|
The band themselves are nearly as inscrutable as their music, particularly since the members are notably boorish in dealing with the press. Instead they come off as bleary-eyed sedative addicts. Free coffee at the studio. Sigur Ros has a grand tradition of gorgeous disc packaging and thoughtfully crafted video clips. Granted, the majority of the questions are approaching inane, yet there's little question the band could have been more gracious.
So what majestic aesthetic are we presented with this time. By this logic the AdultCon conventions should be worthy of highbrow review in the New Yorker. Were he still with us, I'm sure Helmut Newton would love this stuff. Publicity.
One wonders why they even agreed to render the interview. If nothing else it's impossible to forget the titles. Why. Who among us can forget the lilting piano strains that signal the beginning of "Hoppipolla" or the explosion of sound that "Saeglopur" bursts into mid-stride. The album cover and music video of "Gobbledigook" are, wow, just wow. Contractual obligations.
Thanks Sigur Ros, for providing beautifully eclectic music with a hearty serving of unintentional hilarity. It is so very droll to read the comments of the fans as they blindly defend their precious heroes and decry the career choice (among other things) of the interviewer.But I digress.It was with great fanfare that the band released the first single from this album on their website last year, titled "Gobbledigook". Since the late nineties, Sigur Ros have established themselves as the premier purveyors of delicate orchestral melodies ripe for feature film soundtrack inclusion. Naked people running and/or dancing. LOTS of naked people.
Because we all know naked bodies equal poetic art.
Yes, I spelled that correctly - "Gobbledigook".
What will you guys think of next.
Case in point: the disastrous 2007 NPR interview (which can still be seen online, replete with "director's commentary") during which the band is somewhat polite yet awfully reticent for radio.
Wait, don't tell me.
Though, personally, I wouldn't have it any other way.
I really wish this review fell on April Fools Day, somehow that would make this whole write-up even more amusing.
As for me, I'm simply pleased to behold a group so wonderfully bizarre they defy explanation.
I want to be surprised.
I have to be honest, I want to love this album. I have really enjoyed everything Sigur Ros has distributed, (except that one 3 song EP you were supposed to be able to overlay into 1 song.)., but I was just never hooked here the way I was with Takk, ( ), or their other work. I'm willing to admit that it may just be over my head, or my expectations of this group have grown too narrow, but in the meantime I am waiting for their next album.
They are beautiful and very interesting. Don't shy away from this band simply because they only sing in Icelandic, because they have some of the best music around. I have listened to this CD at least 12 times in the past few days and I can not get enough. You will be singing along in Icelandic in no time. Definitely get this album and do not ever stop listening to it.
this album is so super sweet. i would reccomend it to anyone with functional ears. i only heard it once, but based on that, it might be my favorite sigur ros album.
It's peaceful, thumpy, sweet, driven, and changes from song to song. Unless you speak Icelandic, you won't understand the lyrics, but that doesn't matter - the music speaks for itself. This is not to say that the lyrics are meaningless - far from it: they are very evocative and uplifting (you just don't know what the words are). I can listen to the album a couple of times a day without getting bored or the music stale. It's very different, but very wonderful.
|
