Kind Of A Native Vibe

Eleanor Friedberger "My Mistakes"

There's something very particular about the Friedbergers -- an unmistakable cadence, a distinct sensibility. Even still, you can tell when a Fiery Furnaces song was primarily written by Eleanor -- the lyrics and meters aren't so overstuffed; her voice shows more softness and vulnerability; the words seem more personal and much less academic. "My Mistakes," the first song to emerge from Eleanor's first solo album, plays out like a thoughtful diary entry over a lightly bopping arrangement that leaves plenty of open space for her voice. I find the specific qualities of Eleanor's voice so endlessly charming and so difficult to describe -- I love the depth of character that comes through in her tone, enunciation and rhythm. She has one of those voices you hear and you can intuit so much, a whole person contained in a specific timbre. The best vocalists have this presence, this particular humanity. She's unquestionably one of my all-time favorites. Visit the Merge Records site.