In the Fiery Furnaces’ latest album, “Rehearsing My Choir,” sibling band members Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger take on yet another musical experiment. The CD features their grandmother, Olga Sarantos, speaking about her past. Eleanor chimes in, while Matthew plays a few odd riffs in the background. Yes, it sounds how you’d expect: Weird. Only some of it works. Opening track “The Garfield El” offers melodic, old piano sounds, supporting Sarantos’ awkward, stylized vocals. “The Wayfaring Granddaughter,” features some great dialogue, with Eleanor declaring, “Once upon a time there were two Kevins,” and Sarantos replying, “You mean two jerks.” But too much of the CD is verbal drudgery, with bad tempo changes and a narrative better suited to Prairie Home Companion than to a serious third album.
2 out of 5 stars
