The Fiery Furnaces- I'm Going Away

From: Scott
To: Monty and Brian

A mid-to-late career effort by a brother/sister duo that has been around since aught two. This recording, their seventh lp dispenses with both the preciousness of their Grandma-centric Rehearsing My Choir and their frustrating, choppy art/prog rock elements and the unnecessary jarring style changes therein. Singer Eleanor Friedbergerhas developed a Chrissie Hynde-like thrust to her delivery that propels the songs through the gentler moments as well as the more energetic. The songs have quality hooks, which was always present on earlier releases, seemingly to the band's dismay, for all the work they did to bury them.
So here we are at the seventh album, and despite all prevailing wisdom, I am finally fully on board.

 As this chart demonstrates, the earlier stuff is always better, purer, closer to the source. How lame is it to hop in in the middle, after the edges have been worn away by time. I don't think the 20 year old me preferred the later work of any band. The concept of getting better with age was abhorrent and unnatural; it went against nature. I knew bands wore out their welcome by the fourth album. Some bands might have a juvenile first effort then pull it together by the for the sophomore release, but these bands flamed out after the third as reliably as the rest. A few shooting stars might light up the world with one great release and then collapse into  a black hole. Following any band's career after the roaring third was sheer indulgence.

At 40+ years I find myself more and more dismissing the early rumblings and joining in when the fruit is ripe on the musical career, wallowing in the mellow tones and sanded edges of a band polished to a deep mahogany finish.

-Scott
The Fiery Furnaces- Drive To Dallas