I prefer the music of BJORK..I have listened to Sigur ros a number of times and consider their music to be non musical garbage!
Nice try Phil,but shouldn’t you be promoting the many great bands in Finland!? I think you have a great opportunity to spread the news about the FANTASTIC music scene in SUOMI,that blows Iceland off the map!…SHEESH!

You might want to check out the Airwaves Festival held in Reykjavik in October. I’m in NYC and stumbled upon this blog because I go to Helsinki too often. Couldn’t help commenting and from what I know the Icelandic music scene is much more international by comparison to the Finnish one (In NYC and London at least). Well, the modern stuff. Check out Gus Gus as well. They’re quite amazing.

The Finns can be bigger in venue sales or whatever you think makes the music scene fantastic but they have no style compared to their nordic counterparts…..If this is even challenged I will be so sad for you.

Another group you might enjoy is called MÚM. My personal Icelandic favorite is Luftgitar by Sugarcubes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHMATQvbR5c

Actually, I really like Finnish folk music — Hedningarna is good. Those ladies can SING.

I will list the reasons why Suomi should be proud of it’s music scene!
Remember this:Finland has about 5.2 million people,compared to Massachusetts with about 5.8 million…

1. There is easily over 20,regularly performing world class symphony orchestras in Suomi…Massachusetts has 2
2. Finland has at least 6 internationally known Heavy Metal bands that have good sized cult followings and you can buy their discs easily in *U.S.of KKK-A.(tm Reverend Jeremiah Wright)*
3. Suomi has a number of excellent traditional and modern Folk groups,that are internationally known….
4. Suomi has a very large number of music festivals all featuring great bands…as for Jazz..can you say PORI!
5. There is a bunch of great jazz groups and some excellent
BIG bands.
6. the level of musicianship for all genres of music is excellent to superb.
7.The Suomi-pop/ Schlager/Tango music of last 50-60 years is really
great to listen to even if you don’t understand Finnish language!
8.Music is a very important part of Finnish culture,and when you listen to most music produced in Suomi,you can easily hear the melancholy atmosphere that is present in Finnish culture and it’s music.

Anyone at F.F.T. can feel free to add to my list!

It doesn’t matter! The blog posting is just bigging up an Icelandic group. Can’t it just be that? Can’t it just be that Sigu Ros is an awesome band OR is it so that your envious Finnish mentality seeping its ugly head out? Could it be that since no one ever responds to your boring, depressing, hillbilly like, homogenic presentations that you feel so threatened all the time that you can let anyone get some recognition. Get out of the shade you’re blocking everyone else’s sun. Here’s one for your list, you kill yourselves every year by drowning yourselves in lakes cause you’re too drunk. Baffoon!!! Stop hating! Biach!

….and the “Ugly” was a literal statement not a figurative one. Just go to any Prisma or major shopping center and watch those fugly depressed faces. Now that’s hating, infinndel.

#7…you make me smile!…keep it up!….and…KIPPIS!

skal.

#7 Homogenic is a great album. It might be my favorite by Ms. Gudmundsdottir.

thanks for getting that, giustino.

“Luftgitar by Sugarcubes”

Giustino, can I get some Aspirin with that? lol I read your blog occasionally, it’s very nicely done. May I ask how long you’ve lived in Estonia now? How do you like it there?

@1: Phil didn’t write this, I did. BR Tapani Pallomeri, aka Sirkuspelle

You just found them? C’mon, get with it, they’ve been hip for years.
There’s also this great band, the Beatles, ever heard of them?

#14…Sirkuspelle…Sorry,I failed to notice that it was you,not Phil who posted this article…thanks for the heads up!…Last time I went through Iceland on my way back from Finland,I bought a Sigur Ros cd at the airport(4 years ago)…When I got home to Massachusetts and listened to it,I found their music grating and irritating(the cd was one of their first cds)…
On the other hand I have most of BJORK’S cds and concert dvds,and really love Bjork…I saw her perform live in Massachusetts about 10 years ago..She had a 9 piece Icelandic string group,and the usual Drum and base techno backup group..Her concert was one of the best,unique performances I have ever seen and heard….I also have 2 sugercubes albums that I like better then Sigur Ros

#11…Giustino…I really like your blog and read it regularly.Having been to Tallinn twice, it helps to remind me of the great progress Estonia is making since they have become independent of the Russkie-Commie menace!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Sirkuspelle likes one of my absolute all time favorite bands, leave it to me, it’s all mine.

P.S. There’s so much great music made in Iceland it’s mind boggling… Sigur Rós, Björk, múm, Seabear…

Their manager lives in Helsinki, http://www.flickr.com/people/dw/ . Suck up to Arabella if you’re bonkers about them and want to meet him.

@16 Hi Infinndel. The first LP of theirs was grating and irritating. Since then they have had a new member join the band, one who has had professional music training. He is the one responsible for all the band, choir and orchestration going on in the music. I strongly urge you to give them another try. Maybe start with “Med sud i eyrum, vid spilum endalaust”.

#13, Sugarcubes are an acquired taste. Einer Örn used to annoy the shit out of me, but these days I am appreciating him more.

This is my second life period in Viro. I have been here since Feb 07. Last time was 03-04.

#17, speaking of how Tallinn used to be, check out this old (1994) video by Vennaskond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nphSa39Kn7k&feature=related

wow. can’t believe some people still post sigur ros. welcome to eight years ago.

@22 Welcome to: “tomorrow they are in concert in Helsinki”. (Aug 24, 2008 Kulttuuritalo) With their album “Med sud in eyrum, vi spilar endalaust”, 2008.

And I don’t have tickets – it was sold out already over a month ago.