Editor’s Pick

The uplifting sounds of Sigur Ros’ “Agaetis
Byrjun” overpower the listener with sweeping orchestration
and haunting melodies. Written in a combination of hopeful sounding
syllables and Icelandic, the group’s native language, the
songs’ meanings can be found in sonic textures rather than
the literal messages of the lyrics. Sigur Ros has often been
compared to Radiohead, which it resembles more in quality and fan
base than in actual sound. The group’s single
“Svefn-G-Englar” can be found on the soundtrack for
“Vanilla Sky,” and the band has been the subject of
some very positive press since “Agaetis Byrjun” found
U.S. distribution last year.