Pop in Reykjavik

Running time: N/A

Who would know that a country that is roughly the size of Kentucky with a population of 265,000 would have such a dynamic and diverse music scene? Sure, it spawned The Sugarcubes and Bjork, but, as Pop in Reykjavik proves, the Icelandic music scene is not to be ignored. With nearly half of the country's population residing in the capital city, Reykjavik is a magnet for bands and their fans to take advantage of the nightlife, even if the night lasts only a few hours. Primarily a homogeneous population with few minorities, Icelandic bands demonstrate remarkable variety in musical styles so that nearly every genre is represented. There is everything from acoustic indie to techno, ambient, speed metal, hip-hop, rap, and more. Pop in Reykjavik, also the name of the largest continuous concert the country had ever seen, provides a veritable who's who of contemporary Icelandic music. Stylized concert footage is skillfully interwoven with interviews of musicians. The cinematography and editing are reminiscent of Jonathan Demme's amazing concert films, Stop Making Sense and Storefront Hitchcock. You'll definitely find yourself moving to the music and wanting to search for the soundtrack. --Meredith H. Sherter