The Rosebuds

Night of the Furies (Merge)

The Furies, according to Greek mythology, were the goddesses of vengeance, jealousy, and anger, emotions not usually associated with this lovey-dovey North Carolina couple. It’s hard finding the connection between the Rosebuds’ post-New Wave dance tunes and hideous goddesses dripping blood from their eyes, but the duo’s third LP certainly sports more shadows and darker tones than its sunnier predecessors. “I could never be all you need me to. My punishment is living without you,” sings Ivan Howard on the album’s opener, “My Punishment for Fighting.” Later, Kelly Crisp sings fiercely of a lover lost to a catastrophic accident (“When the Lights Went Dim”), her voice utterly devoid of feeling. The chill disconcerting. That chill permeates Night of the Furies, despite Howard’s earnestness. It’s an interesting departure, but not entirely successful. By the time Furies wraps, it’s clear that the crimes to be avenged here are those we commit against those we love the most.

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This article appears in April 27 • 2007.

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