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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Medulla
by Bjork


8.6

based on 39 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 86 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

What the Icelandic singer's fifth album lacks in instrumentation (although there is a bit, provided by members of Matmos, Mum, and other collaborators), it makes up for with voices--lots and lots of voices. Think everything from beatboxing (including contributions from The Roots' Rahzel), choirs and Inuit throat-singing to, well, Mike Patton.

LABEL:	Elektra/Asylum
RELEASE DATE:	31 August 2004
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Alternative, Rock

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Entertainment Weekly

One of her best efforts. [10 Sep 2004, p.161]

100

Junkmedia

The album, impressive in its scope and sense of adventure, is a further reinvention in Björk's already massive discography.

100

The Guardian

Medulla may divide Björk's audience, but, combining intellectual rigour and sensual ravishment, it is brave and unique.

E! Online

Fans of the Icelandic wonder's more orchestral tunes might think there's something missing here. Well, unless they're too busy being totally blown away.

New York Magazine

Especially when heard on headphones, Medulla is an overwhelming sonic bliss-out, Phil Spector’s wall of sound channeled through the voice box.

ShakingThrough.net

Bjork’s great achievement with Medulla is in taking a self-imposed limitation and managing to craft a full-bodied, multilayered work from such a basic toolset.

Tiny Mix Tapes

Though hardly Björk's most pronounced statement, Medúlla is definitely a highlight of her already illustrious career.

Stylus Magazine

To me, Medulla is an experiment in transforming the primal power of the human voice into a 21st century context. It's an amazing effort, and it's one of the best albums of the year.

Splendid

The question is not whether Medúlla is brilliant; insofar as this can be objectively asserted, it most certainly is. The question is really, Do you like Björk? Do you like her a lot? Obviously, a Björk a capella album is going to be lost on you if you never really liked her vocal style in the first place.

Paste Magazine

Björk weaves into Medúlla a palpable longing for a simpler world--a world predating smart bombs and collapsing towers, a world in which life revolved around the expressive raising of one’s voice, both solitarily and in concert with others.

Playlouder

Björk has transcended any pop plinth she may (incorrectly) have been placed upon, to become, probably, our greatest contemporary female vocalist since Diamanda Galas.

Flak Magazine

No matter how the sounds are made, it is with captivatingly sincere intent that they are never boring and, above all, always enjoyable.

Under The Radar

The ice from Vespertine has melted, and Bjork's voice sounds reborn like a phoenix from the flame. [#7]

Los Angeles Times

The luminosity of her performance counters the album's tendency toward dry formalism. [5 Sep 2004]

Lost At Sea

Björk shrouds Medúlla in mystery and darkness, but it's far from gloomy.

Pitchfork

It continues Björk's run of releases that sound nothing like their predecessors, yet is, as ever, particular to her.

Spin

It's no mere gimmick. [Oct 2004, p.111]

Dot Music

Everything, you suspect, that people hate about Björk is multiplied a thousandfold here. But by the same measure, to her fans, “Medulla” is an intimate, ecstatic wonder.

Neumu.net

This disc may have a wilder sense of love-and-adventure about it, and may offer the thrills of an unpredictable ride, but, in its capriciousness and incongruousness, the thing Medulla rarely feels like is an album.

No Ripcord

Bits of Medulla sound similar to Vespertine, but there’s a marked distinction in the means of delivery and enough change to keep things interesting.

Urb

[A] powerful statement. [Oct 2004, p.101]

The New York Times

While the album might seem to be a conceptual stunt, it finds gorgeous and startling new ways to extend Bjork's longtime mission: merging the earthy and the ethereal. [29 Aug 2004]

Billboard

Those who are up for the challenge will find much to admire.

Village Voice

Where 2001's Vespertine was erotic, Medulla is reflexive and awestruck.

All Music Guide

The most challenging work of Björk's career.

Filter

Doubtless the closest she'll ever come to letting you dance in the madfields of her mind with her. [#12, p.94]

PopMatters

Will frustrate as many fans as it enchants.

Mojo

Not only the bravest record she's ever made, it's also one of the strangest and most uncompromising by a major artist to get a commercial release. [Sep 2004, p.93]

Delusions of Adequacy

This record is so far beyond anything that she has done in the past that it is absolutely certain to alienate the majority of the listening public and more than a few of her fans.

New Musical Express

A notch below the genius of 'Debut' or 'Homogenic' but precious nonetheless. [4 Sep 2004, p.73]

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Once its novelty factor fades, Medulla settles down as a stirring, nuanced album that takes a while to take hold.

cokemachineglow

A fractured LP, compelling and convincing in its intent, but just plain less satisfying than Vespertine or Post.

The Wire

Possibly the most daring record she's ever made... [but] Medulla is not a complete success. [#247, p.53]

Q Magazine

The few electronic beats and textures are deft, discreet soundbeds for the lush intimacies of the vocals, which slip from soothing to strident. [Oct 2004, p.120]

Amazon.com

Without a doubt the most challenging collection of music she has ever released.

Rolling Stone

Both the most extreme record Bjork has ever released and the most immediately accesible. [16 Sep 2004, p.79]

Blender

It's conceptually daring, but beyond a few ecstatic moments... the sound is familiarly Bjorkish. [Oct 2004, p.113]

Planet

The replay moments on Medulla are the tracks where Bjork reconnects with perennial producer Mark Bell. [#8, p.78]

Austin Chronicle

All in all, though, Medúlla is far too busy. Even when you're experimenting, the less-is-more rule still applies.

The average user rating for this album is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 86 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Anthony E. gave it a10:
This album induces euphoria. I think all Bjork albums are capable of doing that though.

ixat a gave it a10:
stunning... bjork has to be the best songstress in the world.. followed by tori amos

Esteban V. gave it a10:
This album was constructed to perfection the interludes work great and set a calm mood for the stronger upcoming tracks, like Show Me Forgiveness leads to the darkest song and probably the best Where is the Line?. If you are open-minded about music Medulla is a classic and songs like Ancestors can be appreciated. The most complex songs make her voice stand out like in Mouth's Cradle.

Henry G. gave it a7:
Probably her weakest album in the fact there are stand-out tracks, and "ignore" tracks. It's "hard" to just listen to.

Jeremy F gave it a6:
Bjork, probably one of the best musicians of the past decade and this one, is a goddess. But this album fails to appeal to me as much as her previous works. I give her major props on all the work that must've gone into this, as I'd imagine it's extremely difficult to do an entire vocal album with just occasional piano. I have to say "Who Is It" and "Desired Constellation" rank among my favorite Bjork songs ever. But once you get over the first Icelandic song, ther'es more! And odd gibberish songs on top of that (like the unappealing eeriness of "Ancestors.") That is what really through me off. This album closes with the great "Triumph of a Heart," which is a very fun hip song. Another favorite. So, though this is a very remarkable idea and a marvelous effort, it fails to cling to me for days and days like I would have lied AND expected.

M G gave it a3:
Triumph Of A Heart is great but the rest is very hard to stomach.

Robbie C gave it a5:
I don't get it, at all.

Medulla by Bjork

Medulla
by Bjork