Eleanor Friedberger: Last Summer

Eleanor Friedberger
Last Summer
Merge Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: Eleanor Friedberger of The Fiery Furnaces breaks out with an excellent solo debut!

Album Review:
Looking back it is a bit surprising that Last Summer represents the debut from Eleanor Friedberger as it seems well overdue. After nine fairly solid records with her brother, as one half of The Fiery Furnaces, Eleanor steps out on her own with a very confident and straightforward indie pop record. From the upbeat and snappy opener "My Mistakes" to the more guitar driven "I Won't Fall Apart On You Tonight", Eleanor feels and sounds completely comfortable being the headliner. Having her siren vocals be the total focal point works well on Last Summer and the record also allows her the chance to present a more daring quiet hush like vocal on "Scenes From Bensonhurst" and showcase a fragile side to her on "One-Month Marathon" that never breaks and comes at you with strength in silence. I am not sure I expected such a strong debut from Eleanor, just because solo outings always stray a bit from the artists original sound but Friedberger proves all naysayers wrong with an engaging album that not only highlights her true talents but makes you realize how important she has been all these years to The Fiery Furnaces. The Furnaces are still together, so we will anticipate their next offering but after Last Summer you can put the sophomore follow up from Eleanor Friedberger on our list too, as this record gets better every time you spin it!

Key Tracks: "My Mistakes", "I Won't Fall Apart On You Tonight", "Roosevelt Island"

Bands With Similar Fire:
PJ Harvey
EMA
Cat Power

The Fiery Furnaces: I'm Going Away [Fire Note Review 7/27/09]

Eleanor Friedberger Facebook
Merge Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony