Shepizzle

So if you have been paying attention to my Last.fm profile, you would have seen this post coming. Every once in a while, I get on a Sigur Rós kick and I just let myself get lost in their music for a few days.

Hailing from the nordic northlands of Iceland, Sigur Ros is no stranger to international success. The band has released several solid albums including ( ), Takk…, and most recently, Hvarf-Heim. Their music contains elments of ambient sound, shoegaze, and rock. Many of the songs are very epic both in feel and in length. The vocals are sung in a made up language loosely based on Icelandic that leaves the lyrics to the listener’s imagination, though the music does enough to convey the intended emotion. Also worthy of note is that guitarist Jón Þór Birgisson is one of only a select few who often plays his guitar with a cello bow in true Jimmy Page fashion!

• Official Sigur Ros Website

I have yet to see these guys perform live but I have seen video of live performances and they are truly mind-blowing.

My favorite songs include “Staralfur“, “Saeglopur“, “Glosoli“, “Hljomalind“, “Heysatan“, and “Track 1” from ( ).

If you like Sigur Ros, try: Mogwai, Radiohead, The Album Leaf, Broken Social Scene, Efterklang

Sigur Ros’ music videos are truly works of art. I chose this one because of how well the video complements the feel of the music. This is “Glosoli” from Takk…

Tobias Fröberg is awesome. Honestly, I don’t know much about this guy other than that he is an Indie folk singer/songwriter from Sweden who has toured with Jose Gonzalez and that his music is a really worthwhile.

As I sit here listening to him, I really can’t figure out why Tobias Froberg isn’t more of a household name among Indie music lovers the world over. His melodies are fun (the kind that usually get you to sing along before you even know the words) and his vocals are moody. His songs are mostly, if not all, based on his acoustic guitar. If you think folk and you just won’t be disappointed.

I think the thing that I like most about Mr. Froberg’s music is his versatility. When he wants to be happy and upbeat, as in “When The Night Turns Cold” he does it convincingly and when he wants to be all sappy and lovey dovey, he does it with the best of them.

Froberg has released two albums, For Elisabeth Wherever You Are and Somewhere in the City. Somewhere in the City is an impressive release, one of those very complete and well-constructed albums that you can listen to all the way through over and over. Have a listen and see for yourself.

• TobiasFroberg.com

Favorite songs include “When The Night Turns Cold“, “Love And Misery”, “God’s Highway”, “So I”, and “Oh My Love”.

If you like Tobias Froberg, try: Jose Gonzalez, Iron and Wine, Brett Dennen and Sufjan Stevens.

Here is a video my favorite of favorites by Tobias Froberg, it’s “When The Night Turns Cold” in video form.

If by the slight chance you were looking for Tobias Funke, don’t worry, I’m sure it happens all the time but you got the wrong guy.

I sit here listening to a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Antony and the Johnsons and I feel calmed by the hauntingly beautiful voice of Antony Hegarty. I’ve been a fan of these guys for a while and I must say that they are one of the few bands to cover this song that actually do it justice (in my humble opinion anyway).

Hegarty was born in the U.K. and moved to the U.S. as a teen. His voice is truly one-of-a-kind and I like it a lot. There aren’t many singers out there that can pack as much emotion into their voice as Antony can. Have a listen and see for yourself!

The band has released 2 albums, Antony and the Johnsons and I Am A Bird Now with a release entitled The Crying Light due out autumn 2008.

• AntonyandtheJohnsons.com

Favorite songs include “Fistful of Love“, “Hope There’s Someone“, and “Cripple and the Starfish”. If you like Antony and the Johnsons, try: Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Bjork, and Rufus Wainwright.

Here’s a live video of Antony and the Johnsons playing “Fistful of Love”. I like the studio version of this song better because the horns give it that big band type of feel, but this is pretty rad too. Enjoy!