Takk...

Amazon.com
Just when this Icelandic crew seemed stuck in loud/soft/loud/ soft rut a la Mogwai or Godspeed You Black Emperor, they release their most beguiling, subtle and beautiful album yet. This album, allegedly the group's first sung in Icelandic rather than their own made-up "Hopelandic" (not that this listener could tell the difference) is relentlessly joyous, unaffectedly rad and inventive but never just for its own sake. Strings hold an ever more prominent place in the music, and this is a good thing. Songs unfold slowly as usual, but they take unexpected turns as often as not. The brilliant "Glósóli" burbles with as much melodic invention and anything by their fellow Icelanders Mum. Takk is a delight from start to finish, managing to be both their most accessible and experimental album yet. --Mike McGonigal

Takk...,Sigur Rós,Geffen Records,Ambient Pop,Chamber Pop,Iceland,Pop,Post-Rock/Experimental,Rock,Rock/Pop,Space Rock

Takk...

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Doesn't Begin To Describe It
Amazing
MASTERPIECE
I just don't know....
This album just "takk"s to me...

Takk...
Sigur Rós
Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ambient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

( )
Ágætis Byrjun
Plans
Z
The Campfire Headphase

ASIN: B000AJJNPY
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Takk
Glosoli
Hoppipolla
Meo Blodnasir
Se Lest
Saeglopur
Milano
Gong
Andvari
Svo Hljott
Heysatan

Amazon.com

Just when this Icelandic crew seemed stuck in loud/soft/loud/ soft rut a la Mogwai or Godspeed You Black Emperor, they release their most beguiling, subtle and beautiful album yet. This album, allegedly the group's first sung in Icelandic rather than their own made-up "Hopelandic" (not that this listener could tell the difference) is relentlessly joyous, unaffectedly rad and inventive but never just for its own sake. Strings hold an ever more prominent place in the music, and this is a good thing. Songs unfold slowly as usual, but they take unexpected turns as often as not. The brilliant "Glósóli" burbles with as much melodic invention and anything by their fellow Icelanders Mum. Takk is a delight from start to finish, managing to be both their most accessible and experimental album yet. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Doesn't Begin To Describe It.......2007-07-08

Sigur Rós has done it again, and we the collective fanbase are wondering just what it is about that windswept barren rock that is Iceland that inspires the generation of ridiculously great music.

There seems to be a burgeoning dichotomy of taste with their music. People who like the albums ( ) and Von tend not to embrace albums like Agætis Byrjun quite so readily, and vice versa. Those whose do like Agætis Byrjun are the ones who will love this latest work.

I can't find a track on here that I don't like. The pieces meld and flow together as if watching a liquid metal body spontaneously mutate into changing forms. A completely solid effort, though if I had had to choose one piece as the standout, it would be "Hoppípolla."

This is one of the ten best CD's I own.

Amazing.......2007-05-10

Really damn good, one of my favorite CD's. I only give it a 4, because it has to be compared to the previous release, Agaetis Byrjun, which is probably the best album thats been released in recent years.

MASTERPIECE.......2007-04-13

This album is one of those albums that resides in a very special place for me. It has consistently well produced tracks, mood and 'quality'. It really could be thought of as one epic tale/song; a myth long forgotten. It's like glacier exposing the soul of the Earth after the collapse of human civilization. With time, you come to appreciate the brilliant sonic subtleties: the textures, the changing tempo, the instrumentation. Sheer brilliance!

I just don't know...........2007-04-03

I know I am joining a dwindling minority when I speak against this band, but I just can't help myself. I own two Sigur Ros albums including this one and I have listened to them many times in attempt to understand why this band has such a sterling reputation, but I have failed to uncover this mystery.

It seems like in the writing process, Sigur Ros get in a huddle and say to themselves, 'Lets find the most beautiful sound we can and use it throughout the entire album.' I mean, the sounds this band can make are amazing, but there is absolutely no 'umph' nor meaning to this music as far as I can tell. Its like this band tries to recreate the sound you hear while stepping through heaven's gate, and succeed! But I do not want to remain at heaven's doorstep throughout an entire album. I want a band to take me into heaven and show me how it feels to live amongst the clouds, and walk on solid gold. There is very little variation in all of Sigur Ros works, and very little more than one long, but pretty droning sound. This album is like staring directly into the sun; its bright and overwhelming at first, but after a couple of minutes your eyes get tired of it, and block it out.

Personally, when I listen to music I want it to take me places. I want to expirence an aurol journey that lifts me off my feet with passion and energy, and Sigor Ros does not deliver. This band provides nothing more to me than a pleasant background noise. For the record, a little light/dark contrast goes a long way in music, and the same shining noise throughout an entire album is a good start, but gets stale and overdone very quickly. Just think how much brighter the light would be, mixed with a little bit of darkness! Think about how much more interesting the Sigur Ros concept would be with the slightest bit of contrast. Some will argue that there are dynamics throughout this album, and I will agree, but anyone can play music louder to create a cheesy sense of climax. Change is good! No change is boring.

To me, Sigur Ros lacks everything I look for in music: Contrast, direction, backbone and passion. If I were you I would check out Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Explosions in the Sky, and Pelican for music with personality.

This album just "takk"s to me..........2007-04-01

*siiiiiiiiiiiigh*
Remember back when albums were a sonically satisfying masterpiece of music and clever wordplay, generally tied together with some overall unifying theme and message? When the music really meant something and 'spoke' to you, even when you weren't engulfed in a purplish haze? No? That's probably because they stopped making music like that somewhere between the Moody Blues' epic "Days of Future Passed" and when whatever marketing genius signed Paris Hilton's record deal. They just stopped. That reason and the fact that if you've ever even heard of the band Sigur Rós and you're from the wrong side of the Atlantic, then it was probably by accident or because you were visited and blessed by some sort of musical angel set out to save the world from even still more Nirvana rip-off bands and flash-in-the-pan American I-dulls. In either of those cases, you owe it to yourself and humanity, now that you've happened upon the band and this, their magnum opus, to listen to "Takk..." a good thirty of forty times or until you start humming to yourself in Icelandic.

The band, Sigur Rós, is from the fairy-tale kingdom of Iceland, where genetically engineered-to-be-beautiful little Bjork-ettes frolic in the steamy mists of the natural hot springs...you could read about the band now, more and more, on discerning alterna-sites here and there...or just visit their homepage. But what you won't learn about them on the interweb is that they secretly and deliberately have been stealing all the best moves in music and concocting this album as a means to propel their mother Iceland to fabled musical-mecca status so that instead of English or Chinese the world will all want to speak their language. Don't fret if you don't already...you won't need to understand a word to understand what they're REALLY trying to say here. The lyric sheet basically translates into: "We're going to take over your heart, your scene, your country and then the world." I'm not afraid. Heil Sigur Rós!

File this one under "what every band in the world would love to accomplish." It's rock, it's classical, it's rap and country (except without so much of the rap or country) and a testament to mankind's ability to create and invent. I'd call it "ethereal" if I wanted to risk your running to the dictionary instead of to the record store first. Let's just say this album would be what could have happened if the Beatles lived on a funkier island, had cuter chicks to impress, and didn't just do it for the money. Yes, yes...and spoke icelandic.

Honestly, I probably couldn't tell you where one song starts and the other begins as the album's tracks have been fused together so artistically...But you'll be too busy kicking yourself for not having known about these guys earlier to be able to decide which is your favorite track. Assigning genre? Pointless. Just embrace it and accept it, guys. That cute girl with the hoodie and the ipod you always see on the way to work already has....girls? so has that sensitive, well dressed fella you've been meaning to give the time of day to. It's time to see what music has been doing while you were away.

Average customer rating:

best sigur ros album
Blown Away
Their best effort to date
There is no band greater than Sigur Ros
the most beautiful music you might ever hear

Takk
Sigur Ros
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ambient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Hoppípolla
( )
Sigur Rós (Ny Batteri)
Sigur 1 / Sigur 9 (CD & DVD)
Svefn-G-Englar

ASIN: B000AANVZ6

Album Description

Special edition CD - book-style package with 'linen'-bound spine and de-bossing on front and back of sleeve. Inside has a 16 page booklet with embossed front cover, exclusive additional artwork and floating, die-cut wallet for the CD. Takk, the fourth album from Sigur Rós was written, performed and produced by the band (along with co-producer Ken Thomas) at their studio in Álafoss, Iceland, and is the record to justify every amazing claim ever laid at this exceptional band's door. Huge and intimate, orchestral and gossamer-light, rich layered and essentially simple, it's the work of a band operating at the very top of their game. Takk is an instant classic, and might well turn out to be Sigur Rós's masterpiece. EMI. 2005.

Album Details

The Fourth Album from the Icelandic Art Rock Group was Written, Performed and Produced by the Band (Along with Co-producer Ken Thomas) at their Studio in Alafoss, Iceland. This Album Justifies Every Amazing Claim Ever Laid at this Exceptional Band's Door. Huge and Intimate, Orchestral and Gossamer-light, Rich Layered and Essentially Simple, It's the Work of a Band Operating at the Very Top of their Game. "Takk" is an Instant Classic and Might Well Turn Out to Be Sigur Ros's Masterpiece. This Special Edition Comes in a Book-style Package with 'linen'-bound Spine and De-bossing on the Front and Back of the Sleeve. Inside is a 16 Page Booklet with Embossed Front Cover, Exclusive Additional Artwork and Floating, Die-cut Wallet for the CD.

Customer Reviews:

best sigur ros album.......2007-01-23

this album is amazing, the whole thing just fills you up with happiness. every track is flawless. it's a solid album. if you want to make you life better you should buy it.

Blown Away.......2006-03-27

I bought this on a throwout table outside a boring local record shop. I had heard a few things by Sigur Ros before but nothing that really impressed me. I bought this because the cover was so cool. Then I listened to it. Absolute magic. The best thing I have heard for a long time. I have not yet taken out of the CD player and it has been 3 days. Like being dragged through some fantastic dream by a team of naked angels on opium. Before you leave this miserable planet listen to this record, things are not so bad after all.

Their best effort to date.......2005-11-01

So you're here wondering whether to sink however many bucks into the latest Sigur Ros album. You're either a bona-fide fan looking for affirmation that this latest effort doesn't suck before purchasing it (it doesn't, buy it now), or you're a fence-sitter, having heard them before, and thought their sound was beautiful and wonderfully weird, occasionally inspired but also occasionally incredibly self-indulgent and, well, pointless.

I'm here to offer my opinion that Takk is Sigur Ros' most focused and joyous album to date, and my personal pick of the bunch (I do have all their previous albums). Songs- indeed, you can even classify them as songs instead of moods and atmospheres- have structure and momentum that reaches satisfying conclusions. Some even had me rockin' in my chair. All are beautiful as only songs crafted by this bunch of Icelanders can be.

Will Takk, then, be able to convert a non-fan? I'm not sure; after all, it is another Sigur Ros album, with all that implies. And if their other albums invoked a terrible sense of pretentious, faux-art, hipster nonsense in you, then this latest effort will hardly change your mind. But if you wonder what Sigur Ros have been doing in the 3 years since their previous album, and are willing to give these lads some leeway for their indulgences, I'd say this album is well worth a gamble.

As a side note, the special edition packaging is a thing of beauty and I urge you to choose it over the normal CD case.

There is no band greater than Sigur Ros.......2005-10-13

I give this album 5 stars, triple platinum, a sweep at the Grammys, a 30 minute time slot on late night television, a 2.5 hour uninterupted network concert broadcast and a key to the world.

The calming, self-titled intro "Takk" leads into what is arguably the best composition Sigur Ros has ever produced thus far in "Glosoli". The first time I heard it I played it like 30 times in a row as I couldn't get enough of Jonnsi's falsetto and bowed guitar. I saw Sigur Ros open with this song in Philly in September 05 and it was very powerful.

Every song on this album is fantastic and it has a very good pace in that (unlike U2's last two albums)you're not slammed with 5 slow songs in a row. The strings that conclude "Soeglapur" flows nicely into the crisp piano that leads into "Milano." "Gong" picks up the pace a bit and places itself in perfect sequence followed by the masterpeice that is "Anvardi." An absolutely stellar performance on this track. "Heysatan" concludes this work as if Sigur Ros are saying "Takk" for the very last time.

Without a doubt the best album Alternative music has seen since Radiohead's OK Komputer. This CD will be a classic album palettable for generations.

More about the concert - I had been salivating to see these guys live for the last three years. I can honestly say that this was a concert like none other that I've seen before. My wife began crying at points in the show because the music was so beautiful. At the conclusion of the show, Sigur Ros took two curtain calls in the midst of a 7 minute standing ovation. I couldn't keep a dry eye during the ovation as I felt such strong gratitude in witnessing Sigur Ros' playing their hearts out in what was a powerful and emotional performance.

the most beautiful music you might ever hear.......2005-10-13

I was able to catch Sigur Ros in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. The Cd is.. amazing, I mean the last few albums have been not only groundbreaking musically, but.. very emotionally charging and inspiring music.

Then I saw Sigur Ros live.

heh, I don't care waht your favorite genre is, or what kind of music you prefer... do your a self a favor, pick up atleast this album, as it is in my opinion, the most accessable of any previous Sigur Ros album. and for god sakes, see them live... you'll never forget it.

Average customer rating:

best sigur ros album
Blown Away
Their best effort to date
There is no band greater than Sigur Ros
the most beautiful music you might ever hear

Takk...
Sigur Rós
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ambient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Hoppípolla
( )
Sigur Rós (Ny Batteri)
Sigur 1 / Sigur 9 (CD & DVD)
Svefn-G-Englar

ASIN: B000AMF7BK
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

Takk...
Glosoli
Hoppipolla
Meo Blodnasir
Se Lest
Saeglopur
Milano
Gong
Andvari
Svo Hlijott
Heysatan

Album Description

Album Details

Customer Reviews:

best sigur ros album.......2007-01-23

this album is amazing, the whole thing just fills you up with happiness. every track is flawless. it's a solid album. if you want to make you life better you should buy it.

Blown Away.......2006-03-27

Their best effort to date.......2005-11-01

There is no band greater than Sigur Ros.......2005-10-13

the most beautiful music you might ever hear.......2005-10-13

Average customer rating:

Takk
Sigur Rós
Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Chamber Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Ambient Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000A7TFD6
Release Date: 2005-09-19

Tracks:

Takk...
Gli
Hopplla
Meo Blsir
Sest
Saeglopur
Milan
Gong
Andvari
Svo Hlj
Heysn

Album Description

Japanese pressing of the Icelandic four-piece's 4th album. Tracks include 'Hoppipolla', 'Milano', 'Svo Hljott', 'Gong' & 'Mea Bloanasir' to name a few. EMI. 2005.