Rating: - A tad underdevloped
3 1/2

Starting off briskly, the majestic quartet's up-tempo pop dabblings seem to have not hindered the new album at all, which includes something for everyone. Though they revisit their trademark sonic buildups and offer humble acoustic contrast, a certain balance just does not seem to have been struck in the track sequencing, tapering off in the final stretch, and often sounding like a collection of quite good b-sides instead of their latest release.

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Rating: - zzzzz. . . . .
Quite boring. I'm new to Sigur Ros, so I'm not sure what everyone is talking about with the change to their sound and being more stripped down. This is so stripped down as to be boring. One of my few album purchase regrets and one where reviewers I normally find reliable got it wrong. If you're new to Sigur Ros and are wondering what the hype is about, save your money and skip this album.

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Rating: - Love It!
Well, you either love these guys or you don't.

I happen to love them, and I'm all over myself with this CD.

No, this isn't "Taak" or "()", but there's much to love and fall in love with this one.

Just listen to it, and enjoy!

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Rating: - Their most accessible yet!!!
With their fifth album, Icelandic quartet Sigur Rós may have earned the dubious honour of "most un-pronouncable title" or "worst album cover" ever, but it's also their most accessible album, a strong contender for "best album of the year" honours.

If you've never listened to them, it is difficult to describe their sound. Their lead singer sings in an ethereal falsetto, usually in their made up language Hopelandic, against a dreamy melodic folk/quasi-symphonic backdrop.

Opening cut "Gobbledigook" is a clap filled Folky affair. "Við spilum endalaust" took me by surprise, an upbeat Pop song that one could easily imagine on a Coldplay album.

Spare and cathedral sounding is "Festival" which builds to a towering climax. "Suð í eyrum" is a delicate piano ballad with tumbling sounding percussion building in as the song progresses. "Ára bátur" is an angelic sounding spare ballad one could imagine on some soundtrack to some epic. It features the 20 member London Oratory Boys Choir and the 67 piece London Sinfonietta.

"Íllgresi" is a lovely acoustic ballad, and the absolutely stunning "Fljótavík" is a piano ballad that finds lead singer Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto soaring vocally to Heaven.

The brief "Straumnes" is an ominous sounding instrumental, and closing is "All alright", their first foray lyrically in the English language. A tender lullaby-like piano ballad with Birgisson singing in a frail lower register in the first half. He might as well be singing in their signature Hopelandic from his warbling. Still, a stirring and beautiful song.

So many adjectives could be used to describe this album; ethereal, melodic, magical, hypnotic, hymnal, and they would still not be enough to describe the beauty of this stunning album.

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Rating: - More Joyous, Great Music from Sigur Ros
One of my favorite albums of all time is Sigur Ros' Agaetis Byrjun, so naturally I pick up their other albums as they come out. Takk was good as was ( ) but I'm really enjoying this new 5th album which according to the Sigur Ros website translates as "with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly." The first song, "Gobbledigook" is quickly becoming another favorite, bouncing from one speaker to another. The second song, "Inni mer syngur vitlajsingur" is an awesome anthem, but the title which in English translates as "Within me a lunatic sings" just makes me laugh. The song fills me with joy too. "Festival" starts out slowly, but then powers into another classic Sigur Ros song. "Godan daginn" is sweet and soft, almost like a lullaby and I hope no one ever watches me listen to "Vid spilum endalaust" because I'm just bouncing around in my chair. lol It's a true pop song. Their music isn't like any other bands I know of. The clear, high vocals by Jonsi Birgisson are sung in either Icelandic or "Hopelandic", a made up language that he uses to first fill in songs without lyrics. For the first time, one song on the album is sung in English. The album is fun and cheerful and full of life. I have to admit, I was first taken aback by the naked bottoms on the album cover, as well as on the video of Gobbledigook with everyone running through the countryside naked. It's not sexy, it's just sans clothing. :) Listening to Sigur Ros taught me to listen to music differently. I don't know the lyrics and can't begin to know what some of the songs mean, (witness my totally favorite song Flugufrelsarinn which I just found out is sort of about saving a fly in a river!) but I love the beautiful sound of Jonsi's voice and the gorgeous and overlayed background instruments, the uncommon use of playing an electric guitar with a cello bow, the symphony and boys choir in the background of "Ara Batur". It's a lovely album and I can't recommend their music highly enough.