Before their latest release, I’m Going Away, The Fiery Furnaces’ last record was an over-stuffed 51-track, song spliced and mind numbing live album titled Remember. And before that was 2007’s hodgepodge of fuzzy guitars, psychedelic organs and off-kilter melodies, Widow City. So while the term “experimental” might be played out as a musical descriptor, The Fiery Furnaces hardly went out of their way to do anything near the realm of normal. Until now, that is.

The Fiery Furnaces seem to have cooled off on I’m Going Away. Siblings Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger take their Brooklyn via Chicago art-rock outfit to a new level of accessibility by crafting an album that draws most of its inspirations from big 1970’s arena pop rock acts such as Elton John, Paul McCartney & Wings and latter-era Led Zeppelin.

The first striking difference between I’m Going Away and many of its predecessors is the lack of keyboards and more emphasis on distorted electric guitar. Not to mention Eleanor Friedberger’s vocals occasionally sound like a scatting yet very relaxed Jack White, which is the perfect compliment to either big riffs or dream-like piano lines. All the tracks drift in and out from delicate soul melodies to soaring chorus-lines, save for a few moments of obvious art-rock sabotage in the form of an out-of-tune guitar solo or escalating tempo.

Opening title track, “I’m Going Away,” is a bass-heavy blues romp that shrinks into a cymbal-tapping chorus section, which lightens the mood for a fleeting few moments. “Even In The Rain” is a big ol’ rock anthem that occasionally comes off as a quirky 2009 reimagining of Led Zeppelin’s “Fool In the Rain.” Matthew Friedberger’s key-changing, sweeping chorus guitar lick briefly offers satisfaction until his jagged tension-filled solo. “Staring At The Steeple,” is a piano and organ-led groover that borrows a modified riff from the Black Sabbath’s “N.I.B.” Eleanor sings “If I see you tomorrow/ I don’t know what I’ll do/ I’m not gonna cut my hair or run around the block/ I’m not going to drive to Dallas with blurry eyes again,” in the road trip-ready heartbreak ballad “Drive To Dallas,” before being interrupted mid-song for a guitar and drum punk rock freak-out.

The luscious pop melodies alone make I’m Going Away, one of The Fiery Furnaces’ best efforts. Even though all the songs are new and original, the album offers a sense of familiarity and warmth, which is a grand achievement for an art-rock band in 2009.