Since 2012, singer/songwriter Joshua Tillman (J. Tillman) has made a name for himself under the moniker Father John Misty. Fear Fun, the debut album released in the Spring of 2012, was a rousing success and received much critical acclaim. It was an exciting new sound for American Folk music and wielded some impressive singles and unforgettable music videos. His live performances were just as captivating, with his mysteriously intriguing, sometimes-humorous, always-entertaining stage presence. Tillman knows how to grab your attention and not let go; a true artist and performer during a time where originality is in short supply.
Father John Misty’s highly anticipated follow-up album from Sub Pop records, I Love You, Honeybear, was released just days before Valentine’s Day, 2015. It is a concept album, with themes of love, sex, drugs, honesty and discontent. The lyrics are without inhibition and Tillman doesn’t hold back. I Love You, Honeybear is an open book of poetic raw emotion that could be compared to the works of Leonard Cohen blended with breathtaking orchestration akin to Love’s Forever Changes (1967). This is what we’ve been waiting for these past few years, and Tillman has delivered.
From the opening chords of the title track to the soft and sudden ending of “I Went To The Store One Day,” the final song, there is not a dull moment. I Love You, Honeybear starts off with the lyric “mascara, blood, ash and cum on the Rorschach sheets where we make love.” The line sets the tone and is good indication of what’s in store for us as we journey through the darkly romantic mind of Father John Misty. “Everything is doomed, and nothing will be spared, but I love you, honeybear,” sings Tillman in this apocalyptic love song. It is hands-down a personal favorite and has already been a staple in his live performances over the previous year. Mark my words, this song is going to be huge!
In late 2014, Father John Misty released the first single, “Bored in the USA,” the ninth track from I Love You, Honeybear. It is a forthright, satirical masterpiece overflowing with irony and humorously cynical lyrics. With delicate piano, swelling orchestration, “Save me white Jesus! Bored in the USA,” Tillman sings with an unflinching solemn conviction. “They gave me a useless education, a sub-prime loan, a craftsman home, keep my prescriptions filled, now I can’t get off, but I can kind of deal.” This song speaks to a despondent generation and is one of the most poignant selections from Honeybear.
Slightly left-of-center are “True Affection” and “The Ideal Husband”; two oddball songs from the album. Much like “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” from Fear Fun (2012), they differ greatly from the other songs on the record. “True Affection” is an electronic endeavor that comes across more like a Beck song than what we typically hear from Father John Misty. “The Ideal Husband” stands apart as well, with its driving, angst-filled sound and self-deprecating lyrics that lead to a thunderous and dissonant ending.
“Holy Shit,” the second-to-last track from the album, tackles subjects of religion, war and spirituality. It holds a mirror up to modern American culture. With its “A Day In The Life“ Beatle-esque intro and midsection, this song is unapologetically bold, offensive and emotional; everything that makes good art is contained within. The gorgeous orchestration is consistent throughout I Love You, Honeybear. Songs like, “When You’re Smiling and Astride Me,” “Nothing Good Ever Happens At The Goddamn Thirsty Crow,” and “Strange Encounter,” the evocative lyrics and masterful production is immeasurable.
“Oh, I just love the kind of woman who can walk over a man, I mean like a goddamn marching band,” sings Tillman on one of the most noteworthy songs on the album, “The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apt.” It’s a hilariously analytical song of love, sex, dominance and submission laced with debauchery and drug use. The subject matter is honest, refreshing and irresistible.
From start to finish, I Love You, Honeybear is an absolutely brilliant record. It seems to begin where his last album left off. “Every Man Needs A Companion,” concluded the masterpiece Fear Fun and Honeybear continues this romantically intimate narrative. The lyrics carry a fearless openness and an honesty all can identify with. Josh Tillman opens his heart for all to see as Father John Misty. He is riding a creative crest that only continues to grow.
Father John Misty is currently on tour in support of I Love You, Honeybear. He will also be making appearances at 6 Music Festival in the UK and Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, California. Don’t miss out.
By Joseph Conlon