Trying to describe Sigur Rós' music in words presents a challenge. Apparently, it's hard for them as well. The band opted to title its latest release ( ), and none of the eight tracks have titles.

Sigur Rós' second album and last release, Ágætis Byrjun, was a huge success in its native Iceland, and it sold respectably in Europe and the United States.

Ágætis Byrjun, which translates from Icelandic into "an all right start," was more than just an all right start. It heralded the band massive praise from critics and musicians alike. But what separates ( ) from Ágætis Byrjun is the hype and expectation the band now has to live up to.

Stylistically, the band has not changed. Mostly it uses varying sonic textures, layering upon its atmospheric use of keyboards and droning guitars. The group relies heavily on the use of dynamics. At these dramatic points, the music culminates in a splash of tonal qualities, which is unlike anything I have ever heard.

Lead singer/guitarist Jon Thor Birgisson does not use his strong falsetto to convey Icelandic words as he did on the band's previous work. Birgisson has instead made up his own language, Hopelandish.

The music that this band makes is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. Somehow, the band has figured out how to capture the raw essence of human emotion on a compact disc. And for this, the group should be duly commended.

Even though ( ) is not quite the masterpiece at which the band's talent has hinted, it is much closer than others can even dream of coming.

--Reviewed by Caleb Sheaffer