The Rosebuds' third album isn't a return to the cheerful pop of their debut,
Rosebuds Make Out. Those days are seemingly gone forever for the duo. Thankfully, it isn't another offering as flat and almost willfully hook-free as the follow-up,
Birds Make Good Neighbors. Instead,
Night of the Furies is a well-structured, dramatic, and entertaining album that replaces the atmospheric gloom of the last record with a slick and shiny synth pop coating that suits the poetic and often heartbreaking lyrics perfectly. Without all the gloomy reverb and overcooked arranging, the words and emotions are given some room to breath. The same holds true for the excellent vocals delivered throughout by Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp. The production and performances are a perfect illustration of how less can be more, and it makes for a huge leap forward for the Rosebuds. The restraint and subtly create a very nocturnal mood that nothing can break, not even the tracks that ride disco-pop ("Get Up Get Out," "Night of the Furies") or house-y ("Hold on to This Coat") rhythm tracks or bust out in handclaps and raucous chorus vocals ("Silja Line," with voices courtesy of
the Shout Out Louds). The lyrics also cast a spell with references to Viking blood, tombstones, spooky attics, lonely cottages, and of course, the Furies. Even when you can't quite break the ornate code and figure out just what they're talking about, the feeling of sepia-toned melancholy and gentle creepiness is hard to shake. In the age of the song,
Night of the Furies is a true album that has to be heard from beginning to end in order to enjoy it fully. Anyone who likes their indie pop with a full order of mystery and drama, hold the pretension, will treasure this dark and enchanting album. ~ Tim Sendra