Pros: Lots of very amazing stuff. Wonderfully put together songs.
Cons: Some songs aren't mind blowing and only just "good." Others are too good.
The Bottom Line: The best album in awhile. Another classic into her growing catalog and proves to be one of the best modern day artists. Necessary listen for everyone including new fans.
There's not much to say while anticipating Bjork's upcoming release "Medulla" The only information that had been released is that it would be mostly comprised of vocals and would feature many guest vocalists such as spazz noise generator Mike Patton, beatboxer Rahzel, and quirky Japanese composer Dokaka. The only thing that you could guess is that it'd be something unexpected from her. She's changed through many styles since her first major release "Debut" up until her last release "Vespertine" which captured and cold and mellow vibe. However, "Medulla" has been the most logical step in Bjork's career - although this might be considered "unexpected" all in itself.
Surely, the idea of concentrated on all vocals has been done before. Anywhere from Mike Patton's take on his solo album "Adult Theme For Voice" to Norwegian artist's Maja Ratkje's simply titled "Voice" However, the concept is different each time and it's still a fresh idea when compared to most music that is out there. I don't expect artists to sit in a corner and try to think of something different to do, to shock the world. And niether does Bjork. However I do appreciate it when artists do different things to express their ideas, and "Medulla" is both that and fitting to the concepts behind the album. The term "Medulla" translates to "The inner core of certain organs or body structures, such as the marrow of bone." And the songs do just that. They get down to the bottom and as Bjork explained in an interview (and I'm paraphrasing) The songs are seen through the perspective of an outsider's view on society before he/she is introduced into one. You might understand what that means more as we get into the songs. This could be considered a concept album however it should not be listened to as one. You'll also have to read more to find out about this one.
The appropriate opening track is "Pleasure Is All Mine" which begins with Bjorks humming vocals and what seems to be an elder heavily breathing and quickly other vocals begin chiming in to create an awkward beat. As Bjork's lyrics come in the Icelandic choir begins taking over the flow. It's a soothing song, it's calm, it's dark, it's not too lively but it keeps you on the edge of your seat and interested in what exactly you are in for the remainder of the album. The song is supposedly about the feelings Bjork was going through when raising her second child which she had recently had the last year or so. This was one track I had access to before the album was released so I had listened to it many times beforehand. On first impression it was simply a "good song" but before the album was released I had already labeled this one of the best songs of the year and I was highly anticipating listening to the rest. I just can not bare but get the chills down my back everytime when Bjork hits a stellar note during the lines:
"When in doubt give...When in doubt give..."
"Show Me Forgiveness" is the following track which is about a minute long a capella session of purely Bjork. It's a cute, short but sweet song but nothing too impressive. Bjork doesn't show off the capabilities of her voice and the only thing really impressive is the lyrics. If anything it's one of the few filler tracks. Mike Patton's most noticeable track he contributes to is during "Where Is The Line" where he is the main bass line (a very good one at that) Icelandic choir is back and all the songs they are in are top-notch including this which is another just completely amazing song. Another wonderful Bjork moment is when her vocals build higher during the line:
"I want to be flexible, I waaAaAaAaAAAAnt to go out of my way for you but enough is enough."
Surely a line that contradicts her feelings during the opening line but humans change feelings, have different ones concerning different things and not only does Bjork realize this but she supports these primitive, and animal-like behaviors which is evident in following tracks. The next song is all done in the Icelandic language with the well orchestrated Icelandic choir again. "Vokuro" is a beautiful, scene-setting song and there isn't much else to say about it's well written self. "Oll Birtan" is the very next song which might be considered the second filler song. It's only Bjork again but it's layered countless times and sewn together quite well as it builds to a climax a little after the one and a half minute mark and then flows into the next real track "Who Is It" This ends up being the third huge song of the album. I mean I can not stress how awesome some of these songs get. It's just sick. This one is done with Rahzel beatboxing all percussion during the background and is Bjork's nod to hip hop. I really don't want to go too much into this one but it's really great to see some of these songs become so lively with just vocals, I mean they are just very well put together. Yet other songs can capture a more organic and calm vibe which comes off just as amazing.
"Submarine" doesn't show any immediate signs of Bjork throughout the song, she might do some minimal of the howling that is spread throughout all three minutes of the song. I'm almost tempted to call this an instrumental with the very few focused vocals. The title fits perfectly with this song (as all the titles do with all of theme) everything sounds Submarine, spy-esque sort of thing. It's really neat little track. I'm not quite familiar with the main contributer of the song it might be Dokaka but it could very well be somebody else. Whoever it is did a great job though. "Desired Constellations" is not only a completely awesome name but a very sweet tune too. There might be an instrument in this - because it sounds like theres some fuzzy type synth piano thing going in the background very softly but you can't tell with all the synthesized vocals carefully tweaked to fit the vibes of every song. However, I am going to guess that this is some sort of piano/synth type of instrument playing. The song is soft from beginning to end and the occasional Bjork yells of:
"How am I going to make it right."
And bone chilling. The whole song paints a very good picture of Bjork "Throwing the stars like dice, repeatedly" It's a very emotional filled song and another favorite. The greatness doesn't end, "Oceania" is the very next song and it's hard to say anything bad about a song that was performed during the opening ceremony of the Olympics. If you had missed the performance it was really charming and suggest you check it out. The song was written about the Olympics too however it would be hard to tell since it fits precisely with everything else in the album. It's a uniting song which tries to break the boundaries of countries always competing against one another and so on. It has a good theory of how we were all concieved through evolution or more specifically the ocean as suggested in the line:
"Your sweat is salty, I am why"
The eighth track is the beautifully named "Sonnets/ Unrealities IX" It shares a similar vibe to such tracks as the all Icelandic one and the constellation one. This track contributes more to the beautiful side of Medulla and Bjork and is just as charming and simply put great. I understand I'm overusing words throughout this whole thing but it's hard to describe how awesome each song is on it's own uniquely each time. "Ancestors" has the first definate instrument used which is simply some piano chords played throughout the whole thing. This is accompanied by some off-beat vocals and howling and nonsense noise by Bjork. Maybe one of the most depressing and dark songs on the album as well as the least melodic and most difficult to listen to. The guest artist in this I am also sorry to say I can't pinpoint. "Mouth's Cradle" is the second track I had access to before the album was released and it was initially amazing, even better then the opening track but who would've thought that I just don't have time to write about this one right now. Despite how great it is there are just so many other better things to write about. To make it short it's a pretty romantic/sexy song until you later realize it's about breast-feeding her daughter...wait that can still be pretty hot.
"Midvikudags" is a little ambient, kicking, wierd noise pop type thingy sort of filler track. Quite honestly thats another lame description cause I want to get into this next (and final) song "Triumph of The Heart" which is yet another blow away song. After all the dark and emotional felt songs throughout this album this one mostly shares similarities to "Submarine", it's quirky, cute and fun. Dokaka's contribution is a necessity in this song, he's beats in this song are so fun and cool. Bjork still sums it all up wonderfully with her vocal lines
"The triumph of the heart that gives all.
Again referencing all the way back to the opening track. That is when you know a piece of work was well though out. When it makes that complete circle from opening scene and sticks with you up until the very last song. I've heard many people claim this is the best of the album and some even claiming it the best song ever. Though I can't even say if it's the best of this album. That's just how good this album gets. Only one or two tracks are above average, the rest are just mind-blowing.
This album is a lot to swallow at once but after a few listens it's all uphill.
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 s...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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