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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A slice of Nirvana, 24 Sep 2005
I bought Ágætis Byrjun on the strength of a comment by some notable musician who I forget. I played it to death and loved it. So I bought some others and its () that has stayed in the car player ever since. It has just continued to grow and tastes a little different every time. It is very possibly the best album I have ever heard, contains no fillers and stays comfortably the right side of weird, unlike Von, which does get a bit much at times. After reading the other reviews, I think that to analyse the structure and meaning of it all is quite pointless. Just listen to it and take it for what it's worth. I'm sure that's what they want us to do. NO band in history does a slow build up quite like these guys and the ultimate directionless of most of the tracks is just part of the attraction. The new album, Takk, is good, but this is better. Buy it now and change your life.
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sensational, 9 Mar 2006
The title sums it up.
Sensational.
() isn't an album, it's a continuous flow of ear-caressing music. The tracks don't begin and end, they merge into a stream of beauty.
I bought this album after I bought Takk. Takk is a great album full of gems, Saeglopur, Glosoli, Hoppipolla to name but a few. The best things about these songs were their ability to grow into an almighty climax. However, () isn't about how songs grow and blossom into gigantic masterpieces. It's about how the album does.
It's starts off with a gentle musical massage with the opening track, and ends with the gigantic musical monster with the final track with, quite literally, the climax to end all climaxes. In between, track III's beautiful piano loop is stunning, Track IV's a real highlight and Track VII is epic. But this album isn't about tracks, it's about their amalgamation. The album, over the course of its 70min duration, gradually builds, moment by moment, track by track.
Everyone mentions their mesmerising sound, but few have touched on their ability to write tunes. Tracks I, IV and VIII are the best examples of pen and music working in perfect harmony to create perfect harmonies.
So, all in all, Sigur ros have created the ultimate album. Easily their best to date, my all-time favourite album. The album that doesn't buckle the trend, but gushes through its holes. A masterpiece, pure and simple.
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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An untitled review., 6 April 2005
When I first heard that this album was recorded live in a swimming pool, I imagined a crowd of glassy eyed onlookers overlooking the band performing live below in an empty pool. What actually happened was that the album was recorded in their studio/rehearsel space that used to be a swimming pool and was done so live...first take sort of thing. The result has been described as raw. I wouldn't agree with that. You want raw, go for Iggy Pop. Sigur Ros don't do raw. Emotional, yes, but this emotion is not raw. It's pure, and this is "The Ros" at their purest, untainted by technology, a blanket of snow.
Untitled in every sense of the word, absolutely no markings on the cd or jewel case (apart from the bands logo, you're even instructed to remove the barcode), "Hopelandic" lyrics and tracks with no titles. The idea is the listener invents their own titles and lyrics. This album was designed to feel different for every individual person, it's a deeply personal cd, not one to play at parties. Like an aural photo album containing only thoughts, emotions and ideas.
It is also, in every way, an album of two halves, signified by the bracketed art work. This is tangible without the strategically placed 30 seconds of silence in the middle. The opening four tracks are melancholic but with a tint of optimism, that things may be bad but they'll get better. However, all hope seems to have been lost by the second half, the almost whale-like vocals singing nothingness can't help but conjure up images of death, desolation and despair.
Yet it's anything but depressing. Very moving, this album will fill the listener with emotion and force them to think, but the overall effect is elation, not depression. Once the staggering final track has reached it's climax, with apocalyptic guitars, viking drums and an unbelievable falsetto wail, the listener will be emotionally drained but smiling. The only options avalable will be a repeat listen or sleep. You can do nothing else after Sigur Ros.
I can give this album nothing but five stars. Not only is it ambitious to the point that Libertines fans' heads will explode after hearing the band's name, but it's also beautiful to the point that you will not talk about it as a simple rock album. This IS music. Savour it.
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