I heard the new Sigur Rós song, “Gobbledigook” from the forthcoming Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, on the radio last night.  I have to admit I’m a little smug about it sounding like an actual song rather than a movement in a suite.  The guitar sounds like a normal, strummed guitar; the drumming reminds me of Animal from the Electric Mayhem; and the vocals sound like words.  I don’t care what language the song was written in, Sigur Rós songs never sound like they have lyrics so much as vocalise accompaniment.  This, ladies and gentlemen, is your precious Sigur Rós playing a rock ‘n roll song.

I will admit that my dislike for Sigur Rós is mostly irrational.  I quite enjoy “Svefn-g-englar” and “Starálfur” a fair amount, but on the whole I find the Icelandic forest nymphs pretty bland unless the music is accompanying something.  I’ll cite “Starálfur” being used in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou as a prime example of Sigur Rós being well used (that song also features a brief bit of elusive strummed guitar), but generally the whole aura of the band seems so convoluted and self-congratulatory that I’m immensely turned off by them.  So I present to you my petty victory over post-rock.

P.S. Please don’t misunderstand, I’ve nothing really against post-rock, I’ll cite certain Mogwai songs and Nine Inch Nails’ Ghosts I-IV as examples of enjoyable stuff.  I just hate Sigur Rós so much.

 Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook [3:08m]: Play in Popup | Download