Sigur Ros’ last album finally saw the Icelandic band sing a bit in English. The title of the song in question, “All Alright,” was even steeped in American colloquialism. This was a development that catapulted the band into more commercial recognition, but also appalled fans of the band’s singer Jonsí Birgisson’s patented whale song vocal style, which until that point had been sung exclusively in the gibberish language “hopelandish.”

Realistically, of course, the album should not have been that divisive. Jonsí’s vocals were still, as always, merely textural additions to the soaring strings and bright sound that Sigur Ros had cultivated. Additionally, regardless of what language they are sung in, ephemeral vocals will probably never cross into the mainstream. There was little to no stylistic change, aside from making the vocal tracks more accessible to an English-speaking audience.

However, Jonsí’s solo record “Go” (due for release April 5) is a continuation of this English and commercial accessibility, and some critics of these matters might decide that the singer’s selling-out process has come full-circle. This would be stupid. The Talking Heads put out a lot of great music once they steered themselves in a more dance-rock direction. More recently, Against Me! put out a masterpiece of well-produced punk with their 2007 release, “New Wave.” Of course, Sigur Ros was never really lo-fi. In fact, their music was melodramatic, achieving spectacular heights of production value. So the question is whether or not the English vocals add anything to the music.

The English in “Go” just seems to confirm the suspicion that has existed about Sigur Ros all along. The lyrics, when distinguishable, are supremely melodramatic additions to supremely melodramatic music. “Boy Lilikoi,” the album’s pre-release track, proudly proclaims “use your life, the world goes and flutters by.” Other songs tend to recall or pine for a more open and ideal existence as well. As far as selling out is concerned, the more prominent percussion on this record as compared to other Sigur Ros albums would probably be a more appropriate starting point for discussion than the understandable vocals.