Concert reviews! And one album review!

I just got back from Broken Social Scene last night, which was probably the most energetic concert I have ever been to. I'd definitely give it a solid 9.5. A week and a half ago, I saw Vampire Weekend, who were also excellent (maybe a 9.1?), and just days before that, I saw Jonsi three times (all 10s, of course!) I have had my fair share of concerts in these past three weeks, but nothing is going to stop me! I have also been listening to a lot of new albums lately...and I am going to review them!

Ólafur Arnalds - ...and They Have Escaped the Weight of the Darkness [9.7]
No vocals. No guitars. Stripped down classical-style piano with some orchestrals. Sounds unexciting? Well, you'd be wrong. The latest outing by classically-trained Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds is his finest accomplishment to date. ...And they Have Escaped the Weight of the Darkness has a much more depressive feel to it than his earlier album, Eulogy for Evolution, but that is what makes this so much better. ...ATHETWOTD is dripping with gorgeous atmosphere. It starts off by building a claustrophobic mood with the opener, "Þú ert sólin", which segues into the equally dark "Þú ert jörðin". Arnalds then treats us to a little breath of hope, the beautifully played "Tunglið". From here on, however, Arnalds gradually builds the claustrophobic and depressive mood until half-way through the album's finale, the fittingly titled "Þau hafa sloppið undanþunga myrkursins", which is the title of the album in Icelandic; the song continues the hopeless feel, but half-way through it, a whole marching band and orchestra, complete with trumpets, plays innocently, and all of the darkness fades in a split second. To me, on first listen, that was one of the most satisfying moments in musical history, and that is not an exaggeration. Once you hear that part of the song, you will understand why this gorgeous, near-perfect gem is titled "...And They Have Escaped the Weight of the Darkness".

Top songs: Tunglið; Hægt, kemur ljósið; Þau hafa sloppið undanþunga myrkursins

So Jónsi and Sigur Rós have become my favorites EVER.

Since I've seen Jónsi live THREE times and all I have been listening to lately is him and Sigur Rós, I have come to the realization that Sigur Rós is my new all-time favorite band. There's something about their music that brings out the best in me, brings out every happy vessel that exists inside me...no other music has ever done that to me! I don't know how they do it...they had to have been born on a different planet or in the mystical waters of Iceland or something. Oh, and Heima is one of the best DVDs I own.

My ratings for all of Jónsi/Sigur Rós projects:

Sigur Rós - Von: 5.3
Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun: 9.4
Sigur Rós - ( ): 10
Sigur Rós - Takk: 9.9
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust: 8.6
Sigur Rós - Hvarf/Heim: 8.7

Jónsi & Alex - Riceboy Sleeps: 7.9
Jónsi - Go: 9.9

So I saw two movies last night.

Hooray for paying for one movie and sneaking into a second one after the first one is over!

I saw Oceans first, the newest Disneynature film, and I must say, I was blown away. Imagine an animal/environmental documentary with the most amazing visuals you have ever seen. It is incredible how these filmographers can get such amazing footage of the coolest sea creatures! There was a flying carpet octopus, armies of hermitcrabs, and dolphins swimming upstream like salmon! It was a feast for the eyes, and I definitely recommend it to any nature/animal lover.

I kind of switched to the extreme after Oceans and saw How to Train Your Dragon. My God, this movie could not have been any better. Of course, it is animated, and I am a sucker for all animated films. But this...this made me laugh so hard, made me cry on more than one occasion, and the Jonsi song that played during the end credits completely cinched the deal! How to Train Your Dragon is one of the best movies I have ever seen, animated or not. The ending was hilarious and perfect, and even though it started off slow, this movie is one of the ages.

Oceans - 8.8
How to Train Your Dragon - 10

Reviews of some books and music

Since I'm too lazy to actually give full reviews, just a score.

Vladimir Nabokov - Mary: [10]
Vladimir Nabokov - The Enchanter: [8.1]
Jonathan Safran Foer - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: [9.9]
Ray Bradbury - Now and Forever: [5.9]


The Weepies - Hideaway: [8.6]
A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire: [7.8]
Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People: [8.7]
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water: [10]

Wow.

What a hectic, unbelievably perplexing, and undeniably amazing spring break.

I'll get back to blogging soon, but for now I am on hiatus, though I will be updating my website often!

Jónsi - Icicle Sleeve.

Oh. My. God.

Job interview...

Wish me luck, blog-readers!