Medulla
by Björk
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 316 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 282 out of 316
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 316
  3. Negative: 11 out of 316

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  1. thaleslucas
    Jul 18, 2014
    10
    Björk can sound so dark in this album. Totally opposite of "Vespertine"... When i listen to the voices and harmony of this album, I feel like I'm swimming on a line of notes... It's amazing and make me feel great.
  2. aland
    Aug 31, 2004
    9
    this CD is f**cking nuts. it takes a bit of patience to accustom ones self to some of the more bizzarre moments of this CD, but for me, once totally immersed in it, those moments became my favorite. the background growl that gets perfectly sequenced in the wierdly baroque "where is the line.", the rawness of "oll birtan", the hyper-ness of Dokaka in "triumph of the heart" especially, but this CD is f**cking nuts. it takes a bit of patience to accustom ones self to some of the more bizzarre moments of this CD, but for me, once totally immersed in it, those moments became my favorite. the background growl that gets perfectly sequenced in the wierdly baroque "where is the line.", the rawness of "oll birtan", the hyper-ness of Dokaka in "triumph of the heart" especially, but most of all, the wailing and groaning in "anscestors" that the part in me listening to music is revolted by but the rest of me is completely drawn by its utter shamelessness and the powerful expression of the vaguest emotions. there are easy and accessible segments, however. the sound-perfect input of rahzel in "who is it?", "mouth's cradle" which sounds like hidden place redux for me (not that i mind), and the lovely "vokuro" all these tracks mentioned i love totally. the others, to a lesser extent, the one i cant warm up to is "submarine", thus the 9/10, but it's a small distraction from all the pure AWESOMENESS contained in this f**cking record. buy it.… Expand
  3. kandre
    Sep 13, 2004
    4
    If an unknown artist had released this CD, it would have been dismissed as self-indulgent, or just plain awful (and many artist have done these sorts of vocal experimentations, only better--see shinjuku zulu, etc.) Pushing the boundries is great, especially on a major release, but not if the songs, ultimately, are bad. Repeated listens DO NOT make it better. Whole tracks, or parts of If an unknown artist had released this CD, it would have been dismissed as self-indulgent, or just plain awful (and many artist have done these sorts of vocal experimentations, only better--see shinjuku zulu, etc.) Pushing the boundries is great, especially on a major release, but not if the songs, ultimately, are bad. Repeated listens DO NOT make it better. Whole tracks, or parts of tracks, are downright irritating. Listen to 'Where is the line' for a particularily bad track. (On that note, 'Mouths Cradle' is a good example of beauty, experimentation, and, humanity and accessability. Too bad more tracks weren't like it...)… Collapse
  4. MG
    Apr 22, 2007
    3
    Triumph Of A Heart is great but the rest is very hard to stomach.
  5. Zétinga
    Oct 5, 2004
    1
    I really find this record rubbish, and I'm really full of pity bout this one! I love her, but this time, when she tries to sound different, she sounds frustated and with no ideas on her head... Really really pity
  6. sebastien505
    Oct 25, 2004
    9
    "Desired constellation" and "the pleasure is all mine" are my favourites. A brilliant, overwhelming album but not as attractive as her previous album, Vespertine.
  7. ShaunH
    Sep 6, 2004
    10
    Having been a Bjork fan for a long time before this CD I loved her work but was never 100% satisfied with complete albums. This time around I was amazed at how much I loved every bit of the album. I've listened to it already many times. Unlike others I find Where is the Line to be one of the weaker tracks... for best listening I found Oceania, Submarine and The Pleasure is all Mine Having been a Bjork fan for a long time before this CD I loved her work but was never 100% satisfied with complete albums. This time around I was amazed at how much I loved every bit of the album. I've listened to it already many times. Unlike others I find Where is the Line to be one of the weaker tracks... for best listening I found Oceania, Submarine and The Pleasure is all Mine as well as Vokuro.… Expand
  8. AndrewC
    Aug 30, 2004
    10
    Paradoxically both challenging and accessible, breathtaking and full of breathing, heavy and as light as air travelling throat a throat. Album of the year, so far.
  9. Andy[en-die]
    Aug 30, 2004
    10
    I LOVE ART!
  10. Sucka
    Sep 1, 2004
    10
    Absolutely amazing. Doesn't need the "hey, it's just voices" gimmick at all -- it stands on the merits of the sound. The best album I've heard this year.
  11. WangT
    Sep 1, 2004
    10
    For an artist whose previous 4 albums are all masterpieces of eletronic pop music, my expectation of Bjork's 5th album is very hight, and strangely, Medulla is way beyond my expectation! Bjork's music is always a hybrid of pop, avant garde, experimental art with enough marketing calculation. However, having built a highly successful (profitable) career, Bjork seems to have For an artist whose previous 4 albums are all masterpieces of eletronic pop music, my expectation of Bjork's 5th album is very hight, and strangely, Medulla is way beyond my expectation! Bjork's music is always a hybrid of pop, avant garde, experimental art with enough marketing calculation. However, having built a highly successful (profitable) career, Bjork seems to have finally freed from the need to satisfy to mass, and begun to work according to her own indulgence. The concept, a pop album consisted of mostly human voices, seems so weird at first, but I am shocked how Bjork collected all the voices and programmed them to a collection of accessible songs without losing any pop sensibility. An unique accomplishment.… Expand
  12. rocketman70
    Sep 5, 2004
    10
    Excellent record-One of Bjork's best (which is saying a lot). Requires multiple listens to truly appreciate the artistry of it. A fine and unusual effort
  13. LevisO
    Oct 3, 2004
    9
    Her best work since Homogenic.
  14. DwightV
    Oct 8, 2004
    10
    I am a longtime fan of Bjork (despite my age 18)and did not know what to expect. At first I was a little weirded out. But you have to give it a chance. And when you give it that chance you'll see that it is the most unique, passionate album of our times
  15. KojoO
    Aug 31, 2004
    10
    just listen to triumph of the heart in the dark then you will know what sound is.
  16. reis_la_reis
    Aug 30, 2004
    10
    An absolute gem. Muscially inclined as she is, she's also a genius. I love this album to it's depths. From the intriguiing Pleasure is all mine to the dark dancy Triumph of a heart, Bjork has actually met the expectation all her previous works set ridiculously high standards for. WONDERFUL!
  17. peter
    Aug 31, 2004
    10
    This CD took me a few days to understand... I couldn't keep track of the melodies and it seemed to glide over me. Now that it's finally "clicked", I'm having a tough time listening to more mainstream music. Great album - just give it time, and don't let your expectations for what you think it should sound like stand in the way of really hearing it.
  18. DougR
    Sep 15, 2004
    1
    Pretentious self-indulgent crap - and I am a Bjork fan.
  19. TimE
    Jan 13, 2005
    4
    A Cocteau Twin she isn't and I myself am a huge fan of "Post" and even the Sugarcubes but this album just doesn't work. If you want etheral get the money you purchased for this record & buy something by Kate Bush.
  20. RobbieC
    Feb 25, 2007
    5
    I don't get it, at all.
  21. gagaforever
    Sep 22, 2010
    9
    At the first listen i was very disturbed and the front vcover picture made me cringe, but then I realized that that's who she is and I LOVE IT!!!! The songs are great and "Triumph of a Heart" made me dance.....Some songs are lacking what bjork usually gives though
  22. someonewhocares
    Oct 5, 2022
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Medulla also lacks in consistency alongside 2007's Volta. However, the songs that feature on this album go from bold to psychobabble to full-on science lecture about the human body. With all the references to body parts such as Veins and Fingers, it's hard to not feel that Bjork might never have been born on Earth, as she sounds bewildered and confused by the human body and feelings that we might have.… Expand
  23. BrandonS
    Sep 1, 2004
    7
    Bjork is having the same problem that Radiohead has had in the post OK-Computer time: while creating unbelievable sounds, nothing short of brilliant production, the songs themselves aren't really up to snuff. After this album is done playing, you're left with a general sense of it's tone and texture, but you can't remember the songs, the melodies, etc. It's so Bjork is having the same problem that Radiohead has had in the post OK-Computer time: while creating unbelievable sounds, nothing short of brilliant production, the songs themselves aren't really up to snuff. After this album is done playing, you're left with a general sense of it's tone and texture, but you can't remember the songs, the melodies, etc. It's so slick that you kind of slip away. This is a very impressive album, and it clearly has depth worth working to get into, but a stronger collection of songs to apply the new technique to would have been even better. (The cd booklet, by the way, stinks. Bjork prints the lyrics in black type on a black background. Why make it difficult to read the liner notes, Bjork? Come on!)… Expand
  24. gorans.
    Sep 10, 2004
    10
    One of the most defining, mind-blowing experiences I've had this year - and it's been a great year. And by the end of the third track, I alerady knew it would be that - so the impact with me was far more instant than most others, and if it grows on me any further, it might become my absolute, all-time favorite album. It's certainly her most ethnic and experimental work yet, One of the most defining, mind-blowing experiences I've had this year - and it's been a great year. And by the end of the third track, I alerady knew it would be that - so the impact with me was far more instant than most others, and if it grows on me any further, it might become my absolute, all-time favorite album. It's certainly her most ethnic and experimental work yet, but it's also her most ethereal and entrancing.… Expand
  25. monicak
    Sep 15, 2004
    10
    meticulous,mesmerizing,beautiful
  26. chrisj
    Sep 1, 2004
    7
    i love bjork, but this may be the first time she has left me behind. i only listened twice so it may grow on me.
  27. jasont
    Sep 18, 2004
    8
    Being one of Bjork's biggest fans, I wanted to love this album from the get go. However, I was, and am, dissapointed. It's not that Medulla is a bad album; it's a great album by most any other artists' standards. But Bjork is Bjork, and she is coming off a streak of 3 straight BRILLIANT albums. This album takes the experimentation hinted at on Vespertine to a whole new Being one of Bjork's biggest fans, I wanted to love this album from the get go. However, I was, and am, dissapointed. It's not that Medulla is a bad album; it's a great album by most any other artists' standards. But Bjork is Bjork, and she is coming off a streak of 3 straight BRILLIANT albums. This album takes the experimentation hinted at on Vespertine to a whole new level, albeit one with as much failure as success. Where are the heartbreaking choruses we've come to know and love? The vocals on this album feel like scattered wails more than song. It shows how good bjork is that I still give this an 8.… Expand
  28. RafaelH
    Sep 1, 2004
    10
    i think post and homogenic will always be her best albums, but this one came real close... and maybe it will grow on me like those other two did and became such favorites... mouth's cradle is just gorgeous.. pleasure is all mine, who is it.. oceania... vokuro... where is the line.. triumph of a heart... so many great songs in here!
  29. JDawg
    Sep 2, 2004
    4
    This album sucks. Artsy fartsy choir voices take up all the sounds instead of electronic music/beats/synth. I realize Bjork is tried of electronic music and it may have past its prime but this CD is nothing like her previous efforts. I think Bjork has dropped off after Homogenic, but this definitely some spacey weird music I just can't listen to. Listen to this and then listen to This album sucks. Artsy fartsy choir voices take up all the sounds instead of electronic music/beats/synth. I realize Bjork is tried of electronic music and it may have past its prime but this CD is nothing like her previous efforts. I think Bjork has dropped off after Homogenic, but this definitely some spacey weird music I just can't listen to. Listen to this and then listen to post and you'll see she probably hit her musical peak right about there.… Expand
  30. JoeyM
    Sep 22, 2004
    10
    Jaw droppingly beautiful. Just keeps getting better the more I listen to it.
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Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Best Album of 2004
17
#17 Most Discussed Album of 2004
14
#14 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    90
    Though hardly Björk's most pronounced statement, Medúlla is definitely a highlight of her already illustrious career.
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  2. Stylus Magazine
    90
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    88
    The luminosity of her performance counters the album's tendency toward dry formalism. [5 Sep 2004]
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