Ágætis Byrjun

Different and very soothing, I liked it but ultimately it didn't hold my interest.

I can't believe this was produced in 1999. The quality sounds like it could've been produced yesterday. I've looked up the lyrical translations and they're beautiful and somewhat grim/haunting. -Starálfur -Flugufrelsarinn -Ágætis byrjun

Ethereal, evocative and Icelandic. I didn’t understand a word of it but it felt moving - like a movie score.

Schwer zu bewerten. Schön mal was anderes und neues zu hören, ein Sound der hier noch nicht war. Dafür macht man dieses Projekt. Allerdings kann ich trotzdem musikalisch keine 4 Sterne geben

A very pleasant surprise, I'd never heard of them before, I enjoyed almost everything on this album, but it is not perfect, there is nothing that I thought was truly great and most songs would have been better half as long. I will try to seek out more of this band and this genre.

This grew on me through listen 2. There's some genuinely gorgeous sounds in this album, but other moments that let it down. The popular track, Svefn-g-englar was one I actually found the most annoying, funnily enough. Olsen Olsen was blissful. Really, I don't know how to feel, but this record is well produced, I have to give it that. 6.5/10

I thought it was good when I first listened but time has only jaded me further. I enjoy the low dense rumbles on some tracks, and when the album stops the auto play is always banging but that's where the true highlights stop. This album just can't avoid the folksy /mu/-core ass production. The back half of this album ends up sounding like a more Ambient version of neutral milk hotel or the Microphones, which doesn't suit the sound at all imo. I also just find the vocalist to be annoying. Definitely not a bad album tho, it's just aight. I'd reach for Eno, Aphex Twin or even the softer tracks of Nine Inch Nails over this any day 6/10

Nah dawg, you’re gonna have to miss me with the ten minute long songs in a made up language with titles ripped from the pages of the IKEA catalog.

Was alright. Atmospheric. Mostly a made me want to listen to Radiohead.

Need to relisten

This is a hard one for me to rate, on the one hand this is exactly the kind of thing I hoped to discover from doing this list. This is not likely something I would've ever listened to if not for this, and the highs were exceptional. Unfortunately I feel like it was just missing that, something extra, to really lift it up. I'm giving this a 3, but it's about as close as one could get to a 4 without being a 4.

I enjoyed this, although it is at times quite longwinded. It has some really special moments and build-ups, but other sections can feel a bit boring and repetitive (although I'm sure that is the point). 3.5

Hipster elevator music

I feel like its an album to listen to and relax, but if you asked me to sing out loud I would struggle to sing along with it. Not that it is a bad quality per se.

I'm not all the way there with it yet, but I think I could be one day. 3.5/5

It would be good going to sleep but I wasn’t so it wasn’t as good. At specific moments this is a 10 but other than that it’s a a good 6-7 and the mood I was in was sitting around there. All sorta blended together well so that might be a reason it is highly rated. Good mix of shoegaze, ethereal guitars, vocals in the background and I love me some alt indie. Lowkey might need to re listen later on at night to get the full experience. 7.4/10 3.7/10

Not something I'd usually go for but it was very enjoyable. Much more relaxing than the kind of music that normally gets called "chill"

I felt like I just zoned out in a sauna on Jupiter. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I think it’s humourous that Icelandic wasn’t foreign enough of a language for the lyric sheet of this album; they had to develop a new form of gibberish to complete the authentic feel of alien music.

Not bad. It's along the lines of Brian Eno and Aphex twin

I haven’t heard from Sigur Rós in years, but it felt like they were everywhere in the 2000s. This is a very pretty album, but does feel like a product of its time. Some real lush string work and vocal harmonising on this album throughout. I appreciate it more than enjoy it.

Interesting. I’m glad that I spent the time to listen to this and learn about this artist

2.75

really hard to make it through the whole album but by golly we did it, sort of gave a more annoying evanescence vibe. i struggle to enjoy droning rock but had some cool moments in the beginning

Nice to have something a bit different in here. Very pleasant in places and easy to listen to in the background. Some tracks went on a bit too long but others seemed to suit the longer length.

The type of music you want to listen to when sitting on a glacier, whale watching! Very chilled in places and anthemic in others, but every song was too long. There was a couple I really liked and good to have something a bit different on the list.

Elf sex music. Feels very much of its time as it had me feeling vibes of some contemporaries like Air, Zero 7 and the Polyphonic Spree. It’s definitely at the more accessible end of post-rock, and I feel it has just as much in common with a euphoric pop/chill out record. Anyway, it’s pleasant with a consistent and atmospheric vibe, and a couple of highlights. Solid but not spectacular. I’ll add it to the music while working playlist. I did see them once headlining at a festival but didn’t bother to watch much, gave up to go watch Dinosaur Jr instead.

Pretty solid but idk

One of those rare albums that without a doubt needs to be on this last that I can’t really stand. I dunno I’m not in the mood for this. Maybe in 10 years when I’m depressed that the world is ending or something and some new Tower of Babel-esque disaster occurred that led to all language being lost I can do it. I dunno whatever

I enjoyed most of the tracks, but I wish they would lean more into their ambient sound

It has its moments even after finishing, but I don't connect with it as a whole. It feels long and drawn out, and I don't feel engaged with the record throughout the listen. It has moments that bring so much of it together, but those moments don't connect with songs for me. This must be that bliss hidden in another review for another day for the hard four and hard five crowds. Interestingly, an engineer on this record did work on the Judas Priest record Stained Class, which is a record I truly connect with, and Halford, well, he is another time. I would give this a 2.75 out of 3. So, for the list, it's a 3, but it does feel uneven; I will return and update, but I don't see myself calling this essential unless it hits that bliss throughout.

2025-02-22

Easy, peaceful and relaxing aura from this soundscape of an album. What seems like an M83 band but who are Icelandic, they don’t miss. 7.4/10.

There were some great moments — the intro and following track most notably. Some felt a bit too theatrical for my taste, but a good album overall. 3 stars.

This is so ethereal, as if I'm entering a trance. It's unfortunate that I don't understand Icelandic because I'm sure their lyrics are good, too.

Quite nice but quite weird. Sounds almost like English but it’s clearly not 6/10

Das ist definitiv Kunst und interessant. Aber keine einfache Kost ;)

Alright ambient electronic. Nothing stood out to me though

Suprisingly touching and really good Ambient, instrumental music If you want to relax of rethink your life. Songs all sounded a Bit Similar though and im Not the biggest Fan of the singer

I remember when these guys came out - big props to inventing their own language to sing in?! Very ambient, background film scorey, I liked it

3/4

This album gets off to a strong start with the powerfully slow and dense "Svefn-g-englar" but lets up a bit, dissolving into fragments that sometimes sound more like a film score than a collection of songs. No accident these guys opened for Radiohead. I'm listening to it on a warm spring day and it's making me want to take a nap. But I could see putting this on in a certain nocturnal, creative, dark-night-of-the-soul mood.

Really interesting sounding. I liked parts but can’t say i loved it overall

Pretty good. Good enough to listen to twice

This was pretty interesting... I prefer this Icelandic music to Björk, that's for sure

Fine

Yeah

One of the more interesting albums from this list so far. Enjoyed it but wasnt the biggest fan. Reminds me of a spacey icelandic radiohead.

Yesterday may have been one of the only days I could resonate with the album, as I lay in the darkness, too sick and too sensitive to light to do anything besides that, and insert some headphones and listen to the album. The melancholic tracks stream over me, sometimes evoking senses of early Pink Floyd, and even a softer, Piano-heavy Coldplay...Icelandic versions of course. The songs are peaceful and intriguing, but is it an album you have to hear before you die? That's debatable. However, if I take it for what it is, an Icelandic post-rock album, perhaps it is a groundbreaking album. For that, I give it 3 stars

I liked parts a lot but I could not care to listen through the ambient parts that lasted way too long. Similar to radiohead I just don’t get it

Well that was odd

A bit weird, but good background music

La portada del álbum es muy apropiada, ya que al escuchar este álbum te sientes como un feto dentro del vientre de tu madre. Música atmosférica, muy bien producida y muy, pero que muy, lenta. No es que tenga nada en contra del post-rock o de la música atmosférica en general, al contrario, me relaja. Además, nunca le había prestado a Sigur Rós la atención que se merecen. Entiendo la fama, aunque, aparte de la buena producción y la calidad musical, este álbum tampoco me ha dicho gran cosa. 3.5 por su significancia dentro de su contexto histórico, y por su calidad en general.

I don't hate it, it's pretty relaxing, except for the section of Svefn-G-Englar where he's repeating "It's you" or whatever over and over which just grates.

Was a god listen. And of godspeed-y vibes that I can get behind. Grew on me as the album played.

Grandiose, dreamlike, ethereal, cinematic, inscrutable, demanding, boring, Hopelandic gibberish. Favorite track: Svefn-g-englar. Least favorite track: Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)

From the album, my four favorite songs were Starálfur, Flugufrelsarinn, Viðrar vel til loftárása, and Olsen Olsen.

creeps...

High threes, Sigur Ros just sound like something completely different.

My kind of music. Lots of ambient soundscapes. I recognise the chorus of the 2nd song, Svedberg-g-englar. I quite like the 4th song Flugufrelsarinn and 6th Hjarto hamast I really like the 7th, Viorar vel til loftarasa I quite like the 8th and 9th song I would listen to again

Fine but didn't engage me enough to buy the album.

I knew that song from The Life Aquatic is from Sigur Ros, but I didn’t realize it was this album. I do love that song from the memory it gives me of the movie (I’m a huge Wes Anderson fan). Overall as an album this was pleasant and interesting, but nothing I’d seek out or likely listen to again. Still good, though.

All albums will be 1, 3 or 5 stars, with no further commentary or explanation given.

Muzak, but good

This album certainly has its moments, particularly the Air-like Sfven-g-englar, but not really sustained across all the tracks.

I only know Sigur Ros from the Game of Thrones soundtrack where they did a version of Rains of Castamere. Kind of cool hearing a full album. Obviously I didn’t understand a word but it was cool background music to work to. Haunting and melodic is a great mix, and I actually fuck with music in other languages. It’s great to work to like I said and because I don’t speak Swedish my brain wants to match the speech patterns regardless so you end up having thought provoking music that is not too distracting. Saving it for a future work sesh where I don’t want silence but can’t devote too much headspace to the music. I dig the vibes. If Aretha Franklin was a high 3 this is a low 3. Hers was a better album but I can’t say I disliked this album at all so a 2 is out for me.

Idk how to rate this. It isn’t as much just straight noise as similar albums on the list were, but I hesitate to even really call it an album in the traditional sense. With that in mind, I enjoyed it. There were some pretty high highs actually and some pretty catchy tunes built into the atmosphere of the album. I definitely felt a build up that lasted through multiple songs into somewhat of a climax. Almost like a movie soundtrack. Fun and cool album to be on the list.

It is not (completely) Sigur Ros’s fault that they are advert music. I think I’ve heard every one of these tracks in adverts for banks or insurance companies trying to convince their prospective victims they’re folksy and authentic, and I’m too much of a cynic to not feel pandered to by that. I knew that Sigur Ros has released tracks in a made up language that isn’t Icelandic, which I always thought was quite funny (especially for people who do speak Icelandic) but a quick google said only Olsen Olsen and the end of the title track are the only two not in Icelandic. I did actually like Olsen Olsen for being a little bit different, but the language is essentially indistinguishable to me- I wonder if they manage to sing the “correct” lyrics to the jibberish songs live. Overall I basically can’t draw individual songs out of this- I guess what’s nice about it is the ambient experience, and that’s what makes it so good for advertising too- the lyrics are non specific if you’re non Icelandic (and even sometimes if you are) and the music sounds fundamentally quite hopeful and calming, like something about the eternality of the soul or something I dunno. I can imagine myself putting this on only to ironically soundtrack bits of life that seem like they’d appear in a montage- slow motion footage of holding a baby or something. It’s probably sad for Sigur Ros that people sort of can’t take their music seriously anymore, or maybe that’s just me? Not bad, but for something which tries to be so heavily imbued in meaning it’s quite sad it basically means capitalism to me now.

Eh

Beetje eentonig maar wel mooi, IJslandse vocals vet ook, een nummertje die wel nice was en playlist materiaal, verder zou ik dit alleen tijdens een lange roadtrip snachts in de Flixbus oid aanzetten om bij in slaap te vallen

This would be good to listen to super high. Not really my thing, but I did like the vibe.

Ágætis Byrjun hits me with atmospheric beauty and a proper relaxing vibe, but it misses me with a real lasting impact or something that compels me to want to listen to it again. I didn't pay attention to a track listing much, so I dunno where it all starts and ends, but the first 10/15 mins or so are really quite sad and emotional (I talk about music making me feel, this bit made me feel pretty shit, although that may also have overlapped with a shitty start to my day), then we work our way through to more uplifting sounds (with a crescendo in Olsen Olsen, one I looked up as it was such a change in mood), obviously they're taking us on a journey through all of that and it's very obvious, it's just not very me. It's an interesting listen, good in places, dreamy instrumental stuff hasn't ever really been my thing as I've said every time we've had something like this, although I can recognise this is among the better efforts we've had from that genre. Call it a respectful 3.

I do like this sort of thing in relatively small doses, dreamy soundscapes with haunting vocals, but I'm not sure I need a whole one (and definitely not 71 minutes worth). Despite not understanding a word of it, it's not that hard to connect with it, definitely a great one to listen to whilst working or relaxing. 3/5.

Very good artistically but not really my style Very spacey and droney and kinda ambient Would listen again if in the mood

Dreamy vibes but needs the right mood

Bad music for dancing. Like most Post-Rock, this album is loaded with tension and release. Excellent for soundtracks and production music where a visual element is present. Maybe also good as background while doing mundane and lengthy tasks. On it's own, without any distraction, the music can be dull and repetitive.

Very pretty. Hearing Staralfur when they find the shark in The Life Aquatic on the big screen was amazing.

Some amazing tracks on here. I don’t think you can stop and start this and get the most out of it. I could potentially ask for this score to be changed at a later date as I think they are a band you need to be in a certain mood for.

Geinig albumpie hoor Alles klonk wel beetje hetzelfde

Cool ethereal ambient sound, radiohead-like, but long and uninteresting

If Radiohead was Icelandic audio taffy pulled long and slow. A little dark but open and hopeful like a good Christmas album

A lack of actual musical instruments and foreign language lyrics make this uninteresting to me. Someone who can understand the lyrics would be able to rate fairly

3/5 Some cool post rock.

This was introduced to me years ago as one of my sister-in-law’s favorites. I listened to it for a while. It’s pleasant enough but maybe a little too atmospheric for me.

15/11/24 It wasn't for me, but i will not knock it as I didn't understand it. It was peaceful though.

This is good background music... but that's it.

Only a few tracks in but I don't think this is really my thing. As often as I found something I liked, something else I disliked kind of ruined it. I liked the drums around halfway through Ny Batteri, but the brass parts were sort of annoying and put me off the song again Not my thing and I'm not feeling compelled to put it on again. Respect it and see why it's acclaimed though Highlights: Olsen Olsen

Grandiose. And plenty of nature sounds; wind, waves, volcanic roaring, jet engines, and space shuttle take-offs. New age ghost rock sound, glad I listened. (2.7*s)

This was a very peculiar album but rather enjoyable. Wasn't sure what to expect from Icelandic dream pop but I was pleasantly surprised. The soft notes bring a sense of calm. While I'd like to know what the lyrics say, the fact that they are in another language makes the whole album very soothing and a little transcendental. There's something compelling about the album but I'm not sure what it is. It worked as good background while working for the time being. It's a little too long of an album but my curiosity is piqued to delve into Sigur Ros at another time. They sound almost like a foreign Radiohead pastiche. Great entry for the 1001 as I've never heard of this otherwise. 3.19 stars

like low-fi girl on a hiking trip in the fjords

- Really beautiful soundscape that tastefully incorporates synths and traditional instruments to create vibrant environments - Manage to capture a very haunting piece of sound without falling into the trap of becoming too avant garde or pretentiously artsy - Mimics early Pink Floyd in some of their acoustic aesthetics - No stellar stand-out tracks, but hard to hate any of the songs on here, as they all feel as though they serve a component purpose to the whole of the album - This album has certainly earned a second listen to appreciate the whole thing

Prog for the modern era. Something something "sprawl," something something "ethereal." Something something "long." It's quite pretty, I guess, but I feel like it insists upon its own beauty or something. A relaxing, immersive listening experience that I'm glad I had, but not one I plan to revisit. Highlight: Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)

Lovely listen, very soothing

I understan why I should love this album but it does not convince me completely

Nice background music I guess but too slow and spacey for me

I feel like a hipster listening to these guys. Finally, I’m really cool. It’s great ambient noise. Beautiful. Put me right to sleep.

I don't think I understood the album.

Vale pela referência de ambient music 3 estrelas tá bom demais

Despite the fact I couldn’t understand it and the songs were heavy long (which as per many of my reviews on this list is an annoyance of mine), I actually enjoyed this a lot. It was really chilled and lovely to have on in the background. Would like to give it 3.5 stars as it’s not quite 4 but it’s still very good

Some good some bad. Certainly interesting and worthy of this list

Atmospheric. Annoying. Ambient. Loooong.

Not sure how to feel about this? It's relaxing and exotic but I have no idea what is influential about it?

Didn’t love this. The music itself is pretty interesting, but each song goes for too long and just kind of drones on. An instrumental version of this would go crazy though.

You know it didn't grab me as much as it did 20 odd years ago. There are some standout tracks, but as a cohesive whole it doesn't feel as interesting to me.

Not something I would choose but good ambient listen

Good mood music, nice to listen to in the background

Viorar Vel til.... That's the one Beautiful atmospheres but felt a bit tired at the end? Will definitely revisit though probably more in a Background sense than a focused listen

Not my favorite. I’m sure the sounds would be good if you’re in a Batman mood. Just not my thing. Almost cool, mostly annoying

Good, but not compelling. Like a Godspeed You! Black Emperor album without the edge.

OMG! The Icelandic gods of ambient sound; it was a decent outing, would listen again

Enjoyed it. It was nice as background music.

Very pleasant and musically well done, just not something I actively seek out. Rather a good background/ sleep vibe

Atmospheric. The songs feel a bit long, but the flow is nice and it's pretty to listen to.

Beautiful instrumentals. Songs tend to be quite long. Seems like an artsy album

I want to like this and I can feel the innovativeness and beauty, but at most points in life I do not have the time nor energy to devote to this album to really understand why for many it’s a 5.

Wauw, ok. Het is in elk geval even totaal iets anders dan je standaard indie rock album. Het eerste nummer is heel kort, maar wat daarna komt is zeer indrukwekkend. Een soort klagend, dromering nummer? Maar ok, 1 klagerig dromerig nummer: best wel vet Een heel album met alleen maar zulke muziek wat in totaal ruim een uur duurt? This ain't it chief... Er zit voor mij net even te veel muziek in die gewoon voelt alsof ze als doel hadden het moeilijkste album ooit te maken. Het is behoorlijk experimenteel en niet alles pakt voor mij even goed uit. Betekent overigens niet dat ik het slecht vind, ik vind gewoon best wel veel een beetje saai. Maar de dingen die werken vind ik dan wel weer meteen echt vet. Het had alleen een stuk korter gekund! FAVO: Sefn-g-englar, Olsen Olsen

Dramatic, atmospheric, not really my vibe

Beautiful but too sad for me

This started out as a 1, but it grew on me.

New agey techno Scandinavian like

I was worried going in based off of the album cover. I however was pleasantly surprised that it was actually kinda good.

I remember being absolutely mind blown by this album as a young 20 something. Now, less so. I appreciate the technicality and the inventiveness of many songs. But now I clock the drag a lot more.

Going against my beloved Pixie Warrior on this one, I thought it was kind of cool. The title track was the best, except for the Yoko Ono scream at the end. 3.4

Post rock is tricky. Everything stretched out and spacified and smothered in reverb. There's a fine line between epic and dull. I think this album just crosses the wrong side a little as it plows on through its 70+ minutes but the early part has some great sections.

This was a unique experience. The album is spacial and immersive. I think it would be hard to just listen to a single track from this as it needs to be consumed as a whole album.

Not in English. Very different sound.

Ethereal and reflective. Perfect for a jellyfish exhibit. Clear Radiohead contemporaries. I wonder if I would like this as much if the words were in English.

Zum Meditieren ja, auf Dauer aber zu eintönig. Immerhin besser als Björk.

A peaceful, melodic, and unique listen. Not particularly entertaining but was fine to have on in the background. Does get a bit laborious after an hour though. 5.5/10 (2.75/5)

Eh. I lost a lot of interest after 'Starálfur', which was really beautiful, but unfortunately, nothing else could keep the momentum going. I also liked 'Viðrar vel til loftárása' and 'Olsen olsen', but every other song pretty much had the same boring sound. And they were all really long, which contributed to my occasional loss of interest.

Cool but boring and no hooks.

Pretty remarkable, found this enrapturing. Not sure why it’s labeled “rock.”

It's ok

Severn-g-englar // Flugufrelsarinn // Vidrar Vel til Loftarasa // Olsen Olsen // 3.5/5

Thoughts before listening: These guys were a huge deal when I was starting to branch out my music tastes from the punk and jambands I had grown up listening to. They were constantly getting praise from all the sites I was following, but I never gave them much of a chance. I think it was the fact that it wasn't in English that kept me from paying attention. I'm glad I'll have an excuse to listen for the first time today. Review: This is post-rock in the vein of Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and Explosions in the Sky, but Sigur Ros is a bit different because of the vocals. While those bands are fully instrumental, Sigur Ros sings in a way in which the voice is utilized as a part of the instrumentation as opposed to being used to convey a message. It doesn't really matter that I don't understand the lyrics here because the singing is still very effective as part of the overall arrangement of these songs. Now on the music, I have to say that I much prefer the sounds of the aforementioned bands to Sigur Ros. Sigur Ros leans heavily into orchestral and electronic arrangements as opposed to the more guitar-based rock stylings typical of the post-rock genre. I am finding myself getting a little bored with this album although there are certainly some interesting songs. I added a couple tracks to my playlist, but overall this is only a 3-star album to me.

6/10

Weird atmospheric music

Very cool sort of ambient music with different elements. I liked it a lot even though I had never heard of them before. It's great to listen to at work or while doing some activity that requires thought. Very chilled out and interesting without being distracting if that makes sense.

i enjoyed this album a lot more than i thought i would. it creates a certain ambience, and works nicely as background music. whilst i can’t say it’s an album i’d return to often, i appreciated it whilst it lasted, and got stuck in to a few of the tracks. i couldn’t tell you one song from the other having listened to it, but that doesn’t particularly matter - it’s intrigue comes when you hear it.

Cute but it’s background music

Blissed out to the max, but a bit repetitive.

Ethereal is probably the best way to describe it. More accurate than good music anyway

Because of my fucked-up schedule, and the fact that I’m taking a break to catch up on some albums I’ve missed, I’m listening to Ágaætis byrjun right after Brian Eno’s Music For Airports, and… I think I’m burnt out on relaxing shit. I was gonna mention this in the Brian Eno review but couldn’t find a good place to put it, but I’m not naturally a very relaxed person. I’m almost always totally wired, I smoke a lot, I’ve got a lot of nervous energy. I play the drums very loudly and very quickly to the inevitable irritation of my neighbours. I listen to a lot of Punk. I do listen to more mellow music, but having 2 of these fairly long winded, relaxed affairs one after the other is something I’m not really wired for. That being said, I’m enjoying Ágaætis byrjun more than I did Music For Airports. There’s more of a sense of dynamics, more of a structure. That ‘that being said’ being said, it also blended as far into the background as Music For Airports did, that I’m forgetting everything that I listened to as soon as I hear it. I didn’t hate it, and I’d be glad to give it another listen, but maybe not just after I’d listened to another ambient piece. As it stands as a first impression, I’m going to have to stick with the same rating as Music For Airports, the album that has so doggedly followed Ágaætis byrjun throughout this review. Sorry about that, but that’s just the way the dice rolls sometimes

#311. I remember one of my friends recommended I should listen to Sigur Ros one time when I was in high school. I don't remember which album it was, but it very well may have been this one. The time frame is right anyway. And I thought it was terrible. Hated it. [I think the only band he recommended that I liked was Coheed and Cambria] It's probably because I was only really interested in fairly aggressive music at the time. If it wasn't death metal or similar I had little interest. Perhaps it's because I'm a nearly 40 year old man now and the teenage angst has worn down a bit, but I quite liked this silly mellow bullshit this time. It's not my favorite or anything, but I don't hate it. 3/5: fine.

In Utero would be a very fitting name for this album...

So beautiful it almost becomes cliché. Soundtrack to 1,001 soaring-vista'd HD nature documentaries 🫠

The instrumentation is key player here, along with the ethereal vocals. Some cool dramatic moments, but for the most part a more calm sound. Overall it was nice though not really for me

Ok

Some beautiful tracks and it takes me back to the good old days. But it does drag into same-ness

Apparently, Sigur Ros is not my thing. I always thought they were more atmospheric black metal. This just isn't my scene.

It was good background music for a Monday morning. 3/5

Dull

I it's not an album I would listen to at just any time of the day, but when you need some peace, just something nice in the background, this really does it.

The instruments were good, but the songs too long. I felt like it was a soundtrack to Close Encounters or an outer space movie.

this is just a different album, and it really has nothing to do with it not being in English. for the most part, I enjoyed the more instrumental pieces (predominantly as background music), but then those pieces would devolve into too many discordant sounds. vocally, the female was stronger than the male (his voice got annoying). was it interesting-kinda. would I ever listen to again-no

Wasnt bad. Quite nice and chilled. Something you stick on for background music.

Fitting listen for a flight back from Scandinavia. Great stuff. Nice and chilled. Not quite 4*. 71/100

is this shit even english nvm no words nvm words gave up its ok

Beautiful, haunting, affecting music but you have to be in the right mood for this one. Not as much melody as my brain needs to be tickled so I probably won't revisit this.

a lot of this is sleepy time music not bad though

Too long?

Very peaceful, though I'm glad they hadn't gone into their full avant-garde lyrical gibberish yet...though I suppose as an English-speaking listener it's all the same. Good for a rainy day. Listened to: at home. Favorite track: svefn-g-englar

creepy artwork. Its you-ee-youuuuu…

felt like I was in the midnight zone of the ocean and slowly ascending

Not bad, but not for me

put me to sleep (literally) but not in a bad way

Pretty cool music to play on a Sunday morning. Nothing more than that. 3.0 *

Man, back in the day i was obsessed with these dudes. Great band creating really atmospheric, lovely sounds. Some good late night toking relaxation music. Need to be in the right headspace for this, most def.

The music can be beautiful at times but there is something about Sigur Rós that I have never liked. Maybe it's partly to do w/ the fact that they use a made up language. Maybe the music is too low energy for normal listening. The album isn't bad, it's just not for me.

I think this is music for the sake of art rather than pleasure. Or Listening to it in a cubical simply sucks all the beauty and power from the album. Impossible to know really.

It was fine, but not really my thing.

This album was ok. On first listen it was kind of droning/bland, though I liked hearing some classical instruments in the mix. On second listen I started to pick up some melodies that slightly hooked me, though it still had a movie-score feel. Other people in my group were put off by Sigur Ros using a made up language on one of the tracks in this album (and for the entirety of other albums) but I don't pay attention to lyrics as much anyways so it didn't bother me.

Sigur Ros has always been too precious and affected for my tastes. Too distant and performative to connect with personally. That said, they aren't so much bad, as just not my thing. And, this album shows more variety in the second half.

I'm more familiar with Takk (and have fond recollection of it) but this hit a little too sound-scapey for me. & when it wasn't distant satellite / deep ocean noises, it sounded vaguely dated, like Icelandic art-types trying to mimic Massive Attack or Morcheeba (Flugufrelsarinn in particular). It didn't help that it mostly felt down tempo (except for maybe Staralfur and Agaetis byrjun.) Soundscapes I can maybe do if at least they don't sound sad.

Soothing, pleasant music.

An easy listening instrumental

Maybe some good study music

I liked this, but I think people only need one Sigur Ros album in their life, and it isn't this one.

I hadn’t listened to this digit rod album before, I prefer their 2008 album which is less techno-esque. I did appreciate this album. It was interesting and moody.

Insanely beautiful. I don’t think it has enough interesting elements to justify the song lengths.

I have a bad association with Sigur Rós after being forced by friends on acid to leave Pearl Jam to see Sigur Rós while at a festival. Left a fun lively show to sit and listen to ambient noise while everyone around me was laying in the grass basically sleeping. It made me hate Sigur Rós for a long time. That said, it’s been about 15 years since that happened and this is the first time I’ve listened to them since that incident. While I don’t think I’ll be an active listener, I do believe the music is really good quality but it still feels like something you’d just have on in the background or that you’d hear in a movie’s soundtrack.

A band I've been curious about - this was pretty good. Favourite track Flugufrelsarinn

This one needs a few listens & a bit of time to start appreciating. It's good but can be a bit dull in places. A lot of songs start out slow but improve & build towards the end but most of them do tend to be overly long. This would've been a very good album if it'd been edited down by about a third. It's still a solid 3 stars though. Songs of note are 'Sraralfur', Flugufrelsarian', 'Ny Batteri' & 'Olsen Olsen'.

Wish I understood the lyrics more.. some songs are a complete vibe.

beautiful experiance, great as an album, but i couldn’t return to any song or differentiate the songs from each other really. it would be hard to return to. if it was on though i would listen to it

Agaetis Byrjun is a weird album for me. Its often difficult to tell what genre this album even is due to it flip-flopping around genres like rock, pop, electronic, and shoegaze but i guess i can agree that its an ambient album. That does kind of add to this album's rather interesting nature with it's songs. The songs themselves do sound pretty good for what they were trying to pull off with this sort of music and the problems with it are just the usual ambient album problems. It might not be an amazing album but it definitely is a very interesting one. Best Song: Staralfur Worst Song: Ny batteri

I wish I was fluent in Hopelandic

The music is effortless yet the vocals feel forced. Its a strange combination but works. I know little of Icelandic culture but this music seems to sit comfortably with what I assume that culture to be.

I'm torn on Sigur Ros. I feel like I should love them but I don't. Their albums always sound nice and dreamy when listening to them, but they turn out to be one of those dreams that you forget instantly and wake up groggy and confused. Surprised to see this is their best rated album, been a while since I listened to them but I think I prefer the later ones (Takk etc.)

It’s just what you’d expect if you like this type of ambient-ish meandering music. If you don’t stay clear.

It’s a compliment to say that I used this album to help me sleep 20 years ago. Great for when the mood is right, but the mood has to be right.

Solid. Good background music. Surprised by some subtle catchy melodies and hooks.

Ok

Very cool! Nice, easy listening, calming, relaxing and spirtitual music. Might be something I listen to again in the future.

Some really beautiful sounding sections, but it was an extremely slow burn. I would've liked an abridged version of this, instead of it being stretched very thin

Yhteen pötköön tää on mulle vähän liikaa, satunnaisina tunnelmapaloina 5/5.

Ethereal, at times quite beautiful, but maybe too wispy

Nice album to wind down with after a hard day at work.

Cool album, late 90s new age stuff. The most popular song (according to Amazon Music) is track #2 which I had to move on from after 8 minutes (the song is 10 mins) of the same riff over and over and over. Some people dig it, I didnt. Album was fine overall, might be interested in checking out more.

Better than I expected. Very different there in Iceland

I like the vibe, but it gets pretty boring always hearing the same thing

New classic that was beloved by my brother when it came out - he bought it on our family trip to Iceland. Looking forward to this. Not bad! It fades into the background though

Nice background music.

doidera, mas precisa de estar na vibe

I thought I liked Sigur Ros so I was kind of surprised to find I didn’t love this!

I'd played albums by Sigur Ros before, so I knew what to expect - an album of lush dreamy music, somewhat proggy in feel. Lyrics mostly in Icelandic. this one of the rare non-English language album in this selection of albums, for which I'm pleased. However I thought the tracks were all a bit same-y, except for the occasional one where the singer's tone grated somewhat.

It’s ok, in an Icelandic epic sort of way.

Sweet and melodic but can’t understand the lyrics

Staralfur

Will probably throw this into the night time sleep rotation

So sleepy now

Ive tried listening to Sigor Ros before (and Mogwai) and find I like the idea of this sort of music more than I actually enjoy listening to it. It's great as background music but I don't tend to want to listen again. I enjoyed this album more than anything else I've heard by them which is a good sign, there were a few tracks which stood out. That said, still sounds like it's being arty for the sake of it in a lot of places. I might listen again but for now it's a 3.

Nice, very laid back. Kinda background for me but nothing wrong with that sometimes. Will I listen to again: 40%

I can really conjure up the memory of hearing this for the first time as a youth and being very rattled and impressed by it. Might be taste-related, or just that I’ve heard more music now and my brain is calloused, but I’m less thrilled now. Still, nice to give it a fresh listen, it’s a bit more varied and dynamic than I remembered. Forget the name of the song, but there’s the one that had the jazzy Hammond sounding part, very good.

Seems like a movie soundtrack more than a music album. I didn't mind it.

Pretty cool, Icelandic post-rock, not sure I'd revisit though

i don't live a lifestyle conducive to sitting around listening to an hour of post rock songs anymore unfortunately, but i fondly recall when i did

3.5 - heliteos, üle pika aja tervilik asi kus üleminekud ja asjad. aga kõik lihtsalt ei klikkinud nii meeletult just minu jaoks

This is time and place music. In the right time and place, the atmospheric, repetitive and ghostly sounds and vocals give a meditative and reflective feeling. In the wrong time and place these 10+ minute songs don't have much to offer to keep your attention.

A truly beautiful album. I'm not sure I fully am engaged with it, I have tried a few times but never could bring it to that next level.

Really good non English album.

I don’t think I’d ever listen again but I thought it was really good. Close to a 4.

Gibberish

Ambient and moody. Etherial and weighty. Melodic and dissonant. I picked up the album they put out after his one based off of their sound. Their music would not be an every day play for me, but it can hit the right spot when needed.

I liked most of Starálfur. Hjartað hamast has a good intro and the part leading up to the outro was nice too. Viðrar vel til loftárása was really nice instrumentally until that outro took a turn. I'm really not a fan of the vocals and some parts are boring, but there's still a good amount I like.

Strange

Sigur Rod is a cool and awesome group. I was introduced to them via the Vanilla Sky soundtrack with Svefn-g-englar which is an awesome track. For whatever reason I’ve n ver listened to this album in full or just don’t remember. I really listened to () a bunch and love that album. This album is way more varied and indie rock than I expected. I’ll probably check this one out again but most likely will just listen to Svefn-g-englar and their weird pseudo-English over and over.

Favourite song - sven f englar

hard to rate. points for being interesting. following along with an english translation definitely made it more enjoyable. bit slow for me personally

So-so.

Een uniek geluid. Dat is altijd leuk om eens mee te pakken. Het is een soort Radiohead goes ambient. Al gaan ze naar beide kanten niet all the way. Het is iets minder zeurend dan Radiohead en heeft iets meer een band-klank dan de meeste ambient. Wel moeilijk om actief te luisteren. Ik druk het blijkbaar vrij makkelijk weg in mijn hoofd. Het is daardoor een fijn achtergrondgeluid.

4/10 Icelandic Chilled/Eclectic

This has got to be one of the few album on here completely in a different language where the language is not specific to the genre It’s quietly beautiful, but it’s long as fuck. It would be a great record to throw on and forget about

This really makes you feel like Ágætis Byrjun.

Starts and finishes well, but it sags quite a bit in the middle. Definitely worth a listen though. ‘Svefn-g-englar’ and ‘Viðrar vel til loftárása’ are the standout tracks for me.

Sounds cool but don’t understand a word of it.

Super vibey, manbro...

I'm not really a fan of Sigur Ros generally, too self-important. And I'll be honest, this was kinda dull.

There has been a lot of exposure to Sigur Ros on TV and radio indents and soundtracks (including the very listenable and uplifting Hoppibola), so there were no surprises here. It's mostly gentle, almost ambient, but not in a Brian Eno sense because you are consciously listening to it. Not understanding the language puts emphasis on the feel and tone which change. It is not boring, just different to most rock music.

Interesting!

Really like the start of this album. Driving with the mountains in the background was super cool and almost trancy in a way. Very much enjoyed listening to something so new, kinda was charming not being able to know what they’ve been saying. end kinda lost me but wasn’t paying as close attention, feel like this album requires that. Overall, cool new experience

Aw man it lost my review must not have saved. This was a very calming listen for a froday after a stresdful few days. I listened to it during a workout and it was very relaxing. I picked up on a lot of tones that seemed to deal with childbirth. You can hear a heartbeat at the end of the first song for example. Anyways. Icelandic Radiohead, fun listen

Wow, this is really not my thing. I dig using nontraditional methods for a rock album (I mean, I have Kid A and Amnesiac), but it wasn't until listening to this that I just am not interested. This would be a 2.5 for me, but a 3 based on technical musicianship. I felt like I was watching the end credits for a movie for an hour.

What a beautiful journey. I'm having trouble coming up with a comparison but at no point was I looking to skip ahead. I was just content and relaxed. Enya and Pink Floyd come to mind but still aren't a great comparison.

I've listened to this one before and it never really grabbed me so I wasn't really looking forward to this time through the album. However, I think I've just lived with this one long though that I've started to become used to the cadences of the album. It's never going to be one of my favorites but it has finally hit the point where the curves are familiar enough that I can enjoy the soundscape and get lost in it

relaxing but probably not going to listen to again

Je voulais l'aimer plus parce que Staralfur est magnifique (aussi le climax de The Aquatic Life) mais pas réussi

This was one I missed at the time it was released. I couldn't get through the whole thing.

Is that an ALIEN? With an umbilical cord?! Blew my mind, man. I liked this. It didn’t blow me away, but it was pleasant to listen to with earbuds while working.

I had really low expectations after reading the Wikipedia article about this album. An Icelandic "post-rock" album (whatever the hell that means) sung almost entirely in Icelandic, that is over an hour, and whose tracks lean on the longer side (10+ minutes in some cases). Yeah, I really wasn't sold. And to be honest, it didn't really do a whole lot for me. The tracks are beautiful. The melodies are easy to listen to and at times they soar higher than other tracks of heard in the same/similar genres. My trouble with it is that this is art and, I think, meant to be consumed as such. I know that sounds strange. "Isn't all music art?" Well, yes. But you know what I mean. There's art and then there's *art.* The stuff that wasn't just written to be commercially successful and sell records. It's the stuff that was put together because the people involved had a personal vision. That's what this feels like to me. Maybe that's because of the solemn nature of the sound of this album. Maybe it's because I'm right. I don't know. But my issue with this is that it simply isn't an easy listen. It's tempting to listen to this as background music but then you lose all meaning of the music. This is *art* and in order to be properly understood probably needs very intentional listeners. I just wasn't ready to do that today and so it just didn't hit the way I'm it could've/would've if I was ready to sit down for an hour, close my eyes, and just listen. I guess what I'm saying is, there's nothing wrong this album. There's something wrong with me and the way I consumed it today. Or maybe it just wasn't for me. But I did like it. I don't know. 3 stars. Standout tracks: Svefn-g-englar, Flugufrelsarinn, Ny batterí, Olsen Olsen

This sounds like I imagine I’d feel if I spent some time in Iceland. I’ve heard some of their later stuff and liked it, but sitting with a whole album is something else. A bit disconcerting at times. Songs like Starálfur help break that up though. I like it, even if I don’t see myself returning to it. 3.5

I like the ambient, ethereal sound. Some of the vocals and rock-forward sections take me out of it a bit. Definitely a vibe. 3.6

I only knew Sigur Rós from their album "Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust" which I bought because of how much I liked the single "Gobbledigook". They tend to make me think of Radiohead a lot because the music is delicately orchestrated and has a haunting quality about it, but it's not for me. I could never really get too deep into them, but I'm sure it's hits for tons of people.

Interesting. I liked a lot of it but some of it was a little repetitive. Very ethereal.

Beautiful music that doesn't really go anywhere? Nothing really to complain about but nothing that I really liked either.

Ambient, too long but I like Icelandic.

It was good. No songs I’d listen to again but beautiful as well.

Very chill and atmospheric. Not really my thing, but still a fun ride.

Not my favourite of theirs, but neat background music

Very pretty, but almost too mellow.

I like Sigur Ros for what they are. Icelandic/Nordic Atmospheric Indie Rock with nods to ambient instrumental jams. It's great music for certain things but not all things. I had never listened to this album but I know a bunch of their other stuff. Jonsi, the lead singer's solo stuff is pretty cool too; similar sounding but his voice is very mystifying and calming.

Atmospheric and dreamy. Some of the songs run too long for me but an interesting listen.

Cool post-rock album. Bit too dragged out for me, but for a mood type of album it’s great

The soundtrack I wanna hear if I'm an astronaut looking back at the earth

Initial thoughts on band name, album name, and album art: What the fuck am I about to listen to. Well this album is weird, doesn't help that I looked up the language and it is " gibberish language Vonlenska". They do have an intense electronic feel to them. Feels like a Daft Punk influence pushed together with a lot of other influences. Overall not a bad album but not my jam still. 3 stars for me

This is my type of album! Incredible production and a beautiful listen on headphones. To top it all off, it's in a foreign language so I don't have to try and understand the lyrics and I can just enjoy the voice as an instrument ala Radiohead. Sigur Ros now sits firmly as my second favorite Icelandic artist in between Dadi Freyr and Bjork. I don't know if it's because I listened to Bittersweet Symphony this morning, but this sounds similar to The Verve in spots. This album started off as a solid 4, but slowly drifted into a very average album as it progressed. Definitely a handful of songs I really liked especially at the beginning and Olsen Olsen, but I can't imagine I'll pick this album up again in the future.

This is an album that I recognize is good, but it just doesn’t click with me.

Very chilled & relaxing without being tedious or boring. Enjoyed that.

Música ambiental. Agradable. Parece como música de despedida.

Early Floyd like Reminiscent of Portishead

Wenn man auf atomsphärische Klänge steht.

5/10 - 3/5 Not really my vibe. I do appreciate all the effort that went into it, and it has a good vibe, but it's pretty slow and atmospheric.

The best adjective for me to describe this album is atmospheric. It sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a sci fi movie. I feel as if I’m drifting through space, peacefully feeling the warmth of the stars as I float by, and yet I somehow also feel sad as I hear the strange melodies of the Icelandic voice. Words not understood, but somehow felt.

Slow, cold, clumsy, a endless sleepwalk through a dark nightclub by day

Spacy

Their is a lot going on, and I am too dumb and white to understand. Olsen Olsen was really nice

Without context, this was an album of beautiful soundscapes. Overall, however, there was nothing "exceptional" about it, in my opinion. Standout track: Flugufrelsarinn

Liked the melancholic vibe, it was a bit boring though

An old favorite.

I am unsure

Probably better in headphones. I really think you have to be in the mood. I remember it being something I liked a lot back in 2005.

Chill. Background. Great instrumentation - synthesizer, drums, keyboard, guitar, cello, horns.

I really liked how this started and that it is something unique and haunting and definitely weird, but it was too much of the same on repeat. I needed something different peppered in to give it a great review, as it is I liked it well enough but left me wanting more.

This album had some really good songs and some that made me feel really bad- like my bones were itchy.

Even though I don't speak Icelandic and had to look up all the lyrics, I thought this was a very moving concept album. The band did a really good job of making me feel isolation during all of the tracks at the same time as hope and disappointment. Sonically, it is beautiful and complex. The reason I'm not giving it four stars is because it was an hour and a half. I have that's really hard to listen to as a full album. I still think it was best to listen to altogether, but I probably can't do that again many times. Individual tracks will definitely be revisited.

I liked the vibes, but I would have enjoyed this more if I were on drugs.

If gave me feelings and I do not appreciate it

Was confused for a moment because it sounded familiar, but then I realized Jónsi is the vocalist lmao. It's cool and all but I'm looking for revolutionary.

Its fine I guess. I don't want to revisit any tracks, only to listen as background music. I find the vocals quite annoying tbh. Sigur Ros overrated to me. 2.8/5

Filmisch, prachtig, sfeer, nostalgisch, warm dekentje. Soms iets te warm, lang geleden dat ik dit hoorde en 't is me soms net allemaal te cozy en mooi en wiiiiijjjjds en laaaang enzo. Maar op de juiste moment ergens 's nachts onderweg door een sprookjeslandschap is dit zalig. En Olsen Olsen is sowieso leuk om mee te brullen als hymne.

What the hell is this - my dad

They’re talented enough, and the music is “pretty,” but just kind of boring.

Not great not terrible

I was really disappointed by this. It’s all much of a muchness and certainly did not move me to tears like someone else said

good atmosphere, moody background music. each song took too long to start though, which wasted the listeners’ time.

I wanted to like this more than I did. I didn't hate it though.

Liking it so far. Svefn-g-englar is really nice. Very melancholic yet comforting.

im not the biggest fan of post-rock, but this was relatively pleasant. didnt like vocals tbh hard to call it significant too, its more of "most popular" in this case. also didnt even realise the album has ended, cause next song by Red Sparowes (sic) sounded exactly the same, so thats a -1 point lol Significant 26/74 Liked 11/74 Added 3/74

One of the most interesting folk bands, their music suggests a lot the Icelandic panorama swept by the wind and snow, and the electronic arrangements underline their coldness and vastness. But you have to be in the mood to appreciate them. And I don't always have it :)

ethereal and dreamy, good coding music since it's not in English (Icelandic and gibberish??) I am giving 3 because though it was memorable, I might not go back and listen

what a unique album! sigur rós' Ágætis byrjun made for an extremely pleasant listening journey. peaceful, ethereal, dreamy. the whole album had such a chill vibe, but they were still able to expand past their ambient genre. a great example is in "hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)", where the opening is country-like, which definitely came out of left field. i enjoy them pushing the boundary of their music! i suppose the only negative thing to say is that it's hard to listen to this whole album straight through. sigur rós know what they're about and go hard in exactly one direction. i wouldn't call them one note by any stretch, but it can be a lot to listen to song after song of them.