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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
Björk has never compromised her sound to anyone, and Vulnicura is a stark reminder of that.
100
This is music that gnaws at your bones. And make no mistake, this is every second Björk’s album. And it is nothing short of breathtaking.
95
Vulnicura is stark and powerful in a way that Björk has merely danced around for years. Here, in these songs, she has shed all of her skin
91
Vulnicura is smooth and whole, even as its singer lies shattered.
91
Her new album wipes from memory all the sterile, intellectual constructions that precede it.
90
Vulnicura feels, overall, as if it is one of Björk’s most successful albums, one where she mostly finds sonic strategies that are well matched with her concepts and themes.
90
Vulnicura honors her pain and the necessary path through and away from loss with some of her bravest, most challenging, and most engaging music.
90
In turning to explore themes of human nature, Vulnicura delivers much more on a musical and lyrical level than your archetypal breakup record typically does.
90
Vulnicura is Björk’s most pronounced, explicit statement of intimacy yet.
90
Each successive listen, whether focusing on the nakedly personal lyrics or the beautiful if complex music reveals another facet.
90
Vulnicura is the black mirror reflection of the sensual Vespertine, and like that record, it is one of Björk’s strongest to date.
90
The enormous visceral power of Vulnicura lies perhaps in its utter lack of pity play; rather, Björk transforms every emotion into a monumental sonic peak or valley.
86
It’s simultaneously her most mature feat of arranging and almost psychosomatically affecting.
86
This narrative thread seems to have focussed Björk's compositional powers, and Vulnicura has a momentum and coherence lacking in her recent efforts.
86
Vulnicura marks a bold return for such a storied singer.
85
Here we get a glimpse of Björk at her most vulnerable, and what is most surprising is just how lovely she is when she indulges her basic humanity.
83
The musical moments that capture Björk’s heartbreak are frequently stunning on Vulnicura, but the whole thing is a little shy on hooks and reasons to take the grueling journey with her often.
80
Her ninth record ... is the obligatory break-up album, one sung with extraordinarily renewed power. It hardly seems like a conscious uncoupling: the Icelandic diva bleeds utter devastation, drenched in strings and despair.
80
It’s not an easy listen, but a brave, beautiful and affecting album – an attempt to find order in chaos that, as she wishes for it, offers a “crutch” to the heartbroken.
80
Arranged for voice with orchestral strings and electronic beats, Vulnicura is a unified set of nine dark, swarming, melodically distended songs.
80
Vulnicura is emotionally bare and, as a result, remarkably complex, demanding of an active listener, but it’s also one of Björk’s most poetic records in a long career.
80
Vulnicura doesn't have the reach-out-and-grab-your-attention quality of Björk's more technicolor works, but it possesses a dramatic weight in its own right.
80
If Vulnicura never truly allows us in close, it’s still a beautifully tragic view from the edge of the ‘black hole’.
80
Does the world need another break-up album? ‘Vulnicura’ dodges cliché and creates its own ground.
80
‘Vespertine’ is a master-work by my reckoning, an emotionally resonant record that truly articulated the innermost desires of its maker in a way that felt less intrusive, more inclusive.
80
You could say there’s something gimlet-eyed about a woman who realises her relationship is collapsing and automatically thinks: still, great material. But it’s nothing if not honest. And besides, on the evidence of Vulnicura, she has a point.
80
These nine ballads are stripped to essentials - beats, strings, stirring vocals - full of beautiful and eerie contrasts that highlight Björk's loneliness, anger and fleeting moments of optimism.
80
Icelandic singer, songwriter, producer Björk is back with another record, and it's one filled with romantic heartbreak and whimsical instrumentation.
80
After the wild beach party of 2007’s Volta and the shiny wonders of 2011’s Biophilia, Vulnicura is a windswept trek of a record. But one which gradually repays its difficulties with the raw exhilaration of survival.
76
Vulnicura is gruesome because of its trying structure, abandoning accessibility for labyrinthine ideas that casually stumble off-course.
60
One listen to Vulnicura confirms what's been evident for a long time, but will still continue to come as a disappointment for many: Björk firmly belongs to the world of the avant-garde.
UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT;
This probably my favorite Björk period, down to the amazing lyrical content, like the way she writes/expresses her sadness and depressive thoughts is phenomenal.
The production handled by Arca sounds remarkable, the strings, the flutes, the drums, everything.
Black lake honestly might be my favorite Björk song of all time, it might be 10 minutes long, but the time passes very quickly.
The situation that inspired this LP might be horrible, but at least it ... read more
This probably my favorite Björk period, down to the amazing lyrical content, like the way she writes/expresses her sadness and depressive thoughts is phenomenal.
The production handled by Arca sounds remarkable, the strings, the flutes, the drums, everything.
Black lake honestly might be my favorite Björk song of all time, it might be 10 minutes long, but the time passes very quickly.
The situation that inspired this LP might be horrible, but at least it ... read more
Vulnicura may be the most personal, emotive and heartbreaking album which Björk has ever made. After the exploration of universe and nature with the previous project Biophilia, the icelandic deity focuses all of her forces around the feelings of her own heart, giving us an abstract journey through deep love, the desperate sorrow in losing it, and maybe, the hope of a new beginning.
Musical production is at its finest. The string arrangements are glorious and worthy of a movie soundtrack, ... read more
Musical production is at its finest. The string arrangements are glorious and worthy of a movie soundtrack, ... read more
Amazing
I couldn’t have been more wrong about this record. I did not understand it in my first couple of listens, as now it’s one of my favorite Björk albums. Much like “Homogenic”, this record focuses on an orchestral, chamber sound, which enriches each tune with fluttering string sections and drifting flutes. The subject matter is quite depressing, as this is also her most vulnerable, and personal record to date.
Old rating: 44, Mediocre
Old review: I don't ... read more
I couldn’t have been more wrong about this record. I did not understand it in my first couple of listens, as now it’s one of my favorite Björk albums. Much like “Homogenic”, this record focuses on an orchestral, chamber sound, which enriches each tune with fluttering string sections and drifting flutes. The subject matter is quite depressing, as this is also her most vulnerable, and personal record to date.
Old rating: 44, Mediocre
Old review: I don't ... read more
Before everything, I'd like to add a reminder here, in order to make things clear: I make a review for EVERYTHING I rate, just so everyone can understand my points of view. I have personal preferences too, my main goal with music is appreciating it enough to listen to it on a daily basis. Not like I spend my entire day listening to different albums without ever repeating just to write new content here. Be aware of that. It is a pain for me getting into AOTY only after my latest musical vibe ... read more
"How will I sing us/Out of this sorrow?"
For me, this album is tied with Homogenic for the best Björk album. I think Homogenic represents the best of Bjork's artistic endeavors: it is obsessed with the sublime, the beats dig into your goddamn soul, and her amazing voice dances upon woozy electronic beats. The effect is hypnotic music that feels timeless and spiritual. It is the ultimate statement from Björk, the artist in absolute control.
Vulnicura's magic is in its ... read more
For me, this album is tied with Homogenic for the best Björk album. I think Homogenic represents the best of Bjork's artistic endeavors: it is obsessed with the sublime, the beats dig into your goddamn soul, and her amazing voice dances upon woozy electronic beats. The effect is hypnotic music that feels timeless and spiritual. It is the ultimate statement from Björk, the artist in absolute control.
Vulnicura's magic is in its ... read more
END OF YEAR LISTS
| #1 | / | Rough Trade |
| #2 | / | Crack Magazine |
| #2 | / | Time Out New York |
| #3 | / | Drowned in Sound |
| #3 | / | The 405 |
| #4 | / | Bleep |
| #4 | / | Clash |
| #5 | / | Dazed |
| #5 | / | musicOMH |
| #5 | / | Resident Advisor |
| #5 | / | The Guardian |
| #7 | / | The Needle Drop |
| #7 | / | The Vinyl Factory |
| #8 | / | Cosmopolitan |
| #9 | / | NOW Magazine |
More Lists
MISC LISTS
Track List
- Stone Milker
- Lion Song
- History Of Touches
- Black Lake
- Family
- NotGet
- Atom Dance (Feat. Antony Hegarty)
- Mouth Mantra
- Quicksand
In Library (184)
Contributions By
thisisabtlgrnd, tiagocritical, colossusreviews, indiegalaxy10, siberianbreaks, patton, erik, JediMark, philthy, PureRage, homogenic
stereogum.com
Video: Björk – “Tabula Rasa” 
pitchfork.com
Björk Announces New Concert Performance Cornucopia consequenceofsound.net
Björk returns to Jools Holland for first TV performance in eight years 
Added on: January 18, 2015
