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The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s: 40-21

From breathtaking reformulations of shoegaze to British soul revival, this batch of stellar recordings from the 2000s is an eclectic one.

                                      
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From breathtaking reformulations of shoegaze to British soul revival, this batch of stellar recordings from the 2000s is an eclectic one.

For this tour, Muse didn't prepare an inverted pyramid of televangelical visuals, but rather a somewhat more toned-down scenography.

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With 2012 all but over, the usual treasure trove of year-end countdowns have begun. Oh, happy day!

On the heels of the sharing of the new tune "Brennisteinn", Iceland's Sigur Rós have announced their biggest North American tour, which includes a night headlining at Madison Square Garden.

The Icelandic band's first show in almost four years was a gift for their fans, even if it was not the full ensemble or the magnificent catharsis we held out for.

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With Valtari, these Icelanders may have pushed their dream-pop/post-rock formula to its final point. Where can Sigur Rós go after pushing the very limits of beautiful?

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Jónsi has lovingly crafted a fantastic soundtrack, but it is the lack of brilliant new compositions that prevents the We Bought a Zoo soundtrack from being a fantastic album.

The Icelandic singer-songwriter serves up a fine quintet of English-language songs; highlights include covers of Springsteen, Dylan, and Johnny Cash.

The German electronic musician and erstwhile member of Moderat returns with a warmer, softer edge than contemporaries like James Blake.

Though Jónsi & Alex's White Light Festival performance may have been a one-time event, the spirituality of their music is everlasting.

A short interview speaks volumes about the artist’s life and approach to music

The Sigur Rós frontman’s first solo foray (featuring explosive arrangements by Nico Muhly) is a triumphant success.

This collection might have been swallowed up by Iceland's financial crisis, but perhaps that's just as well -- it probably wouldn't have made much of an impact anyway.

As confetti rains down, behind giant orbs of multi-colored paper lanterns, Sigur Ros and their brass accompaniment pummelled drums with a purely celebratory energy.

A major departure, Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust finds Sigur Rós throwing their well-worn playbook out the window. Joyous, experimental, stripped-down and playful, it is unmistakably Sigur Rós, even as it diverges from their previous work.

Sigur Rós - Untitled #8 (Popplagið)

Play this in the background or simply give in to its slowly-building majesty, perhaps allowing yourself the liberty to fall asleep as it plays, and it's easy to love.

Originally formed as a string quartet to back up Sigur Rós, amiina gives us a debut even more ambient and instrumental than the band they usually support.

The unique falsetto vocalizations and the sometimes starkly minimal, often breathtakingly beautiful, and always sweepingly unearthly signature soundscapes are back.

washes up on our shores to kick off their North American tour.

washes up on our shores to kick off their North American tour.

More dreamscapes from Icelandic misfits, but will they get to the rock under the surface?"

When Von was first released in Iceland in 1997, it became a national bestseller and introduced Sigur Rós as an inventive, daring, and inconceivably young voice in the burgeoning Icelandic music scene.