Reviews (page 6 of 13)
Ambient post-rock. Some of the vocals veered toward Thom Yorke territory which kept this album from being rated higher.
Un peu long, ai été agréablement surprise au début mais après j'ai fini par trouver ça un peu répétitif. C'est un album qui mérite sûrement d'être écouté dans un certain contexte, mais j'ai bien aimé, j'ai l'impression d'avoir rarement entendu quelque chose comme ça. Un son unique mais tout de même digeste. Au départ j'étais partie sur un 4 mais après la première écoute j'hésite avec un 3. J'aurais bien aimé pouvoir mettre 3,5!!
Enjoyed this a lot and would listen again!
Immaculately produced and orchestrated, the layers upon layers of instrumentation benefit from listening on a high-end system or with a good set of headphones. It’s a demanding listen, as the album is well over an hour and all of the songs sit in the 6-7 minute range and develop in a slow, progressive fashion in the now classic post-rock model. An impressive achievement, but one that rewards attentive listening and the right mood to maximize its impact.
Tip tier ambient rock!
Beautiful and evocative, even without (or maybe in spite) know what Jónsi Birgisson is singing about either in Icelandic or Sigur Rós' gibberish language Vonlenska.
Ouch, soothing, perfect for today (a grey rainy day).
Incredibly ethereal with great production, unexpected melody and tone shifts. Definitely not for everyone, but it instantly appealed to me with the unique, "icy" vibe. My favourites were Svefn-g-englar, Staralfur, Ny batteri (a total standout) , Hjartath hamast (absolutely singular, never heard anything like this) and Olsen Olsen. Definitely would listen to it again, especially in winter, as it has this cold, spacious, icy atmosphere. I'd give it 4.5 stars, but there is no option to do so.
Pretty big Sigur Rós fan. His voice def gets on my nerves sometimes on this early stuff, but no biggie. Overall they are my quintessential go-to for just pure sonic beauty. I also really like that there's just weird stuff in here. Some random funky stuff. To boil it down, in the category of "mood music" I'd pick Sigur Rós over like Moby or Enya any day. Starálfur is timeless.
Last listened to this when it first came out and was underwhelmed, but a lot of water has gone under the bridge both personally and musically since then. This time around I loved it! A zen-like experience…
The lead singer sounds like Billy Corgan. I’ve heard some of these songs before. Most of them make me feel like I should be flying in a spaceship looking at earth.
Perfect soundtrack for something. Landscape music.
the intro threw me off BUT the second track was actually good. i’m pretty sure this is icelandic alternative which is a subgenre i have yet to listen to! was surprisingly not bad. VERY similar instrumentation to artists like massive attack, portishead, etc. (all artists i listen to btw). i wish i could have understood the lyrics so i could grasp the meaning of the songs because the instrumentation was SO good (but that will not affect my rating since that can’t be controlled)! 4/5.
Cool but gimmicky
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would initially. It’s the kind of music I can picture myself playing in the background while I focus on another task of some kind. Quite relaxing but I did find some of the pieces very repetitive, especially considering their semi-epic length.
Amazing, second song is the bomb
This is another classic album I've been wanting to listen too for a while now. I don't know how often I will be revisiting this one but I know at some point the perfect occasion will occur and this album will hit incredibly hard. The vibes are other worldly. Favorite track: Ný batterí
Powerful. Beautiful. Stoic. Not good music for fixing cars.
Beautiful!
Ganz was anderes aber voll cool und chill. Gefällt mir schon.
Enjoyed this more than I expected.
immaculate feelings. i do in fact feel like an embryo in the womb siphoning nutrients, being fed with ambient static
Very subdued and pleasant. Sounds like music I would want to be carried down a river to. I like the longer songs and expanding on their ideas. I think the voice fits the music well and the whole thing is rather nice and relaxing.
Not at all I was expecting when I read "Icelandic post-rock," but I'll happily take it! Like Massive Attack without the bass.
obviously very good but not the high highs of post rock that i like from gy!be and such
I don’t think I’ll ever really be a fan of post-rock, but this and Talk Talk’s “Spirit of Eden” have taught me to seriously respect the genre. There is clear talent and attention to detail focused in on creating a…texture? vibe? Fascinating stuff
This was unexpectedly good. I really enjoyed the soft, ambientness of it though I couldn’t understand a word of what was being said. I felt it though, the emotion was evident despite the language barrier. My only real issue is does a drag on just a fraction too long.
A beautiful trip through a cold winter night
Atmospheric, sparse, post rock
Loved it! Prefer some later albums, but great work
"I remember this band's name, I think they were already on the list. Oh.. it's Icelandic... and isn't Bjork? Maybe I don't know this" Poor Iceland. Always assumed to have Bjork. I gave it a half focused listened in a car at first. I'm glad I gave this a second listen on headphones. What an interesting album. The instrument usage gave me loose late Bowie vibes at times. This is compelling to listen to. I really enjoyed it. Great one to have on the list, I'd never have heard it otherwise. I'll try to listen to this again in the future.
This is a tricky one. I like a lot about this album. Some really great melodies. I don't care for the album art, but it's of it's time. Nothing repellent for me. The issue is this isn't made for this format of listening. Some really long tracks but it fits the style so I can't complain. A high 4, I don't know if I will ever listen to this again, but I wouldn't mind it.
Praise be. The great thing about the random album model is that just when you start to think "my god... will I ever enjoy an album again?!" they give you a classic like this. Thank you, website. Not loving the album cover, but everything else is a go. Apparently, this too is "dream pop". And unlike their later stuff, it's in Icelandic (mostly)! Ring-a-ding-ding. I remember in the early 2000s 'Svefn-g-englar' was everywhere, and I didn't really appreciate it then, I just thought it was sad, weird, and kind of boring. Now I'm grown and I think it's sad, weird, and kind of captivating. Or maybe it's just a nostalgia boost. Either way, I like this album. Strings, piano, hardly any unpleasant electric guitar. Definitely mood music. Highlights: 'Starálfur', 'Viðrar vel til loftárása', 'Olsen Olsen'
Until today, I hadn’t really listened to Sigur Rós. But with tickets booked to see them at the Royal Albert Hall later this year, it felt like the perfect time to finally dive in — and Ágætis Byrjun seemed the ideal place to start. This is not a typical album, nor is it like anything else I usually listen to. It demands — and deserves — your full attention. After two or three focused listens, the album’s true character begins to emerge. It’s not background music; it's an experience to surrender to. And once you do, the rewards are undeniable. There are moments of real beauty here. Viðrar Vel Til Loftárasa stands out — the piano work is stunning, delicate yet powerful, and the production is immaculate. Olsen Olsen is another highlight, feeling almost cinematic, like the soaring conclusion of an epic film. And then there’s Svefn-G-Englar — a brilliant, otherworldly piece that lingers long after it ends. Favourite track: There are so many to choose from, but Svefn-G-Englar just edges it for me. It's wonderful — haunting, immersive, and deeply moving. Least favourite track: Intro felt a little unnecessary. It didn’t add much to the album and could easily have been omitted — but everything else is so superb that I’m really just nitpicking. Album artwork: Honestly, not my favourite. It doesn’t quite capture the depth, scope, or beauty of the music inside.
I have no clue how I first heard of them, but I do remember thinking about just how different this album was, with its mix of ethereal, rock and classical sounds and singing in a language I didn't understand. Still just as great today as it was then.
Explosions of fresh materials amidst songs that might feel ordinary
Chill music. I like it even though I don't understand a single word :D
Another great album just tarnished by its lack of brevity
Feel like it might deserve a 5 but I'm just not culturally mature enough to fully appreciate it.
7.5/10 Can be a somewhat difficult listen at points, but eventually the beauty reveals itself. Highlights: Starálfur Viðrar vel til loftárása Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm) Flugufrelsarinn Olsen Olsen Svefn-g-englar
En djup lyssnarupplevelse. Helt otroligt flöde mellan genrer: pop, noise, ambient, traditionell isländsk, blues, soul osv Grym produktion och absolut makabert nra låtskriveri. Mycket stråk och synth. Mycket lek med ljudbilden. Nästan lite likt sena Beatles i vissa partier.
Would be awesome vibes if I understood it
Drove around Iceland listening to sigur ros, first I heard of them was Takk and they’ve stayed in the rotation since
Beautiful, unique, evocative and serene. Most songs are good. Faves include: Svefn-g-englar, ny-batteri, agaetis-byrjun
4.1 2x remember listening to this in my early 20s and always enjoying it
Bra ambient! Fyra
Sparse and beautiful
I remember liking Sigur Ros 15 years ago but I'm not sure I've listened to them since then ... I do know that evaluating or ranking this in any sort of comparison to nearly anything else on this list or elsewhere is a pointless/fruitless exercise. Even in their own words, they set out to "change music forever" which is just a little bold but not entirely wrong. Could definitely file under atmospheric / mood music, since it's not exactly a blasting down the highway or party album. It is great to work to and (perhaps only) great in isolation - i.e. it's an album (for me at least) to listen to alone and that's the only way it could work. i.e. I couldn't imagine a collective decision to listen to this unless you were playing games or cooking a complex meal or de-molding the basement. Could get annoying pretty quickly, I'll admit, but for what it is I do like it. Notable exception is "Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)" which actually is kind of cool but much of the first part of it fits awkwardly at best with the rest of the album... I might have to revisit their followup to this ("()") again. Anyways, how does one rank or simplify judging of this? I'll be grading on the Vonlenska scale here... 7/10 4 stars
Really weird but moving
Ethereal, dreamy, other-worldly. One of post-rock's 'Mount Rushmore' albums - an unapologetically authentic and unique voice and mood in such a broad space. I can't understand the song titles, or the vocals, but I can understand the beauty of the words being sung, and the uplifting power of the music. Best Tracks: - Svefn-g-englar - Flugufrelsarinn - Olsen Olsen Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 9/10
Basically as close to icelandic trip hop as you can get - exceptional album.....
ambient + reflective , reminded me of the parts of thievery corporation that i ilke (90s), thom yorke, air, etc....
Distinto y para momentos tranquilos
icelandic radiohead but thankfully not nearly as terrible. A lot of this reminds me of a kind of refined version of Kid A, funny how they came out within a year of each other. For reference, I did not like Kid A. But I like this. I wasn't even in the best mood for something so floaty and ambient today, but I still had a good time with this one. I definitely would have enjoyed this a lot more as just an instrumental version, it would even be possibly worthy of a 5. Nevertheless, this is still a very good record, and I enjoyed my listen - though, the vocals did get a bit annoying and Radiohead-ey at times.
A solid start with an incredible set of tracks towards the middle before losing a bit of steam towards the end. The strong ambience in some tracks reminded me of Phaedra though not nearly as otherworldly or sci-fi adjacent. The singing could be hit or miss for me, not necessarily due to an issue with the vocalist themselves but rather that in some spots the instrumentals were so good that I think they could speak for themselves. Also while Hjartað hamast was my favourite track on here I have to ask what the fuck was up with the ear rape at the end?
Post-rock is a weird genre for me. The title track honestly feels like someone took Radiohead and made it better, I can't lie. Maybe it's that I've been getting more into the genre recently with Low and Talk Talk's later albums, but I felt like this came at just the right time. The music here is played with intent and purpose, without frills or superfluous nonsense in it. I must admit that I am often very heavily swayed by a first impression, and the first three tracks of this album did not grab me very well. On the second half of Ný batterí was when I thought 'gee, this is great' and really every other track after that was better than that. The Icelandic vocals here work sometimes, when used sparingly on a more ambient track like Viðrar vel til loftárása, it works well but early on in the first half of the album when it they are more prominent it didn't land well with me. Viðrar vel til loftárása was the peak of this album and I found myself coming back to specifically this song multiple times inbetween listens. A moody and sweet album, this was a big surprise for me to enjoy. If the first three and a half tracks were stronger this would have been an easy 5. Highlights: Ný batterí, Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm), Viðrar vel til loftárása, Avalon
4.5 . ambiental, nórdico, emocionante-
This album had a sense of sublime otherworldliness that gave me no choice but to stop be fully immersed.
What a journey. While I don’t see myself revisiting this album, I’m glad I took the trip. Tracks 2, 3, and 7 knocked my socks off. Those are definitely going into my regular rotation. Equal parts hopeful and heartbreaking. Beautiful.
Sigur Rós is a group I had heard of, but had never listened to, so I was excited to finally give them a listen. The first half of Ágætis Byrjun gives us complex, layered ambient soundscapes of evoke a sense of pensiveness and self-reflection. Heavy reverb on the vocals and some of the instruments contribute to a dream-like quality. A seamless flow from one track to another helps keep the listener in that mental space. Each track on the album builds in energy until we hit the climax near the end of Viðrar vel til loftárása. As the climax dissipates, we are left with a feeling of hope in the eponymous track Ágætis Byrjun. The final track of the album, Avalon, returns us to an inchoate soundscape that turns our minds towards the future and leads us to ask, "okay, what's next?" I'm sure I'm missing something in the lyrics with my complete lack of knowledge of the Icelandic language, but I really enjoyed the album in spite of that. Perhaps the meditative quality of the album would be inhibited by my understanding of the lyrics, and perhaps that's part of the point. Given that Sigur Rós makes use of a made-up language (Vonlenska) in many of their later songs, I can't help but think that the actual words of their albums are merely another instrument, an auditory vehicle for the mood they're trying to set, rather than bearing deep semantic significance. Favorite track: Flugufrelsarinn 4/5 stars
01) Intro - 7,0 02) Svefn-g-englar - 9,0 03) Starálfur - 8,5 04) Flugufrelsarinn - 8,5 05) Ný batterí - 8,0 06) Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm) - 8,0 07) Viðrar vel til loftárása - 8,0 08) Olsen Olsen - 8,0 09) Ágætis byrjun - 8,0 10) Avalon - 7,0 TOTAL: 8,00 (80/100) Current ranking: 166/505
nice atmo, but very boring overall
Not the best of Sigur Ros but a damn fine start!
Very good. JUst have to be in the right mood for engagement so not something to put on very everyday listening. Of course as background it also works.
I feel like I need to be on a trip or out somewhere listening to this instead of in a room. Otherwise I didn't get the flow yet until Olsen Olsen (and the following tracks) which really restructured how I feel about the rest of it as kind of build up. May still drag a bit up till then but very nice, need to listen to more.
8/10 Pretty fantastic experience on first listen, I think I need to be in a clearer headspace in order to fully embrace these monumental soundscapes, but let it be known that this reaches a pretty cinematic borderline religious experience at points. It’s a shame Iceland isn’t a real country
Very soothing and comforting.
Needs time, good headphones, an open mind, no interruptions, and ideally an epic landscape to walk across to enjoy properly, but still worth it with at least a couple of those things.
Very good apart from the annoyingly-repetitive vocals on the second track.
The first full song (not the intro) took a while to get into but the rest of the album was beautiful
Lives up to the hype. Really inventive and unusual. They have a sense of melody that is lacking in a lot of other post-rock (or, let’s face it, rock in general). Intriguing.
Background music
Having bought this several years go. I confess I don’t listen to it often. It’s not an album to listen to casually, but warrants attention. My favorite song, Untitled #3, is reminiscent of Part 1 of Keith Jarrett’s Kahn concert. Much of the album floats by unnoticed.
Странные и удивительные звуковые ландшафты. Но нужно настроение для такого длинного пути.
I hope Iceland realizes what a national treasure they have.
Is saw someone here say that this is what the northern lights would sound like if they made music and I could not agree more. The rich soundscapes take you to another place, and because of the Icelandic vocals it almost sounds alien-like (because I don’t understand Icelandic). I felt like the album grew on me while listening to it (usually the opposite happens) and I enjoyed the latter half more than the first half, with Olsen Olsen being the best of the album for me. Just a bit long and probably not fitting to listen to on every occasion. I feel like this is more for cold winter nights in your bed than for warm and sunny summer afternoons.
Very chill and occasionally beautiful, a bit long and meandering though.
a very dreamy sounding icelandic album, the kind of album that makes you feel like you're floating on air. those of you that want to turn your mind off and be soothed to sleep, you'll absolutely love this album. it's a very pretty listen; many tracks feel more than just songs, rather the foundations of sound from the universe all coming together. some tracks are a little strange, but you'll soon learn to like a lot of what you hear.
Few albums sound as otherworldly as Ágætis Byrjun, a record that feels less like a collection of songs and more like a journey through some vast, uncharted dreamscape. Sigur Rós crafts an atmosphere that is both glacial and deeply emotional, with sweeping strings, ethereal falsetto vocals, and slow-building post-rock crescendos that unfold with an almost cinematic grandeur. Tracks like Svefn-g-englar and Flugufrelsarinn move at their own glacial pace, enveloping the listener in layers of shimmering guitars and soaring orchestration, while Olsen Olsen brings an unexpected warmth, carried by its lilting melody and triumphant brass section. The band’s use of bowed guitar, reverb-drenched soundscapes, and Jónsi’s otherworldly vocals—often unintelligible but undeniably evocative—creates a sense of mystery and wonder that few albums ever achieve. That said, Ágætis Byrjun isn’t an album for every mood. Its slow, drifting compositions require patience, and some may find the sheer length of certain tracks verging on indulgent. But for those willing to immerse themselves in its expansive world, the album offers a singular experience—one that feels both deeply intimate and cosmic in scale. It may not be the most immediate listen, but its beauty is undeniable, and its influence on post-rock and ambient music is impossible to ignore. Not quite perfect, but pretty close.
I did not give this album a very close listen, but that said, it definitely intrigued me. I generally like orchestral ambient sorts of things, and this seemed well put together.
This feels like you need expensive headphones to really appreciate but I still enjoyed. It was dreamy and atmospheric. Stand-out: Flugufrelsarinn
This album is the soundtrack for coming out of a long, cold winter and feeling the sunshine for the first time in months. It's dark, yet uplifting. A beautiful, sad lullaby.
Didn’t understand a word but unexpectedly good
Have never heard this album before. Initially ( given that I have no Icelandic!) it reminded me of shades of the Cocteau Twins. With its ambient soundscapes. Really enjoyable listen. Will turn lyrics on next time!
Fine album.
Moving album and beautiful language, but because there was no one song that caught my ear, I'm giving it 4 instead of 5.
Very good. I think my favourite album of theirs is () but this is one of three of their albums that I put on, inspired by them appearing here. Not listened to them for ages and very much enjoyed it!
I hear Nordic noir set in Portishead
Riktigt bra, en skiva jag tidigare aldrig lyssnat genom.
A deeply emotive and compelling piece of music. The album flows as a single piece effortlessly and each track has a baseline amount of quality and atmosphere that is excellent. I haven’t read a translation of the lyrics so the review is missing a bit of context but the music is good enough that for the sake of this review it doesn’t matter. Although I will go back to it with a translation. The ambience is lush, sonically dense and invokes an almost cosmic and ethereal atmosphere. That being said I do think some of the songs are a bit over indulgent in their runtimes, and outside of a couple of tracks I’m unlikely to listen to any of them on their own or as part of a playlist. Overall very soothing and enjoyable album. 4/5 Who knew eating fermented shark led to musical talent?
Calm, cozy, original. People compare Low Roar to Sigur Ros a lot, i still think Low Roar is the obvious choice in my playlists, but this also had the same originality.
I think this is one of the most enjoyable Post-Rock albums, which it's one genre I find hard to enjoy.
Apart from the rather discordant endings to some of the tracks, I liked this album a lot. Not one for my collection, but I will give it four stars.
I told myself we wouldn't give this a nostalgia 5 just because Viðrar vel... was my introduction to a band I absolutely love, but damn if it didn't come close. The highs are spectacular, but it could do with being tighter and more focused. Still, more than an alright start.
Still as lovely as the first time I heard it, those boys can sure put together a warbly tune or two! Vidrar Vil Tel Loftarasa was my introduction to Sigur Ros, and it still holds up today - each track here takes it's time to build up to something amazing, and is well worth the time to sit and listen to properly.
A very pleasant surprise Lots of interesting sounds and songs that take you on a journey. Wasn’t expecting anything from this album and really really enjoyed listening to it
Was not expecting the harmonica to show up over halfway through. What a lovely listen on a cold February morning commute.
So so so gorg. Love.
Sigur Ros is one of few bands where the live experience far surpasses the recorded experience. That's not to say that this album, or any of the others, aren't good; it's more that the songs take on new dimensions live
Every song feels like I’m transcending, the ambience at the end of some songs with everyday noises really puts you back into reality for a bit, it’s like it has to remind you your still there
That was a great album. It's so ethereal and light but doesn't get lost in the background. It's one of those that marks a moment in time. You remember the feeling down to your core.
Post rock is a weird genre, at least from my experience. Its more about the emotion the music evokes than anything else, and sometimes it works very well. This album is no exception, it works very well as a complete experience, blending influences from different genres.
So I'm not sure if I should be pondering my lifes choices with a glass of red wine, or reminiscing about days past with a hot chocolate infront of a campfire.
This was a nice surprise. Some would dismiss this as background music but I feel there is more going on. While I don't understand the lyrics, the music still comes together and is still an enjoyable and worthwhile listen.
Chill
Really cool. I knew the one song from the vanilla sky soundtrack. I really liked the album as a whole it flowed well and ambient art rock style was really relaxing.
Would have given 3.5 in comparison to similar things I like, however, I'll let it have a 4 because I didn't turn it off
This sounds like the music my Sim would listen to while crashing out. This is the music that plays during the emotional climax of the sad indie movie. It came out THE DAY after I was born. I like to imagine I’m the little homunculus on the cover
Relaxing.
It mostly holds up, though my rating is largely based on warm ‘member-berries from when this album was in constant rotation.
I have no idea what they are singing about but the tunes are pretty uplifting
Whoa, what a triumph! This is bordering on five stars. Top notch artistry, yo 👏👏👏
I quite like Sigur Ros, and I quite like this album. It’s definitely mood music, I couldn’t listen to it every day, but for what it is, it is amongst the best.
Ethereal and haunting in a similar way to Explosions in the Sky. The Icelandic almost makes it feel more instrumental.
Throw back to my Junior High days!!
by FAR one of the best albums on this list i haven’t heard yet. holy god. where has this album been my whole life. insane 4, working it’s way to a 5 on the relistens (almost every song was a little too sad and it made me kinda sad). just crazy work
Nice background music. Dark, nordic, soundscapey rather than fun listenable tunes.
A good album, the music was really interesting. I liked the songs sveng-g-engler and Staralfur the most.
Love this album
This album is such a vibe. Who cares if you don't understand the words, the vocals are an *instrument*, man. It soars, it dips, it glides across foreign countrysides. There's a freaking starchild on the cover.
Could you even imagine seeing Sigur Rós play live in Reykjavik in 1998? My brain would have melted.
I love this album a lot; I only listened to it once. "Svefn-g-Engler" is magical beyond most other songs. It's unbelievable that it was made in 1999. The other tracks have a similar feel. I don't know a single word of Icelandic, but it was still mesmerising. 4 stars for "Ágætis Byrjun".
I've only ever listened to Taak before but this is very good too. Sigur Rós songs often have a fragile beauty to them and, in not knowing what they're saying, it's easy to let the music and emotions wash over you. That said, while I think this is very good. I barely ever get the urge to listen to Sigur Rós. Perhaps it's a me problem, because when I do, I like it, but it just doesn't get to the 5 star point for me.
It’s probably not really for me, but I liked the artistic qualities. It made for an unusual background to winter driving.
Listened to Takk a lot back in the day, but never branched out into the rest of Sigur Ros' extensive discography, so this was fun. Of course the whole album is very cohesive and feels more like a single experience than a collection of tracks. That said, a couple stood out upon first casual listen: Flugufreslarinn is a mellow groove. Hijartao Hamast shakes up the flow of the album (in a good way) with an upbeat and repetitive synth beat and choral background vocals. In fact, that track seems to mark a pivot in the album, away from the orchestral epics that characterize most of Sigur Ros, into sparer piano-driven arrangements. Looking forward to exploring more Sigur Ros.
Favorite Track: Svefn-g-englar
Haven't listened to this in probably 20 years, during my big post-rock/ambient phase. A lot of that stuff I find pretty boring now, one reason that I burned out on it and had no real need to listen to it again and another because I wasn't doing things that needed hour long albums of three tones blasting disappearing into the sonic ether. Like a lot of post rock, this demands a kind of specific headspace and is helped by place. 4 hours of daylight and dry-ass snow blowing across a barren waste while you wait for nothing but more nothing sounds like Iceland and also my college experience. Surprised by how late-90s it sounds, since it seemed so different when it first came out. The radiohead influence in some of the smaller moments seems clear in retrospect. Big, operatic, and still intimate, it's a great album.
8/10 album It’s hard to find anything to dislike, and it’s an earlier exploration of tonalities that I like in other bands like Radiohead, but overall it was a bit too slow for my tastes. It was good to revisit it.
(Drunk) fairy music but I fairly enjoyed it!;)
beautiful
I like the vibes. It feels like the soundtrack to a a fantastic movie filled with nature, love, tragedy. There were a lot of moments that surprised me with their beauty. I don’t feel it deserves a 5-star, but I’m finding it hard to justify anything worse than a 4.
~~~~WARNING~~~~ Do not listen to while driving or operating heavy machinery!!! I was listening to this album for the first time on a rainy morning drive to work. I did not realize the danger that I had put myself into. As the ambient Icelandic sounds of Agaetis Byrjun washed over me, I began to zone out. My thoughts drifted in the rain. I was becoming one with the world around me. It was only once my subconscious fought through the wall of dreamy synth and foreign words that I realize I had been slowly drifting into the other lane and was about to collide with another car. I quickly snapped back to attention and corrected my mistake, but I didn't dare change the music. The only thing keeping me from the reality of another week of work were these mesmerizing songs. They have come to me, these songs. They shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to their fate for I will risk no hurt to these songs. They are.... precious to me, though I buy them with great pain. ~~~~WARNING~~~~
I didn't look up the translation, because I don't roll this way. Good music is good wether I understand what's being said or not. And this was good. The type of music that makes you feel like youre walking in a dream, or as a character in a movie when you walk through the familiar streets of your hometown. Music that gives you goosebumps because it just hits the right way. That's all you really need. Only complaint is that it dragged on a little too long.
Cool album
Album, na którym moja przygoda z tą listą się wykoleiła. Po tym, jak w końcu do niego usiadłem zatrzymałem się na dwa tygodnie ze słuchaniem czegokolwiek nowego i myślę, że Agaetis Byrjun było częściowo za to odpowiedzialne. Najpierw disclaimer - to jest cholernie dobry album. Wybitny nawet, bez cienia wątpliwości. Jego rozmach, niesamowita muzyczna dojrzałość, soniczne pejzaże (soundscapes), które maluje zapierają dech w piersiach. Rzadko muzyka tak sugestywnie tworzy obrazy. Mam wrażenie, jakbym latał nad islandzkimi górami, wulkanami i czarnymi plażami Reynisfjara. A mimo to spodziewałem się więcej. Nawet nie po samym albumie, ale po moim odbiorze. Po zachwytach Cichego i Bojskiego byłem niemal przekonany, że mnie też całkowicie porwie i stanie się takim "insta-klasykiem" w moim prywatnym kanonie. Dlatego tak długo odkładałem jego przesłuchanie - nie chciałem go słuchać jako podkładu do innej czynności. A jednak moje doświadczenie zatrzymało się o krok przed wrotami nieba i nie zdołało ich otworzyć. Jestem pod olbrzymim wrażeniem tego albumu, bez cienia wątpliwości doceniam jego geniusz, ale mimo naprawdę wielu pełnych przesłuchań (myślę, że około dziesięciu, może nawet ponad to) nie udało mi się osiągnąć pełni zachwytu i tego magicznego uczucia obcowania z czymś bliskim sercu. I odbieram to jako zawód. Zawód, za który nie winię samego albumu, ale mimo wszystko zawód. Rozczarowanie na tyle mocne, że na dłuższy czas odciągnęło mnie od całej listy. 4,5/5
It’s nice to hear another Icelandic artist besides Björk. Truly spooky and ethereal.
This is just so good, I knew the record already but a other listen was not a bad thing. The depth, the subtle voices and groovy bass, really good.
It took me 17 tries to finally listen to the full thing, but I'm glad that I did. I haven't listened to too much post-rock in my life, or Icelandic music for that matter, but maybe it's time to start. "Svefn-g-englar" is one of my favorite songs I've discovered through this list.
Otherworldly in every sense of the word. If there is such thing as rebirth, this is what the process will sound like.
7/10. I really fked with it at the start but got repetitive i feel and slightly worse, with my least favourite songs being the middle ones which just dragged on. BUT DAMn was the vibes in this album fucking divine, loved it, some amazing bangers here. overall 7/10
leuk, random, nieuw, maar even iets anders!
Lovely, atmospheric music.
4 sterne
Peace. Fav Songs: Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa, Staralfur
Cool rock and cool vocals
Feels like being on a trip to nowhere. But not in a bad way. A kind of cathedral on Mars or something. Definitely spiritual vibes. But also snow. I suppose, a certain purity? A dream. A voyage to outer space. Maybe this is what you would hear if you were put in a semi-conscious state to enable you to travel vast distances across stars and space and end up at the beginning, or end, of time. Quite an achievement, I feel.
Wish I had a week to listen this rather than a day, or two, I'm falling behind! Deserves to be played through in one sitting. Slowdive meets Mercury Rev meets a string quartet, then a full on orchestra. There are lots of beautiful moments and it's a style of music I love but I haven't heard it all enough yet to know if I love it. Track 4 stands out, restrained power. And track 7, the piano part is really beautiful and it builds from there. Sigur Ros, music to close your eyes to, my second favourite Icelandic band of all time :)
Emotional. Cinematic. Euphoric. Thought-provoking. This album feels like it constantly rises to reach new heights, new peaks, new crescendos. A great first-time listening experience, despite having no specific standout moments.
Just a stunning record, super easy to fully immerse yourself in the beautiful sounds that this band puts together. I don’t quite have the personal connection with it to give it 5 stars, but I could see myself getting there before too long.
I get why this is a post-rock classic. It feels timeless. Agaetis byrjun came out 25 years ago and bands like BCNR have put out music that still sounds like this album! Best Songs: Staralfur, Olsen olsen, Worst Songs: Avalon
++: Flugufrelsarinn, Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm), Avalon +: Intro, Svefn-g-englar, Starálfur, Ný batterí, Viðdrar vel til loftárása, Olsen olsen +-: Ágætis byrjun 7,7/10
Radiohead: We made ambient noise that's just enough like music that someone will think it's deep. Sigur Ros: ...hold my beer. (Joking aside, I'm a Radiohead fan, and I do really like this - but similar to Kid A and Amensiac, it's definitely a mood)
Weiiiird. Very melancholy and ambient. Reminded me of Radiohead. I think with the right mood this would hit really hard
3.6
1. "Intro" ([26]) 3,2 2. "Svefn-g-englar" 3,8 3. "Starálfur" 4,2 4. "Flugufrelsarinn" 3,9 5. "Ný batterí" 3,9 6. "Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)" 4 7. "Viðrar vel til loftárása" 3,9 8. "Olsen Olsen" 3,8 9. "Ágætis byrjun" 3,8 10. "Avalon" 3,4 Average 3,79
Still a gorgeous album. First time listening since high school. At that time, Sigur Ros sounded like they came from a different planet but now I see the influences of Talk Talk, My Bloody Valentine and even the Smashing Pumpkins.
I had tried to listen to this album years ago and couldn’t settle in to it. This time around, it was lovely. Already loved Staralfur, from my days in the Zissou society.
Prefer their newer stuff but this was a nice and relaxing listen.
I loved this one. It felt magical and odd in the best ways. There were a ton of gradual changes and flows in this that made me feel like I was floating through the whole runtime. Favorites were Tracks 2, 5, and 8
Svefn-g-englar Starálfur Viðrar vel til loftárása Agætis byrjun
So beautiful. Hell yea Iceland
It’s good music, it just is. The perfect album to cast to your TV while you sit on the couch with a book and a cup of coffee to sip on. Inner peace core
Definitely an interesting one. I think of the albums I've listened to thus far, it is the one that is the most intriguing and calls me to listen again. However, it also takes the most effort to listen to. I'd like to revisit this with a translation of the lyrics sometime.
A classic
great album. unique, beautiful, somber. an important listen for music lovers
Great album for dark winter nights
I had no idea what to expect, or what genre this album was, I really enjoyed it and it’s something I doubt very much I would have found and listened too independently.
This album could certainly be called ambient, and it creates a lot of ambiance, but at the same time it refuses to fall into the background of whatever time and place you may be listening the way a lot of ambient music does. The feeling this album conjures is to be a small, intrepid creature exploring something vast and unknown and beautiful and scary, like the depths of the ocean or outer space, protected in your little vessel of some kind. It’s a strange album, triumphant and exciting yet subdued and peaceful. It has an orchestral quality throughout the album. I have no idea what the lyrics are about and I’m not sure if I want to. Overall, this isn’t something I will listen to casually but in the right context I think this would be perfect. It’s really quite strange and wonderful and charming. I’d give it 3.5 ⭐️ if I could but I have to round up here. 7.5/10
This was an incredible surprise. Having not heard it before (a period where I was not listening to new music at all due to family commitments) i was truly blown away. It is ethereal, unique and captivating. I need to own this album
This album was very serene and calming. It's a great way to start off your morning. I almost started crying at the wheel.
gotta relisten this album in the future but i really liked a lot from what ive heard! Great 4.0-4.5/5.0
Still a hauntingly beautiful album that's just *slightly* too long.
Pretty amazing stuff - atmospheric and dreamy. If I had one criticism, its that the album is a little longer than it needs to be; 50 mins or so seemed like the right length for this, and my attention drifted a bit towards the end.
This album is beautiful, I'm so glad its is on the 1001 list. This is exactly what I wanted out of this challenge, new and interesting music, Ágætis Byrjun certainly fits the bill! I'm not sure where it will fit into my listening habits; it feels like listening to a beautiful dream. Not being able to understand any of the lyrics takes it to the next level. It almost feels like some sort of magic spell!
Sigur Rós is ones of those bands I've been meaning to listen to for years and years and never got around to! I'm glad 1001 gave me the kick up the bum to give this album a listen - I really enjoyed it! I think it will take a few more listens to get into properly, trying to juggle work and school holidays has made it a bit tricky to give the challenge my usual attention the last few weeks, but I think with a few more listens this one will grow on me, I'm bumping the initial listen of 3.5 up to 4
I'd forgotten about these guys until they showed up on the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice soundtrack. This is still an interesting record, very much of its time but also floating above it, taking post-rock and fusing it with clubby comedown chill and Britpop's more orchestral movements, and adding a uniquely Icelandic twist.
A gorgeous album that only suffers from its' length - It does go on a bit, and I get the criticisms about some of the songs not really 'going anywhere' but I think that's by design. I don't think it's the best post-rock album ever made - I prefer my post-rock to be punchier and have a bit of edge but this is a nice deviation away from that.
Interesting album. I like the ethereal sound and will check out their other work. The repetitiveness on Svefn-g-englar nearly caused me to ditch listening to the rest of the album.
An album I’ve always loved that fortunately still really holds up. Go Iceland
I think I’ve listened to this two or three times now and never rated it. I’m not usually one for ambient music but this is great reading on the train music for me and I can see myself branching out to more Sigur Rós
The world building, the made up language, the loneliness. Only Sigur Rós can suck you in and put you through this perfect Icelandic emotional spin cycle.
Complete nonsense.
So beautiful
Hauntingly beautiful. I can't imagine goint to see this band live, but I liked the album.
Oh. Looks like I am a post-rock fan now.
Smooth, slow, ethereal
I had absolutely ZERO idea what this album was going to be. I kinda like it…am I drowning in velvet? Are the whales playing instruments? What is happening? I especially liked Flugufreslsarinn. Makes me want to be a witch by the sea, waiting for my love who was lost at sea. I would unironically listen to this album again. What a surprise.
I actually like this record. Not any song in particular, but the whole record. It's like a modern Enya (although it's a 24-year-old disc). But quite cool. Me likes! A lot!
Keine Upper, keine Downer
Very relaxing. 4/5
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Very atmospheric, which is somehow added to by not being able to understand the lyrics
Huge spacious reverbs, hints of Floyd and Radiohead in the sound and vibe. Cold, dark, and distant, easy to listen to electronic based mood music.
I'm a pop-songs, hooks-first kind of guy so I wasn't expecting to love this, but I was pleasantly surprised! Way to craft some cool soundscapes and put me into a chill mood, Icelandic Sugar Ray.
Another undiscovered gem this week. I said it yesterday, and I'll say it again today: #31-40 on this list just keeps delivering some absolute stellar albums. Today it is 'Ágætis Byrjun', an album I have never heard before by a band I have never heard of in Sigur Rós; and man am I happy I listened to this. The 10 minute opening track 'Svefn-g-englar' completely sets the stage with it's easy going melodies, dreamy subtle keyboards, low-fi drums, high ethereal vocals, and orchestral backdrop. And speaking of the orchestral backdrop for this particular track, the arrangements only get more orchestral in nature as it creates this dream like journey that transcends the language barrier; almost as if you can still feel what the song is about through the music. Other standout tracks include the amazing ballad 'Starálfur', the phenomenal "build up" song that crescendos into an epic finale 'Ný batterí', and the sheer uplifting epic 'Olsen Olsen'. It honestly feels like I have simultaneously heard it all before, yet it still feels incredibly unique. Of course, the nature of this album being a mixture of post rock and dream pop, the sound is quite important. So I do recommend listening to this with the best possible sound set up that you have, be it speakers or good headphones. Your experience with it will be good nonetheless, but good tech behind it can enhance things quite a bit. It's a fantastic record and well worth any chance you give it. For me, I'll definitely be buying it physically at some point.
Ethereal, emotional, and atmospheric. The entire album was an experience.
Gorgeous and incredibly atmospheric. Type of album you can close your eyes and really feel it. A dreamscape of a wintery dusk
First listen. Pretty good.
Well, folks. Allow me to present something of a complicated opinion on 1999's 'Ágætis Byrjun' by Sigur Rós. I see you lobby 5s left and right and I go through the reviews hoping someone can actually grasp what it is about this record that is so revered. Yes, it's "orchestral." It's "beautiful." It's "calming." I know. We all know that. I imagine that 'Ágætis Byrjun' is a foundational text in turn-of-the-millennium post-rock, which took the elements of conventional rock music (your standard drums, guitar, bass, keyboard configuration) to deconstruct and subvert listeners' expectations by imbuing elements of ambient, minimalist, and drone music through nontraditional song structures, time signatures, and chord progressions. There's no denying that the music and production is lovely and in turn creates lovely images in a listener's mind. Think of a lake freezing over with steam rising, the breath of a lover on your skin, tears of happiness that compel you to break into laughter. There's a spirit in this album that leaves you thinking that Jónsi wanted to...change the world? Love again? Who's to say? I bristle at any album that has a heightened sense of self-importance attached to it, but I know that reaction probably signals a need to examine my own contradictions found in music. 'Self-importance' is a label that is usually attached to instrumental music or non-English music and I can't fault any quote-unquote "rock" band for wanting to have higher ambitions and seek more from music than your verse-chorus-verse duds. Believe it or not: instrumental music and/or non-English music can be fun and enjoyable to listen to and not just for eggheads. Still, while I don't entirely agree with the grade (or the spirit) of Robert Christgau's assessment, I can kinda get a sense of what he means with each passing listen. The music is indeed entrancing without being warm. Maybe it's a little much for Jónsi to deliver "shamelessly tear-stained epics" but to make beautiful art for beauty's sake is still brave, no? And ultimately, this is music that reminds you of the bravery required in everyday actions. Bravery in being resilient. Bravery for falling in love and remaining in love. The twinkle of the piano of "Starálfur" or the flute in "Olsen Olsen" are sonic representations of earnest vulnerability amid cold, sonic landscapes. I know many people think "Avalon" is a skip, but I actually enjoy the outright embrace of repetition, be it a blink or a heartbeat. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're quick to say it's great because it FEELS great, unpack that feeling a bit more. Iconic album art that I personally always found ugly. A-
It's gorgeous music. I can't understand a word they're saying though, so they may be singing about either fjords or racial purity, I have no way of knowing. I also don't find myself wanting to listen to this stuff 99% of the time, but I can't deny its beauty and that shouldn't really impact how it's rated.
I really enjoyed it. 4
Creepy. But I kind of liked it. I like that I can't understand a word!
Lovely and soothing
This was way more pleasant than I anticipated it would be. Actively calming without being sonically boring.
Journey through a wide sonic landscape while listening to an imaginary language.... Very good album, even though not every track was a high point. Still very recommendable. 4/5
Definitely need another listen. Amazing sounds but couldn't commit to the full experience. Will be coming back
Great album, I always wrote this band off, but this one is solid. A little on the long side, which affects replayability in my opinion
I wasn't sold on this album at first. About halfway through I went to look at other reviews and saw someone mentioned winter, and that's when this album clicked for me. The middle of August is not when this album is done justice, but I could see myself falling in love with it in January. Keeping that in mind I'm giving it 4 stars.
I really love part of this album. Dreamy, exciting and beautiful. But some of the songs sound like boring fillers. That is why I'm giving 4 not 5
Euphoric. Some tracks, such as stood out more than others, but the whole thing is super enjoyable.
-I heard about this band from Björk and didn’t really know what to expect. It’s extremely interesting, soothing at some parts and very intense/disorienting. Icelandic Pink Floyd vibes -Favorites are Svefn-g-englar, Starálfur, and Olsen olsen
i actually loved this i just cant see it fitting in any playlists of mine
I am floating and I understand nothing
Stunning.
😊
The albums first part was sounding more rich, last pieces were sounding extremely Brit.
I'd heard of the band but did not know what to expect from this album. This was a great listen - good as background sound and even better with focus
Happy this exists for the people that are moved by it. On a technical level it is a masterpiece of production and atmosphere. For an album from 1999, it sounds flawless but not clinical. I can see how people listen to this on repeat and get more out of it with every listen. It just doesn't speak to me personally. I'm sure I could lean in and learn all of the lyrics and dig into the drama of the band. There's a younger me that might have, but I'm a father of three now and just don't feel like the juice would be worth the squeeze on this one. Honestly, I'm reminded of Tool in the same vein. It is both too complex to be digestible pop music but also not rich harmonically or historically enough for me to put in the effort to listen to it as art music. I think this album gets closer to that goal than anything from Tool, but if I'm looking for this level of deep, focused listening, I'll still take Dvorak, Beethoven and Brahms all day.
This was quite the album. I wasn’t really sure what to expect with Icelandic post rock but it was not this. I think if I had been listening to this on a cold, gray day then this would have gotten a 5 because that would be perfect for this album. However I was not so it’s getting a 4. It was very soothing and whimsical in its sound. Honestly it almost put me to sleep (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). I really didn’t mind that I couldn’t understand a single word cause it helped me to focus on the overall feel and tone of the album rather than splitting my attention between the musical side of it and the lyrics. Overall very interesting album and what I hoped to be introduced to by this list.
Really beautiful, ambient vibe-y album. Will definitely be returning to it.
It’s absolutely an album that requires your attention so that it doesn’t simply drift into the background. Even if the music does take a backseat, it’s still a beautiful background sound but if you do give Agaetis Byrjun your attention, you could be rewarded. Svefn-G-Englar is an all time masterpiece Staralfur, the following track isn’t far behind. I’m a fan of ambient, dreamy music and Sigur Ros does an excellent job here with great attention to details and textures. Beautiful! 4 stars
This is, by far, the weirdest Sugar Ray album.
Could have been pared back a bit as it became a bit repetitive, but sounds great. Ethereal and sweeping
I enjoyed this more than I expected to. Very relaxing to have on in the background while working.
A nice break from the typical 70's and 80's sounds that seem to rule this list. Only shame is that for most tracks, i don't know what they're singing about, but the melodies are enough to carry it.
I do enjoy me some Sigur Rós, but tend to prefer them in small-medium doses, which admittedly can be difficult to come by given the average length of their tracks/albums. While some of their songs (on this album, Svefn-g-englar) emanate an exquisite sense of peace that cuts through to the soul almost every time, others can fade into the background if I’m not in the right frame of mind. How much I appreciate them depends a lot on the scenario. As it happens, the sun came out for the first time in ages as I re-listened to this on my train commute through the countryside, and I was like ‘*of course* this is a beautiful record; *of course* the praise for this band is justified!’
Headphones high recommended
ambient grandeur with piercing vocals
going into this, i had no idea what to expect since im not much of a post rock listener (with few influences from some artists like slint) and because its such a broad genre. its a beautiful album though; really like this type of dreamy post rock sound because it sounds so ethereal. no idea what its about though since its in icelandic. if someone were to ask me irl what my favorite song from this album was, id have no idea how to say it. no malice to that, but funny thinking about saying “yea my favorite song is ‘vaahahds vau tskks lisifjdjsl.’” really enjoyed the listen, but i can still find some nitpicky parts i didnt enjoy as much. 4.5 but a 4 here personal favs: staralfur, viorar vel til loftarasa
Drifty. Kind of like if Spiritualized had a bigger Pink Floyd influence and wanted to up the intensity by 1. It's pleasant, but it's often easy to lose track of, but nice enough when you tune back in. Call it a 3.5. Favorite tracks: "Svefn-g-englar", "Ny batteri", "Olsen olsen"
Almost medieval-y. Can appreciate the musical achievement here… would like to space out with it. Relatively vivid memory of 4 am walking to the train station in Edinburgh to this after clara had broken up with me to try and win her back. Ed had recommended it to me.
This album can never be 5-stars for me. A couple of 5-star songs, but most are clear 4-stars.
Fun to see Sigur Rós on the list! This album didn't contain that many "hits", but I think it held an overall high, even level of quality. I am not sure if this is their best album, but I think it deserves a weak 4, as I consider it better than many generic albums I've given a 3 star rating. Think it lacks some more stand out songs to warrant a higher rating, but definitely fun and different!
Finally something different! This album really went all in for a vibe and it payed off. It was worth listening to this as a complete album as the vibe took some time to settle in and I feel just listening to one track wouldn't have done it justice. The lack of any catchy single was actually a good thing for me as you could just envelope your self in the music. If i had to single out one track, I think a highlight would be "Hjartað Hamast" with it's repetative, hypnotic beat. A breath of fresh air after too much 70s rock. Since it was so different and I was in the mood for something ambient I think it deserves a 4.
Super cool. I liked this a lot. Experimental and weird. I think I liked the songs that had less singing more. I just didn’t love their voice but I think when they would use their voice in a more experimental way and in less of a singing way it sounded better.
4.5. Lovely album and enjoyed every song.
Calming, but at the same time something quite eerie to listen too. Great background noise.
Discovered this by chance late one night in 1999. Got in late from Goldsmiths, watched The Sopranos, then Viǒrar … came on on Channel 4. It accompanied a video of young people with Down’s Syndrome dancing. Sounds tacky and borderline exploitative, in fact was dictionary-definition ethereal. HMV in Wood Green had an import in stock when I went there the next day. (So many weird things about it. That I got the name of this weird Icelandic band without Shazam (Shazam still seems like magic to me); that there was a huge HMV in Wood Green High Street; that they had an import copy of album by said weird Icelandic band…) Can an album that was Sui generis age not well? No. If anything, it was imitated too many times, and I became perhaps a little too familiar with it. Took it for granted. I’m sorry.
Never heard this before. I am really blown away by it. Unique and beautiful. I like the closing song Avalon, but discovered they purposely slowed it waaaay down. It sounds beautiful at a more proper speed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmOdTrfiBmc "Ég gerði skip tilbúið og fór með litla bæn"
Had never heard of them before, but I liked this album a lot. Very intriguing sound...simultaneously haunting and soothing. Will definitely give their other albums a listen...also love this album's cover art.
whatttt vad kul med isländska 😍 rakt igenom gudomligt vacker musik och kul med sammanhängande och enhetligt album som känns som ett och samma konstverk. Detta album berättade något! Plus underbar musikproduktion, liksom fyrverkerierna?? Tyckte om alla spår och alla deras delar men hade såklart inte varit så farligt om delarna var lite kortare. Men ändå funkar det verkligen vilket är lite sjukt i sig. Sjuka build-ups som leder till så stora ljud! Jättehärlig lyssningsupplevelse, sparar albumet! Bästa låt: Viðrar vel til loftárása - jag är kär i denna låt. Kollade även dess video och läste översättning asså rätt in i hjärtat, vilken underbar musikgrupp
Fett bra album, väldigt cool musik. Alla låtar var väldigt bra så det är svårt att välja en som är bäst
Loved this
Maybe I wasn’t listening to it right. But I will try it again because everybody told me it’s great.
this album really shines when it’s just the music - would maybe have been a 5 if it was just a long cinematic, orchestral album. still really good though
We were driving home yesterday, and I was already pretty tired. So this probably would not have been the best thing to drive and listen to. Definitely not something to operate heave machinery to. Saying that, it was great contemplative, meditative music. But you definitely have to be in the right mood for it. Top tracks: "Olsen olsen," "Vidrar vel til loftarasa"
A definite 3. Soft and wispy and beautiful. But is it too long and too much of the same thing over and over? Svefn-g-englar is a great example - Birgisson's vocals are so unique and haunting and the dreamy, not-quite shoegaze sound is so cool but I thought it was over around 5 minutes in and then it just sort of repeated itself for another 5 minutes. I don't know that I minded it, but after the whole album was like that I wasn't sure if I was getting lost. Starálfur is a song that nailed it - almost 7 minutes but it didn't feel repetitive, and the combo of strings and keyboard and regular guitars were sublime. To be honest, after those first two songs (and the brief intro) I really wasn't blown away by the next 4 songs. For example, Hjartað hamast sounded more like standard trip hop than more novel dream pop. It wasn't until Olsen Olsen and the title track (second and third last songs) that I pricked up my ears again. The acoustic guitar in the former made it sound like the Smashing Pumpkins, but even dreamier with the woodwinds and horns - a sweeping, orchestral epic. Having listened to it about 5 times, I feel like 3.5 is what it really deserves. I decided to round up for dreamy novelty.
cool, trippy, and atmospheric icelandic music beloved by hipsters the world over. some of the songs were kind of grating with the same repeated vocal samples, but overall this was a nice, chill album. i wish i knew what they were saying and how to pronounce the song titles but apparently they just make up a language half the time anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ favorites: tracks 3-5, 8
Another band I've known about but have never listened to. Loved it. Very chilling and relaxing. However given the long length of each song, I find I'll be returning to this only now and then as I prefer shorter songs and with almost every song being a minimum of 7 minutes it's a bit long.
Not so much impact as in 1999 and found the vocals a little annoying here and there, but still a very good album of course. score: 8/10 (for comparison: The Bracket album is still 10/10)
Helt ait, minner om biltur da jeg var liten
listened to again still a chamberful canvas of textures and colors
Beautiful. Ethereal
I LOVED this album so much when it came out. It was the dreamiest combination of Radiohead and Pink Floyd with lyrics I couldn't understand and that was just what I needed. I still like it but now more impressed with the compositions than the dreaminess.
Not at ALL the album I was expecting. Very nice listen actually. They sound like they're speaking simlish.
I thought for a very long time about my score and ended up landing on 4. I really did want to give it a five but I think it honestly was just missing something special to push it over the edge. A lot of the songs were very good, it just was missing some big piece to put it together. Some of the songs maybe could’ve gone somewhere more, some of the vocal performances could’ve been more interesting (looking at you Svefn-g-englar), or maybe even a couple more higher more triumphant moments than we got. Of course another thing that’s lost on me is the lyrics and songwriting on the album, which perhaps was the thing that I was missing. This isn’t a complaint obviously just a point that maybe I could have appreciated it more had I known the songwriting which I’m sure was good
As often with Nordic rock music, there are many gems to be found. Like Sigur Rós. Fantastic album.
dang
Calming, musical excellence. Does it matter that I can’t understand a word? Not really. Most songs in English are the same.
Some really interesting soundscapes, but some of the more boring songs do drone on a little long.
This is an album I should have been listening to more since I first heard about it. It's exceptionally lovely. I'm giving it a 4 for now and putting it on my very short list of albums that are decent on this list.
Oh, this is really quite lovely. Honestly one of the first times I was like "oh no, here we go" and was super pleasantly surprised. This is really nice music and I have them now favorited and will listen more to this new age(y) spiritual folk band. The male leads voice reminds me of Smashing Pumpkins in a way. Nice.
the lyrics are very moving
Very chill and beautiful album. 4/5
I like the experimental stuff they do. I actually hadn't listened to this album before. Only the newer ones.
Easy to listen to while getting some work done. Loved the atmospheric vibes, but have to be in the right mood to get into it. 4/5
Enjoyable. Somewhere between Tubular Bells, BCNR, Jaruim, and Susumu Hirasawa.
Incredible ambient, "space" music. I could put this on in the background and get lost. Easy to add into rotation.
I have clear memories of the first time I listened to this album. Such a great night time headphone session. Still like it, despite it not making its way into my regular rotation.
Alle som prøver noe så nytt burde sjekkes ut. Definitivt et album jeg kan, og kommer til å høre på mange ganger.
gia lo conoscevo, poco da dire sono dei kings
Now this is something else! The sheer size of the instrumental and the intimacy of the vocals is fantastic. Shame I can't understand a word of what's said, but I feel like that shouldn't detract from the overall experience. This is an album for those days when you just want to sit in a comfy chair, turn your brain off to the outside world, and listen. Beautiful!! 9/10 Would I listen again? Absolutely
sonidos hermosos, atmosferico, te hacen sentir que estas soñando. Sigur Ros tiene un sonido de post-rock unico. fuerte 4.5/5
Something totally unlike anything I've heard before. It often has a very psychedelic air with parts totally go out of convention. At first listen one does not really understand what all of it means. The sounds, the unintelligible icelandic and I suppose at times gibberish vocals, everything is kind of strange. But it does has this undistinct charm to it and produces a specific feeling that no other album has managed to provoke in me before. It's weird, but I kind of like it. 7.5/10
La prima,la seconda, sesta e la decima sono chillissime. La terza, la quarta,la quinta,la settima e la nona sono fuori di testa. Ottava la migliore però
That was a cool experience, not something I'd want to listen to regularly but still nice
интересный альбом. песни довольно длинные но это создаёт особую атмосферу. изначально альбом зашёл но после прослушивания всех треков оставил не самое лучшее впечатление. ощущается музыка какой-то неполной. не знаю
Haunting, beautiful floating mellifluous. In a word nice.
"Cosmic post-rock creations" doesn't sound like something I would enjoy, I was wrong! That was a lovely listen, a gem unearthed.
Good background
kind of boring at times but still good
Oh I was OBSESSED with this album when I was in highschool.
I’ve always wanted to listen to a Sigur Ros album because I’d heard some tracks. I thought their sound varied a little more than I expected. I haven’t checked but I suspect this isn’t their best album, and there will be more on this list. I bet they have better albums.
Never listened to a sigur ros album before, but this is exactly how I would've imagined it sounding! Really atmospheric, really mellow, dream like quality. I enjoyed it, it's just a bit tough to rate, as I can't really see when I would choose to listen to it. Regardless, I think a 4 is fair as it's nothing like we've had here before
Finally. One of my favorite bands, although I think there are better Sigur Rós albums [Kveikur; Valtari; Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust; Inni (Live)]. Sigur Rós music is so strange that I think many people will absolutely hate it. So much going on here. Including lyrics in an invented language (Vonlenska). Jonsi uses a bow on his guitar. Unusual voice, but fits the music. Strings, horns, and effects float in and out. Echo very important component of their music. Very quiet, soft intros open up to crashing orchestrated soundscapes. This is definitely a headphone album. Made loud to be played loud. 4th cut, FLUGUFRELSARINN, brings is the sonic dissonance and drama that they're known for. VIÒRAR VEL TIL LOFTÁRÁSA, the 7th cut is just a beautiful, sad piece. For me, OLSEN OLSEN, track 8, is one of their best pieces. Haunting bass line, harmonic vocals, then in come the horns and strings - just a great arrangement. I don't know why, but listening to track 9, ÁGAETIS BYRJUN, just makes me smile. I hesitate to give this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ because I think there are better Sigur Rós albums, so I'll give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐. ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 50 🎧 LPs left to review: 951 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 11 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 17 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 13
Love this album.
i loved the first 45 minutes. absolutely beautiful. the last 25 minutes felt so much weaker and i was getting bored by the end of it, which was a bummer. so its a 5 and a 3, averaged to a 4.
Впечатляет, хоть иногда и наскучивает в виду хронометража. Описать музыкальную палитру какими то эмоциями не выходит видимо мне еще предстоит понять в каких условиях это слушать. Оценка с заделом на будущее)
Quite liked this odd rock/orchestral/ambient situation. Strange in a way that's right up my alley.
Beautiful cinematic type music. I feel like this is what you hear while the credits are rolling at the end of a life changing movie. I liked it 8/10
I really like this whole album - feel like it flows really nice - but I definitely have to be in the mood for it.
First Icelandic album I've ever listened to. It sounds a lot like My Morning Jacket if they went full send on the post-rock idea. Overall, I really liked this one, but I was surprised that for as an alternative of an album as it is, it can be limited at times. They are perfectly fine breaking of ton of conventional rules but oddly paint themselves into a bit of a corner. They break the rules in the same way on each song. I think for me, as cool as this album was, it lacked variety within the album itself. There were songs where they break out some very cool instrumentation, but they always seem to quickly get back into their comfort zone. I'm the slightest bit disappointed because I think this album could have been even better than it was.
Very chilled. Good to hear something different
Trance buenardo pa curral.
Pretty dreamy stuff.. could go to sleep with this. 3.5
GY!BE Icelandic version???? I can't understand the lyrics but the instrumentals and overall vibe is just spectacular in this one. Really enjoyed this.
Ew beh!
Wow! Very "atomospheric", but I liked it
"Ágætis Byrjun" by Sigur Rós is a masterpiece that transcends traditional boundaries of music. Released in 1999, the album is a stunning blend of ethereal soundscapes, haunting vocals, and emotive instrumentation. Sigur Rós's use of the Icelandic language adds to the album's mystique, creating an otherworldly listening experience. The album's standout tracks, such as "Svefn-g-englar" and "Starálfur," showcase the band's ability to evoke deep emotions through their music. The lush instrumentation, including bowed guitar and strings, creates a sense of grandeur and beauty. While some may find the album's slow pace and atmospheric nature to be challenging, those who appreciate its unique sound will find "Ágætis Byrjun" to be a truly captivating work of art.
One word: different. Not bad. Relaxing music.
amazing