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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Medulla
by Bjork
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.
91
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.
90
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.
90
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.
90
Tiny Mix Tapes
Though hardly Björk's most pronounced statement, Medúlla is definitely a highlight of her already illustrious career.
90
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.
90
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.
90
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.
90
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.
90
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.
90
Under The Radar
The ice from Vespertine has melted, and Bjork's voice sounds reborn like a phoenix from the flame. [#7]
88
Los Angeles Times
The luminosity of her performance counters the album's tendency toward dry formalism. [5 Sep 2004]
85
Lost At Sea
Björk shrouds Medúlla in mystery and darkness, but it's far from gloomy.
84
Pitchfork
It continues Björk's run of releases that sound nothing like their predecessors, yet is, as ever, particular to her.
83
Spin
It's no mere gimmick. [Oct 2004, p.111]
80
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.
80
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.
80
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.
80
Urb
[A] powerful statement. [Oct 2004, p.101]
80
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]
80
Billboard
Those who are up for the challenge will find much to admire.
80
Village Voice
Where 2001's Vespertine was erotic, Medulla is reflexive and awestruck.
80
All Music Guide
The most challenging work of Björk's career.
80
Filter
Doubtless the closest she'll ever come to letting you dance in the madfields of her mind with her. [#12, p.94]
80
PopMatters
Will frustrate as many fans as it enchants.
80
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]
80
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.
80
New Musical Express
A notch below the genius of 'Debut' or 'Homogenic' but precious nonetheless. [4 Sep 2004, p.73]
80
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.
77
cokemachineglow
A fractured LP, compelling and convincing in its intent, but just plain less satisfying than Vespertine or Post.
70
The Wire
Possibly the most daring record she's ever made... [but] Medulla is not a complete success. [#247, p.53]
70
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]
70
Amazon.com
Without a doubt the most challenging collection of music she has ever released.
70
Rolling Stone
Both the most extreme record Bjork has ever released and the most immediately accesible. [16 Sep 2004, p.79]
70
Blender
It's conceptually daring, but beyond a few ecstatic moments... the sound is familiarly Bjorkish. [Oct 2004, p.113]
70
Planet
The replay moments on Medulla are the tracks where Bjork reconnects with perennial producer Mark Bell. [#8, p.78]
40
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 89 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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