FFs Are at Their Best on Widow

The provocateur sibling musicians behind Fiery Furnaces can’t be bothered to care about what’s popular—which makes for an outstanding new record, says Tiny Mix Tapes in awarding Widow City 4 of 5 stars. The prog-rock throwback band has reined in “their experimental proclivities”—or rather “streamlined” them—on their “toughest-as-nails” new tracks to create their best new album since 2004's Blueberry Boat.

While giving Widow the same rating, All Music sees the Brooklynites as not so much a throwback as a combination of “hyper-literate art rock and experimental almost-pop.” With subject matter ranging from legal woes and conspiracy theories to grandparents’ marital angst, the latest LP is more “mischievous” than ever—and finally captures the band’s live sound. (More Fiery Furnaces stories.)