Sigur Ros Songs

Jonsi Birgisson, Georg Holm and Agust Aevar Gunnarsson (drums, now ex-member), all from Reykjavik, formed Sigur Ros in 1994. Their potential was spotted by a local record label who signed up the newly-fledged band.

The simply named Von ('Hope' in english) was released as their debut album in 1997. Composed of ephemeral, off-worldy music it provided a raw foretaste of the future direction of the band.

Another album followed in 1998. Titled Von brigoi ('Hope Alteration'), the record consisted of an eclectic selection of remixes. Later that year, Kjarri Sveinsson joined the band. Classically trained, Kjarri added string arrangements to the band's songs.

Sigur Ros's third album Agaetis Byrjun ('An Alright Start'), hit the shops mid-1999, and proved the most popular yet. In the same year Orri Pall Dyrason replaced Gunnarsson on drums. The band then embarked on an international tour to promote the album. Though mainly playing support, the tour helped build a worldwide fanbase. The band's music was also airing to the movie audience - three tracks from the album appeared in the soundtrack of the smash-hit Vanilla Sky.

The next album from the group came the bizarrely no-named (). The music was way-out-there experimental - all the lyrics were sung in a nonsense language. The CD came complete with blank spaces in the release notes for the listener to fill in with their own personal version of the songs' words.

Following on came the album Takk ('Thanks'), released in 2005. One of the tracks from the album Hoppipolla became the group's biggest ever commerical success. The band embarked on their longest tour yet, visiting far-flung corners of the globe, and including a headlining gig at Hollywood Bowl.

In 2008 the band produced their fifth studio album, Meo Suo I Eyrum Vio Spilum Endalaust ('With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly'). In an amusing and self-deprecating twist, the first track is titled Gobbledigook.