Don't encourage them (Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros)

Member Name: number63

Product:	Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros
Date:	01/12/00 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well, they're not that bad

Disadvantages: Well, they're not that good

Sigur Ros, hmm. I'm far from convinced about this lot, ever since I saw them support Godspeed You Black Emperor a few months ago. Didn't help that they were preceded by GSYBE's wonderful side project, Fly PanAm. The thing about Sigur Ros that evening was that they just didn't compare, and I'm not even GSYBE's biggest fan.

Everybody seems to consider them something new in a stale indie market, but to me, they just appear as a crude mixture of generic indie traits, their lead singer's resemblance to Billy Corgan in both features and poise not being a great help.

And poise seems to be pretty much all this band is about. I mean, they sit there and seriously expect me to swallow some doggerel called 'Hopelandic', as if this apparently ethereal mongrel of two languages should be anything more than Mr. Olsen Olsen repeating Ooh on a regular basis. No, I should be fair. Sometimes he changes the vowel sound, so that on occasion you get Iiiiii, or Aaaaay.

The best thing about the Sigur Ros live show is the fact that they are completely exposed by the video-wall experience which they seem to believe enhances the auditory experience: rolling glacial landscapes and soaring eagles, however, have a lot more to do with an A-Ha video than with indie music's supposed saviors.

The Billy Corgan comparison should not be underestimated. Lest they become the mutant beast that he finally emerged as, Sigur Ros should not be encouraged. Give them their due, they're not that bad, but they are nothing new and nothing special. My recommendation? Go see Godspeed You Black Emperor instead.

Summary: