Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ] 

Board index : Music Talk : Rock/Pop

Author Message
 Post subject: Year In Review (21B): Sigur Rós - Takk...
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:11 am 
Offline
Worldwide Phenomenon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:49 pm
Posts: 3003
Location: ilXor.com
Average Metacritic score 83 (35 reviews, #29 overall):

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3364

Image

Sigur Rós
Takk... (Geffen)
US release date: 13 September 2005
Rating: A (100)

Perhaps right now, some way through the year 2005, we’re witnessing something huge. We’re experiencing options, choices, new levels of technological development combined with widespread accessibility. Actively listening to music is something that has become ever easier: the sheer number of ways in which one may purchase songs is slowly reducing the financial burden of musical media whilst simultaneously exposing a wider audience to a wider selection of genres, eras, influences. Some may still find it difficult to hear what they want—folk-electronica still isn’t riding high in mainstream radio playlists, and you still have to shell out extra for “speciality” CDs on the high street. Conversely, the unusual is becoming less so because we are sharing, opening our eyes, ears and wallets—the power of the consumer is raising everybody’s game. So whilst pursuing new and innovative sounds may still appear superficially difficult and niche, there has never been a greater number of methods to gain access to some sort of higher musical plateau.

In such a climate then, perhaps there has never been a better time to be Sigur Rós. Three full-length studio albums into their career, turning the huge critical acclaim their discs have always attracted into commercial success (audience numbers, exposure, sales) appears to be a very real prospect. It is surely testament to the band’s technological relevance that Takk’s lead single “Glósóli” was an Internet-only release—and one that will undoubtedly fare better in the digital, rather than physical, realm. And, coming in on the back of a self-conscious two-minute introduction (as if a track comprising of layer upon build upon layer upon increased tempo definition doesn’t carry its own warning of the tempestuous noises to come), “Glósóli” is a perfectly executed prelude to chaos.

What the introductory piece does for the listener is act as some sort of musical sorbet, neutralising one’s emotions, responses and heart rate created by whatever you saw or did or heard or felt before. All of this in order for Takk… to get a clear shot at your senses. And if “Introduction” is preparation, then “Glósóli” is microcosm, for Takk is in many ways a much darker record than any of the band’s previous work, with tempestuous conclusions and moody, almost pouty endeavours making up the bulk of its content.

Of course, many of these pieces offer their own interpretations of ecstasy, but by methods far removed from those improved in the past. Where we felt elevated and indeed airborne during the climax to “Starálfur,” or merrily roused by the choir’s contribution to “Olsen Olsen,” “Gong” (the current live favourite amongst fans) seems to excel in turmoil, sheer negative energy inherent in its staccato-ed percussion and ghostly falsetto. Perhaps the greatest example of this all-encompassing downward force is “Sæglópur.” A piece that begins on piano, sweetly punctuated with glockenspiel and non-specific effects, sternly administering mental images of clinging to rotting trees and to hope, screaming against the eye of the storm. Several minutes later the piece then descends into relative tranquillity, orchestral melancholy. It is seven and a half minutes long. In the most wonderful way, it feels like all your life.

Takk does have some of those more upbeat, heart-warming moments that made Sigur Rós more of an experience than an experiment. “Hoppípolla” and the reprising “Með Blóðnasir” offers righteous strings and brass, combining to create the evangelical sounds favoured on breakthrough LP Ágætis Byrjun. I always felt as if those moments of triumph in the band’s music were the focal points, the “good stuff” you waited for and wanted to arrive and then stay forever. This time around though, they appear to have taken a backseat to the band’s darker impulses, and staggeringly, Takk sounds all the better for it.

I always marvel at the irony that Sigur Rós, one of the most inventive modern musical outfits in the world today, have such a bog-standard rock band line-up. It’s the same irony ingrained in the thought that, if I were to describe the formula for many of the band’s most effective songs, I’d probably detail pop music’s most unimaginative structural mantra: quiet bit-loud bit-quiet bit-loud. Perhaps they don’t sound so innovative when I put it like that, but I guess while you’re discovering new ways to distribute your material to the masses, you still have to give great consideration to what the people want. And the people simply must want this.


---Reviewed by: Colin Cooper
--Reviewed on: 2005-09-13


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:50 am 
Offline
frostingspoon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:24 am
Posts: 17359
Location: cogthrobber
That's not so much a review of Takk as it is an essay on Sigur Ros' cleverness. If I'd never heard them before, I'd have no idea what they sound like after reading that. Possibly they sound "righteously triumphant & melancholy."


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:51 am 
Offline
Natural Harvester
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm
Posts: 23083
Location: Portland, OR
that review sucks.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:55 am 
Offline
frostingspoon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:24 am
Posts: 17359
Location: cogthrobber
I'm gonna drop "moody, almost pouty endeavors" into conversations this week.

Oh, LOLrus.

LOLancholy.


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:09 pm 
Offline
TEH MACHINE
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:28 pm
Posts: 16684
Location: Jiggin' for Yanks
I liked this album as well, but I haven't thrown it on in awhile. I guess it didn't affect me too profoundly based on that behaviour. I know I definitely enjoyed it more than (). I think its brevity in comparison to their previous albums works to their advantage here. Same goes for My Morning Jacket's Z. I'll probably spin Takk sometime today.

_________________
All I can say is, go on and bleed.


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:11 pm 
Offline
Troubador
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:23 pm
Posts: 3742
yeah, im always kind of hesitant to put it on too, mainly because i feel like i have to devote a lot more effort to listening to it. not that thats a bad thing though, because i always find it quite worthwhile. definitely a great album.


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 1:55 pm 
Offline
frostingspoon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:31 pm
Posts: 11094
Location: moving up country
Dalen Wrote:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR

_________________
Image


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:06 pm 
Offline
Alcoholic National Treasure

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:12 pm
Posts: 17155
dalen loves that album

_________________
Are you kidding? I have no talents. Nothing. I was very well educated to be an idiot. And I was a very good student.


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:13 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm
Posts: 7979
it's okay, probably sigur ros' weakest effort yet. there are some phenomenal songs like "glosoli" that might be among the best they've ever done, but it's otherwise just alright.


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:16 pm 
Offline
British Press Hype

Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:50 am
Posts: 1383
Location: Big MO
I didn't like this album much when it first came out, but it grew on me a lot. I don't like it as much as AB or () but still quite a bit. 'Milano' is my favorite track.

_________________
H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 3:48 pm 
Offline
May contain Jesus.
User avatar

Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:43 pm
Posts: 12275
Location: The Already, Not Yet.
A great album, and definitely better than (). This was probably my most anticipated release of the year, so it was built up with hype in my mind, had no chance to blow me away really. Its a grower not a shower fo' sho'.

_________________
It's Baltimore, gentlemen; the gods will not save you.

Baltimore is a town where everyone thinks they’re normal, but they’re totally insane. In New York, they think they’re crazy, but they’re perfectly normal. --John Waters
Image


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:07 pm 
Offline
Garage Band
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:17 am
Posts: 589
He doesn't let Takk stand on its own merits. Instead of recognizing it as the step up from the gimmicky () he pummels it under unfavorable comparisons to Agaetis. Takk is by far the most bold and unsettleing album they have made: the notes are higher, the orchestra more full, the heavy parts more climactic, the layers more rich. It's if an angel chorus were to hit you with a wall of sound.

Christmas album of the year.


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 5:32 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 1:48 am
Posts: 7332
Location: Cloud 3.14159
I liked () better, but that's only after a couple listens.

_________________
I remain,
:-Peter, aka :-Dusty :-(halk


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:22 pm 
Offline
Worldwide Phenomenon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:49 pm
Posts: 3003
Location: ilXor.com
frostletoe & wine Wrote:
That's not so much a review of Takk as it is an essay on Sigur Ros' cleverness. If I'd never heard them before, I'd have no idea what they sound like after reading that. Possibly they sound "righteously triumphant & melancholy."


Dalen Wrote:
that review sucks.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR


Sorry about the reviews guys. I usually have time to proof them but lately been getting home so late from work that I just randomly pick one based on ratings. I should have more time here in the future to do this right for the rest of these picks.

I like this album but have spent a lot more time with their older ones. This one probably is better but like others have said, not really in the mood for this right now. I’m a dancing fool at the moment.

np: Clor - Clor


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:12 am 
Offline
frostingspoon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:59 pm
Posts: 10777
Location: Sutton, Greater London
Top 5 lock.


Back to top
 Profile WWWYIM 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:28 am 
Offline
frostingspoon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:24 am
Posts: 17359
Location: cogthrobber
S'aight, Bee. Gives us something to complain about.


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:23 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 1:48 am
Posts: 7332
Location: Cloud 3.14159
Listening to it now -- it's on par with ágætis byrjun in my book.

_________________
I remain,
:-Peter, aka :-Dusty :-(halk


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:25 pm 
Offline
Winona Ryder wears my t-shirt on TV

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:08 pm
Posts: 2730
Location: New York
Is this the album that made Dalen cry?


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 10:57 pm 
Offline
Garage Band

Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:01 pm
Posts: 596
Location: Richmond, VA
This album made me cry the first time I heard it....'cause I couldn't believe they would put out something so....not good. :(

Since then, I've sort of made my peace with it, but still don't think it's anywhere near as good as their two previous albums, and I still maintain that more than a few of these songs sound like Coldplay playing as a Sigur Ros tribute band.

_________________
Image


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 11:55 pm 
Offline
Indie Debut

Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:04 pm
Posts: 1580
Location: Sri Lanka
g Wrote:
Is this the album that made Dalen cry?


Yes, yes it is.


Back to top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:28 pm 
Offline
Go Platinum
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:11 pm
Posts: 8881
Location: *3
ah, found this. thanx bee. gives me some idea.

_________________
@--


Back to top
 Profile WWW 
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ] 

Board index : Music Talk : Rock/Pop


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Majestic-12 [Bot] and 18 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Style by Midnight Phoenix & N.Design Studio
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.