Ágætis Byrjun

Post rock, dream pop. L'ascoltatore è immerso in un sogno che non finisce mai, e che talvolta si tramuta in incubo. L'atmosfera estremamente astratta crea un immaginario unico, ma la mancanza di ritmo e di "sostanza" si fa sentire ben presto.

A classic

These guys have a really cool sound. I really enjoyed this album.

What a fantastic sound this album has. Production great soundscape tunes what more can I say

Ambiance très onirique dans plusieurs titres, qui aurait bien matché à la série Sandman J'ai apprécié mais je ne me suis pas enjaillée non plus 🤔 La pochette est un peu dérangeante

Je pourrais écouter ces musiques en musique de fond en travaillant, ou en lisant un livre fantasy. Vraiment bien aimé l'intro, Bien aimé Ný batterí / Olsen olsen / Avalon

Très planant et onirique. Des musiques magnifiques. Des morceaux longs, ce dont on n'a pas l'habitude. Pas le style que j'écouterais au quotidien mais très beau !

Not my jam. I can understand the appeal though and why it's here

Epic, spacey, emotional and intimate -- all from a band who sings in Icelandic (or occasionally their own, invented dialect), which I do not understand. Less doom-y than Godspeed You! Black Emperor, more delicate than Explosions In The Sky; this is perhaps the most accessible entry point into circa-2000 post-rock. You won't dance to this record. You likely won't sing along much. Some pieces are long and some meander. I'd encourage everyone to check this out, though. There's a reason this has been used in countless movie scores since its release: there's little music out there that contains more sheer feeling than Sigur Rós's masterwork, Ágætis Byrjun.

Very ethereal. I really liked this. "Olsen Olsen" was the standout for me. The rest of the tracks were great to have on in the background and get things done. I can see putting this on and completely zoning out.

One drawn out album. Makes for good background noise. But just drags.

Feels like upgraded low roar or smth like this. Unfortunately no english, but it makes things harder to realize, requires more concentration on instrumental, which is kinda cool exp. Absolutely stunning album.

Fantastic and emotional album. Love Sigur Rós!

I remember when this came out, it sounded like nothing I'd ever heard before. Favorite: Olsen Olsen

Very solid background music, but it doesn't feel more. In fact, don't some of you find this to be a tad cheesy? Some of the payoffs in songs sound like the soundtrack to a movie where the characters are celebrating, and it starts to wear a little tiring by the end. Certainly a decent little project, but probably won't stick out too much to me in just a few days.

BANGER AFTER BANGER AFTER BANGER AFTER

OK, calming music and well written musically. Good for ambience.

I've never quite known what to make of Sigur Ros. I had listened to them previously when getting into a few other Icelandic musicians so more or less knew their deal already, though I wasn't super familiar with this album specifically. This is the first album on here that wasn't in English, so that obviously makes it pretty unique off the bat. This one is mostly in Icelandic I believe, but they also apparently sing in made up words that kind of sound like Icelandic sometimes? I don't quite get that. That said, they are obviously incredibly talented musicians. I do frequently like their sound, and the ambient noise style (or as Spotify says, "cosmic post-rock creations", whatever that means) can make for good listening (even just as background noise). I don't think I'm quite as big on them as some others are, but I think where I land is that it's generally interesting stuff, very unique, and mostly enjoyable. This is another one that's probably a 3.5 for me, but it's unique and interesting enough that I'll round up. Favorite song: Svefn-g-englar Other: Ny batterí, Vidrar Vel til Loftárása, Olsen Olsen, Avalon 10/30/23

Not my thing

Nope

Gotta be in the right mood.

This was another album that really reaffirms why I've spent over 700 days listening to albums from this list because this album was totally unique and came out of nowhere. Like, where else would I have started to listen to Icelandic indie electronica or whatever. This album sounded beautiful and I could just imagine how cool a concert with a light show or something would be for this. I have no idea what the lyrics are but it sounds peaceful/maybe sad and was super relaxing for me especially paired with super intricate production. I was gonna give this album a 4 but then I realized that I've given 5's to worse, more forgettable records than this and I've never heard something like this so it's more than deserving of a 5 even if I won't listen to this as regularly as an album like Illmatic.

Soooo long

A stunning album all the way through. The ambient stretches between musical swells works perfectly to tie all the tracks to gather and gives you a reflective rest before diving back in.

10/27/23. Very interesting sounding album, almost like contemporary and classical blended together, and interesting vocals. May listen again to get more familiar, mostly felt like background music.

Interesting but ultimately not something I would seek out to listen to in the future.

Pretty album but not something I'd seek out it put in rotation.

YES. This is why I tried this 1001 albums thing. I had no idea this existed, and it is EXACTLY my thing. Listening to it is like losing yourself into a cloud of dream dust and swirly lights, but it is not scary. It feels like it has to be like that. Like I have to be there. I'm so happy to have found this. It's perfect, a really impressive piece of art.

Ethereal - very relaxing. I could listen to this before bedtime. 4 out of 5

Better than I would have expected. Very chill and a bid dreary

Makes me feel insignificant in a good way. No one listens to lyrics anyway, so being in a language I don't understand lets me focus more on the melody.

Like a full album of the most ethereal Radiohead tracks. I’m into it

Caught me off guard. Really good music, shoegazer style.

Thoroughly enjoyed. Had a Pink Floyd vibe.

Very relaxing music, with long songs. I feel like I might play this before I go to sleep.

Molto interessante. Atmosfera melodica e sognante, non proprio il mio genere ma apprezzabile.

Dreamy and beautiful.

This album was exactly what this type of exercise was meant for. It was something I never would have discovered on my own. At first I didn't really care for it but as the album progressed it grew on me and I ended up enjoying it and has me curious to explore more music from this group.

Space rock

Ethereal and moving

it feels like a dream at times.

Nope

INCREDIBLE! Seriously killer!

I love Sigur Ros, Olsen Olsen was my favourite, and the chilled atmosphere was very much welcome yesterday

Gorgeous classic. *Heard before.

I will never understand the rabid, feverish following that this band has. Sure, the soundscapes are interesting and the compositions are complex. But everything is just so soft. All the edges have been knocked off so that there's no risk of anyone bumping their shins on anything sharp. It challenges nothing, goes nowhere, and carries zero meaning. In a word, it's boring. I don't understand all the fuss over something so bland.

Медленный, мало ритмичности, много фолка

Something I know absolutely nothing about! Wow! This is pretty beautifully arranged, mellow, ethereal, ambient shoegaze. I have no idea what they're saying. I imagine myself sitting in cold, blasting this music, watching the northern lights in the sky. Maybe it helps to read that these guys are Icelandic. Best Track: Svefn-g-englar

great chill work relaxing music

I totally understand why these guys were the supporting act of Radiohead. I'm amazed. I have no idea what he is saying but I know exactly what he means. 5/5

melodic and atmospheric- but it didn't grab me and unlikely to listen to again

Great sonics and harmonics, would be cool to listen to when the sun is rising.

Reminds me of so many different bands but more in spirit than in sound, the sound is pretty unique. Got a new crush yesterday, been daydreaming about her to this music, it only added to the experience.

I love this it reminds me of Fishmans by Fishmans which is another 5/5 in my eyes so beautiful

Maybe I was in the wrong mood for this… but no. Just completely not my thing

10/20/2023 - First on this site. Good ambient music, might be good for the plane

unique different melodic background high monolithic consistent slow rock sad nordic melancholic

This just sounds like the ending of a Radiohead song that went on for too long.I don’t really have any feelings on it besides that.

Bruh

Good change of pace

Puts you to sleep or scores your ending scene murder

Easy, sleepy

It’s been several years since I have revisited this album. I was a freshman in college when I discovered it, although it had come out 2 years before. I thought it was revolutionary then. All these years later, I still find it moving and beautiful at times, meandering and repetitive at other times. I think all of these things are true. I do think this album was revolutionary at the time, but maybe I don’t love it anymore. It makes it hard to grade objectively. There is a lot here to like and there still isn’t anything quite like it.

liked some parts of the songs but didn’t love it

Not in english, and really out there, maybe for sleep or studying?

Very soothing and melodic. Helped me get quite a bit of work done at the computer.

Loved the album. I feel like it's a gateway to listening ambient music. The combinations of electronic sounds with very soft rock and beautiful voices (similar to Tom Yorke in a way), makes for a great experience. Loved "Flugufrelsarinn" and "Agaetis Byrjun". Feeling very relaxed.

Nice and peaceful, good background music

C+ Intro 2 Svefn-g-englar 3 Starálfur 3 Flugufrelsarinn 3 Ný batterí 3 Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm) 3 Viðrar vel til loftárása 3 Olsen Olsen 3 Ágætis byrjun 3 Avalon 2 This was actually quite good, but I couldn't get totally into it because it was a style that was so foreign and I didn't understand their language at all.

- it's like spiritual, cinematic music, but the high moments on it aren't cool enough for me to sit through 10min songs for it - some of the moments are beautiful though - lord of the rings mountain vibes - fetus music!!! - yeah only a couple songs that have really cool moments

I don’t particularly know where to put this one, sometimes boring, other times quite interesting, I guess straight down the middle would be fair, but I can’t go 2.5 unfortunately

It's pretty, but it does drag on. I would play this in the background while I do things, but I'm not gonna put this on when I wanna listen to music.

Like listening to paint dry

It's not my cup of tea but I listened to the complete album to give it a chance. I understand how other people can enjoy this album but it did nothing for me. Slow, uninspiring and quite boring.

Great alternative album from an Icelandic band. Pretty chill and mellow.

Atmospheric songs that are more like suites. Similar in tone to Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

Ouvi uma vez, e gostei! A música que mais gostei foi a staralfur. De resto, apesar de não haver mais nenhuma música stand out, eu poria isto como música de fundo para muita coisa

Incredible album!

Meh

DIdn't like is as much as Takk

Good slow builds

Not for me, but I appreciate that it's in this list since it's.. weird and something that isn't the usual suspects.

3.5/5

Gorgeous. As good or better than anything else I've heard from Sigur Ros.

Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós

A classic! Love the atmosphere.

I can clearly remember the first time I listened to this, walking between classes outside in fall in 2001. This album is imbued with that time in my life, but it brought plenty of its own magic, charisma, and mystery. It was (and is) like nothing else I've ever heard. It's one I put on when I want to clear my head and think about nothing, and that reminds me strongly of a dear departed mother figure, and was also playing for one of the best make-out sessions of my life. It can be all these and more, paradoxically, simultaneously. With its patient development, excellent song structure, absolutely gorgeous sounds, and obscure language, it adapts to your need.

Good album, need to listen to this one on some proper headphones next time and not my earbuds. But overall quite interesting.

Excellent

I enjoyed this album a lot while I was in my car driving at night. I think it really shined in that context, but I wasn't super enjoying it when I was just listening to it at work.

Nice to see a familiar face.

Super not my jam. Slow, plodding 10 minute opuses in a foreign language. The songs are in Icelandic as well, so no connection via lyrics for me either. Oh well, not everything is for everybody. Top 3 N/A

Very heavy, kinda a odd concept

Memories of studying in high school

Favourite songs: Svefn-g-englar, Staralfur Agaetis Byrjun

Great album; sometimes made me nervous. Provides distorted focus. <3

Melancholy but relaxing. Something a bit cathartic. Wonderful for rainy days or focusing for work.

This is not it. Far to experimental and weird. Some songs aren't just pure garbage but man, some of them are probably played at Guantanamo bay as advanced torture.

One of my Favourite albums to put of while working

Ofta atmosfäriskt och lite ambient, som i 'Svefn-g-englar', men gillar när det blir mer "konkret", som i 'Flugufrelsarinn', eller det tyngre beatet i 'Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)'. Gillar också 'Ný batterí' och 'Viðrar vel til loftárása'. Hela albumet, med omslaget inräknat, har en härlig, sammanhängande kosmisk vibe. Spännande att få en introduktion till ett band som jag hört så mycket bra om. Det var ungefär som jag tänkt mig. Dock vet jag inte om det är helt spikrakt in i vebon för mig. De gör sin grej, och de gör det skitbra. Personligen behöver jag nog lite mer action, att något mer händer i en tiominuterslåt än att samma utdragna toner repeteras. Bästa låt: Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm).

It's very good, and the production in particular is amazing. I liked listening to it. But...it's boring? Sigur Ros are boring. I know that's the kind of thing that you get thrown in jail for saying, these days, but there you have it.

hoyl sit menee viisusta viisuun... uskomatonta.. islantilaisia albumeja 3, suomalaisia 0. hassusti menny tää jako heh, pakkohan niitä suomalaisia albumejan olla!! niin paljon enemmän ihmisiä ja valtavasti enemmän musiikkia tuotettu heh hassusti että nyt kävi näin että alkuun tullut islannista, 300 tuhannen asukkaan saaresta tällattiin albumeja heh.. yritän sanoa ETTÄ VITTU GIMMICK SESONKI MUSIIKKI RANDOMISTI JOTAIN ERI MAISTA POPULAARIA PASKAA!! MILLÄÄN TAVALLA TÄRKIÄTÄ!!! islanti paska kieli, suomi kova.... islanti iceland western nation, westernern dream of nice people, of nice scenes, thats why chose iceland as 'gimmick' music to be popular...heh wow this place so rare, rare music from here make it popular.(also close to USA, close to hollywood) meanwhile finland: iron... iceland: rubbish.. hjartað hamast

Spacey, emotional, unique music but definitely not for everyone. Great for what is though.

Meh

Really liked this one. Wish I could understand the lyrics, but the vibes are on point. I appreciate the extended cuts that seem to transport you to another world. The music and the instruments used kind of remind me of a softer version of Massive Attack. Production and mixing are extremely well done and you can tell the group was meticulous when putting this album together. It sounds like they have used a very wide variety of instruments throughout the tracks, ranging from strings and horns to electric/acoustic guitar to piano to synths, and incorporating vocal harmonies/choral phrases. Fave tracks: Olsen olsen, Ny batteri (best experienced cover to cover)

Really beautiful album, I love the awe-inspiring sound of post rock. I do find that the tracks tend to become a bit indistinguishable though as I regard the album as whole instead of a collection of tracks. Fav Tracks: N/A

This one is a little out there for me, but it's an interesting sound and there is a beauty to some of it. Tracks I like: Staralfur Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa Olsen Olsen

Imagine this scene: You're at a bar at the W Hotel in Miami, it's late in the evening and the purple lights are low and all the beautiful people are sitting in small groups on plush sofas talking quietly and drinking vodka cocktails with orchids in them. This garbage music is what will be playing in the background. Repetitive, unoriginal and uninspired. But that's just my opinion.

Wanted to like it but it's just a bit too aimless for me

Very interesting sonically. Nice ethereal feel

I was rather bored by this.

5. It's such an amazing album. I got into it when I was looking at post rock and it didn't disappoint. This is one of the best ethereal style bands I've come across. God music is amazing

really not for me

Great album. Beautiful music. It all felt blended together so that makes it difficult to review on specific songs, but I really felt like it was a great, slow, and gorgeously ambient album.

love the ethereal otherworldly sounds. no idea what it is about but it sounds fabulous.

Enjoyed it

To wavy for me

Great!

Deep chill music. Might make one feel claustrophobic!

Interplanetary whales sing love songs

Loved it

Cool and atmospheric

8/10: Música etérea, sale en beautiful boy

really good and new interesting sounds for me.

Interesting, beautiful sound. I love the vibes, but I don’t like how long every song is. It builds well, but I kind of got bored.

Took a while for me to warm upto. Pretty good album, slow and relaxing

I used to be obsessed with Sigur Rós, and listening to this album again reminded me why I love them so much. 5/5

It was otherworldly. Something I might hear while sitting in a waiting room somewhere.

Intro: 7.5/10 - warm bath as an introduction to this masterpiece of an album Svefn-g-englar: 10/10 - an epic dream Staràlfur: 9.5/10 Flugufrelsarinn: 8/10 Ný batteri: 9/10 Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm): 8/10 Viðrar vel til loftárása: 9.5/10 Olsen Olsen: 9/10 Ágætis byrjun: 8.5/10 Avalon: 8/10 Overall: 8.7/10 - Fantastic album, one of the best ever made

Неплохой шум, но лучше когда только инструмент

- Svefn-g-englar feels like ascending to another plane of cosmic consciousness. - Hjartao hamast goes so much harder than I expected from these guys. - What the fuck happened to post-rock? I feel like in the 2000s you couldnt look at an Album Of The Year list without hitting like 5 of these albums, and now they just don't exist in the discourse. - On first listen, I'd say this runs out of steam a bit in the final stretch; that could easily change, though, and the rest is just absurdly beautiful.

Demasiado para abajo. No es para mi.

A bit weird, not bad but nothing special

Awesome!

Beautiful Icelandic post- rock ambient.

This was great background music for working. I would put this on again the next time I need background music.

you call this music? i don’t want to listen to wailing sorry

Just beautiful...

Good post rock album, cool sound on a lot of the vocals and the tracks where it ramps up a bit we’re really good

beautifully ambient - perfect 1am listening experience

Classic

This record is perfect for an overcast or rainy Monday morning. Very mellow, but enjoyable.

Nice. Mellow and heavy orchestral sound.

Really good album.

0 stars

This album was pretty good, it was beautiful and unintelligible. My main issue is that the only issue they seem to be able to write is melancholy. A complicated emotion, but they nail it. After achieving this, they don't really go anywhere. They touch other levels of energy and emotion, but can't quite seem to break away from melancholy. Not to say that it's completely repetitive, but the range could be improved upon. No complaints otherwise. 4/5

Trumpets! 1999 - Icelandic post-rock, Post-rock, Ambient music, Dream pop, Shoegaze*, Art rock *Shoegaze is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume. Wikipedia

I don't speak Icelandic, so my take on this album is purely sonic and not linguistic. Listening to the first part of this album is like laying out among the grass on a late summer day, looking up at the sky, watching the clouds go by as a gentle breeze cools off your body from the warm touch of the sun. It's relaxing, it coaxes you into reflecting back upon the summer—and the summers before it, but it's also melancholy—another summer is nearly over, and there just wasn't enough time to live. The second part of the album hits, and it's back to school, back to the grind, and everything is overwhelming all over again. There's too many choices, too much information, everything is rushed, there's anger and disappointment. Maybe it's a few years later, and it's commuting to and from the office, or shuttling children between school and extra curricular activities. Grocery shopping, car repairs, rent—responsibilities. However, there's still the recent memory of the summer, and it creeps back in and offers encouragement—there is hope of new opportunities and unexpected possibilities. Maybe you meet some new friends, or that special someone. Maybe some of your old friends seem a little bit different, a little bit older, a little bit wiser. Maybe it's a new child , creating and enjoying new experiences with dear friends, or participating in an exciting profession or mission that is changing the world. And then you arrive at the last track, and as you settle into that final shavasana as life fades away from your body, you realize what you knew all along: life wasn't just those summers, it wasn't just those highlights, it was all the bits and pieces in between that mattered, too. This is solid music.

This works fairly well as background music, but I probably won't come back to this. I appreciate the composition, though; it's like if Rush or some other prog rock band decided to do a super chill album. In Icelandic.

By the end I felt very present in my boredom. It's all very evocative and moving. The first several tracks felt like being on vacation in paradise, but by the end it like you realize that they have just as much traffic in paradise and you're ready to be home again.

Uskomatonta musiikkia toivon mukaan lyriikat ei täyttä indie kuraa... 4-5 am kuuntelu kun ei nukuta.. ei tämän paremmaksi mene...

Lidt ensformig

Creative and strangely moving at times. The sound they created became so familiar in later years, creating the background for the slow alternative singer songwriter rock of the 2000’s. Some songs work better than others, though. While the first two full songs are special and unique, the third is unremarkable and sounds like soundtrack music.

Exceptional, original work by Sigur Ros. Atmospheric, beatifully textured soundscapes, layered with superb instrumentation.

Not bad for an atmospheric play.

One of the best records released in the last 25 years. Period.

This was a nice listen but I don't think I will listen to it again

I'm not someone who is opposed to listening to long songs. Multiple of my favorite songs of all time are well over the 10 minute mark. But to this day, when loading up a new album to hear it for the first time, seeing a length over an hour, with a track list of songs consistently over 5 minutes long is still daunting. Because something that long can really be hit or miss. Thankfully I'm happy to say that Ágætis byrjun warrants its 70 minute run time. It has these massive sounding instrumentals that build and build, but take just enough time before finally coming all together, unlike some of their contemporaries in the post-rock space. And these instrumentals are damn good. String and piano sections cascading and soaring through the mix creates an incredible atmosphere. An atmosphere that balances warmth and hostility perfectly. They managed to capture bliss in a bottle for these songs. But then they decided that wasn't enough, so they strapped the bottle to the side of a very quiet rocket ship, and sent it straight into space. These songs are luscious and gorgeous at their most complicated, and chilling at their most simple and still. Sometimes a particular moment of a song or an album sticks with you longer than it should. Listening to "Hjartað hamast (Bamm bamm bamm)" was definitely one of those for me. Hearing such a funky keyboard sound on this album, especially after 5 of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, was jarring to say the least. But I loved it. I loved most of this album. It's helped me realize I need to look at the run time of a piece of music as less of a crutch, and more as a blessing. Because if it's done well, I'm only going to want more of it.

oh ok.. was all but writing the "nice but not for me" review as the intro was a bit meh... then Starálfur blew my socks off. Really an example of how music transcends language and can be so important. Prefer it when it's being Rocky rather than ethereal strangely enough 4.6

This could be the most beautiful gobbledygook you'll ever listen to. An absolutely stunning achievement that takes its time to explore what sound can do in the right hands. I go back to this album pretty often when I'm feeling lonely. It's a perfect companion to sitting in those isolated, nostalgic feelings. Pop on your best headphones, light up a jazz ciggy, and sink back in your chair with this one.

There’s an ethereal beauty to be found in these deep, dark Icelandic waters, provided you’re in the right mood to go diving for them.

Really poetic, such a journey !

Unique and very listenable despite the lack of understanding of the words.

I like the cover of the album. Fist i thought it was German, then i thought it was Korean, then Slovak and after looking at a song title I now think it might be Icelandic. However I don't know what Icelandic sounds like. Now looking at the description of the album, I can inform you that in the end I was right, it is Icelandic that they are singing ;) A high 3 or a low 4.

Icelandic so didn’t understand lyrics Post rock Spaced out vibe Long ass songs Had some cool guitar parts

I Was not expecting Ágætis Byrjun to be this good. All of the elements come together to create an atmosphere that is womb-like and peaceful. Even though I couldn't understand a word, the lead singer's voice felt calming and added to the music. If you haven't listened to it yet, I strongly urge you to give it a try. Only fault is that some songs were too long, and lost my attention.

On its own, an atmospheric, post-rock instrumental just isn't for me. Slap it on as a soundtrack to a movie or a TV show and I'll appreciate it within the context of the scene it's in, but listening to this music just makes me forget I'm even listening to something in the first place. I will say though, there are certain sections where Sigur Rós leans into heavier rock sounds - that's where this record really shines. For that reason, the standout is Viðrar Vel Til Loftárása.

Sehr psychedelisch langsame Musik. Ein bisschen wie Weltraumklänge. Meist ohne Vokals, die als solche erkennbar sind, Ausnahme Agaetis Byrjun.

Not for me, but it sounds very cool and cinematic.

Odd music, but a cool one

Ouvi uma beca. Molho secante. Não é mau. 3 estrelas mas talvez 2 porque é ganda seca.

не знаю

When it comes to Sigur Rós, I am really only familiar with ( ) which was released after this album. This album is just what I was expecting though, just an absolutely beautiful and visceral auditory experience. Excellent release from an excellent band.

wow, this is one of those albums where every track just floors me. can't listen to it all the time, it's one of those ones where you gotta be in the right mood to properly experience it. but when it hits, man there's nothing better.

Beautifully Hypnotic .

Do not listen to if feeling a bit low... Will not help 😭 Interesting stuff ....soundscape , sad .

Very chill, soothing, interesting to listen to. It was hard to keep my full attention on it but when I did it was absolutely worth it.

I thought this would be a total dud. I was wrong. Actually interesting electronic, kind of ambient, weird music. Much much better than I anticipated. Will I ever listen again - probably not. Was it good one time - definitely.

I was too distressed by Robbie Robertson dying to listen to this. Also, was not super excited to listen when I tried to pronounce it. Got through tracks 1-2

Kinda weird, apparently I need to either follow along with English translation or learn Icelandic and neither of those is happening. Interesting music that could be more fully appreciated on later listening

When listening to Sigur Rós, time moves a little differently HL: “Starálfur”, "Ný batterí", “Olsen, Olsen”, "Viðrar vel til loftárása" August 8, 2023

It’s a good album but you have to be in the mood for it.

Shiiiiiit, this is so good. I know Sigur Rós, but really listening to a whole album from cover to cover us another story altogether. Genius. Love it.

C’est tellement plannant que tu dois écouter ça comme le fétus sur le cover mais sans que tu t’endorme, faque c’est pas mal de setup. Mais genre si t’as une heure avant de dodo c’est parfait

Obra maestra

great

Something in the air was changing by the turn of the millennium. Rock was mutating into forms grotesque and drab, electronic music was becoming co-opted by the mainstream and hip-hop was taking giant steps into being the dominant genre it is today. Yet it feels oddly appropriate for Sigur Rós, on their second album, to deliver a record that feels as though it was the final missive of a turbulent century and it is as ambient and bombastic as it could be. It is no understatement in saying that Ágætis Byrjun is a masterpiece. It began the elevation of Sigur Rós as a defining force of post-rock and as the poster children of atmospheric textures that soundtrack impressionistic films and T.V. shows over the coming decades. Over twenty years on, its sheer unquestioning beauty helps it retain a light that shines beyond the glow of the fetus on the album cover. No wonder fans, both casual and hardcore, continue to vouch for this album and its brilliance, for it is quite literally a good beginning.

This was nigh unlistenable through my laptop speakers (I really couldn't distinguish any depth of sound at all), but once I got off my lazy ass to grab the good stuff it was a much more rewarding listening experience. In fact, the louder you can make this album, the better. The impact really scales. I had a lot going on today so looking up the English translation of the lyrics wasnt in the cards, so I'm reviewing everything but. Sigur Ros are the masters of ambience and as far as accessibility goes, I can digest a whole lot more of this than I can Bjork. Surprising range of sounds and textures and genres they pull from but still sounds cohesive. Great album to fall asleep to. I liked this album the longer it went on - this is the first where I was blah on it at the outset but by the end it had truly won me over. I know the tracks are fairly long but I didnt feel like they got boring before they ended. I genuinely think it helps that I was physically exhausted and overheated when I first started listening to the record - it was really soothing. I think the 6th track was my favorite, Hjartad hamast (just pretend that is using the correct letters from Icelandic).

The Radiohead influence is big in this one. I think I need to listen to this again in a different setting than a commute. For now it’s a high 3 but could be a 4.

This falls under the I can appreciate but do not like category. This was celebrated when it was released in 1999 and I attempted to get into in then. There is a four-disc Deluxe version that I can't take on, so I will go with the standard release. While the sonic landscapes created are interesting, I find the vocals grating and off-putting.

Had a hard time getting past not having a clue what they were singing about. Non-English lyrics are fine as long as the music is engrossing. For me, this isn't. In fact, I think it's kind of boring.

This was sooooo boring. It was fine atmospheric music to have in the background but I can never see myself ever listening to this again. I'm sorry I don't have more to say. Maybe if I understood the lyrics I would, so they will get a 2 not a 1.

BEST SONGS: -Flugufrelsarinn -Hjartao hamast

I think it's a bit long, as I did end up getting a bit bored by the end. At some point it just turned into droning noise to me. I would be interested to follow with an English translation though. The vocals were usually soothing, even if I couldn't understand them. I think this needs a relisten in the future, but as it stands now, I'll give it a three. I think my favourite songs were Intro and Hjartao hamast (bamm bamm bamm), but it got hard to keep track of the songs.

This was a pleasant listen, and a very relaxing one given the post rock and dream pop elements. Mostly I would consider it very nice background music with some interesting lyrics going off the translations I read. I did enjoy the second song very much given the lyrics about the process of birth which was done really well, and the instrumentation reminded me of Mazzy Star

If you fancy an interminable trip down the road of endless nothingness, this is the perfect album for you.

Pretty sick. Atmospheric is definitely the word

It sounded like a space epic at times which I liked.

# 21: electronic leads, dreamy in its delivery, but weird. Music to fall asleep by. Over 1 hour of suffering! I guess it's good if you can understand it?

Not really my taste, very cinematic though which was nice.

I feel as if I'm not listening to this in the correct mood. It needs to be listened to at night with headphones, blindfold and some rain to set the mood. It's definitely different but I like it. This is why I love 1001 albums.

Just a lot of noise in my opinion..... Nothing really of interest to me. Not enough SOUL. Lots of just soft instrumentals and sing-songy, astral vocals

I have to clear my recently listened so nothing like this comes up again.

Despite the fact that I have no idea what they are saying, the music here is so beautiful. Whether they’re speaking Icelandic, jibberish, or nothing at all, they evoke such a broad range of emotions. Can see why this album has been used so heavily in film soundtracks, it just helps to illustrate the complexity and beauty of life.

Soundtrack to a fever dream. Didn't hate it but its a one and done for me.

10/10 I hate 4chan, but /mu/ actually has pretty great tastes ngl

Beautiful ambient that very cleverly subverts the listeners idea of the genre by building up to something bigger on its best songs

Beautiful post-rock. Haunting vocals.

Interesting. Very ambient. It's mood music so I have to be in the right mood to listen to it. I'll explore when I'm feeling it. There's potential for me to really like it but for now, it's just OK.

Didn't listen to this much when it exploded. It's very nice in places, but I think I prefer more edges to my post rock. I wasn't gripped really at any point after the initial iconic sting of the opener. Some of it sounded like a slow late-period U2 album track. Also, I think Jon Hopkins came along later and perfected it. Ok edit, I'll take the second half of viorar etc, that's pretty special. Again, this is in here but Mogwai and Godspeed Y!BE aren't? There are far more egregious examples but still.

Música islandesa así como ambiental. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

Similarly to Bryce, I’m a frequent gazer of shoes, but I’ve never much been into the slower and more ambient side of the genre. I will say that this is one of the better of these types of albums that I’ve heard, so I hope this has opened me up a bit to the style. Very relaxing album.

I love Shoegaze, but this was a little bit too slow and somber for my taste. I’m sure the lyrics were good but having them be not in English made it tricky because they weren’t that interesting rhythmically. Will probably listen again, definitely a talented band.

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)

Good musicians. Creative.

Vibes

Best album ever?????? Favorite Tracks: all of them but especially Staralfur 5/5

don't get the appeal

A little grating after a while - clever as it may be.

I get scandinavian music. It's harsh like their weather and beautiful like their landscapes.

Didn't have to understand a single word that they were saying to get the message from this album the instrumentals spoke for themself

This took me somewhere. Never really heard anything like it

I have a decent level of music theory. I’ve listened too and enjoyed Holdsworth , Coltrane, Zappa, later Joni Mitchell, Shostakovich, stockhausen, Jaco…. I’m still wondering if this is garbage or genius. One wonders if they weren’t from Iceland would they have received any attention? The stars reflect an acknowledgment I might be too hard. Or. Might not.

It is what the articles suggested it to be. Original - so very Icelandic and other "ic" words like Cinematic, beautiful Ágætis Byrjun - Sigur Rós Summer up in a phrase "Take me dreaming, carry me, languid , through a mystic dream forest to the exquisite slate mountain so I can sleep in the Heaven up there" So soothing and well suited to soundtrackers and past listeners of Eno or maybe minimalists who can tolerate a soundscape album for a while - music for those who can hold unfamiliar music and can grasp imagining a film scene or creating in their "KopfKino" a continuance after the seminal scene of a films climax , the ones where the camera rises, and floats before it blurs or darkens after that long drift (like at the end credits of La Grande Belezza, or in films like Wings if Desire ).... Me, in other words. I really enjoyed how this website did a well researched review that went wide and deep,included reference to Huldufólk, the Icelandic island’s native elfin population, and its potential relevance when first listening to this so it needn't seem so odd. Well it will still be odd. But it's like a soundtrack to a very different movie ... And knowing there might be elves there gives you an opening into the ethereal fairy world you are invited to share. https://classicalbumsundays.com/album-of-the-month-sigur-ros-agaetis-byrjun/ So Imagine Brian Eno music for airports meets Nick Cave and Warren Ellis music for odd movie moments. - the outcome is something ethereal and very organic feeling ... and depicting elves maybe, in this highly original Icelandic music with lots of words ending in "-ic" to describe it Cinematic is grasp reach and ambition. Lands it too. Artistic and ambitious - and gets there. The sonic landscape of the elves and of being enthralled , engulfed, embraced warmly and sonically Ethereal Enigmatic and yes somehow familiar and soothing. Melodic and yet some schrill moments - there is falsetto Incomprehensible nordic tongue means you hear the voice and don't understand the words except in a soothing transporting nautical way like a half dream. It Reminds me greatly of "music for airports" by Brian Eno (especially on Avalon) .. and also of Moments of late Hansa Zimmer here too (blade runner 2049 ) I imagine making this , especially when young, this isdaring stuff, not even done as a project for a film, with a support or pointz but as stand alone is quite something. And they stuck with it for more than one experiment. Imagine it in black mirror or cinema credits. They can do some amazing stuff. Yes it could be trippy. I'm not sure if the effect would be happy or unhappy if you were floating drugged to this soundtrack. To my ear you don't need anything. It does enough on its own NOTED WITH INTEREST. to keep the vibe going after this album, the algo again came up with the gorgeous sounding SONG FOR ZULA by Phosphorescent.. and then the lovely, so lovely Palace played HEAVEN UP THERE. Oh yes... That might be a direct influence and connection right there ? I do thank you, algo. I like it when that happens. More of this for a haggard soul. Not for everyone but if you're this far into the list, you can probably handle almost anything. And hopefully this soothed. Should it be here on the list? Yes. 4-5 (wonderful and unqiue for a genre, unsure how influential or important it is, but beauty and art it is to me ...) Like it? 4.5 Overall. Oh gosh a 5. I'd like to hear more Palace since we are here. Written completely sober, save for the entrancement if this album .... This album sustains an idea a long as half an album side ... And yet has

A good beginning my arse. Steer well clear.

This is a gorgeous album. I have the 2 albums they did directly after this, but I’d never heard this before. I don’t know what I can compare it to. I’m sure it reminds me of something, but can’t quite nail it. It’s a great listen.

Jayson Greene (Pitchfork) said of this album "If you are inclined to sniff suspiciously around grandiose music, examining it for kitsch, you probably reeled away staggering from Sigur Rós, who proudly stink of it. This was another part of their appeal and their strength: The music is texturally complex, for sure, but the emotional framework is deliberately simple and clear." Hard to state more clearly; the sound is cinematic and huge with large emotions, even if rendered somewhat cryptic through use of Icelandic and (made up) Hopelandic lyrics. Does this make them an ideal screen on which the listener can project their own emotions? Maybe. It doesn't connect for me, though I can hear the massive influence of the scope and sound, which you hear everywhere in TV, films and advertising. I can listen to this, but I don't trust it enough to be moved by it.

Immaculate vibes. Really one of its kind. But nothing I'd listen to regularly. Yet I still connect Sigur Rós songs with highly emotional situations I keep thinking about after years. Olsen Olsen sounds like the music that would play while Eurovision contestants get introduced in those little videos. The voice is just wow. Fragile. It's music for... Death Stranding. Mysterious Skin. Otherworldly experiences. The ending sounds interesting.

Stirring, comforting, mysterious, magical. Easily my favorite album so far.

The talent and vision here are pretty obvious. Big sweeping soundscapes, pretty string arrangements. Honestly, I can’t love this because it makes me feel uneasy. There’s a piercing quality to the vocals and the droning empty spaces that get under my skin ever so slightly. It’s a unique and artful album that deserves props, but as of now I don’t see myself listening again. Best song: Olsen Olsen?

Klassikko jo ensikuulemalta (ei tosin mulla nyt eka). Saman tyylin ja teeman sisällä monipuolisuutta. Selkeä suunnitelma alusta kohti loppua. Kaikki hyvin tehtynä. Ei ole minusta mikään kylmä talvialbumi, lämmin

Ongelma ei ole vain se, että tämän on tarkoitus synnyttää kivoja, seesteisen kaipaavia tunteita, vaan myös se, että kappaleiden melodiat kuulostavat Rod Stewartin 90-luvun täytelevyjen voimaballadeilta.

I'm sure there's a time and place for Sigur Ros, and I have enjoyed their music at times, but after a while it just blurs into one long Icelandic whinge and uber-effected guitars.

If each song was about half as long, I’d rate it higher. They all felt like a 5 minute intro with a 3 minute song behind it.

It's similar to Radiohead but slightly worse. Radiohead is great so this will get a 3.

This album is like some ancient alien technology shit. Its beautiful and strange, and I dont understand it in the slightest. 4/5

nah

I didn't hate it. It's not my kinda thing though.

Very nice

I really like the more ambient/shoe-gaze songs a lot. Liked this a lot more than I expected.

Last time I listened to Sigur Rós I didn’t like it. But I rather enjoyed most of this record. Maybe it has to be mood matched. Lyrics clearly aren’t a factor, so relying only on the music and vocals I liked it and would listen again. Atmospheric.

Took a while for me to get into this record. I don't know if I would have liked it more in English.

This is a very good album, but not one I can listen to often. If I'm in the perfect mood, it's good to put on, but I just can't rate something very high if it's not something that I'm happy whenever it comes on.

I listened to their first album before this one since the wiki noted the huge departure from the first to the second album. And wow, they really did make a huge change. And for the better. This band is so unique. Dreamy and etherial. No one like them.

The past couple of days have been an exercise in defining perception and memory. My memories of Sigur Ros are Hopipolla (fantastic song but later than this) and going into a club in Park City in 2003 (with some of you folks, you know who you are) and them playing on stage. A couple of events this weekend have made me question perception and memories and have me doubt myself to the nth degree. So when this popped up I was ready to disbelieve those memories and think that band in Utah was a different band, maybe similar or a tribute. In fact, was I even there? But thanks to the good old InterWeb I looked up a gig list and it WAS Sigur Ros. I can trust that memory at least. I can’t say they were the most scintillating live band but they did contribute to a more carefree time infused with great memories. Today has been frustrating and stressful but this Dream Pop managed to keep me calm and relaxed and put me in a perfect mood to deal with daily shite! For that I am very grateful. Dream Pop does sound like illegal candy though. It’s probably a 3.5 but a much needed vibe so let’s go…

It’s a cool vibe and they were fun to see live.

Marianne turned me onto this album when it first landed, I was ... transported? engulfed? abducted? I clearly can't find the word, but it was an immersive experience. I didn't do any research, thought maybe the lyrics were gibberish made-up sounds, but I loved it. It was unlike anything I had heard, at least I couldn't remember hearing music like it before. I was a massage therapist at the time, or soon after, and took to playing the album while working, which meant I spent a lot of meditative time with this spinning, so I heard every nuance ... a lot. I think I overdid it and haven't listened to it in years. So, I don't turn to this album anymore, I've heard it too many times, it has a connection to a certain place and time, but I spun it yesterday and spent no meditative time, it was on in the background passing breezily. But my recent experience doesn't matter. This is a 5 because it is one of those magical albums in my life that I lost myself in for countless hours. That self is still out there. Floating.

I enjoyed this, though there was a lot of it. Cut this down by 20 minutes and you got me. But great sounds and atmospherics. Matt says they're amazing live. it's a 3.5 as-is, but I'll round up just cause I like the cut of their jib

I can't remember how Sigur Rós came into my life but when they did it was on repeat. Clearly the ethereal, fairy-like quality grabbed a lot of folks. While I love these sounds, music, and language I don't understand in the background at anytime, I can say it's not a great gig to see live. Jen and I saw a documentary that was basically just a live performance and as much as we love Sigur Rós, the one place they don't excel is live.

7/10

shoutout to all the guys in college that were like "duude you gotta listen to sigur rós! They're so trippy and relaxing!" because they were mostly right about this. I'm not always in the right mood for this sorta thing, but when I am, it's good to put on.

Hjartað Hamast (bamm bamm bamm) sounds exactly like you'd expect a song titled "Hjartað Hamast (bamm bamm bamm)" to sound like

Very atmospheric dreamy post rock, it does kinda sound like its from iceland.. Must have been very influential on other more recent albums which I like, but it's also a very solid album on its own.

Ten tracks clocking in at a total of just under 72 minutes. Woof.

Soothing orchestral background music 3.5 stars

This was a slog. I really didn't enjoy this very much at all.

Pleasant

Super chill, don’t know what they are saying

bonito pero aburrido

We had a vigorous debate about this album. Some thought it was "hot garbage". I disagreed - I thought it was "steaming garbage".

The Devine Comedy and then this!? This app wants me to suffer this week doesn’t it!? This was… a taste that someone might have. At least it didn’t have that creepy singer on it that TDC had.

Svefn-g-englar: Dreamy yet at times it felt almost uncomfortable to listen to with certain screeches and high pitch sounds throughout the middle of the song. Overall seemed quite eerie but lacked certain characteristics that I would be be drawn towards.

I was so excited when this showed up after rating my last album; I’ve seen a lot of reviews that sounded like an album I would love. I was correct, with this being a beautiful album about life. (I translated the lyrics this time; I’ll probably do that for every album in a different language now). All of the songs, with the exception of the first and last, reach at least 6 minutes in length, but they never feel that long. They just pull you into the whole experience. I massively enjoyed this album, and I’m thinking of listening to () soon.

Highlights: Ný batterí, Olsen Olsen

Ja nawet nie wiem co to jest.

Gonna avoid genres here but this a wonderful dreamy Icelandic album that opened my mind and heart some 24 years ago. I've since seen them on 5 tours. Magical production glorious tunes and emotional heft. Head says 4. Heart says 5.

Sigur Rós is one of those bands where I need to take a deep breath and sigh before explaining my feelings. I tried to get into them a long time ago, but as that was pre-streaming, and I was a poor student, I only ever bought one album. I don't know man. They're not really a band you can just have in a playlist with the other normal bands. They're a sit down, shut up, and listen band. They're a purebred show dog watching the shelter mutts from the shade. (I get that dogs are dogs, I just couldn't think of anything else) This album was 30 minutes of me wondering how to say \"God, I'm depressed\" in Icelandic, and 30 minutes of me thinking maybe the world is beautiful after all, and knowing better than to look up the translations (having learned my lesson from the first few I looked up). The music is very beautiful, the vocals are high and breathy, which is off-putting to me. Some songs felt like a dude who was talking too close to my face. I told my listening buddy that I almost feel bad for not liking non-English music, but at the same time, English might ruin this. My favorite song from the album, Starálfur, is about an elf. I can't take that seriously. I really don't know if I'm going to listen more. I might owe it to whomever originally suggested them to 19 year old me to try again. Maybe they were right.

dark and haunting, yet beautiful and cathartic. a little long, though.

This was really nice! I didn't expect to recognize songs on it but I did. Just can't place where from. This is going into the rotation.

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.

The soundscapes remind me of the experimental Radiohead stuff. Very calming Rating: 2.5

not for me

Sigur Ros is a name I’ve been hearing for years in the post rock circle. Never really bothered to check them out until now of course. This record is very atmospheric. There are some great orchestral highs on here which sound great. Good listen overall.

I don't understand this album but I like it.

Ultra comfortable background music

No, couldnt listen to it

I mean it was pleasant but not really my thing. All in Icelandic, which also doesn't help. 5/10.

Not for me. Did not understand what the album was meant to accomplish and did not have access to enough mind-altering substances to try and understand

Chill, OK

This album is epic. The dynamics alone are a marvel. I was struck by their patience and use of space. There are some truly surprising moments!

If Radiohead met Air

Sigur Ros is a band I've been meaning to check out for probably 15 years now, but I regret to say that this is the first album of theirs that I've listened to. I certainly should not have waited this long, as this is a lovely listen all the way through. I don't understand a word they're saying, and would likely delve deeper into translations on further listens. But even just musically, it's enough. I will be back.

Weird Shit.

Veryyy cool and trippy, but a bit mundane and lacks intensity for me, 3/5

One of my favorites going way back to a cassette mix-tape gifted by my good friend Adrian. <3

Pretty good lullaby music. Every song just drags.

Horrible album… its so dead

First few songs I wanted to shoot myself. Then there was one good song. Hurrah! Then I listened to the next few songs and wanted to shoot myself.

amazing

Ethereal strangeness and violin bow guitar. Gotta love Sigur Ros.

Whale song for humans, but now as good in the bath as I'd hoped for.

BOOOORING

Spacey as fuck

just not my jam

Eerie, but beautiful.

don't speak icelandic but album is pure vibes

I'm a big fan of theirs. I felt this was a pretty good album not my favorite one but it was very good. I heard one song that they played when I saw them.

Some of this really sucks you in and washes over you, I'm surprised at how much I like this given how put off I am by some of their newer stuff.

Had to take out the vinyl for a spin! One of the most beautiful records I’ve ever heard. I think my first contact with Sigur Rós was with the movie Vanilla Sky, which features a couple of the songs from this record. Nevertheless, I don’t think I heard it in full until like 2005. Doesn’t matter, one of my youths favorites. It does have the best tracks at the beginning and at the end, so it could seem like it drags a bit in the middle, but it actually holds for the entire of its length. I will never tire to hear songs like Olsen Olsen or the title one, they’re just so gorgeous and well arranged. I’ve seen them live twice and the two times the experience was totally different but amazing nevertheless, one of the greatest triumphs from the end of the century.

Very artistic. Not bad.