I usually reserve my listening to Sigur Ros during the late fall and winter months. Sometimes I’ll pretend that I’m in Iceland instead of the upper reaches of Michigan or Massachusetts. I even attempted to learn some Icelandic to understand the lyrics without translation. My self-taught Icelandic course has been put on hold, but my enjoyment for Sigur Rós has not. Their 5th studio album sounds the most optimistic; it feels much more like a summer album. The care-free cover art accurately foreshadows the music enclosed. They still have their ethereal sound, but it feels lighter and more organic. This is evident from their first single “Gobbledigook” which sounds like it could be an Animal Collective track. The band hasn’t changed into another tribal influenced indie rock band; they’re just expanding their already large sound. With cheerful bursts of horns and strings and a steady bass drum, the band seems more focused. The album has a clear direction and does not wander like ( ) or Takk (though I enjoy both those albums for that reason). They do have their epic songs: “Festival” clocks in at nearly 9 and half minutes and “Ãra Bátur” is almost 9. This is still very much a Sigur Rós album and I’m glad. They are one of my favorite bands that have been consistently good their entire career. I felt compelled to listen to the entire album in one sitting which is a first for me this year. My favorite tracks are: Gobbledigook, Góðan Daginn, Ãra Bátur, Và Spilum Endalaust, Illgresi, FljótavÃk, and All Alright (the first Sigur Rós song in English!)
You can stream the entire album here, but I’ve provided some MP3s from this album and some of my favorites from their back catalog as well. The album is released June 24th.
MP3: Sigur Ros – Góðan Daginn
From Hvarf/Heim
MP3: Sigur Ros – Starálfur (Live)
From Takk…
From ( )
MP3: Sigur Ros – Track 4
From Ãgaetis Byrjun
Nice review of the album. I completely agree with the whole Sigur Ros being a winter/fall soundtrack, with exception to this album.
nice work
keep it up
-tamara
Thanks for the comment!
yes! good comment. thanks!
Just received the download of the album and i’m very happy with it. glad they kept true to their style. I love them, can’t wait to see them on lowlands 2008. hopefully i’ll be able to translate some of their lyrics, they’re beautiful in icelandic and get even more beautiful when I know what they mean, a rarity :). I found the meaning of the album title: with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly. and in my opinion they may, they translate the feelings of the seasons magically. love it!!
Hi, nice review, i’m from iceland and i’m a huge Sigur Rós fan! Ãra bátur is an epic track, after 6 minutes the track is so beautiful it would make chuck norris cry!
Kveðja, Rúnar.
Hey!.. thx for the mp3 of Við Spilum Endalaust , sigur ros males me feel relax and in peace =D .. well, thank you again!
I noticed that this is not the first time at all that you write about the topic. Why have you chosen it again?