Senza malinconia, la felicità sarebbe insopportabile.

We here at the Dragon Lair may tend to go on and on about our complete adoration and obsession with Kings of Leon (deservedly so) but make no mistake dear readers:  our minds are very clear about who the best band in the world is and we love them just as much: Sigur Ros.

I first learned about Sigur Ros by way of their magnificent single: “Svefn-g-englar” in a Virgin Megastore recommends compilation cd offer. It may have been the edited single version but the artistry and just plain beauty of the song was undeniable.  I bought the full album a few months later….and the rest is history.  With each release Sigur Ros have cemented their position as the world’s best and most innovative band, proving once and for all that music has no language or boundaries; it is universal: the one art form that unites the world.

VON, Sigur Ros first release would turn out to be not a representation of the overall sound the band will come to be known for.  In many ways Von is very experimental, and as it turns out, the final result was significantly different from the demos and Sigur Ros even considered scrapping the whole thing and begin from scratch again.  VON, true to its cover sounds like an apparition, the dark, dense music of a phantom, trapped within the dark of a funhouse.  It isn’t as melodic as the latter releases and there isn’t as many vocals.  The latter releases were such a departure from this sound that it seems a bit improbable that VON was created by the same band and yet, VON has an allure all of its own.  It’s incidentally Gothic, arguably the darkest of their albums.  Grade B.

AGAETIS BYRJUN  is the album many considered at the time, Sigur Ros debut and their breakthrough, for VON was not release worldwide until after the success of their second and third album.  AGAETIS BYRJUN not only serves as a complete reinvention of their sound (the album’s name roughly translates to “a good beginning”) but the framework of everything they have done henceforth and their first official masterpiece.  The album is a dense, richly orchestral assault of the senses and even the spirit; it’s bewitching.  Incorporating drums and strings and letting singer Jon Por Birgisson’s angelic vocals soar all through the record.  The lush melodies housed within AGAETIS BYRJUN could almost be describe as the most artistic form of pop music ever made, but the record is beyond pop, it’s psychedelic, it’s rock, it’s classical…  it is quite simply: art.  Grade A.

( ) or the nameless album or the bracket album or the parentheses album is at once, darker, moodier, more melancholic, less luscious, less melodic, yet more grand and even more captivating than AGAETIS BYRJUN which I didn’t think could be possible. Comprise of eight untitled tracks, just like the titled, the album is divided into two perfect halves: the first relatively more serene and optimistic, the second gloomier and sorrowful.  Jon Por sings the entire album on Volenska (Hopelandic), a made up language comprise of meaningless syllables, and yet, at least to my ears, full of more emotions than English.  Though ( ) is of a slower pace than AGAETIS BYRJUN when it comes at you full force, like on its last track, it has a force not found on AGAETIS BYRJUN.  I love every single Sigur Ros album, but ( ) is the one I seem to come back to the most. Grade A.

TAKK (meaning “thanks”) is Sigur Ros working on a level even higher than previous albums, which is quite something because I didn’t think they could get any higher.  TAKK incorporates the very best of all their previous releases to give us a final product that no words can do justice to.  The album is a full on musical galaxy of soundscapes that takes you on a journey through time and space and sound, unlocking parts of our brain we don’t use and making us see things from a completely new point of view.  It is enlightenment in the form of music.  If there’s music in heaven, this is it. Grade A+.

hvarf side/heim side

HVARF/HEIM is a double disc compilation album, b-sides album, live album, and even soundtrack all at once. HVARF (roughly “disappeared”) holds studio versions of previously unreleased songs and b-sides, while HEIM (“home”) holds live, acoustic versions of previously available songs.  Together they form a unique addition to the Sigur Ros catalog. The album was released to promote HEIMA a sort of concert film/documentary about Sigur Ros and a series of free concerts they did through out their homeland of Iceland.  The unreleased songs are a bit more melancholic and arctic in nature, reminiscent of the ( ) album while the live, acoustic songs are inherently more warmer and softer, yet just as majestic, proving that Sigur Ros need no studio magic to keep creating that signature magnificent wall of soundscapes and enthrall us all with their musical beauty. Grade A.

MEO SOU I EYRUM VIO SPILUM ENDALAUST (“with buzzing in our ears we play endlessly”) is without a doubt Sigur Ros at their most sunny and playful (the cover announces the overall atmosphere of the album); a completely joyride of a record (though it has its quiet, melancholic moments, and really? It’s Sigur Ros, you wouldn’t wanted any other way) Maybe they were influence by the HEIM side of HVARF/HEIM but the album sounds more loose, more relaxed than anything the have done before.  The sound of a celebration of life and love even in the quiet moments.  Grade A.

HEIMA (“at home”) may be a documentary about Sigur Ros but it also plays as a live concert dvd and it is a must see/own by any Sigur Ros fan.  Listening to their music while watching images/video postcards of their homeland of Iceland is truly amazing and it sort of gives you a peek on what inspires their music.  Grade A+.

IN A FROZEN SEA: A YEAR WITH SIGUR ROS is a mammoth of a limited edition picture book/vinyl lps and any collector’s wet dream. It houses vinyl copies of AGAETIS BYRJUN, ( ), TAKK and a bonus SMASKIFA, a massive picture book of images taking during the TAKK tour all encased in a customized jacket.  Like HEIMA, a must own for any true fan of theirs. Grade A+.

Further listening: RIMUR Grade B+. UNTITLED #1 a.k.a VAKA Grade B. HLEMMUR SOUNDTRACK Grade A-. BA BA TI KI DI DO Grade B.

Yesterday on a whim / on a walk home from a lame job interview, I decided to pick up Arcade Fire’s “Mirror Noir” and Leonard Cohen’s “Live in London”. I got to thinking about how awesome some music DVDs are, and how amazing it is when a film-maker is able to capture the experience of a concert in film.

So this morning I decided to compile a short run-down of some good music DVDs I’ve come across in recent years. To be fair I have tried to cover a broad spectrum of music DVDs, everything from classic rock to folk to metalcore-for-kids-who-wear-tight-pants.

A word on this, and many of my other entries: Please do not feel obligated to read these posts, or check out all the mentioned music, all at once. You can come back to this as a resource whenever you need music to listen to/watch. Think of this as a book with no paper, or a library without awkward people. Cheers.

1) Firstly, Leonard Cohen’s, Live in London-  Leonard Cohen is one of the most prolific songwriters of our time. Cohen took an unexplained hiatus from touring 15 years ago, using some of the time to do some profound soul-searching (Prior to recording “Ten New Songs” Cohen spent 5 years in a Zen monastery in California). Even after a long hiatus from performing, Cohen has still managed to produce a live-show filled with the depth and wisdom of a life-long artist. His voice is still deep and poetic, and his backing band comprises some of the best musicians I’ve seen in a while. I like it.

2) Mirror Noir, The Arcade Fire- This is Arcade Fire’s new DVD, filmed by Vincent Moon (the man behind a number of “La Blogotheque” videos, which I’ll discuss later). This DVD was filmed throughout the recording process of Neon Bible, and snapshots of the tours that followed. The mood and atmosphere of the film matches the feel of “Neon Bible”, and it gives some insight as to the reasoning Arcade Fire had in the recording process- why they used elaborate organ sounds, orchestras, and choirs. Definitely worth your time.

3) Rattle and Hum- This is u2’s travel documentary, recorded soon after The Joshua Tree. For this film u2 travels from Ireland to the US to discover the cultural/spiritual roots of American music. The best parts of the film are 1) A recording of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” in a church with a gospel choir and 2) A performance of “When Love Came To Town” with blues-legend BB King. This one is definitely a must own.

4) The Supernatural Experience- At the height of their career DC Talk recorded “The Supernatural Experience”, which centered on their last studio album, and tour, as a band. This DVD shows a some-what over-publicized band at their best moments. “Supernatural” was the definition of DC Talk’s years of seeking identity, before Michael Tait, Kevin Max, and Toby Mac felt the urge to pursue solo projects. Say what you will, underneath all the hype and baggage associated with DC Talk/Christian bands in general, they were pretty talented and creative artists.

5) Heima, Sigur Ros- Ah, Sigur Ros. This film captures a tour Sigur Ros did in small towns in Iceland. As they tour the band finds every atmospheric locale they can find to put an exclamation point on their already beautifully orchestrated music. The sounds used in this film range from high-technology, to rocks gathered on a hill that make different tones, to a large ice-field that cracks and groans (for lack of a better word) with it’s slow movements. This movie is poetry.

6) Where the Light Is, John Mayer- I haven’t seen this one yet, but I’ve been told it’s good. From what I’ve heard this is a more stripped down John Mayer set, reminiscent of his focused guitar-and-vocals performances before he got gigantically huge with Heavier Things and Continuum.

7) No Direction Home- A documentary about the early days of Bob Dylan’s career, directed by Martin Scorsese. This shows Bob Dylan both at his defining career points (such as challenging the entire idea of folk music by playing electric at a Newport Folk Festival) and his fun-loving character. It also shows Dylan’s reluctance to be heralded as the spokesperson for protest movements. I don’t want to say too much, because there are many conversations to be had with this DVD. Come over some time and we’ll talk.

8 ) Shine a light, The Rolling Stones- A documentary on the career of The Rolling Stones (a band that has been famous for a long time, and no-one can really say why) also directed by Martin Scorsese. I actually haven’t seen this one yet either… does someone own it? Was it any good?

9) Live From Chicago, u2- I don’t think any-one really expected “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” to be a great album, but leave it to u2 to keep reinventing themselves every couple years, never finding themselves in a creative rut. This concert was performed during the Vertigo Tour, which I didn’t get to see because I was still a skeptic when this tour came through Vancouver. My best friend went to the show and came back with 97 reasons for me to feel jealous. This concert shines a light on their past career, as well as highlighting the personal nature of “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb”. U2 is one of those bands that you can’t afford to miss in concert… ever. They’re coming to Vancouver again in the fall, but I can’t find a ticket! I really should learn my lesson.

10) Any concert DVD by Led Zeppelin- I think Nick Andopolis said it best: “I believe in God. I’ve seen him, I’ve felt his power! He plays drums for Led Zeppelin and his name is John Bonham baby!” Some friends of mine were watching a classic Led Zeppelin concert one time, and seeing the legendary drum solo by the late John Bonham was worth some attention. That man must have prayed a lot in his younger days to have been blessed with such a talent.

11) The Best of Radiohead- Radiohead is another one of those bands you have to see in concert! I saw them last year at Thunderbird Stadium, and it was raining most of the time which made it a pretty surreal experience. I’m not sure if they’ve released a decent concert DVD yet, but they did release “The Best of”- a collection of all their best music videos.

12) A Hard Day’s Night- This is the defining rock-movie of our time. The Beatles filmed this one at the height of their popularity, and it shows the band in their young prime- before transitioning into, arguably, the most influential music career in our lifetimes. It’s a glimpse into that point in a band’s career where they realize: “Ah! I’m famous! Now what???”

13) Danielson : A Family Movie – Danielson represents the influence of a humble, sincere approach to music (a common theme in artists like My Brightest Diamond, The Welcome Wagon, Rosie Thomas, Denison Witmer and a host of others). This documentary follows the development of Daniel Smith and his family- a group of his brothers and sisters who played with tooth and nail for awhile, gained a following over the years, then eventually started their own label (a very short synopsis). The result is a hopeful film that makes you feel at home, part of the family. It’s strange comparing Daniel Smith’s sincerity with his weird vocal style, and also comparing Sufjan’s shy quietness with his wildly famous and confident “Illinois“. I can’t say enough good about this movie. Download/Borrow/Buy it today!

14) I am trying to break your heart, Wilco- I still haven’t seen this one (how embarrassing). Is it any good? From what I’ve heard, Wilco is every independent band’s favorite band. They are a band that has maintained a loyal following over the years, but has never become highly successful (becoming the band that every person and their mom talks about). I could see this film centering a lot around the political side of being a smaller band who doesn’t always have the luxury of a major record company putting every aspect of their career in cruise control, so to speak. I will find this movie soon, then rethink my synopsis. Yes.

15) Tupac Ressurection- Tupac was an enigma in the music scene in his short life, leaving behind a wake of controversy and influence. This film strays away from the overtly negative aspects of Tupac’s life, focusing instead on his personal/artistic character. I think “Changes” alone is reason to revisit Tupac’s life and career.

16) La Blogotheque – La Blogotheque is a film company of sorts that films impromptu concerts with independent artists, most of them taking place in the streets of Paris. The best part about La Blogotheque is that you can watch all their movies online for free! The music is good too. (My favorites include: Fleet Foxes, Tallest Man On Earth, Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens). Spend a day or two with these videos, or subscribe to the podcast and carry them around on your IPOD or your zune (Do not carry them around on your zune! in fact, throw your zune away. I am not a fan).

17) This is Who We Are, As I Lay Dying- As I Lay Dying, from what I can tell, is an artist who is committed to working on the art itself and reaching a diverse audience, not limiting themselves to a Christians-only audience (similar bands are Haste the Day, The Chariot, Thrice, and Norma Jean). As well they come across as an intelligent group. I put them in this list because it would suck to write off all hard-music as bad. I think it’s a pretty legitimate art form, and there’s a lot of truth to be found in any genre of music.

18) Finally, This is Spinal Tap- The rockumentary of the ages. This is Spinal Tap is a mock-film that gives insight into the world of 80’s hair/metal bands. If you haven’t seen this one yet make it a priority. Cancel your kid’s soccer game and settle in for an evening of quality family time, or something.

Thus concludes my short list. Do you know of any other music DVDs I really should watch? If so… comment comment comment!

(Man I want some comments. What a horrible addiction. This is why I like using Tumblr).

Peter Rollins articulates the difference between the said and the saying, explores the use of “meaningless” saying in the music of Sigur Ros, and sees the significance of Vonlenska-like language in pastoral action:

In academic life the said is often privileged over the saying. What is important is that meaning is communicated and, as such, the way it is communicated is important only insomuch as it gets the meaning across. Yet there are forms of communication that give emphasis to the saying over and above the said.

An interesting example of this can be seen at work in the music of Sigur Ros, a band from Iceland that employs what they call “Vonlenska” (or “Hopelandic”) in many of their songs. “Vonlenska” sounds like a language, however it lacks consistent grammar, logical structure, meaningful syllables, and often even discrete words. When a song is sung in Vonlenska, the words that you hear do not “mean” anything; nothing is said in their saying. Yet the saying itself invites a change in the sensitive listener. In contemplating the music, one touches upon a deep resorvoir of emotion that emanates from the song. This mode of “communication” is similar to what we see taking place between an infant and its parents. The grammatical nonsense that is communicated by the infant to the parent and by the parent to the infant is a discourse in which nothing is said, but a connection is established or deepened.

When we are facing difficult situations is it not true that the pastoral act is not one that offers some explanation for the suffering (the said) but rather is found in the act of who who offers presence to the other in the form of words and gestures (the saying)? Here it is not an explanation that brings healing and comfort, but rather the fact that someone is interacting with us, the fact that someone loves us and stands with us…

…This is pastoral care at its most luminous. 1

From Sigur Ros’ wikipedia entry:

Vonlenska

Vonlenska is a term used to describe the gibberish sung by the band,^[16] in particular Jón Þór Birgisson. It is also commonly known by the English translation of its name, Hopelandic. It takes its name from “Von”, a song on Sigur Rós’s debut album Von where it was first used.

Vonlenska is gibberish and differs from constructed languages that can be used for communication; it lacks grammar, word meaning, and even distinct words. Instead, it consists of emotive syllables and phonemes; in effect, Vonlenska uses the melodic and rhythmic elements of singing without the conceptual content of language. In this way, it is similar, to the use of scat singing in vocal jazz. The band’s website describes it as “a form of gibberish vocals that fits to the music”.^[17] Most of the syllable strings sung by Jón Þór Birgisson are repeated many times throughout each song, and in the case of ( ), throughout the whole album.

Sigur Ros’ employs Vonlenska in the song “Hoppipolla” from the documentary Heima, in which the band played in varied and unexpected venues throughout the countryside of Iceland:

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1 Peter Rollins, The Orthodox Heretic and Other Impossible Tales (Brewster MA: Paraclete Press, 2009) 40-42.