It’s difficult to preface the contents of this article without appearing as if a weak reference to an episode of Seinfeld were being made. This album is very much a piece of pop music…not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s a challenging thing to make music that truly makes one feel happy in a place deep inside themselves. It is just as challenging to find talented musicians that play in such a way that suggests they are truly embracing their inner child. The Fiery Furnaces have released their latest album, I’m Going Away with a sound that comes across like two restless kids placed in front of instruments – only in a relatively fun sort of way, and not 5-year-old-boy-playing-Johnny-Cash-on-guitar sort of way…*shudder*.
Listening through the album, it’s clear that Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger, FF’s “front-people” are at least modest fans of Gilbert & Sullivan, just as their Grandmother is reported to be. The album comes across like a jazz-lounge version of the HMS Pinafore, and this is where a large pro/con core truth of the album stems from. On the one hand, I’m Going Away has a large amount of multifaceted aspects that characterizes it’s sound. One has to truly applaud the amount of detail that went into this album’s construction. On the other hand, that same laudable detail can come across as rather intense at times, much like the multi-coloured display of lights at a dusty country carnival. It’s a lot to take in, and can lose it’s appeal quickly if one doesn’t think to keep turning their head to something new every once in a while.
Take that as you will, for there is in fact plenty to pay attention to. A dizzying array of words, sounds, and influences comprise this collection of tracks. Influences, especially, that include a range that spans from folk music, to blues, garage rock, and lounge music. Oh, and the pop sound, mustn’t forget that, especially the variety that sounds like theme songs attributed to 70’s and 80’s sitcoms. Despite this however, and the jazz lounge band image that the band seems to have an easy time evoking in their latest album in certain spots, there does in fact seem to be a legitimate amount of content below the superficial surface of upbeat happiness created.
There is in fact actual intimacy to this work. At least, there must be when one can envision someone grabbing their Wellingtons and dancing in the rain as they listen to this album on their portable listening device of choice. “Drive to Dallas” for instance, is a particularly interesting track. Starting out as if a rubber band were slowly being stretched out, a peak of emotion releases the tension and snaps the song forward, creating a flurry of fun activity and chaos in the process. “The End is Near” is of worthy note as well. In this track, we have an example of how The Fiery Furnaces prove themselves easily capable of using specific musical instruments such as keyboards to pepper their material with key emotional tones; bittersweetness in this case.
What’s to be said about the band after all this? Well, they certainly appear as if they know how to have themselves some fun. They could easily be that kid you knew in elementary school that would run across the playground in delight as they flailed their arms about yelling “Weeeeeeeeee!!!!!”. Kudos to them not caring about the opinions of those around them. Kudos to them doing what they do for themselves. They’re clearly doing something right, and producing something quite intriguing in the process.
(7.8/10)
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