by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Back in February we had the pleasure of premiering the debut single from Chicago’s Furbie, a song (“Skiball”) that remains one of our favorite of the year. The band, led by Annie Burns and Mercedes Webb (Slow Mass) haven’t released any new music since, but they have been busy playing shows with Options, Treadles, Kal Marks, Bethlehem Steel, Crown Larks, and beyond, earning a spot among Chicago’s exceptional DIY scene. Next Saturday, November 16th, the band play at The Empty Bottle together with Pile and Stuck, and in celebration of that stacked show, the band are sharing their second single, “Butterfinger.” It’s another impressive song that leaves us anxiously awaiting a full length.
Opening with a slow picked guitar line and a steady pulse, Furbie establish a backdrop, one cloaked in a layer of fuzz but otherwise clear and beaming. The lyrics open with “I knew it was the worst time to eat a Butterfinger, but I did it,” (maybe due to the controversial recipe change… maybe not) and there’s a sweetness that permeates through their wispy harmonies and sarcastic lyrics. The tempo shifts toward the hook, the band winding a circular path into the refrain that offers the syrupiest of melodies and a crunch of distortion. Furbie burn through dynamics with a casual grace, their duel vocals leaving a massive impact, recorded blips and room sound included for charm. Sometimes it’s best to get to the bottom of an issue and as they remind us, other times the best response is “I just want to eat candy, won’t you let me?”