Upon hearing that I was being sent to Reykjavik to interview Sigur Rós, the Icelandic foursome that has brought its audience structured, slow-building tracks that can even be described as epic and heroic, my mind immediately cut to this interview they did on NPR.

To say the least, I was nervous. Nonetheless, I had been a longtime Sigur Rós fan, and was quickly becoming obsessed with Með Suð í Eyrum Við spilum endalaust, their fifth album. It's perhaps more experimental than the others — faster and with a greater sense of freedom. So, I set out to Iceland with one goal in mind: to get answers to my questions and to earn their respect.

Perhaps the perfect sonic storm came together that day, on a soccer field, close to where they would be sharing the stage with Björk that night. Or maybe my adrenaline was at a perfect speed, after consuming the magical Icelandic hot dogs (no, seriously, they are amazing). But Georg and Orri seemed excited to talk to me, and even shared some intimate details about their songwriting, lyrics (there is one in English on Með Suð) and the evolution of their sound.

By Christopher "CJ" Smith

Hot off the heels of the release of their fifth album Með Suð í Eyrum Við spilum endalaust (which will debut at #15 on next week's Billboard albums chart), Icelandic post-rock heroes Sigur Rós joined forces this past weekend with Iceland's other big musical export, Björk, for a concert to promote environmental awareness in Iceland and the rest of the world.

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For a second straight week, Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, one of the year's best-selling debuts, will top the Billboard albums chart, thanks to week-two sales of nearly 249,000 — which was more than enough to fend off the year's biggest seller, Lil Wayne. Tha Carter III comes in at #2 after selling 209,000 copies during its third week in stores, according to the latest Nielsen SoundScan figures. The latest chart will also boast 21 debuts, including Mötley Crüe's Saints of Los Angeles, which opens at #4 with 99,000 scans, and Three 6 Mafia's Last 2 Walk, which bows at #5, after selling close to 77,000 units.

Elsewhere on the chart we find Shinedown's The Sound of Madness entering at #8 with a reported 50,000 sold, while Sigur Rós' Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust follows at #15 on the strength of 31,600 scans. Cute Is What We Aim For's Rotation impacts the chart at #21, having sold 22,700 copies, while Less Than Jake's GNV FLA surfaces at #61 after selling 10,000-plus. Right behind them, at #63, is G. Love & Special Sauce's latest, Superhero Brother, which sold 10,000 units, followed at #65 by Superchick's Rock What You Got, which moved 9,700 copies.

The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself is also new to the chart, landing at #73 with 9,000 sold, while at #99 with 7,300 sold is The 3rd World, a mixtape from rapper Immortal Technique. Digi Snacks, the fourth solo album by rapper/producer RZA, enters at #111, having sold 6,600 copies, while Reckless Kelly's Bulletproof follows at #117 after selling 6,500.

The rest of the new top 10 is filled out by the usual suspects. The soundtrack to the Disney Channel original movie "Camp Rock" holds at #3 with 170,000 copies snatched up, while the 28th installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! franchise falls two to #6 with 65,500 sold. Usher's Here I Stand drops one to #7 after selling another 51,600 copies, while Disturbed's Indestructible slides a single slot to #9 on 50,000 scans. Lastly, tumbling three spots to #10, it's Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad with 46,500 copies sold.

· Today Metallica launched Mission Metallica, where fans can check out their progress in the studio with Rick Rubin, and hear exclusive previews of their upcoming album.

· Sigur Ros’ new album is on the way, and brilliant photog Ryan McGinley did the album art.

· We Are Scientists launch their North American summer tour in July.

· Crystal Castles’ North American tour kicks off in early June.

· Adorable Nashville pop-punks Be Your Own Pet are touring.

· Guess we missed this: The Police announced their last-ever show ever. (Sting’s so over it…?)

· The moody Icelandic pixies of Sigur Ros are bringing their ambient sounds to a town near you.

· A British emo girl -- and huge My Chemical Romance fan -- committed suicide, and some are blaming the music.

Icelandic post-rocker's Sigur Ros have been busy recording their follow up to 2005's critically acclaimed Takk in New York City over the last few weeks, and work has seemingly progressed nicely. The band posted a message on their website Wednesday saying that they’ve laid the “foundations” for 11 songs and are now off to familiar territory in Sunlaugin, Iceland to complete work with producer Flood (U2, Nine Inch Nails, The Killers) with a tentative release date of late spring/early summer. The band added that "no one has heard any of these songs before.” The band’s label confirms they’ll be playing Bonnaroo and several European festivals over the summer, and will most likely preview some of their new material at these shows.