My MAP (Music Alliance Pact) colleagues of the Scottish blog The Pop Cop gave the Best Album of the Year Award to Sigur Rós for their 5. Album "Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust". Even a short interview with the band is to be found @ the Pop Cop.Nr. 1: Sigur Rós – "Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust"
Let's put into perspective just what Sigur Rós did here. They conjured up their most inventive, fascinating album after a career spanning 14 years and four previous studio records. Despite singing almost entirely in their native Icelandic tongue their words still manage to transcend the barriers of language, every syllable of emotion intact. Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust transports you to an enchanting, extraordinary place in a way that the best books and films do. It captures the sound of euphoria, the innocence of youth, the magic of dreams.
Source:
http://thepopcop.blogspot.com
Jason wrote:
Sigur Rós are notoriously media-shy but Jón Birgisson (vocals and guitar), Orri Páll Dýrason (drums), Georg Hólm (bass) and Kjartan Sveinsson (keyboards) were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedules to accept The Pop Cop's award for 2008 and have a brief chat with us.
THE POP COP: Hello Sigur Rós. We've picked "Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust as our Best Album of 2008". Here's your award.JÓN: It's really nice! Thank-you.
[Jón shows plaque to Orri, Georg and Kjartan, who all make excited noises to each other in Icelandic]
JÓN: What's the new Mogwai album like? I haven't heard it yet.
THE POP COP: It's rubbish.
[Band agree to pose for a photo before Georg leaves the room to make a call on his mobile]
THE POP COP: You've made our favourite album of the year. Is it your favourite Sigur Rós album?
KJARTAN: We don’t really have a favourite. You just work on the album you’re working on.
THE POP COP: Do you like getting awards?
KJARTAN: Yes, of course. It’s nice for what we do to be appreciated.
THE POP COP: Do you read blogs or take an interest in what people write about you?
KJARTAN: No.
THE POP COP: Has the Icelandic financial crisis affected Sigur Rós directly?
KJARTAN: It affects everybody in a way.
ORRI: Not directly.
[This prompts a burst of debate among the band, possibly about somebody they know who has indeed been affected directly. They're speaking to each other in Icelandic... they could be talking about the Jonas Brothers for all we know]
THE POP COP: What are your thoughts on playing gigs in Scotland?
JÓN: There’s good people, a good energy.
KJARTAN: We really liked the Connect festival.
THE POP COP: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us.
JÓN: Good luck with your blog.
www.sigurros.com
Another blog I love Makonnen, had an interview with Alex Somers, boy friend of Jónsi of Sigur Rós, and member of the band Parachutes. Alex & Jónsi are doing an art project under the name Riceboy Sleeps. In this interview Alex talked about doing an Album with Jónsi (apart from Parachutes & Sigur Rós).
1. DID YOU GUYS COME UP WITH THE NAME PARACHUTES?
P-We are called Parachutes because when Scott was really young he and his grandmother would walk through fields and pick dandelion weeds. She always called the seeds of the dandelion flower "parachutes".
2. HOW DID YOU GUYS MEET?
P-Scott and I met in Boston. He was studying at an art school and I was studying music. We just met through a friend of a friend and started playing guitar together and recording in 2003.
3. WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?
P- I can't speak for Scott, but I don't listen to very much music. I do have a small red radio in my kitchen and I love listen to really really old music. I like the really rough sound quality of very early recordings...
4. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU WENT TO A CONCERT AS A FAN?, AND WHO WAS THE PERFORMER?
P-I just recently saw Sigur Rós in concert, just after we finished touring with them. Maybe that doesn't count, but it was really amazing!
5. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SONG YOU CREATED?
P-no answer
6. IF YOU WERE HEADLINERS OF A TOUR,WHO WOULD YOU WANT TO BE
THE OPENING ACT,IF YOU COULD PICK ANY ARTIST EVER?
P-Maybe Washington Phillips. Unfortunitly he is dead now, but he was an amazing folk/ blues musician.
7. WHAT BANDS DO YOU THINK ARE COOL, CURRENTLY?
P-I like the music my friends are making. Some of those bands are: Seabear, Sin Fang Bous, Dygn, Fanfarlo, Vio/Mire, Psykids Army.
8. IF YOU COULD PERFORM WITH ANY MUSICIAN LIVING OR DEAD,WHO WOULD IT BE?
P-It would be amazing to perform with a boy choir from a few centuries ago... Except, I would prefer playing an instrument, not singing...
9. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2009?
P-Parachutes is going to lay low for at least the first part of 2009, but I will be working on a lot of things... I will be finishing my first album with my boyfriend in March, I hope to finish a new picture book, publish a dog book I made with a group of friends over this past year, and continue to exhibit my artwork.
10. HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED 50 YEARS FROM NOW?
P-I hope to remembered as a very good chef of raw vegan food!
www.myspace.com/parachutesmakesongs
Source:
http://ilovemakonnen.blogspot.com
