Vespertine
by Björk
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 510 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 463 out of 510
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 510
  3. Negative: 34 out of 510

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. MichaelR
    Jan 9, 2004
    10
    A lot of depth and introversian on this album. Good stuff.
  2. frenghyv
    Jan 27, 2005
    10
    Absolutely Gorgeous!!!! Pagan poetry is my favourite track of ever!!!
  3. BorghiA
    Mar 1, 2005
    10
    So delicate so beautiful
  4. izata
    Jun 3, 2006
    10
    Pagan Poetry! Pagan Poetry! This is ultimately her best album, yet!!! It's 1000000x times better than the next one, Medulla....
  5. MikeH
    May 2, 2008
    10
    My personal favorite album of any musician I have ever come across. It can not be beaten (in my opinion) in craft, compositional complexity and perfection, pure hearted, genuine, soulful, painful, euphoric expression, and down right love. This album inspects the inner workings of our bodies, the introspection that comes with being human -- our minds, hearts, and even subtle physiological My personal favorite album of any musician I have ever come across. It can not be beaten (in my opinion) in craft, compositional complexity and perfection, pure hearted, genuine, soulful, painful, euphoric expression, and down right love. This album inspects the inner workings of our bodies, the introspection that comes with being human -- our minds, hearts, and even subtle physiological phenomena in a single micro beat. Everything is included in an infinite, yet minute space, crafted by sound in an arrangement to beat all arrangements. This album feels, breathes, loves, and lives. The closest music comes to mirroring primal human life.… Expand
  6. DarylD.
    Feb 19, 2002
    10
    Bjork is simply divine, there are no words to describe her music... just enjoy!!!
  7. RG
    Sep 13, 2006
    10
    this is one of the best records i have heard in recent memory. hidden place sets the track for the record and cocoon portrays one of the sexiest songs. its not up to you is a glorious and revealing pop song and undo works in the same manner. i cant talk about every track but they all complement each other and feed of each other. sun in my mouth repeats hemingway with sparse music. Unisom this is one of the best records i have heard in recent memory. hidden place sets the track for the record and cocoon portrays one of the sexiest songs. its not up to you is a glorious and revealing pop song and undo works in the same manner. i cant talk about every track but they all complement each other and feed of each other. sun in my mouth repeats hemingway with sparse music. Unisom is one of the best closers of the new mellenium. bjork keeps stretching herself and her music with refreshing themes and sounds. not many artists can do that and this a great age we live in where an artist of her calibour can be soo popular around the world… Expand
  8. RobbieC
    Oct 20, 2007
    10
    A phenomenon.
  9. Bruno
    Jan 29, 2007
    10
    One of the best ones ever done!
  10. DavidO
    Apr 4, 2007
    10
    Like Kid A with a soul.
  11. EnzoP
    Oct 31, 2008
    10
    The best album I've ever heard so far. Amazing, perfect, emotional... words cannot describe it. Good job, B!
  12. BrunoD.
    Oct 25, 2001
    10
    It's... perfect. It's magic. It's wonderful. One of the best records *ever* released.
  13. HenryH.
    May 25, 2002
    10
    Full of magic of laptop music and harp and choir and the strangest symphony and Bjork's sensational vocal. The most heavenly perfectly of the decade.
  14. LockneO
    Mar 13, 2005
    10
    "Vespertine" shows the more mellow side of Bjork. This album is pure genius! I believe "Heirloom" and "Aurora" are her most deepest tracks. Her albums get better as we go along. "Debut", "Post", "Homogenic", and "Medulla" are also reccommendations of mine. Even "Selmasongs" is worth listening.
  15. NeezaamR
    May 9, 2007
    10
    My personal favourite Bjork album,transports you to a very beautiful sensual place.
  16. OlegV.
    Nov 8, 2001
    10
    i like this album sooooooo much, this is her surrealism at its best
  17. HarryH.
    Aug 23, 2001
    10
    The small pixie girl just sounds devine and you would wouln't you.
  18. MelodyM.
    Aug 27, 2001
    10
    I am the HUGEST Bjork fan...I love everything she does. She's unique! Perfectly. And it always shows in her works.
  19. Charly
    Jul 24, 2002
    10
    Absolutely wonderfull, it's really a masterpiece that everybody that appreciate good music should have. Bjork again shows that she is very creative.
  20. JoseJ
    Nov 16, 2005
    10
    About as beautiful album of music i know, like the shards of sublime noise rotating, suspended in the air, knocking into each other and reverberating with warmth and humanity. Quite simply the album of our time.
  21. TonyS
    Nov 17, 2005
    10
    that i live in such a time when music like this is made will always be a source of real and lasting personal satisfaction
  22. PedroT
    Jan 28, 2006
    10
    AMAZING...this is probably her most beautiful work to date. This is the album that made her a legend.
  23. Clif
    Jun 12, 2008
    10
    I really don't give easily a 10 for an album (it's extremly rare), but this one even deserves a 11! It surpasses everything we had heard. For the first time until 2001 (maybe we can consider "Selmasongs" as the tourning point) Björk delivers us minimalist (in a good way), spiritual and introspective parts of her soul. Even if I've always admired what she's done I really don't give easily a 10 for an album (it's extremly rare), but this one even deserves a 11! It surpasses everything we had heard. For the first time until 2001 (maybe we can consider "Selmasongs" as the tourning point) Björk delivers us minimalist (in a good way), spiritual and introspective parts of her soul. Even if I've always admired what she's done previous to this album (the excellence and lava-ish "Homogenic", the breathtaking "Post", and so and so), she has reached the culminate point of her career with "Vespertine". Maybe because of the facts of 1997 (for example, when she smashed a journalist in Bangkok; one retarded fan who wanted to kill her; ...), paradoxally she gained a certain tranquility (and the best is that she accepted to get that), something she had never explored in her previous albums. Since then, we can consider that she has done (almost) everything in her music career. ... Facts are... Even if she's too modest to accept that, she has released, I think, the greatest album ever, by any artist. Music blessed and embarrassed her!… Expand
  24. djonim
    Sep 8, 2010
    10
    This is just one of the best albums of the first decade. It's delightful, beautiful, harmonious... just a classic. Sometimes I wonder why there's so much people listening to Justin Bieber, having such great non-commercial music right here. :/
  25. gagaforever
    Sep 22, 2010
    10
    LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!!! Best Bjork album! "Unison" was the best song on the album...All other tracks equally great. If you havn't already check it out!!!
  26. babaganush96
    Oct 8, 2010
    10
    After dabbling with 90's pop, jazz and experimental punk, it seems Bjork has finally found her Icelandic feet with Vespertine. The delicate beats and swooping vocals are almost chilling at times, Vespertine is a brilliant album. There was only one song (Sun in my Mouth) that I didn't really care for. The rest are as beautiful as one another- so emotional they make you feel as though youAfter dabbling with 90's pop, jazz and experimental punk, it seems Bjork has finally found her Icelandic feet with Vespertine. The delicate beats and swooping vocals are almost chilling at times, Vespertine is a brilliant album. There was only one song (Sun in my Mouth) that I didn't really care for. The rest are as beautiful as one another- so emotional they make you feel as though you just want to scream. Pagan poetry and Aurora are my favourites, but only just, as this album is one that I recommend anyone to hear.… Expand
  27. Sammoniac
    May 10, 2011
    10
    I won't attempt to describe this work too much with words, as it is impossible. Let's use ideas instead. Some artists are able to create music that is simply more than just music. The way they blend sounds, melodies, moods, energy and words together become catalysts for the human psych, enabling our mind, body and soul to reach states that are unattainable otherwise. Björk isI won't attempt to describe this work too much with words, as it is impossible. Let's use ideas instead. Some artists are able to create music that is simply more than just music. The way they blend sounds, melodies, moods, energy and words together become catalysts for the human psych, enabling our mind, body and soul to reach states that are unattainable otherwise. Björk is one of them. Vespertine is not just a collection of good songs that usually make an album an "album". Its a voyage into ourselves, through herself. As much as I totally love Homogenic, I feel that Vespertine feels more complete. Despite being less varied in style than its predecessor, it explores a unique genre all the way to its core. Lay on your bed in the dark with a good pair of headphones and listen to this before going to sleep. If you truly love music, you'll wish the experience never ends.… Expand
  28. wallofjericho42
    Nov 12, 2013
    10
    Vespertine is a near masterpiece in musical intimacy. Combining unique, complex melodies with Bjork's soft and sensual voice, Vespertine becomes a total emotional experience. Love and Lust, Guilt and Shame Bjork takes the listener on an intricate ride through the dark recesses of the human experience. Bjork's not only puts her whole heart into this album, she puts into it a piece of herVespertine is a near masterpiece in musical intimacy. Combining unique, complex melodies with Bjork's soft and sensual voice, Vespertine becomes a total emotional experience. Love and Lust, Guilt and Shame Bjork takes the listener on an intricate ride through the dark recesses of the human experience. Bjork's not only puts her whole heart into this album, she puts into it a piece of her entire being. Experiencing Vespertine is also experiencing Bjork. The poetic, intimate, and sometimes dark lyrics resonate with you long after they're through, chilling you with each remembrance.

    A musical masterpiece. An Artistic Masterpiece. A Human Masterpiece.    … Expand
  29. breadley
    Oct 8, 2011
    10
    One of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. Björk's voice sounds heavenly. It's an emotional battle, her overwhelming voice vs the beautifully arranged insturmental and minimal beats. Indeed, one of the best albums ever.
  30. Danikun
    Oct 13, 2011
    10
    This is easily my favorite album of all time, it has a trascendental beauty that is hard to describe with words and just has to be felt. A masterpiece.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best Album of 2001
6
#6 Most Discussed Album of 2001
2
#2 Most Shared Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. CDNow
    90
    With Vespertine, Bjork has constructed a whispering wall of wonders, and instead of forcing everyone out, has invited the world to look through the cracks.
    Read full review
  2. Sonicnet
    80
    1997's Homogenic, also a mixture of heavy beats and strings, was not as varied or complete as this album, and while Selmasongs, last year's soundtrack to "Dancer in the Dark" (in which Björk starred), was lovely in its own sweeping, cinematic way, Björk has surpassed herself with this new work.
    Read full review
  3. Neumu.net
    80
    Björk continues to mine the fine line of minimalist lushness that her last album gave birth to; with tiny, crackling, skittery beats weaving open-toned ambient beds in which her breathy, pushed-forward vocals lithely lay, the closeness and drama of her every syllable commanding attention.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »