The Fiery Furnaces epitomize weird. The music sounds like rambling nursery rhymes over constantly changing sounds, from rock to electronic… weirdness. I mean that in the best way possible. This album takes the listener on a sonic adventure through someone’s brain during a particularly peculiar dream sequence. A number of tracks, such as Quay Cur, Chief Inspector Blancheflower and Spaniolated, stick out, but I think this whole album is one big masterpiece. Probably too weird to “rock out” to, but a perfect listen for riding the bus.

It’s all good, but the standout for me is “Birdie Brain” evocative of some kind of E.M. Forster character reacting to modern technology AND sounding like it would be quite at home in the soundtrack of a Benoit Sokal game. Quite an accomplishment.

Brilliant bundle of boats and blueberries and big guitars and bigger ideas. Genius.