver. And this album feels as though although she feels dark there is moments of colour through all the separate deep feelings.

Björk - Vulnicura First album that I ever hear from her, and it's really good honestly from start to finish. I like how she experimented classical music with electronics and turn it more dysfunctional in a way but still having that lively emotional feel to it. The fact that this was made almost a decade ago genuinely amazes me, this really sounds from the future. Overall, this is REALLY great! 1.- Stonemilker = 10/10 2.- Lionsong = 9/10 3.- HIstory of Touches = 7/10 4.- Black Lake = 10/10 5.- Family = 9/10 6.- Notget = 8/10 7.- Atom Dance = 9/10 8.- Mouth Mantra = 9/10 9.- Quicksand = 9/10 FINAL SCORE: 8.9/10

Ethereal. Seems like Bjork's music always puts me a little on edge

Is this music? Certainly. Is it supposed to be on this list? Certainly not.

A lot to like here, the well-crafted contemporary classical feel, the emotional intensity and the originality, which is mostly engaging. But it can feel somewhat stiff and overdetermined. Still, one is prepared to indulge an artist like Bjork, whom one has always liked a little bit less than one figured one might have liked her.

Creeps into 4 stars. Excellent album.

Amazing. This algorithm has me as its cat’s toy. Just what I needed to hear as my own relationship imploded.

beautiful + challenging = perfect

Cool cover but boring music.

Cheeks

Previously rated: Vespertine (2/5) ******************** Artsy, pretentious, boring. Do I need to go on any further? I hope I don't have to hear Bjork and her rolling Rs ever again.

Another good record from Björk. Feels like the heavier, darker sister album to Vespertine. Only complaint is by the end it feels like you’ve just been berated with synths for a bit too long. 7/10

Bjork is a one of a kind artist. Don't love it but don't hate it.

This was probably the worst album I have heard yet and I am definitely not that big of a fan of Bjork, and I was very disinterested in this album, I gave a good listen and I just couldn't get into it, it was just not my type of music!

Love Björk but importantly on reflection I should have only given ZZ Top's Eliminator 4 stars

Not my thing but the soundscapes are incredible.

one of the few truly unique artist in contemporary music

I love this album. Hypnotic and beautiful.

Bjork’s music is easily identified as avant garde and cinematic, but is admittedly still a little over my head. Definitely enjoyed some moments on this one, but found it a bit challenging to really dig in and get a full listen front to back. Pretty sick break up album, though.

Its a grower. Will definitely listen again. Its probably a 3.5 - but was feeling generous so rounded up. Favourite track is Black Lake.

Vulnicura I don’t think I’ve ever actually listened to a Björk album before. Which is strange as she makes the kind of music I like, but I think it’s probably a product of my teenage brain not understanding her back in the 90s and then never really getting round to trying any of her albums. I’m not sure if this is the best album to start with, but I thought it was great, getting better each time. It’s hard not to use words like icy and glacial to describe the music, as it’s probably too on the nose for someone from Iceland, but the detached coolness of the music; the strings, the synths, the discordant fractured rhythms and percussion against the very personal and expressive lyrics is a great combination. It’s kind of moving, chilly, distant and uplifting at the same time. It feels a grower, its not immediately melodic, but the tunes do start to burrow into your brain through the textures, and it probably works best as whole piece rather than individual tracks, as the more austere and crawling first half evolves into the spikier and more rhythmic second half, with some more melodic string parts. I think it needs to sit a little longer, and I’m keen to give it some more listens with some space in between but it’s a solid 4 for now. 🇮🇸 🇮🇸 🇮🇸 🇮🇸 Playlist submission: Atom Dance

Both the desolation and the uplifting beauty of the Icelandic landscape. There are points in Mouth Mantra where the enveloping strings (with all the foreboding of Prokofiev) and scattered beats make you feel like your swooping over it. Stonemilker is the most glorious and sorrowful song I have heard in many a year. I like that the album makes use of the viola organista, constructed to Da Vinci's design. That's rather fitting, given the album has all the enigma and chiaroscuro of one of the great man's paintings. All this beautiful music she's made, and she'll still be remembered for slapping that Thai reporter in the gob after a long plane journey. But, albums like this are rare indeed. It's immersive, challenging, painful, beautiful. One of those albums you can constantly relisten to and get something new each time. I think I've pseud's cornered my way into a five.

There is no denying that Björk has an immense amount of talent and differentiation. There’s no doubt she should be on this list: she is like no one I’ve heard before and continues to break music barriers and take risks. Given this impressive talent, I can hardly listen to it. This, I recognize, is completely personal and therefore continue to give her recognition she does deserve.

It's Bjork so it's dense. Very dense. Nothing about this is really background music or vibey or danceable which is pretty cool actually. A lot of reviews I read before listening were about it being a breakup album which I couldn't care less about - can anyone actually understand the lyrics/vocals anyways? And why even try to pay attention - there's so much going on musically that is bizarre/different/out of the ordinary that for me the/her voice is just one of the instruments. General overarching negative on most albums: no guest singers please (notable here: Anohni whose voice is so off-putting to me that I have to dock a star), at least as a lead. More of a soundscape and not that off from latest-period Radiohead (which to be fair isn't my favourite) - I want to love this, but I think I only kinda like it. 6/10 3 stars.

La combinaison d’arrangements orchestraux et électroniques donne lieu à une œuvre dramatique où la musique ne cède jamais le terrain à la voix singulière de Björk, qui aurait facilement pu prédominer

Aburridisimo

I like Björk... I know people think she's weird or her music is weird, but I like it.

1 Sugarcubes, 4th solo Björk on this list + 1 that isn’t (Post [1995])= this’ll be my 6th one by her Vespertine and this are really about the same dude, huh I thought “Family” had horror vibes, turns out the composer for Midsommar, aka the Haxan Cloak, was involved with this Sometimes beautiful, almost always unsettling; I respect the fusion of Arca’s beats with Björk’s string arrangements, even if it’s not always to my own musical palate. 3 stars for now, ask me again in 7 days HL: “History of Touches”, “Black Lake”, “Notget” Late Jan. 15 or early Jan. 16, 2025

I can appreciate things that are alternative and people taking risks and I also love the name Björk, but this unfortunately is not my jam

This is fine, but nothing extraordinary. Bjork feels a bit weird for the sake of weird.

This shit hurts. Björk is an amazing artist in every sense of the word but this was difficult without having much sunlight. Reminded me of Beck's "Sea Change," without the hope on the horizon.

I like the idea of being a Björk fan, and I enjoyed this, but I won’t put it on again

Masterpiece

I respect Björk and think she’s an incredible talent worthy of the praise she receives. I’m just not super into her music typically. I’ve listened to most of her discography, including Vulnicura, and her albums just never rank nearly as high with me as they do critics and many music fans. It fades to the background really quickly, even if it is beautiful.

Goddamn bjork is weird

Not my thing. It all sounded the same. 1001 album worthy: No - 29/52

Cool, maybe too cool for me

I tried to be open-minded but this was just not for me.

Odd and pretty sounds Arranged in patterns unknown Emits eerie vibes

Björk is super cool, but there is a lack of a hook and is a very specific type of music.

I like some Björk songs, and have been a bit disappointed by others. Unfortunately, this album doesn't really get "going". It's really slow and doesn't get me moving in any sort or form. 2/5

The 1001 albums rating universe generally can't be arsed with Bjork. But there's a lot of turning the nose up to experimental stuff so we shouldn't be surprised. Bjork is a wonder, really. We're lucky to have her. Even if I don't entirely get on with one of her records they're always interesting and engaging on some level. I go back and forth on this record, and most specifically Black Lake. And then Family, straight after. It's sort of like musical theatre. Stonemilker however is straight up gorgeous. Overall as a record, it's fantastic and impressive. And always interesting.

If there was a 1001 Album Covers You Must See list, well, Bjork would be the queen. This art is kind of if Georgia O'Keeffe focused her work on photographing peacocks from the future. Anyway, there's some nice musical elements to these songs, particularly the strings, but overall the music really doesn't reach me. I was surprised to go back through my ratings and see that I've given Bjork 4, 3, 3 and the Sugarcubes 3.5. This album didn't need to be on this list; I'm glad to have seen it but I didn't really need to hear it.

2.5/5 weird but nice.

I thought I had listen to this already but I've had 3 Bjork albums fairly recently, and they seem to have a similar sound. I still enjoy it and would listen again.

I've never listened to Bjork so this should be fun... It's kind of weird but I like it. I dig the instrumentals a bunch too. Bjorks voice is unique and depending on the song, haunting in a good way. She reminds me of the voices in Räven by Hedningarna. Solid 4/5

Very interesting. And weird. Not my jam

Björk is definitely not for everyone. Once you form an appreciation for her music though, there's really nothing else like it. This is my fourth Björk album, and I'm quite happy with it. I wouldn't put it above her earlier work, but still enjoyable.

I enjoyed it more musically than vocally or lyrically, but then again I didn't understand most of what Björk was singing.

Not really a favourite

no offence but the rolling of r's

I was more familiar with Björk's vocals/singing style going into this album after getting Vespertine earlier in the list. I enjoyed the modern sounds, but still found myself hoping for more of what I heard on Vespertine.

Favorite Track: Stonemilker

Bjorks eclectic style shines thru on ths album. Though I'm not generally into her electronica style music (I like some of the Sugarcubes stuff and her early solo work) this was ok.

"Vulnicura" is the eighth studio album by Icelandic singer-songwriter, composer, producer and actress Björk. The apt Wiki-musical descriptors are electronic, avant-garde and ambient. The album was produced by Björk, Arca and the Haxan Cloak and expresses Björk's feelings before and after her breakup with contemporary artist Matthew Barney with whom she had a 14-year relationship and a daughter. It was released to wide-spread critical acclaim for being one of her most honest and personal albums as well as her best output in a decade. Commercially, it reached #11 in the UK and #20 on the US Billboard 200. A cello and violin intro begins "Stonemilker." Björk's voice enters, emotionally exhausted. Sparse, echoing percussion. The strings and vocals build. She is descrbing trying to get the emotions out of her boyfriend. The song ends with a melancholic string fade (not the last time). Layered Björk a capella vocals start "Lionsong." Strings and a faster beat. The vocals become wavering and the beats more electronic. She's in an uncertain place in the relationship and wants clarity. Another string fade outro. "History of Touches" marks the point of the breakup. Bouncey electronic synth keys and vocals. No strings. The 10-minute "Black Lake" takes us on a journey after the breakup. A melancholic string intro. Björk's voice. Electronic drones. Heartbeats. Silence. The electronic beats become harder. Now repeat the musical cycle. It's three months after the breakup and she attempts to forgive him and return home. The songs become more complex mixing strings, beats and electronic elements, perhaps, mimicking her own feelings. "Notget" starts out with a happy tone with piano and synth keys. It then turns dark with the beats and lower-noted strings. Anohni joins in on the vocals in "Atom Dance." Another electronic and vocal expedition. Everything appears in the balance as we reach the closer "Quicksand." Hard beats. Strings come in. "And if she sinks, she sinks with her." It's a struggle between the dark beats and strings. The strings become louder. Now the beats are louder. The song closes with strings alone. Hopefully, she made it too. This is such a compelling listen due to the fact that the songs are in chronological order and we know that it's about a breakup. Both Björk's vocals and kyrics are extremely emotional and personal. The strings, beats and electronics match the emotions. The music is also very creative and well thought out. I was pretty much blown away by this album and totally engulfed in its journey. Björk has a lot of great music: include this one in that conversation.

Njen zasad zadnji fantastičan album

Not her most popular, but actually one of my favourite Bjork albums.

Björk is such a pub quiz answer. I wasn’t a huge fan of this but I see the vision

Todo lo raro que se dice de ella pareciera ser verdad en este álbum, pero me voló la cabeza. Es algo distinto, que no encontrás prácticamente en ningún lado. Mezcla el pop, con música clásica, una onda de musica celta, electrónica y mucho instrumento de cuerda. Top.

Yeah i don't get bjork but not bad

Rally?

Love Bjork, still can't dig her newer stuff, that's way too abstract for my eas

Generally sounds like Kid A played backwards with a higher pitched Thom Yorke. One of the 'songs' was ok.

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....

Ain’t gonna lie, I was skeptical going into this album. Then the opening refrains took me by surprise and whacked me with those beautiful strings. My excitement didn’t last, as 3 mins later the song had descended into an infinite loop of melancholy. From then on, it was 58 mins of Björk performing unintelligible spoken word poetry above an experimental electronic, and at times cacaphoric soundscape. This was a truly tough listen and is only the second album in this challenge so far that I’ve failed to give ear to in its entirety without skipping to the end of tracks. Not for me. File under esoteric guff.

Irritating.

I cant deal with Bjork, she hits some part of my brain that gets me annoyed and angry. This fits squarely in the "not for me" category, as for who the intended audience is? I have no idea. It was a little more coherent than the last entries, then Family hit and that turned a free fall into a rocket straight into the ground.

This album was… fine? It didn’t have a distinct identity like the other 3 Bjork albums I’ve gotten so far. Lovely arrangements and a very pretty sound but didn’t leave much of a lasting impression

God awful.

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

not everything creative is bearable

Not my bag. It just doesn't connect with me

I am once again begging you to stop making me listen to Bjork

3.7 2x similar to other Bjork albums still quite good

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.

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.

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.

STOP PRESS!!! bjork in "actually good" shocker

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

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

underbar feelz

Day330 - a happy bjork is already a melancholy bjork, but a mad scorned bjork is gonna tear someone apart

too much new age

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?

Björk is just a little too weird for me.

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.

Weird techno euro-pop. Very laid back style of music. Just a bit too odd for me. I think one Bjork album is about my limit.

🎧 I do not care for the music of Björk.

While I enjoyed this album moreso than I anticipated and it was rather serene, there wasn't much that was memorable to me. She's good a good voice and there was a good mesh of electronic and even some jazz elements, but some of the tracks tended to drag. I probably won't go out of my way to listen to more Bjork, but I had a nice time with this all things considered. Notable Tracks: - Stonemilker - Family 6/10

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.

Gorgeous

we love Björk, loved her debut a lot. This one reaches not the same feeling like the debut did for me. Still a good album that just doesn't match with my preferences in music. 3.0/5.0

Björk being Björk. Making artful music born of her own trauma / life. 3.5

I certainly respect Bjork, I’m glad she’s still doing her thing, but honestly - I could live with anything post Post. There might be some songs on here that with repeated listens I could grow to … like, but I mostly just found this stressful.

Of course I've heard of Bjork but I've never heard Bjork before! Is the first track in English or Icelandic? couldn't make out the words although I'm sure I heard a couple of English words; the overly predominant strings didn't help. Unfortunately this is the whole album. I'll give you that it is different with long tracks that have interesting (sometimes) arrangements but the voice is neither strong enough nor varied enough to carry these. Also the tracks in general have the same tempo and are, in a word, boring. Skipped to the next track often during my listening. I Believe there is an instrumental string version of this album and, if I could be bothered, this might make a more pleasurable experience. Not a fan; heard of Bjork, heard Bjork and now I can ignore Bjork!

That's gonna be a no from me, dawg.

a bit weird

Not too hard to get through! super beautiful voice with very beautiful melodies. Enjoy it better than her acapella record! Would maybe listen to it again ? but too experimental for my taste.

Björk, innit. Lots of plodding along and never really getting anywhere.

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.

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

Interesting instrumentals but found her voice a bit jarring after 1hr

Interesting musically but some songs a bit atonal

I won't write a full review, but this might be the hardest I thought about what I was going to rate an album. To preface - this deserves a spot on the list. It's odd, out of the box, and has interesting ideas. But it's not what I would call good music to listen to. This is music you develop a deeply personal connection to because you're a fan of Björk and it's themes touch on your own life. I'm not a fan of Björk - I also did not recently get a divorce. For those reasons, I mostly find this album to be a very long winded vocal exercise with slow instrumentals, and there are better albums in that category in my opinion. One specific example I can think of is "Real Death" by Mount Eerie. If you like the concept of this album, I think the Mount Eerie version does all of it better - from conveying the subject matter to the vocal inflections showing the true emotion of the artist. 3/10

Not a good listen for me. Maybe it was the day or something but I just didn't hear anything musical about this. I understand there is art in the world that I won't love and others will, and that's fine with me. This was so unmusical to me I found myself in utter disbelief that she is even able to remember these words and what to sing and everything - like the structure of these seems completely random like it's generated by a computer program that is deliberately trying to be obtuse. The lyrics were also ungainly and immaturely 'goth'/emo.

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

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

5/5 and it’s not even her best album

Fine

I tried, it’s just not for me. This felt very one note, almost literally. Not sure I needed to hear it before I die.

Really not for me. She may have a capable voice but the format for me is a real turn off.

Not sure what I did to deserve listening to a Bjork album immediately after a Dylan album

Never listed to Björk before and probably wont again but I can see why ppl like her

Another one. 2.4.

I can see the artistry of this album, but I just can't get into it. Personal enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

Exactly what I thought it was going to be, one listen is enough for my ears.

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

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.

Silence in the studio! Björk is doing Music N°2 It looks like an 1 hour long Revolution 9 with lyrics but it ain't bad. It's good in a strange way.

I think I hate Solo Bjork. I wish I was a bit cooler.

More Bjork... Well. Have another single star.

I ended up grabbing the live version of this. It was awesome.

Excited to hear my first full length Björk album. Very atmospheric & beautiful sounding. Musical score like string arrangements. I can appreciate the artistry, but for some reason don't feel like I would come back to this album again. Sorry to give this one a 3 would be a 3 1/2 if possible. (1x) 3 1/2 stars, B+

Could appreciate there is a lot of emotion and talent here but not my favourite sound

Not for me

Like it 👍

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

More like 1001 albums that make you die

Musically I see potential in this. I just personally hated it.

Björk is a difficult artist to handle, and just a couple of hurried listens before the next album is due, isn't enough to fully take in the untraditional song structures and the layers of sound she builds. Here, I really like the two first songs, and the gigantic Black Lake. However, when she comes with songs like History of Touches and Family, with no cohesive rhythm, and what seems like vocals over an alternative rhythm not present in the song, it's hard to handle. I guess I want to like the album more than I do. At least yet.

An uneasy, yet unique listen. This one is somehow more emotionally charged than what we're used to hearing, though, as we get Björk in her post-breakup feelings (but this ain't your mama's breakup record!). What's unique here is that Björk also focuses on the warm parts of the relationship itself, as well as healing process after said breakup. It's a pretty honest evaluation that you don't hear too often in music when it comes to this common subject. I think the production is what listeners will remember the most from this album. Fellow experimental artist Arca was tagged to produce most of this record, and their presence is heard with the mix of industrial & electronic sounds paired with the string arrangements heard all throughout. It teeters on the edge of being too abrasive, but I wasn't as put off as I was initially expecting to be. I only have "Medúlla" to compare to this in terms of all the Björk discography that I've consumed, and I think I slightly prefer this. A little more cohesive and raw. Mid 3 for me.

O my. This is just awful.

Always found her music odd

1,5

Well I finally got through that one. The third attempt at listening was the charm. The key is that you have to be sufficiently distracted and not give it your full attention.

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

Böring.

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

I’m 300 albums in and I’ve already gotten three Bjork albums. I hope it’s over.

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

The first two Björk albums are both hard 5/5s for me, and like... sure, glitch electronic drums and tons of strings and an Anhoni guest spot feels like it should be dope, but damn did this feel like a chore to listen to

Sound + warbling = art. I mean, write a tune Bjork.

Just can't get behind how people can listen to music like that. Although I would barely call it music, because music for me includes instruments.

Not the worst thing I’ve heard in this list

"I can fix her."

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

Nope. I just can’t. I truly do not understand how someone can listen to this as enjoyable music. Björk, to me, is a performance artist and not a musician. Her voice does not match the bizarre arrangements. At times, the music sounds as if somebody dropped a synthesizer down a flight of stairs or a small child is banging aimlessly on a toy piano. Sprinkle some retro video game audio, and you have this album. Does anyone actually sit and listen to this album from beginning to end and then desire to do that again?

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

I like Bjork's voice and I thought this was nice overall but there wasn't much there that would differentiate one song from another. While listening I couldn't help but think that it sounded like something a dance company would do interpretive dance to.

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!

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

jeesy creesy, strings and icelandic pronunciation of absolute jibberish. or perhaps i'm just stupid.

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

I love her early work, but hadn't heard this album before. I like that there were a lot of strings. I didn't like the harmonies on Lionsong very much. I loved the contrast between Björk's voice and Anohni's. My favourite song was Stonemilker.

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.

Pretty awful, but better than her last one we reviewed.

Gotta be in the mood for this but it’s good stuff. Not really driving music.

This made me quite cross at times.

Bjork’s voice is pretty amazing, so vulnerable yet so powerful. That aside she’s about as marmite an artist as you can get, and generally I sit in the dislike category. The backing production was really harsh and minimal, and not really providing a respite from her constant lyrical stylings. She is a uniquely challenging artist, and this is a very challenging album. I was not up for this challenge.

Avante garde twaddle.... not as bad as the gristle though.

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.

Bjork always has such lush and intricate electronic instrumentation. The songs on this album were fairly disorienting and often didn't feel like they had an easily discernible direction, but it was still often quite interesting. Would need another listen to better decide my feelings

I think if you like this sort of thing, this is probably a good album??? I need a rhythm, I can't do this meandering experimental thing, especially when I can barely decipher the lyrics.

no

I'm a Bjork fan, and this she is definitely deserving of her multiple spots in the book, but this one (along with here more recent albums) hasn't really clicked with me yet. Until now anyway. This one is very dark, so took a while to get into. After a closer listen on headphones though, I found it very moving in places; especially the 4 song run of Black Lake, Family, Notget and Atom Dance. There's some very emotional string parts that echo the best of her Homogenic album, and some really interesting production too. I haven't fully grasped the lyrics yet, but there are some great and very direct ones in there. Overall, I'd prefer Vespertine and Homogenic over this, but it may grow on me even more.

Really weird, but not awful

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.

I just don’t care about Bjork. Sorry, I tried.

I really like the beginning of the album. It's so emotionally packed and honestly really good to listen to. But then it slowly starts getting worse. At the end of the album, I'm wincing through pain to finish listening. If the whole album were like the first couple tracks, it would be really, really good. Instead, the album as a whole just falls flat. Favorite Song(s): Lionsong

Please feel free to trust the critics and not me on this one. They all seem to love this. I couldn’t get past three tracks. I’m told the lyrics to this breakup album are “devastating” but I’m met with lyrics like this: “Show me emotional respect, oh respect, oh respect / And I have emotional needs, oh needs, oh ooh / I wish to synchronize our feelings, our feelings, oh ooh” Not so subtle… not so artful. Neither is “I remember every single f*ck” (track three). And I don’t like the sound at all. So there’s a lot I apparently don’t get, and I usually don’t rate an album if I didn’t hear all (or at least most) of it. But this was a non-starter. Needle off, record back in its sleeve, and ready to move on.

An album where the lyrics help the immersion into the music. An interesting listen that I may touch back on from time to time.

I did not care for this.

This was decent, not my favorite though.

You know what, I've had it. 1 Björk album is already too much, and 3 is pushing it. I hear creativity, sure, because no other artist would make such weird, unapproachable music. I like strings and I enjoy ANOHNI, which were the only high points. Singing with a high, wispy voice and creating random noises does not make art! There better not be a 4th or 5th Björk album on this list.

Let me at least say that I have always dug Björk's physical aesthetic, and the particular style she's exhibiting on the cover of Vulnicura is CHEF'S KISS. Now to talk about the actual music here, I didn't care for it. I even like Björk's music sometimes -- I think her other two inclusions that I've reviewed thus far (Debut and Vespertine) are worthy inclusions from her 90s heyday, but this is one of her heavier experimental albums put out in the 2010s where the music and vocals just seem to drone on ambiently, and it just doesn't do anything for me. Honestly, if this album was included and not "Post", I'll be raising an eyebrow. Anyway, not Björk's finest work, and a weird inclusion. I guess it shows that the weird can always get weirder.

It’s a cool experimental album but I need something to hook me in and this didn’t have it

Not my favorite Bjork album

Not sure on this. But I probably unfairly compare all Bjork to Post, which is such a phenomenal record that I don’t think it could be surpassed. Half this album I really liked, especially the more chamber pop sounding songs. Others though do detract, and at times even sounds like someone taking the piss out of Bjork. I’m going for a 3.5, probably return to it as it could be a grower

Found this to be a bit too bjorky, we already had a quiet, sparse record by her and I thought this one was even further in that direction. The lots of harmonising with herself reminded me of bon iver a bit, could be quite influential, but by the time we reached the end I'd had enough really. First song or two was okay. 2.5 but closer to a 2.

Not for me. Too much dissonance, and ethereal noise for the sake of it. Decent songwriting though. Oscillating between a 1 and a 2. I'd not listen again, and the songs were too long.

I quite enjoy Bjork sometimes, but this wasn't one of them.....I can feel the realness and it felt pretty raw, but not sure I need it, or didn't when I listened 2

mér finnst þetta bara nokkuð gott. nóg fyrir aðra. 3,5.