The Fiery Furnaces
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Alternative beautiful & fierce evocative/eclectic experimental rock
Status:
Most recent release, Widow City (2007)
See also:
The Fiery Furnaces siteBlueberry Boat, a fan site
Comparisons:
I can't think of any, though there are lots of blues, experimental, etc. influences in their music
Covers/own material:
Own, some adapted lyrics
General comments:
The Fiery Furnaces are siblings Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger. Eleanor sings, and Matthew puts together all the elements that make their sound. It's wildly idiosyncratic, energetic, frequently over-the-top, full of hooks and experiments, lots of talking, singing, and talking/singing. Eleanor has a lovely, versatile, evocative voice. I highly recommend them if you're looking for something quirky and different. Each album has quite a different personality, too. (Neile)
Comments about live performance:
I've heard that their performances aren't always great, but the ones I've been to and heard of from close friends have always been described as terrific. I would recommend giving them a chance; it's unlikely you'll be bored. (Neile)I saw them at the Quart festival and they are way fun live. I really enjoyed their show, though it was a bit short. (7/04, onealien@mo.himolde.no)
Recommended first album:
Gallowsbird's Bark is probably the best place to start as it's the most immediately catchy
Recordings:
- Gallowsbird's Bark (2003)
- Blueberry Boat (2004)
- EP (2005)
- Rehearsing My Choir (2005)
- Bitter Tea (2006)
- Widow City (2007)
Gallowsbird's Bark
Release info:
2003—Rough Trade—06076 83226-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Eleanor Friedberger—vocals
Matthew Friedberger—other instruments
Guest artists:
Ryan Sawyer—drums
Produced by:
Matthew Friedberger
Comments:
I find this utterly compelling. One of the top discs of the year. It's a mix of strange and wonderful noises with terrific song hooks and Eleanor Friedberger's powerful and charming voice. Lots of energy and a unique sound. You can find lots of influences in their work but it becomes something quirky and entirely their own. (Neile)
Blueberry Boat
Release info:
2004—Rough Trade—06076-83239-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Eleanor Friedberger—vocals
Matthew Friedberger—other instruments
Guest artists:
Matthew Friedberger
Produced by:
Matthew Friedberger
Comments:
Could people more familiar with the Fiery Furnaces let me know if their new one is one of those "don't start here" cds that I keep picking up on? So far, all I can hear is the White Stripes, Radiohead and, er, the Muppets put through a blender, and while the combination sounds irresistable to some, I'm sure, I have yet to get all the way through the album. Mind you, it is very long. As an old progrock fan, I have a tolerance for songs that stretch the 10 minute mark. Unfortunately, this stretched my tolerance with its deadpan lack of any emotional commitment and its rambling, repetitive tunes. Maybe I'm getting old... (adamk@zoom.co.uk)Blueberry Boat is all about complicated song structures, so it's not something you can "get" on the first couple of listens. I've been listening to it since it first was released and it has been growing on me incrementally. Personally, I think it's brilliant.
I don't like White Stripes (or Radiohead, really, though I do kind of like their most recent one—but with the song structures in Blueberry Boat I can see where you're coming from with the comparison) so to me Fiery Furnaces just sounds like Fiery Furnaces. No Muppets in these ears.
Blueberry Boat has a kind of epic feel. It doesn't feel like progressive rock, but it does have things in common with it (ambition, long songs, the previously mentioned complicated song structures). It also has a strong garage/indie feel. It's music to get lost in. I love it. (Neile)
EP
Release info:
2005—Rough Trade—06076-83256-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Eleanor Friedberger
Matthew Friedberger
Comments:
At 10 songs and 41 minutes, EP is as long as many albums. It harks back to Gallowsbird's Bark in the feel of the songs—they're a little more straightforward structurally than Blueberry Boat and way more so than the following album, Rehearsing My Choir. Some killer rock songs here, starting with "Single Again," the first track. These songs have a great sense of energy and humour—but most of all, this collection is fun. (Neile)
Rehearsing My Choir
Release info:
2005—Rough Trade—RTA 30060-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended for The Fiery Furnaces' fans
Group members:
Eleanor Friedberger—vocals, drums, bells
Matthew Friedberger—other instruments
Guest artists:
Olga Sarantos—vocals
Bill Skibbe, John McEntire—additional overdubs, drum fill or roll
Rafter Roberts—additional overdubs, drum fill or roll, knife, synth drum pedal solo
Produced by:
Matthew Friedberger
Comments:
Lots of strange noises and sung and spoken word by the Friedberger's grandmother, Olga Sarantos. Parts are wonderfully melodic and delightful while other parts just go on a bit much with the noodling. There are hooks aplenty both musically and in the narrative. The counterpoints between Olga and Eleanor are intriguing (wisdom and naïveté, age and youth, deep and high). It's dramatic and playful, but it's also clearly not for everybody. It's terrific, but I find that a little of it goes a long way. (Neile)
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