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By Chris Pacifico
Everyone's favorite brother/sister duo is back (no, not the Carpenters) as Matt and Eleanor Friedberger live up to their "sonic chameleon" label on their fifth album, which is just as adventurous and joyously erratic as ever with a peppering of subliminal lyrics here and there. With plenty of quirky synths gallivanting about, it is Eleanor who is at the helm of most of the vocal duties. Recorded at the same time as their "iffy" effort from last year, Rehearsing My Choir, which was recorded with their 82 year old grandmother, Bitter Tea sees Matt in the producer's chair as well as playing all of the instruments himself. Add a little bit of cabaret guile, and you've got an oddball pop gem.
With so many giddy vignettes that underlie the songs' lyrics, you can bet your boots that Bitter Tea would be on Shel Silverstein's iPod if he were still alive today, especially the girl-group rhythmic sway of "Waiting to Know You" or the funky house beats-meet-flamenco guitar on "Oh Sweet Woods." For all you DJ's out there, be sure to purchase Bitter Tea in the vinyl format because the latter track would go well in a wicked mash-up aside Michael Jackson’s "Billie Jean." Matt's vocals only pop up occasionally throughout the album, but Eleanor does a pretty good job of holding the fort down with her coo, especially on the tepid hint of a shag carpet-chic lounge vibe of "Whistle Rhapsody?"
One other amazing aspect is the album's merger of the baroque piano flourishes and pitchy synth lines, where at times, it seems as if the treble from the Rolling Stones' Between the Buttons is cranked up in the midst of a noisy game of Galaga. A lot of people may not be able to understand the Fiery Furnaces upon the first listen, but with tunes as infectious as theirs, you won't be able to turn them off either.
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