Medulla | 
| Artist: Bjoerk
Label: Elektra / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $21.98
Buy Used: $1.27
You Save: $20.71 (94%)
New (22) Used (24) from $1.27
Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 73480
Format: Limited Edition
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 075596298520
EAN: 0075596298520
ASIN: B0002PYP04
Release Date: August 31, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Pleasure is All Mine | | • | Show Me Forgiveness | | • | Where is the Line? | | • | Vokuro | | • | Oll Birtan | | • | Who is it (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) | | • | Submarine | | • | Sonnets/Unrealities XI | | • | Desired Contellation | | • | Piano II | | • | Mouths Cradle | | • | Wednesday (Midvikudags) | | • | Triumph Of A Heart | | • | Oceania |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Normally, an artist such as Bjork with a mass audience across the globe steadily eases off as the back-catalog starts to grow. However, Medulla, the fifth proper studio album from Bjork is without a doubt the most challenging collection of music she has ever released. For the most part, the album is made up of layers upon layers of processed vocal parts arranged in either harmony or dissonance such as "Vokuro" and "Oll Birtan," respectively. Some, such as "Show Me Forgiveness" are simple acapella, the aforementioned sounding like a vocal cut from Debut minus the music. Another echo of Bjork days gone by is "Desired Constellation," a slow trancy pulse underpinning her distinct vocals. "Where Is the Line," "Who Is It," and "Triumph of a Heart" are a bit grimier with a semi-urban twist, the latter a fantastically funky beatbox number with an outstanding introduction, the closest moment to a pop song appearing on Medulla. Although traditional instruments and breaks have been removed from this album, Medulla is no great departure for Bjork but in a sense it is radically different from any of her previous work. Some will love it, some hate it, and some just won't be sure what to think. --David Trueman Amazon.com Special Content An Interview with Bjoerk
 Bjoerk shared her thoughts about the directions she is taking with Medulla in our Amazon.com interview.
Album Description
Bjork is one of the most recognized stars in the world. She has sold millions of copies of her groundbreaking albums, she is an icon of cutting edge style, and she has received worldwide acclaim as an actress. Medulla, Bjork's first new studio album in three years, finds her delving deeper than ever before into her haunting and exhilarating sound and vision. Innovative as always, Bjork has this time built the songs on Medulla entirely from vocal tracks, with no insturments appearnig on the album, creating a soundscape unlike anything you've ever heard before. Special guests include Rahzel from The Roots, Mike Patton of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle, an Inuit throat singer, an Icelandic choir, the world's greatest human beatboxes and more. The limited edition will feature a slipcase, a four-panel gatefold digipak, and a 32-panel four color poster.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 Rating for the limited edition September 1, 2004
David Johnson (Mill Creek, WA USA)
29 out of 36 found this review helpful
I reviewed the standard issue of "Medulla" already. This review is purely for the purpose of talking about the Limited Edition. I wasn't too impressed with it, because the lyrics are printed on the same paper as the poster (which is only the same photo as the cover), so if you want to read the lyrics, you'd have to take down the poster to do it. I know you can look online or whatever, but I just think it's not practical.
The case was like her greates hits one, just a two-sided digipak. The sleeve for the CD probably doesn't protect it that much, I liked the case of the Homogenic limited edition.
 Bjork does it again and is sure to wow her fans September 8, 2004
Christina M. Anthony (West Hollywood, CA)
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this CD or not after hearing a few tracks on the radio before it was released. The idea of having an entire album composed of only human voices is intriguing, but in all reality would it *really* work? I believe it did.
Only Bjork could pull off an album of this magnatude and she does it with compelling grace. Often times you forget that you're only listening to human voice at all (Where Is The Line, Who Is It) and other times you are fully aware in acapella pieces. One can only be fascinated in the way that human vocals are cut and blended to sound like musical instruments. Vokuro is perhaps one of my favorite tracks on the CD so far. It is simply Bjork singing with only a hushed choir in the background and completely in Icelandic, but has an extremely beautiful melody. Oceania is a wonderful work also, which was recently heard at the Olympics. The background vocals are amazing with the shrilling ups and downs of their voices, it sounds as though they really are some sort of ocean creature swooping up and down through the water.
I can see this CD as either being fully embraced by fans or have them wondering what the heck they just purchased. If you are looking for a CD that sounds more like Homogenic or Post,then Medulla is not for you. There really aren't many songs on Medulla (if any) that possess the types of beats or mainstream sounds as her other works. I do recommend it if you have an open mind about her music and appreciate her work for the creativity and art of it. The only reason this CD did not get 5 stars is because, like most fans, I do miss having great songs like Bachelorette, Joga, Human Behavior, etc.
 A radical and daring departure from Vespertine August 31, 2004
Daniel M. Molloy (Munich, Germany)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
I received this album through a presale from Bjork's record label website. In this first week, I have listened to the album a total of 31 times according to iTunes. I must say that I was initially disappointed with the acapella sound of the album. However, this album has really grown on me. I start to forget that the "instruments" that I'm hearing are really all human voices. Some notable tracks are 'Who is it', 'Where is the line', 'Mouth's Cradle', 'Show me forgiveness' and 'The pleasure is all mine.'
There is only really one song that I still do not like, and that is 'Ancestors' It starts out beautifully, with layers of Bjork's beautiful voice building up on one another, and then in comes the sound of what seems to be a dog choking. I have begun to be able to tune that part out with enough listens, but it still remains as a sore spot on the album.
I would highly recommend this album to the casual and hardcore Bjork fan. Every one of Bjork's albums has been so different, and this is probably the most conceptual album she has produced so far. It may take a few listens to appreciate fully, at least it did for me. Now I love the album. Thumbs up to Bjork!
Priceless September 6, 2004
Glenn Edward Deuman VII (Royal Oak, MI)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Reviewer: Glenn Edward Deuman VII (Royal Oak, MI) - See all my reviews It is inevitable that the occasional listener will not digest Bjork's "Medulla" well, but nobody can deny that this is yet another original, challenging, and beautiful frontier that she has begun.
The many vocal tracks that have been mixed into these tracks(along with the occasional drum pattern & a various array of instruments) flow together smoothly without giving a cluttered feeling, which is an accomplishment in itself.
Using vocals as more than a simple lyrical outlet isn't a new quality to Bjork's work. These mastered skills have been heard throughout her career. This album, however, takes a step further into the realm of original sounds, phrases and mixes of the combination and absolutely triumphs at making one priceless album.
These recordings take you to many different places. "Who Is It" revels with thoughtful lyrics, a catchy chorus & an intelli-pop sound. There are other tracks, though, that the listener must rely on feeling the song in order to understand the message... "Ancestors" supplies a mix of distressed, orgasmic, and womb-like vocal sounds in the background.
Bjork has supplied for us a challenge. It's true that some of the places that this music takes you aren't exactly sugar-coated and happy, but I can guarantee that this is some of the best art you will hear for months. Embrace the opportunity & buy this album.
Just ...Bjoerk November 20, 2004
Carlos Jose Rouillon Camino (Lima, Peru)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I just bought Medulla, and it's brilliant, even though, most of the songs are only voices..i think..that's the key to make this record so great and so gratefully strange. But, in the other hand i have one complain... i bought the limit edition format..that comes in a digipack...and also...comes with a poster..and of course the color booklet, the problem. is that here it's announced as it were two separates items (poster and booklet), but poster and booklet is the same thing, so. if i want my poster on my wall, I'd would be losing all the entire booklet (album credits, lyrics, etc..) so what's the point of buying this edition if i can't have the poster on my wall!!!!!!!!!!!!! Actually I don't recommend buying this limited edition...This nothing has to do with the songs on the recording...as i just said they are just amazing...
p.s: the poster has the picture as the album cover with some extra drawings..
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