I saw a show called Carry Marry Harry
Apologies for posting with no plan in hand, but after my seventh listen of The Fiery Furnaces' I'm Going Away, I have to make mention that it is a stunning album. This is important for me to note, because though I love all of FF's albums (and they're always so fresh for me when I return to them), I'm Going Away was the album that I often ignored. I don't know why - I loved Drive to Dallas and Even in the Rain. But something kept me away from it. Like all FF albums, it takes a good five listens to catch every single change in chord and tempo that made their music so unique, even when they were as accessible as they were on I'm Going Away. It's accessible, but it's so unaccessible at the same time. And perhaps FF is the only band to have cornered this unique patch of musical territory (Ween comes close though).
Part of the joy was not knowing what I would hear and this is why I've avoided listening to Eleanor Friedberger's recent release New View. I'd prefer to hear it all in one go, new and fresh to my ears. I used to attribute motifs and melodies to Matthew Friedberger, but now I hear its prominence in Eleanor's work as well - they both have a penchant for stringing in melodies that replay in my head over and over and over. (That being said, Matthew Friedberger, you can write any soundtrack to any non-existent film as far as I'm concerned)
There are just so many good songs on I'm Going Away: Keep Me in the Dark, Drive to Dallas, Even in the Rain, Charmaine Champagne, I'm Going Away, Cups and Punches, Lost At Sea (the piano on that is fantastic), Staring at the Steeple, Ray Bouvier . . . It's such a joy for me to hear Matthew Friedberger's Sergio Dias-esque guitar riffs peeking through each song. And their lyrics are always a fun mix of personal references and mature loss. "There was a time when I was proud to be me, but now I'm all lost at sea."
It's such a clear and certain hell of
thing: it's over.
"You're on your own."
You're on your own. Once upon a time
(the other night),
You couldn't do nothing right,
"I'm on my own,"
you said to yourself down on your
luck, woe is me,
etc.: lonely. See,
the worst times weren't so bad,
compared to this. Though
that ain't much comfort. I might try to
reminisce. No.
What completely won me over though was the oddity of sound that became apparent in Cups and Punches, that reminded me of The Fiery Furnaces that was capable of making Bitter Tea, that was capable of capturing all the sounds that fascinate me. And I love how it was integrated into such an accessible song.
I love I'm Going Away. As much as I love any Fiery Furnaces album. As much as I love any solo Matthew or Eleanor Friedberger album. They're some of the most exciting names in music currently and it's a shame they aren't recognized enough for this. But that's often the way things go. And I should be happy, I mean, I saw Eleanor Friedberger live for only ten dollars at a rather small venue where I could talk to her and buy merchandise from her. I think that kind of accessibility (and I've used this word a lot today, but I think it's important) to fans might trump monetary gain for said Friedbergers.
I can appreciate that. Certainly.
Part of the joy was not knowing what I would hear and this is why I've avoided listening to Eleanor Friedberger's recent release New View. I'd prefer to hear it all in one go, new and fresh to my ears. I used to attribute motifs and melodies to Matthew Friedberger, but now I hear its prominence in Eleanor's work as well - they both have a penchant for stringing in melodies that replay in my head over and over and over. (That being said, Matthew Friedberger, you can write any soundtrack to any non-existent film as far as I'm concerned)
There are just so many good songs on I'm Going Away: Keep Me in the Dark, Drive to Dallas, Even in the Rain, Charmaine Champagne, I'm Going Away, Cups and Punches, Lost At Sea (the piano on that is fantastic), Staring at the Steeple, Ray Bouvier . . . It's such a joy for me to hear Matthew Friedberger's Sergio Dias-esque guitar riffs peeking through each song. And their lyrics are always a fun mix of personal references and mature loss. "There was a time when I was proud to be me, but now I'm all lost at sea."
It's such a clear and certain hell of
thing: it's over.
"You're on your own."
You're on your own. Once upon a time
(the other night),
You couldn't do nothing right,
"I'm on my own,"
you said to yourself down on your
luck, woe is me,
etc.: lonely. See,
the worst times weren't so bad,
compared to this. Though
that ain't much comfort. I might try to
reminisce. No.
What completely won me over though was the oddity of sound that became apparent in Cups and Punches, that reminded me of The Fiery Furnaces that was capable of making Bitter Tea, that was capable of capturing all the sounds that fascinate me. And I love how it was integrated into such an accessible song.
I love I'm Going Away. As much as I love any Fiery Furnaces album. As much as I love any solo Matthew or Eleanor Friedberger album. They're some of the most exciting names in music currently and it's a shame they aren't recognized enough for this. But that's often the way things go. And I should be happy, I mean, I saw Eleanor Friedberger live for only ten dollars at a rather small venue where I could talk to her and buy merchandise from her. I think that kind of accessibility (and I've used this word a lot today, but I think it's important) to fans might trump monetary gain for said Friedbergers.
I can appreciate that. Certainly.