• Record Label: Mute
  • Release Date: Mar 24, 2009
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 102 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 94 out of 102
  2. Negative: 6 out of 102

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  1. FearghalL.
    Jan 4, 2010
    10
    Album of the year by a long way and one of the albums of the decade absolutely brilliant.
  2. DanielP
    Apr 23, 2009
    7
    Let's not get too overexcited by this band.....having listened to it at least 10 times I would only nominate 3 songs as worth repeated listenings: the first 2 tracks and "Keep the Streets Empty". Concrete Walls is merely OK, the rest is B-side filler. Would have been an excellent EP though!
  3. DecepticonPom
    Mar 26, 2009
    9
    Basically, there is little to distinguish this as not being another (fantastic) Knife album.
  4. JeremyF
    Mar 27, 2009
    9
    Brilliant.
  5. ClifC
    May 17, 2009
    7
    This is one of the most constant albums I've ever heard, in its goodness I mean. BUT, it's never perfect, you keep waiting for more, you wait for something different in each song, it's TOO constant. You can get bored quickly. I would give it a 6 if the 2 last "Keep the Streets Empty for me" and "Coconut" songs were not present.
  6. BBBB
    May 19, 2009
    9
    One of my top faves of 2009, didn't know too much about Karin's previous project (The Knife). However, I don't think it matters, this album has really well written lyrics, creepy dark beats, sorta demonic, but it's infectious.
  7. CarolGG
    Oct 15, 2009
    9
    Aurally mesmerizing.
  8. FredR
    Mar 26, 2009
    9
    Very pleasant and relaxing. I didn't listen to the lyrics. I just got swept up in the music.
  9. JamesB
    Jul 22, 2009
    9
    Wonderfully strange. Can't explain why I really like it but I do. Saw them live last week and it was a strange but brilliant gig. Recommended.
  10. JoeyT.
    Dec 27, 2009
    8
    For me, this is good goth music. I love the background music. Her voice is reminiscent of the 90's goth all-girl band "Switchblade Symphony" which those who like "Fever Ray" might also revel in. This album sent me to the record store as soon as I heard the first part of the first song!!! I hope we hear more good music from "Fever Ray", and I'm sorry I missed them when they came For me, this is good goth music. I love the background music. Her voice is reminiscent of the 90's goth all-girl band "Switchblade Symphony" which those who like "Fever Ray" might also revel in. This album sent me to the record store as soon as I heard the first part of the first song!!! I hope we hear more good music from "Fever Ray", and I'm sorry I missed them when they came through Chicago. I hope I get a second chance. Expand
  11. Sep 28, 2010
    8
    Fever Ray's haunting, dark aesthetic is for the most part delightfully brooding and abstract. There are a few times on the album, however, that the dark nature of the album does not transcend into being hypnotic, however, an easily recommendable listen. Probably one of the best albums of 2009, given what little competition she was given.
  12. Nov 27, 2010
    7
    It's a great album. I never heard any Knife's albums yet but I did heard some singles. You may not love this album a lot, but you have admit you like and admire those songs. Although the songs are good, the album isn't that great with them because they sound the same. You still have to love how dark and moody this album is. I hope Karin, also known as Fever Ray, would sing without the helpIt's a great album. I never heard any Knife's albums yet but I did heard some singles. You may not love this album a lot, but you have admit you like and admire those songs. Although the songs are good, the album isn't that great with them because they sound the same. You still have to love how dark and moody this album is. I hope Karin, also known as Fever Ray, would sing without the help of vocoder, because I hardly hear what is she singing. Standout tracks are "Coconut", "If I Had A Heart", "Triangle Walks" and "When I Grow Up". Expand
  13. Sep 28, 2014
    9
    It can be a weird album. The tone ranges from relaxing to dark or haunting throughout. One thing's for sure though is that this a unique and atmospheric piece of work that can be downright mesmerizing at times. The vocal work shows such range that it's often hard to believe that all of the tracks are sung by the same person. It's unlike anything I've ever listened to before, and shows anIt can be a weird album. The tone ranges from relaxing to dark or haunting throughout. One thing's for sure though is that this a unique and atmospheric piece of work that can be downright mesmerizing at times. The vocal work shows such range that it's often hard to believe that all of the tracks are sung by the same person. It's unlike anything I've ever listened to before, and shows an incredible high-level of quality. It's often a masterpiece that has an interesting theme dealing with children. This is an album that simply must be experienced at least once, just to take in it's creative and odd atmosphere and to experience something new. Even if it doesn't hook you I'm sure you'll at least be able to appreciate how good it sounds. My total score for the album is a 9.4/10. Expand
  14. Jan 15, 2015
    10
    This is just an all around fantastic album. Fever Ray is closest sonically to Silent Shout era The Knife, but the dance-like techno is stripped out, leaving things a little slower and even ominous.
    Karen Andersson has a beautiful voice, but she almost always drags it through a slew of effects until it's unrecognizable, but it's always done masterfully.
    I make friends listen to this all
    This is just an all around fantastic album. Fever Ray is closest sonically to Silent Shout era The Knife, but the dance-like techno is stripped out, leaving things a little slower and even ominous.
    Karen Andersson has a beautiful voice, but she almost always drags it through a slew of effects until it's unrecognizable, but it's always done masterfully.
    I make friends listen to this all the time, and so far, everyone I've introduced to it has loved it. There's not a weak track on here, but If I Had a Heart, Triangle Walks, Coconut, and When I Grow Up are the absolute standouts.
    Expand
  15. Aug 17, 2014
    10
    It's like Silent Shout minus Olof's synthetic tunes, plus some African tribe and Amazons feeling. Yes, it's somewhat similar to Silent Shout, but it's definitely a unique album. I like everything about it; the vocals, beats, the atmosphere; everything.
  16. Aug 4, 2019
    8
    'FEVER RAY' is an enjoyable debut LP by... Fever Ray. 'FEVER RAY' introduces the album with "If I Had A Heart", the darkest track on the album, and ends with "Coconut", a sweeter and one of the more stable tracks of the ten. The lyrics are very well-crafted, plus the production is magnificent and superior, and with Ray's indescribable unique voice, the album reaches its best results'FEVER RAY' is an enjoyable debut LP by... Fever Ray. 'FEVER RAY' introduces the album with "If I Had A Heart", the darkest track on the album, and ends with "Coconut", a sweeter and one of the more stable tracks of the ten. The lyrics are very well-crafted, plus the production is magnificent and superior, and with Ray's indescribable unique voice, the album reaches its best results (although the LP is fantastic, it is not as good as its successor, 'Plunge'). Two of the most special items regarding the album is Ray's unique voice and the hidden subliminal story behind the LP. Ray's voice is kind of like a combination of Bjork's and FKA twigs' and a lot of autotune, in an extremely positive way, and the album, if the listeners are able to listen to the lyrics carefully, will notice that the whole album is actually about finding and fighting for one's true identity. In this case, Ray is trying to evaluate and determine if she should go with her bold or quirky identity. Expand
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. In lieu of an actual follow-up [to The Knife's "Silent Shout"] we get something that manages to make good on two of those three elements [of the decade’s best electronic records]. I’ll take it.
  2. She’s at her best when sticking to a palette of steel, indigo and black.
  3. This is an odd gem of a record that should be cherished in a class of its own.