Fiery Furnaces

I’m Going Away (Thrill Jockey)

By Selena Fragassi
Published: August 1st, 2009 | 12:28pm

On their eighth studio album, the Fiery Furnaces keep the flame alive with twelve solid tracks that further the experimentation of arrangements, instrumentation, and vocal ambiguity. Known for their far-reaching conceptual albums, the brother-and-sister duo Matt and Eleanor Friedberger bring a darker, if not more omnipotent tone to this release than the previous pop-friendly material on Bitter Tea and Widow City.

On tracks like the piano-happy “The End is Near,” the rockabilly punch of “I’m Going Away,” or the eloquently edgy “Keep Me in Dark,” the band’s theme pervades a sense of loss, although ironically finding strength in a bluesy, ‘70s garage rock sound. Matthew returns with some of his best compositions that give each track the feeling of an epic journey. His searing guitar solos add substantial weight to the quick-footed “Drive to Dallas” and “Cut the Cake,” while Eleanor fights for her own attention with gorgeous, thick vocals that drown sweet like syrup over “Lost at Sea” and “Take Me Round Again.” The end results makes even a casual listener hope that I’m Going Away is just an ironic title.

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