Fiery Furnaces
(Thrill Jockey)
After Remember, last year's two-disc/three-record live set, put the Fiery Furnaces' rock qualities on display, it makes sense that the performing version of the band would record their next studio album. Drummer Robert D'Amico has been on board from several sessions, but here Jason Loewenstein (of Sebadoh) is also along for the ride as bassist and recording engineer. The lineup makes I'm Going Away feel more organic than much of the band's catalog, which often sounded as if massive editing was used to create the schizophrenic texture and tempo changes of their songs. Album number eight is also the closest that band has come to straightforward since their debut, Gallowsbird's Bark. And that's not a bad thing by any means.
The one element that has always kept the Furnaces interesting, even when their music gets a little too clever, is the lyrics, which Eleanor Friedberger talk-sings in a manner that melds musicals, shaggy dog stories and plain old surrealism. Several tracks on the new album continue their habit of building verses that repeat key lines over and over, much like refrains in traditional folk songs. But they always have some twist to keep from getting too far under the skin. "Charmaine Champagne" and "Cups & Punches" use essentially the same lyrics in two different musical contexts, both relying on the line, "She's gonna get me folked up, fairly beat," which Eleanor spits out with machine gun clarity each time. "Ray Bouvier" relies on a similar repetition too as it tells the story of a drunken excursion with guns and shoes.
Musically, Matthew Friedberger has shelved the bloopy synths for keyboards with more bite. He sings more than usual here, and plays plenty of guitar too, adding some strong solos throughout the album. The best comes in "Lost At Sea" which could be the Furnaces breakthrough pop hit: Along with moody lyrics about heartbreak, and an equally heart tugging melody, Br'er Matt takes the song out with a searing lead. Dueling guitars bounce between speakers on "Cups and Punches," sounding sloppy, but that's the idea.
The Fiery Furnaces have become the epitome of "prolific," but each new album finds them going in a new direction instead of staying in the same place. With I'm Going Away they've really struck a balance between their signature weirdness and the pop elements that ground them.
Standout Tracks: "Lost At Sea," "Staring at the Steeple" MIKE SHANLEY
