Ágætis Byrjun

oh wooooaaaaaaw this is the kind of thing I was hoping to find on this excursion. An unusual and exotic band, something I have never heard before and instantly have a connection with. I really enjoyed this, and can't understand a word he is singing... but somehow I get it. Isn't music just amazing. gibberish out of 5

The sound of midnight in the wintertime, being alone without being lonely, a calm darkness with nothing insidious hiding in it. Absolutely marvelous.

The most demanding album I've come across so far on this generator. 1. It demands to be listened to with headphones. 2. It demands to have your undivided attention, while doing very little to grab it and hold on to it. 3. It demands you stay awake throughout the album, which too is no easy feat. 4. It demands you look up the English translations and make an attempt to decipher it's cryptic lyrics to follow the themes and stories. 5. It demands that you be in a certain type of melancholic, vegetative mood, but again, do not drift off to sleep! I'm sure for the listeners able to meet the above 5 demands, it would be a very rewarding listen. Unfortunately for me, I could only really meet 2/5 on any given day.

Sigur Ros is Icelandic for Sugar Ray.

Ágætis Byrjun is a triumph of engineering and arrangement, but most of all, it's a triumph of imagination. For sure, you can trace Sigur Ros' antecedents in My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, and other similar post-rock bands, as well as ambient and industrial music, but the widescreen cinematic dreamscapes of Sigur Ros are unique to them. How do they pull it off? It sure isn't the melodies and the harmonies, which are standard issue. It's more the ever so patient accrual of layers of bowed guitar, keyboards, strings and horns, all played legato, and how all of it is recorded through echo and reverb and other production tricks. The breakout track is the title cut Svefn-g-englar, which steadily builds to an epic conclusion slowly dying away. At over ten minutes, it's long for a pop tune, but the running time goes by in a flash because the music lulls you into a trance state. Not all the tunes on Ágætis Byrjun are as timeless and wonderful, but there's plenty to enjoy here. Ágætis Byrjun is an amazing breakthrough which has inspired dozens of bands--the reverberations are still being felt today. 4.5/5

Ágætis byrjun by Sigur Rós (1999) It’s a rare album that can induce tears on a first listen, but this is it. A first person narrative beginning in the womb, a boy anticipates nativity with an awareness of transience, reticence, impatience, and the explosive violence of birth, followed by experiences of the comforting softness in his early sensations. Then, as a toddler, an awakening in his nursery room is marked by the image of an elf running toward him, strangely without getting closer. And in his reflexive effort to check his surroundings, he notices that something is missing—the walls. And we’re only four minutes into the third track. I strongly recommend listening to this album while following an English translation of the lyrics (unless, of course, you know Icelandic!). The dramatic development of the narrative is set to a composition that makes just enough contact with Western traditional music to keep it accessible, with string octet, bowed guitar, and brass ensemble providing the dominant settings. Not without horror, disappointment, and reverie, Sigur Rós walks us toward a celebratory contentment with what God provides. I won’t spoil any more of the experience of a first listen, other than to say that this slow tempo sonic masterpiece will take considerable time to absorb. En það verður ei gott að fórna sér Dagarnir eru langir (But someone has to sacrifice himself The days are long) 5/5

-Aged very well -Calm and soothing -Clear production -Easylistening

Agaetis Byjurn and Godspeed You! Black Emperor are 2 of the most well received records that do absolutely nothing for me. I know the orchestration sounds terrific, and the strings, pianos, flutes create beautiful harmonies, but it's just incredibly boring to me. I will not listen to 9 minutes of pretentious ambient noises to wait for a climax that won't come, in a language that I don't understand again, to see why people love this so much. 2/5.

Unremarkable orchestral stuff with dreary guitar stuff and whiny vocals. I saw these guys live when I was going through a brief post-rock phase. They put on a big visual spectacle show, but I honestly can't remember what I ever enjoyed about the music. I guess it felt like serious, artistic music to me at the time, and I was a try-hard. But it's really the most insipid elements of ambient, classical and rock brewed together into a weak and unsatisfying infusion. Couple of interesting brass moments, and one or two tracks were the vocals actually sound alright - but these are dribbles of interest in an overlength ocean of tedium.

Ethereal Millenial Soundscape. Very cool all around, a little hard to listen to all the time. Very, Very good though.

I thought I would like this more than I did.

A womb with a view. I eat placenta on a daily basis. It goes best with vinegar and brown rice. Yum.

Listening to this album, waiting for something that never happens. Letdown.

Highlights: Starálfur, Flugufrelsarinn, Viðrar vel til loftárása I have no idea what they're saying, or what language (It's Icelandic, in case you were wondering) but it doesn't make any difference because Sigur Rós' moody, atmospheric downtempo transcends language, invoking a sense of wonder and serenity. I can't help but to try and connect with the music...My own interpretation is that Starálfur ("Staring Elf") transports the listener to a celebratory fireworks display so lifelike, you can almost smell the sulfur and feel the night breeze on your cheeks. Flugufrelsarinn ("The Fly's Savior") continues later in the same night, deeper in the dark, at the water's edge. My interpretations don't really matter, though... This is right at home with the likes of Halou, Flunk, Zero 7, and Theivery Corporation, and will be including more in my downtempo playlists.

Vous qui fréquentez ce site connaissez très bien mes goûts et ma personnalité. Et je pense qu'aucun d'entre vous n'aurait parié sur le fait que je puisse adorer cet album. C'est pourtant ce qui s'est passé. J'ai néanmoins été déçu d'apprendre que les paroles qu'ils baragouinaient n'étaient en rien de l'Islandais mais bien une langue inventée de toute pièce, ce qui ne m'a pas empêché de relever quelques fautes de grammaire.

Excellent,dreamy, original.

Ooh, this was honestly the definition of atmospheric. Made me feel at peace. Singer is brilliant. 4.

Feel like I aged 100 years listening to this. In a good way

Riktigt bra, skönt sound och fina melodier. Tror bara att jag inte lyssnat på vissa låtar tillräckligt men annars är det nog en av de bättre jag har rateat.

Agaetis Byrjun is the brilliant debut album from Sigur Ros. Their music is very difficult to categorize - first, they are from Iceland. They are a rock band that makes elegant ballads and soundscapes. Their lead singer, Jonsi, sings in a melodic falsetto, and is accompanied by a rock band and at times, an orchestra. They layer ambient electronic effects to create the full, rich sound of their songs. Agaetis Byrjum was the album that made Sigur Ros into international stars. Their unique sound propelled the band to near-universal critical success, and world-wide commercial success.

I really liked this. The ambient portions of the overall sound make me want to replay Disco Elysium.

Nothing (except many some of Brian Eno's work) can calm me more than 'Agaetis Byrjun'. I remember hearing about Sigur Ros and searching everywhere for this album before I finally found an import version. I'd listen to it over and over while lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Jonsi's cello bow playing on the guitar mixed perfectly with the atmospheric music which seems to reach up to the sky and reflects the beautifully stark Icelandic landscape. I saw Sigur Ros during their tour for their third album '( )'. The venue allowed a 100 college aged kids with CMJ Music Marathon passes to attend. The crowd was rowdy, rude and drunk. They booed the opening act and generally were frustrating to listen to. But three minutes of Sigur Ros playing was enough to shut them up for the rest of the show. Years later 'Agaetis Byrjun' remains one of my all time favorite albums.

I have no idea what they are singing about but I loved this already years ago... Great album

goated, if only their other albums were as consistent as this

Incredibly atmospheric and moving, achieved exclusively through tone and texture. Sung in Icelandic and gibberish, I didn't understand a word but was still moved almost to tears. An otherworldly masterpiece. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Svefn-g-englar Date listened: 19/12/23

Really good album, did not expect something so good so soon.

Very happy to see this album on here. I love Sigur Ros and this album especially. You do need to be in a certain mood to listen to them though. Glad it was gloomy today.

Used to listen to this to fall asleep, I mean that in the best way

The beauty of this music is not only found in the structure and instrumentation, but furthermore exist in the audiences interpretation.

Beautiful This album is truly beautiful. I have the same feelings towards it as i did to Melody AM and Vespertine. It's anthemic, makes you wanna run through a field with your arms up in the air, embracing life. its just absolutely beautiful i think im going 5, i will come back to this record often, i hope

Just gorgeous and genre-defining. A big part of my mid-2000s.

I have absolutely no idea what this is, and I love it. Whenever I see an album from the late 90s pop up that I've never heard of before, I can't help for my initial reaction to be dread. I have received so much shit from that era from really underground bands and artists to the point where I just assume that I've discovered all the good music from the late 90s, and everything else sucks. But this album has proved me wrong. Every song rewards you for listening to the whole thing, and slowly builds until it reaches an epic climax. Even though I don't speak a word of Icelandic, the intensely passionate delivery of the vocals makes me love them. I initially found it daunting that this album was 10 songs and 71 minutes long, that means that each song averages at about 7 minutes. But you know what, if anything that's the best part of it. Being able to really explore every sound in every song to such depth, and slowly add layers that build perfectly throughout the songs. I never would have thought that I would have fallen in love with this album as much as I have, but I do love occasionally getting a reminder that there is still music out there that I have never heard of that is still this amazing. It's so easy to get caught up in always listening to the same things and not realising how much music there actually is in the world that's still really good. But hey, I suppose that's the reason we are all doing this album list at the end of the day.

Dreams

Solid. By coincidence this album was recommended on North American eclipse day 2024. Excellent soundtrack for an eclipse.

https://www.stereogum.com/2047135/sigur-ros-agaetis-byrjun-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/

-it feels like a dream converted into an album -orchestral -beautiful -atmosphehric -love the themes of childbirth and naivity -this is (near) perfect -I almost started crying -favourite songs: Svefn-g-englar (<3), Starálfur, Ný batterí, Hjartað Hamast (<3), Viðrar vel til loftárása (<3), Olsen Olsen (<3), the title track (<3) -least favourite song: Intro

I thought a whole album of Sigur Ros would be too repetitive for me, but wow I just get so emotional listening to this music. There is something transcendental about it.

Coincidentally been listening to this (for the first time) recently. Very chilled and cohesive. Definitely added to my favourites.

Familiar with a couple of Sigur Rios songs but first time listening to this album, wow, so atmospheric absolutely a masterpiece. Can see me listening to this a lot this year.

I'm hoping this isn't the only Sigur Ros. I've seen them live a few times. Spent a good chunk of my late teens/early 20s listening to them. Very special place in my heart.

Ugh, I really love this. It definitely helps to listen to this as an album in its entirety. Turn the sound way up and let the whole thing wash over you in its sublime majesty. The whole album is solid, with big melancholic soundscapes throughout, and flashes of searing beauty (notably with songs like Starálfur). The long tracks go by so quickly. I love everything about this. The album art, the concept, everything.

Otra sorpresa, no porque no conozca la banda sino por el reto de escuchar por primera vez un disco completo de Sigur Rós. Súper relajante, para estar tirado en una cama o en un sillón, sólo concentrado en la música que suena. Ambiental, noventoso en detalles sutiles que recuerdan a Radiohead (el mejor ejemplo es Flugufrelsarinn). Tiene canciones épicas, como Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm) y Viðrar vel til loftárása. Tiene todo para un viaje emotivo. Introspectivo. Pienso que también son necesarias estas instancias de desconexión: sobre todo en Argentina. ¿Está mal que el arte sea, de vez en cuando, un escape?

Sigur Ros. Enough said.

I remember first discovering this and being amazed at how different it sounded compared to anything else I knew at the time. I was huge into Sigur Rós for awhile and even saw them in concert. Now hearing this again many years later, I still enjoy this, but the feeling for me is more nostalgia than anything else. There are a couple strong tracks on this album, but most of this kind of moves from one to the next without much consequence. I listen to this with fond memories but I also wonder if this could have been the beginning of something much bigger that never really materialized.

This is what the northern lights would sound like if they made music.

Simon: 1. I have this, but probably made it never all the way through before today, due to its length. 2. Did you ever go to a majestically dingy club called The Foundry wedged between Great Eastern St and Old St? Some friends played strange and sometimes obnoxious music to other weirdos there in the early noughties, and among gruesome remixes of “The Lady in Red” and the “Eastenders” theme, a constant was the set ending with “Svefn-g-englar”, which is enchanting. 3. There are some sumptuous textures and melodies in here, and it builds a consistent sound-world for itself, which I like. However, there’s not enough grit in there to keep me from sliding off. The sixth song flashes a spot of Dave Brubeck before the wailing guitars and epic whispering return, and I’m extending my arms going no, no, bring back sexy Brubeck, which is a dangerous move when driving a car. 4. I saw Sigur Ros support Radiohead along with Beck, and I must report R Head were surprisingly fun while SigRo sounded lost and missable, while Beck as just dull. Don’t worry, I didn’t pay. 5. There’s something a little cute or twee to the vibe, the silliness of singing sometimes in a made-up language fitting, trading in darkness that is more Tim Burton than David Lynch. 6. A later album, “Kveikur", has a song called “Isjaki" that has an urgency absent here, and is my favourite track of theirs along with "Svefn-g-englar”. 7. Homework noted with thanks.

Bands like Sigur Rós - I've never heard of them before today - are exactly the reason why I like the 1001 site. It provides me the opportunity to expand my horizons and listen to something new and different. Two tracks, "Olsen olsen" and "Ágætis byrjun", are truly beautiful.

To be transparent here my review may be inflated by me being in the optimal situation to hear this album. I had a 40 minute walk home after work at 1 am. Turned this one on and I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more beautiful album. All of the instrumentals just had a way of evoking emotion. It was long for sure and I do kinda wish it was in English but when a albums speaks to me in this was I’m more willing to overlook that. Weird one to rate cuz there’s not songs with replay value and I don’t know when I’m gonna listen to it again but I just had a 5/5 experience listening. Best: the first four tracks (not including intro)

I thought, for some reason, this was going to be a Hispanic rock band. Heard the name before and I guess that’s what came to mind. It’s not. Icelandic melodic dreamy music. I really like this.

Strange. Some songs are too long and drone along at the same tempo for way too much time. Length is an issue overall. I have no problem with long songs, I just don’t need to listen to 10 of them in a row. This was ok, but I’ll never go back to it.

This album is a snoozefest... but it sounds beautiful and has great production. If you like loooooong instrumental, dreamy songs with random singing , then you will love this. It is unfortunately not my thing, cool fetus though.

Music to stare at icebergs to.

weird shit

You could probably sleep to this. Very slow, quiet songs. All in Icelandic or whatever.

Mental icelandic orchestral cinematic sounds. The singing is a bit irritating. I liked the batteri and bamm bamm bamm

This album is just too slow for my liking. Not really a fan.

Radiohead and its consequences have been a complete disaster for the music industry.

When this was released I thought it was deep and emotional but upon relistening it appears fucking insufferable. Nice music, but those vocals? Drunken elves.

One long beautiful dream scape....I couldn't get thru it. Sounded like a soundtrack for a stunning visual IMAX movie. Good background music for doing something.....

A little dull, sometimes repetitive. Cinematic, but what’s the point?

This album starts off like a tornado and smacks you in the chops. It’s loud and brash and in your face. It’s thrashy and punky and a little bit screamy. Normally this combination would induce an excited curiosity from myself and these tracks did just that...but that was all. I just can’t find anything worthwhile or standoutish. The songs speed along happily enough, but leave you feeling unsatisfied and with an empty void. 2 Stars!

I get a slow build but having to wait 20 minutes for anything resembling tempo was just annoying. An exercise in patience and futility.

pretty but just overall generic and boring

I fell asleep. Tedious stuff that goes nowhere. I get what they're trying to do, it is not for me.

Long and Boring. That’s all I can say about this album.

Aged wonderfully since I first heard it years and years ago. Beautiful, cathartic, classic.

Peaceful. Inspiring. Dreamy. Hypnotic. Magic. Essential. Breathtaking. Wonderful. Post Rock. 1999. Sigur Rós. Ágætis Byrjun.

This dreamscape they created is the most unique sound to come out of music in decades

Já við þekkjum þessa

Atmospheric while also never just melding into the background.

I just deleted all my notes accidentally oh my god here we go I could never really get into sigur rós because of the new language thing but I think it is cool in concept The instrumentals fit the singing well in almost every track The new language is kind of growing on me now I like it I kinda like how each track is really long for some reason The singing is really well executed even though I dont understand it I enjoyed this project way more than I thought I would and I really loved it I am blown away 10/10

This morning I was walking in the nearby wetlands, on a foggy morning. Revisiting this album. I almost forgot how warm, ethereal and beautiful music can make me feel. This is one of the most amazing pieces of music ever made.

Love love

Pretty, in icelandic, radiohead pablo honey-esque

VMP

I can only assume this is what the soundtrack to life in the womb sounds like.

Love this album to death. 5/5

this is so pretty

very cool

minne meg om videregåande såg dei på bergenfest for nåken år siden, var bra såg kygo utenfor strippeklubben på vei heim

Ghostly and one of my all time favourites. Great band from the 2000s era.

The best. I am so glad to revisit this album with more mature ears.

Elemental, beautiful, atmospheric, idiosyncratic. It is what I imagine the ambient sound in Iceland to be!

Very fond of this album.

Una obra de arte

Jebena najveća petica na cijelome svijetu i svemiru. Spoznala sam značenje života kad sam poslušala ovaj album prije 7 godina. Vidjela sam boje koje nisam znala da postoje. Upoznala sam vraga i rekao mi je da su Sigur ros njegovi anđeli koji su otišli jer su imali ambicije u glazbi. On je bio okej s tim jer su toliko dobri. Kad Jonsi krene sa svojim falsetom dođe mi da se rasplačem ko beba. Ne znam koji kurac se događa tam na Islandu al oni očito znaju neš što mi ne znamo.

Ben ik bevooroordeeld omdat ik al in IJsland ben geweest en ik mij spontaan de landschappen terug voor de geest haal bij het horen van deze muziek? Misschien...

Beautiful

Very nice! Haven't listened to this album yet, but quite a big fan. Definitely can tell that Bon Iver has been influenced by this.

Wie in einer behaglichen Kapsel echolotet man umwabert von Oxytocin Schwaden durch die Kathedralen von Drone, atmet tief und weit und tränenverhangen. Auf die Frage, welches Instrument man hiernach lernen möchte gibt es nur eine Antwort: Wal. 5.0

Holy shit. 10/10 I know an album is good when my first impressions of it are "Wait.. this could be the best album I've ever heard in my life"

awesome

Absolutely beautiful album from start to finish.

I remember my sister being a big Sigur Ros fan when I was a kid/teen but I never really listened to them myself even though I'm a pretty big post-rock fans and these guys are some of the pioneers I'm told. I regret not getting around to it sooner immensely. What a chillingly beautiful album throughout with loads of great, unique ideas. Think this will only grow with multiple listens but I am in awe. Need to check more albums from them ASAP.

Angelic, etheral, divine! One of my all time favourites.

I love this album and play it regularly for relaxing, yet touching and inspiring background music.

Sigur Ros, always a classic.

Transcending, otherworldly, it was something i have never heard before, i have loved every single minute of it

very nice, unusual, but enjoyable

Very spacey? cool! genuinely so good. ny batteri was my favorite but the later songs in the album were super good too its all good