Inspired by the unfettered feeling of the acoustic performances filmed during Heima, Sigur Rós adopted a looser approach in creating their fifth album Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust. The album consequently is fresher and more human than anything they ve previously recorded. Rough edges, cracked notes, and the sound of fingers on strings are audible resulting in tracks (e.g. Íllgresi ) that prove to be the band's sparsest and most affecting work to date. Worry not though, plenty of electric guitar can be heard throughout the album ensuring Sigur Rós commitment to challenging sonic limitations. Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust is truly a groundbreaking album for Sigur Rós. It s the first time they ve attempted to write, record, mix, release and support (by touring) an album in the same year. Notoriously known for their laborious writing/recording style and their Icelandic roots, Sigur Rós decided to record an album outside of Iceland for the first time. Recording, mixing and mastering sessions took place in such un-Reykjavik cities as New York (Sear Sound and Sterling Sound), London (Abbey Road and Assault & Battery) and Havana. The result is pretty much their leave home album, the anti-Heima. The opening track, Gobbledigook , is a manifesto setter with its shifting/no time signature. On the last track, All Alright , Sigur Rós find themselves singing a song solely in English for the first time. The seventh track, Ára Bátur , was performed with a full orchestra and the London Oratory Boys Choir. This was recorded in one take with no overdubs and the result was 90 people playing at once and just one perfect take. This is their first album working with Flood (U2, Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey) and the first since their debut to not be recorded with Ken Thomas. It was a true co-production, one that found Sigur Rós breaking out of old molds/habits. The cover artwork is a photo taken from a flyer for Ryan McGinley s most recent photo exhibition in NYC, I Know Where the Summer Goes , and the image captures perfectly the spirit of the album, one of free-spirited happiness and exploration. The band will be touring the US throughout the fall of 2008 to support Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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.
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.
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!
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... more info
