First impression is amazement. Few people in the world approach music in the way she does, which makes her an easy target for people assuming she screams and skreeches, that her music sounds pompous and her lyrics too bubbly. That is easily waylayed with the either you love her or either you hate her- rule.

To me this album, like every other predecessor takes me a step further in the journey knows as Björk. Her first solo album was a strong on beats and held on most to traditional forms of songwriting. Every album that followed turned more introspective and more quiet.



Some say formless, but I like that. Her message became more tribal, sort of, as she embraced odball instruments during concerts, her albums getting more minimalistic.

This album to me sounds like a younger sister to her previous album Vespertine, where she pushed vocalised harmonies to the fore. Medúlla is a prolongation of that sound and almost every sound made on the album is made by the human voice or body.

This not limits the album, but breaks open barriers. I understand Barry Walter's review for the Rolling Stone, saying that Medúlla is her most accessible album. I would have used different words, namely her most direct album.
The songs are frontal in their nudity and their structures are immediately recognisable. Not that they immediately make sense, but they are almost tangible.



My immediate favorites are the inviting The Pleasure Is All Mine, the imposing Where Is The Line, the interstellar Desired Constellation and the funky Triumph Of A Heart, that makes you think; are ALL of those voices?

This is just after ONE listen, you hear? I might have different faves tomorrow, that is how it works with me....

First impression; GRRRRREAT album!

Great review! I can't wait to buy this next week. Thanks for posting those pics too.

Still waiting for Endorphin's thoughts on this.
I'm middle of the road with Björk. I don't always like her music, but I do appreciate her art. She's one of those people who approaches her music from the fringes and creates something very extreme. If it weren't for artists on the creative edge like her, there would be no happy medium.

Listening to Submarine I realise that this album to me sounds like a fairy tale, more than any album.

It tells a story and the songs seem intertwined in a way no other album of her has...

Tonight I am going to sit down, turn on my crystal ball and listen to the story...

VinaBlue said:

www.bjork.com

Then click the top right link (the same pic as the first one on this thread) and go discover; there are lots more pics where this one came from and lots of interviews with Björk and the people who helped her create this album...

Also a few lil documentairies. They do well as an upbeat to the release of the album. I have a nude promo, so no artwork for me yet...

LOVE LOVE LOVE HER!!!!!
I still haven't heard the hold thing cuz of some stupid rule I give myself to wait until the album comes out, but damn MTV.com has the whole thing to preview

....must....fight....temptation...to listen.

Hey Gooey-
Do you have an actual copy of the disc or just heard it over the net or sumthin?
(as always) I'm dyin' to see the artwork/packaging!

RipHer2Shreds said:

see here: http://www.prince.org/msg/8/111907




ps- awesome review Gooey!

are we gonna need a bjork sticky or just flood this board with bjork threads for the next week

eleven said:

See post above ya...

I still have to see if Mike Patton had a big part in creating the sounds, compared to the other sound creators.

Great review, man. I'm looking forward to getting this one.

Rahzel. He adds a lot to the cd. I'm all for artistic expression, and you know I love Bjork, but it's one song on Medulla that's an earsore (if that's a real word ) I forgot the track number or title. I'll have to go back and listen again to see what's the name of it. But for the most part I like it,so far. "Where is the Line" is a fav., so far. I don't think it'll get as much play as the rest of her cds though.

POOK said:

Well said. My boyfriend compares her to Coltrane as well.

gooeythehamster said:

Awesome! I didn't know it was updated again. Cool. I've been groovin on Prince and Duran Duran and now it's on to Bjork again. What a fun month!

I told Ya that Prince should Collaberate. This woman is My favorite! FAVORITE!!!!! I Can't wait to Buy This CD.... She's GREAT!!!

GangstaFam said:

I mean, I could burn and send. Just ask.

gooeythehamster said:

By the time it got here, it'd already be out in stores.

I am doing the LOUD test, and Vökuró and Who Is It sound REALLY GOOD loud. Sumtimes you just need to blast, esp with all the sounds she put into this album...

Awesome. Amazing. Gooey shows tummy.

GangstaFam said:

You are going to be pleasantly surprised with this album. You'll love it lots. It sounds very hallowed in placed becuz of the many choires....

I dream away on it...

"Pleasure Is All Mine"

The pleasure is all mine
To get to be the generous one
Is the strongest stance
The pleasure is all mine
To finally let go
And defend me
We float

Who gives most
Who gives most
Who gives most

The pleasure is all mine
Women like us
We strengthen most
host-like
When in doubt give

When in doubt give
When in doubt give

"Show Me Forgiveness"

Show me forgiveness
For having lost faith in myself
And let my own interior up
To inferior forces
The shame is endless
But if soon stars forgiveness
The girl might live

"Where Is The Line?"

Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?

My purse wide open
You ask again
I see you trying to
Cash into accounts
Everywhere

Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?

I want to be flexible
I want
To go out
Of my way for you
But enough is enough

Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?

I am elastic
I want to go out of my way for you
I want to help you

Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?

I want to have capacity for you
And be elastic, elastic, to be elastic for you
Where is the line with you ?

I'm elastic for you
But enough is enough

Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?
Where is the line with you?

"Vökuró"

Bærinn minn, bæerinn minn og inn
Sefur sæll í kyrr
Fellur mjöll hljótt í húmi á jör
Grasi mitt, grasi mitt og itt geymir mold til vors
Hjúfrar lind, leynt vi brekkurót
Vakir eins og vi
Lífi trútt, kyrrlátt kalda vermsl
Augum djúps útí himinfyrr starir stillt um nótt
Langt í burt vakir veröl stór
Grimmum töfrum tryllt
Eir arlaus óttast nótt og dag
Augu ín óttalaus og hrein brosa vi mér björt
Vonin mín, blessa brosi Þitt
Vekur ijó úr vær
Hvílist jör hljó í örmum snæs
Liljuhvít lokar augum blám litla stúlkan mín

"Who Is It"

His embrace, a fortress
It fuels me
And places
A skeleton of trust
Right beneath us
Bone by bone
Stone by stone
If you ask yourself patiently and carefully:
Who is it ?
Who is it that never lets you down ?
Who is it that gave you back your crown ?
And the ornaments are going around
Now they're handing it over
Handing it over

He demands a closeness
We all have earned a lightness
Carry my joy on the left
Carry my pain on the right

If you ask yourself patiently and carefully:
Who is it ?
Who is it that never lets you down ?
Who is it that gave you back your crown ?
And the ornaments are going around
Now they're handing it over
Handing it over

"Oceania"

One breath away from mother Oceanðòa
Your nimble feet make prints in my sands
You have done good for yourselves
Since you left my wet embrace
And crawled ashore
Every boy, is a snake is a lily
Every pearl is a lynx, is a girl
Sweet like harmony made into flesh
You dance by my side
Children sublime
You show me continents
I see islands
You count the centuries
I blink my eyes
Hawks and sparrows race in my waters
Stingrays are floating
Across the sky
Little ones, my sons and my daughters
Your sweat is salty
I am why
I am why
I am why
Your sweat is salty
I am why
I am why
I am why

"Submarine"

When will it be time do document, do it now!
This submarine behaviour, do it now!
When time?
To return
Do it now
Do it now
Shake us out of the heavy deep sleep
Shake us now
Do it now!
Do it now!

Shake us out of the heavy deep sleep
Do it now!
Do it now!

"Sonnets / Unrealities XI"

It may not always be so
And I say that if your lips
Which I have loved
Should touch another's
And your dear strong fingers clutch his heart
As mine in time not far away

If on another's face your sweet hair lay
In such a silence as I know
Or such great writhing words as, uttering overmuch
Stand helplessly before the spirit at bay

If this should be, I say if this should be
You of my heart, send me a little word
That I may go unto her, and take her hands saying
Accept all happiness from me
Then shall I turn my face
And hear one bird sing terribly afar in the lost lands

"Desired Constellation"

It's tricky when
You feel someone
Has done something
On your behalf

It's slippery when
Your sense of justice
Murmurs underneath
And is asking you:

How am I going to make it right?

With a palm full of stars
I throw them like dice
Repeatedly
I shake them like dice
And throw them on the table
Repeatedly
Repeatedly
Until the desired constellation appears
And I ask myself:

How am I going to make it right?
How am I going to make it right?
How am I going to make it right?
And you hear
How am I going to make it right?

"Mouths Cradle"

There is yet another one
That follows me
Where ever I go
And supports me
This tooth is warmth-like
And these teeth are a ladder up to his mouth
These teeth are a ladder that I walk
That you can walk too if you want
If you want up to the mouth
The mouth's cradle
Up to the mouth's cradle
He always has a hope for me
Always sees me when nothing else
And everyone have left
That ghost is brighter than anyone
And fulfils me with hope

And you can use these teeth as a ladder
Up to the mouth's cradle, the mouth's cradle
And you can follow these notes i'm singing
Up to the mouth's cradle, the mouth's cradle
The simplicity of the ghost-like beast
The purity of what it wants and where it goes

Always love, always loves you, always loves you
Infrared love

And you can use these teeth as a ladder
Up to the mouth's cradle, the mouth's cradle
And you can use these teeth follow my voice
Tooth by tooth
Up to the mouth's cradle, the mouth's cradle

I need a shelter to build an altar away
From all osamas and bushes

"Triumph Of A Heart"

The nerves are sending shimmering signals
All through my fingers
The veins support
Blood that gushes impulsively towards
Is the triumph of a heart that gives all
That gives all
The triumph of a heart that gives all
That gives all
The stubborn trunks of these legs of mine
Serve as pathways for my favourite fuel
Heading upwards towards my kidneys
(That celebrate)
The triumph of a heart that gives all

Smooth soft red velvety lungs
Are pushing a network of oxygen joyfully
Through a nose, through a mouth
But all enjoys, which brings us to
The triumph of a heart that gives all
That gives all

I'll have to give it another listen or two, i'm not too big on Björk anyway, but this album... the more 'conventional' parts (if you can use that word for anything Björk) still don't convince me, but the most 'experimental' (by lack of a better word) are very poetic and indeed fairy-tale like. I must say i'm impressed that it works as a complete experience.

SpcMs said:

Said Sus Antigoon.

gooeythehamster said:

What, still not happy with the avater?

:bitchslap:

Anyone here that know's me know's that I'm a fan, but...

I've had the promo for about a week or two and it still hasn't grown on me. I apprieciate the art, but truth be told I just think it'll be over rated just because its her.

SpcMs said:

That is not what I said...
I like ghosts that drink beer.

POOK said:

I love this comment POOK. It is the core of what Bjork is about and those who get it are richly rewarded.

gooeythehamster said:

Thank you so much Gooey for these most intriguing thoughts and the awesome photos. I am positively salivating!!!!!

bratchildsfriend said:

In Dutch we'd say; DOEKJE!

Meaning lil' hanky to wipe the corners of yer mouth with...