The fact that much of the music here has such clear antecedents suggests that Furnace St. hasn't developed a distinct identity of its own. In fact, the retro sound, which recalls the Goth-like tendencies of relatively obscure groups such as Xymox and Camouflage, is hardly innovative. When they don't sound like Ultravox's Midge Ure, Boose's restrained vocals recall Trent Reznor on Furnace St.'s "Again," a track that trickles along for nearly eight minutes. Jorgensen, who sings backup on some of the songs, helps keep Boose's dour mood from becoming overbearing, yet the group wears its influences a little too proudly.
Furnace St. is better off when it departs from the Euro synth-pop formula. In "Square," it increases the beats per minute and emphasizes a heavy guitar riff in addition to the swirl of synthesizers. And for once, Boose actually adds some inflection to his voice and sounds angry. The track represents a needed change of pace and has a number of sonic flourishes that work together well and suggest Furnace St. might eventually break out of the Euro synth-pop mold.
