ÁGÆTIS BYRJUN

Six months ago, I was stuck in a rut. I couldn't find new music. I was listining to the same stuff and no matter what I found, I just couldnt get into it. One day I was on e-music and was going through their top 100 albums as voted by users. Then I saw a blue album cover with a blue fetus on it and saw that it was compared to RADIOHEAD, so I thought hey why not? At first I hated it. I had never listened to post rock before, and it sounded like enya-esk alternitive music. After about three listens I realized how BEAUTIFUL and DIFFERENT and NEW that it was. This album was a doorway to a whole different style of music that is now my favorite genre. I gave this album to my friend who sits next to me in AP Environmental, and now its his favorite band. I brought him away from Viva la Vida and Nirvana and the likes, and now he is listening to Explosions in the sky and Mogwai and GYBE. Anyway...

The Magnum Opus of the Post Rock gallary hanging right next to LYSFLATH. A stroke of genius. From the first ping of Svefn-G-Englar to the last note on Ágaetis Byrjun is 72 minutes of musical bliss. This album takes you to a different place. They are different from any other post rock band with Jonsi's voice and their string quartet (or quintet etc.) not to mention the cello bow. Totally refreshing and shows that prog is not dead. I cant tell you the best tracks on the album because nearly every track is as strong as another. If I were to pick one track that isnt up to par with the rest it would have to be Flugufrelsarinn. Its not a bad song at all, its just that every other song is better (in my opinion)! The production is nearly flawless, except for the fact that it is just slightly too bassy. I cant play it too loud on my surround sound system or else the walls start to vibrate. The intro and Avalon serve their purpose, it pulls you in, and the other slowly releases you, and make the album flow perfectly.

Jonsi's voice is better than ever. The range is everywhere, from high and beautiful on Svefn-G- Englar, to mid-range and wispery on Hjartaõ Hamast (Bamm Bamm Bamm) and artsy and etherial on Olsen Olsen. The guitar and bow are a great addition to the atmosphere on nearly every track. This is what sets Sigur Ros appart from every other band. The keyboards are perfectly fitting. Kjartan Sveinsson takes the classic keys like the hammond, the rhodes and the piano and uses them instead of a synth for a real and raw tone. His performaces on Svefn-G-Englar and Viõrar Vel Til Loftárasa are my favorite. Georg Holm and Ágúst both keep it simple and add to the atmosphere. The strings are compleatly authentic and adds more than if it were synthesiser. Dynamics throughout the album play a huge key to the mood in each song. The musicallity trully shows on this album.

I feel like I am really rambling here, so im going to seriously try to wrap this up. If you compleatly hate happy and/or relaxing experimental rock, than you should probobly stay away from this album. But if you dont, and you are looking for something new, or if you have never heard any post rock before, this is the album to start with. I almost guarentee that you will like at least two or three of the tracks. Definetally a masterpiece. 4.5+/5