Customer Reviews

The Fiery Furnaces EP

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is ridiculous that these two people can make so much music in such a short time span (Gallowsbird's Bark was released near the end of 2003) and not once dip below the "outstanding" watermark. The knowledge that they are going to be releasing TWO MORE albums before fall further staggers the mind. The Furnaces are a gift from heaven for music lovers. Their live show is also amazing (if you're reading this guys, hi, i was the nerd in the fire truck suit at the chapel hill show). This EP is no less satisfying than Gallowsbird's Bark or Blueberry Boat. Matt is like a musical machine set on over-drive. I read in an amazon review of Blueberry Boat that some consider them "more pretentious than Radiohead, less musical than Gwar." I suppose there is a marked distinction between music of this type and, say, Arcade Fire "Funeral," but unorthodox production and composition are only two of the factors that make this band so great. These guys have not only beaten their own path through the musical wilderness, they've built a rocket and flown to another planet. I leave it to you to trust me on this and buy this EP. It ties their first two releases together, almost in preperation for the journey they're going to be going on in the next few months. 5 stars is a petty way of saying "listen to this music."

I'm not sure why the Fiery Furnaces call this collection "EP," since it's the length of many full albums. But it shows how talented this new band is that even their odds, ends and leftovers are better than average. This colorful collection has no real flow, but it still ends up being one of the best releases thus far from 2005.

It kicks off with some stiff, dancey electropop, which sounds a bit like Devo at times. But then the tone changes radically, with the entrance of "Here Comes the Summer's" charmingly loopy pop, complete with muffled acoustic guitars, or "Evergreen's" offbeat, slightly jerky rock. It's hard listen to these three without being hungry for more.

What comes after that is not exactly even and flowing. It's very much in the style of their "Blueberry Boat" album, yet all the songs are unlinked. Rollicking rock-pop sits next to enchantingly ethereal pop ditties, and folky tunes sit beside weird art-pop. The finale, "Sullivan Social Club," is a masterful mix of electro swooshes and stately indiepop.

The rapid changes in style are what keep "EP" from being, as Mary Poppins puts it, practically perfect in every way. Were the songs linked, it would have been an absolute masterpiece. As it is, the songs can be taken individually as fun, often catchy indiepop that never sacrifices its complexity and quality for cheap hooks.

What it does do is show off the Fiery Furnaces' wide range of styles. The lines between styles blur in many of these songs, using acoustic guitar, fuzzy piano and electronic swooshes to make rock, pop, dance music and exquisite ballads. And their quirky songwriting gets another stretch, with only a few that skim too close to cutesiness.

Fuzzy piano, ethereal melodies and dancepop all mesh together in this colorful collection, which only proves that the Fiery Furnaces are headed for even greater things. After all, a patchwork "EP" of B-sides and leftovers is one of the best releases so far this year.

This record collects all their singles and B-sides and other tracks lying around. When all is said and done it sounds like a slick album in its own right. It could be their second or third album. When most bands can barely do one interesting album, the Fiery Furnaces have done almost three. Yeah, this is supposed to bean EP. Most EPs are like three or four tracks. This may be a suitable substitute for the more difficult Blueberry Boat. The previous album had some monster tracks and crazy tempo changes and it was long. Has anyone actually made it through Blueberry Boat all the way through? The FF EP is a more pop album with killer singles and ultimately more successful. If I would tell a friend to get an album by the Fiery Furances I would tell them to get this. It has two of their best songs "Evergreen" and "Tropical-Iceland." Even the single "Single Again" was brilliant. Their lyrics are reprinted for the first time. The lyrics are like short stories influenced by Lewis Carroll and the Oulipo. "Duffer St George" is about hanging out in London, which is a subject for many of their songs. This is already a favorite. Apparently they are already at work on two more albums. Bring it on!

The techno-riffic bombast beginning this poorly titled full-length from the Friedbergers leads one to wonder if brother Mathew has completely flipped his switch and orchestrated an otherworldly dance album for the new century, albeit devoid of all grandmotherly involvement, as their next full-length is rumored to be. Exactly 1:06 into "Single Again," however, he's all "Surprise!" and throws his keyboard loving soul at his sister to harp a spiteful tune about dead husbands and unfulfilled pocket change.
Written about extensively in this space since the release of "Blueberry Boat" last year, Mathew and Eleanor refuse to give up precious ink to other well meaning artists, releasing a ten song collection of non-album singles and B-sides (hence the "EP" title- a little too cute). Hitting hard and fast and way too cool for school, this is not your friendly ten minute pirate ship voyages sung in the language of the Eskimo. This is the pop record of the year (although, I wouldn't bet on it or anything).
Oddly straight forward and viciously attentive, these are the tunes that any other band would kill to show off, yet the Furnaces relish them to the netherworld of 7-inchers and the like. The label won't single any of your new tracks, so you go into the studio and come up with this? These are supposed to be leftovers?
"Tropical Ice-Land" is typical eccentric whimsy, a tune about goat heads and Klondike bars in deli's and vending machines in a land with no sun and all glaciers and stray puffins. Throw in a couple backward verses and a jump-happy chorus and you've got yourself a deal.
"When the word of your ward was the sword by your side/ and you dug up the deed in the dump where he died" is typical Friedberger wordsmith on "Cousin Chris." The song also has a bridge that sounds like lazy-day prohibition era ballroom beamed into space and reflected off an alien satellite.
Perhaps their strongest straight up banger yet, however, may be "Evergreen." Pulled along by single note piano and fuzzy synth, Eleanor is a drunk who wipes her tears with her "favorite pine cone" and Mathew throws in his greatest blues solo yet.
The White Stripes comparisons that seemed so comically out of place on "Blueberry Boat" come back again for the chorus from "Duffer St. George." In the midst of a backpacking voyage to Shoreditch, the cymbals come crashing and the guitar goes thrashing- is that Meg on the mike? But, lest you forget who we are dealing with, the dirty blues bang-up only lasts for so long before reverberating away, giving way to a way too happy piano and the return of narrative refrain.
Given the last three outputs from this band, it is difficult to know what to expect when they pull Granny out of church for the next one, but at least expect the same level of genius and more ink space in this publication.

First off, let me warn you by saying that their past two albums are two of my favorite albums of all time. Blueberry Boat fulfilled very musical fantasy i could possibly ever have. I thought this EP might just be a cheap way for their label to tide over the fans, and keep the buzz going until their next album. However, after listening to this cd four times in a row, the Fiery Furnaces have an album of supposedly discarded material and B-sides that holds together better, and has more musical imagination than most indie bands recording today.

This album exceded any expectations I might have had, and displays the band's desire to constantly revisit and revamp their back catologue. The new version of Tropical Ice-land takes the sweet original and makes it into a catchy poppy wonderland. The FF's are always reworking their material and "fixing" it for their live performances, and this new version puts that practice into hard copy. All the songs are strong, some more straightforward, some exhibiting the wandering exploration like those on Blueberry Boat. A great intro to the band, and an album I would endorse whole heartedly.

those who might have been a bit overwhelmed with the Blueberry Boat album are sure to find something to be happy about with this easier-to-digest collection of b-sides from this peculiar band. The Fiery Furnaces know how to write a catchy song. but they also know how to throw a million curveballs at every chance they get. and even though The Fiery Furnaces throw those curveballs with class and charm, it still gets exhausting in the end. sometimes i just want their songs to be able to breathe and hold back Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger from smothering their simple beauty with a thousand other random ideas. which is why this EP album is such a relief to listen to. i can actually make it through the entire album without having to keep up with all the twists and turns. it's songs reveal the sweet simplicity of a wonderful pop formula. sure, there are lots of weird little twists and turns within these numbers, it wouldn't be a Fiery Furnaces record without them. but the experimentation on EP is overall, more minimal, when compared to their other recordings. comparisons to Papas Fritas are not too far off the mark; especially on the charming "Sing For Me." the band's standout single "Single Again" is one here as well; and presents a good balance of the witty and dark side of the Fiery Furnace's writing. even though this is an odd collection of b-sides, the album feels fairly coherent as a whole and could actually be a pretty good place for the curious to start.

First off I have to say that this is my first introduction to the Fiery Furnaces and I have fallen hard. These guys (guy and gal) literally rock. I listen to this and I just grin! It is just a fun, fun CD.

I am not sure how to explain it, and this might not make any sense, but this seems to be how music is supposed to sound. The drums sound like drums, piano sounds like piano, electric guitar sounds like electric guitar, etc, etc..... And it all fits together so brilliantly and seamlessly, it's hard to imagine that it is just two people: two very talented people. The songs are soooo refreshing and definitely original. It truly is a great listening experience. From the opening electronic dissonance of SINGLE AGAIN to the last trill of the playful SULLIVAN"S SOCIAL CLUB.... wow.... what an amazing journey!

Standout tracks are SINGLE AGAIN, HERE COMES THE SUMMER, EVERGREEN, TROPICAL-ICELAND, and SMELLING CIGARETTES. They're all brilliant though.

I'm a total Fiery Furnaces fan. This cd is just as awesome as all of their cds. Thanks, Fiery Furnaces, for bringing your insights & talents into our world.

Maybe I just don't get these guys, but they strike me as an unbelievably irritating band. Her voice is absolutely atrocious. Maybe they're just one of those young kid bands that you won't understand if you're over 25, but I'll go ahead and give it 2 stars for track 4. His voice is pretty darn good. It's a shame that they've decided to go with her for the majority of their music. Yuck.

Everything they touch turned to gold!! After two magnificient albuns, a generous EP!! Of course is not a Ep, it's a joke with the album's title...But is a fair price, thank God (they really fooled Rough Trade)!! Starting with the intriguing "Single Again" this is another perfect collection of songs, they're seriously one of the most interesting american bands...I say bands but they're only brother and sister, I should said instead, the greatest american duo today, but unfortunetely people would think about Carpenters or something...
The first five songs on the album are catchy enough to bring joy to your life in the morning!! "Evergreen" is just a breakfast song, staring at the sun over your window. "Sing For Me" (Matthew singing with that charming voice!) is so delightful that seems Mozart (listen the synthesizer at 2min and at the end!!). "Tropical-Iceland" is the recommended summer song!! But the next two, "Duffer St.George" and "Smelling Cigarettes" are elaborated masterpieces that should be listened with double attention, because are full of intricate melodies and constant changing passages. The first is almost a folk theme with toy keyboards, driving inocently to a prog-like atmosphere...And "Smelling Cigarettes" certainly is the central piece of the album, with a beautiful mellotron giving a dramatic middle-section to the song, almost a mini-sonata, there's even a short groovy drum!! Gorgeous!! "Cousin Cris" is part waltz, part moog-driven march and a fantastic inventive song!! "Sweet Spots" is more "electro" (I don't like the word, isn't everything electric today...?) but with more imagination than the most of "wannabe" electronic bands, there's something naive here...Maybe the deliberated use of contrasting things, instruments and references!! The last song on the album, "Sullivan's Social Slub", for instance, brings gloomy keyboard melodies, giving the sensation of a disturbed musical box...
Fiery Furnaces are a real promise to the non-stereotyped music, they're fresh and emotive songwriters with a pop taste, in spite of their angular lyrics!!!
4 stars and a half!!