Ágætis Byrjun

I'm rating this 3 stars. But that is because 3 is the average of all possible ratings. This album is the one of the most mood and song-to-song dependent albums I've ever heard. If I'm in the right mood and listening to the right songs, this is an easy 5. Wrong mood and wrong songs? 1 star is being generous.

Nice to finally have something from Iceland in this collection that has nothing to do with Bjork! And it's an interesting(ish) album, kind of a Scandinavian iteration of the Cocteau Twins in some ways, but far more cinematic/soundtrack oriented. (I belatedly discovered that part of that impression was because several of their songs were used in "Vanilla Sky" and one in "The Aquatic Life of Steve Zissou".) The video for "Svefn-g-englar" of Downs Syndrome angels is as mesmerizing as the music; the sad tale of forbidden love in "Vidra vel til loftarasa" isn't quite as good, but still a bit riveting with the soundless slow-motion. Gauging from this album and the infinite number of Bjork albums in this collection, there must be something about being a musician in Iceland that seems to create a need for weird, ethereal and sometimes truly unintelligible music, and this album delivers this in spades (especially the tracks with their made-up Vonlenska/Hopelandic). Kind of like the northern lights of music. Enjoyable, and really well-produced, but better perhaps in smaller doses than this album's one-hour-plus runtime.

Atmospheric, ambient almost synthy electro. Some guitar/folk jazz elements on Hjartad hamast Actually, soft rock elements throughout. Is this shoegaze? Title track reminds me of Coldplay, so soft indie?' Not too bad Best track - Flugufrelsarinn, title track, Olsen Olsen

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

Highlights: Svefn-g-englar,

Icelandic alien music and it’s not even Bjork. What a treat. Just a big ol angel alien fetus on the cover. Or possibly, just a normal guy with a big head. The oversized cranium community is seething at my betrayal. His head is TOO big guys. He looks extraterrestrial. That doesn’t mean he looks MORE terrestrial either. Moving swiftly on, I have no earthly idea (or otherwise) what this is. Spin us a yarn oh alien jesus and may we climb aboard your intestinal spaceship to the cosmos. Ambient. This could be cool. Just a wee intro to start, but not hating it. Is it too late to say I’m not qualified for this in any way? Listen, this thing is long and I was hoping for more ambient, less of this voice. I don’t hate it, but I’m not all that interested and the vocal hook is dreadful. I don’t care about this. I think this is for production nerds. It’s not the melancholy that speaks to me. It sounds like the background of a video that precedes a TedTalk of dubious merit. There are elements of intrigue, sure, but there is also a pomp that I’m not into. Intellectual music for Disney adults. Besides that caustic jab, I’m liking the outro to each song more than the content of the tracks so far. This is a cool instrument. Played in an interesting way to start. Oh my god is this the Linkin Park singer? It’s horrible. Chester Beddingsòn. I’VE BECOME SO NUMB. This is so incredibly bland. I would love to hear this album without vocals. These are truly painful. Outro?? It’s once again very cool. Use this stuff!! Stop singing. Genuinely my favourite 2:30 of the entire album. Beautiful, haunting, cold. Alright. I was really mad when the vocals came in, but they stayed in that super high register which continued to expand this song. This one is bursting at the seams. Raise the doors. The wind Beckons me into the desolate cold. With that beautiful aberration out of the way, we can return to the needlessly grandiose feat Reykjavik Park. Get away from the mic sir/ma’am/singer. Too close. You’re trying to be all meaningful. Another cool outro. These song closes are the true star(s) of the show. If this list has taught me anything, it’s that I really don’t like piano in rock music. This is hold music. This brings to mind a vaguely dilapidated hotel that was once considered upscale. Not my aesthetic. I just don’t care about this. It didn’t even have vocals for most of it and it still sucked. The end was better again, but still couldn’t save this one. This high range vocal is the best thing going on the album. Where does this even come from? Why are they jerking me around with horrible piano ballads and lousy singing to them produce a melody and atmosphere like this? That almost makes me more mad. This is a beautiful song. Until the last 3 minutes or so. Sounds like the end of a children’s Christmas movie. Way to ruin it. This sucks. An interesting note or two from the vocalist, but I’d like to see this piano dropped off of a roof. Maybe it’d hit a cartoon rabbit or something and he’d come up with piano keys for teeth. Solid closer. Very cool instrumental. Thank you for not singing. Your contributions will be noted and are most certainly, appreciated. Before anything, I want to say that intellectualism is important. I don’t want to dismiss the pursuit of expanding your mind, or learning the past. Smart people should be celebrated; however, smart people are more rare than we are led to believe, and like anything, intellectualism has been packaged and sold to a populace dying to feel like they’re special. Why mention this? I think people consume art with the objective of wanting to feel smart. Sure, some albums scratch that intellectual itch, but this album?It’s slowed down pop music. Very little on it is abrasive and it’s rarely challenging. Not that music has to be challenging and intellectual all the time, but when this album is stripped of it’s cult status, and the Icelandic, the music is just… there. That’s it. The word “meh” comes to mind. In fairness, I wasn’t bored, I wasn’t begging for the end, but I found the vocals and piano to be so poorly done. I was able to mine more inspiration in the quiet moments that surrounded the crater left by the vocals in most cases. One absolute 5 star song amongst a field of mediocrity. At times, the mediocrity was grating. Back in the spaceship. No intelligent life detected. 2 HIGHLIGHTS: Ný Batterí, Avalon

Reminds me of Radiohead in the worst ways. After track 3 I was intrigued. Somewhat intriguing and cinematic- vocals were just grating though.

Komische Zwischenspiele von Gitarre. Ein bisschen twin peaksy. It’s youououou

Sigur Ros is fucking boring. Typical hipster darling nonsense, all style no substance, drones on for twice as long as it should, goes nowhere but takes an eternity getting there. Imagine starting a band where your actual goal is to make an entire career out of radiohead's most annoying moments. fuckin' hell. 2/5.

One thing is for certain - I listened to the album. I can't recall a memorable moment of it, but I listened. This is the definition of ambient music.

Shoegaze, yuck.

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.

don't get the appeal

A good beginning my arse. Steer well clear.

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.

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

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

No, couldnt listen to it

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

Weird Shit.

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.

BOOOORING

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

Not my kind of music ...

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

Uff these were just sounds to me

No.

Boring

Hard no. Headache inducing noise. Not for me.

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

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

Sounds like Icelandic elevator music.

No

Snore

Pensé que no encontraría nada en este disco y sí, para mí sorpresa encontré algunas canciones perdidas en un mar de aburrimiento. El resto oscila entre um ruido de fondo decente y un sonsonete ambiental soporífero. 1.5 estrellas que bajan a 1 porque aunque encontré un par de cosas buenas, es casi una hora de tortura. Songs: Ny batteri, Viorar Vel til Loftarasa, Olsen Olsen

Me fastidia la voz. Mucho. Empezando en Svefn-G-Englar (que supongo que significa "no quiero cantar en inglés, amigo Sven") Por cierto, no tengo un pedo con que sea en algo que no es inglés —de hecho creo que eso es algo que le falta más a esta lista— pero la cosa con Sigur Rós es lo hipsteroso que se vuelve el asunto de no estár en inglés. Starálfur, por ejemplo, podría gustarme si no tuviera la voz. Tiene bonita (aunque exagerada) instrumentación. Uta qué reto es acabar este disco.

Boring

Chato demais.

Couldn't find much to enjoy with this one.

Not for me.

Too weird and ethereal for me

Whooshing nonsense

Ughhh

Perhaps it was just because of the weekend just gone but this was a dirge.

Not particularly interesting. But it's non-offensive to keep as background music only.

An attrocious din.

Uneventful

Very long album with some beautiful music, but it's not easy to listen to without some context.

#no

Ptthp

not my thing

I endured this album but it nearly put me to sleep.

iOS hardware keeps you updated

This was more enjoyable than expected. Reminiscent of Radiohead’s KID A/In Rainbows albums. Not for me though.

Spooky

Very good album and artist. Peaceful and helpful for concentration.

Two things that caught my attention "bowed" and "guitar". TIL. It's beautiful.

Este álbum te invita a trascender, a simplemente estar presente en el momento, apreciando lo que se escucha, lo que se siente, lo que se vive El álbum del grupo islandés rompe con la barrera del idioma y cala en personas de muchísimas partes, algo que es aún más difícil cuando el lenguaje del disco no es inglés Instrumentales nítidos, muy bien ejecutados, le dan mucha profundidad emocional al álbum Lo recomiendo para contemplar al horizonte por la noche o en un paraje natural recóndito Excelente álbum

Beyond words and praise.

Post rock essential, feels like floating in a warm sensory tank (probably) Somewhat peaks early with the first few tracks, but Olsen Olsen is pure catharsis towards the end, and is a proper album experience imo, totally singular sound. The bow on the guitar creates this immense towering drone which is such a hallmark, adds to a phenomenal crescendo with the strings and drums at the end of Viorar, which really really stood out to me this time as one of the main highlights of the album where previously I’d dismissed it

simultaneously otherworldly while also matching the natural speed of glaciers moving and the wind sweeping across the earth. it's impossible not to be carried away by songs like "Svefn-G-Englar" and "Olsen Olsen". there's so much beauty and mystery and joy in these songs. that EBowed guitar holds so much power, especially combined with Jónsi's sustained hopelandic vowel sounds. I'm pretty sure that listening to this a lot in high school prepped my mind to enjoy vocals that aren't tethered to a defined language. if you haven't seen the film "Heima" from 2007, it's essential -- for the striking footage of Iceland and its inhabitants as well as the insight into the musical development process of the band. and any chance to catch Sigur Ros live should be taken.

Wonderfully melancholic

Peak post-rock (GY!BE is also peak post-rock)

This was an amazing journey turned up loud I didn't want to end. (Review copied from my other group.)

392/1089 the build up of Hjartað hamast leading into the strings and staticky ending ohmygod A Sigur Rós x Phoebe Bridgers collab would go INSANE Veðrar Vel til Loftárása had me tearing up, that was beautiful i knew i’d love this album, Icelandic is such a perfect language for this type of indie chamber pop vibes. also reminded me a bit of Low Roar who also had major Icelandic influences faves: Veðrar Vel til Loftárása, Hjartað Hamast 87/100

Prachtig. Kan er geen reet van verstaan, maar: prachtig.

Dit is zo consistent schitterend, echt een waanzinnig mooie plaat. Jammer dat () niet op de lijst staat, dat is stiekem mijn favoriete Sigur Ros, maar deze krijgt ook een gemakkelijke 5 sterren van me.

It was fun to be 18 when this came out. Back in 2001 it was very hard to find any info on the internet. I didn’t have dial up, but artists didn’t have websites, there was no google, searching for fan sites was tough. Listening to this album was like listening to aliens in their language playing their instruments. It was the most unique experience I’ve ever felt, and it got crazier with their next album where Jonsi sang in his own language. This album is as close to perfect as you can get; every song is a trip. The piano on Staralfur, the drumming on Ny Batery, everying from the closing track, and don’t get me started either Olsen Olsen, the bass line that leads you to the wonderful flute solo into the orchestration in the end, amazing. One of those albums you wish you could forget to discover and obsess about it all over again.

This album changed my life by making me feel like I had a window into another life unlived. It’s a unique, uncanny album.

I don’t understand a word being sung (and some of the lyrics are in fact legit gibberish), but it doesn’t matter. This is true art. A beautiful and surprisingly varied album that earns its full hour.

What the fuck have i stumbled across. Trancendental. Perfect. 5/5

Yay Sigur Ros!

mesmerizing

que linda jornada

One of the most beautiful and unique albums ever made. Playing this in the car whilst driving the Iceland ring road is bucket list for me.

One of my favourites

insano

Around the time this came out, the website Audiogalaxy featured “Svefn-g-englar.” It may have been a free (legal) download. But I know that was my first exposure to this band, which has become one of my favorites and one of the best concerts I’ve attended. I probably prefer ( ) to this album, but those two are my favorites.

It’s to talk about music like this. Sigur Rós was a find from almost 20 years ago, and although my listening has varied over the years, my appreciation has not. Their music is wonderfully evocative, and this album is one of the best examples of that. So glad to see this show up on the list.

Apaisant

Oooooh I didn't know this one!! Absolute experience to listen to. Hard to describe - this pulls me right out of the world.

This band is a special gift. The most memorable live performance I've ever seen is this band. I saw them with my sister ( it was right after Kveikur came out so 2013ish). From the moment they started playing, we didn't move. We didn't leave our seats, we didn't say a single word to each other, our gazes never left the stage below. Sometimes tears fell on our cheeks. After it ended, we rose and silently made our way through the crowds and out of the venue, still utterly mesmerized. Eventually we came to. Untitled #8/Popplagið is the most epic ending to a concert you will ever see.

Lowkey perfection.

Reminds me of Outer Wilds

Very spacey, pretty to listen to

i’ve heard this :)

its not unheard of for my mood of the day and my album of the day to line up so well that i listen to the album twice in a row but it usually happens with shorter, punchier records than this one. this has never quite crossed the threshold to being one of my very favorite albums , but much like my personal history with dylan's Highway 61 Revisited, its an album that for Ten Years has remained exactly the same amount of good in exactly the same way through all my tumultuous twists and turns in my music journey. and i do find myself appreciating it more and more holistically as time goes on...when i was a teen i almost exclusively just remembered the sweeter, more direct moments, but ive rly grown into the more emotionally ambiguous atmospheric stretches too. idk if this is my fave of theirs, i find the overall structure of the untitled pretty irresistible, but of the ones i know this is almost certainly the most bulletproof Track For Track quality. some of it still makes me shiver.

Love it , all their stuff is great

Listening to this album feels like your best friend embracing you and them telling you how life is pain, but how life also is so much beauty and happiness if we let it reach us.

Bien.

The first time I heard "Svefn-g-englar" was an almost transcendent experience. (I still can't believe it's been over two decades...)

this is what I want to SEEEEEE, people! thankful for discovering this through this list.

Absolutely love this album. Saw htis group live and it was a meditative experience.

I got into this band thanks to a metalhead I knew at college We didn't have much crossover in bands we liked but he lent me this and the second ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, quite liked the Trail of Dead record but the Sugur Ros just blew me away. It was so ethereal and calming and very soothing if you are going through a stressful or difficult time. Jonsi's voice is wonderful and I love the whole concept of singing in a made up language which sounds close enough to English that you can't put your own interpretation into what he might actually be singing or you can just let the soundscapes wrap around you. I can't remember what I lent him in return at the time but I suspect I got the better of this particular cultural exchange. Favourite track - Svefn-g-englar.

I always feel like I’ve lived the entire lifecycle of some magical being whenever I listen to Sigur Rós and I love every fucking second of it.

This album gave me an overwhelming sense of how temporary I am. It felt to me like being in the deepest ocean or the darkest sky or the stroniest winds; it almost sounded celestial. There were multiple times I had to stop and just think to take it in. Overall it’s probably a 4.5 but I like the uniqueness and Hjartao Hamast too much.

The production is insane, the instrumentation is lush, the tones are just incredible. Both soothing and powerful. A masterclass.

Once, I loved this album… Always thought the album cover embryonic angel was… more than “cool.” It’s just about perfect album art. My brother made fun of me for being obsessed with an album whose lyrics I couldn’t understand. I think I did find out that Agaetis Byrjun meant “A Good Beginning.” A good beginning indeed. Yes. Time has not blunted how beautiful and moving I find this whole album, cover to cover. So very glad this exercise got me to listen to the whole again. 5 Boolean: True

For me, it’s an absolute masterpiece from start to finish. The combination of orchestral arrangements and electronic influences is top-notch, and the overall vibe just feels perfectly right. It plays like a brilliant blend of Pink Floyd and Radiohead. 5/5.

О! Це круті чуваки) Я їх знаю)

This album completely caught me off guard. I didn't really know what to expect from it, to be honest... But then, whilst listening to the first track, which was strange but beautiful by the way, I thought I knew what I was in for. I thought I was going to be listening to an album of purely instrumental music. Which, to be fair, after hearing the first track, I wasn't too put off by. Then the vocals hit... and wow... they were beautiful. To me, they were just noise, but like that of a siren from Greek mythology, calling in the sailors. I didn't understand the language at all, and I'm still not too sure what language it even was, but somehow I was enthralled from start to finish. I have to say, the highlight for me in a lot of the tracks was the vocal lines, but I can't not mention the instrumental throughout. Favourites: Svefn-g-englar Flugufrelsarinn Hjarto hamast (bamm bamm bamm) Viorar vel loftarasa Olsen olsen

Today is probably the day that I needed the unbridled catharsis that this album provides and I am so thankful to the generator for that. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever conceived. 10/10 [KEEP]

I came across the song Starálfur when I was around 13-14 in 2000. It was recommended to me by someone on an invite only chat forum which had sprung up from people meeting online from hanging out on the Silverchair message board “Chairboard” which was a part of Chairpage (one of the first successfully implemented band websites and communities on the internet - and a great example of how the internet was intended to be, before the marketing, algorithms, global domineering technocrats ruined things). I also came across my 24 slot Case Logic CD folder (with silver hand drawn doodles on the outside), and whaddya know, Ágætis Byrjun was one of the 29 (there were a few crammed loose in the back) albums in there, along with Sigur Ros’ next album ( ) I turn 40 next week, and this has been a mind trip through memories. Needless to say, I loved this album, and still do.

i love songs more than 5 minutes long i wish i knew what they were saying I love really ambient music like this, and long song have my heart

I got married to a sigur ros song and I put this album on at night to help my baby sleep. They such sweet, dorky, beautiful people and songs. I just want to curl up inside one and wear a thick Icelandic sweater. Sigur Ros is part of us all, a part of us all, a part of us all

Don't normally go for ambient music, but Sigur Ros makes interesting textures without forsaking melodies.

I am loving this and I am so relaxed

Top 15 album for me.

really calming and nice to listen to while I work. I love the album cover - flugufrelsarinn is giving twilight vides

So many one-star reviews here, half from the meat-and-potatoes crowd, half from the too-cool-for-BBC-nature-doc-soundtracks crowd. If you're at either extreme of that spectrum, it's time to get over yourselves and drown in this bombastic, melancholy wonder - like, deep down, you know you want to.

Woah. I want to lie in the deepest part of a ship in the pitch black on a rolling sea while this echos through the hull. Is it whales singing? Is it God? I'm on album 396 of this project. I've had all kinds of good, bad, and mediocre. This is only the 2nd album that absolutely devastated me right out of the gate. This well now be in my 5-star regular rotation.

Ah, voilà qui fait plaisir ! Je suis pas très fan de post-rock (en vrai, je n'y connais rien), mais j'adore Ágætis Byrjun ! C'est un album franchement apaisant, avec une musique très discrète, avec une personnalité énorme. Ágætis Byrjun est un peu bizarre (c'est le post-rock, je suppose) et ce, dans le meilleur sens du terme. C'est chanté soit en islandais, soit dans une langue inventée et je suis bien incapable de faire la différence entre les deux. Ma chanson préférée reste encore Olsen Olsen, qui commence sur un chant très éthéré, sur un air entêtant et apaisant (oui, je réemploie ce mot, mais j'y peux rien si c'est l'une des meilleures descriptions qu'on puisse en faire) avant, dans sa dernière moitié, s'emballer un peu sur des chœurs que j'irais presque qualifier de triomphants. Voilà un album qui a tout à fait sa place ici.

This album is a revelation. Haunting and beautiful at the same time. An original way to play instruments and a unique voice over the top. The great tracks are front-loaded. The middle of the album does meander a bit but without losing the atmosphere.

I can't speak Icelandic so I assumed this would not work for me at all. Turns out I was a fool. This is about an hour of really good music that I will fully admit I don't know what it means, but it still managed to go the distance for me. Honestly fantastic. I'd say may favorites were Svefn-g-englar, Ný batterí, Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm), and Olsen Olsen. This feels like an album you have to have nice headphones, also. I'm still not sure if you should listen intently, or zone out and have it as background noise. I guess that may depend on if you can speak Icelandic.

No notes.

Just what I needed after a long day

Amazing album, something you listen as a whole, not just one song, amazing atmosphere from beginning to end. I don't understand a word, but that doesn't really matter? 1. Svefn-g-englar 2. Olsen olsen 3. Starálfur

Ĉœøĺ

Love me a bit of Sigur Rós. This isn't my favourite album from them but this is still an absolute essential when it comes to post-rock music. Fantastic instrumental work on this with several stunningly beautiful compositions up and down this thing. I'm not too sure what's going on lyrically but Sigur Rós has never been a band that I go to for the lyrics anyway as the vocals basically just act as another instrument in the mix. I do think they would fully perfect this sound on their next album, but this is still great in its own right and deserves all of the praise that it gets. Favs: Svefn-g-englar, Starálfur, Ný batterí, Olsen olsen Least Fav: Hjartað hamast 9.4/10

Очень чувственный и мелодичный альбом, музыка запредельно транцсцендентальная, обеспечивает полный выход из тела, растворение в окружающем пространстве, диссоциацию сознания и единение с миром.

Beautiful and interesting while remaining relaxing.

Beautiful tracks. Reminded me of Radiohead.

Amazing album from an essential band

Un de mes albums préférés de tous les temps. Ce que je resens en écoutant ça c'est indescriptible. Les émotions sont légendaires. Gros banger

Seeing Sigur Ros live was one of the most transcendent experiences of my life.

What an album! - Where to start. First off, this style of music is right up my alley, so this was a pleasant listening experience, it somehow felt familiar but brand new during active listening, impressive considering this album is from 99'. I was intrigued at the usage of different styles and moods with the composition, I understand nothing lyrically from this album due to the language barrier present between myself and the authors, but that does not shake the fact that this is a very well thought out experimentative album that blends the bridges of similarity between our worlds without drowning out the uniqueness that envelops the sound Best song - Svefn-G-Englar

I connected to this artist the way Navi's connect to the Tree of Souls. Biggest find so far via this generator. Bless

Amazing!!!!!!!!

Very different, Norwegian vibes, atmospheric, happy memories

i liked this

wooww

Simply a gorgeous album. Another reminder that music can communicate beyond language.

Fantastic. The emotional impact of this is incredible.

I could stargaze and listen to this for hours

First time listening to a full Sigur Ros album and it won't be my last

esse álbum mudou alguma coisa no meu cérebro

Wow. I saw the artist, and for some reason thought death metal. Boy was I wrong. This it ambient made grand. Music that lets you just float along and be, not demanding that you understand it or try to decipher it. This was such a strange, beautiful journey. My Rating: 5/5

Interesting. Felt like I was in a world of unknown but I knew it at the same time. Felt like this is something can recognise on more on a deeper level and I know people will feel it. I feel like I’m watching the northern lights. It feels like I’m listening to radio head. I felt transported by the melodies.

Usually when I'm really excited about an album, I begin my review by typing out a memorable lyric. That'll be hard to do for this one. Unless I go TJUUUUUUUUUUUUU, TJUUUUUUUUUUUU I love this Icelandic nonsense. I love how it sounds boyish and innocent, as well as massively ambitious. I love its occasionally cheesy chord progressions, as if the octet is playing on my actual heartstrings. I love the unorthodox percussion that is sometimes there and sometimes not but it is always at the perfect time. It's beautiful. It's occasionally horrific. I love the shots of noise between songs that last just long enough to blend into the identity of the song itself. I love the loose narrative of a child being born, a new life, starting over, that can actually be applied to the band themselves making this album after a debut that kinda sucked. I love the anthemic melody of Olsen Olsen, a song which I can only assume is about Mary-Kate and Ashley. I love the title of the track afterwards, which loosely translates to "good weather for airstrikes." That's such a kickass sentence. And it fits the music! It's grand and epic like a gorgeous sunny day, but that leaves you vulnerable. It disarms you. It makes you weak. Sigur Ros has a fantastic sound across their whole career. If this list is just about hearing albums that are good, you could put a lot of their discography on here. But realistically, Ágætis Byrjun is the only one that warrants inclusions on this list. Later on in their career, their brand of post-rock became more accessible, less experimental. That's only because this album stuck the landing. Albums like Takk... are big and beautiful, sure, but in a way they're end up being less ambitious. Because the band knew it was going to work. This album was a massive leap of faith, a hyperextension into a new realm of post-rock that is more personal, timid, quieter and yet more explosive than ever before. And it worked. Oh yeah, and it's super Radiohead sometimes.

I am incredibly over due to listen to Sigur Rós, let alone their magnum opus Ágætis Byrjun (I totally did not just copy and past that). Ágætis Byrjun heats up in the early middle part of the album then it goes for a ride. Much like the Icelandic language, it's hard to describe but it's really good.

Atmospheric sounds, finally! Bit repetitive, but great symphony

Не понимаю, почему все в группе так засрали этот альбом, по мне очень приятная музыка с узнаваемым стилем и голосом и душевными мелодиями.

Исландцы сверхлюди

Мясо

Какая же прекрасная музыка, я не можу. Реально музыка (исландских) богов. Очень подходящий вайб под нынешнюю московскую погоду. Один из моих любимых построк альбомов, точно входит в топ 3

Fantastic album, this one is a keeper

Although I have listened before, it can only be once or twice so I’m still getting to know it and I feel there is way more depth to explore, including apparently a concept that would require reading the English translation whilst listening to understand what’s going on (unless you know Icelandic). I can understand why some wouldn’t have the patience for this, or how it could be overlooked after a first listen but it’s other worldly, ethereal feel really landed with me today, and across multiple tracks. Starálfur is the one I know best thanks to its appearance at the end of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and is the track that I have dipped into the album for previously but I unearthed some gems today, although the album is best enjoyed in its entirety.

One of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard

Stunning. Didn’t think much would match Takk. Great album. 5.

AMAZING. 10/10. So much ambience in each heartfelt track.

förstår inte varför men 5%5

This was an amazing journey turned up loud I didn't want to end.

This was just plain stunning

I went to the gym today!... for the first time in several months, if not a year. It’s in the basement of my apartment building, which at times has become more of a taunt than a convenience, due to my un-fondness for traditional workout methods. I defend this by saying I prefer to enjoy my exercise, although as a result I don’t get much of it at all. I went down at around 2pm, and began by struggling with one of the lightest weights on some machine I don’t know the name of. “Pectoral fly” I believe it was labeled. In my wired Apple earbuds played the last few songs of Europa’s new album, LAgoon. I oscillated between feelings of positive appraisal and mild ambivalence (significantly due to my own mood). My official opinion on the album goes beyond that, of course, but that’s for another time. Next on queue was the first song of Sigur Rós’ Ágætis byrjun. I recently subscribed to a newsletter which I have found to be very effective in classic album discovery, an interest that has re-arisen in me recently. This morning (I’m assuming, although I slept through til the late afternoon), I received an email suggesting that I listen to the record. I can’t say I was particularly intrigued, but I was curious to get a taste of the elusive Sigur Rós. Elusive is probably the wrong word to describe the group, although I think in relation to my experience it is pretty fitting. The name Sigur Rós exists in some dusty compartment of my brain’s memory sector, where at some point it must have been placed, but the origins of this familiarity have long since faded. If you had asked me yesterday who Sigur Rós is, I’d probably say he was some philosopher, or the fictional main character from an old novel I’ve never read. However, as Europa’s LAgoon came to a close, I was formally introduced. Looking back now, the first track didn’t particularly capture me, but I didn’t skip it either. It was undoubtedly pleasant, composed of ornately twisted audio chops that more so became a backing track to whatever the hell I was thinking about. The second track is where I began to actively listen to the music playing in my ears. I still don’t quite get how earbuds can achieve such high quality at such a low volume. To me, it’s similar to the puzzle of how records can replay a full range song/recording just with varying grooves. What I heard on the second track was a kind of organic, shoegaze-y bliss, that made everything else I’ve heard [in the shoegaze “genre”] sound like a shitty attempt at replicating it (if you are a shoegaze-lover, pmo, :) I don’t mean to hate). This track, along with the rest of the record, exudes something that is ethereal and atmospheric, while still retaining anchoring to earth. It doesn’t feel like you’re in space or in some foreign universe, but it’s as if you can float, softly jumping 20 feet in the air and gliding gently back down to the earth’s surface. Much like the blindfolded creation of a stew, while its inspirations are at times unclear, the resulting music feels like a composite of infinite cultural influences. Similarities could be drawn to Brian Eno in this manner. The vocals, which are often near the low level of a whisper, usually consist either of a choir or a single voice. Somehow, through the inherent emotional weight of the composition, the choir feels as if it represents an international world choir, while the solo voices feel like you are being spoken to by a kind-hearted, non-arrogant guru. The whole project is layered with a diverse array of field recordings – nature noise, chatter, electronic mechanics – unidentifiable in terms of time period. The instruments, while likely recorded in a more traditional setting, have been processed in a way where one might also mistakenly categorize them as field recordings. The guitar is harsh in distortion, yet pleasant to the ears, downsampled and filtered. It seems to desire power, but is oriented in an existential environment which renders it harmless. The piano and pluck-y elements are similarly mixed, however this time the processing has a different effect. The contextualized atmosphere turns the piano’s natural sadness into a bittersweet kind of beauty. As I listened to the album, I felt like I was being spoken to by some wise uncle or distant brother. Keep in mind that at this point I had assumed that Sigur Rós was one man, and for some reason, that this album was probably dated in 1988. After I was done working out (which I generously will say lasted 30 minutes), I was torn away by a scheduled production session with a person I’ve been somewhat neglecting. Given it’s my final semester of college in New York, I have a good amount of tasks that hold a higher priority in order for me to graduate. After I prematurely capped the session at 9pm, I was eager to get back to the album, and did so while I cooked up some skinny bitch’s fried rice from Trader Joe’s. One of the core themes throughout this album is its timelessness. If this record was released today, it would blow every pop icon and convoluted underground artist out of the water. One might also, reasonably so, assume that the album was created anywhere in the mid-late 1900s, given its simplicity and restraint. It makes sense then that the real year of release was 1999, a year symbolic of large-scale cultural evolution. Both in the music and in the visual representation, the group emphasizes a unique strain of nostalgia. Typically, when people reference nostalgia, there is a distinction between fond memory or yearning, gratefulness or a bittersweet taste. In their expression they somehow encompass it all. You know that feeling when you are overwhelmed with emotion so much that your brain doesn’t know what to pick? You feel like laughing, yelling, punching, crying, screaming, running– all at once. It is an extremely rare experience and one that, in turn, is both enjoyable and painful. For me, this feeling arises most often with music, although that is not to say it happens often at all (if I had to guess 1x/1-2 years). Now, I’m getting ahead of myself, as my listening did not evoke one of these moments for me, but the general emotional theme of the album can be described by this existential, timeless, undefinable catharsis in simultaneously experiencing all of the beauties and tragedies of life. I am grateful for my fake fried rice, my Temu ice machine, my pillow, and for not understanding. If you got this far I am happy to be sharing with you. Please let me know what you think about the album, or about how I can improve my writing:). Sigur Rós - Ágætis byrjun 10/10

Emocionalmente reflexivo, es un disco que tienes que escuchar si estás teniendo un momento de introspeccion

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Had always heard good things, but was hesitant to dive in. These songs are hauntingly beautiful. Excited to hear more of their stuff. 5/5

Ah the kinda spacey post-rock music that all my deeper-into-music-friends loved and I derisively hated as a teen. Boring, samey, pretentious, artsy bullshit- all terms I have used to describe Sigur Rós and their ilk. If I could go back in time I'd punch that punkass kid. Ethereal, expansive, and meditative. I could throw more descriptors out their forever because that's what this album is an emblem of, a vibe. A beautiful journey that held me everytime the music began to swell. This is one of those rare albums where the songs blurring into one another feels cohesive rather than repetitive, and I honestly couldn't choose a favorite song as a result. Though the songs did not all need to be so long, but I'll let them slide.

This has been a really great album, Granted not all of the songs in it hit me as hard as some of my favorites here, But Man! It's a solid one. Would listen to it again Makes wanna find more of this bands discography. I really like Staráful for it's beautifull piano, and overall composition, everything sounds very gracefull alongside the vocals. It's overall incredible powerfull sounding

spacy good for a rainy day drive

This is a classic. I remember 1999/2000 being all about what wild new soundscapes were about to bless our ears in the new Millennium, and this appeared in my life. While Jonsi’s voice can be a little too angelic and fluttery for its own good at times, it’s still a powerful tool. I prefer when he sings in a slightly lower register. The songs on here are long form tone poems that may seem to drag at times, but ultimately always reach the heavens through its luscious, ethereal mood. They sound the way Iceland looks. I can’t say there is a bad song on here and this holds all the way up 27 years later. 5/5

I wonder if living in Iceland feels almost like living on another planet. I've never been, but the landscape and remoteness would lend itself to that feeling I'd think. And the music that comes out of Iceland tends to feel that way too. This particular album is otherworldly in all the best ways. It makes me want to swim in it and fly through it. It's stunning and immersive and feels like the universe breathing and expressing its beauty. What a masterful piece of art.

Listened to this after a night out, walking along the canals in London while the sun was coming up. Easy 5 for me. Spacious, otherworldly, but still very melodic and emotional. Bowed guitars! Seeking out more of their music now.

Incredible. No notes

i've seen people occasionally praise this album online, but i've never bothered to check it out til now [untitled] - no rating Svefn-g-englar - 5/5 Starálfur - 4/5 Flugufrelsarinn - 5/5 Ný batterí - 5/5 Hjartað hamast (Bamm bamm bamm) - 4/5 Viðrar vel til loftárása - 4/5 Olsen Olsen - 5/5 Ágætis byrjun - 5/5 Avalon - 4/5 Average score: 4.6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i guess Bjork isn't the only good artist to come out of Iceland this was a very lengthy but beautiful album. Svefn-g-englar was particularly thought-provoking for me. not sure if the album cover had any influence, but it sounded lullaby-ish. Flugufrelsarinn and Olsen olsen were pretty captivating as well

The Svefn-g-englar single was a perfect release - an introduction to this otherworldy band conjoring this sweeping, ambient, spacious windswept alien sounds. This album is twice as long as the 4-track single and a bit baggy - the extended strings section and trip hop adjacent stuff drag it down a bit. Also not being a first encounter with the band it's a bit less special. But even so, the highs (Viðrar vel til loftárása & Svefn-g-englar especially) are pretty stunning: landscape painting as music - ethereal, dreamy, cathartic, spiritual, oceanic stuff.

All time favorite 🙌

Though the album title translates to "A Good Beginning," this was actually Sigur Ros' second album. Their debut, Von, released only in their native Iceland and sold only a few hundred copies, but this debut/sophomore hybrid launched the slow-motion movie score rockers into the cosmos where they apparently came from. From the instrumental intro to the sonar beeps of lead single and post-rock lullaby "Svefn-g-englar," Agaetis byrjun seems completely invested in submerging the listener in the sea of stars, auroras and humming mountains that inform their grandiose sound. The distinct instrument here is frontman Jonsi's bowed guitar. Though he wasn't the first to do it, I can't think of anyone who can get more out of a single bowed wash of half-speed chords than him. The rest of the instrumentation - dramatic strings, pianos, slide guitars, and even the occasional brass - fill out the rest of the indie-darling orchestra that seemed to automatically generate high review scores back in 1999. A listener might dismiss a lot of this as dreamy and banal hospital-drama music, especially on a song like "Staraflur," but the beauty of the songs lies in their deceptive simplicity. This is just plain alt rock done in slow motion, deliberately slowed to a crawl to make you feel every motion. And nowhere is it more effective than on tracks like "Viðrar vel til loftárása," which makes the listener wait 7 minutes for the massive swirling climax. Easily the emotional high point of the album, it never fails to make me tear up. There was this one time I couldn't sleep no matter what, and I put on this album. In that sleep-deprived state, I managed to catch the ending of "Loftarasa" just as the sun was coming up: far and away one of the most poignant musical moments of my life. Kind of hard to give an album associated with a moment like that one anything less than a perfect score. Key Tracks: Svefn-g-englar, Flugufrelsarinn, Viðrar vel til loftárása, Olsen olsen

Hadn’t listened to this for some years and I am asking myself “why not?” Sublime and one of a kind with great vocals and instrumentation

Beautiful from Sigur Ros

This album made me cry. The instrumentation, vocals, and mix of strings and rock elements are absolutely breathtaking. Best listened to with headphones and in a melancholic mood. Favorite song: Olsen Olsen

This album was amazing, such an amazing sound throughout every song, it truly is an experience listening to this masterpiece for the first time

Listens: 3 or 4 Standout Tracks: Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm), Viðrar vel til loftárása, Olsen olsen This was quite a lovely album. Thought provoking and powerful. Interesting sounds, instruments, styles and vocals... and I can't understand a lick of it. This is undoubtedly a recurring theme for me here. A good handful of 4 and 5-rated albums are in languages I have no comprehension of. There are some elements in Olsen Olsen that give me major The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask vibes. The flute? reminds me of the Clocktower town theme music (I think). And then on the last track as everything is winding down, there's a lot of ambient sounds that remind me of a certain creaking, groaning and grinding clock tower. All this Zelda stuff aside, the fact that I don't understand any of the singing means that I can sort of let the vocals fade into the background, and consequently, this becomes a sort of pseudo-instrumental, ambient, soundscape-y album, where I can really focus on the music. Very high marks for me.

This is an album full of atmospheric, drone-y, chill songs by an Icelandic band. It's a blissed-out hour-plus of shoegazery guitars, strings, drums, and synth with a bit of post-rock influence. The vocals can sometimes be a little whiney, but the music is top-notch. You can even catch a cameo of Sigur Ros performing for King Joffrey at his wedding in that episode in Game of Thrones.

lowkey fire

Klassiker for evig og alltid.

This took me to Avalon.

I am a music technology major who studied with a close Icelandic friend; this is obviously a 5 for me. Genius.

What a journey...

Loved it, great chilled music :)

This is a very beautiful album.

first time, great time

I can’t, even after all these years of casual listening ( I’m not the most hardcore fan) figure out how to explain this album and this band. I know I feel things I hardly ever feel from them in the best way. It almost feels like listening to them becomes the soundtrack to your own personal independent movie. The emotion from these songs carries a good moment into a better moment. I can’t pick or pronounce any of the songs but I love em.

Love sigur ros sooo much!! Was gonna keep my five starts just for their parentheses album, but listening again to this one it's too amazing! If you haven't taken some kind of transport and put a sigur ros record on while u do it then do it! Amazing experience

The most tranquil and calming record I've ever heard. It's like laying on a cloud with a slight breeze hitting you. Beautiful stuff. Favorite track: Svefn-G-Englar

Brillint.

frostmoon scions

Wow, this floored me

This is an example of the kind of albums this list should be for. Music that I have no real reference point to judge other than I like it or I don’t. It’s 1 or 5. Well, I liked it quite a bit.

I listened to this album for the first time while locked in and zoning out at my desk at work. The second time, I was lying in bed with the lights out and my eyes closed. I've been curious just how diverse this list would end up being, and how much representation there would be of non-English speaking musical cultures. Technically Christine and the Queens' album Chris was partially in French, but it also had an English version, so that leaves this album from Sigur Rós as the first fully foreign language album I've encountered in this list, and what a powerful first impression it is. Hearing this band described as a rock band did little to prepare me for the grand, operatic sense of scale in this album. There is an epic tranquility to this album, as if I'm floating in space or setting off on an unknown voyage. The gorgeous orchestration (which is apparently partially accomplished with a bowed guitar, a style of guitar playing I was completely unfamiliar with) is not where the story ends though, as it serves as a foundation upon which are laid ethereal and mysterious vocals, stabs of distorted soundscapes, and booming metal drum hits, keeping the album fresh and engaging the entire time despite the daunting song lengths. This is one of the most atmospheric and transportive albums I can remember experiencing, and I consider that a great compliment. Highlights: Svefn-g-englar, Starálfur, Flugufrelsarinn, Ný batterí, Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm), Viðrar vel til loftárása, Olsen olsen

If you were to tell me that there’d be a band that I would enjoy that wouldn’t be singing in English but rather some made up word salad with a gibberish language. I’d laugh and say “what?” In a really confused tone. The funny thing is, is I tend to think I’m hearing English enough with these made up words that I can kind of sing along from time to time. I don’t know what to say. This is interesting and creative and moving and grooving and proving people wrong yet again that words don’t always control the flow. I say yet again with a grain of salt but since I’m trying to be a professional music review guy, I figured it would be a good thing to say. I still hate poor lyrics and instrumental music. Always will. This is a slow burn album from start to finish. It just keeps that pace and it works, it really does. I’m a high octane guy too and I’m caught in its web. Choice cut: the 2nd song. I’m not spelling it out.

transcendental

Layered, orchestral, ethereal, beautiful.

Album #77 Sigur Rós:Ágætis Byrjun When it comes to music, there is only one thing I take into consideration: how it makes me feel. I don’t care how it is done, whether you are orchestrating a 12-piece ensemble or clanging two bricks together, as long as you convey emotion to the point where it resonates with some part of me, the music is good. I had never heard this album before today, a fact which many would be jealous of. There are a few moments in my life when cherishing art that I wish to be able to experience again for the first time: playing The Legend of Zelda, watching Indiana Jones, and listening to Breakfast in America, all moments which changed the way I viewed an artistic medium. Ágætis Byrjun doesn’t change the way that I view music, but it captures the feeling of what it is like to undergo such a profound experience. My post-rock knowledge is limited almost exclusively to Talk Talk, who I consider now to be one of my favourite bands, but previously I was only in love with their synth-pop era; it took me a while to understand their latter two masterpieces. I think post-rock at times can rely a bit too much on ambience and drone; the essential point of the genre is to very slowly build up to a crescendo, and release all of the listener's emotions at once. Sometimes, artists forget that in the build-up, the listener still has to be engaged every step of the way. On Ágætis Byrjun, the build-up never feels tedious. I was thoroughly engaged all the way through; every moment contributed something to the experience that would eventually result in a climax. I haven’t had too much time to sit with this album; however, I have had enough time to know just how special it really is. This is the type of album that you only bust out on special occasions in order to preserve its aura. In other words, perfect. Best Tracks: Flugufrelsarinn, Stralfur, Olsen Olsen Worst Track: None Score out of 10: 10

Este disco es todo un viaje. Había escuchado muy poco de Sigur Ros y escucharlos de esta forma es otra cosa, sin duda tiene canciones que son toda una experiencia, me recuerda en ratos a Portishead o bandas por el estilo que tienen ese algo que te atrapa y te mete en un ambiente único.

Fantastic

One of the most beautiful sounding albums ever. Best enjoyed whilst leaning back in a chair, in a dark room, with headphones.

Fantastic.

Beautiful, haunting

Pure magic. Productivity was very high while listening

dale ballenato, que bonico

4,5/5

Había un montón de tempo que non escoitaba este disco enteiro. Tanto que, seguramente, aínda fose adolescente a última vez que o fixen. Seguen a parecerme un grupo tan fascinante como a primeira vez que, unha tarde á volta do instituto, pasaron Heima nunha das canles de cine do daquela Digital Plus e quedei pampo vendo paisaxes de volcáns e glaciares coa súa música de fondo. Admirando unha beleza tan salvaxe e singular que parecía irreal. Aínda hoxe abondan unhas poucas notas de piano para que me estremeza de corpo enteiro cando soa 'Starálfur". Un álbum cuns picos tan altos ('Svefn-g-englar' ou 'Ágætis byrjun') que comprendo que ata un canon tan ortodoxo coma o dos 1.001 discos teña sitio para el (#23 dos 1.001 discos que escoitar antes de morrer: 4,5/5)

Wow what a discovery! I was entranced nearly the whole album. This will be a future study album

I’ve always heard this band’s name, but never really indulged in their discography. It is (actually, to my surprise) right up my alley. Maybe post-rock is one of my favourite genres? Probably. I was hearing a lot of things in this one that came after 1999. Looved the spaciousness on this one and honestly, I don’t have anything bad to say about it. So it’ll go to the 5 star wall.

This is the first album I've been served that I've known backwards and forwards--I don't have a clue what they're saying, but I've spent countless hours making art with Sigur Ros playing in the background, specifically this album.

I’m at a 10. Something about Icelandic production really works, huh? The lyricism here is fantastically vivid when translated, giving each track the framework needed to really understand the emotional pull of each track, but even without them… I mean, it’s just a brilliantly produced album. It’s cinematic in scope, left for the imagination to paint a lot of the picture that the lyrics only loosely carry. They’re like a screenwriter’s notes for the director to try and make sense of, with the soundscape being the scenery in which to film in. It’s very hard to describe this album’s impact, because ultimately, everyone will be painting different scenes out of these lyrics, yet ones that are all vivid in the same way. A few tracks are more direct, namely the title track. It’s a lamentation over the band’s first album being a critical / commercial failure, yet looking at the bright side of life with it. They treated it as a good beginning, and they certainly lived up to their vow to make something better for this, their second album. I have to give credit where it’s due to the vocals here; Jonsi Birgisson does a remarkable job of letting the vocals guide the direction of each track, & they feel equally as important as all of the orchestration & guitar / synth work that permeates this album. It’s very hard to describe how easily it all comes together, because it’s so flawlessly done that it just passes by without thinking too deeply about it. This whole album is entrancing in that sense; 10 minute pieces can flash by in an instant, yet each individual segment of each track feels like an adventure to explore or a glimmer of a lifetime one won’t experience. It genuinely sounds like how a dream feels, except without the waning memory that so often happens when you wake up. I think the most fascinating piece here is “Olsen Olsen”, which is a track sung entirely in Fake Icelandic. Bjork used the same “language” on one of her albums, but only sparingly & in transitional phases, like missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Here, since it’s the entire track, it’s fully up to the brain to fill in the gaps, and I think people’s responses to that track in particular will express the full range of the album. At one point, I wrote down that it sounded like the dopamine hit of watching the sunset over a horizon on a summer day, with a wistful energy that tries to capture a magic that one rarely feels as they get older. The crowd bustling around at the end just felt like everyone’s shared experience ending as day turned to night. Of course, that’s just my take on it. That track encapsulates the whole album, and I think it’s a remarkably rewarding one. It’s certainly one that I’ll come back to if I need a burst of inspiration, or if I just want to hear the fantastic orchestration on “Starálfur” again. You could do studies around the psychological impact of this album, even among the people who find it to be dull & trite, possibly exposing a lack of imagination or a differently wired experience that won’t allow music like this to connect to the brain so fruitfully. I think the entire thing is beyond worth listening to before you die, and I think it’s a 10. (P.S.: I’m stunned that something like this was able to be produced in 1999. Even now, it feels incredibly fresh. Over in the U.S., we were listening to Smash Mouth, you know what I mean? No disrespect to All Star or anything, but the difference is striking.)

Love this, saw them live a few years ago as a friend had a spare ticket and it’s the best gig I’ve been at. No moshing though.

Hur har jag aldrig lyssnat på dem förut?

Pépite et calme

This really is the pinnacle of post-rock. Every song is so beautiful, it's such a serene experience. There's really nothing like it, I feel like other post-rock is just too ambient to really be an engaging listening experience, but this really toes the line between ambience and dynamic listening. Truly exceptional. Favorites: Svefn-g-englar, Flugufrelsarinn, Hjartao hamast (bamm bamm bamm)

Super relaxing and beautiful.

Absolutely magnificent piece of Art. <3

A sound like no other, way ahead of their time

Nice

This being the first "Victory Rose" studio album I've heard, this is "A Good Beginning". This is the most exemplary movement from Pre Dark Side Floyd to modern music. Post Rock can be a daunting genre for me because it lies in ethereal textures. But this is spot on to my tates (much like GsY!BE). I really want to spend more time with this one soon but just from the opener, "Svefn-g-englar" I was mesmerized by the sound. (honestly after the horrible day I had yesterday at work, and the much-needed zen I needed before today's hell as work, this is was a much needed listen) I'm actually going five stars on this first listen. I may fine tube it on further review, but this hit me good this morning. (10) ★★★★★

4.5/5

Just beautiful. I don’t mean this as any sass but this is as beautiful Icelandic Coldplay as you can get even in 1999 before Coldplay were a thing. A very long album at 70 minutes, it gets phenomenal mainly at the start and during the last 4 tracks towards the end. Just to think that cute sleepy alien baby/foetus thing on the cover is all grown up now old enough to drive, vote and drink at bars. I hope it’s not starting any dance pop Imagine Aliens shit.

I really enjoyed this album. Nice to hear something from Iceland that isn't Bjork, and of course, this is totally different. It has such a great ethereal, psychedelic sound that I always enjoy. Music that you can just exist with and let the music just kind of take you, without having to think too much about it. I love that they kept everything in Icelandic and they really weren't pandering to the English speaking audience outside of Iceland. I liked the song Flugufrelsarinn. No idea what they were saying, but it just felt like an emotional song.

They would make an album that was entirely dishwasher sounds and I’d still eat that shit up. 100/10

One of my earliest ever reviews to AOTY was none other than Sigur Rós' extremely iconic and beloved album Ágætis byrjun, and today I wanted to give this album the much deserved relisten I think it warrants on a day like today. As I have explained many times with foreign albums I have heard, I do not speak any other language other than plain old American English but that doesn't mean I am not utterly intrigued by the complexities and strange quirks that make up one of the more niche languages I've heard. This project has been described as heavenly and ethereal and I am here to confirm that is still the case over 25 years later. The "opener" Svefn-g-englar is such a perfect song and absolutely cruises through the 10 minute runtime with such ease. This whole album is an experience needed to be heard in full because it truly feels like what I'd imagine hitting the pearly white gates or just that purgatory after death to feel like. Even though this album is far from having a universal appeal to it, I feel if anyone gave this album a try they'd walk away moved more than anything even if it didn't stick with them, and I feel like that speaks volumes.

When I discovered this album in 2009 it felt like a revelation at the time for me. There were periods where I would listen to it, not just multiple times a week, but multiple times a day. It's arguably, the single most beautiful album I've ever heard, with some songs sounding spacey and like they're floating on the beautiful strings that make up the instrumentation, and other songs are relentlessly dense and claustrophobic, creating a sense of dread that is always overtaken by the beauty of the rest of the music before too long. It's always a treat when one of these lists throws in a curveball of an album that I already have such a strong emotional attachment to, and that is definitely the case with this record.

Beautiful

An album so introspective, multifaceted, and beautifically harmonized

5 stars - fabulous, gorgeous!

Exceptional. One of my absolute favorites.

Top notch. Already one of my all time favorites. A masterpiece if I am able to say it. Svefn-ga-englar starts, you are floating in space and suddenly encounter life. It's comforting and warming and lovely. Suddenly you think you've left the realm, but it brings you back for another embrace before letting you go again. Staralfur you've arrived at your destination and it's a celebratory ceremony. You've begun your work. Flugufrelsarinn You meet the new life forms. Cautious at first. But their presence feels like a revolution is at hand. So much we will learn. Ny batteri You start to communicate with the discovered life forms. They express the suffering they've endured at the hands of the selfish and self centered Didn't complete the narration in this review because I was working while listening. But ultimately I have to give this five stars, it's still hits as hard as it ever did.

Very enjoyable. Some interesting combinations of styles. Some ambient, some strings, some dream, some rock... The first non English album I've discovered in this list.

10 estrella

Великолепный альбом, создающий приятный музыкальный ландшафт при помощи скрипок, виолончелей и электрогитары, на которой также играют смычком. При первом прослушивании и после я не вдавался в концепцию альбома и тексты песен, так что лирическое содержание альбома оценить не могу

Found it odd at first, but the longer I listened the more it roped me in.

wow this was really good, best album from here so far. I can't really describe it just so... Lucious i think might be the word, ethereal at times

I saw a review saying that this album is what the Northern Lights would sound like if they made music - it couldn’t be more spot on. The ambience, atmosphere & ethereal sounds produced on this album are absolutely astounding. I love everything about the power & atmosphere it creates, and each track manages to feel distinct & impactful in it’s own regard.

thought I was about to hear one of my favourite albums of all time after the first song but it kinda dipped after that. love this vocalist a lot i wish he had more of a presence, still amazing. Highlights; Svefn-g-englar Ágætis byrjun

can only imagine how good this is live

Bueníssimo. Como siempre

high 4

9/10 Sigur Rós gather up a whole load of different types of music that I love and, in broad strokes, create undeniably evocative and ethereal music. This album sort of came out of nowhere in 1999 and I think even they weren’t expecting for it to do much more than sell a couple of thousand copies in Iceland and keep them ticking along, but it catapulted them to international acclaim. This is an immensely beautiful experience of an album, drifting between ambient soundscapes, clouded folk motifs and crumbling post rock distortion. There’s a real melodic core that exists underneath it all, but they are careful to only expose it from time to time, preferring to build an ebb and flow of sound that serves those melodic inclinations as moments in the journey, rather than the destination itself. The songs are long, but they nearly always do enough to keep things interesting to a close listener, while creating a superb bed for those wanting something that just washes over them. There is a great deal of dynamic and tonal range, but the slow progress of those changes allows everything to feel very natural and organic in its movement. That range is also present in the variety of recording techniques they employ, from obfuscated washes of tone that peek out from under reverb or distortion, hiding their origin, to guitars with exposed fret noise and close mic’d vocals that fell like Jónsi is whispering in your ear. The intent and interest that these choice bring to the project is fascinating and engaging. I do feel that the record is a shade too long, and a little bit of trimming here and there could have made this a slightly tighter experience, as there are moments when it drifts a tiny bit too much, but that’s perhaps a personal take and others could probably love it even more were it longer still. Either way, it’s a beautiful piece of work and one that I have incredibly fond memories of and will revisit again many times over the years, Intro - It’s a scene setter, using bits and pieces from elsewhere in the album and establishing tone and vibe from the off. Svefn-g-englar - This is such a beautiful song. That synth sonar ping that rings out, the crumbling edifice of the distorted, bowed guitar that gives way to a wide open ambience. It’s just glorious. The “Tjú” lyrical hook is etched into my consciousness. Everything moves along slowly, but there’s still momentum to it and the drums don’t play it completely straight, so it has a slight shuffle to it that gives it an organic feeling. The transition at around 6 minutes is gorgeous too and takes things in a slightly darker direction. It feels ethereal and icy, yet dangerous, like standing on a glacier looking out into a crisp, white landscape, but with the occasional sound of cracking from the ice beneath your feet. Starálfur - There’s something so melancholic about this. The interweaving lines from the piano and strings are lovely and then Jónsi comes in with a lament of a vocal that takes its turn to weave around over the strings. There’s some really nice bits of ear candy in there too that add some nice depth. The way it strips out to a really dry vocal for the lo-fi guitar strumming section is so stark. The range in this track is superb, and it moves through a range of equally interesting and engaging sections. Some of the string swells are just fantastic too. Flugufrelsarinn - I think there’s more sonic range to this album than some people give it credit for. There’s a wider palette of sounds if you listen closely enough, but it all fits so well with the aesthetic that it all blends into a unified tone. This track just builds this warm fog of tone with that subtle rhythm driving it from beneath. And then the lead vocal just tears a space over the top of it with some subtle but gorgeous harmonisations. The sweeping and shimmering of the sound design is so good and, even though the there’s no clear melodic hook, the vibe and atmosphere is so gripping, it doesn’t really matter. Ný batterí - They do a really good job of building and stripping away the scale of their music. The dynamic range is fantastic. This is so much more sparse to begin with. It has more of those alien, shimmering textures, but it’s restrained. It threatens and threatens to burst in to life, but keeps you right on the edge. And then those drums come in and add that extra depth. It get’s a little too splashy and the drums take over a little too much at some points, but it’s quite deliberately intense. Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm) - Here’s another example of that wide palette, that rhodes and harmonica intro bring a different twist to the tale and it all than gets engulfed in the glorious wash of their sound. This shimmers and pulses, but the insistent bass line keeps it centred. The vocal is so closely recorded, and I feel like they play with depth and distance really well across the record, with this being an example of something a bit different. The way they pull into and out of washes of crumbling distortion into clean baths of tonality are so pleasing to my ear. This is another with no real melodic hook, but there are fleeting moments here and there that link together the amongst the vibe. Viðrar vel til loftárása - And slowly drifting out of the wash of noise, comes this almost hesitant but lovely piece of piano work. This is an example when there is more of a hook or motif that holds things together. It’s not there all of the time, but it keeps getting referenced back to beautifully. This is such a slow, pretty build of a track. Everything takes its time to arrive, such that you don’t even notice things straight away. I feel like there are moments when it starts to lose its way, but it manages to gather everything up again quite well when it strips back to the piano and vocal, and the build off the back of that is absolutely glorious. Olsen olsen - The pulsing bass here gives it a superb drive while the ethereal elements begin to swarm and build over the top. The melodic line here that starts on the flute is another part of this album that just lives inside me. The track ebbs and flows in a way that is somehow both insistent and drifting, with little melodic and harmonic treasures popping out of the wash now and again. And as they move into the second half of the track, it almost becomes a Sigur Rós show tune evolution of that melodic hook. There’s still that vibe and grit under there, but they pull a very different feeling out of it. And then the final use of that motif becomes so haunting as the track ends. Ágætis byrjun - This is another slow transitioning and very pretty piece. It's perhaps a bit more tied to its main theme than some of the other tracks, but they bring in and out different moments that create a really interesting rhythmic blend of tonality. I actually really like it when they strip things back to the more folksy sound of the vocal, piano and guitar at the end. It feels like it exposes the core of what they are doing, which is to write solid, pretty songs and build them into these grand sonic sculptures that only expose the song at their centre in very cautious ways. To me, that’s a really engaging way of delivering songwriting, somewhat reminiscent of Radiohead, process wise, rather than end product wise, at their enigmatic best. Avalon - A dark and brooding end. It’s a slow movement as the album drifts to its conclusion. There’s not too much to grab hold of from a melodic point of view and it doesn’t really evolve or develop much either, but I kind of get where they were aiming with it, and there are touches in the sound design that I really like. But overall, it feels a little bit too hollow for me.

Beautiful as it always has been

smokin on that nostalgia

My fiancée describes Sigur Rós as sounding like a band of whales who have come together to make music. Huge, epic, wailing sounds, like something you'd hear somewhere under the surface of the ocean. Everything is dreamy and hypnotic from the very start of this album. The "Intro" serves up a double-reversed melody to ease you into the ethereal magic of this album. Otherworldly sounds form and float off in the atmosphere. "Svefn-g-englar" starts off with a repeating sonar-like ping. It always paints a visual in my mind of the band performing on an abandoned, rusting shipwreck or oil rig, surrounded by an empty grey Icelandic landscape. Whether that's based on a memory of a live performance that I saw or not (I'm sure they must have played somewhere like that at some point), it's an image evoked by their music, based solely on atmospheric texture and a repeating pulsar note. The organ comes in next. And then the bowed guitar. Wow. Jonsi's guitar bowing is incredible. He bows in two styles: as tonal texture to build the atmosphere of songs (the start of "Flugufrelsarinn" is the perfect example of this), and in more of a "lead" capacity, providing the main melody of pieces. Both are inspired ways of adding emotional weight, that is unmatched by any other instrument. Back in 2002, Sigur Rós played St. Nicholas church in my hometown Galway, a gorgeous and perfect setting for such epic soundscapes. Having only discovered them shortly before that, I unfortunately missed out on tickets, but I often think about how amazing it would have been. If I'm remembering correctly, it may even have been the posters for this concert that first led me to them. Seeing a photo of Jonsi bowing his guitar was enough for me to dive in. () was my first album, but Ágætis byrjun came right afterwards. I'm trying my best to not misspell anything in this review, and that's a real struggle when talking about Sigur Rós. Try telling a friend to check out "Viðrar vel til loftárása", and you'll see what I mean. Weirdly though, I often find myself singing along to their lyrics in gibberish English. In my head, the chorus of "Svefn-g-englar" will always be "It's you..." The epic nature of this album doesn't let up. You're just recovering emotionally from "Svefn-g-englar" when "Starálfur" kicks in with that amazing piano loop, hitting you like a punch to the gut. At one point during the song, everything strips away to just an acoustic guitar, and then silence. When you think it's all over, the song kicks back in again in full. Another gut punch. It's not just epic, it's emotionally massive. There's something so sad and beautiful about every single moment in this album. But what else would you expect from a band of humpback whales?

Beautiful, varied and interesting throughout. Visionary at the time, and hasn't aged a day. A compelling, textured album that's dense with emotion.

Woah! From the opening track I know this is going to be special. I can hear the inspiration for one of my favourite bands from when I was back at uni: amiina

iceland!

Amazing album with ethereal sounds and calming music Standouts: 2 4 5 9

Very atmospheric and ethereal.

i dont know what theyre saying

I love Sigur Rós. I loved listening to them in high school; a crush of mine showed them to me. A lot of nostalgia.

Already listened to and own

masterpiece i didn't expect to discover

An absolute masterpiece. Beautiful, deep, ethereal and full of emotion. Amazing album.

Really like it I think I could just relax to this

Yeah I mean, this is exactly the kind of stuff I like. Guitar played with a bow?? Love a good wash of sound; complex enough to just sit and listen, yet not so intrusive that I couldn't read or focus on something else while listening. It's also pretty neat that some of this album is genuinely Icelandic, but then "Olsen olsen" is just an Icelandic-adjacent gibberish language created by the band. They call it "Vonlenska" or Hope-landic, because it emulates the sound of Icelandic and originated on their album "Von." Basically Icelandic scatting.

Really lovely, ethereal album. This music reminds me of my visit to Iceland this summer. The country is isolated and the landscape and weather can be harsh, but it is also beautiful, peaceful, and majestic and the people are warm. This album captures that atmosphere very well.

Beautiful, Dissonant, Creative, Cold yet warm at the same time. This music falls into the vein of stuff that I just absolutely adore. The fact that its Icelandic also makes it so much cooler to me. 9/10

このアルバムは中学生の頃に初めて聞いて、数年前にも聞き直したことがある。 ポストロックはなんとなく苦手意識のあるジャンルなんだけど、シガーロスは楽しく聞けることが多い。 このアルバムはロック然としているところがあって、いい塩梅で個人的にはちょうどいい。 次作の()なんかは、より一層オーケストラルになって、このバンドに対する批判としてよく言われていることだと思うけど、眠くなる感じがあった。

sven-g-englar, Flugufrelsarinn, Ny Batterí, favourites!

I wasn't expecting to see post rock on this list, but it definitely needed to be included as a genre, and this pick is one of the most deserving ones. Beautiful album, from start to finish! Extremely good soundscape, atmosphere and instrumentation. It made me feel very relaxed and at peace. Most definitely a very interesting band and very different from the other things on here. They are their own thing. I am sure many people will find this boring and pretentious, but if you really appreciate the musicality and the overall sound design, you will get why this is incredible.

There are drudges in this journey to a 1000 albums. For every TPAB that you hear, there’s 5 fromohio’s. It becomes a chore, a burden, a pain to listen to all these “must listen to albums” when so many don’t click or mesh with you. But it’s gems like this that keep me here. I’m no stranger to the genre of post rock. I’m a big fan of both swans and Godspeed! You Black Emperor. But the beauty in this album is unlike anything i’ve heard before. It’s ethereal, with lush, delicate, yet powerful instrumentals, with vocals that for most people mean nothing but says everything that needs to be said. I definitely did not give this album the respect it deserved on its listen, and yet its beauty still shone like a beacon in the fog. I can’t wait to hear this again with some friends and some “candy.” 5/5

Despite being in Icelandic, this somehow touched me.

GOAT album, not much else to say. Fave track: Olsen Olsen

I have to admit that i had an attitude problem towards this album when it was released. It received such praise that i went the opposite direction with mostly ignoring it. Listening to it now, i have to admit that i was wrong. It's such an great album. Was thinking of reasons why to give it 4 stars instead of 5, but couldn't think of any.

Sigur Rós makes the most beautiful music I've ever heard. I feel like they are vastly underappreciated, largely due to the fact that very few people can understand Icelandic (or "Hopelandic", which is used on some of their albums). While you could say this trait makes them inaccessible to wider audiences, part of the beauty is that you are free to interpret the songs/lyrics on a more personal level. History will be kind to this band, as their music seems to transcend time.

Schön melancholisch

Schön, dass wir uns hier einig zu sein scheinen ^^ erwarte mind. noch () von ihnen in dieser Liste

Einzigartige, faszinierende Band. Dieses Album ist für mich neben "( )" einer ihrer zwei Klassiker.

Calming and weird and awesome.

I dug this, nice and chill. Sometimes you just wanna hear music that's like a good friend, not intrusive and not in need of your constant attention. I guess that more like a cat.

Love it.

No words 😭😭😭😭

Fantastic post rock.

Incredible.

Great recommendation. I really like this record. Beautiful and imaginative and original.

Super relaxer

Ice. Land. Iceland.

Staralfur stands as one of the most beautiful songs and this album extends on that single into a soundscape that makes it one of the best Ambient albums.

Tidenes beste plate?

ANOTHA BANGAAAA. This album sticks with me the most from a time when I went to Oktoberfest. The night before a friend and I went out in his family’s convertible and drove through the woods he’d hung out in as a child. The air was frigid, but the sky was clear. We stargazed at an insanely lit up sky and drove while this album played in the background. Elevated the entire experience. A really lovely evening. Actually, before ever knowing who they were, I also saw them live. I remember them having an insane mirror-laser set up that created these crazy holograms. It was at a festival and Chance the Rapper was the only other act left, playing at an adjacent stage. Sigor Ros was so quiet and had only gathered maybe 100 people. You could hear the booming energy and light off in the distance and the contrast was quite beautiful. This was actually the same day I got taken to that house party where I was left alone to listen to Liquid Swords lmao.

Hyper bien. Le mélange d'instruments classique avec des sonorités + éléctroniques arrive à transmettre une ambiance phénoménale.

Icelandic kings of post rock

Delightfully dreamy and chill

I'm not an unbiased reviewer because I'm a big Sigur Ros fan (wearing a shirt of theirs from a show in 2013 as I type this). I was tempted to give this a 4 star review because it's not actually their best work, but ... nahhh. "It's a classic and everyone should hear it" is absolutely true here, even if it's a bit slow and annoying in its connective tissue between tracks at times. Ethereal and otherworldly, while still remaining very much "rock" music, this is the essence of post-rock at its core. Good enough to inspire one to travel to Iceland to see what it's all about.

Very good album full of beautiful soundscapes and soaring heights. My only complaint is the last two songs are the weakest in my opinion, so it doesn't quite stick the landing. Still breathtaking though. 4.5 -> 5

One of my favourites

I was on a walk listening to this album when track 3, Staraflur, came on timed perfectly with the sun breaking through the clouds. I can't think of a nicer moment in recent history. This album combines those ments of transcendent beauty I associate with Sigur Ros, with more rock elements than their later work which I'm more familiar with. I also have a sneaking suspicion that if you played it backwards it would be Radiohead.

Beautiful atmosphere, their music makes me feel peaceful inside. Definitely going to revisit their other albums later

Ethereal

blue everywhere i float thru blue everywhere i float thru blue everywhere i float thru blue everywhere i float thru blue everywhere i float thru tjú.......

A great listen if you’re in the right mood. Peaceful but lots of creative sounds to focus on. I especially love the horns on some songs, and the droning guitars.

One of the best of all time!

lowkey the most perfect album to get on a study day 5/5

#165/1001. Once in a while a band comes out who seems to create their own musical and lyrical universe. In the case of Sigur Rós, they also did the unexpected by doing this and gaining international attention and fame. I have been a fan of this for a long time and actually own this on vinyl, and it doesn't grow old. For me it remains fresh, interesting and new and ageless, genuine and out of this world at the same time. I've been to Iceland many times and recommend listening this through headphones while driving or walking through the alien planet landscape. Suddenly it all makes sense.

One of my fave albums of all time… it really has that “the world is so big and vast and full of wonder and it’ll be all okay” feeling

In meiner Vorstellung klangen die immer anders, aber ich bin sehr froh, dass die so klingen wie sie klingen, denn sie klingen wirklich ganz und gar wunderbar

Sublime

Am I ascending??? Because this album is ridiculously beautiful. I think I listened to this album about one and a half year ago (maybe two) but by that time I didn't really get it. Now that this list made me return to it, I can't believe I've being ignoring this record for so long. It is full of absolutely gorgeous orchestration and singing, droning guitars and climax that ascended me to heaven. It is unbelievable how wonderful and emotional this project can get. I must add one thing. I had to be in a certain relaxed mood to really get the best experience out of this album. I tried listened to it while being a bit stressed and it almost ruined the LP for me. However, instead of making and average of how I feel in both situations, I decided to only considering my feeling when I liked it the most, and that's why it gets 5 stars, as this thing is incredibly close to perfection in my eyes.

10/10

Beautiful haunting music. Really glad to be introduced to this one! Reminds me of Moby, Flaming Lips, Radiohead all mixed together. Gotta remember this one.