Heim / Hvarf (2CD)

These so called "B" sides are 10 times better than most of the so called "A" sides in the chart today. I urge you to experience this work of art for yourselves.

I'm a big sigur ros fan and this is a sweet double album! if you want to listen to great music by uber talented musicians this works!! It's so laid back and ambiatic its the best music to unwind too!!

Sigur Ros are a band to be loved.

They aren't a band to just chuck on when you get home from work; something to hum along to while you do the dishes or flap the duster around the house.

NO! This is not acceptable. You must make time for Sigur Ros. They are not to be appreciated, or admired, or simply liked. They demand our love. And that is what they deserve.

If people worshipped Sigur Ros instead of 'God', there really would be no problem.

Take note, world: you read it here first.

Let me start by saying I am a massive Sigur Ros fan. Takk was my first album I bought of theirs, but over the past two years have grown to love everything of theirs. From first listens of ( ) and Agaetis Byrjun I have grown to like them even more.

This is not a bad album, although giving Sigur Ros 4 stars may seem like treason of the highest order in most eyes. But in truth, this is not really a 'new' album, and although the content is great, some of it is a little bit samey.

The hvarf CD is brilliant, Salka is a breathtaking new track, and I Gaer definitely has its moments. Hljómalind is also very good, and so to is Von, if I am to be honest. Hvarf really does shine through, but the last track Hasfol completely steals the show. It is a new recording of an old track that leaves you amazed it wasn't one of your favourites before. Although... the feeling I got when I listened to Hasfol was a feeling I got all the way through Takk, ( ) and Agaetis Byrjun. I mean, Von and I Gaer are good, definitely have the Sigur Ros vibe about them, but I don't see them ringing in my head like previous album entities.

As for Heim, it is a solid, nice collection of Sigur Ros classics. It is great to see Samskeyti as part of the collection, and Heysátan also. The other four tracks also are nice in their own right, but because these are all tracks that you have come to know and love, the live versions are simply just reminding you of what you already like. And in all honesty even I would prefer to listen to some of the originals, and for Samskeyti, definitely. The live version, although good to see 'out and about' is lacking the same definition it had.

Sigur Ros have always made new ground with each release, and changed the direction each album took. Von was a marking of territory, definitely a weak point, but in terms of setting goals, it, well, worked. Ágætis Byrjun fulfilled this potential, songs painting landscapes, and drenching you in whatever emtotion was there. ( ) went out and made the scale even bigger, breaking down massive barriers with some songs in terms of what 'music' actually defined, and what music genre Sigur Ros defined. Takk then went in completely the opposite direction, all of a sudden a rockier (well, rockier for Sigur Ros) sound was made, and songs that gained popular acclaim were born. Hoppipolla gained massive airtime, and songs like Milano, Glosoli and Se Lest (among many others I know) just showed Sigur Ros' jovial side. Heysatan ended the album, and perhaps this is what I expected from this one, something more sparse, something more indirect, but still as emotive in the end. But I got this double CD that hits and misses, often within a song.

In conclusion, Hvarf-Heim should be more Hvarf, and more original material in my opinion. Although it is great to hear old songs in a new skin, nothing beats listening to a Sigur Ros song for the first time and it completely changing your modd, or you attitude to whatever is around you. Everyone that loves Sigur Ros has had one of those moments, but Heim simply just isn't that for me. Snatches of Hvarf fulfill me, but now Sigur Ros have finished Heima, and have this album now 'off their chest' I truly look forward to the direction they take next.

I've been a Sigur Rós fan since someone sent me a copy of Agaetis Byrjun , and I have to say this album is probably the first since then to captivate me quite this much.

I've long been a fan of Hafsol, Which was a B-side to Hoppipolla, and I'm thrilled to see a proper release of this fantastic song.

The really captivating songs for me, though, are the live acoustic versions of Agaetis Byrjun and Staralfur, two of my favourite ever Sigur Rós songs. It's very rare for a 'new version' of a loved song to do the original justice, but Sigur Rós have really pulled it out of the bag for this one. Both truely magnificent, earthy re-workings, worthy of addition to the Sigur Rós canon.

There's something about this album that felt like Sigur Rós were saying goodbye. In fact, when I first heard it, I was a little scared that they were! Time will tell whether or not this marks a departure for newer styles of music in future. Either way, this is a must-have album!