Ágætis Byrjun

So calming!

This is one of the albums you should listen to with your headphones on or with the best speakers. I highly recommend listening while the sun is setting or during the night. The album is really good, it has some magic in it, but I couldn't yet fall in love with it. I wonder why it's categorised as a rock album.

I kind of regret listening to this at work instead of in the evening as a background for reading, so I think I'll need to come back to Sigur Ros to appreciate it even more. This is the good type of boring. And bonus points for not being in English. We need more non-english music to be noticed internationally.

This is too minimalistic for me. It is quite pleasant but I'm just not big fan of ambient music. I just feel that this album is not dense enough. Things are happening but it is more background music in my opinion than 1h and 11min worth of focused listening.

du va med på sigur ros på bergenfest sant? da va den dagen er såg kygo utenfor strippeklubben om eg huske rett

Ikkje heilt for meg

Wow! I've heard the couple of singles from this and while I enjoyed them, they never really drove me to explore this band more, listening to this whole album will change that.

It feels almost wrong to listen to this album on the one of the hottest NYC days in April on record. Probably the album I most associate with wintertime. It's beautiful, calming, and transfixing even though I can't understand a single word. Gorgeous. 4.5/5

Super slow, moody, almost crooning rock. Super not my jam, but I didn't dislike it. I just don't think I'll ever be in the mood for it.

Genres: Post-rock, dream pop, ambient, art rock, shoegazing Formed: Reykjavík, Iceland in 1994 Run time: 10 songs, 1 hour, 11 min Sigur Rós means “Victory Rose” and Ágætis Byrjun is Icelandic for, “A good beginning”. I don’t speak Icelandic so I’ve no idea what they are saying. (They could be talking about muck spreading.) The overall sound is very chilled, relaxed, and ethereal. The least played song on the album has almost 2.5M plays on Spotify. The most played over 33M. My Rating: ****

Great! A classic!

not my jam, too Icelandic :D

Fantastic album. I prefer () but this band puts out great music always.

Chill!

Beautiful meditative soundscapes, unique and transporting. Sigur Rós are a delight.

Not a fan honestly. I don't see any elements that I see in future music really, at least not ones that are only done here. Plus the entire album felt very....empty

Probably one of my most listened to albums of all time, transcendental

Ethereal 3.8/5

Beautiful, ethereal and all-together lovely. One of my favorite dream-pop albums out there. 4.5/5

I can't believe this was made in 1999

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Svefn-g-englar, Ny batteri

Música conceptual y relajada de escuchar. Melodías hipnóticas y con un ritmo relajante y suave

A beautiful haunting album. In the right mood this album is lovely.

Is this some of the weirdest shit I’ve ever heard? Yes. It’s indecipherable madness. It’s also an absolutely gorgeous piece of music from top to bottom. A lesson in mood and vibe all wrapped in some weird language none of us will ever be able to decode.

My favorite album to sing along with!

A band still evolving, some moments of greatness, but also some very lengthy passages when not much happens. Around the corner....

Great craft, however totally not my kind of music...

Fav tracks: Svefn-g-englar, Olsen Olsen, Ágætis Byrjun

This is the first album from this list that I'd already listened to. I'm a fan of Sigur Ros so I already knew that I'd like it. Fantastic album. I hadn't appreciated how old the album was, the range of sounds that they managed to get in there was amazing. I also looked up the lyrics for the first time and now I'm a bit traumatised.

Makes me want to be in a cool snowy climate, listening to this

3.75

Soothing and elegant. Fave Songs: Olsen Olsen, Svefn-g-englar, Starálfur, Viðrar vel til loftárása, Ný batterí

I must re-listen it. It was something different and needed quite to listen to.

Chill

boring lol

Really beautiful

Classic Sigurd ros

Not my kind of music ...

3

this is the music playing when you are romanticizing your life

Gostei muito. Me ajudou nunca crise de ansiedade foda hoje. Preciso ouvir de novo em condições normais. 8/10.

The music was enjoyable, but there were some flaws. For one, it was a long album with long songs. I'm not the biggest fan of long songs. Some long songs are okay, but there were 2 10 minute songs and like 2 or 3 8 minute songs. A little too much for me. Secondly, I couldn't understand the lyrics. That's not something that bothers me that much (I gave a French album a 4/5), but for an album like this, the lyrics are important. I just didn't get significant meaning or value from the songs. Lastly, none of the songs really stood out to me. They were all fine and enjoyable, but not standout.

If I ever take up yoga/meditation, this is what I'll have as ambient noise whilst doing it. Very nice - but not for actually listening to.

nice but completely forgettable. 3

Some of this album is easily ignorable  ambient which is hard to either like or dislike that much. When they pick up the pace on songs like "Ný batterí" it's quite good. Unfortunately there is not much of this. The lead vocalist can sing although in a very atypical male voice. Some of the songs, like "Hjartað hamast"  bury the lead vocals in a cloud which is a waste of a talented singer. The high pitched male vocals and the album overall wear out their welcome long before the end of this drawn out album.

I like the combination of the ambient passages building into orchestrated finishes, the falsetto voice that the singer (blind in one eye) modifies a bit from song to song, the Icelandic lyrics that definitely limit their potential global market, but maybe not as much as the non-linguistic vocalisations the band calls “Vonlenska, ” – maybe they were inspired by The Cocteau Twins? My co-judge and I saw them at the Palais Royale in 2001, promoting the album after this one, which featured the the Icelandic fisherman, Steindór Andersen, singing more traditional Icelandic folk songs over top of their ethereal droning. Now that was memorable show!

For a small island of only about 375,000 people Iceland really punches above its weight. Maybe because it's so isolated it produces really unique music. Their most famous export is probably Bjork, love her or hate her, but you have to admit she's original. Gus Gus, Olafur Arnaulds, Emiliana Torrini, Of Monsters and Men are also great Icelandic artists. But my all time favourite from that island is Múm - hard to describe their music, maybe indietronica, very ethereal and dreamy at times, similar vibe as Sigur Ros. It's too bad that they're not on this list. I think Sigur Ros is still decent and they have some very good songs and sonic tapestries here. It doesn't matter that we can't understand Jon Birgisson's vocals because he's imparting a mood with the wall of sound with his cello bowed guitar. This album is a solid 3 for me, but I'm bumping it up another star to compensate for the egregious omission of so many other Icelandic artists from the list.

Yes, siri, I would like to reexperience the sounds of being born luminescent and with ease from the infinite gentle fluids of the universe.

My dad found this album through The Economist of all places back in 2001. He showed them to me on a car ride to the Anza Borrego desert where it rained most of the way. The album quickly became one that I revisited over and over and over again. It is now one of my top 5 favorite albums of all time. Before I even knew what post-rock was, before I ventured far outside of my dad's CD collection I have held this album close to my heart. Since then my dad and I have listened to this album together countless times, we've seen them live at the Hollywood Bowl, and we've even listened to it on a drive at dawn through the wilds of Iceland (I will never hear "Starálfur" without remembering that incredible morning of sunlight peaking over the waterfall-laden peaks of green and troughs of black). It's a classic through and through. Jonsi has an absolutely hypnotizing voice that is accompanied by his so-crazy-it-actually-works method of bowing his guitar. There are beats and samples, there is mystery between the songs, there is emotion that flows (insert poetic Icelandic waterfall reference). This is another one of those albums that I know will be a part of my life until the day that I die. It offers me nothing but comfort and memories. Unique, beautiful, interesting. 5/5

A beautiful album - definitely will be coming back to. It got repetitive at some points, but it is so calm that it didn’t really matter I hate to give low fives, but this album definitely deserves the five

Miscellaneous thoughts on an album I’ve loved for many years and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting: Analog tape mysteries and foreign-tongued harmonies fade into far away thunder, then, radar blips. In the background, there are epic sounds like that of moving mountains, and in the foreground a human voice with human toys. Radio transmission static. Synth and guitar riffs bathed in echo like beams from another planet, joyous that they have found contact. While much of this album is very much indescribable, otherworldly, there are songs like “Ny Batteri” that very much echo the indie rock “big band” era of the day; bands that seem to share some debt to the Neutral Milk Hotels, Spiritualizeds, and Talk Talks of the 1990s. Bands like Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, all those burgeoning post-rock acts, and even maximalist solo artists like Sufjan Stevens. “Hjartao hamast (bamm bamm bamm)” is similar. These two mid-album cuts are a touch less celestial, a touch more “rock-ous” and fit more squarely in with the whole indie, post-rock scene. “Ny Batteri” definitely has Thom Yorke vibes as well. I don’t really have a point in saying this, other than I think it’s interesting, because, compared to the songs that precede and follow, they make this otherwise cosmic album distinctly Earthly, grounded in trends and scene. Spell-breakers. But I like these songs very much still. And appreciate them critically for exactly that reason: the context. Kingdom has come on Olsen Olsen. Fun with speed, a recursive loop. Something happened at the end of the last millennium. Artists were living the future. Just look at the top releases from 1999, 2000. Our artists were floating in space. Some twenty years on, an alright start, indeed.

I don’t know why I never listened to this album. It somehow totally passed me by. I listened to some later Sigur Ros albums, but I never felt like I was in the mood for what I *thought* this album would be. I thought it would be mostly ambient, sleepy, uninteresting, long, drawn out. There are times for this, but I never found myself at that particular juncture. Forcing myself to put this on today, I was stunned… it’s way, way more deep and inventive than I thought it would be. There’s some real dynamics in the music… the first few are what Sigur Ros are known for, ambient-leaning post rock music that’s contemplative, slow, dramatic. But there are… other sounds on here! And I loved those other sounds just as much. There are songs that are electric, songs that are really stripped back. Some utterly beautiful horn and string arrangements which I can’t get enough of. And the haunting vocals… so weirdly out of place, but somehow adding contrast. I couldn’t help but think about all of the buzzing, atonal guitars behind all of this music, and how that’s such a good choice for a mainly ambient album. It’s contrast. We’ve heard a bunch of late 80s rock recently, where the noisy, buzzy guitar always threatens to overtake the beautiful music. There’s something of that here, and I think that’s why this isn’t just another ambient-influenced record. It’s genuinely it’s own world, and it pulls you in deep. 4/5

I have no idea what to make of this. This is not what I would usually listen to as I like music more fit for active listening and most of this album is rather atmospheric. I was torn between 2 and 4 out of 5 the whole time. Eventually I decided to give it a better grade. I think it was a good listening experience and while I don't see myself going back to it too often it was definitely not as boring for me as I thought while listening to the third song. It got way more accessible afterwards. Overall the atmosphere of the entire album was amazing and worth this listen. Songs I Really Liked: Flugufrelsarinn, Ný batterí, Ágætis byrjun

Loved this album! Perfect for Sunday mornings, relaxing strolls with the pup, and grabbing a rag and cleaning.

Had to stop listening. It reminded me of Karen Gedney, and how she asked me to get her Sigur Ros music before they traveled to Iceland. I remember when she came back from the trip and she talked about how it felt to listen to Sigur Ros's music as she drove through the Icelandic landscape. I remember her sweet boys and it breaks my heart that their mom had to die while they were so young. I really hope they are ok now. Being a mom to two boys now, and also a business owner like Karen, I can't help but see the parallels between our lives and I pray every day I don't die young like she did. I'm sure this entire album is beautiful but it broke my heart to listen to it.

An album for being in a melodic sound atmosphere. Have listened to his others, cool to hear one of the first big ones he made.

Ágætis byrjun (Icelandic for: A good beginning) is the second album by Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. This dreamy ambient pop / shoegaze (indie alt rock) album is an evolution from their ambient soundscapes on their first album, since they added a guitar and some orchestration. It became their commercial and critical breakthrough album, being certified gold in the UK and selling enough to be considered gold in the US (not certified). Released to little media attention, this album quickly climbed the charts in Iceland which gained the album international recognition. It is a relaxing and moody album with beautiful ambient music that soothes a listener's ears. The lyrics are in Icelandic - so I have no idea what is said - but they sound great too. This was a cool album to hear and it must have been surprising for the band to see it succeed so well.

Genre: Experimental, post-rock, psychedelic. Review: Gentle start, very relaxing and soothing. Potential work from home music. Last 3-4 tracks were extremely good, especially the title track. Rating: 8/10

Really nice

Scientists: Behold! we found baby alien life on another planet! Abortionists: Uhm ackshually it is just a alien fetus therefore it is not alive or significant and we should kill it for convenience. You are racist and phobic. Scientists: NOOOO oh my science this is too woke! *dies of cancel culture* Abortionists: *dies because they are really just grown up fetus* ---------------------------------------------- Moral of the story: Fetus life matters<3

Score: 90 Beautiful. You don't need to understand anything they are saying to understand the music. Every song has something to offer and comes together as a very enjoyable experience. Despite it being Icelandic it still retains a very 90s feel, and not in an outdated way. It's nice to listen to something that makes you feel something

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

very interesting post-rock album - 8/10

No. I already know this is a steaming pile of crap that I don't want to step in again.

4 Es un buen álbum, aunque si duran bastante tiempo sus canciones lo interesante es que no las sentí así, sabía que iban a durar mucho pero cuando las volvía a revisar ya estaba a punto de terminarse. Los instrumentos suenan bastante y uno podría olvidar de que hay alguien cantando .

C'est un grand ui

si je ne mets pas 5 c'est parce que la pochette m'angoisse et que je ne veux pas la voir sur mon profil mais le coeur y est

Radiohead+pink Floyd but make it shit

Love this album. Chilled and euphoric in one.

Not sure I would return to it, but this was nice to listen to.

A delightful easy listen.

Very slow and smooth. It sounds like the soundtrack to a very dramatic movie. I usually don't have the patience for this kind of music, but this record is actually quite good. Favorite song: Olsen Olsen

I've always loved this album. I first heard it when I was in high school, a few years after it initially came out and listened to it pretty regularly in those years, so it holds a special place for me. It's just really beautiful songwriting and instrumentation. Very cinematic music. Standout Tracks: Svefn-G-Englar, Starálfur, Flugufrelsarinn, Viðrar vel til loftárása, Olsen Olsen, Ágætis byrjun

A bit beige

I admittedly half listened. Sounds like it would be awesome for background music for yoga or studying or something.

Despite not understanding a single word, I really enjoyed the dream pop aspect of this album. 4/5. Favorite Track: Flugufrelsarinn

Atmospheric, to be sure. It sounds nice, but I constantly found myself singing other improvised melodies over the undulating sequence of chords and moans. It's not Jonsi's fault that my melodies were uninspiring, of course.

My #1 most played album.

Beautiful and atmospheric with some of the best orchestration on record. There are some bits that don't quite work for me and sometimes the downtime between those swells of strings can feel excessive, but that's really just nitpicking

Incredible, used to listen to this while working through the night, perfect soundtrack. I can replay every note and phonetic vocal in my head. Just so good, Olsen Olsen in particular is untouchable

Me gusto, pero esta en sueco. Los ambientes que se generan son interesantísimos y no le encuentro explicación de lo que lograron sonoramente en 1990

Cool sound, more in the area of ambience, but nothing exceptional.

Not bad but just very very uneventful, boring and way too long

Like very chill version of techno. I liked it but not sure how much I will listen to it in the future.

Tranquil

I've often enjoyed songs that I don't understand the lyrics of (anime related song and the like), so I did enjoy this album. It has some great songs.

7.5/10. Might be better if I understood Icelandic. Or it might be worse. Beautiful atmosphere though.

Glacial sounding electronica.

Uff these were just sounds to me

Never heard of this band before and was pleasantly surprised. Sounds like an epic background soundtrack for a drama movie; you can feel the emotion in every chord even though you can’t understand a word of it. That being said, a lot of this project does drag on and feels pretentious at times. Really cool for what it is but what it is is just background music. All being said, worth a listen, especially while working

This was not unpleasant but really felt like just ambient music. Kind of a waste of my listening time.

Beautiful

This album is a beacon and a buoy, and you, in the dark yet glimmering waters, are invited to swim around it, explore it, enjoy it, and immerse yourself in its ocean. This album is the elf who stares back at you through your own eyes when you look in the mirror late at night, when you need sleep but cannot find it. This album is an airstrike on the finest day you've ever seen.

One of my favorite bands. This album is so good. So much new ground broken, and sounds as good today as it did at its moment. Visionary, orginal, creative.

No.

Not my vibe but nothing bad to say about the album, can put it on for background instrumental while working.

couldnt get into it

Uhm hm not for me?

I’ve loved this album ever since I tracked it down after hearing Starálfur in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. I was a weird kid. Still love that movie and this song. Makes me teary eyed. The rest of the album never hits that height, but is still a blast, mixing ethereal sounds with post-rock, jazz, and all kinds of goofy sounds.

Boring first half, but got better. Definitely not gym music.

So chill and cool and atmospheric and peaceful. Even cooler when you look up the translations and meanings of the songs.

Solid album. Sigur has a bright future. 4/5

Good times and great classic hits. 2CCC

Actually really liked this - can see why it’s on the list Really chill vibes May have to go to Reykjavík for a weekend now!

Mmmmm... delicious dreampop-ish Radiohead with light-mode on.

Sigur Rós is from Iceland. This is their 2nd album. Genre: Post-rock, dream pop, ambient, art rock, shoegazing 'Post-rock is a form of experimental rock characterized by a focus on exploring textures and timbre over traditional rock song structures, chords, or riffs' (wikipedia) Singles: Svefn-g-englar, Ný batterí The first song, "Svefn-g-englar" is amazing. The rest of the album is very nice to listen to. Standouts: Svefn-g-englar Others: Ny batteri, Agaetis byrijun This will go onto my mood music playlist for sure. 3/5

Simply magnificent album. Sigur Rós really are unique in the way they are able to combine incredibly beautiful sounds with something deeply primal. The result is an album that ressonates strongly with the listener and facilitates a wide range of emotions. ‘Svefn-g-englar', 'Flugufrelsarinn' and the title track are all masterpieces.

Listening to Sigur Rós feels like you’ve been granted access to a world where you were never meant to set foot. I started writing down songs to highlight, but quickly stopped as I became aware of the fact I was just listing the tracklist one by one. Ágætis Byrjun might easily be one of my all-time favorite albums and I feel completely overwhelmed every time I listen to it. Nothing’s meant to sound this good. Somehow Sigur Rós just do.

nope

Mix of explosions in the sky and early radiohead. Absolutely killer, will dive into them

Boring

Honestly not a fan… I can see how people would enjoy this though. Some of the songs are very soothing. I just can’t get behind their sound, plus their songs are very long and almost boring for me to listen to. Not my cup of tea.

There are moments when this is sublime, and moments when it's almost unlistenable. I love Sigur Ros but this is not my favourite album of theirs.

En nuorempana pahemmin piitannut Sigur Rosista, pidin koko bändiä liian eteerisenä ja liian tarkoituksenmukaisen söpöstelevältä. Tänään, koko perheen saapuessa kotiin, kaiken kaaoksen keskellä laitoin levyn soimaan ja parin biisin jälkeen huomasin keskittyväni musiikkiin niin, että koko kehoni rauhoittui ja liikutuin. Kain, tuo sama tyyppi, joka viime viikkona kohdisti raivoisan voimansa minuun, näki silmästäni vuotavan yhden ainoan kyyneleen ja käpertyi kainalooni. Kuunneltiin tuossa asennossa koko levy loppuun, jonka jälkeen kuunneltiin vielä (), kunnes Kain nukahti ja siirsin hänet sänkyynsä.

Very Interesting. Never heard of them before. My second time through the album and I think it has some great sounds and it kind of transport you into another realm, like you are in a trance, only broken when the last song is over. I think I could grow to really enjoy this. 3/5 for now.

This could be important. As heuristics go, sorting and comparison are two of the common ones, called on to make sense of a world full of new things. Brain goes straight to comparison mode to make sense of this, woman’s voice, rich soundscape, deep feelings, must be Portishead right? Even the blue white artwork from the cover makes me think “Dummy”. Is it a lesser Portishead?, maybe, but if I had grown up listening to it in the 90s it probably would have stuck with me. Glad I found this, glad enough to buy it on vinyl today.

I found it to generally be an ok album. I would listen to it again but probably wouldn’t seek it out. It’s definitely very experimental. Sometimes it’s smooth, sometimes jarring.

There is some absolutely gorgeous music on this album. Intimate at times and grandiose at others always tasteful and beautifully executed. It took me some time to come to appreciate this album but once it grabs hold it holds on tight. 4 stars

Idk har försökt flera gånger men dethär albumet har aldrig clickat för mig. Ny Batteri går dock hårt

Mycket vackert och fint

Thx for the bangers Bob

Bosd

Enjoyable if I’m in the right mood. Found the gibberish lyrics kinda grating.

Never thought I'd say this, but sounds dated in its own way. Still, paves the way for greatness to come.

Okay

Альбом можно раскидать на саундтреки к фильмам любого жанра. Очень мелодичный эмбиент с разными настроениями. Группа звучит как оркестр, что приятно слушать. Буду слушать как минимум в подборке музыки для сна.

крутой альбом для релакса и абстрагирования от всего чего угодно, кроме определения страны происхождения товара . названия слишком издевательские, поэтому мне понравился второй и третий трек, но альбом довольно затянутый и специфичный, как одноразовый экспириенс - это прикольно, но на долгое сотрудничество я просто сдохну, возможно если бы я слушал это каждый день перед сном я бы любил это безумно, но я слушал альбом первый раз, привет исландии!

Hard to rate this one. On one hand I can tell that it is intricate and creative music, often ethereal unlike anything else. On the other hand it's like if a whale in outer space was stuck on rewind putting you to sleep.

Calm, soothing music but a bit too slow and repetitive for me. Some of the songs build to a big climax but others don't and left me wondering why they were as long as they were. It’s nice music but not for me. I was surprised to hear the rock climax of "Ny batteri" get a little emo-y. Interesting.

I was really surprised to see Sigur Ros on this list! I used to listen to them a lot and really enjoyed their sound. This isn't my favorite recording and is a little straightforward and less dynamic than some of their other records. Regardless, I do appreciate it for what it is. I hope they appear on the list again.

Really mellow so you def need to be in some sort of mood for this album

This is an album that gets itself all over the shop. If you fancy testing out some new speakers, people will tell you to use this album. I can't for the life of me work out why. I have tried more than once to listen to this album. Each time, I think to myself "There must be SOMETHING" to this - but every time I find myself reaching the same conclusion. This album is just really really boring. It is obvious and boring. It's exactly the sort of distilled wankery that plagued early-mid 2000s music, in that it is full of trowelled-thick sweeping orchestral tosh. Many of the tracks are painfully repetitive. The middle section of Svefn-g-englar is basically the needle stuck in the groove of some antisocial blighter making the noise "Tjú", which is warbled so frequently that I think I wanted to boil my head before it was even halfway finished. I've seen in places that this is an album for millennials, something that may just solidify that I am not a millennial. Others have said that they use this album to journey through sweeping soundscapes, to lose themselves in imagery - and bully for them. I am just left with mental pictures of Professor Brian Cox looking gormlessly into the middle distance in front of a greenscreen backdrop, waiting for some clever chaps from the BBC to composite in an elaborately rendered 3D animation of some nebula or other. It holds almost zero interest for me, and I find the love for it perplexing. When I listen to this album I am reminded that Spiritualised exist, and released Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space two years before this. Ladies and Gentlement is just better in every conceivable way. I just don't get it. I don't have to, of course, and if you enjoy this bilge then power to your elbows, may your nipples explode with delight etc. It's not for me.

B.E.A.UTIFUL

Lovely Icelandic ambient rock.

weird.

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

Inclasificable. Muy aburrido. Lento.

What is this? Listened to the same song over and over again. I'm not a fan of the dreamy vocals or whatever this is. I spent 9 months trying to get out of the womb and this album is just like "gooo back in!!!"

Nah

Something about their style, despite being so ethereal, is also structured, and keeps many of these very long songs from feeling long. You can almost see the volcanoes and black sand beaches of Iceland.

That first track past the intro is an absolute stunner. But it sets the bar so high the rest of the album has a hard time staying up at that level. I'm intrigued by the spacey, atmospheric sound, but the vocals usually break me out of the hypnotic spell, with the exception of that first track, where the vocals are handled differently than on the rest of the album. Definitely one of the better albums that came in the wake of "OK Computer." I'd give "Svefn-g-englar" 5 stars but as an album it's just a 3 for me.

I appreciate what Sigur Rós is doing, their blend of post-rock, ambient, and random noises is straight up my alley. The only thing I am not always a fan of is how pretty it is. I would LOVE a darker and noisier album with Jonsi’s soft vocals, but when it’s backdropped by a full string section it can get a bit much for me. Still, I think as an album this is pretty damn good, regardless of my preferences.

Very Radio Head like...good for background work music.

Cerebral. Like drifting in the deep sea.

What a surprising album. I had no idea what it's gonna be at all, but I really loved it. It's a beautiful blend of genres and sounds. Of course I don't understand what the songs are about at all, but it's just amazing arrangement. Love it! Saved tracks: Svefn-g-englar, Ný batterí, Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm), Viðrar vel til loftárása, Avalon

A little underwhelming. It’s OK. The songs become pretty monotonous by the end, though.

A spacious, patient, and beautiful album. You never know where it's going to go next. Songs take as much time as needed, fading into the background, but you never get tired enough to skip to the next track. It's dramatic with strong classical and jazz influences, utilizing space synths to envelop the atmosphere. The vocals are ethereal and yearnful. Enjoyed every track for different reasons. But overall it's a beautiful dreamy album to relax, trip, or play in the background to, with plenty to appreciate. "Svefn-g-englar" felt like dreaming on a cloud. "Flugufrelsarinn" was shoegazy. "Ny Batteri" was mysterious and sorrowful. "Hjartað Hamast" was tense. "Olsen Olsen" was triumphant. "Ágætis Byrjun" was sunshiney. "Avalon" felt like a dark ocean abyss. And I could still describe the others. They were unique and satisfying, and complex enough for me to replay the songs and not get bored.

Good but not my jam

Already listened to this album. Fantastic soundscapes and the best kind of avant garde post rock. Really love this album.

Love it. Ambient and Orchestral and plain odd I found it a joy to listen to. For every hater out there there is a lover.

Fajne

Interesting to hear them wear their influences so blatantly on their sleeve in this way

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

So very good. The album left me speechless and I couldn't rate it for a couple of days. I had to really think hard about it because it's so good. Very atmospheric as all great post rock albums tend to be. Feels very much as if it was out of this world (it's from Iceland so that's pretty close to the truth). I'm definitely going to return to it many a time.

I didn’t listen to the whole thing, not really in the mood, but I still liked what I heard, mostly.

Weird, ethereal, otherworldly, and very mellow.

Deixei ser afetado pela qualidade do post-rock.

- Heard this once before - One of the only albums that regularly appears on all time best lists that I don't get the appeal of - Enjoyed a couple of the songs - The rest didn't click for me at all, maybe one day it will and I'll regret this rating - Fav songs: Ný batterí, Olsen Olsen

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

Whale music for Estate Agents

Die Stimme nervt manchmal bisschen, aber insgesamt schön atmosphärisch und zugleich intensiv wie entspannend. Gehört auf jeden Fall in die "1001 Albums"-Liste.

This record cast a spell from the first listen and at once confounded and captivated so many different types of music fans, who were drawn to the sheer originality or the rich spiritual tones. The haunting yet comforting vocals, the balance of dreaminess and power, the playing for mysticism or contemplation – all of it was (and still is) massively affecting. Whether it's post-rock or something else matters not – the case for it being rock would have to do with SR being an artier version of Pink Floyd, one supposes; but whatever it is, it's just brilliant and much more powerful than so much power-cord-driven rock.

Loved this album, it is a beautiful composition of spacey, groove rock.

Sehr atmosphärisches Album. Gerne mehr davon!

Good background music. If I wasn’t familiar with them before I would probably just be bored though.

Very chill and ethereal

Hard no. Headache inducing noise. Not for me.

Banda i disc sobrevalorats per la seva magnificiència, que hom sembla haver deificat. És un bon disc, valent i original, però també repetitiu i a estones avorrit. Continua sent el millor disc de Sigur Ros, on van excel.lir amb la seva proposta, però per res una fita del rock alternatiu

Weird

Yeah alright, can't get that excited

This seemed to pass me by when it came out, did the same this time round too

I honestly had trouble starting awake through this. It's beautiful, but verging on the medicinal.

Quite unusual. I'd expect in the right setting this would be quite cool. Just felt a bit odd listening in my office on a Monday morning.

I have never really cared for Sigur Ros. This album did not change my feelings abut them. It is just meh. The music is eccentric. It is better than a 1. Not really a 2.

unknown

Not my favourite at all

I knew nothing about Sigur Rós going into this. I knew the name but not that it was a band. It was nice to go into an album with zero pre-conceived notions. However, I only ask for two things in music: songs to be <5min, and a discernible beat. This album is too avant garde for either. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s certainly not for me.

i actually really liked this one. the sounds were all really funky and neat. definitely good for listening while working

Feels like I’m roam the tranquil, vast landscapes of Iceland

listen

only complaint i have is that my attention span is quite short so the length of some of the songs was a little bit of a test for me. the sound is beautiful though!

Pure artistic wonder. I felt like I was floating through the ocean and forests and space. Love it.

4.4/5 interesting Icelandic atmospheric

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Definitely! The most interesting record up to now, it’s got this lovely atmospheric tenderness to it and I could fully imagine this as the background of a silent movie (if that would work) delicate and provocative in the best way, even for a long run of an album Favourite song: Track 6 - Hjartaõ hamast (bamm bamm bamm)

Nice meditative music. Haven’t heard anything like this before

I just... have a hard time getting into Sigur Ros. The music is undeniably good, but it doesn't do much for me. Maybe it's because I can't understand what's being said, but something takes away from the overall enjoyment of what is an expansive and impressive musical feat. Not the biggest fan of his voice either.

3 220922

4,6 Just not for Me Boring and long

Music almost as strange as the album art. Good for work on TTT.... :P

A little redemption at the tail end, but I mostly just wanted to turn it off

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

Pretty good Icelandic Ambient music.

A very pretty album, I’d listen to more from them

Forgot about this group. Hadn’t listened to the entire album, but it’s worth listening.

Very soothing. Probably gonna dig more into the artist. First Listen?: Y Fav. Tracks: Staràlfur Rating: 3/5

3.9

J'ai bien aimé l'ambiance et la production de cet album. Pour reprendre une remarque d'un autre abonné, c'est vraiment le genre d'album et de découverte que l'on s'attend lorsque l'on fait l'exercice de cette liste. 4.5

Nothing very unique about this album or sounds.

Worth a revisit

This is the first 5 star for me. Absolutely essential work here from Sigur Ros.

What in the world is this going to be? OK intro is beautiful but also sounds like it is being played backwards. Second song seems like something I'd hear at a water based spa on the moon? I'm digging it. Staralfur is lovely and I like Olsen olsen quite a bit. However, to be honest, 71 minutes straight is perhaps a bit much.

I am not enjoying this. I don't understand the music any more than the lyrics.

Ranging from dark and soaring epics to the sweet and tuneful tite cut and it’s all about ambiences and textures throughout. Seemed one-of-a-kind when it came out and fascinated everyone, putting Cool Icelandia back on the map. The scale and dreaminess hold up pretty well.

Absolutely ethereal. Perfect for a walk on a fall day.

Ätherische Walgesänge mit Beatles-Melodien. Bin ich üblicherweise recht empfänglich für. Das hier hingegen erreicht mich zu meinem eigenen Erstaunen meist nicht.

This album scratches and itch in my brain that I didn't know I had. I love the way it would fit ever-so-perfectly into a film's soundtrack. Its moody and stormy, perfect for the how I'm feeling today. This is also the first album this website generated for me, and I could not be happier.

nope 2/5

It could be the soundtrack for a sci-fi movie.

one of my best album by them

Interesting music that I had never heard of but kept me listening.

Breaking: Swag Discovered In Iceland

absolutely forgettable

Sounds like Icelandic elevator music.

It has an original vibe and really good points. It is a very well made album. But still it feels more like a background sound most of the time an it can be overwhelming. Good for listening while studying

Favourite song: Hjartaõ Hamast (Bamm Bamm Bamm) One for the karaoke: Staràflur One for the car: Olsen Olsen Didn’t understand a word that was said. Lovely stuff

Favourite song - Svefn g englar One for singing in the shower - Despite speaking fluent Icelandic i wouldn't sing any of these songs in the shower. One for a swim - Can't listen during a swim and couldn't stand the singing on the bamm bamm bamm track so that one. Started alright but got fed up with it.

Favourite Song - Staralfur One for karaoke - None because I have no idea what they’re saying One for a run - Olsen Olsen An album I never thought you be able to run to but here I am with proper sore legs and it was great

Can wait til the version with subtitles comes out. The more I play it the more I like it. Cover art 3/5

Very relaxing; satisfying motives and song progression

Sigur Ros – Agaetis byrjun Icelandic 90’s “post rock”. No idea what to expect. - Intro – More a contemplative soundscape than a full song. A solid intro to the rest. Best word I’ve found to describe the sound is ethereal. - Svefn-g-englar – The title translates to “sleep angels” or “sleepwalkers”. Calm instrumentation with an echoing key tone. Apparently, the main sound comes from a cello bow against guitar strings. The album title translates to “a good start” and this track is apparently about an infant being born (from the infant’s perspective). It’s a ten minute track with a slow pace, almost inaudible vocals, and gentle soundscape. The shift with drums coming in coincides with the “explosion” of birth . Interesting concept and strong execution in creating a soothing, almost hypnotic soundscape. Color me impressed. Only part I don’t like is the rapid heartbeats at the end. - Staralfur – “A staring elf”. Tells the story of a child meeting an elf in their bedroom. Keeps the beautiful instrumentation but has a bit of a brighter tone and more prominent vocals. The pulsing beat at 3:14 gives the song a second phase, keeping interest even with the otherwise somewhat monotonous (albeit beautiful) sounds. It’s pretty, but I don’t think it’s one I’d casually listen to. I like it, though. The last 50 sec are kinda wasted though. - Flugufrelsarinn – It’s about…a shipwreck? Or something? Lots of water imagery. Some of the vocal parts are a bit dodgy, but overall still a beauitiful soundscape. - Ny Batteri – I like this one a lot. Lyrics are pretty dark depiction of loneliness. Sound is mournful but expressive, and a bit more intense than prior tracks. Didn’t need to be 8:10, but it’s overall solid. - Hjartath hamast – Backing vocals give this one a bit of a different air. It’s not my favorite track, but I like the keys. It’s still quite good. - Vithar vel til loftarasa – Piano led track. The other 10+ minute track. The outro is absolutely gorgeous. - Olsen Olsen – vocals take abackground role again. This one is pretty one not for the first 5 minutes, then the last three do something completely different. Not my fave. - Agaetis byrjun – The title track. Begins with snare drags and piano intro. It’s much the same as their other stuff. It’s good, but by this point it’s kind of getting old. This album is really long. It’s actually grown on me just by listening though. It’s about the band’s feelings going into writing this ablum and their experience in making it. Nice and self-reflective. Like most of the album, very chill. - Avalon – Slow, dragged out instrumental track. It’s a decent ending to the album. Biggest criticism is that they just need to know when to end their songs lol. What they really excel at is creating a soundscape. The lyrics oftentimes are very poetic, sometimes to the point of defying all meaning. In that sense, being in a different language isn’t really a problem since it allows the listener even more to assign their own emotions and meaning to the sound. It’s a sound that I can’t really take a full hour fifteen of, though. In small doses, it’s beautiful. Over the full thing, it gets a tad old. Still great on the whole. As a whole, it’s very good quality, but due to the length of the songs and the rather low-key tone, I’m not sure I’d just casually listen to most of this. Top Tracks: - Svefn-g-englar – Beautiful and intriguing 10 minute eipc - Ny Batteri – Mega depressing but really nice to listen to. - Vithar vel til loftarasa – Another ten minute epic with some absolutely goregeous parts - Agaetis bryjun – Nice reflection on the band’s writing of this album.

Fantastic

Smooth. Didn’t finish

The musicality does stand up to its ambitions, resulting in a melodramatic sound. This album is like a teenager who doesn't have the words to express all the complicated feelings and emotions they are experiencing.

Mellow and atmospheric, but also mature.

very good and weird, the Icelandic really adds to the angst. So many sounds and moods. Too weird for lab (their loss)

I occasionally listen to CBC radio’s « The Signal » when I’m forced to drive late at night. I’ve always found the music intriguing, often beautiful, and would wonder what genre it belong’s to. Well, discovering Sigur Rós and reading about the band has led me into the world of post-rock, and I find myself fascinated. This is creative, unexpected, enchanting and challenging. I will be listening to more of their work ab=nd to others of their ilk.

I've heard of this band before but I've never had the chance to listen to any of their music so I was excited for the experience. The music itself was pleasant. The language barrier did make it a little tough to connect with the singer initially but with subsequent listens I think I could dig the sound. One of my favorite bands is rammstein and I only know a few words in German so that doesn't prevent me from enjoying music I don't understand.

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

personally not my type of music, interesting style and rhythm. for those who like it, i’m sure it’s the best :)

Sigur Ros is a perfect example of a band, that should be included on this list. They have such an unique sound and style, every album is completely different, yet there is no mistake, it always sounds like Sigur Ros. Also, one of few bands, that basically teleports you to the country of origin, in this case Iceland, of course, thanks to the fenomenal atmosphere of music. Sigur Ros is also high on my list of bands, that I would like to see live, but only in the middle of nowhere on a random Icelandic hill (like in Olsen Olsen video). Agaetis Byrjun most likely is on this list, because it's the first album, where Sigur Ros found their style and almost made it perfect. In my opinion, their bigger achievments are ( ) and Takk... Nevertheless, every song is interchangeable between those records and sometimes you could treat it as one. The best songs on the album are, unsurprisingly, self-titled and Sven-g-englar. Beautiful compositions, that just require you to close your eyes and drift away to that icelandic hill. One of the better contemporary bands in recent history.

Svefn-g-englar is mind-blowing.

Wasn't really my cup of tea.

The sound of each song is very good. I am almost getting entranced the first portions of each song, however it quickly becomes a repetitive mess and wears me down forcing to fast forward to skip the rest of the song entirely. There are a few unique moments to a couple songs where they change the sound or add other instruments. Overall repetitive, and not something i can truly sit down and enjoy.

Incredible album. I usually don't enjoy slower more experimental music, but this was an incredible experience to listen to. 4/5

A little too chill for my tastes. Loved the third song and it was an extremely consistent album, but I want a bit more upbeat.

Très sympa pour ambiance calme mais trop calme à mon goût.

Skön platta som jag hört enstaka låtar från innan men inte lyssnat genom hela ngn gång.

This is right up my alley. Love this band so much and this album has been on high rotation for a long time.

I _really_ like me some cinematic post-rock, and this is a great album, sure, but its inclusion on the list throws into sharp relief all the other bands from this genre that have been omitted. We could comfortably halve the number of albums by white (mostly British) guys ripping off the blues in the 60s and 70s and include more representatives of splinter genres, and that would make a much more interesting list... So, this 5 star review is dedicated not just to Sigur Ros, but to Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mogwai, Do Make Say Think, Mono, A Silver Mt. Zion, Explosions in the Sky, and 65daysofstatic! Fave track - "Svefn-g-englar", I think - I coincidentally rewatched "Vanilla Sky" between listening to this and writing the review, and it's used excellently in the film...

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

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

Atmospheric while also never just melding into the background.

Although not what i usually listen to i did enjoy listening to this album. It was very ethereal and otherworldly. There were some rock elements which i enjoyed with the occasional elec guitar and drums. Not my vibe but definitely worth the listen

More ambient music. Did not have any strong feelings about this.

Icelandic Radiohead

Listening to this it's like an ambient soundscape production, with the themes of birth, childlike wonder, and love. At times it is slightly strange sounding, but also sounds like the late 90s - almost like a "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve vibe. Couldn't understand a word of what was being sung, but it was ethereal nonetheless. Best: Svefn-g-englar Worst: Viðrar vel til loftárása

This album is definitely there for a specific mood. It feels like if you're feeling down, melancholic, or nostalgic, you would play this in the rain.

4.5/5. Now THIS is what I call music.

Classic album. At its best when it's not just icelandic whining into a microphone. 4.5/5

Atmospheric while also never just melding into the background.

Staralfur incorporates timeless methods. reminds me of mae's album with mixed instrument and vocal use Interesting one time listen

Dreamy but not dream-pop. Orchestral but it doesn't sound like an orchestra. Ágætis Byrjun is easier to describe in terms of what it isn't than to describe what it is. I can say that it is a wonderful piece of art but as an album -- a listenable collection of tunes that you want to hear on repeat -- I'm left looking for something to grab onto. Perhaps this is better consumed as a score than a pop music album.

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

Really like their sound.

Not my type of vibe - ambient sounds that seemed more to put me to sleep than enjoy listening to

I found it pretty awesome. Each song is very meticulously constructed and builds so well. The vocals are both haunting and beautiful and really get the most out of the instrumental. 8/10

Meh. Kinda dreamy. Kinda dull. Pass.

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

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

Beautiful work. Nicely orchestrated and even though I don't understand a word of Icelandic, the language sounds so wonderful, including in this context. I enjoyed the whole album very much. (Side Note: if you like Snowy White's 'Midnight Blue', give Flugufrelsarinn a listen. Just the opening slow organ chord progression. So cool!)

Really cool. Sounds like Iceland. I couldn't understand the lyrics but there was a sort of uncanny valley feel where it felt like I could almost understand. A very surreal experience.

Sigur Ros question for Sigur Ros fans - How do you identify the songs? Is there some kind of phonetic spelling out there or are ya’ll just saying “The second track sounded like outer space”. I guess it makes the most sense to think about Sigur Ros’s music in terms of albums rather than individual songs anyways, and thats the approach I took. After listening to Ágætis Byrjun on loop a few times there were identifiable moments but I couldn't distinguish between tracks. I like the album, Im a sucker for grand post rock with big spacey atmospheric tones. Theres a lil Smashing Pumpkins and Spiritualized in there but Sigur Ros’s instrumental experimentation with the bow/guitar and make-believe vocals created a sound that's uniquely their own. About those vocals though . . . I appreciate that each listener is supposed to draw out their own shapes from this record - and Hopelandic is a way to remove language as a bias - but I cant help but feel like this is some serious nerd bait. Is there semantic meaning to the words coming out of this dude's mouth or not? I dunno Good album. Wouldn't put it on, but wouldn't turn it off if I heard it either Standout Tunes: Couldn't pick one out. Do us a solid and start cranking out ambient music.

I'm a major Sigur Rós fan, but despite popular opinion amongst fans, "Ágætis byrjun" is only my third favourite entry in the band's discography behind "Takk..." and "( )". I just have a preference towards their records with a bit more grandeur and variation of sound. Having said that, it is undeniable that "Ágætis byrjun" is a work of beauty and a monumental contribution to the post-rock scene. It is remarkable how much emotion Jónsi and the rest of the group are able to convey to so many fans around the world who can't even understand a word of their lyrics - a true testament to the band's mastery of their craft and the universal power of music. I am very tempted to give this album a 5, because even though it isn't my favourite of their albums, it's still very close to perfection. I am however going to refrain due to my incredibly unpopular opinion that "Svefn-g-englar" slightly overstays its welcome, being a bit too monotonous to justify its ten minute run time. Standout tracks: "Starálfur", "Flugufrelsarinn", "Ný batterí", "Viðrar vel til loftárása", "Olsen olsen" and "Ágætis byrjun"

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

Eh, its okay, got bored after a while

Já við þekkjum þessa

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

Pretty, in icelandic, radiohead pablo honey-esque

An amazing experience even though I don’t understand the words.

Best Song: Viðrar vel til loftárása. I really liked the crescendo at around 8:00, and then the sort of cacophonous descent into madness at the end of the song. Worst Song: Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm). That feedback audio at the end of the track almost blew out my speakers, and really didn't fit with the rest of the song (or album). Overall: A difficult album to rate. I can tell that my enjoyment would really depend on my mood at the time of listening. Feels like an excellent album to listen to while reading, or otherwise just relaxing. Best suited for evenings and rainy days.

No

I enjoyed the ethereal vibes, but found myself yearning for a beat or hint of a melody most of the time.

Good sounds but boring. Ambient music is not for me

Aeschau oahhadoaux! Gombasaavid Fuurlzixavin stoko. Yo kaieavou a siyin sarinavi lesuaudvoo. That's what this album sounds like. But somehow...I still liked it. I can't explain why it works - but it's not a total success because I am regularly removed from the experience because of the nonsense language, but musically, there's a lot to admire here. I want to give it a 3.5, but I'll score it a 4 officially.

Love love

This is an interesting listen. Didn’t know them before listening. There was a lot o going on.

Pieniä hetkiä väläytteli ja tunnelma osui oikeaan hermoon, mutta kokonaisuus kovin vaisua elektrohobittia.

Rauhottumiseen hyvää. Valitettavasti ykskään hetki ku kuuntelin tätä, ei ollut sellanen tilanne

Har aldri gitt de der en sjanse. Innser nå at det er good shit.

I didn't like this album but only because it's not my style. I'll give it 2 stars simply because I can understand why someone would like it.

Similar to what i thought it would spund like, but with more feeling. Good music to yoga to.

Tjú tjú

Truly beautiful. But also nothing that really digs into my memory, like () has.

Interessant album. In het begin voelde ik de sfeer van AIR, maar later waande ik me als bezoeker van een klassiek concert met violen. Geen idee waarom dit een "rock" band is/was, maar deze muziek bevalt mij meer. ****

Remarkable dream-pop, with delicate and stunning merry-go-rounds of sounds. (7/10) FT: Svefn-g-englar

VMP

One of the more unique albums I’ve listened to. The instrumentals and beats were very enjoyable and relaxing. The lyrics didn’t make sense. The singing was good. The album would’ve been possibly great if it was in English or somewhat understandable because the long songs and shoe gazing like sound was well made. 4.7/10

Ooh cool cover… The album opens with an intro track a nice chant to set the albums scene. Svefn-g-englar is the first proper song a 10 minute long epic ( there are a lot of long songs on here) it’s a dreamy, relaxing well produced effort where I can see the appeal really clearly for but I guess i’am not really in the mind frame for a song like this. Starálfur is a 6 minuter roughly translating to staring elf has some brilliant string work on it I do prefer this song though as the singer’s voice is slightly more present and the raw guitar bit is kinda cool. The next song up is Flugufrelsarinn sounds decent it has a moodier feel to it and the vocals sound like they’re trapped in a storm. The music has just kinda clicked with me now! Song 5 is Ný batterí which starts with this blissful noise just gently popping out until 2 minutes in where the vocals come in smoothly and gently singing almost giving the feeling of laying on a tranquil beach. Then we have got Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm) translating to The heart pounds (boom, boom,boom) it brings in more energy than the last ones with jazzy pianos backed by some haunted belch when the vocals come in most of that goes and instead we’re greeted by the normal vocals and this angelic backing that really makes the track. Next is the album’s longest track Viðrar vel til loftárása a song that does take it’s time to get going but after the first two minutes and those strings come in it gives off a true sense of euphoria which only heightens when the vocals come in making it sound really emotional even if I don’t understand Icelandic . Olsen Olsen is next a quite angelic track but still with a trance like bass line and at points this gentle flute playing and string work. Now we have the title track Ágætis byrjun is a guitar based song and the highlight for drumming it’s great but at this point I kinda feel out of the trance the album placed earlier getting tired of the track half way through. The album closes with Avalon a very unique spectacle indeed being a kinda sinister sounding instrumental piece, I don’t love it but it’s good. You really have to be in the right frame of mind for this album and I was at points but not enough to love the whole thing. Also while I’am not usually a fan of albums with really short track-lists this should’ve been more like 8 songs with the track length.

it's like a bad comedown. i feel like this is another band that has all the halllmarks of something i should be really in to, but i'm just not. the majority of it is boring, occasionally there is a great distorted heavily reverbed guitar that sounds beautiful, but its the outlier in what generally is drab. the bits where they're doing euphoric to me are so cheesy they sound like fucking snow patrol.

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

😫

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

4, makes me feel like a single celled organism

2/5 too chill for me

Good album, was everywhere for a while, but the songs stil hold up. Very relaxing, very chilled, very enjoyable in a low key way. Svefn-g-englar probably my favourite, along with the title track. 4 🌟

Algjör bakgrunnstónlist og ágæt sem slík. Sækist ekki í Sigur Rós.

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

20th May 2022 (actually the 20th) Started on the Friday but finished on Monday morning cos we had book club Friday, Adna Joe Meg Em Anna Lewis Nathan round Saturday and recovery Sunday. Ethereal, euphoric and unique.

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 clearer; The sound if cinematic and huge with large emotions, even if 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.

Symphonic post-rock at its finest, an enveloping hour and ten minutes of warm, gazey guitar and ethereal vocals that consumes the entirety of the soundstage. Not easy listening by any means - this is an LP that requires full playback for the best experience, but rewards those willing to listen.