not the band, but today a market busker was playing "shout" across the street from my stand. i've never heard any sort of acoustic attempt of tears for fears...i think we should let it stay new wave.

it's been awhile since i've come up with any sort of decent post. i've had posts in my head, they have just never had a chance to make it to the interweb.

i could write about the vivid and stellar set by Annuals about a month back, in which i met the bass player and he gave me the yet unreleased album by their side project, Sunfold entitled "toy tugboats" (formerly Sedona - all the members of Annuals, yet written/headed up by Kenny Florence - i recommend the album!), but i won't.

i could also muse about the mind-blowing, gorgeous, and brilliant work "across the universe" which i saw about two weeks back for the first time, which features renditions of beatle's song that are quite lovely, and in fact i haven't enjoyed a movie as much for a very long time. but no. not that.

then there is are the 11 cds i bought for 25 dollars the other day when i stumbled upon a cute little store that was closing and i got things like okkervil river's "the stage names", johann johannson, neil finn's "try whispering this", and peter gabriel live, all one or two dollars each. but that's not enough.

instead, i'll give you an attempt at reviewing an album that i'm sure will be my number one when the year is up. i'm sort of biased, seeing as they are my favorite band (and i'm going to see them in october SUPER EXCITED) and i think everything they touch turns to beauty, but anyway...

"Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust" is definitely no exception to the fact that everything Sigur Rós puts out is quality piece of art. Even without understanding the lyrics (apart from track 11, which is sung in English!), they never fail to capture the essence of humanity and the beauty found in the epic and the everyday. Victory expouds from each note of "Við Spilum Endalaust" and hope from every phrase in "All Alright". This album shows their incredible range of expression, seen in the tenderness of "Góðan Daginn" to the nine-minute epic of "Festival".

Stand-out tracks include the previously released download "Gobbledigook" and its rousing ascension of "la-la-la-la-la-la" about two minutes and twenty seconds in. "Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur" keeps a fresh and triumphant pace, quite different from the Sigur Rós in "Takk..." transcending their traditional spectrum. Finally, "Með Suð Í Eyrum" is an enrapturing, aural journey into your deepest reflections, unafraid of reaching places you wouldn't dare to go alone.

The album art and accompanying videos are another thing altogether, featuring unclothed backsides frollicking about a field; despite the nudity, they escape perversity.

Altogether, Sigur Rós has accomplished a close to impossible feat: a fresh, beautiful, and lasting work of art, which seems to be increasingly rare these days.

and i'll leave you with that. it's frisbee time!