( )

Of the Sigur Rós triad of really good albums, I'll admit this is the one with the most down points. However, as a whole, I think lacking and unfulfilling moments are made up for by very emotional waves, which are present in their other albums, but not to the extent of, for example, the climax of Popplagio. This album has a much different purpose than its predecessor and follower as well: its more ambient nature is meant to make someone listen to the entire album rather than a song or two. There are no songs on this album that really stand out as legitimate singles; they are meant to be woven together. And while this concept stands for Takk... and Ágætis byrjun as well, there are songs on the aforementioned that don't really require the support of other songs to put them into context.

The main thing that separates this album apart from other Sigur Rós albums is the amount of mood swinging that so smoothly take place across the album. ( ) starts in a relatively calm state, and by the end is in straight rage! Anything that can accomplish this kind of feat, and essentially without words (Vonlandic is made up) gets 5 stars from me.