Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.10.2017, Blaðsíða 2

Iceland’s largest newspaper, Fréttab-
laðið, published an interesting poll on
its frontpage in the beginning of October.
The poll was based on the question of
what voters thought were the most im-
portant political issue before the election
which is due to occur in end of October.
The answers expose an idiotic nation
with no clear vision of the future. It is
understandable that most answered
that the healthcare system was the key
issue. There has been a loud debate about
the long lasting lack of funding for the
healthcare system, which is undeniably
rotting from inside. 37% said this was the
key issue. The media attention is prob-
ably the reason for this high rating.
12% named the economy as the main is-
sue, which is blossoming today after the
total collapse of the banking system. Fair
enough. We love money.
Only 6% named education. It appears
that the fact that young boys who are
illiterate when they finish elementary
school has not affected the nation. Or
the huge dropout rate from college. Or
that Iceland is well under average in the
Pisa Survey (The Programme for Inter-
national Student Assessment). In fact,
we are at the bottom in Northern Europe
when it comes to the Pisa Survey. So, not
only are we idiots, we are establishing an
idiotic future as well. To top things, only
2% mentioned environmental issues. At
least it takes care of our idiotic future.
And it saddens us at Reykjavík Grape-
vine, that in a nation that has given the
world Björk, Sigur Rós and the beauti-
ful Icelandic sagas and the multifaceted
culture of Iceland—which is now one of
the core motivating powers of the tourist
industry in Iceland (that means money
you idiots)—only 1% mentioned culture
as an issue. Well, we disagree. Culture is
everything. It’s beauty. It’s life. And it has
more value than money can ever buy.
First
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COVER PHOTO & ART
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THE GRAPEVINE
PLAYLIST
EDITORIAL
2
Words:
Valur Grettisson
Find today's events
in Iceland!
Download our free
listings app - APPENING
on the Apple and
Android stores
Sin Fang, Sóley &
Örvar Smárasson -
Used And Confused
The latest addition
to this esteemed
trio’s monthly sin-
gles project is their
most upbeat yet,
by some distance.
‘Used And Confused’
features burbling
synths, cheeky
bass bumps, and
endearing vocal
performances, all
reminiscent of Sin
Fang’s thrillingly
effervescent last
album, ‘Spaceland.’
See them live at
Norður og Niður
festival in late
December. JR
Mammút - Believe
This is one of the
more unlikely cover
versions you’re
likely to hear this
year. Shoegazey
indie-rock quintet
Mammút’s torch-
song take on the
Cher single ‘Believe’
is both dreamy
and hilarious,
and comes with a
tongue-in-cheek
karaoke-style video.
Hats off to Mammút
for this one. JR
Úlfur - Vakandi
‘Vakandi’ (‘Alert,’
in English) is the
second single to
be revealed from
Jonsi and Ólafur
Arnalds collaborator
Úlfur’s forthcom-
ing solo album,
‘Arborescence.’ It’s
an atmospheric,
down-tempo song
swathed in echoing
string arrange-
ments with deep,
doleful vocals lay-
ered over delicately
plucked guitar
strings. JR
CYBER ft. Countess
Malaise - Psycho
Cyber is known for
slow-burn trap.
Countess Malaise
is known for pure
aggression. Mix
the two together,
and you’ll get
some unhappy
employees at Aktu
Taktu, apparently.
Real talk: ‘Psycho’
is the perfect mix
of sugar and spice,
taking the smooth
raps of Cyber and
edgy-ing it up with
the forceful yells of
Malaise. Please girls,
can we have some
more? HJC
Alexander Jarl -
Hvort Annað
‘Hvort Annað’ trans-
lates to ‘Each Other’
and tackles the tale
as old as time: when
two people don’t
like each other, but
just need to be with
someone. Fitting,
considering the
track’s Drake feel.
That said, you can
hardly box Jarl into
being just a copy of
someone else. He’s
proven time and
time again his artis-
tic take on hip-hop
and ‘Hvort Annað’ is
just another step
up. HJC
Issue 18
06: The People's Party Vs. Art
12: Iceland's Fractured Right Wing
18: Tent Man Vs. The Government
26: Sequences Festival
28: Herzog Speaks
38: Ben Frost Turns Up
49: Pizza Is Your Friend
50: The Smoky Valley
52: Mývatn & Reykjahlíð
We are idiots
yoga
sl
ee
p
ea
t
d
r
in
k
www.oddsson.is
one more cup,
of coffee for the road