It’s often that you don’t get the same experience from listening to a single song that you do when you listen to an entire album. There’s a story being told that you miss out on when you listen to one or two random songs. If I like an album, I listen to it over and over until I digest it as best as I can. Each of these albums was there for me through thick and thin, through any kind of weather, through road trips, through heartbreak, through life, death, what have you. However, I’m tired of putting things in a numbered order. It doesn’t matter. Each of these records is amazing. I thought “this is the best record I’ve ever heard” while listening to each one of these albums. Putting them in a numbered list seems fucking ridiculous now. In no particular order:
This is my last list for LISTS WEEK. I am announcing here and now that I will be taking a break from the blog to regain whatever hours I’ve managed to shave off of my life from not sleeping. Call it a period of hibernation. I will be back sometime in January. Until then, if I don’t see you tonight or tomorrow, Happy Holidays!
http://vimeo.com/9289064%20
Here is the fascinating music video for “Go Do”, the first single off of Jónsi’s upcoming album, Go, out April 5th on Parlophone and on April 6th on XL Recordings in the US.
This video is directed by Arni & Kinski who are also responsible for the conception and creation of the “Gobbledigook” and “Glósoli” videos for Jónsi’s band, Sigur Rós.
http://vimeo.com/9670406%20
Here is a trailer for Go quiet, a film of Jónsi performing the entire album acoustically at home in Reykjavík, Iceland by Dean Deblois, the gentleman responsible for Sigur Rós’ breathtaking documentary, Heima.
I’ve listened to a lot of instrumental music in my day but very few bands leave a ringing in my ears after they play regardless of how loud they are.
One of those bands is Sigur Rós. I have this little thing I tell people that the music they make lives on another plane of existence. Seriously. (Photo: Audunn on Flickr)
The band’s vocalist/guitarist, Jón Þór Birgisson (otherwise known as Jónsi), has been mentioned on this blog before a few months ago when buzz surrounding the album he and his partner made, Riceboy Sleeps, was building.
Now, 4 months later, the buzz continues. On December 1st, a website for his upcoming solo LP was launched at http://www.jonsi.com with nothing but five letters displayed in the center of the page, J-O-N-S-I. As each day passed, each letter on the website was given a function when clicked on. Some animation would surround the letter as it played a sample of music from his album. Four of the letters are giving off music. The “i” was the only one left…until today.
Just a few moments ago, an e-mail was sent out to the mailing list that came with a track off of the album. (Note: not album art.)
It sounds pretty great, guys. This man has an amazing talent for music with layers. I say that because anything he is a part of always has little fluttering flutes or violins or chimes in the background adding the most delicate of details to a song. I would go as far as to say that is his ‘signature’ technique, but I’m rambling as it is. Have a listen below:
If you like a band you hear about or listen to on here, go to their shows and purchase something. A shirt, a record, even a meal. Give back to the artists that ever-so-willingly give to you.
Contact: thephotongod[at]gmail.com
(Photo: Audunn on Flickr)
(Note: not album art.)
The Photon God 