Ágætis Byrjun

This could make a good soundtrack to a particularly dreary and miserable video game / movie, but why anyone would listen to it outside of those I don’t know

Liked this, very cinematic. Probably because Hoppipolla has been used in the literally everything. Although not on this album. Simpsons: Yes, they composed music for a whole episode!

Jesus Christ, I wanted to slit my wrists.

I’m happy for this guy that this exists. I’m sure he likes it a lot.

ik vond het heel cool en mooi en ben wel blij dat t in deze lijst stond, maar ik zou dit soort muziek voor de rest niet uit mn eigen luisteren ook vond ik het soms een beetje te veel van t zelfde

Heel leuke kosmische sound, ik ben fan.

Ok but , not my favorite

207/1001 Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ I love this album and band, even if I don't know what's being said. There's this ethereal, other worldly quality to the music, which I just drift away to. Superb stuff.

I really, really enjoyed this one. Marking 4 to ensure I come back for additional listens. 4/5

not in english, and kind of odd

⭐️⭐️ Better if high

Very trippy, out of this universe, slow

Radiohead på islandsk, (tænkte også undervejs på både pink floyd, Air og -dare I say - lidt tokio hotel i midten af 00'erne) Et ret melankolsk, storslået og filmisk album, alt det jeg elsker. Den er gemt og jeg kommer tilbage (4.5)

it's 3.5

Not really my speed.

I've avoided Sigur Ros for decades and now I'm mildly surprised at this very orchestral record. I understand it's revolutionary, and I agree it's alright but ultimately not my thing.

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 good, new to me. Enjoyed every song!

Good, sounds like Radiohead but also like Minecraft music

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.

Odd

Wtf so boring

Made it through 3 songs then got sleepy.

We really liked it. Will be revisiting in the future.

This is a mesmerizing album that warrants multiple listens. I found the album deeply moving even though it’s sung in Icelandic and I can’t understand anything they are saying. I love the slow build, textured melodies, and the rich instrumentals. I feel like this is the ideal album to listen to when taking a walk in the snow. It’s so moody in all the right ways.

I don't get it. It's music to fall asleep to.

Relaxing, ethereal, I was drifting into soace from my living

j'ai cru j'étais dans le ventre de ma mère (le fait de pas connaitre la langue rajoute un plus) puis dans une foret enneigée ou jsp

Sigur Rós might be some people's idea of boring, but for me, they're as close to perfect as you can possibly get when it comes to producing weighty, dextrous and impactful post rock. Their ability to invoke such a broad palette of eminently relatable moods through all aspects of their craft and with such a wealth of instrumentation is matched by precious few in the genre; Agætis Byrjun radiating warmth and grasping you into its embrace, whilst it often ebbs into colder, detached and more contemplative passages within the same songs. This, combined with the fascinating degree of flexibility in their songwriting approaches from track to track in terms of them generally following linear structures, but doing so in different sequences to one another to keep proceedings consistently interesting and fresh, and the mystical, yet simultaneously human element that underlines their "Hopelandic" vocal expressions, all culminates in a truly wonderful listening experience. Absolutely no doubt in my mind, this is a five star album.

… what?

Vocals in the opening track nearly pushed me over the edge

Weirdly fantastic. Has a Belle & Sebastian vibe.

Special.

10 estrella

a lot of this album is just noises and sounds in my ears

Унылый меланхоличный пост-рок на ирландском. Под соответсвующее настроениие зайдёт ок. Очень чувствуется влияние протяжных песен radiohead с ноющим вокалом

I really like it, but there's something possibly a little to earnest about it even for me. Maybe just the mood I'm in.

Great background music. Maybe I need to re listen and immerse.

Soothing

Post rock, dream pop, ambient, chamber pop.

I enjoyed this album for what it is. Not understanding the words, I felt I could understand the meaning just from the sound. Very relaxing at times, definitely a night drive album. There’s a few songs I favorited immediately. Dreamy, pretty, and pretty rocking at times.

Liked the orchestral songs!

Very calming and easy to listen to

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.

Maybe if I were high . . .

I tried to find an entry point into this music but just could not.

Such a tranquil album! Beautifully put together, fantastic music, all of it works together. Some of the songs calm you down, some make you smile ear to ear, and some make you want to curl up in a ball and cry! Some make you feel the anxiety of the song! It has such an atmospheric feel to it! When all elements of the music, Horns, strings, drums, etc., it's a joy to listen to! Not much to say, but just a stunning, beautiful album that it's a pleasure to listen to!

Very pretty but it does get slightly dreary.

Listened

Sigur Rós es una banda islandesa, de rock experimental que lanzan este disco a fines de los noventas conviviendo con discos como kid A y amnesiac quienes claramente lo influencian al igual que la artista más reconocida de su país Björk. Querían hacer un disco que cambiara las cosas y contribuyó un poco al nuevo movimiento de post rock, este género de rock que no encajaba con lo previamente conocido y que venía a romper el esquema del britpop que ya por esos años ya dejaba de ser novedad. Tuve que ver alguna reseña y leer un poco de que hablaba, y habla sobre la vida, el nacimiento, la portada lo gráfica muy bien. Es un disco de música muy ambiental. Lo más parecido hasta ahora de lo que salió fue el moon safari, pero este es mucho más analógico por lo que me gusta más. Fueron de los primeros que empezaron a usar guitarras con arcos lo que les da un sonido característicos. Incluyen muchos instrumentos, de viento, de cuerda, tiene voces angelicales, tal como lo querían, imitando la voz de Tom yorke o Bjork. El idioma lo hace ser un disco difícil de comercializar, pero a mí me transmito varias emociones, cada canción parecía un mundo nuevo, para mí es un 3 bien puesto Canción favorita: Flugufrelsarinn

An intesting album, with a movie soundtrack kind of vibe to it. Didnt hate it and thought it was nice but i wouldnt put it on ever again. For me between a 3 and a 4. Not too mutch to say about it. Dont speak icelandish

Haunting and beautiful. Not my type of music, but I can definitely recognize the quality this band puts on display. It is the kind of album that you need to listen with headphones. You don't need to give your undivided attention to it though. If its your thing it will pull you in. I can totally understand how someone might find it too atmospheric or boring. I also really appreciate that a relatively niche icelandic band is also on this list. If I ever go to see the northern lights, I'll have my soundtrack ready. 8/10 If I ever learn icelandic it might go higher, but as it is the most difficult language in earth, I'll pass

This is an album that encompasses the beauty of Post-Rock probably the best. The music that isn't. Music that fills you with emptiness until it overwhelms you. This is not my first venture into Post-Rock but this is definitely the best album that I have heard of its type. Often Post-rock can get a quite samey after a few listens, but each song brings its own personal feeling and does something new. An amazing listen if you just need something to lose yourself in. 8/10

Bem, eu não consegui me conectar muito às músicas. É um tipo de música atmosférica com BPM baixo que usa muitos teclados e pads (timbres bonitos, diga-se). Duas ou três músicas me agradaram mais, mas somente isso. Talvez numa segunda audição tenha uma opinião diferente. A capa é muito boa.

Dope album cover! Not my style of music though.

This was interesting! I enjoyed listening but nothing exactly stood out to me. Feels slightly overrated as far as electronic, downbeat music goes. But a good listen overall and would revisit.

Knew the third song from the film Life Aquatic

This is pretty good music to fall asleep to! Ethereal and soft (for the majority, there's a couple songs with breakdowns). It sounds like it comes from a different planet. Generally speaking, this just isn't really my thing. It was overly long and frankly somewhat boring for the majority. I would put this at like a 2.5 if I could, but 2 feels appropriate.

Vibey

Bleak, chilly soundscapes - one track was dangerously close to Coldplay. Fine whilst I was running the vacuum cleaner around.

Very lovely, but a bit too vibe-y for my taste. Super lush.

Great ethereal post-rock vibes

This was a very enjoyable listen. I can see myself listening to it more especially when I want to be more zen for a bit.

I have no idea how to rate this one. Atmospheric music where i am waiting for something to happen in seventy minutes, but it doesnt. very much like a Radiohead album. Whale music for the Avant-Garde at an art show. I do think the cover is pretty cool.

My goodness, just so boring. The only thing saving it from being a 1 is that at least SOME of the songs started to build up and shift a little, and knowing there's worse out there.

A very "dream like" melonic listen. Like being in a trance.

I thought this album was very similar to the one the other day. But not as good.

Kinda of a chill listen

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.

you gotta have the patience of a saint to get through this. this was overall more boring than I would have anticipated. no bad per se but enjoyable? no, the intro was fire and the song after too but fuck i wanna listen to an album not a movie.

Overall Rating - 2.90/5 (5.80/10). Odd and atmospheric. Mostly pleasant.

Just kind of meh for me.

It’s a vibe, that’s for sure.

I like reading with this!

No idea who this is. Really digging the backwards sounds on the intro. Three tacks in. I’d put this on for a relaxing morning while I’m cooking breakfast. I really enjoy this.

It does not belong here

So good. Some of the songs sound so otherworldly

Pretty good!

A nice "close your eyes and be immersed" sort of album

Very very pretty album. Definitely the kind of thing I could image spinning on a record player while just chilling out for a full night. I loved how the vibe always kept switching between beautiful and almost funereal. Unfortunately, none of the album really stood out to me or stuck with me in a meaningful way, but still pretty good nonetheless. Low 4.

Well that was something... Like Icelandic Radiohead...weird...a little whiny...poppy hooks at moments...orchestral instruments at others...not my cup of tea

is that spanish 8.5/10 2026/1/16

This album is unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. I especially liked how the music was beautiful and dreamy. I didn’t like how the songs droned on as much, but ultimately it was a great album.

I didn't understand a lick of it, but it sounded ok. Intro ★★★☆☆ Svefn‐g‐englar ★★★☆☆ Starálfur ★★★☆☆ Flugufrelsarinn ★★★☆☆ Ný batterí ★★★☆☆ Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm) ★★★☆☆ Viðrar vel til loftárása ★★★☆☆ Olsen Olsen ★★★☆☆ Ágætis byrjun ★★★☆☆ Avalon ★★★☆☆ Average Album Rating: 3.0/5.0 ★★★☆☆

Incredible background album to listen & work & for deep focus

A very interesting album. Loved the sound.

Nice calming album, good for background

I love a lot of music just like this, but unfortunately this didn't really click, on know there's an amazing album somewhere in here that a couple more listens might reveal. But for now it's a 3*

I audibly said “oh hell yeah” when this one popped up today. I love sigur rós. Wonderful album to relive anxiety. The ever classic 10 minute ‘svefn-g-englar’ speaks for itself. I did a meditation to this and felt relieved. Their music breaks the language barrier and everyone from across the world is able to appreciate their music, even without knowing what’s being said, it’s being understood.

😴

It’s ok. Spacey and prog.

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

Patience and this will grow on you. I finally got to understand Sigur Ros.

Nice album! Very meditative

I knoew and liked this already. It's beautiful, and listening again made me want to look up a translation of the lyrics. Hopefully that will help me listen again a bit more deeply - with very dreamy/ambient music like this, I tend to let it wash over me and don't really engage with it actively.

Bueníssimo. Como siempre

I actually didn’t hate it quite as much as I thought I would. It’s slow and experimental and in Icelandic, but it works for like a chilly day background music. I certainly wouldn’t choose it, and honestly didn’t finish it, but it wasn’t the worst album on here

43/1089 4.3833* I honestly couldn't understand one word. Maybe they should try English next time, you know, for the ignorant Americans. That being said, this album was a very pleasant surprise and enjoyed each song. It was a mellow ride but perfect for a lazy rainy morning while enjoying a cup of coffee, cigarette and crossword puzzle. Wishing I could give 4.5* but here we are with a solid 4*.

high 4

Not my cup of tea, would be good to listen to while working/studying. Some songs had weird audio level mixtures where the start of the song is insanely quiet and the end is extremely loud.

This album feels very dreamy and haunting, especially the vocals and the emotions they bring. The music sounds melancholic but also hopeful at the same time. The songs flow smoothly into each other, making the album feel very cohesive and almost continuous. It feels cinematic and powerful, sometimes even overwhelming. I think I wasn’t in the right moment to fully absorb it, as it felt too big for me to handle right now, but it was still really good to listen to.

Fine

Boring as absolute fuck.

Strident

Probably would enjoy it more on repeated listens but no chance of that

pretty boring .... ok å ha i bakgrunnen på jobb

Scary

Ambient, futuristic. Wondering how it was received in '99. Not the vibe on the day I listened but a nice atmosphere.

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.

I feel like Im abstracting (tadc reference) 💀. The lyrics and premise are definitely out-there and unique for sure, but the actual music is sonically pleasant. Both dreamlike and nightmarish. I appreciate what they were trying to do but I don’t think I’ll be revisiting. I didn’t dislike it but I didn’t necessarily love it, I saved 4/10 songs so 2 stars ⭐️

Not my cup of tea

I have this and enjoy it more for the albums mood than tracks. It’s over an hour of chill and relax.

Cheeoh ooooooo

suena xulo d pelotas pero m puso triste triste triste

Parts are very good. Others are just too much musical noodling with lots of lengthy intros and outros. I don’t think this is for me and really feel like I am missing context either musically or culturally to understand why this is deemed a masterpiece.

Listening to this was an interesting experience. The instrumental is well done; the lyrics are okay. I don't think I'd find myself deliberately clicking on this album to relisten but if it came out I would not skip it.

Beautiful as it always has been

smokin on that nostalgia

6/10 I quite like it, but it is so mono-paced (or at least has a top speed of about 41mph) that I find it a struggle to fully engage with it. I have to check every so often to see if we've reached the end - it is too long - but it provided a reasonable background to my first day back to work in the new year

1/5 Pretty good album. Very new age/cosmic/dreamy vibes to it. Will listen again

I thought Sigur Ros was a woman. Don't know what they're saying, but it's damn fine!

5.5/10

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?

“Ágætis Byrjun” is undoubtedly Sigur Rós' best-known work. This type of ambient rock bears witness to a time when rock music was seeking a path beyond retro trends, and in fact, a year later, I made very similar music with a Norwegian band I was friends with. From today's perspective, it was a mediocre experiment, but at the time it felt interesting, at least. In that sense, “Ágætis Byrjun” is still enjoyable to listen to today, but mainly as easy listening music in the background. On the other hand, it's worth knowing because Sigur Rós' ideas were later taken up and developed further by bands like Coldplay and Muse. How do you rate an influential but mediocre album? I guess it's 5 for influence and 3 for quality, so 4 in total.

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

Conceptually I like the idea of this album and would like to have rated it higher, but I think it just becomes a bit too airy chamber pop-y for my tastes Standouts Svefn-g-englar 2/5

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!

i’m not a fan of this sonically. the haunting, darkened tone of sound is something i usually don’t enjoy.

Samey? Not much of an impression on me honestly. Can appreciate using a cello bow on guitars though.

Wow, this was such a pleasant surprise! Not every single song on the album was my jam but the ones that were…actually breathtaking. The second track was lowkey life changing idk im obsessed with that song. And then I found out they did music for black mirror & the song for the red wedding in got. I really really enjoyed this.

I can appreciate the craftsmanship behind it, it's just not for me.

This was a very interesting album, that was much more ethereal than I expected. I’ll probably revisit but it certainly would not be on rotation.

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

Some good stuff in there but it's just too long :/

Again not for me but can why it’s popular

Very beautiful strings. I have always loved staralfur (life aquatic soundtrack), very reminiscent of Talk Talk at times. Good album

Very dreamy. Too dreamy.

This is not good. I like pretty much some post-rock, but sigur rós is not for me. The songs are like nothing, even being something ambiental, it doenst has a good vibe.

Very atmospheric and ethereal.

Other worldly

Very chilled and relaxing but sometimes annoying

Shit

i dont know what theyre saying

A few very nice chill songs but not many that I properly connect with, sound a bit like a Nordic stoned jamming session, good vibes but wouldn’t actively seek out

Makes me think of like life starting. I don't understand the lyrics. It's pretty. The cover art is the perfect visual for how the album feels. like life is about to begin and being born. The song at the end of the album sound kind of like early childhood and discovery.

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

Didn't finish

Already listened to and own

masterpiece i didn't expect to discover

5 - AVERAGE

Probably need to listen to this a few times

It's okay.

Spacey

If I spoke Icelandic it would prob have more impact but the instrumentals and vocals are relaxing

I discovered this record around 2001 not long after its release, and I've had a love/hate relationship with it ever since ; depending on my mood, I may find it either boring or captivating. It's a bittersweet, atmospheric album full of Icelandic weirdness that carries you through a bleak and alien dreamscape - but only if you allow yourself the complete immersion experience. The blend of electronic sounds, smooth instrumentation and traditional Norse vocal harmonies is a great addition to the post-rock genre, and creates an almost psychedelic vibe. That being said, it's not easy to get into, since it's clearly not something you can just casually play for a few songs. The quiet (or even catatonic) mood is not fit for everyday activities, and will clearly deter some listeners. I can totally understand how it could come across as needlessly slow and drawn-out. Some songs really are too long ; a bit of editing and a couple of more dynamic tracks would have gone a long way to give it a more balanced dimension. Ultimately, I think it fully deserves a place here thanks to its innovative aspect. I may not listen to it often, but it's definitely an album with a unique personality. 7/10

Album recommended by a Reykjavik record store clerk when traveling in Iceland, and he was clearly tired of Björk. Some kind of floating, haunted post-something that works perfectly as road music on the country’s only usable highway. Beautiful and somehow I remember every track.

Weird. Haunting. Beautiful.

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

Interesting album, probably needs more than one listen to get to grips with it

Really like it I think I could just relax to this

This is a difficult album for me to review as the lyrics are all in Icelandic, so it's hard to really get the gist of what Sigur Rós are talking about here, but I will say that 'Agætis Byrjun' is very well produced, and sounds like an orchestra playing on in your dreams. There's hints of Radiohead, Ride and Cocteau Twins all across this dream-like record, and it's a perfect accompaniment for periods of deep reflection and meditation, as it helps centre your mind. Just don't expect to pick anything up lyrically unless you understand Icelandic. Best songs: Svefn-g-englar, Flugufrelsarinn, Ný batterí

A very broad soundscape of an album. Impressive production. I enjoyed it, but its not an album i would listen to again.

The Icelandic cousins of the Cocteau Twins, happily making up their own dream pop language as they go.

Lovely soundscape. Eno could learn a thing or two from these guys

Just went for a walk with this on the frozen river lined with hoar frost trees. Gorgeous. As Cory might say pairs well with winter.

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.

This felt weird to me. But really cool

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

I really like this album. Have for many years. Maybe even love it.

Beautiful. Very good.

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。

Ambient, otherworldly.

Groupe et album connus et appréciés. L'ambiance est mélancolique, la musique prend son temps. Il suffit de fermer les yeux et de se laisser emporter… C’est toujours un album que j’apprécie, même si je lui préfère ‘()’. =>4/5

At times a bit repetitive, at times actually quite moving. Undeniably a masterpiece even though I wouldn't say I actively enjoyed all of it.

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

Atmospheric, ethereal, an other worldly record that certainly deserves inclusion on this list

Okay - not really my taste but can appreciate it musically. Lots of violin!!!

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.

Addictive

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

Heerlijk om een vroege ochtend mee te starten. Hele sferische muziek, heel veel vette dynamiek & wonderlijke ambiance.

Beautiful album. Not something I would have ever willingly chosen to listen to. I don't know what mood I would have to be in to want to listen to this again. Listening to this when it was cold, dark, and wintertime was the right choice.

despite my love for post rock, i've never become a Sigur Rós fan. i really dig "Ny batterí" but apart from that it's just a tad bit too otherworldly for me...

Despite being in Icelandic, this somehow touched me.

very nice and calming. helped me chill out on the train to scotland. i loved the drums

The music is pretty decent and interesting, but is all stretched way too long. Just an insufferably long active listen.

There was a period where we all wondered if Sigur Ros was the most important band in the world. Them, Tortoise, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, and Stereolab were all contenders for the Post Rock Crown. The answer was no, they aren't the most important band in the world. But I really like that they sound like where they're from, Iceland. This is the sound of a single wave lap echoing off a rock and out of a fjord across a vast bleak frozen landscape. Sometimes it's sunny but usually it's cloudy. Like if you asked someone to guess where they're from just based on the vibe, there's a pretty decent chance they would guess Iceland. Listening today, I'm reminded to take my vitamin D supplement. The problem with these post rock bands is sometimes I forget for years even that they ever existed which is weird considering how much airplay they got on my stereo back in the day. Listening to this now, I am reminded of a Stereolab show at Irving Plaza and the strange sensation of at the same time feeling both excited and bored. Important isn't always Interesting, I guess.

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.

Strong start but then it wafted away toward the end--a little too much ethereal falsetto.

so so gooood!!!

5/10

Was my shit at 16 when Radiohead was my favorite band. Hard to deny those first few tracks. It really isn’t fair how much I hate the lyrics that I don’t even understand. Still this is gonna get a 4 from me, it’s too good.

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

Close to being the elusive first 5. 4.5/5

Mood molto particolare but i like it. Nel giusto mood puppy essere tanta roba

interesting background music

Man I realize they put a lot of work into this. Hearing it described - made up languages/trippy music/etc always made me want to hear it in the past, but unfortunately nothing really grips the ear. May try again.

very ambient - not very motivational.

I liked it but also reminded me of something but im not quite sure. I couldn’t tell if it made me feel relaxed or sad or kind of a yearning for something but I don’t know what. Interesting

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.

Small language barrier is present but I loved floating with this.

This is the Sigur Ros sound that I like, I've mostly listened to Kveikur and Takk... I think. Anyway, for some reason the artsy feeling of their music doesn't bother me for some reason, while on any other record it would and I can't put my finger on what the reason would be. It's very light, delicate music, that winds up to massive heights on a occasion and for some reason I love that.

Too much of a concept album

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.

Super atmospheric, dreamy, cosmic whale song vibes. No idea what he's singing about but it didn't stop the enjoyment

So creative and just incredible - very close to a 5 for me. The vocals are so soulful and beautiful, the instrumentals are so impressive and break rock conventions. It all blends very well together. Will be listening again!

4.4/5 Stars Top Songs: Svefn-G-Englar, Ny Batteri, Avalon

Got a little repetitive for me but Sigur Rós is so good

I don’t understand the fascination with this band either. Cool name, odd artwork, shit music.

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.

Imagine Radiohead plays only their quietest songs, but in Icelandic.

Ihme vinkunaa

Not my kind of cake.. ⭐️⭐️

Oikein kivaa ambienssia. Hyvät soundit ja esimerkillistä jousien ja puhaltimien käyttöä!

This is like Radiohead on Qualudes. Craftsmanship is there musically. I don't mind a bit of sombreness in music. Any of these tracks would be good in a playlist. But as an album it is just too much.

This is the most commercially successful album from the Icelandic post rockers and has all the elements that made them such a commercial hit. The sound is dreamy and spacious and full of invention. The sonic atmospherics of post rock can easily become cold, over intellectualised and acetic. Sigur Rós have a gift for reaching the emotions with their music and this album somehow hits the heart without the listener ever quite knowing why. A strange and beautiful achievement.

Zu esoterisch für mich.

Very lovely, atmospheric work. If this and Brian Eno opened the door for ambient music, I am grateful.

Calming and weird and awesome.

This is the kind of album that makes me happy to be doing this. I'd never heard of Sigur Ros, and therefore had no idea of what to expect. Much to my delight, it was a hauntingly beautiful album, full of emotion and life. This is the kind of album that exemplifies music as an art, as opposed to reviews I see of terrible noise and chaos albums others claim to be musically artistic. Loved it, would give a 4.5 if I could.

I'd always bounced off of Sigur Ros in the past, but I actually felt myself vibing with this album a lot. It's musically fascinating and very relaxing.

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.

Great sounds. Just not my cup of tea.

Very spacey - easy top get lost in as you close your eyes and lay down in bed. Drags on a little towards the end, but the first 75% of the album is absolutely sensational. Well worth exploring

Love it.

This album is on par with Tom Waits. People who say that they enjoy this are either lying or are somehow greatly inferior or superior to me. Coldplay but worse with a little music from a Disney ride thrown in.

Not the best to listen to in the car. I don’t think this is supposed to be an ambient album. Had some enjoyable moments

Look, I understand this album is a mood. And it's not a bad mood, but it's just not my mood.

This sucks, sorry. Worst thing to come out of Iceland.

Not bad, different, chill vibes for sure. Icelandic

Много ми хареса. Нестандартен е, но в добрия смисъл

Brilliant, their concert in Amsterdam recently was incredibly touching.

This group is so good - one of the first groups in this genre that I listened to.

No words 😭😭😭😭

Fantastic post rock.

One of the most relaxing commutes I have had in a while.

I can see the montage of Icelandic landscapes with lava flowing through and this playing in the background.

Intro : ok. Toune #2 : ha non pas la maudite toune fatiguante de café de flore... (YIOUUUOUUU) Ha tiens de la guit électrique jouée à l'archet, première fois que je remarque ça, interessant. Il y a beaucoup de cordes et d'orchestration en général. Ça me fait penser à Radiohead souvent, les ambiances et aussi les voix. Fun fact, c'est leur seul album en islandais, sauf une piece dans une langue gibberish, leurs albums suivants seront dans ce gibberish. J'ai bien aimé la tounette avec les bamm bamm bamm

not sure how much i’ll listen in the future, but it was a beautiful album 3.5

Hadn't heard this previously. Really enjoyed this and am excited to discover more. Was put off by hyperbole when it first released...the praise was well deserved

Incredible.

This was very interesting. I liked it, but not sure I loved it

Singur Ros is very pretty. I'm never going to put it on, but I like it.

This was OK, but I just don’t think I was in the mood at 6 o’clock in the morning

It’s a no from me dog. 😔✌️

It's different, I'll give them that. I don't care for it, nice try though. 2

Hey… I was a fetus in 1999

No, no es para mí! Me pareció horriblemente aburrido y largo, parece música de película indie de los 2000. Seguro a mí ex le gustaría y diría que es una obra maestra de la música.

lofi music to study to

Beautiful on the ears. Olsen olsen launched this album into a 4 for me.

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

Adoré! Calme tout en étant intriguant un peu post-punk et électronique, islandais

Got a bit samey too quickly. Not a fan, even though one or two tracks might sound ok if nestled in a mix tape.

Very cool! Reminded me at times of listening to In Rainbows. Clearly would never have found this if it hadn't been assigned to me - I could barely find it once it had, anyway

I fear that I don’t have the attention span or focus to properly enjoy this music. I found it intriguing though and worth another listen. But I have more than 1000 albums to get through so it will have to wait. P.S. Something about this kept calling me back and after a couple more spins this earned an easy 4.

Super relaxer

Ice. Land. Iceland.

Feels very cinematic. I don't think it's something I'd revisit but it's better than it could be.

It was very unique, an interesting mix of music and ambient noise. I also appreciate hearing music in languages other than English.

Not for me

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.

I am unable to appreciate classical music instruments used so superficially, like they are there to give some classical veneer. I feel judgemental, but that's how I hear it. Just gimme well-written classical music then!

I've never listened to this album (61). Makes me want to sleep.

Als ik me inbeeld dat ik in Ijsland ben is het wel echt goed

- Neen - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM

Really great ambiant album, even if I'm not the biggest fan of the genre, love all the instrument, maybe the voice is a bit too simillar, love the drum, maybe a lack of crazyness to make it perfect

Always weird, always beautiful. Breakthrough album.

Tidenes beste plate?

1 out of 5 Could not make it through this album. Weird instrumental

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.

A little bit too........strange for me

Bizzaro comes to mind. I didn't know the band and I don't much care for their music. Bad album.

Nice surprise! Don't understand a word of it, but it sounded really beautiful and they are "landscape"-ish songs. I was surprised to see that this was made in 1999 since the production is quite good and it sounds more recent somehow. Fun one! Might listen again in the future

I saw "Post-Punk" as its genre, but this sounds absolutely nothing link punk. It has a strong ethereal quality that I really enjoy. Definitely the kind of album I was hoping to get in this list. Quite enjoyable, but unlikely I'll be listening to a lot of it in the future.

wanted this to be over very quick into the listen

Not feeling this today

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

Icelandic kings of post rock

Ultimate nap soundtrack.

I like them, but I can't really listen to them. It's too sleepy. Good for background mellow music. Best track: Staralfur

Radiohead meets BCNR on a lava field at the winter solstice. If that's your thing, this is it.

Unfortunately, this misses the mark for me. It made for solid background music though.

Delightfully dreamy and chill

Atmospheric foetus music

Really good listen

I'm not sure if this is music for when you are in a melancholic/vegetative state, or, arent satified with being happy in life & want to be put into a melancholic/vegetative state. Regardless this Icelandic language malarkey its far too out-there/niche/soundscapey for me & unless I ever decide to take a lot of drugs whilst laying under the Northern lights, its irrelevant to both my ears. Side note : Cmon, how does niche stuff like this end up on a 1001 greatest?!

Man.. what an album for a bitterly cold night walk with my dog. Feels incredibly intentional in all aspects. The in utero motif is clear (I have eyes, and can indeed see the album cover), but the progression through the album was beautiful. I’d imagine this would be an easy 5 if I spoke Icelandic. I could also see this becoming a 5 on a re-listen. Saving this album to throw on the first time it snows this season.

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

too spaced out for me

This sounds like it could have released today. Groundbreaking stuff.

Just not my bag