The Fiery Furnaces

The Fiery Furnaces

Gallowsbird's Bark (Rough Trade) It's about time that something fresh and unique was put on tape. The last decade has been wrecked with nothing but emo, metal, electro, and the now-infamous "return to rock," but Brooklyn's Fiery Furnaces are taking it back to the roots. Brother and sister duo Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger have sent a postcard to the Seventies, Broadway, and blues with Gallowsbird's Bark, their ambitious debut. Sounding something like a biographical basement romp, all 16 tracks of Gallowsbird force the toes to tap. Piano explosions ("South Is Only a Home," "Inca Rag/Name Game") lead the album through cubicle hell ("I'm Gonna Run"), ocean cruises ("Asthma Attack"), and self-deprecating relationships ("Two Fat Feet"). When all is said and done, the song-speak of Eleanor lends a unique flavor to the straightforward blues-rock of Ryan Sawyer's driving drumbeats. Like a soundtrack to a fantastical globetrotting parallel life, Gallowsbird is the photo album you wish you kept in order. Add to the overall goodness of the Furnaces' virgin outing the truthfulness of ex-Austinite Eleanor's lyrics, and what happens is nearly magic. It's obvious that these two have spent a lot of time onstage, with everyone from the French Kicks to Hot Hot Heat. Gallowsbird's Bark is an apt introduction to the Furnaces, and just in time. "If men and wine don't kill me, there's one more plan to find." Damn straight, Eleanor. (Friday, March 19, midnight @ Rockstars)