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Riceboy Sleeps Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

  • Summary: Sigur Ros' Jon Thor (Jonsi) Birgisson and his boyfriend Alex Somers release their first album together.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 20
  2. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Put simply, it's a deeply beautiful record.
  2. It's more than just the counterpoint to electronic instrumental buzz-bands like Ratatat and Animal Collective; it's 68 minutes of intricate tension-building and release, with a keen eye towards the redemptive powers of contemplation--and nature sounds.
  3. Riceboy Sleeps is more like a film, shot exquisitely in various breathtaking spaces, where the plot never moves forward because nothing ever goes wrong.
  4. Slowly bowed strings mingle with chimes and occasional vocals on highlights 'Indian Summer' and the 'Boy 1904,' but pretty much all of Riceboy Sleeps stands to mesmerize if met in the right acquiescent mood.
  5. 60
    Mostly wordless and free of Birgisson's trademark rapturous build-and-release, Riceboy Sleeps is more ideally suited for yoga poses or total headphone absorption.
  6. Mojo
    60
    The strongest parts of this record have a yearning, almost devotional quality which can unlock something in the patient listeners. [Aug 2009, p.96]
  7. Riceboy Sleeps' is a tedious album of orchestral drones, produced by manipulating piano, strings and choir samples on solar-powered laptops

See all 20 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. KB-
    Dec 4, 2020
    10
    An album full of love passion and peace, i love the production on this one and the risks Jonsi & Alex take in this project, I really can’tAn album full of love passion and peace, i love the production on this one and the risks Jonsi & Alex take in this project, I really can’t write anything more than that, this album has been and still a companion of mine since i was 9 years old. Expand
  2. JeffW.
    Jul 27, 2009
    10
    Great album!
  3. David
    Jul 22, 2009
    8
    One of the better records of the year. Majestic, serene, emotional...and not just for the Sigur Ros following.
  4. Feb 2, 2012
    8
    A very interesting ambience collaboration between the Sigure Ros man and his boyfriend Alex Somers. Unlike Jonsi's solo record, this bearsA very interesting ambience collaboration between the Sigure Ros man and his boyfriend Alex Somers. Unlike Jonsi's solo record, this bears little resemblance to the Sigure Ros sound. It's the kind of music you can immerse yourself in if you were meditating or relaxing somewhere. It really takes you away. It doesn't really have any traditional songs but is made up of a series of sprawling tracks. I'd recommend for pre sleep listening or listening to while in the bath - that's not saying it's boring, its saying its a chillax album. Expand
  5. davidM
    Jul 21, 2009
    5
    Vapid, and lacking any emotional content. I didn't think you could make an entire album out of DVD menu music.