5 Icelandic bands to check out other than Sigur Ros
There is much to love about Iceland. The 11PM sunset, the orchestral Aurora Borealis, the eerie yet soothing landscape, and of course, the music that churns from its cold bosom. It goes without saying that Sigur Ros is up there on the list – well, at least for me anyway, but Iceland does hold a few hometown glories that they can be as proud of. Here are five other Icelandic music acts that who aren’t totally like Sigur Ros but will give you a different perspective of the land far, far away.
I was supposed to write something about this compilation when it was released early last year, concurrently to the movie’s release. But you know how these things work. Lady Muse is one fickle-minded bitch that leaves me high and dry whenever she pleases, and only comes back to me a year later all hot and bothered. Gee. Better late than never, I suppose.
On normal days, I am not much of a fan of cover songs. But these days have not been normal, and I found myself asking a question that reminded me of a song – Where is My Mind?, originally by American alternative rock band Pixies, covered in this compilation by Israeli-Romanian singer/songwriter Yoav and the lead actress of Sucker Punch herself, Emily Browning. From the hollowed snare, pitchy vocal and stinging rhythm guitar for the ending of the 1999 adaptation for Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club, transformed overtime from a seemingly quiet lullaby of cautious vocals and comforting strings, to heavy basses that pace, percussion beats that march and rhythmic riffs that wail.
Hence, I was drawn back to what I consider to be one of the best movie soundtracks available in 2011. Much like what the role of music played in the movie, the soundtrack offered an escape that pretty much elated itself within the listeners.
Other than Where is My Mind?, Emily Browning also lent vocals for The Smiths’ Asleep, which frontman Morissey was more than happy with the cover, and provided a haunting rendition to the famous Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics. Other singing stars from the movie include Carla Gugino and Oscar Isaac’s duet to a Burlesque-like reboot of Roxy Music’s Love is the Drug.
The rest of the soundtrack is wrapped around the axial of the rock genre. Emiliana Torrini and Skunk Anansie’s respective tantalising attempts to Jefferson Airplane’s Alice in Wonderland musical anecdote, White Rabbit, and Search and Destroy by The Stooges. Tracks that were given facelifts were Bjork’s own Army of Me, featuring Anansie with a more psychedelic twist, and the mashup by Armageddon a.k.a Geddy of Queen’s I Want it All and We Will Rock You.
What’s not to love about the Sucker Punch movie, really? Immaculate graphics, impeccable action sequences from all walks of action packed movies, and of course, hot girls in short skirts with machine guns and samurai swords. Top that with a soundtrack compilation like that, what more can you ask for? Well. Better dialogues, acting and plotline, I suppose, but hey, I have not been normal for days. Don’t take my word for it.
Backseat Radio II 