Matthew Friedberger

by Heather PharesBetter known as the chief instrumentalist/songwriter of the Fiery Furnaces, Matthew Friedberger also performed and recorded songs on his own. Before forming the Furnaces with his sister Eleanor, Matthew played with other bands such as the Grand Vizars, Liquorette, and the Mezzanines. The unique mix of infectious melodies, experimental interludes, and hyper-literate lyrics -- which were influenced by such wide-ranging inspirations as Bob Dylan, Kit Lambert, and os Mutantes -- that defined his Fiery Furnaces work also shaped his solo material. In summer 2006, he released his double-album debut, Winter Women/Holy Ghost Language School, on 859 Recordings. Friedberger described Winter Women as "a pop record" and Holy Ghost Language School as "a noise record"; together, they represented the yin and yang of his distinctive style.