Reviews (page 9 of 15)
Incredible music in general such a vibe and so relaxing to listen to while playing LOZ late at night Svefn-g-englar is a uil mediation classic and It will always hold a very special place in my heart from all those amazing memories
Beautiful album. One of my favorites.
Borrrringggggggg
Very good artistically but not really my style Very spacey and droney and kinda ambient Would listen again if in the mood
Dreamy vibes but needs the right mood
Tried, but couldn't finish it.
would not ask to put it on. could i write poetry to this? n
Bad music for dancing. Like most Post-Rock, this album is loaded with tension and release. Excellent for soundtracks and production music where a visual element is present. Maybe also good as background while doing mundane and lengthy tasks. On it's own, without any distraction, the music can be dull and repetitive.
Very pretty. Hearing Staralfur when they find the shark in The Life Aquatic on the big screen was amazing.
Some amazing tracks on here. I don’t think you can stop and start this and get the most out of it. I could potentially ask for this score to be changed at a later date as I think they are a band you need to be in a certain mood for.
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.
ethereal
Otherworldly in every sense of the word. If there is such thing as rebirth, this is what the process will sound like.
Wacky
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!
Geinig albumpie hoor Alles klonk wel beetje hetzelfde
Easy 5.
Cool ethereal ambient sound, radiohead-like, but long and uninteresting
Lovely, atmospheric music.
4 sterne
I know that I will be echoing a lot of people's words, but this album is fucking awesome. Super unique, but somehow familiar all the same. Some of the most beautiful and poignant piece arranged. A fantastic place to start into the world of international music and how language isn't a mandatory requirement for understanding music itself. A must listen to album. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful. 2nd 10/10 album on this list
If Radiohead was Icelandic audio taffy pulled long and slow. A little dark but open and hopeful like a good Christmas album
Peace. Fav Songs: Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa, Staralfur
A little bit too psychedelic for my taste. 3/10
This is one of the most interesting and unique post-rock albums I’ve heard so far. It’s especially impressive considering it came out in the ‘90s. It feels like it was way ahead of its time. While it’s rooted in post-rock, it blends ambient, art rock, dream pop, and chamber pop seamlessly. The album has an otherworldly, ambient feel with lush orchestrations that set the stage for its expansive sound. Even with its calming, almost sleep-inducing moments, there are also chaotic parts that maintain the ambient soundscape throughout.
A lack of actual musical instruments and foreign language lyrics make this uninteresting to me. Someone who can understand the lyrics would be able to rate fairly
3/5 Some cool post rock.
Cool rock and cool vocals
This was introduced to me years ago as one of my sister-in-law’s favorites. I listened to it for a while. It’s pleasant enough but maybe a little too atmospheric for me.
Planant, émotion, s'écoute de bout en bout. Coup de coeur
15/11/24 It wasn't for me, but i will not knock it as I didn't understand it. It was peaceful though.
This is good background music... but that's it.
Only a few tracks in but I don't think this is really my thing. As often as I found something I liked, something else I disliked kind of ruined it. I liked the drums around halfway through Ny Batteri, but the brass parts were sort of annoying and put me off the song again Not my thing and I'm not feeling compelled to put it on again. Respect it and see why it's acclaimed though Highlights: Olsen Olsen
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.
Ágætis byrjun ebbs and flows with exquisite beauty. It might be one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever heard. Each song drifts gently into the next, rising to astonishing crescendos (such as Viðrar vel til loftárása), then fading away until the next one. A gorgeous Icelandic mountain range for the ears. I have no idea what the lyrics mean but that doesn’t matter. This album is as much sonic art as it is music, transcending language and genres. It’s almost like classical music but with the addition of modern instruments and production techniques. A couple of the more guitar-let tracks reminded me of Radiohead and felt like fitting resting points before continuing the hike to the next peak, to continue the mountain analogy. I love everything about this. Somehow it captures the essence of beauty in life; I can’t imagine any day in which you listen to this with your full attention being a bad one. Hoppípola is not on this album but deserves praise too. I’ve liked that song for years but never probed further, but I’m glad I have now. Thanks Sigur Rós.
Grandiose. And plenty of nature sounds; wind, waves, volcanic roaring, jet engines, and space shuttle take-offs. New age ghost rock sound, glad I listened. (2.7*s)
I was somewhat familiar with Sigur Rós because I listened to a lot of Jónsi (Birgisson -- lead singer) around 2010. This is a more atmospheric soundscape approach and I think it has to be the right moment to fully digest what they're offering with this album. It's pretty long and a lot of it feels like waiting for a moment that never happens but there's some really beautiful instrument combinations interspersed throughout. You almost forget that the vocals are in a different language, I personally think this improves the listen but I fully understand that people might not like this (or aren't willing to fully invest in the sonic experience). It's definitely a journey and you have to pay attention and follow along to really get it. 2.25 because I still like Jónsi's solo projects better.
A nice enough album that I'm glad I heard, I guess, but I'm good with just this once through from the band. No need to revisit or delve further. Sounded a bit like a very slowed down Icelandic Enya/Radiohead. It moved with the speed of a glacier. Could be a better, shorter album if they cut half the dead space. Cover got a cool baby alien angel though...1.2.
This was a very peculiar album but rather enjoyable. Wasn't sure what to expect from Icelandic dream pop but I was pleasantly surprised. The soft notes bring a sense of calm. While I'd like to know what the lyrics say, the fact that they are in another language makes the whole album very soothing and a little transcendental. There's something compelling about the album but I'm not sure what it is. It worked as good background while working for the time being. It's a little too long of an album but my curiosity is piqued to delve into Sigur Ros at another time. They sound almost like a foreign Radiohead pastiche. Great entry for the 1001 as I've never heard of this otherwise. 3.19 stars
Space. Heaven. The journey to the beyond. Such a relaxing album. Will definitely be returning here from time to time.
Simply sublime. Voice of a thousand angels and ethereal instrumentals. Just wow.
Such a great album. The title track is phenomenally good as is the first track after the intro. Ný Batterí fills out the top three. A well deserved entry to the 1001
Sigur Rós OH MY GOD one of my favorite post rock bands. They are so good, just, so good. Nothing else need to be said. I admire how they keep everything so light and delicate, almost fragile, and oh dear that melancholy, that nolstalgia, what an old friend. It's the sound of forest and ocean nights and sweet annihilation. and it's just so beautiful...5/5, 10/10.
This is one of the most interesting and unique post-rock albums I’ve heard so far. It’s especially impressive considering it came out in the ‘90s—it feels like it was way ahead of its time. While it’s rooted in post-rock, it blends ambient, art rock, dream pop, and chamber pop seamlessly. The album has an otherworldly, ambient feel with lush orchestrations that set the stage for its expansive sound. Even with its calming, almost sleep-inducing moments, there are also chaotic parts that maintain the ambient soundscape throughout.
like low-fi girl on a hiking trip in the fjords
One of my favorites top to bottom!
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
- Really beautiful soundscape that tastefully incorporates synths and traditional instruments to create vibrant environments - Manage to capture a very haunting piece of sound without falling into the trap of becoming too avant garde or pretentiously artsy - Mimics early Pink Floyd in some of their acoustic aesthetics - No stellar stand-out tracks, but hard to hate any of the songs on here, as they all feel as though they serve a component purpose to the whole of the album - This album has certainly earned a second listen to appreciate the whole thing
++: 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)
1.9
Weiiiird. Very melancholy and ambient. Reminded me of Radiohead. I think with the right mood this would hit really hard
weird but not terrible
This album was very important to me for a long time. I suppose, that in the wake of the many many imitators that have cropped up over the years, it’s no longer unique as such, and I don’t listen to it nearly so often. Still beautiful, though. I think it has an undeserved reputation for being ethereal, which I understand, but after seeing them live a few times, I know it’s possible to miss the ear-splitting, wall-shaking, brown-noting potential that their music actually has.
Highlights: Starálfur, Ny Batterí, Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm). In a nutshell: a post-rock odyssey. You can tell that this is thoughtfully made. It has an ethereal feeling to it. This is not just music. This is art. It’s not pretentious art either. It's “straight from the heart” kind of art. Overall: 9/10
Prog for the modern era. Something something "sprawl," something something "ethereal." Something something "long." It's quite pretty, I guess, but I feel like it insists upon its own beauty or something. A relaxing, immersive listening experience that I'm glad I had, but not one I plan to revisit. Highlight: Hjartað hamast (bamm bamm bamm)
3.6
Lovely listen, very soothing
I understan why I should love this album but it does not convince me completely
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
Nice background music I guess but too slow and spacey for me
Good music to fall asleep too
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.
When you really need some cosmic post-rock, pull this out.
Radiohead and its consequences have been a complete disaster for the music industry.
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
Music like this is why the generator is so interesting. I probably never would have listened to this otherwise. I had seen the album cover, but didn’t know the name or the artist. im glad i took my time with it because this shit had me floating. The cover art perfectly fits. I don’t know the language, but I don’t need to. The dynamic swells and string arrangements keep the long songs interesting.
Such a beautiful album. I recently became a father to twin girls and Svefn-g-englar touched me very deeply. And who can't relate to having been born?! I find it interesting that the initial theme seems to surround being born and being a child but then evolves into self-referential self-pity regarding the unsuccessful first album of Sigur Rós. While I was hoping the album would be more generalizations about growing up from childhood to adulthood, in a weird way that is exactly what it is albeit more difficult to relate to for every person given very few of us have had an unsuccessful album produced in Iceland. Interestingly, the self-referential nature of this album became celebrated and lead to its success. Musically it deserves everything anyone has ever said. There was a time in my life when I could only fall asleep to Riceboy Sleeps by Jónsi and so I assumed Sigur Rós was also a very sleep inducing band. I found Ágaetis Byrjun to maintain my interest with every note and never induce sleep. It's an album that will stick with me for a long time.
I feel like a hipster listening to these guys. Finally, I’m really cool. It’s great ambient noise. Beautiful. Put me right to sleep.
Jeg skal jo bruge hele skalaen, kan godt se det gode i albummet, vild med hvor meget ingenting der er på det, men ikke helt min stil
Svefn-g-englar Starálfur Viðrar vel til loftárása Agætis byrjun
Oh my god, what a pleasure to get one of the best bands I've ever seen in my life and an record that completely opened up my entire world when I first heard it in middle school. I guess there are a few tiny moments where I have to give twelve year old me credit for being extremely cool. It's one of the best ambient/post-rock albums ever made.
No idea what this was but I liked it
So beautiful. Hell yea Iceland
Gorgeous, serene, surreal soundscape. Need to listen to this over and over again.
Simon: 1. I have this, but probably made it never all the way through before today, due to its length. 2. Did you ever go to a majestically dingy club called The Foundry wedged between Great Eastern St and Old St? Some friends played strange and sometimes obnoxious music to other weirdos there in the early noughties, and among gruesome remixes of “The Lady in Red” and the “Eastenders” theme, a constant was the set ending with “Svefn-g-englar”, which is enchanting. 3. There are some sumptuous textures and melodies in here, and it builds a consistent sound-world for itself, which I like. However, there’s not enough grit in there to keep me from sliding off. The sixth song flashes a spot of Dave Brubeck before the wailing guitars and epic whispering return, and I’m extending my arms going no, no, bring back sexy Brubeck, which is a dangerous move when driving a car. 4. I saw Sigur Ros support Radiohead along with Beck, and I must report R Head were surprisingly fun while SigRo sounded lost and missable, while Beck as just dull. Don’t worry, I didn’t pay. 5. There’s something a little cute or twee to the vibe, the silliness of singing sometimes in a made-up language fitting, trading in darkness that is more Tim Burton than David Lynch. 6. A later album, “Kveikur", has a song called “Isjaki" that has an urgency absent here, and is my favourite track of theirs along with "Svefn-g-englar”. 7. Homework noted with thanks.
Incredible, used to listen to this while working through the night, perfect soundtrack. I can replay every note and phonetic vocal in my head. Just so good, Olsen Olsen in particular is untouchable [EDIT - Bet Mark hates this. It's lovely though]
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
One of THE great post rock albums, in my opinion. Probably one of the most unique too.
I don't think I understood the album.
Love this album. Love this band. Didn't realize how much of a noise band this was until relistioning to it again.
I remember first discovering this and being amazed at how different it sounded compared to anything else I knew at the time. I was huge into Sigur Rós for awhile and even saw them in concert. Now hearing this again many years later, I still enjoy this, but the feeling for me is more nostalgia than anything else. There are a couple strong tracks on this album, but most of this kind of moves from one to the next without much consequence. I listen to this with fond memories but I also wonder if this could have been the beginning of something much bigger that never really materialized.
Vale pela referência de ambient music 3 estrelas tá bom demais
For me, this was the "Holy shit. I get it." moment for post-rock.
great album. unique, beautiful, somber. an important listen for music lovers
soundscapes
Today was a really happy day, which prevented me from enjoying this album fully. I’ll give it another try when I’m melancholic.
Nothing (except many some of Brian Eno's work) can calm me more than 'Agaetis Byrjun'. I remember hearing about Sigur Ros and searching everywhere for this album before I finally found an import version. I'd listen to it over and over while lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Jonsi's cello bow playing on the guitar mixed perfectly with the atmospheric music which seems to reach up to the sky and reflects the beautifully stark Icelandic landscape. I saw Sigur Ros during their tour for their third album '( )'. The venue allowed a 100 college aged kids with CMJ Music Marathon passes to attend. The crowd was rowdy, rude and drunk. They booed the opening act and generally were frustrating to listen to. But three minutes of Sigur Ros playing was enough to shut them up for the rest of the show. Years later 'Agaetis Byrjun' remains one of my all time favorite albums.
I was excited but apprehensive when this came up. Sigur Ros were one of my favourite bands as a late teenager but it had been a while since I'd listened to them in earnest. It did not disappoint. A relaxing background ambiance punctuated by periods of intensely emotional music. It drags you down before sweeping orchestral segments fling you back up, evoking a sense of hopefulness that genuinely brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face at times. Staralfur, Ny Batteri, and Hjartao Hamast are the standout tracks in a fantastic post-rock album second only to ( ).
Despite the fact I couldn’t understand it and the songs were heavy long (which as per many of my reviews on this list is an annoyance of mine), I actually enjoyed this a lot. It was really chilled and lovely to have on in the background. Would like to give it 3.5 stars as it’s not quite 4 but it’s still very good
I love the album. It's dreamy, spheric, creative and the language is super interesting:D Immediately put some of the songs in my Yoga playlist
Some good some bad. Certainly interesting and worthy of this list
Album 565 of 1001 Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun (1999) Rating : 2.5 / 5 Described as Icelandic post-rock. While I can't praise this as a great "album", I can recommend it for falling asleep or a meditation aid. That isn't a put down. It is a very peaceful and calming album. It can put you in a relaxed mood and is quite relaxing. Not that entertaining but not all bad. Perhaps if I could understand the language it would resonate more.
The made-up lyrics always struck me as such a weird choice. It's extremely relaxing and great background music but I find it difficult to actively listen to. My favorite parts usually had no vocals. Fav Track: Flugufrelsarinn
Great album for dark winter nights
I get why some people might like it, but it's intolerably slow with annoying vocals. At its best, its background music.
this drags on for way longer than it should and the incredibly slow tempo makes it feel even longer
Atmospheric. Annoying. Ambient. Loooong.
Not sure how to feel about this? It's relaxing and exotic but I have no idea what is influential about it?
Didn’t love this. The music itself is pretty interesting, but each song goes for too long and just kind of drones on. An instrumental version of this would go crazy though.
You know it didn't grab me as much as it did 20 odd years ago. There are some standout tracks, but as a cohesive whole it doesn't feel as interesting to me.
Not something I would choose but good ambient listen
2.5 ethereal but samey and the high pitch voice grinds over time
Very odd. Liked some, some of it felt like soft screemo
Bof , bof pas séduit par l'éther ..................
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.
Welp, I guess I get it. A couple songs were intolerable.
Dreamy, almost ethereal post rock. I really enjoyed the experience of listening to this album. I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed it even more if I spoke Icelandic, but damn is it pretty. The overarching timbre and soundscape is really something to behold, with quite a few almost cathartic crescendos really driving home a sense of relief. “Hjartað hamast“ stood out as my favourite track, the cool hammondy organ playing throughout is perhaps my favourite instrumentation on the record. The falsetto vocals are really interesting, without speaking the language they almost sound more instrumental than lyrical. I actually fail to find any gripes with this particular album, and I’m looking forward to putting it on during long nighttime drives. 5*
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.
I don't get post-rock. I can hear the talent on display but none of it affects me in the slightest, except for the eventual boredom.
gotta relisten this album in the future but i really liked a lot from what ive heard! Great 4.0-4.5/5.0
This is a slightly more challenging Sigur Rós album, but it’s extraordinarily beautiful. Heavy, soft, melodic and aggressive at times, it’s a masterpiece.
Still a hauntingly beautiful album that's just *slightly* too long.
Meh.
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.
Meh. There were parts I liked and parts I didn’t. Very soundtrack like. Space/intergalactic feel. Favorite song: Staralfur
Good mood music, nice to listen to in the background
Nails on a chalkboard.
This is what the northern lights would sound like if they made music.
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
Viorar Vel til.... That's the one Beautiful atmospheres but felt a bit tired at the end? Will definitely revisit though probably more in a Background sense than a focused listen
Not my favorite. I’m sure the sounds would be good if you’re in a Batman mood. Just not my thing. Almost cool, mostly annoying
Classical music for nerdy high school English teachers to grade papers to while they ponder their fleeting youth when they used to lean against the doorframe at frat parties awkwardly leering at the sorority girls who were never ✨intellectual✨ enough to date but certainly hot enough to gawk at. I’d call it well-composed, but well-composed is just a nice way of saying the music is pretentious *and* boring at the same time.
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.
This is fantastic
Good, but not compelling. Like a Godspeed You! Black Emperor album without the edge.
Komische Zwischenspiele von Gitarre. Ein bisschen twin peaksy. It’s youououou
OMG! The Icelandic gods of ambient sound; it was a decent outing, would listen again
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.
Inspiring
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.
Enjoyed it. It was nice as background music.
Fucking awesome. I thought these guys were just Bjorkers-on for that other Icelandic music sensation, but they’re expansively talented, wide ranging musical silkworms, ingesting other musical forms and spinning them out into something…better. I love the ambient soundscapes, the haunting vocals and the journey of the album as a map to their musical interworld. Consider Sigur Ros ‘found’ by this guy.
I haven’t listened to this album in years. I remember really loving this album whenever I put it on and worried that I would fee differently after so much time having passed. I played it on my phone speakers and listened to the first couple of songs and felt indifferent. Then I got a pair of headphones and listened to the album again and it almost put me in an altered state. So beautiful. I read about this album on Reddit this morning and somebody said they put this album on headphones and lie on their trampoline and look at the stars. I’m now waiting for a clear night. Tju
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
I really enjoyed this album. Very pleasant listening. Five stars
Very pleasant and musically well done, just not something I actively seek out. Rather a good background/ sleep vibe
The peak of Sigur Rós output, dreamlike and so great.
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.
Atmospheric. The songs feel a bit long, but the flow is nice and it's pretty to listen to.
Beautiful instrumentals. Songs tend to be quite long. Seems like an artsy album
I want to like this and I can feel the innovativeness and beauty, but at most points in life I do not have the time nor energy to devote to this album to really understand why for many it’s a 5.
Atmospheric and melodic. It’s something I would play when I’m thinking deeply or use as background music for travel highlights. It’s insane how old the album is because it sounds so modern. I would totally listen to this on shrooms.
Easy 5 star. Can't understand a lick of the language, but this album spoke to me in a way that invoked a sense of nostalgia and a desire to reminisce about times long past. It's one of those albums I'd like to revisit, especially with the bass turned up to really feel the music. 'Viðrar vel til loftárása' earns my favorite spot. 'Flugufrelsarinn' and 'Ný batterí' also stood out to me.
This shit sucks. No stars
Wauw, ok. Het is in elk geval even totaal iets anders dan je standaard indie rock album. Het eerste nummer is heel kort, maar wat daarna komt is zeer indrukwekkend. Een soort klagend, dromering nummer? Maar ok, 1 klagerig dromerig nummer: best wel vet Een heel album met alleen maar zulke muziek wat in totaal ruim een uur duurt? This ain't it chief... Er zit voor mij net even te veel muziek in die gewoon voelt alsof ze als doel hadden het moeilijkste album ooit te maken. Het is behoorlijk experimenteel en niet alles pakt voor mij even goed uit. Betekent overigens niet dat ik het slecht vind, ik vind gewoon best wel veel een beetje saai. Maar de dingen die werken vind ik dan wel weer meteen echt vet. Het had alleen een stuk korter gekund! FAVO: Sefn-g-englar, Olsen Olsen
Creepy
Excellent album. Emotional and moving
Dramatic, atmospheric, not really my vibe
One of the easiest fives so far. A whimsical and beautiful postrock/artrock/dreampop masterpiece. Every song is lush and compelling and sounds destinct. 5/5
First heard Sigur Ros in the film Vanilla Sky and went straight out to buy this album on CD and they quickly became one of my favourites, have seen them 3 times live I think, T In The Park, Academy, Playhouse and they are incredible
Beautiful but too sad for me
So beautiful
Sigur Ros always passed me by, despite being a fan of some of their peers, and although going in hopeful this did nothing for me. It's undeniably well made and accomplished, but I found it cold and overblown.
This started out as a 1, but it grew on me.
Bit boring
Dreamscape, moving, beautiful and a wonderful introduction to the powerful Sigur Rós collection.
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.
New agey techno Scandinavian like
Smooth, slow, ethereal
I really, really enjoyed this album, despite not understanding a word that was said. But that's never stopped me before. L This whole album feels like it follows someone as they live their whole life, from womb to tomb as it were. We begin with a song that is slightly distorted, as though being heard through the skin of a mother, before fading into silence as the child floats in the womb. We follow them as they begin to discover the world and all the wonder in it, then when they start to question it and doubt creeps in. They grow up, experience what I believe to be a mid-life crises, then finally look back at a life well lived. Clocks or gears are sometimes heard towards the end of songs, but they are strongest after the very last song fades and we are left with the sound of gears grinding down to nothing. This is the sort of album that you listen to the whole way through rather than piecemeal. Each song flows into one another as they grow up, especially the early ones. Favs: Svefn-g-englar, Olsen Olsen, Hjartað Hamast
lol whales boning music. It’s a mood, for sure. But a mood that always gets me feeling better.
I was worried going in based off of the album cover. I however was pleasantly surprised that it was actually kinda good.
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 remember being absolutely mind blown by this album as a young 20 something. Now, less so. I appreciate the technicality and the inventiveness of many songs. But now I clock the drag a lot more.
Going against my beloved Pixie Warrior on this one, I thought it was kind of cool. The title track was the best, except for the Yoko Ono scream at the end. 3.4
Look, this album sucks. It’s not magical, beautiful, awe inspiring, or emotional. Is this supposed to be music on some other galaxy? I’m not buying it. I saw Star Wars and the Cantina band jammed.
Brilliant
This album is just wonderful. Amazing memories.
Post rock is tricky. Everything stretched out and spacified and smothered in reverb. There's a fine line between epic and dull. I think this album just crosses the wrong side a little as it plows on through its 70+ minutes but the early part has some great sections.
This was a unique experience. The album is spacial and immersive. I think it would be hard to just listen to a single track from this as it needs to be consumed as a whole album.
Not in English. Very different sound.
passionate, sleepy
Just weird. Not the worst thing I’ve listened to, but if I’m going to listen to instrumental background stuff, this isn’t it
Felt more like a soundscape album than a music album for the most part. I enjoy chill music to read to or have in the background, but this wasn't great reading music. Felt pretty unexcited by it, too soundscapey.
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!
I could hear the northern lights!
Keine Upper, keine Downer
Very relaxing. 4/5
Ethereal and reflective. Perfect for a jellyfish exhibit. Clear Radiohead contemporaries. I wonder if I would like this as much if the words were in English.
Zum Meditieren ja, auf Dauer aber zu eintönig. Immerhin besser als Björk.
5/5
Always fun listening to a sigur ros record. Impossible to know which record you’ve actually put on, whether you’re listening to the album in order or if you’ve selected the correct speed to play it on. Beautiful, elegant, layered, complex, meaningful, sexy - I didn’t realise I had so much in common with a record! 4.6
Immaculate production, ingenious and ethereal instrumentation, overall a bewitching sonic tapestry to get lost in.
A peaceful, melodic, and unique listen. Not particularly entertaining but was fine to have on in the background. Does get a bit laborious after an hour though. 5.5/10 (2.75/5)
Eh. I lost a lot of interest after 'Starálfur', which was really beautiful, but unfortunately, nothing else could keep the momentum going. I also liked 'Viðrar vel til loftárása' and 'Olsen olsen', but every other song pretty much had the same boring sound. And they were all really long, which contributed to my occasional loss of interest.
Cool but boring and no hooks.
Ágætis byrjun er meðal bestu platna sem hafa verið gefnar út á Íslandi og væri líklega besta dæmið um understatement í þeim bransa, ef ekki væri fyrir fyrstu plötu Sigur Rósar. Hlustaði mikið á í den og þetta hafa verið mjög ánægjuleg endurkynni síðustu daga. Takk fyrir mig.
Pretty remarkable, found this enrapturing. Not sure why it’s labeled “rock.”
Excellent & Relaxing
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.
Sigur Rós walked so Explosions in the Sky could run. Amazing music.
Not really for me. Songs are slow and boring prefer something with abit more oomph. I can see why this album has such high praise by its fans but it comes off as a little too pretentious for me. No hate of course as everyone has different tastes and I did manage to listen to the whole album while working, but I certainly wont be in a rush to listen to any of the songs any time soon.
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.
It's ok
Another of the bands that defined Icelandic music. I loved it, my infant loved it. Hugely important album for a whole country. 5/5
oh wooooaaaaaaw this is the kind of thing I was hoping to find on this excursion. An unusual and exotic band, something I have never heard before and instantly have a connection with. I really enjoyed this, and can't understand a word he is singing... but somehow I get it. Isn't music just amazing?
Meio psicodélico, uns sons meio ASMR. Não curti muito.
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.
Un álbum difícil de digerir pero ya que conectas es evidente que es una genialidad. De esos discos que crecen cada vez más, así se hayan escuchado durante años.
Ethereal, emotional, and atmospheric. The entire album was an experience.
Severn-g-englar // Flugufrelsarinn // Vidrar Vel til Loftarasa // Olsen Olsen // 3.5/5
Gorgeous and incredibly atmospheric. Type of album you can close your eyes and really feel it. A dreamscape of a wintery dusk
Sigur Rós is always a five, but this was a nice opportunity to check out their debut. Beautifully orchestrated to capture an ambient yet intense atmosphere.
First listen. Pretty good.
Simply astonishing. It was so different from anything else that was around, and aided by THAT video, this was really the cult album of the time. Listening back now, not everything works, but in terms of imagination, creativity and boldness, it's just awesome.
Thoughts before listening: These guys were a huge deal when I was starting to branch out my music tastes from the punk and jambands I had grown up listening to. They were constantly getting praise from all the sites I was following, but I never gave them much of a chance. I think it was the fact that it wasn't in English that kept me from paying attention. I'm glad I'll have an excuse to listen for the first time today. Review: This is post-rock in the vein of Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and Explosions in the Sky, but Sigur Ros is a bit different because of the vocals. While those bands are fully instrumental, Sigur Ros sings in a way in which the voice is utilized as a part of the instrumentation as opposed to being used to convey a message. It doesn't really matter that I don't understand the lyrics here because the singing is still very effective as part of the overall arrangement of these songs. Now on the music, I have to say that I much prefer the sounds of the aforementioned bands to Sigur Ros. Sigur Ros leans heavily into orchestral and electronic arrangements as opposed to the more guitar-based rock stylings typical of the post-rock genre. I am finding myself getting a little bored with this album although there are certainly some interesting songs. I added a couple tracks to my playlist, but overall this is only a 3-star album to me.
6/10
Fantastic album! This was some great driving music and was a bit more obscure than many of the others I’ve gotten thus far. More of this type of thing please
4.04 rym troppo etereo e onirico e tutto quanto
Gracias a mis padres (o a la furia de su parte) no me tatué la portada de este disco, y doy gracias porque es horripilante, no obstante el disco es una obra maestra de la distorsión y el buen gusto. 10/10
It's beautiful yet I have no idea what it's about. Very poetic, with some prog rock elements
Background music for movies. Muita pretensão. Boring. Iceland music. I need a energetic galoon to stay wake up during this audience
Weird atmospheric music
I am stumped as to how to rate or discuss this album. If Lana Del Ray made an album with Thom Yorke this might be what it would sound like if they spoke gibberish. And that is high praise. If musical is about emotional connection then this album is a home run. No words (either in Icelandic or gibberish) to connect with its all left up to interpretation and having your cerebral connection on vacation so your emotional connection can lead the way. It’s awesome. I am not sure how I will feel in the long run but I feel like it should be a 5. Things now the second album on this list that I didn’t know existed and I know I am better for having heard it before I die. So a 5 it is.
Very cool sort of ambient music with different elements. I liked it a lot even though I had never heard of them before. It's great to listen to at work or while doing some activity that requires thought. Very chilled out and interesting without being distracting if that makes sense.
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
i enjoyed this album a lot more than i thought i would. it creates a certain ambience, and works nicely as background music. whilst i can’t say it’s an album i’d return to often, i appreciated it whilst it lasted, and got stuck in to a few of the tracks. i couldn’t tell you one song from the other having listened to it, but that doesn’t particularly matter - it’s intrigue comes when you hear it.
Cute but it’s background music
Creepy. But I kind of liked it. I like that I can't understand a word!
Lovely and soothing
That was quite lovely! I will look forward to a time when I might listen to this one again.
How dare an album be this good! I’m actually a little angry about it right now. Magnificent.
Sometime around the turn of the century a very good friend introduced me to this album. I fell in love with it immediately. How could something so foreign burrow so deep within me? By the time I get halfway through Flugufrelsarinn I’m tingling with goosebumps verging on weeping. I’ve listened to a lot of Sigur Ros in the years since but coming back to this is extra special. Utterly strange yet utterly home. Phenomenal!
This was way more pleasant than I anticipated it would be. Actively calming without being sonically boring.
Blissed out to the max, but a bit repetitive.
Ethereal is probably the best way to describe it. More accurate than good music anyway
Sloooooow
Snoozefest
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
Because of my fucked-up schedule, and the fact that I’m taking a break to catch up on some albums I’ve missed, I’m listening to Ágaætis byrjun right after Brian Eno’s Music For Airports, and… I think I’m burnt out on relaxing shit. I was gonna mention this in the Brian Eno review but couldn’t find a good place to put it, but I’m not naturally a very relaxed person. I’m almost always totally wired, I smoke a lot, I’ve got a lot of nervous energy. I play the drums very loudly and very quickly to the inevitable irritation of my neighbours. I listen to a lot of Punk. I do listen to more mellow music, but having 2 of these fairly long winded, relaxed affairs one after the other is something I’m not really wired for. That being said, I’m enjoying Ágaætis byrjun more than I did Music For Airports. There’s more of a sense of dynamics, more of a structure. That ‘that being said’ being said, it also blended as far into the background as Music For Airports did, that I’m forgetting everything that I listened to as soon as I hear it. I didn’t hate it, and I’d be glad to give it another listen, but maybe not just after I’d listened to another ambient piece. As it stands as a first impression, I’m going to have to stick with the same rating as Music For Airports, the album that has so doggedly followed Ágaætis byrjun throughout this review. Sorry about that, but that’s just the way the dice rolls sometimes
Was really looking forward to seeing this on the list finally. Sigur Ros fall into that annoying category of artist for me where I know they have fantastic stuff, but for some reason I just don't end up listening to them often, my brain just filters them and others out when I want to throw an album on. This really is a beautiful album from the second you put it on. Staralfur is like an orgasm in my ears, the production on the whole thing is so balanced. The strings can be clear when they need to be, and then on the next song the bass can really rumble. A stroke of genius songwriting here.
#311. I remember one of my friends recommended I should listen to Sigur Ros one time when I was in high school. I don't remember which album it was, but it very well may have been this one. The time frame is right anyway. And I thought it was terrible. Hated it. [I think the only band he recommended that I liked was Coheed and Cambria] It's probably because I was only really interested in fairly aggressive music at the time. If it wasn't death metal or similar I had little interest. Perhaps it's because I'm a nearly 40 year old man now and the teenage angst has worn down a bit, but I quite liked this silly mellow bullshit this time. It's not my favorite or anything, but I don't hate it. 3/5: fine. Song added to playlist: Flugufrelsarinn I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
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
In Utero would be a very fitting name for this album...
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
Day215 - i enjoyed the sound but not really the lyrics
My first thoughts upon seeing this album come up were ones of dread. I didn't relish the thought of listening to over an hour of music from an album where I couldn't even begin to pronounce the album title. Almost immediately I was proven wrong. This is definitely up there with the "how did I miss this when it first came out" albums. I loved the ambient, prog-rock sounds, a bit like a mix of Pink Floyd and My Bloody Valentine in places. I have a vague idea that this album is some sort of concept, but quite honestly I couldn't care less. I loved the layered sound, never found it too long or boring, it was just perfection. Easy 5 stars.
It's nice but not for me. It got slightly annoying after half an hour
So beautiful it almost becomes cliché. Soundtrack to 1,001 soaring-vista'd HD nature documentaries 🫠
I am floating and I understand nothing
Good nap time music…or walking in nature music
Sigur Rós is such an interesting band to have had such immense international success - the music sounds like a photograph of Icelandic landscapes. I’ve only listened to () in college, and haven’t listened to the band (outside of their inclusion in movies/tv shows) in a long time, so this was a great album to reintroduce them. Maybe they are using cheap tricks to come to it, but the album has such a great, consistent, vibe throughout its 71 minutes. Even though its a long album, and it can sometimes pass into the background of whatever you are doing, its beautifully orchestrated and performed.
The instrumentation is key player here, along with the ethereal vocals. Some cool dramatic moments, but for the most part a more calm sound. Overall it was nice though not really for me
Just listened to it yesterday. I can happily die without listening to it again. I found it boring but creative, just too ambient to enjoy or wonder what surprise is around the corner (spoiler, there is no surprise!). One.Five stars for me!
Ok
Some beautiful tracks and it takes me back to the good old days. But it does drag into same-ness
Very love
Apparently, Sigur Ros is not my thing. I always thought they were more atmospheric black metal. This just isn't my scene.
It was good background music for a Monday morning. 3/5
Stunning.
😊
This is not something I would have ever picked to listen to. I'm very glad you suggested it. To say this album is a vibe, doesn't do it justice. For me it is as if Pink Floyd and Oasis had an Icelandic baby. I loved the many different sounds that added to the sounds. I loved the build up that lead to the crescendo of thier songs. That build up added so much emotions that it really got in my "Feeels", as they say. I never understood a word, but felt every emotion!!!
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
Dull
Magical
lame
I it's not an album I would listen to at just any time of the day, but when you need some peace, just something nice in the background, this really does it.
I love this band and this record, a completely unique flavour of post rock that is just deeply beautiful.
This album could bore somebody to death
This put me off the project for months and months but I finally listened to it in the middle of the night while sick with a cold. I had to scroll on my phone because sometimes it would scare me but it was overall good! I’m not usually into atmospheric music like that so my main point of connection is stuff like computer game soundtracks but I am still happy to have heard it.
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.
The tracks are really long and scary to drag and become repetitive. I liked sections, but I'm not scrubbing through 70 minutes of music to go find them
The instruments were good, but the songs too long. I felt like it was a soundtrack to Close Encounters or an outer space movie.
The first couple songs had me enjoying the album. However as the album progressed it just felt worse and worse
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.
this is just a different album, and it really has nothing to do with it not being in English. for the most part, I enjoyed the more instrumental pieces (predominantly as background music), but then those pieces would devolve into too many discordant sounds. vocally, the female was stronger than the male (his voice got annoying). was it interesting-kinda. would I ever listen to again-no
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
Ethereal and transported one out of time and space, lush sonic landscape and mysterious.
Wasnt bad. Quite nice and chilled. Something you stick on for background music.
Fitting listen for a flight back from Scandinavia. Great stuff. Nice and chilled. Not quite 4*. 71/100
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.