With the surprise release of Björk‘s ninth album Vulnicura.
Björk is unquestionably one of the most prolific and fearless artists of her generation.
I decided to take on the impossible task of ranking her albums from worst (10) to best (1)—including one soundtrack.
This is my list. If you disagree, make your own list.
10. Biophilia
Definitely not her best effort.
When Crystalline first came out, I was impressed by the D&B/jungle elements, but the album version was later reworked and lost some of its impact.
Overall, Biophilia never really resonated with me and felt disconnected from her previous work.
Best track: Crystalline
Forget: Solstice
Try out: The Comet Song (Japanese bonus track)
9. Vespertine
Following Homogenic and the film Dancer in the Dark, it’s clear Björk wanted to retreat inward and make music entirely on her own terms.
This is a far more intimate album, built around strings, microbeats, and a hushed, icy atmosphere. While it’s a fan favorite and undeniably beautiful, it doesn’t fully click with me—though it does contain some undeniable gems.
And yes, who doesn’t remember the infamous swan dress at the Oscars, later immortalized on the album cover?
Best tracks: Hidden Place, Cocoon, Unison
Forget: It’s Not Up to You
Try out: Generous Palmstroke (Japanese bonus track)
8. Medúlla
An album built almost entirely from human voices and a cappella experimentation.
Medúlla is ambitious and very “out there,” but despite its concept, it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me.
Best tracks: Where Is the Line, Who Is It, Oceania, Ancestors (feat. Tanya Tagaq)
Forget: Submarine
Try out: Komið (Japanese bonus track)
7. Gling-Gló
The only album where Björk fully ventures into jazz and bossa nova territory.
It’s something you’d never expect from her, which makes it fascinating—even if it’s more of a curiosity than a defining statement.
Best tracks: Gling-Gló, Ruby Baby
6. Volta
Volta leans into a more global sound, combining African-influenced rhythms, bold horn sections, and touches of industrial music.
Some fans were skeptical—especially with the Timbaland collaboration—but this album never fully veered into hip-hop territory. Instead, it remains a fun, energetic, and underrated listen.
Best tracks: Earth Intruders, Wanderlust, I See Who You Are, Declare Independence
Forget: Pneumonia
5. Vulnicura
Released unexpectedly on iTunes, Vulnicura immediately demanded attention—and it was nothing like what I expected.
This is a deeply emotional album chronicling the breakdown of a relationship. It’s raw, heartbreaking, and often difficult to listen to, but also incredibly powerful. A surprising and courageous release for 2015.
Best tracks: Stonemilker, Lionsong, Black Lake, Mouth Mantra
Forget: History of Touches
4. Selmasongs
Dancer in the Dark is one of those films you either love or loathe.
This soundtrack—Björk’s interpretation of the film’s music—is an emotional tug-of-war, especially if you’ve seen the movie. It moves seamlessly from classic Hollywood musical influences (Cvalda, In the Musical) to modern, emotionally devastating moments (I’ve Seen It All).
Best tracks:
Cvalda (with Catherine Deneuve), I’ve Seen It All (with Thom Yorke), In the Musical, New World
Forget: Overture
3. Homogenic
There’s an unmistakable coldness to Homogenic, evident right down to its iconic album cover.
The album doubles down on harsh electronic beats and sweeping string arrangements, marking a clear shift toward a less accessible, more confrontational Björk.
Best tracks (in order):
Pluto, Jóga, 5 Years + Immature (listen to these back-to-back), Bachelorette
Forget: All Neon Like
Try out: Sod Off (Japanese bonus track)
2. Debut
A playful, energetic introduction to Björk as a solo artist.
When it first came out, I wasn’t especially fond of it—largely because of Human Behaviour. That changed once I saw the Big Time Sensuality video (specifically the remix version).
Listening now, Debut captures Björk’s innocence and shyness as she stepped away from The Sugarcubes and into her own spotlight.
Best tracks:
Human Behaviour, Venus as a Boy, Big Time Sensuality, Violently Happy
Forget: Aeroplane
Try out: Play Dead (UK & Japanese bonus track)
1. Post
This is the album that changed everything.
Not because of It’s Oh So Quiet, but because Post captures every emotional extreme—joy, anger, vulnerability, and chaos. From the fury of Army of Me to the emotional release of Hyperballad, this album was impossible to put down when it was first released.
Say what you want about it—this is the Björk album I played endlessly back in the day.
Best tracks:
Army of Me + Hyperballad (listen together), Modern Things, It’s Oh So Quiet, Enjoy, You’ve Been Flirting Again, Isobel
Forget: Possibly Maybe
Try out: I Go Humble (Japanese bonus track)
| 10. | Definitely not her best. When Crystalline came out, I was impressed with the D&B/Jungle beats but the album version was re-worked. In my opinion, this album didn't really resonated and connected to previous efforts. Best track: Crystalline Forget: Solstice Try out: The Comet Song (Bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album) |
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| 9. | After Homogenic and the film Dancer in the Dark, you can tell Bjork wanted to make her own music. A far more intimate album with the strings and a spacey quiet feel. While it's everyone's favorite, it has some gems. Who doesn't love that swan dress she wore at the Oscars and incorporate it on the album cover. Best tracks: Hidden Place, Cocoon and Unison Forget: It's Not Up To You Try out: Generous Palmstroke (Bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album) |
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| 8. | This album is all human vocals/acapella driven. Medulla is very out there but it didn't leave an impression. Best tracks: Where Is The Line, Who Is It, Oceania and Ancestors feat. Tanya Tagaq. Forget: Submarine Try out: Komið (Bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album) |
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| 7. | The only album where she ventures into jazz and bossa nova territory. Something you wouldn't expect Bjork to be doing. Best tracks: Gling-Gló, Ruby Baby |
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| 6. | Volta had more of worldly sound on combining African-influenced beats with horn sections and elements of industrial music. While some had their head scratching with the collaboration with Timbaland and thought she would go hip-hop. It's still a fun record to listen to. Best tracks: Earth Intruders, Wanderlust, I See Who You Are and Declare Independence Forget: Pneumonia |
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| 5. |  | Vulnicura out of nowhere was released on iTunes. So I had to listen to this album and was definitely not what I expected it to be! A very emotional album on the disintegration of a relationship. Heartbreaking and thought provoking at times. Surprising album to come out in 2015 and it's by her! Best tracks: Stonemilker, Lionsong, Black Lake and Mouth Mantra Forget: History of Touches |
| 4. | Dancer in the Dark is one of those films you either love or loathe it. While this is Bjork's interpretation of the songs. If you haven't seen the film it's a emotional tug-o-war. This soundtrack is reminisced of the early days of Hollywood musicals (Cvalda + In The Musical) to the current contemporary music (I've Seen It All). Best tracks: Cvalda with Catherine Devenue, I've Seen It All with Thom Yorke, In the Musical and New World Forget: Overture |
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| 3. | There was a coldness on this album which you can tell from the album cover. Far more harder on the electro-beats and string arrangements. It was a change in direction with her in becoming not accessible to the public. Best tracks (In order): Pluto, Joga, 5 Year + Immature (listen to both together) and Bachelorette Forget: All Neon Like Try out: Sod Off (Bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album) |
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| 2. | A fun playful album. During the time it came out, I wasn't really fond of it because of the leading single Human Behaviour. That changed until I saw the video for Big Time Sensuality but that happened to be the remix version. Listening to Debut, there is a innocence and shyness from Bjork after she left The Sugarcubes. Best tracks: Human Behaviour, Venus as a Boy, Big Time Sensuality and Violently Happy Forget: Aeroplane Try out: Play Dead (Bonus track on the UK and Japanese edition of Debut) |
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| 1. | This is the album that changed it. Not because of It's Oh So Quiet. It was a mix of all emotion of happiness on It's Oh So Quiet and angry on Army of Me and Enjoy. Say what you want about this album, it was the album I couldn't stop listening to back in the day of the release. Best tracks: Army of Me + Hyperballad (Listen to both together), Modern Things, It's Oh So Quiet, Enjoy, You've Been Flirting Again and Isobel. Forget: Possibly Maybe Try out: I Go Humble (Bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album) |
