Why the hate for Sigur Ros?

The new song might as well BE Animal Collective. The only problem is that Animal Collective sucks balls now and Sigur Ros is ripping off their newer stuff.

I'm excited for the new album if only because, based on this track, it's gonna be different. I loved AB when it came out and have loyally purchased everything else (well, not Heima), but the epic/ambient thing was getting pretty damn tired by Takk. It sounds like they are trying to reinvent themselves with this new track, which they sorely need to do.

more flood, less sigur ros

This ^^^

Hmmm Nick, I find that surprising. Cocteau Twins and Talk Talk aside, can't you appreciate the fact that Agaetis Byrjun *sounds* excellent? And I mean, really sounds incredible. To me it's skill lies in its use of space, not so much that they use it all that well, but they certainly give off the illusion that they're recording in outer space, or the bottom of the ocean, or some other far-fetched geographic or universal location. Isn't that why there's some weird alien-angel fetus on the cover? Isn't that part of its mystery?

Also, I remember hearing lots of Radiohead comparisons, and they sound nothing like Radiohead.

Nick, Agaetis Byrjun would be pretty excellent on those chest-high speakers you got. Loud. In the dark. With the drugs.

Sigur Ros + drugs of any sort = laughable

People snarkily making jokes about taking drugs to music = predictable.

Why would you assume I was making a joke at all? Much less a snarky one? I like the band, ok, they're often lovely, and yes, I do indeed believe, in all sincerity, that mild to mid-grade hallucinogens would perfectly suit a dedicated listening.

Not that I have tried it. I'm more of an uppers/free-jazz guy lately.

I know, people altering their consciousness and listening to music, GAWD it's so passe.

wasn't directed at you, kenan.

Oh.

super earnest grocery store music for the future. no edge whatsoever. horrible music to take drugs to i'd think. maybe wine and vico would work. something about icelandic artists i hate.

horrible music to take drugs to i'd think.

this is OTM; i wasn't talking about taking drugs to music in general, as talrose suggests, just that Sigur Ros in particular are not at all suited for this. (and i think talrose knows this, he's just being snooty)

I didn't. But I appreciate the rebuttal.

maybe wine and vico would work.

Nah, "Future Days" is my go-to wine and vico album. Slot's been taken. :)

excellent choice. mine is Biosphere's Dropsonde.

did sigur ros become the standard bbc documentary soundtrack band before or after "the life aquatic"?

i thought Staralfur fit that one scene perfectly. you could almost believe it was a real shark.

Hmmm Nick, I find that surprising. Cocteau Twins and Talk Talk aside, can't you appreciate the fact that Agaetis Byrjun *sounds* excellent? And I mean, really sounds incredible. To me it's skill lies in its use of space, not so much that they use it all that well, but they certainly give off the illusion that they're recording in outer space, or the bottom of the ocean, or some other far-fetched geographic or universal location. Isn't that why there's some weird alien-angel fetus on the cover? Isn't that part of its mystery?

I'll have to go back to it. Thing is, I only ever liked three tunes - the single, it's b-side (Vidrar Vel Til Loftarosa, as mentioned) and Olsen Olsen, all of which (Olsen Olsen in particular) I remember sounding awesome. I've not listened to it in years, though. I'll try and revisit this weekend.

I've barely touched any drugs whatsoever in 8 years.

Vi&rar Vel Til Loftirasa is by FAR my favourite Sigur Ros song. This thread in fact inspired me to make it my first post-exam-laptop-retrieval spin. Most of their other efforts don't cut it in comparison.

xpost Olsen Olsen is a fine song indeed, particularly the lovely version on the film, with the strings and brass band going at it full tilt.

Man, not that I'm especially keen on thread derailments but a Cardiacs handle? Colour me impressed.

Olsen Olsen is good, definitely my second-fave on the album (although behind a couple of () tracks in the great holistic ranking). The riff is just a tad simple for my tastes, if anything.

Well thats kind of been the Sigur Ros template, cycle around two or three nice sounding major or minor 7th chords for 8 mins with maybe a 'chorus' change of chord/pace/texture and hey presto...

I know that's a little harsh but it did occur an awful lot.

30-second clips

"vidrar vel til loftarosa" (assuming that this is the song i think it is: exquisite piano-led melody, about halfway through the second-album-that-everyone-thinks is the first album, yeh?) was pretty much "our song" back in 2000 :)

i'm really not entirely sure about the new single. it is borderline fucking irritating. mrs fiendish is somewhat more damning about it.

clip @ abbey road with the orchestra

http://dot.sigurros.com/widget/ (click the film camera and then the first link - watch out, if you remain at http://dot.sigurros.com/widget/ without clicking anything the video is NSFW - nudity)

Sigur Ros=Icelandic Clannad

this ^^

nope, still a fan. can't hear you. lalalalala! ;-)

4 preorder options @ http://sigurros.com

Anyone see Heima yet? It's just glorious.

I don't think anyone ever answered StanM's question. Personally, Heima might well be my favourite music-related DVD that I own, or have ever seen; I just keep returning to it. I like Sigur Rós while sort of understanding a lot of the criticism, but I absolutely love this thing. There's a visceral feel to it, like you can feel the warmth in the heart of a cold country or something. It's lovely.

what's the deluxe edition look like/come with?
if it's just a bigger pictures of some man ass, i don't think i want it.

they are probably not worthy of anyone's hate, but they are certainly over praised. even the much heralded live show, which is still about a thousand times better than how the band sounds on disc, was cripplingly laboured and dull for me. i was probably meant to get enthused about the vague little aesthetic flourishes on stage, but for me they didn't contribute much to the sound and dynamic of the band, which while polished, left me rather on the nonplussed side.

xpost: deluxe Heima only contains an extra picture book, disc content is exactly the same. Nice, but very much fan-only, to be honest.

dOES extra picture book COME WITH DFA BEAT?

lol

album stream

just bought new cd.
listening now.
sounds great.
no dfa beats.

I'm really liking this one so far. The Animal Collective bite on "Gobbledigook" is great, as is the really upbeat second track. Track 7 is my favorite of the bunch I think.

Revived this specifically to mention how much the new single is a flagrant Animal Collective rip. Because I just saw the video for it, which features lots of hot totally naked hipsters running through the forest (it looks like a specific Vice photoshoot I once mocked while ogling desperately).

I never had much interest in this band, but I loved the tune and the video!

Was just watching Heima on Pitchfork.tv - I used to play Agaetis Byrjun quite often back in the day. Everything they released afterwards made me fall out of love with the band and that album. I never realized how limited their sound palette and ideas are until I heard the rest of their catalogue. They do make a really strong impression on people not accostumed to slowcore tho.

I pick Svefn-G-Englar and throw away the rest.

Oh yes, that said, Heima is actually worth watching, if only for the very pleasant cinematography.

I love Heima, think its one of the best (and certainly most beautiful) music films I've seen.

nope, still a fan. can't hear you. lalalalala! ;-)

My favorite Sigur Ros songs are "Glosoli" and "Untitled #8."

I mostly agree, Moka. I think each subsequent album has one song that is pretty outstanding, in the sense that if you'd never heard them before it would bowl you over. (None more so than S-G-E though). But, yeah, the bigger the discography gets the less essential the band seems to become. Boy did I think they were the next big step back in 99-00, though.

Boy did I think they were the next big step back in 99-00, though.

I thought this as well very briefly back then, until I realised that "Svefn-g-englar" was precious, plodding, self-regarding twaddle. Nothing I've heard since has diminished my view that this seems to be their prevailing aesthetic.

i'll admit to really loving their latest album

They didn't really enter my listening sphere until Takk came out, ad so I find it impossible to dislike that album (not even that I'd like to). I love agaetis byrjun and (_), and can recognise their greatness, but preference just lies with Takk.

Songs like Glosoli, Andvari, heysatan, and of course the Takk singles, just can't be beat.

The most recent album hasn't struck me in the way any of the others have, yet at least.

Thoughts on the kompakt remixes?

i will always rep for these guys--maybe one of the best 10-15 shows i've seen.

The newest album is great, best thing they've done since SGE. Love pretty much all of it, except that very obvious Animal Collective "homage".

I thought this as well very briefly back then, until I realised that "Svefn-g-englar" was precious, plodding, self-regarding twaddle.

Someone's been reading my mind...

I still haven't heard the last album, though will probably check it out at some point. Takk was the album that, when I first got it, finally made me think I was done with these guys. That said, I listened to it a couple of months ago and it was better than I remember. I can see how if that was your first experience it would be your favorite. That might be true of all their albums.

And, yes - excellent live show. Saw them about... wow, maybe seven or eight years ago? I still remember the show, though.