OK, everyone, please take your seats. I know you had a nice long break and are anxious to discuss your summer vacation with your classmates, but class is now in session. First up, we’ll set straight the pronunciation of Sigur Ros. I have heard many bastardizations of their name, but if you are going to discuss a band who stirs such emotion and is able to summon such musical splendor from their souls, you need to sound like you have some semblance of a clue. First off, drop the “g”. It’s silent. The name is pronounced si-ur rose (the I is like the I in “hit”. “Rose” is said very quickly), as is evidenced by the pronunciation guide on the band’s website. Great, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we can discuss how amazing the band’s new album, Takk, is. Named after the Icelandic term for “thank you”, “takk” is what we should all be saying to Sigur Ros for bestowing this work of art on the planet. Yes, you in the black shirt. I wholeheartedly agree, Takk is the quartet’s poppiest work to date. But it’s a pop sensibility in a Sigur Ros sense, not a Kelly Clarkson sense – some of the songs are much more structured and less freeform than albums past, but this still sounds like the band we have all come to know and love. Glacial, haunting, atmospheric, and skyscraping, Takk is resolutely beautiful. It’s the sound of whales birthing in the Arctic Ocean, of stars forming in galaxies light years away. The ethereal wonderment of Jon Thor Birgisson’s vocals and his bow string guitar flourishes will have you harkening back to the first time you heard Agaetis Byrjun, the shock and excitement all rushing back, memories flooding in concerning how incredible and different and life-affirming the music is. Inimitable, distinctive, majestic, and moving, Takk is everything that could have been hoped for from this record. And for any of you who have witnessed firsthand the sheer grandeur that is Sigur Ros live, you will be happy to hear that this record fits in their live show seamlessly. I heard you in the back. No, I have not been taking bong rips. You have detention. The rest of you, please study up further on this album for the next discussion. Class dismissed.

Sigur Ros
Geffen

1. Sigur Ros In The Studio
2. Our Little Hymnal
3. Sigur Ros Come To The States
4. Sigur Ros Announce Album Details
5. Live – Sigur Ros @ Civic Opera House | CHI