Music : Ágætis Byrjun
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0766481589327
Format: Original recording reissued
Label: Play It Again Sam
Manufacturer: Play It Again Sam
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Play It Again Sam
Release Date: May 22, 2001
Sales Rank: 1204
Studio: Play It Again Sam
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Editorial Review:
Album Description:
UK version of the Icelandic experimental/alternative act's international debut (their third album overall). Originally released in 1999, 'Agaetis Bryjun' is multi-platinum in their homeland. Includes the singles, 'Svefn-G-Englar' and 'Ny Batteri'. Single disc packaged in a very cool envelope style digipak. 2000 release.
Amazon.com:
Reykjavík-based noise quartet Sigur Rós are the biggest band in their native Iceland, which should say much, much more about the collective insanity of that earthquake-ridden, blizzard-beaten crag of an island than anything to do with Sigur Rós's sound. But in their music, Sigur Rós reflect all the breathtaking glory of the Icelandic wastes--a fairy-tale explosion of unhinged elemental majesty that's finally crystallized here, their debut European release. Poised somewhere between the haunting soundscapes of Labradford and the lilting Celtic falsetto of Enya, Agaetis Byrjun is a truly breathtaking listen. Frontman Jon Por Birgisson sings in a language that Sigur Rós dub "Hopelandic"--an otherworldly mutation of Icelandic, sung in the falsetto cadence of angels; similarly, he plays his guitar with a violin bow, opening the floodgates for brilliant waves of feedback. And while it's the opening "Svefn-G-Englar" that's Sigur Rós' moment to date, there's far more that they have to offer; listen to the pomp and flourish of a full orchestra on "Flugufrelsarinn," or the awe-inspiring near-religious mantra of "Ny Batteri." --Amazon.co.uk
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
You heard it here, you delusional souls! "Ambient" is another word for "boring, dull and pretentious"! What's so special about this album? The dumb atmosphere? I say you listen to a Madonna or Britney Spears album if you want atmosphere! Sigur Ros are so stupid that they don't even know how to write properly- note how all of their songs are in a made-up language. They thought, "Hey, let's be cool and not pass kindergarten and make music with two chords on the guitar and mess around with a piano and people will worship us!". Sigur Ros are dumb one-trick ponies who will do anything to take your money. Support REAL music- KoRn, Nickelback, Metallica, Taylor Swift, etc. Avoid this Agaetis Byjurn crap like the plague.
Rating:  -
The Icelandic band Sigur Ros, by this point in their career, have redefined and expanded their sound enough times to completely avoid categorization. Are they rock? Are they ambient? Or are they simply some breed of sophisticated pop? The only thing for certain is that Sigur Ros aren't afraid of being themselves, and have an awe-inspiring artistic freedom. Throughout this sprawling sophomore album, Sigur Ros created possibly their most accessible and simultaneously memorable album of their careers. The strategy utilized on Ágætis Byrjun is the same that was used on Von and would be used on future albums () and Takk. That strategy is simple. More means more. Which is ironic, because the opening introduction track is exactly the melody that the listener would want expanded on to about five minutes. This may seem like a pretentious move, but many have mistaken Sigur Ros' all-over-the-place style and relentless experimentation for pretentiousness only to gradually realize that it is true beauty and the art of learning while writing songs. Really, it is quite impressive how consistent this album stays. The bands style here is to combine subtle atmospheric instrumentation with emotive, soaring melodies. These songs sound huge, both in length and in scope, and the result is surprisingly warm. This also sounds very unlikely, almost too good to be true. But what do you know, Sigur Ros pull it off, against all odds. From the opening Svefn-G-Englar, vocals are given extremely relaxed treatment ... Read More
Rating:  -
We should probably all bow down to Bill Perez as he is undoubtedly the all knowing god of all critics. Don't mind him, he just needs a hug.
Anyway, about the album. Its great stuff. Different. Trippy. Beautiful. Listen to some of their stuff first. If you don't like it, don't buy it.
I rated it 4 stars because it is MY PERSONAL OPINION. It just means its great but I like other things better.
Rating: -
True, Agaetis Byrjun, is both fascinating and brilliant: but its also a much more modestly scaled, fuzzily intimate record than some of the work that came after (imagine ambient electronica recorded in a cave filled with tinkling icicles). This was the 2001 break out for Sigur Ros, a band that many have since come to love for their soaring evocations of wind blasted Icelandic landscapes, their soulful melodies and imaginative song arrangements using bowed guitar, string quartet, keybord, bass and drums. All in all, it's great stuff. My favourite track is Staralfur. A song that builds to a sweeping and majestic climax. There is something broken-hearted but incredibly pure here; a melancholy that is transmuted into deeply satisfying art. For those that are interested, the song, treated somewhat diffrently, but with equal beauty and luminosity also appears on Hvarf/Heim ... a somewhat grander version, but still deeply affecting.
Rating:  -
I see from many other reviews here that the "pretentious" part of the discussion has been covered in (occasionally cutthroat) detail. I'll skip it and go straight to the album.
I freely admit that I'm a music nerd. Obscure languages don't put me off. Long tracks with no discernible structure? No problem. And yet I _still_ had to work in earnest to figure out anything on this album other than "Staralfur." This is thick, opaque, inscrutable stuff. It doesn't stand up well at all to casual listening.
If you can give the album several close listens, however -- and if the unsettling edge to the preteen-sounding, sunlight-deprived vocals doesn't put you off completely -- it's worth investing the time to get to know the music better. While the tracks divide up the album in traditional rock style, _Agaetis Byrjun_ more closely resembles a classical symphony. There are some gorgeous passages buried in the second half of the album (sometimes several minutes into single tracks). Once these spots become recognizable, the rest of the album will begin to fall into place. It's not a small effort on the listener's part, but the reward is considerable.
My three-star rating would be much higher on the music's quality alone. I wish that the artists had shared even a sliver of information about the album's lyrics, though. They're sung with such sincerity and feeling that it's a shame to be shut out of their poetry due to a language gap. While I respect the ... Read More
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