Come for the Whales; Stay… As Long As You Can
Whenever you talk whale watching in Iceland, you hear the stories about Húsavík. It is not atypical to come across the blue whale on the tours there, and their hit […]
We’re Not Upset About: Mr. and Mrs. Smith
One would assume that a feature-length film about the joys of domestic violence would draw our ire. Just as one would assume that a movie with a $100 million budget […]
Look at Me, I’m Rugged
The Grapevine filled a van with people who hadn’t left the city all year, and headed out for a day of rafting and barbequing at the Arctic Rafting headquarters near […]
CRASH
The whites hate the blacks. The blacks hate the Hispanics. The Hispanics hate the Asians. And everyone seems to hate the Arabs, who are really Persian. Welcome to LA, or, […
Huun-Huur-Tu and Nina NastasiaMay 28, Smekkleysa
It’s not too common to attend a concert which has true crossover potential when it comes to age and social groups. Still, a recent sunny Saturday afternoon youngsters and hipster
Touch Sveitaball, May 28, Þinghús Bar and Grill, Hvammstangi
If you think Icelandic nightlife begins and ends in 101 Reykjavík, you’re missing a celebrated and notorious section of the local culture. As one local told us, “Sveitaball”
PanVirgins
These five kids from Hafnarfjörður, who produced this album themselves, present tight hard rock worth respect. While the guitars, often mixing palm muting with harmonics, don’t
ManhattanSelf-titled
Deep into the year 2005, we were surprised that we were asked to review this 2003 demo. What is more, we were surprised to hear the sounds of 1993 Alice […]
The White StripesGet Behind Me Satan
When White Blood Cells came out, everyone was wondering where Jack White got such a rootsy, genuine sound. With Get Behind Me Satan, Jack finally shows his hand. It turns […
Hudson WayneThe Battle of the Bandidos
This band has been mislabelled the local alt country band; their roots, especially as demonstrated here, are more 80s English and Australian pop slowed down. Most of the nine track
Helgi ValurDemise of Faith
I’m looking at the album photos and listening to the CD, I can’t understand how Joe Cocker crawled into the body of what looks like an 18-year-old Icelandic boy. It’s [&helli
Lokbrá
Lokbrá is a celebrated local garage-rock band. What makes something garage-rock? Typically with garage-rock you have lyrics that you don’t go around quoting, you have somewhat f
LETTERS
Dear Sir/Madam, I live in India — thousands of miles away from Iceland’s shores. Tonight there was a special Oprah Winfrey show in which she interviewed an actress from my