For some weird reason, Sigur Ros are classed as "neo-prog rock" in the latest Mojo collector's edition, and even manage to score the #27 album in the "40 cosmic rock albums" list (one of only a handful of albums recorded after 1980 - unfortunately LGM or Pure Phase don't get a nod...)
Here's a notable excerpt from the entry:
"The singer admitted the band's initial influences were Spiritualized and early Verve, but Agaetis Byrjun added orchestral breadth (think Gorecki) and jazzy flourishes (think David Axelrod), while Birgisson's favoured guitar technique involved drawing a cello bow over the strings a la Jimmy Page."
Very excited about seeing these guys for the first time next week...
well, im not a fan but in the purest sense of the word i have to admit that sigur rós are prog(gressive) rock. and even though they have their merits, theyre not a million miles removed from the hideous farts such as yes for their predilections for the evil side of pretention.
Mmm, i saw them a couple of weeks back in Glasgow. The new songs were excellent. There was one that sounded distinctly Electric Mainline-esque. Really looking forwards to the new album.
sigurs are fantastic! i hope to catch them live this autumn once again, i have seen them with string quartet and it's needless to say it was unearthly beautiful.
their homepage is full of extra stuff, nice beginning would be from here:
one of those bands that are so moody and impressive that makes you re-think about everything. can't wait to hear their new stuff, just can't and that means yes i can can can.
Sometimes I like to think that Sigur Ros sound a little bit like what aurora borealis would sound like if they made noise, and it makes me want to go to Iceland. And I don't care if that makes sense or not.
Of course Sigur Ros are prog rock. They're neo-prog in the same sense that Radiohead are neo-prog, which is to say they're every bit as empty-headed and histrionic as Jethro Tull - they just can't play their instruments.
twentysixdollars wrote:they're every bit as empty-headed and histrionic as Jethro Tull - they just can't play their instruments.
By and large I agree with your sage writings, $26, however this time I have to disagree. Let's have an explanation (and maybe some examples) as to why you think they can't play their instruments. Sure, they're no nascent virtuosos, but the three studio albums released so far show a more than adequate musicianship, whether you like their style of music or not.
I happen to think that what they're doing exhibits a lot of similarities to early spz, which is why I'm surprised that they have their detractors in these circles...
twentysixdollars wrote:Of course Sigur Ros are prog rock. They're neo-prog in the same sense that Radiohead are neo-prog, which is to say they're every bit as empty-headed and histrionic as Jethro Tull - they just can't play their instruments.
I dig all of their albums. I was thrilled by their live performance in Detroit a few years back. And, I just received my tickets in the post for the now sold out September 20th show in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Live, they are phenominal. Go see em kids . . .
ohhhhh i'm so excited, i get to see them for the first time in a few weeks.
we used to rehearse in the same studios as jimmy lavelle (album leaf) and he was telling us that they were absolute masters at creating space. this is coming from someone who for me is another brilliant musician, classically trained ta boot $26.
xxxshonnxxx
p/s- $26- your'e such a nasty little troll, would it fucking kill you to say something positive about a band (besides the byrds) that more than 5 people know about. it's o.k. to like bands that everybody else does.
On a more serious note, I must check out their debut and the next one cos of that Spz and early Verve remark. I used to like Agaetis Byrjun, but I think nowadays it's a little too pomp for me, too much like an airline commercial. In fact, Icelandair used the beginning of the second track on that album for one of their ads.
Last edited by Juzba on Sat Jul 30, 2005 2:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
twentysixdollars wrote:Of course Sigur Ros are prog rock. They're neo-prog in the same sense that Radiohead are neo-prog, which is to say they're every bit as empty-headed and histrionic as Jethro Tull - they just can't play their instruments.
Ludicrous. What do you want, a Stevie Ray Vaughn solo? There's a reason most music fans (at least the ones I know) don't give a shit about him ... he never wrote any decent songs!
I think pretty much everything I had to say has been confirmed by other posts here; note the art-rock nomenclature - 'airline commercial'; 'made-up language'; 'creating space' - but you must realize that I neither meant to suggest that Sigur Ros are incompetent musicians, nor that I consider technical facility especially important. I was merely indicating that the principal difference between Jethro Tull and Sigur Ros to me is that, compared to Jethro Tull, Sigur Ros can't play their instruments. That doesn't mean that they actually can't play their instruments, it means that they're prog rockers that even prog rock fans would sniff at - just like Pink Floyd.
Believe it or not, I have a Stevie Ray Vaughn album - Live At Carnegie Hall. It's definitely the most boring album in my record collection, which is saying something because I've got both of Richard Ashcroft's solo albums.
As for shonn's moronic insinuation that I only like shit no-one else does, has anyone noticed that it's these indie hypes that I have the most fun eviscerating, and that one of my favorite groups is the Beach Boys?
p/s- it's got nothing to do with 'indie types', my favourite musician is blind willie mactell, but you probably can regurgitate some info as to why somebody else is far superior than him in his genre, go in, puke it up for us.
Blind Willie McTell. Father of Chris De Burgh doppleganger and British muffinfolk singer Ralph McTell. He was Blind as a ex lover cut off his cock and stabbed him in the eye with it.
a beautiful noise wrote:
p/s- it's got nothing to do with 'indie types', my favourite musician is blind willie mactell, but you probably can regurgitate some info as to why somebody else is far superior than him in his genre, go in, puke it up for us.
I said "indie hypes", not 'indie types', a sobriquet for which obscure-bluesmen-who-attained-a-recent-groundswell-of-popularity-thanks-to-the-White-Stripes applies. Yeah, I like him, better than Robert Johnson, but less than Lonnie Johnson, or, for that matter, Son House. Or Lead Belly.
mmmmm, don't think all the young white stripes fans are rushing out to buy mctell, son house or leadbelly. more like the von bondies, the kills and david viner. let's be realistic.
it's not like john hurt in the 60's with all the folkie kids giving him a revival.
and if the truth be told, i'm more fascinated with old spirituals. washington phillips seems to take up most of my time.
speaking of leadbelly, apparently (i'm sure if i'm wrong you will download and regurgitate for us) there is only one bit of footage of him. it's absolutely fantastic with him doing 'pick a bale of cotton'. it's on a old blues film i finally got ahold of.
a beautiful noise wrote:ohhhhh i'm so excited, i get to see them for the first time in a few weeks.
we used to rehearse in the same studios as jimmy lavelle (album leaf) and he was telling us that they were absolute masters at creating space. this is coming from someone who for me is another brilliant musician, classically trained ta boot $26.
xxxshonnxxx
p/s- $26- your'e such a nasty little troll, would it fucking kill you to say something positive about a band (besides the byrds) that more than 5 people know about. it's o.k. to like bands that everybody else does.
Ah HAA HA HA HA!!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one! (Oh, how I long for the days when it was OK just to like the way a band sounds...)
the opening tune on love kraft - new sfa record - is quite possibly the best thing they've ever done. tis called zoom, by the by. another wonderful record by them too.
speaking of leadbelly, apparently (i'm sure if i'm wrong you will download and regurgitate for us) there is only one bit of footage of him. it's absolutely fantastic with him doing 'pick a bale of cotton'. it's on a old blues film i finally got ahold of.
xxxshonnxxx[/quote]
completely off the sigur ros/prog topic, but there are a series of vhs tapes from the mid 90's (released by Yazoo in the states) that i think are on dvd now that feature blues artists of the 30's-early 50's. the films were studio performances done for public tv in the mid to late 60's and feature folks with little or no other film exposure. i've got several, the best 2 featuring son house and furry lewis. the one with furry has also got a john lee hooker performance. i think i've got 4 or 5 tapes in all, none regrettable.
jack white wrote:the opening tune on love kraft - new sfa record - is quite possibly the best thing they've ever done. tis called zoom, by the by. another wonderful record by them too.
I'd have to third that but am really loving Hummingbird at the moment - music to drift to.
Not sure what any one else on here thinks (Que backlash) but am really thinking they know how to cobble a dramatic tune together now - Wha d'y' reckon $26? the daubings of an infantile mind or what?!
I'm glad I'm not the only one! (Oh, how I long for the days when it was OK just to like the way a band sounds...)