I have a raging crush on the sheer talent of Iceland’s Jónsi.
Live, he is truly remarkable. On record, his voice is unparalleled. In Sigur Rós, he is wonderful. And with his boyfriend Alex Somers they made Riceboy Sleeps - an an album even more ethereal than Sigur Rós. Yeah.
So what goes on inside the heads of these two Reykjavik-based edgy artfolk?
Now you can find out. We’ve got 10 copies to give away of Rain Down My Favorite Songs - a mellow and scratchy sort of All Back to Mine collection of Jónsi and Alex’s, err, favourite songs. 
But don’t expect experimental ambient or to hear Jónsi’s voice, they’ve just picked the tracks they like here. And there isn’t much of anything from this decade. Or last. Or the one before. Or the one before…
….BUT THERE IS LOTS OF FASCINATING stuff that was likely first played on your grandmother’s parlophone. And the CD has all the crackles too. It’s quite lovely will go wonderfully well with a Sunday or a hangover or a pipe.
And in the meantime, be sure to check out this awesome posting on NPR with videos and interviews about Jónsi’s current (and exhaustive) tour for “Go”.
Comments (43)
Also his recipe book on his site is really cool...have you checked it?
thanks for the heads up:)
carlos-
I will never, ever forget the first time that I heard them - where I was and the people who I was with. They continue to be the backdrop to every smile, every laugh, every tear, and every memory.
Seeing Jónsi's live show was simply incredible and he never fails to amaze me. You can't even begin to describe his (and their) sound with words because words simply wouldn't do it justice.
I hope it's what eternity sounds like...
It's just like asking what I dig about oxygen.
I could start talking about the extremely deep values they taught me since I started listening to their music - Jónsi, Alex and anything coming from their world. There's something their artistic production never fails to convey. Honesty. Tenderness. Sweetness. Gentleness. Attention to the smallest detail. Or, more simply, not having to be a mould-breaker to do something beautiful. I think they even managed to taught me something about what love - pure, unconditioned love - is.
But these considerations would take too much reason, and I have serious issues with being rational when it's about them. I swear, among the multitude of artists I listen to and I have seen live, they're the only ones that I venture to consider something beyond the conventional meaning of the word "music". They are art. I don't mean their music, I mean them as people.
They're ink. Ink writing down emotions on the paper sheet of my heart. From the most common - love, sadness, rage, delusion - to those feelings I often fail not only to put into words, but even more often to recognise, too: feeling pathos in front of a different landscape, feeling comfortable with myself while drinking tea at home, being in the right place at the right time, feeling my stomach trembling at the sound of someone's voice, eating my favourite food, waking up with the light of day instead of hearing my alarm, walking alone under the rain, feeling like jumping in puddles no matter what people think, not being able to think about future, feeling uncomfortable with myself, having something weighing on my chest, trusting the impossible, fearing change, fearing time, fearing death coming. They somehow manage to spread all of these bits in the air so that they get to you, as they are, as they were born, hat in hand, unpretentiously.
I really hope they're able to notice what they give to their fans around the world, wherever they are right now. Because it's so much wonder, so much breath taken away, so much reflecting in a mirror made of sound and colours. They deserve to be aware of it.
F.
* not a native speaker, so please forgive me if you bump into some mistakes :)
I now live and breath Jonsis music!!!!!!
Jonsi is an Angel whose music wraps around my heart and tugs at all of my heartstrings!
Thank You Jonsi and Alex!!
The moment is now.
The purity is mine.
I am free.
(the artwork is amazing once more!)
I love that they manage to capture an essence of Iceland so well in audio format. I love that seeing both Sigur Ros and Jönsi live is such a heart-warming experience, they make you feel special. I'm glad they make the music they do, long may it continue.
thank you Jonsi/alex/sigur ros
x
Musically, Jonsi provides a wide array of emotions from ethereal soundscapes to fast paced summer anthems.
I also digg Jonsi and Alex's life style choices. Their raw vegan 'food show' has provided entertainment for me and many of my friends.
In his band parachutes, Alex showed that Jonsi isn't the only one with heart warming aesthetics.
Last but not least, Jonsi and Alex make me feel like it's ok to be gay.
They have been an inspiration I truly needed in my life.
Thanks for the music and love guys!
We will be seeing Jonsi and Alex live in New York, November 15th, which is very exciting for us as we hope to reach our goal of performing at Icelandic Airwaves in 2012.
Jonsi and Alex remind fairies everywhere that love is the secret to magical music.
ang