Tina Chou

Their happiness in this photo is absolutely sincere

So recently, honorable Voice correspondent Cristina Black took everyone's favorite nigh-inscrutable brother-sister duo, the Fiery Furnaces, on a private tour of Brooklyn Bowl, everyone's favorite new high-end Williamsburg bowling alley, for a piece cleverly titled "Bowling With the Fiery Furnaces." (Step back, I am a professional.) First sentence: "Matt Friedberger is impressed. 'Did we suddenly become hugely famous, and this is what it's like?' he asks, twirling to take in his surroundings, i.e., the bowling alley."

This story seems to have disquieted the band somewhat, re: levels of detectable sarcasm, etc. Via PR channels, they've passed along an official reaction/statement/clarification. Which reads as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Regarding your recent story about the Fiery Furnaces in the bowling
alley: thank you for writing about us; and thanks to the bowling alley
for having us there. However, and as it happens, we feel obliged to
report that the tone of our remarks was often misrepresented. For
instance: the quote which begins the piece was said, in actual fact,
with quite a bit of sarcasm. To be sure, it was not a very witty remark.
But it certainly was sarcastic. In the future, the band will strive to
be more obviously insincere and disdainful.

In writing this we of course imply no disrespect to the bowling alley,
which is no doubt providing, as employer or client, a much needed boost
to the economy of North Williamsburg; to say nothing of the remarkable
atmosphere it certainly succeeds in promulgating. Conversely, we would
not like to be thought in anyway dissatisfied with the efforts of the
writer of the piece, whom we continue to regard as extremely pleasant
and very intelligent.

Needless to say, we hold it an honor to be mentioned in any capacity by
as legendary a publication as the Village Voice. As always, we are proud
to patronize your advertisers and be personally affected by your
editorial positions.

Sincerely, and with affection,

The Fiery Furnaces

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Well that clears that up.