Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.01.2007, Side 31

REYKJAVÍK_GRAPEVINE_ISSUE 01_007_FEATURE/MUSIC/ALBUM OF THE YEAR_19
“Using a combination of hardcore, punk and
alternative rock, Gavin Portland is the band
of the future.”
“Wine For My Weakness met my standards
and then some. Pétur Ben shows his talent in
many areas and does a thorough job. Hope-
fully we won’t have to wait as long for the
next album.”
Pétur Ben
Wine For My Weakness 17
Gavin Portland
Views of Distant Towns 18
Concert of the Year
Artist Venue Points
Sykurmolarnir Laugardalshöll 24
Sufjan Stevens Fríkirkjan 17
Roger Waters Egilshöll 14
Airwaves
Kerrang! Night Nasa 11
The Stooges Listasafn 10
Morrisey Laugardalshöll 10
Entombed - Mínus Nasa 10
Brian Jonestown
Massacre Nasa 8
Belle and Sebastian Bræðslunni 8
Sigur rós Miklatún 8
“Brain Police have been a favorite with the
Icelandic public for a long time, no wonder,
since this band has it all, good vocals, groove
tunes and on the plus side, it rocks!”
Brain Police
Beyond the Wasteland 13
“Pure pop made by somebody who is ready
to experiment with sounds and arrange-
ments. The tunes are catchy and the sounds
are atmospheric and imaginative.”
“Benni Hemm Hemm’s latest outing is stron-
ger than his first, even though it’s not as
fresh a listen.”
Benni Hemm Hemm
Kajak 10
Eberg
Voff Voff 11
“I expected a cute and entertaining album
from Skakkamanage, but this still surprised
me. It is surely cute, but it is also much bet-
ter than I expected. Really entertaining songs
and well performed.“
Skakkamanage
Lab of Love 10
“I never expected that a solo album from
the leader of the band Sólstrandargæjarnir
would arouse my interest. But life is full of
surprise and this album is great. Finally we
have an Icelandic Beck.”
“Irrepressible beauty.” “Dark and gruesome ghostship that stands
strong the whole time.”
Shadow Parade
Dubious Intentions 7
Jóhann Jóhannsson
IBM 1401, A Users Manual 7
Jónas Sigurðsson
Þar sem malbikið svífur 7
“A big improvement over their debut album.
Wicked beats, arresting sounds and crazy lyr-
ics. Good morning to you! And it features
Mark E. Smith on vocals on the dirty disco
single Not Clean. Truly great stuff!”
Ghostigital
In Cod We Trust 7
1.-15. Future Future Insight 6
1.-15. The Telepathetics Ambulance 6
1.-0. Red Motor Dog Rock Machine 5
1.-0. Æla Sýnið tillit, ég er frávik 5
1.-0. Forgotten Lores Frá heimsenda 5
1.-0. Changer Breed the Lies 5
1.-0. Ben Frost Theory of Machines 5
1.-3. Nico Muhly Speaks Volumes 4
1.-3. Biggi ID 4
1.-3. Fjölnir Sonur neyslusamfélagsins... 4
.-9. Foghorns A New Low 3
.-9. Fræ Eyðileggðu þig smá 3
.-9. Megas Passíusálmar í Skálholti 3
.-9. Ókind Hvar í Hvergilandi 3
.-9. Bubbi 06.06.06 3
.-9. Momentum Requiem 3
30. Hafdís Huld Dirty Paper Cup 2
2 3 4
6
“A very sincere record. She is re-inventing
blues-country.”
Lay Low
Please Don’t Hate Me 12
5
7-8 7-8 9-13
“Skúli Sverrison’s Sería came out of nowhere
and refused to leave my head for days.”
Skúli Sverrisson
Sería 7
9-13 9-13 9-13 9-13
Disclaimer:
As editor of the Reykjavík Grapevine, I should men-
tion that Haukur S. Magnússon, staff journalist for
the Grapevine, is a member of the band Reykjavík!,
which the magazine is rewarding for releasing the
best Icelandic album of the year 2006.
When selecting the album of the year The
Grapevine contacted a total of 17 music critics from
various Icelandic publications and radiostations and
asked them to rank the five best albums of the year;
with the best album receiving five points and the
fifth best receiving one point. The result was that
Reykjavík! received 27 points, while Gavin Portland,
the number two entry, finished with 18. This is the
result of an independent panel, not a selection by
the Grapevine’s staff.
It was however an editorial decision to put
the band, and said journalist on the cover. In mak-
ing that decision, I came to the conclusion that the
band should not suffer for Magnússon’s work for
the paper, as the decision to put the first placed
band on the cover would have been automatic if it
were any other band.
-Editor.
The Panel:
Ágúst Bogason, Rás 2, Andrea Jónsdóttir, Rás 2, Ar-
nar Eggert Thoroddsen, Morgunblaðið, Árni Matt,
Morgunblaðið, Atli Bollason, Morgunblaðið, Atli
Fannar Bjarkason, Blaðið, Búi Bendtsen, XFM, Freyr
Bjarnason, Fréttablaðið, Gunnar L. Hjálmarsson,
Fréttablaðið, Hildur Maral Hamíðsdóttir, Rjóminn.
is, Ólafur Páll Gunnarsson, Rás 2, Ómar Eyþórsson,
XFM, Páll Hilmarsson, The Reykjavík Grapevine,
Snorri Sturluson, XFM, Steinþór Helgi Arnsteins-
son, Fréttablaðið/X-ið 977, Trausti Júlíusson, Frét-
tablaðið, Valli, Dordingull.com