Blueberry Boat
by The Fiery Furnaces
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 74 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 74
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 74
  3. Negative: 7 out of 74

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  1. BenW
    Jun 20, 2005
    10
    An album that you may be unsure of at first, but with repeat listenings, you'll discover how beautiful and intricate it truly is. One of the best albums to be released in a long while.
  2. JamesS
    Nov 23, 2004
    10
    No, Blueberry Boat is not "...disjointed, ...unintelligible, ...unlistenable, ...unbearable" and whatever else has been thrown at it by criticism patently impatient by half. And above all it is not self-indulgent. Rather The Fiery Furnaces second effort is exhilarating, breathtaking, complex, musically intelligent and most of all courageous. It is unsurprising critics who have The Strokes No, Blueberry Boat is not "...disjointed, ...unintelligible, ...unlistenable, ...unbearable" and whatever else has been thrown at it by criticism patently impatient by half. And above all it is not self-indulgent. Rather The Fiery Furnaces second effort is exhilarating, breathtaking, complex, musically intelligent and most of all courageous. It is unsurprising critics who have The Strokes pedestrian second effort in the best of lists of 2003 wouldn't and couldn't have the attention span to cope with this. The best album of 2004 - in a year for awesome releases.… Expand
  3. AdamX
    Jul 17, 2004
    10
    challenging, provocative, catchy, funny... awesome, just awesome
  4. CameronW
    Dec 9, 2005
    10
    This album gets better with every listen, and if you're able to invest the time I'd say anyone could love this album (I mean, if you're willing to and you like the general sound of it). Definitely my favourite of 2004!
  5. HarryR
    Mar 4, 2005
    10
    It's a sad day when ambition and winsomeness is regarded as "difficult" or "pretentious". I can't remember the last time I listened to a record that flat out knocked me on my ass like this one did. A masterpiece.
  6. NicholasB
    Mar 6, 2005
    10
    The critic at Spin magazine that called this record joyless needs to either give me his job or get off the ritalin. How blind can you be? This is the most fun and joyous record of 2004.
  7. JackS
    Jul 8, 2005
    10
    I'm sure the critics of the popular, widely circulated publications like NME, The Guardian and Rolling Stone, Blender, Spin felt their livelyhood threatened when this shining gem of an album landed on their collective desks. It's not a challenging record at all. It's just good music, pure and simple. For the first time in ages, the music and the words actually reflect each I'm sure the critics of the popular, widely circulated publications like NME, The Guardian and Rolling Stone, Blender, Spin felt their livelyhood threatened when this shining gem of an album landed on their collective desks. It's not a challenging record at all. It's just good music, pure and simple. For the first time in ages, the music and the words actually reflect each other. Listen to the singer search for her dog and as she goes from place to place the music itself changes to suit the lyrics, gospel finish for when she finds her dog(god), the rushing everchanging sound mirroring the dash about town perfectly. And that's just the start, every song coincides with it's narration completely. When a singing about a child with ADD, the back up vocals are high pitched and almost taunting, while the guitar spasms back and forth like a kid who cannot learn would in a seat. A song that rallies against technology assaults the senses with an overwhelming bombardment of synths threateing to destroy the singer in it's competition for the listener's attention. Granted it requires a person to put the lyrics to the music for the whole, I can assure you, it's worth the two braincells it requires.… Expand
  8. IanC
    Sep 25, 2005
    10
    What might discourage listeners whose interest "Blueberry Boat" has sparked is that they think it's going to be impenetrable and only admired conceptually by its praisers, but this could not be further from the case. If you're not interested in 50+ of the best-crafted song sections of all-time, though, then stay far, far away from this record. As to it being impossibly What might discourage listeners whose interest "Blueberry Boat" has sparked is that they think it's going to be impenetrable and only admired conceptually by its praisers, but this could not be further from the case. If you're not interested in 50+ of the best-crafted song sections of all-time, though, then stay far, far away from this record. As to it being impossibly challenging -- if a 14-year-old can get it, so can you.… Expand
  9. JoeyS
    Dec 24, 2004
    10
    my favorite of the year...takes you away to another world. something for everyone, it's a rock epic.
  10. EddieT
    Oct 8, 2004
    10
    This is unquestionably my favorite album of the year so far. Like Lambchop's "Is a Woman" in 2002, I despised it at first and banished it from my CD player. Six weeks later I was stopping work to remember the words when they are talking to each other in "Chief Inspector Blancheflower." Look: my point is that everything is really, really catchy and memorable and fun once you make a This is unquestionably my favorite album of the year so far. Like Lambchop's "Is a Woman" in 2002, I despised it at first and banished it from my CD player. Six weeks later I was stopping work to remember the words when they are talking to each other in "Chief Inspector Blancheflower." Look: my point is that everything is really, really catchy and memorable and fun once you make a small effort with it. It is a grower.… Expand
  11. TomS
    Aug 30, 2004
    10
    INACCESSABLE?!?!?! ok I can understand that...if all you listen to is top 40 music. Honestly, in my opinion, without TRYING TO SOUND SUPERIOR, this is one of the easiest albums to listen to that's come out for a while. It's a hell of a lot more accessable than franz ferdinand. I love them and all, they're album just plain only has one good song on it. but anyways, off the INACCESSABLE?!?!?! ok I can understand that...if all you listen to is top 40 music. Honestly, in my opinion, without TRYING TO SOUND SUPERIOR, this is one of the easiest albums to listen to that's come out for a while. It's a hell of a lot more accessable than franz ferdinand. I love them and all, they're album just plain only has one good song on it. but anyways, off the tangent... this album is amazing, and if you don;t get it, well then, go play sports or something.… Expand
  12. AnthonyN
    Aug 5, 2004
    10
    Absolutely astonishing. If you find this music too weird or can't appreciate its brillance, stick to your mainstream, radio rubbish.
  13. DrunkenMaster
    Sep 2, 2004
    10
    Beautiful chaos! This CD is the musical equivalent of Joyce's "Finnegan's Wake"...in other words, it is so f**king brilliant that few will "get it". This is NOT rock n roll and the constructions that make up the bulk of the disc barely qualify as songs in the traditional sense. Although there are many catchy riffs and choruses hidden in the time changes, dont expect anything Beautiful chaos! This CD is the musical equivalent of Joyce's "Finnegan's Wake"...in other words, it is so f**king brilliant that few will "get it". This is NOT rock n roll and the constructions that make up the bulk of the disc barely qualify as songs in the traditional sense. Although there are many catchy riffs and choruses hidden in the time changes, dont expect anything familiar. If you enjoy using your brain, this CD is for you. If you listen to Clear Channel Moozik, go buy the new Blink182: it wont make think.… Expand
  14. TheJTotheD
    Sep 3, 2004
    10
    Absolutely brilliant. Following in the footsteps of The Unicorns, the Fiery Furnaces have released one of the most joyously experimental albums EVER. Completely hummable yet very complex. Unlike most cds with 4 beat melodies the Fiery Furnaces cram more melodies into one song than most bands do in an entire albumn. Not bad for just two people. Album of the eyar, hands down. And not Absolutely brilliant. Following in the footsteps of The Unicorns, the Fiery Furnaces have released one of the most joyously experimental albums EVER. Completely hummable yet very complex. Unlike most cds with 4 beat melodies the Fiery Furnaces cram more melodies into one song than most bands do in an entire albumn. Not bad for just two people. Album of the eyar, hands down. And not innaccessible if you actually listen to music!!! Actually, it would fall under the genre of pop. can't wait for their next release.… Expand
  15. JonathanM
    Jan 16, 2005
    10
    This is by far my favorite album of 2004. Elliott Smith, Futureheads and all that other 'criticaly acclaimed' stuff included. I liked most of them. I'm annoyed that The Fiery Furnaces get such a bad rap. I cant imagine anyone listening to the entire album of Blueberry Boat hating it. It's just such a superb album. I love listening to this album. I get distressed when This is by far my favorite album of 2004. Elliott Smith, Futureheads and all that other 'criticaly acclaimed' stuff included. I liked most of them. I'm annoyed that The Fiery Furnaces get such a bad rap. I cant imagine anyone listening to the entire album of Blueberry Boat hating it. It's just such a superb album. I love listening to this album. I get distressed when people merely dismiss it as " utter garbage designed to make stupid people who buy into it feel smart." I don't consider myself that stupid, and I don't pretend to feel smart after listening to Blueberry Boat. Alot of modern day listeners dismiss everything experimental as 'pretentious' because it doesn't appeal to their ideals of beautiful music. I could go into long paragraphs about why I think this album is worth listening to, but I won't because I'm lazy as sin. What I am going to say is I enjoy this album, and anyone who enjoys good joyous music that they can easily get lost in will probably also enjoy this album. Blueberry Boat is a gem that will probably be ignored because it's dimissed as pretentious bull dung that only artsy college kids will buy in too. It's not. Blueberry Boat is delightful. Just give it a chance.… Expand
  16. JohnJ
    Jan 27, 2005
    10
    Beautiful, complex, awesome. Like scotch, Blueberry Boat is an aquired taste. But once you have a taste for it, there is nothing like it. Wow.
  17. BobA
    Jul 18, 2004
    10
    very good lyrics, a rock opera
  18. BradH
    Jul 24, 2004
    10
    Great album.
  19. Céj
    Jul 31, 2004
    10
    Genius
  20. wackyman
    Sep 27, 2004
    10
    The most original album of 2004 with ease, I just don't understand some critics, well everybody has a free opinion,no
  21. Thedude
    Jan 27, 2005
    10
    People are idiots. If you don't like this album, I do not like you. Its not a matter of good taste anymore. If you can't handle the greatness of this album, the sweeping orchestral sections and crushing guitar, you have bad taste in music. Thats all there is to it. Enjoy your Britney Spears CD, Fiery Furnaces-hater.
  22. JessicaG
    Dec 18, 2004
    10
    At first glance "Blueberry Boat" a 76 minute album whose title track is a nine minute epic that features forays into glitchy electronica and bluesy slide guitar and classical piano, topped by lyrics in which the lead singer attempts to fend off pirates who are viciously after a precious cargo of blueberries may seem like a challenging or to say the least abusrd listen. But it is this At first glance "Blueberry Boat" a 76 minute album whose title track is a nine minute epic that features forays into glitchy electronica and bluesy slide guitar and classical piano, topped by lyrics in which the lead singer attempts to fend off pirates who are viciously after a precious cargo of blueberries may seem like a challenging or to say the least abusrd listen. But it is this absurdly quirky sensibility which precisely makes this album so rewarding and certainly the best of the year. "Blueberry" is a stellar effort which not only challenges your conception of what music can sound like, but what music can be. … Expand
  23. JanD
    Aug 10, 2004
    9
    Combining Dante and Joyce with in between a quick counsel with william S and Frank Z. Not for the majority of dunces on our planet.
  24. LawrenceP
    Aug 1, 2004
    9
    Maybe the most exciting music of the year. Very good.
  25. MichaelT
    Jan 20, 2005
    9
    Easily my favorite album. If you're a fan of experimental stuff, this is album is for you. Pretentious? Hardly. It's called moving music into another direction. Innovation. "Blueberry Boat" is not your normal rock album. The lyrics are very light hearted and sounds are extremely enjoyable. I don't know if you can call this "rock". Simply for the reason that "Blueberry Boat" Easily my favorite album. If you're a fan of experimental stuff, this is album is for you. Pretentious? Hardly. It's called moving music into another direction. Innovation. "Blueberry Boat" is not your normal rock album. The lyrics are very light hearted and sounds are extremely enjoyable. I don't know if you can call this "rock". Simply for the reason that "Blueberry Boat" infuses many different genres into a single excellent album.… Expand
  26. deebee
    Jul 14, 2004
    9
    intriguing, complex, ultimately cool
  27. ACE!
    Aug 4, 2004
    9
    I hate to fall in line here, but this is a spectacular album. Even at first listen, its disorienting qualities were great, and even after multiple listens and increased familiarity, it still manages to stay interesting and evocative. Up there with Liars and Animal Collective for release of the year.
  28. PepeI
    May 9, 2005
    9
    I just love it, when it doesnt' produce me a headache
  29. DavidV
    Jul 21, 2007
    9
    Not an easy album to listen to at first, but very rewarding and very good from start to finish. My personal favorites: Quay Cur, Blueberrry Boat, Chris Michaels, I Lost My Dog and Bird Brain.
  30. shizp
    Jul 20, 2004
    9
    Filled with oddball lyrics, vocals, and instrumentation. Unique, good stuff.
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Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Most Discussed Album of 2004
54
#54 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 34
  3. Negative: 3 out of 34
  1. Splendid
    70
    This is a big, sprawling, difficult but rewarding album, from a band whose reach exceeds its grasp, but only by a little.
    Read full review
  2. Under The Radar
    90
    This is pop music, filtered through the minds, hands and voices of two artists whose vision reaches beyond the bounds of the form. [#7]
  3. Playlouder
    50
    Blueberry Boat is a frustrating, niggling, great idea of a record.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »