Vespertine
by
Vespertine Image
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 504 Ratings

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  • Summary: Bjork's follow-up to 1997's 'Homogenic' and last year's soundtrack to Dancer In The Dark is closer in sound and mood to the latter, taking a quieter, more ambient approach. Produced by San Francisco-based electronic artists Matmos, 'Vespertine' utilizes mainly electronic instrumentation,Bjork's follow-up to 1997's 'Homogenic' and last year's soundtrack to Dancer In The Dark is closer in sound and mood to the latter, taking a quieter, more ambient approach. Produced by San Francisco-based electronic artists Matmos, 'Vespertine' utilizes mainly electronic instrumentation, much of which was recorded by Bjork in Iceland. The lead single is "Hidden Place."… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Nude As The News
    95
    A beautiful, magical, mystical soundtrack; similar to Homogenic, but in a sense, more light-hearted and full of love.
  2. The A.V. Club
    90
    Her best album to date.... Vespertine is an album of small gestures, one almost challenging in its stillness.... The cumulative effect is an album both timeless and of the moment, an avant-garde electronic-pop exploration of classic themes.
  3. The Wire
    90
    In the end, Vespertine commits its magic by daring to go places more obvious and more human than one would have ever expected. [#210, p.52]
  4. E! Online
    83
    Björk's latest is as delightfully eccentric as her choice in outfits, blending scratchy electronic programming with tinkling music boxes and squeezing her formidable voice into ancient-sounding harmonies or futuristic whispers.
  5. Rolling Stone
    80
    The best solo record of her career... Vespertine is the closest any pop-vocal album has come to the luxuriant Zen of the new minimalist techno, even beating Radiohead's nervy Kid A. Where Kid A sounded like a record of risk, the work of a band on unfamiliar ground, Bjork sings here as if she owns and knows every inch of space and shadow in these songs.
  6. Uncut
    80
    She uses her voice as well as she ever has, giving the moods light and shade. [Sep 2001, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Armchair DJ
    60
    The entire LP takes on a sort of plodding sameness even as the overall sonics soar.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 93 out of 96
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 96
  3. Negative: 1 out of 96
  1. 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
  2. HarryH.
    Aug 23, 2001
    10
    The small pixie girl just sounds devine and you would wouln't you.
  4. Nanga
    Nov 14, 2012
    10
    Vespertine is her best work to date, as being the most carefully prepared in refined in sound matters, also her voice couldn't be better withVespertine is her best work to date, as being the most carefully prepared in refined in sound matters, also her voice couldn't be better with highlights as "Undo" "Hidden Place" "Unison" and "Pagan Poetry".… Expand
  5. 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 checkLOVE 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!!!… Expand
  6. ewertonmm
    Jul 25, 2019
    10
    This is, no doubt, a highlight for Bjork in the decade of 2000. You can only see this much quality from her in the years to come, should I sayThis is, no doubt, a highlight for Bjork in the decade of 2000. You can only see this much quality from her in the years to come, should I say on her "Vulnicura" would? Y'all know what I mean.
    The record is entirely cohesive, I must highlight the tracks "Aurora" and "heirloom". Even without the video artistry of "Pagan Poetry" , both those tracks seems to get their own shine. It's not like every Bjork album isn't a '10'. But this is a 10 10! If I could give 10000000000000 I would!    … Expand
  7. Jonnn555
    Aug 25, 2022
    10
    Best album of all time, nothing else to say, it’s brilliant, amazing, show stopping, spectacular
  8. someonewhocares
    Oct 5, 2022
    3
    Could've been better than it is! Vespertine was such a disappointment for me as a hardcore Bjork fan. Unlike her first three albums and othersCould've been better than it is! Vespertine was such a disappointment for me as a hardcore Bjork fan. Unlike her first three albums and others that came after this, I don't seem to connect with Vespertine on any level and most of the songs feel dragged out and wasted to me. However, we did get one of my most favourite songs from her discography - Pagan Poetry, which is the only accessible songs on this album that can connect with a human.… Expand

See all 96 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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

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