Rehearsing My Choir
by The Fiery Furnaces
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 25
  3. Negative: 5 out of 25
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    100
    The Fiery Furnaces have delivered another great American novel via guitars, drums, bells, and whistles.
  2. Alternative Press
    100
    As exhausting as it is brilliant. [Dec 2005, p.202]
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  3. Spin
    91
    Whether Eleanor echoes her grandmother or provides a less mature counterpoint, her gravity melds with Sarantos' gusto for a dissonance that's never entirely discordant. [Nov 2005, p.100]
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  5. The Guardian
    80
    An astonishing concept-album full of humour, tenderness and life-affirming spirit.
  6. The A.V. Club
    80
    The flickering narrative works to pull ears closer to the band's most wowing musical offering to date.
  7. Mojo
    80
    As unique and poignant as a family bible. [Nov 2005, p.104]
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  8. Uncut
    80
    If last year's engrossing, infuriating Blueberry Boat revealed the Friedbergers as a uniquely strange and perversely ambitious proposition, Rehearsing My Choir, remarkably, trumps it, striking a chord of real feeling alongside the pell-mell fabulation. [Dec 2005, p.110]
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  9. Under The Radar
    70
    The album is no less a triumph as it is a fantastic future family heirloom. That said, Rehearsing might test the patience of even longtime fans. [#11, p.106]
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  10. Neumu.net
    70
    My feeling is that Rehearsing My Choir is an odd, initially indigestible album that is far more interesting than most people are willing to admit.
  11. Rolling Stone
    70
    These prose-stuffed metasongs require concentrated listening. But the rewards are rich, the experience unique.
  12. AllMusic
    70
    The album cements the band as a love-them-or-hate-them proposition, but the Fiery Furnaces remain true to themselves.
  13. Q Magazine
    70
    The twosome's sincere kitchen-sink music and lyrical pathos mean the tales of Chicago life unravel like a good Paul Auster novel. [Dec 2005, p.150]
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  14. Paste Magazine
    70
    Imaging you're listening to a radio play and let the story engage you, and you might find yourself hooked. [Dec 2005, p.108]
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Awards & Rankings

52
#52 Most Discussed Album of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 131 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 105 out of 131
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 131
  3. Negative: 22 out of 131
  1. Paul
    Apr 26, 2006
    7
    A unique album, worked out better than i expected it to be but overall their least best record.
  2. GlennD
    Jan 11, 2006
    5
    It's all great fun, especially very funny on first listen, but musically it can be pretty trying. It just doesn't leave a lasting It's all great fun, especially very funny on first listen, but musically it can be pretty trying. It just doesn't leave a lasting impression.… Full Review »
  3. SpencerM
    Dec 11, 2005
    10
    Critics hated it for not being a pop record; a record they wanted. But it's not supposed to be, you idiots! Who would ever do a pop Critics hated it for not being a pop record; a record they wanted. But it's not supposed to be, you idiots! Who would ever do a pop record with their 83 year-old grandmother?? Nobody has, and nither have the Furnaces. This album is more of a radio show, a theatrically-whimsy and changing-as-is-life collection of sounds that tell the story of Olga Sarantos, the Furnaces' grandma. It's brilliant and if you don't like it not because you don't like Furnaces' style, but because it's too "out there" or "too far", then you're missing out.… Full Review »
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