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Von Image
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

  • Summary: The Icelandic band's 1997 debut album received its first international release in 2004.

Top Track

Von
Hopelandic lyrics... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. 100
    When layers of choir-boy vocals are added to the group's singing ("Hun Joro"), when feeble, naturalistic sounds are used in questing improvisations ("Sigur Ros"), or when acoustic instruments coalesce with a swath of electronics ("Dogun"), you'll find your jaw on the floor, too, stunned as ever.
  2. It's a long, occasionally ponderous listen... but it's an impressive and rewarding journey that moves between prog, space-rock and subdural transmissions in ancient alien tongues.
  3. Based on pure sound, Von is just as much of a treat as the acclaimed follow-up.
  4. Hints at future sonic depths: swirling patterns, impressive musicianship and ambitious ideologies.
  5. Von is, in a sense, an ultrasound view of the unborn Sigur Rós - it’s almost fetal, an abstracted and vague representation of what would come later.
  6. Von is neither that bad nor that good. It is definitely not a clunker, and despite its rough-edged and misplaced ambition it succeeds quite grandly at times.
  7. Under The Radar
    40
    They failed handily on this effort, but as we all know by now, it was only a matter of time before they got it right. [#8, p.112]

See all 12 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 2 out of 8
  1. TomBiswrong
    Oct 25, 2006
    10
    Umm, Tom B, you are wrong about this being a "later" album from Sigur Rós, in fact this is actually their first album. I just though I Umm, Tom B, you are wrong about this being a "later" album from Sigur Rós, in fact this is actually their first album. I just though I would make that clear. Expand
  2. TomB
    Jul 15, 2006
    9
    When upon listening to this album, I releazied that it is the opposite demeanor of the other albums Sigur Ros have made. There is ambient When upon listening to this album, I releazied that it is the opposite demeanor of the other albums Sigur Ros have made. There is ambient soundscapes of the otherworldly, to bright and heavenly, peaceful and powerfull music. If you became a fan of Sigur Ros from the other albums ( "()", "Tak..", "Agaetis byrjun" ) You will probably dislike this. But don't let the first song disrupt your ideas about the artists. Despite how different it all sounded compared to the other albums, I still greatly charish this one. So if your a fan of ambience and Sigur Ros, this is a must buy. If you're not, however, you might want to try Agaetis byrjun or Takk first. Expand
  3. Jul 18, 2015
    9
    It's hard for a less accessible album like this to compete amongst later Sigur Rós releases but this album is really great nonetheless and oneIt's hard for a less accessible album like this to compete amongst later Sigur Rós releases but this album is really great nonetheless and one of my favourites by them. It's less post-rock and more dark ambient but that doesn't make it any less awesome. I understand the unpopularity and I don't recommend anyone to listen to this as their first Sigur Rós record — but do dig into this, it's really great. Expand
  4. JuliaA
    Feb 14, 2007
    7
    The energy in this record is still raw,but unfortunately they didn't have the plan of what would they do with this one...but I still The energy in this record is still raw,but unfortunately they didn't have the plan of what would they do with this one...but I still like 'Dogun','Hun Jord' and 'Syndir Guds (Opinberun Frelsarans)'.luckily they got things right with their albums after this one. Expand
  5. Jan 31, 2015
    7
    This album is great to listen to while you do anything really. It is a little bit muddled, starting out with screams and ending in strangeThis album is great to listen to while you do anything really. It is a little bit muddled, starting out with screams and ending in strange clicking sounds in some of the later songs. Besides the fact that it never really builds up to anything specific, the interesting wash of white noise, with cathartic hymns and an unsettling atmosphere makes this a decent album and a fantastic debut. Expand
  6. Jun 28, 2013
    3
    I'm giving this album a 3 because there are literally 3 songs on the whole collection. I love Sigur Ros and and I'm always down for moodyI'm giving this album a 3 because there are literally 3 songs on the whole collection. I love Sigur Ros and and I'm always down for moody atmospheric music but this has absolutely no song structure apart from Track 3 (Fantastic) Track 5 (Real Good) and Title Track 9 (Average). Kudos for being different but I don't need an album that is white noise 80% of the time Expand
  7. BearlyyB
    Jan 19, 2006
    1
    This is like listening to the wind. Agaetis Byrjun is amazing.

See all 8 User Reviews