Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
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Free Music Notes for Agaetis Byrjun
Free Music Review: The Mysteries of Iceland
Hit: 5 Stars
You might have found out about Sigur Ros through movies, such as Vanilla Sky and The Life Aquatic. The first time I heard about this band was when the single "Svefn-g-englar" was played on KROQ-FM radio, uncut. Ever since my older brother bought the album some time ago, I've taken a liking of the band's otherworldly music, some of which is so soothing to listen to. "Svefn-g-englar (Sleepwalkers)" is one of the most recognizeable songs on the album, and it is one of my favorites. "Starálfur (The Staring Elf)," which is heard in the film The Life Aquatic, has a very watery atmosphere to it (I think that's why it was featured in the film). "Flugufrelsarinn (The Fly's Savior)" is one of the darker songs; it makes me imagine the mountains of Alaska and the Yukon during a cloudy dusk and dawn. "Ny Batteri (New Batteries)," one of the singles, contains some interesting instrumentations that grasp at the ears and never lets go. "Hjartao hamast (The Heart Pounds)" doesn't add much to the album, but when the heavenly "chorus" is heard, it's hard not to like the song. "Viorar vel til loftárása" (Good Weather for an Airstrike) has to be one of the finest songs that Sigur Ros has ever created. The piano, strings, bass, violins, guitars, and of course, Jonsi Birgisson's singing voice are so incredibly divine that one has to wonder if these people made a visit to heaven sometime in their lifetime. "Olsen Olsen" sounds good in the first half, but the second half sounds a bit too silly and fails in comparison. "Agaetis byrjun" and "Avalon" make fine conclusions to this stunning album.
I'm glad that my older brother introduced me to this album. Now Iceland has been added to my list of "Places to visit".
Free Music Review: it still amazes me!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I first saw them in '98 playing a show in my school, with a crowd of maybe 45 people. Then they were playing the Ágætis Byrjun songs, and there I thought this was the greatest thing ever to come out of my little island. Now, I'm convinced that this is one of the greatest band of all time. I've had this album for about two years and just over a month now, and it still dominates my stereo! I bought this the day before it was released in Iceland (from the band's keyboard player!). No one, not even in Iceland (maybe a crowd of max. 600 people) knew the band at that time. Their debut, Von (hope) sold in about 500 copies from 1997 to june 12th 1999. Now, people all over the world are praising them, and i once told you [...]; you'll never know what's coming. I saw the concert they had to celebrate the release of the album.... the best show involving music ever performed!!!!!! i remember a guy hanging over me in balcony above me screaming BRAVÓ-BRAVÓ for about 25 minutes after the show ended (it was held in a little theater in downtown reykjavik). Anyway this album is, to say the least SPECTACULAR, and think that their next album is going to be the only album with a chance of topping this one in the next few years. If you've never heard Sigur Rós and think you've heard REALLY good music, you're wrong! This will change your opininon in music for ever. If you're completely comfortable with your taste in music today, do not buy this album! if you're sick of the whole limp bizkit, papa roach, staind, linkin park and britney spears [crud] that's going on, get this album, and you'll never have to buy another (not until their next album, at least)!
Free Music Review: Drawing closer to what we can be
Hit: 5 Stars
Sitting down and offering a review of this band seems almost futile, and nearly worthless. What they have produced here and on ( ) is art that is absolutely amazing, and is as different from popular music as chopin is from good charlotte. What they are doing feels almost as important, and as REAL, as those high, symphonic constructions. There is little I can say that hasn't already been said. The "lyrics" aren't really lyrics; they are sung in Hopelandic, a made up language, and really they feel more like spontaneous emissions of sound than anything else. but they are still able to, and perhaps are even more effective at triggering emotion in the listener because of this. we are not able to try and analyze the individual words, and to even look for the meaning of what is being conveyed is hard and perhaps even pointless. It's almost like looking at the myths of other cultures, where you haven't been conditioned to see them as fact instead of metaphor. they speak with new significance, they are electric. just let it enfold you. close your eyes and be swept away by the rolling waves of gorgeous sound. and smile, that we as humans can produce something this beautiful. To call this work and band pretentious, as many have, does not make sense. I can't even attack the position because i fail to comprehend it. It is terribly far from it. Many people will not enjoy this album, and that is a sad state of affairs that we find ourselves in...but for those intrepid few who are willing to actually get something out of their music, and are willing to perhaps challenge themselves somewhat, buy this album and support this amazing band!
BK
Free Music Review: Original? Not really. Amazing? Certainly.
Hit: 5 Stars
I love Sigur Ros, but I have to chuckle at all the reviewers on this page who breathlessly anoint them the inventors of a whole new style of music. This band's style is not groundbreakingly new, but rather its exact opposite--unashamedly retro. Seriously. Anyone possessing a passing familiarity with the pre-"Dark Side of the Moon" releases of Pink Floyd (especially Umma Gumma, Live at Pompeii, Atom Heart Mother, or Meddle) will have no trouble figuring out where Sigur Ros gets their inspiration from.Is this a bad thing? Absolutely not. Quite the contrary, I never thought I would hear anyone who could scale the majestic, otherworldy heights of classic early Floyd, but Sigur Ros are worthy successors. Agaetis Byrjun is a masterpiece, a colossal composition of such surpassing beauty that words literally cannot do it justice. You'll notice that a large number of reviewers struggle to put this album into words, and end up describing it in terms of the visual images the music conjures up for them. For me, the image would be sitting on top of Cadillac Mountain on the coast of Maine and watching the sun rise out of the Atlantic Ocean.
Does that make any sense? Probably not. All I can say for certain is that Agaetis Byrjun is an antidote to the soulless crap currently infesting popular music. It is music to be played over headphones in the dark late at night; it is music to be played while sitting on top of a mountain. You will cry at least once when listening to this. You will feel inspired and renewed while listening to this.
Sigur Ros have managed to record the cosmos.
Free Music Review: THIS ALBUM WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER
Hit: 5 Stars
I believe my title really sums up my opinions on this record, but since that doesn't offer much detail, it's probably a good idea for me to elaborate a bit.This album is the most beautiful thing ever put to wax. Plain and simple. The music is long (songs range from 7-10 minutes), complex, and beautifully orchestrated. The band utilises an awe-inspiring string section that never fails to touch. Listening to tracks 3 and 4 remove all doubt about this claim. Singer Jonsi's falsetto, Icelandic vocals are easily the strangest to ever emit from a human being and float over each song beautifully, used more as another instrument than anything else. Most of the songs on this album are sung in Icelandic, a very beautiful language indeed, while some songs are sung in "Hopelandic", a made-up "language" comprised of about 12 syllables. While this may be a bit silly, the band's sound totally makes up for anything that one might see as stupid.
While this band has often been compared to Godspeed you black emporer, Mogwai, and other "post-rock" acts, Sigur Ros really sounds like no one else. They are totally unique and stunningly original. It will take the listener a bit of time to fully realize and get into this music, but if you're patient and take time to listen to this album, you will be richly rewarded in the future. That is a guarantee and a promise.
"Children will be conceived, wrists will be slashed, scars will be healed, and tears will be wrenched by this group. They are the first vital band of the 21st Century."-Brent DiCrescenzo