Well here we are; I made good on my promise to take a very long time in getting anything posted. In the (unlikely) event that you visited during the extended absence, you may have noticed that there is a difference in the motif and title of this blog. It is now quite minimal, and provides a space for one of my favorite words: warbling.
I have some plans for posts, mainly on books I’ve been reading and albums I’ve heard recently. If you didn’t know, I had a music review project that I neglected: One by One Archive. I intend to continue that project here, expanding it to a general discussion of whatever media I’ve recently consumed and found interesting. For instance:
Sigur Rós – Inni
Inni is the soon-to-be-released live record from Iceland’s Sigur Rós. I’ve pre-ordered the blu-ray/cd combo box and am eagerly anticipating its arrival, but a certain friend dropped me this leaked version and I couldn’t help myself. I’ve been listening to it repeatedly while working on getting this blog up and running, and I find myself at a loss trying to describe the impact their music has on me. Sigur Rós is a post-rock group, but I feel that placing them in a category of any kind does them something of an injustice. Their music is a living thing with raw emotion and a discernable breath. Tonight I frequently found myself swept away by the powerful crescendos (a reminder of why I stopped listening to them at the office,) cutting of my desire to do anything but close my eyes and listen to the music.
This live recording (of a show/shows in London) beautifully captures how captivating the live Sigur Rós experience can be. I have been fortunate enough to see them live once, and I hold that it was one of the greatest (if not the greatest) live music experiences I have ever had. I was moved in a way I never could have expected from a concert. Rumor has it that the band plans to begin touring anew in 2012 to promote a new album. If this is true, I encourage everyone reading this to do everything in their power to see them.
I’d like to call out the songs I find particularly powerful on this recording, but I can’t give any descriptions of my feelings on the tracks beyond the ever-too-weak “wow.”
Just wow.
Listen to these ones with special care, please:
- Glósóli
- Hoppípolla
- Með blóðnasir
- Inní mér syngur vitleysingur
- Sæglópur
- Hafsol
- Popplagið
Funny that I should have listened to something that put me at a loss for words while I worked on getting my blog set up, but there you have it. This album easily earns itself 10/10 or 5 stars or whichever metric seems appropriate. It is truly fantastic. I sincerely hope you listen to it.
5 Responses
Where did you see them? I was lucky enough to make it to four shows(San Rafael, Berkeley, Oakland, and London). Sooooo amazing.
I saw them in Berkeley at the Greek. It rained during the encore. Were you there? McD was too.
I also had the pleasure of seeing Jónsi at the Zellerbach in Berkeley. It was spectacular.
Just by reading your blog and Max’s blog, I can tell you are good buddies based off of your writing styles. You both put lots of passion into what you are writing about and you are both honest with out over embellishing how you feel about whatever content you write about. Excuse the 3 “abouts” in that last sentence. I’m much better and making things than writing about them.
Anyway, I’m excited to see where your blog goes from here my friend. And I’m excited to see you in Seattle soon!
xo MOO
Thank you! You may know this by now, but I hold Mr. McDaniel in pretty high esteem, so hearing that you can “read” our friendship is a magnificent compliment.
I’m looking forward to this weekend, too! Can’t wait to be with you guys 🙂
Ps, I’ve never seen Sigur Ros… 🙁 Because I’m poor.