5. Takk… (2005)

From day one (OK, with the exception of Von), Sigur Rós had potential for mainstream appeal: Fewer voices are prettier than Birgisson’s, and few rock bands are this purely cinematic (which Cameron Crowe proved in 2001, licensing several tracks for his trippy psych-drama Vanilla Sky). But Takk… is the band’s first major blush with the pop world, replacing the brooding textures of ( ) with a glistening melodies and brisk, lively arrangements. String-coated anthem “Hoppípolla” became the band’s breakthrough single, landing at #24 on the UK single charts. The problem with Takk… is its awkward sequencing: The radio-friendly highlights (the slow-building “Glósóli,” the symphonic, piano-heavy “Sæglópur”) are crammed on the album’s exquisite first half, while Side B plods toward the finish line with sleepy Hopelandic placeholders (“Mílanó,” “Andvari”).