Comments on: The Fiery Furnaces – I’m Going Away, Album Review & Giveaway

By: Top Ten Lists for 2009 « Slugboi's Blog

Top Ten Lists for 2009 « Slugboi's Blog — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:12:54 +0000

[...] Market Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse w/ David Lynch: Dark Night of the Soul The Fiery Furnaces: I’m Going Away Mastodon: Crack the [...]

By: bob

bob — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:06:04 +0000

bitter tea is the fiery furnaces’s best record and ultimately the most radical album the band has done so far (yes, even more radical than ‘rehearshing my choir’). i’d go so far as to saying that record is the best one released this decade, although that position is slightly controversial. but then again, i like chaos and the furnaces’ first four records (excluding the very good e.p.) is full of it.

widow city (2007) marks a transitional phase within the band, as if bitter tea had simply ended the furnaces’ most experimental phase and opened a second one. i loved widow city and it had to grow on me for a bit, however the record probably could have been shorter. still liked it alot though, because the furnaces still sounded like that. i think the friedberger siblings took the negative reviews of widow city (the fact it was too long) into consideration and decided to make i’m going away.

i have to admit, i don’t like the sound of the end is near, but i do rather enjoy i’m going away (it sounds reminiscent of ‘frownland’ by the great captain beefheart) and drive to dallas just builds up to a great climax. lost at sea has some nice chords and i think these songs, despite the fact they do sound more like pop tunes, still retain at least some of the furnaces’ experimental impulses…which i like.

but unlike the other furnaces records, i don’t expect i’m going away to be the best of the year. i expect it to be more of a bunt rather than a grand slam. hopefully, this is the calm before the storm and they’ll start making some more wild music again. i’ve maintained this position before: if any band is capable of making one of the best records of rock and roll, it’s the furnaces. while i do consider bitter tea as their finest moment and a great record, i’m still waiting for one to outdo it. i don’t think i’m going away is going to be that record.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:43:27 +0000

I’m absolutely loving “Drive to Dallas” and “Lost at Sea.” It’s shaping up to be really good I think…

I always thought Bitter Tea had some wonderful moments, although it’s not the album I immediately reach for when I’m in the mood for the furnaces (I’ll go for Blueberry Boat or Widow City). At the very least, you have to fall in love with “Benton Harbor Blues.” I think that’s still my favorite song of theirs – “I thought of the ways that I’ve broke my own heart?” That line destroys me nearly every time.

I’m definitely looking forward to hearing the album in its entirety though…sign me up to win!

By: laura

laura — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:58:35 +0000

i absolutely love these tracks! they are so fun and energetic. i can’t wait to get the new album, it would be especially fantastic to win one.

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:20:59 +0000

Songs are fantastic. I’m Going Away has a great 90′s punk sound, with a road trip feel. Drive to Dallas has a 20′s club vibe, and is probably the best of the four. Wonderful selection of songs, should be a great album.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:14:48 +0000

Loving this. Just found PMA a week or two ago and haven’t listened to so much new, good music in years. Keep it up. Would lobe this album. (typo kept for the image of an ear overtaking an LP)

By: "Shiina Bingo"

"Shiina Bingo" — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:07:45 +0000

I’m still trying to wrap my brain around Bitter Tea so I’m good for now, but that first track sounds great. Wouldn’t mind winning a free copy.

By: Elle Hunt

Elle Hunt — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:21:44 +0000

Thanks for expressing your opinion Sam. Of course I can only review an album according to my own musical background – and the references to Passion Pit and Bat for Lashes were to give two examples of albums I’ve recently listened to that affected me in different ways.. never mind! I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the album.

By: jaty

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By: john

john — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:41:04 +0000

I have heard the album and I must say that I was extremely surprised, being an avid FF fan for a few years now, at the style of the album. Yeah, the album is more straightforward, but I feel that Matt and Eleanor have really keyed in on their pop sensibilities and constructed a really fun, warm album. There is no lack of melody (see: Cut the Cake, Ray Bouvier, Lost At Sea, slow parts of Dallas), pop hooks (Charmaine Champagne, Keep Me in the Dark, Take Me Round Again) or even the harsh, frenetic sound that has encompassed some of their earlier work (Staring at the Steeple, fast parts of Dallas). Even with this seemingly new sense of pop – though most long-time fans know this has always been there – the quirks are still there, albeit a bit more subtle. Take, the ‘off-tune’ sound of some of the guitar work in Dallas, Steeple, or Ray Bouvier. The quirky lyrics are there still too, though many songs are much more straightforward, such as those of songs such as Sing For Me. Eleanor’s voice is as good as ever and Matt finally steps forward with some vocals of his own, which we haven’t heard for awhile now, and his dryness compliments her sweet, deep tone well.

Though I’m Going Away isn’t my favorite Fiery Furnaces album…..or second…..or even third, this album is a great culmination of much of their earlier work and certainly ranks among the top albums of the year.

By: Pepsi Sam

Pepsi Sam — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:46:59 +0000

If you have no idea what the rest of the Fiery Furnaces’ discography is like, and if the best examples of opposite musical poles you can offer is Passion Pit’s debut and Bat For Lashes’ second album, my guess is you had no business reviewing this album.

By: oyn

oyn — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:11:18 +0000

i can’t figure out why i never really listened to this band before this. wonderful tracks.

By: Mick

Mick — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:55:50 +0000

I feel like this review says it all.

By: Lake

Lake — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:35:33 +0000

I love the energy in the first one.

By: Scottish Friction

Scottish Friction — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:16:03 +0000

great review Elle! I’ve mainly just been listening to the first 5 or so songs. i’ll give it a much more focussed listen now